Discovery of life on other worlds could cause the earth’s civilization to collapse, a Federal report said today.

This warning was contained in a research report given to the National Aeronautical and Space Administration with the recommendation that the world prepare itself mentally for the eventuality.

The report, prepared by the Brookings Institution, said “while the discovery of intelligent life in other parts of the universe is not likely in the immediate future, it could nevertheless, happen at any time.” Discovery of Intelligent beings on other planets could lead to an all-out effort by earth to contact them, or it could lead to sweeping changes or even the downfall of civilization, the report said.

Even on earth, it added, “societies sure of their own place have disintegrated when confronted by a superior society, and others have survived even though changed.”

“Clearly, the better we can come to understanding the factors involved in responding to such crisis the better prepared we may be.”

The agency’s 100-page report, prepared at a cost of $86,000 was for the space agency’s committee on beings-in-space studies. The members, headed by Donald M. Michael also recommended further study of other space activities, including the symptomatic and propaganda effects and the implications of communications and weather satellites.

On the question of life in outer space, the report said that if intelligent or super-intelligent beings were discovered in the next twenty years they would probably be found by radio communications with other solar systems.

Evidence of such existence “might also be found in artifacts left on the moon or other planets,” it said.

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