Neil deGrasse Tyson Says We Should ‘Be Prepared’ for Alien Contact

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson says humans should think seriously about how they would respond to extraterrestrial life—though not because he believes it is imminent. 

Newly released U.S. government UFO files have renewed public interest in the possibility of alien life, with more than 160 documents, images and videos made public as part of a transparency push. 

As lawmakers and the public scrutinize unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), scientists such as Tyson are attempting to redirect the conversation away from sensationalism and toward evidence‑based reasoning. This underscores a crucial distinction between the statistical likelihood of life elsewhere in the universe and the absence of proof that it has ever visited Earth.

Speaking on MS Now’s Morning Joe, Tyson framed the release of the files less as a breakthrough—and more as an opportunity to apply scientific thinking to a long-running question. 

“If they bring out an alien or if an alien does arrive, we should be prepared for that,” Tyson said. “And this is a primer for you.” 

What Tyson Did—And Didn’t—Say 

Tyson’s remarks are rooted in his new book Take Me to Your Leader, which explores how humans might handle a hypothetical first encounter with alien life. 

In the interview, the astrophysicist described the idea of “preparedness” as a kind of mental and scientific exercise—how humans would communicate with a life form that may not share language, culture or biology. 

Rather than relying on familiar human behaviors, Tyson suggested using universal scientific principles as a starting point. 

“You’ve got to come equipped to communicate in that way,” he said, pointing to mathematics and the structure of the periodic table as systems that could be recognized across civilizations. 

Tyson also warned against assuming shared customs, noting that even simple human gestures such as a handshake may not translate across species. 

Despite the surge in interest following the document release, Tyson said the material itself does not represent a major shift in understanding. 

“It was consistent with testimonies we’ve already heard in Congress,” he said. “There’s nothing new there; no shockers that we couldn’t have extrapolated from what was already told.” 

The Bigger Picture  

Tyson has long argued that alien life is likely to exist somewhere in the universe, given its scale and age—but he is a well-known skeptic when it comes to claims that aliens have visited planet Earth. 

“It’d be an overstretch of your ego to presume we’re alone,” Tyson said, while suggesting that popular depictions of hostile extraterrestrials often reflect human fears rather than scientific reality. 

For Tyson, the current moment is less about disclosure and more about perspective: encouraging people to approach the question of alien life with curiosity, but also skepticism.