Nina In New York: Earth To Space, Come In Space. (We'll Pay For The Call.)

A lighthearted look at news, events, culture and everyday life in New York. The opinions expressed are solely those of the writer.
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By Nina Pajak

This week marked the forty-sixth anniversary of Neil Armstrong's historic moon landing. Forty six years ago, the nation sat with bated breath as they watched a man walk on the moon for the very first time. Or, depending on your belief system, walk on a soundstage dressed up to look like the moon. Personally, I prefer to go with option A. I wish I could have been alive for that moment. I imagine the country being charged with feelings of hope, wonder, excitement, and possibility. It's an electric current of imagination and collective awe that I'm not sure we've experienced in my lifetime. Sure, amazing things have happened. But we're jaded now. We laugh at the old, naive Jetsons vision of the future. Jetpacks. Psht. Factories and cities on other planets. Hah! We know the future now. It's got a lot of internet and big brother types of companies and robots and cellular implants in our eye sockets—basically, everything from the Terminator oeuvre is coming to fruition. It's all a little terrifying and bleak. But 46 years ago, it was bright, open, mysterious. Romantic, even. I'm jealous.

Plus, the outfits alone are just to die for.

But wait! What's this? A science-loving, enigmatic (presumably), Russian entrepreneur comes out of the woodwork with $100 million to put towards the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI)? Yes! This is the sort of magic I was missing!

The money will go toward further efforts in listening to and watching space for signs of life. You know, like radio transmissions and laser beams and weird music or over heard snippets of alien cell phone conversations. I don't know! Nobody knows. THAT'S THE POINT. Specifically, the $100 mill will fund the further development of equipment, the hiring of staff, and most importantly, allowing the scientists vastly more time with the super telescopes they need to spy on the galaxy.

Some will undoubtedly argue that our world, which is very much real and actual, could use that $100 million in a 100 million other ways. But billionaires be billionaires, and I think that there is no reason to believe we're alone in the universe. It's infinite, right? And we're the only ones in it? Oh, please. Even my toddler is beginning to understand that the world turns when she's asleep.

Perhaps this money will end our fruitless search. Perhaps it will run out and we will remain without fruit. But even if it does, it may capture the imaginations of some young, budding scientists and aspiring astronauts. Perhaps it will get people excited in the future again, or revive some jaded genius' long-lost plans to invent the flying car. Maybe it'll drum up some global interest in science and astronomy and education. Maybe so many things! Maybe that's the point.

Also, aliens. Obviously aliens are the main point.

Nina Pajak is a writer living with her husband, daughter and dog in Queens. Connect with Nina on Twitter!