Scientists have issued a new blueprint for the day Earth receives a message from an alien civilization.
Released Friday, the eight-point plan lays out how researchers should handle a potentially world-changing signal from deep space, laying it out like a playbook for humanity's most extraordinary moment.
Scientists are instructed to treat any potential alien signal with extreme caution, verify it through multiple independent teams and keep unconfirmed findings tightly controlled to avoid false alarms.
If evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life is confirmed, researchers must rapidly inform the public, the scientific community and even the United Nations (UN) while releasing the underlying data for scrutiny.
The protocols also call for protecting the signal from interference, preserving all records in secure archives around the world and creating a dedicated international team to help manage the fallout from the discovery.
Researchers are warned not to send a reply to any alien civilization without first consulting the international community through bodies such as the United Nations.
The plan further acknowledges the dangers of the social media age, urging scientists to combat misinformation, respond quickly to rumors and protect researchers who could find themselves at the center of one of the biggest stories in human history.
With the Trump administration releasing dozens of UFO files in recent weeks, the creators of the plan say they want to prevent the world from being thrown into chaos by a false alarm.
Newly released FBI files have revealed an alleged message from 'outer space people' containing chilling warnings for humanity (stock)
The plan lays out a detailed roadmap for what should happen if scientists believe they have detected evidence of an intelligent alien civilization.
Under the protocols, researchers for Astrophysics and the chair of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) committee for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) are instructing other experts not to rush to announce a discovery to the world.
SETI is an acronym standing for Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, a scientific field dedicated to scanning the cosmos for artificial radio and laser signals.
Researchers said that any mysterious signal must undergo extensive scrutiny, with independent teams, observatories and organizations using different instruments and methods to determine whether it is genuine or merely a false alarm.
Scientists are warned that initial findings could be incomplete, misleading or impossible to interpret, meaning the verification process could take months or even years.
If the evidence survives that scrutiny and researchers become convinced it originated from an extraterrestrial intelligence, the protocols call for an immediate public announcement.
The discovery would be shared not only with the scientific community but also with the United Nations and a network of international organizations involved in astronomy, space exploration and communications.
The plan also requires the release of the underlying evidence, allowing scientists around the world to inspect the data, challenge the conclusions and attempt to independently verify the finding.
Recognizing the dangers of the social media era, the guidelines devote significant attention to controlling misinformation and rumors.
With the Trump administration releasing dozens of UFO files in recent weeks, the creators of the emergency plan say they want to prevent the world from being thrown into chaos by a false alarm. Pictured is an image from a release taken during the Apollo moon missions
Researchers are encouraged to communicate openly and honestly with the public while clearly labeling speculation and unconfirmed claims.
The protocols also acknowledge that a scientist who discovers evidence of alien intelligence could suddenly become one of the most famous people on Earth.
Institutions are urged to protect researchers from harassment, security threats and professional fallout while ensuring accurate information continues to flow to the public.
In the event a signal is confirmed, every piece of evidence must be preserved and archived in multiple secure locations around the world.
The data, analysis methods and computer code used to study the signal would be stored so that future generations of scientists can revisit the discovery.
The plan even includes measures to protect the signal itself. If the evidence arrives in the form of radio transmissions or other electromagnetic signals, scientists are encouraged to seek international agreements to safeguard the frequencies from interference or disruption.
An international post-detection committee would then be assembled to help interpret the discovery and guide the world's response.
The group would include experts in science, ethics, law, communications and social sciences tasked with helping humanity navigate the implications of learning we are not alone.
Perhaps the most striking provision concerns what happens next.
Even if humanity receives a message from an alien civilization, scientists are explicitly instructed not to answer.
Instead, any decision about responding would first require international consultations involving the United Nations and other global organizations. Until those discussions are completed, no reply should be sent.
The final section emphasizes that any discovery of intelligent extraterrestrial life must be handled with transparency, integrity and a sense of responsibility to all of humanity, recognizing that such a moment would rank among the most profound events in human history.