whereas before the nuclear age man was on no consequence.
Another concept rooted in our own comprehension. What if baby aliens can split atoms as easily as playing with blocks? Their kindergarden vastly surpasses quantum physics? Its difficult to comprehend a lifeform that is far superior and of alien origin. We are locked into analogies that have been evolved into our grain. But all of our anologies have one thing in common. They are all from the Earth.
this may have gotten their attention and worry them
As powerful as an atom bomb is and all of our nuclear weapon testing combined can't compete with the nuclear fusion of our little star. If something were looking the Sun would wash out anything we can create on Earth. Combine that with the diameter of our radio signals expanding into space and anything that could detect our presense has a background of stronger emmissions to wade thru. They would have to be looking specfically at us, at the right time and in the right wavelengths.
A mechanical based alien is possible. I guess anything is possible including things we currently think are impossible. The mechanical part may not even be something we think of as mechanical. Wires and circuts may not be the best way to use energy. Even
Tesla discovered that. Tesla had a system invented that harnessed free energy. Aliens may be far more advanced. Aliens may be able to manipulate matter on the sub-atomic scale as easily as we convey our feelings with a look of approval or dismay. Advanced science resembles God-Like powers.
We are aware of the concept of mind-uploading. It could be possible for an alien culture that is 500 million years old to upload themselves or a piece of themselves to anything. With spooky theory one alien might explore 100,000 worlds at the same time with 100,000 constructs and be instantly aware of each one at all times. From micro devices to megastructures. Kinda like
Von Neumann Probes but living entities and of various sizes, functions and attitudes. But again I am limited to assuming aliens have attitudes.
We base our ideas on what we know and can imagine. Its all based on life on Earth. It's all born of Earth. It's all created from one tiny planet circling an average star. Just the right temperature. Just the right radiation. Just the right size moon. In just the right place in the galaxy. The Goldilox Zone is more than just our distance from our star. An alien may be from a different Goldilox Zone.
Think about if Mankind made it to an alternate Earth. Lets say it has the right pressure, atmosphere and gravity which is very unlikely. Does it have a moon? Our Moon is more to us than just something to bark at. Does it have an Iron Core? If that core is more dense or not as dense it will affect us. The thickness of the mantle, the radiation wavelengths of the parent star or nearby stars, Elemental composition of the topsoil and crust. So many variables and each one in very little differences will affect us. Our minds, concepts and bodies evolved from the conditions of this planet in this star system at this time/place in the galaxy. An alien from another star system will evolve under those conditions. Their minds, concepts and bodies may not evolve even closely similar to ours.
It's tough to imagine a truly alien being. Tougher still to try to imagine one that is more advanced than us. If we can even detect their presense I think we would be hard pressed to even understand what we were seeing.