Humans have created countless inventions that shape our lives in amazing ways. Some are practical, some are revolutionary, and some are simply fascinating. But if aliens suddenly appeared, which invention would best represent us?

#1

DJT....and I would hope they would take him back with them and probe him and never let him come back to planet Earth again.

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Bill Swallow
Community Member
2 months ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You realize that that *could* be construed as an act of war, right? Edit - I should have clarified that letting the aliens take DJT could be construed as an act of war by *us* against *them*, particularly if we don't warn them beforehand.

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    #2

    cheese.

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    ErrorCode404Sans
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I have created a cheese cult would you like to join?

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    #3

    I would curate a display of human inventions that were designed for peaceful purposes but repurposed as weapons, and warn them to be very careful what technology they share with us, because we *will* make a weapon out of it. It's what we do.

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    Scarlet
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I saw this meme where aliens came and watched humans for thousands of years, and all they saw was humans turning revolutionary stuff like fire, into a weapon

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    #4

    Dogs. Dogs are humans' greatest invention.

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    TotallyNOTAFox
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    You see, we took one of our apex predators - which use the same hunting techniques as we did back then - and made them our best friends

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    #5

    I would show them the coffee maker and how to work it.

    They will never be the same.

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    #6

    Music

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    keyboardtek
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The piano. Thousands of moving parts inside them. Amazing wall of sound and music comes out of them in the right hands.

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    #7

    Bacon. That is all.

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    Norm Gilmore
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    But what if they are vegetarian. Could be a war starting insult... :-)

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    #8

    Joo Young Oh playing Antonio Vivaldi's Four Seasons, maybe they would spare us...😊

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    #9

    I'd show them the internet, and suggest they go away, because humans are crazy, and really pretty evil on a planetary scale. There's no way human/alien interaction doesn't turn out badly for humans. If the aliens aren't evil, humans will use aliens, alien tech, or the presence of aliens to be evil to other humans anyway.

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    Lil be lil
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    We've already invented AI which is alien enough what could be worse?

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    #10

    The pop corn machine! And I would serve them a big bowl with lots of butter and salt!

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    Lil be lil
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Yes, in a dark theater and have them watch The Day the Earth Stood Still.

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    #11

    Well, I would organize a very Finnish day for them and introduce the technology that uses electrical energy to produce bacterial mass from carbon dioxide, which can be used as nutritional protein. Then I would take them to the sauna, whip them with birch branches and give them alcohol to drink. Hopefully I won't start a war of the worlds or have to dig graves behind the sauna.

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    trollingergirl
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I would like to upvote more than once.

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    #12

    Sliced bread.

    But really, don't you think the warning has gone out among alien races that are intelligent enough to be travelling around the universe that they should lower their shields, lock their hatches, and speed right past this planet for their own safety and sanity?

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    #13

    Pinball machines. I don't know why, I just think they'd have fun with them.

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    #14

    That there are humans who do actually care about what's true. Critical thinking, as an exercise, is perhaps our most important (and neglected) creation.

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    Scarlet
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    not a lot tho (e.g trump is an extremely bad one) not being political, just the truth

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    #15

    Pastel de Nata!

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    BeesEelsAndPups
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very tasty. But if we're going with custard based treats, I'm gonna go with a coconut custard pie.

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    #16

    surprised no one said this yet. indoor plumbing

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    Hill Branda
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm pretty sure that, if a race had conquered how to cross galaxies with ease, indoor plumbing would not be that fascinating to them.

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    #17

    Ice Cream, followed by the milkshake.

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    Mike F
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And watch them go War of the Worlds on us over the ensuing brain freeze.

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    #18

    Probably something super incredible that we just created. Maybe either Google's or Microsoft's quantum computer would show them that we're on our way to advancing civilization. Also I might show them a GPU or CPU die plus some close-ups to show how tiny we can make things lol.

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    #19

    As an Alien Stage fan, I would show them music. (I am EVIL)

    This truly will be our Mizisua

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    #21

    The television set. I read an observation in a book years ago about how vicariously watching people participate in sports, travel, friendships, and life in general on TV had replaced doing these things ourselves. The author went on to say that the popular pastime you rarely saw on TV was people - you guessed it - watching TV. If I were to introduce invading aliens to television, one of two things would happen. Either they would get so fascinated and engrossed in watching TV that they would forget about taking over, or assume that humans are a bunch of idiots posing no threat to the universe, and leave us alone. And I say this as someone who probably watches too much TV.

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    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Or going down the rabbit holes on the internet: tiktok, reddit, etc.

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    #22

    Anime and dogs

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    #23

    DNA & CRISPR

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    #24

    I would take them to a toy store

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    Lil be lil
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    And get a laser pointer to drive them crazy!

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    #25

    I'd show them that Tom Scott video about why aliens should *avoid* having anything to do with humans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcPqk-O-fD4

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    Norm Gilmore
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's a genre of short story called Humanity, F-ck Yeah. And many of those stories are like this where Aliens misjudge Humans because compared to Aliens we are living on a class 10 Death World... (most of the stories have a humorous slant) Here's one. https://mediachomp.com/humans-drink-acid/

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    #26

    Beer! They will never be the same....

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    #27

    Chocolate covered marzipan. It’s the best food ever.

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    Janelle Collard
    Community Member
    Premium
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Choolate most everything!

    #28

    There is nothing that humans have accomplished that would at all impress aliens. I'd apologize for the state of our
    world. Explain humans are still barbaric and can't respect other peoples beliefs. And only ask if they were going to obliterate our world, that it be fast and painless.

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    #29

    Sliced bread. Has there been a better thing since sliced bread?

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    #30

    Nukes and our willingness to absolutely burn this planet down to a radioactive wasteland if they try to do something funny like colonization, slavery or just exploiting the ressources.
    Because let's be honest, they probably already have archieved what we have nowadays and would be amused to see how happy we are about our "most impressive" technologies.

    After that some art though - pictures, music, movies, video games etc. from all over the world and eras

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    #31

    I'd show them our greatest mistake: the mirror. Before we could see ourselves clearly, we judged our appearance from the reactions of our communitiy, and didn't compare our looks with others. Once we got into the habit of judging our appearance for ourselves, we soon learned to ignore the views of others regarding our character and conduct, and community and society died.

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    GojusJoe
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Wow, the mirror killed our character, community and society? And I always thought it was the internet (especially, the social media part.)

    #32

    I would show them those funnels they sell in Japan for women to pee standing up. Because it's the dumbest thing I could think of, and I'm guessing a society that can traverse the cosmos has already figured out books, the mass communication, quantum computing, sliced baked goods, indoor plumbing, etc. But I bet they haven't thought of making a device as stupid as that funnel.

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    Rachel Reynolds
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Clearly OP is not a camper, hiker or involved in any other activity that keeps you far away from indoor plumbing.

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    #33

    A jack-in-the-box. da doo doo da doo da doo doo da do... POW!

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    Anthony Elmore
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I swear to god if you start an intergalactic war with a children's toy.... šŸ˜‚

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    #34

    The stupidity of social media, and how nefarious underground sites are.

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    Lil be lil
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is BP considered a social media site? (It's the only one I use.) It seems very social to me...most of the time.

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    #35

    Telescope, see what we see, be glad we didn’t find you first

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    #36

    The mute button and the off button on a remote.

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    #37

    My old cat Botan would get so frustrated and cry when the laser dot wouldn't catch in his paws so I quit using the laser pointer to play with him. I concluded that it was mental t*****e, but I would have no compunction in using it on an Alien! Hehehehe

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    Scarlet
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    they might just go pew pew, you're dust

    #38

    I would introduce them to and encourage them to wear bullet-proof everything.

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    Lil be lil
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Well, they could avoid the US altogether.....

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    #39

    My video games collection! Show them all rhe masterpieces: See here, this is Pac-Man... And Donkey Kong, it's awesome... And Space Inva...NoNoNO, it's not what it looks like! This is a misunderstAAAH!

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    The unnamed one
    Community Member
    1 month ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    this is so funny, considering your name is space invader

    #40

    Pizza šŸ•

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    #41

    If they travel space I imagine they'd be hard to impress. But I'd probably show them the submarines we make. If our water really is as rare as we think then they may be interested in that science?

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    #42

    National geographic, so they can see the world while trying human snacks on my couch.

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    #43

    I'd show them all the NSFW AI personalities people have created. Specifically the ones that are outlandish and odd even by the kinkiest of standards. I just need an outside opinion on them. We should probably avoid letting me show the aliens things.

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    #44

    There's this really obscure movie from 1989. It's called Kamillions. It's got Harry S Robins in it, and is directed by the current director of the Simpsons. I'd get them to watch it with me, because hey, perhaps it could become a household name over on their planet. It's about a scientist who opens a portal to another world, and accidentally lets two weird creatures into this world. They shape shift and one causes le pranks. It's so strange, yet so fun.

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    #45

    Food. Chocolate, pizza, curry, coffee, sushi, etc.. That is assuming they are of a compatible biology. Beings that are comfortable on Venus may not be able to enjoy a donut.

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    #46

    If aliens arrived tomorrow, I would show them the book as one of humanity’s greatest inventions. Unlike technology that comes and goes, the book represents the preservation of knowledge, wisdom, and culture across generations. Through books, we’ve shared discoveries, recorded history, and passed on values that shape civilizations.

    What makes it even more powerful is not just the invention of the book itself, but how it has been used in diverse ways—whether to teach science, philosophy, or even the art of reciting sacred texts with precision. For example, a qurantajweedteacher.com today uses books alongside modern digital tools to guide students in perfecting recitation. This shows how a timeless invention can adapt and stay relevant in every age.

    So, if I had to choose, I’d present the book as a symbol of humanity’s quest for knowledge, communication, and connection—something any intelligent life form could appreciate.

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    Ol' Stevie
    Community Member
    2 months ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Stop advertising your little website in every comment you write. No one is interested, nobody cares.

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    #47

    Toilets, and sewer systems. They are, after all, a relatively recent human invention but one of unsurpassable necessity. They have eliminated killer diseases like cholera (except where they are not in place). It's amazing to think it took us thousands upon thousands of years to learn how to properly deal with human excrement. In point of fact modern sewer and waste management systems only came into being with the industrial revolution and the invention of the steam engine and consequent very large scale pumping systems.

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    #48

    Religions. Religion with an 's' they would be flabbergasted!

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    #49

    The written word. That is where it all began.

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