The thing modern physicist get wrong is that the universe is a life creating machine. There is life everywhere.

Psilocybin is connected with itself across the galaxy. Terrence McKenna talks about Psilocybin talking about itself, its other worldly self. And, mushrooms are the precursors for building soils for other plants. It is truly amazing.

The only thing "exceptionally small" is groups using EM radio for communication. After you discover the galactic internet, you drop that shit almost immediately.

And, many other races know about first contact, and how tricky it works, and the possibilities of being shot at. The say, it is quite exciting.