A remarkable new survey on the possibility of extraterrestrial life has produced some thought-provoking results.
Conducted in honor of the new Star Wars film, the study was produced by a group known as Glocalities and collected responses from nearly 27,000 people spread throughout a whopping 24 different countries.
Among the eyebrow-raising findings are that 61% of those surveyed believe that there is some kind life on other planets, which starkly contrasts with the meager 17 percent who said that Earth is the proverbial 'only game in town.'
Setting aside microorganisms and other ilk of that nature, 47% expressed a belief in intelligent ET civilizations roaming the universe, while 26 percent of the people were not on board with such a possibility.
Particularly intriguing is a breakdown of nations with regard to the belief in advanced ETs as Russia, Mexico, and China all registered over 60 percent while a mere 28% of people in the Netherlands endorsed the idea.
The United States largely fell in the middle of the pack with 45 percent, indicating that the nation is as divided about this topic as it is most other issues these days.
As to whether humans should try and contact these theoretical aliens, 60% of those who believe in such ETs argued that it is a good idea.
Meanwhile, 22 percent were negative on the concept, perhaps fearing what would happen if we were successful.
And, in asking if life on Earth was the result of some off-planet source, the survey received a more murky response from participants.
A quarter of the people were in the affirmative, while 39% said no and an almost equal amount, 36 percent, conceded that they have no idea.
Taken together, the survey suggests that those who believe in intelligent aliens are not the marginalized group often depicted in the mainstream media and actually constitute a rather large percentage of the global population.
It also reveals that, should our alien overlords ever arrive, residents of the Netherlands will be in for quite a surprise.
Source: Glocalities