Image details:
The Very Large Telescope snaps a stellar nursery and celebrates fifteen years of operations
Credit: ESO
https://www.eso.org/public/images/eso1322a/
There are two wonderful kingdoms basically so contradicted and yet in some way similar. One is hidden in the depths of Earth's water regions, while the other stretches high above in the unbounded infinity.
These two kingdoms were sparking for centuries our curiosity, imagination and encouraged us to make bold steps paving the way towards new discoveries. Thanks to them the treasury of knowledge is continuously filled up. Today, as well. And yet we don't know everything, neither we will. Even supported by A.I. Unless it gains self-consciousness.
An underwater world offers a variety of life forms, whilst the vast space, perceived as the man's "final frontier", is − citing a famous 2001: Space Odyssey's character − "full of stars" and planets. Some of them are for sure inhabited by simple (micro)organisms or intelligent beings representing diversified level of technological and civilizational advancement.
Despite this fact there are still opinions that we are alone. Nothing more mistaken. We haven't even thoroughly explored our oceans and let alone the Universe. One have to admit that these kingdoms, if they only "want", can guard perfectly their secrets. Nevertheless, since time to time information about new species or exoplanets found is given to the public. Therefore, life, in some circumstances, is both unique and widespread. More than we think.
So why the skies keep eerie silence then? Perhaps, there is a general rule that governs this issue, such as, for example, Liu Cixin's Dark Forest hypothesis. It, however reflects solely our point of view. Extraterrestrial civilizations can have they own one, not necessarily compliant.
In that context all comes down to more or less accurate assumptions. The first contact would undoubtedly judge any doubts unveiling simultaneously the presence of, at least, the third kingdom. This would dramatically redefine our place in space, proving that "a pale blue" dot is no longer the only cradle of life.
Meanwhile, we plunge sophisticated machines into Earth's oceans and send probes into unbounded infinity. We do this not only to feed curiosity or find long-awaited answers. Regardless of the achieved effect, various defects that shape us, we are a part of something bigger and a kind of bridge between two intriguing kingdoms, which still do not stop to amaze us.