1. Searching for extraterrestrial life has scientific and philosophical implications, even if it is never discovered.
2. Astrobiology encourages interdisciplinary collaboration and stimulates a reunification of the sciences.
3. The search for alien life promotes a cosmic perspective, which can help to unify humanity and provide an evolutionary context for human affairs.
The article is generally reliable and trustworthy in its reporting of the potential benefits of searching for extraterrestrial life, even if it is never found. It provides evidence to support its claims, such as the need for multidisciplinary collaboration in astrobiology and the potential to promote a cosmic perspective that could help unify humanity. The article also acknowledges that alien life may not exist at all, but still argues that searching for it can be beneficial to society.
The article does not present any counterarguments or explore any risks associated with searching for extraterrestrial life, so it could be seen as one-sided in its reporting on this topic. Additionally, there are some points of consideration that are missing from the article; for example, it does not discuss how much money should be spent on astrobiology research or whether other areas of science would benefit more from these resources.
In conclusion, while this article is generally reliable and trustworthy in its reporting on the potential benefits of searching for extraterrestrial life, it could have been improved by exploring counterarguments and considering other points of view more thoroughly.