Tsvetinka Hadzhieva

The Fermi Paradox: An Unsettling Resolution

You are one of the over 8 billion people currently alive on Earth. Considering our planet is just one of eight planets in our solar system within the galaxy, and our solar system is one of almost 4,000 within the observable universe, it is highly unlikely that we are the only living creatures in the universe. Given this, it is reasonable to assume that there must be other habitable planets. This idea, known as the Fermi Paradox, was first proposed by Enrico Fermi in the 1950s, and it suggests that if other civilizations existed and had the technology to travel through space, they should have visited us by now. Despite the discovery of over 5,000 exoplanets using better telescopes, there is still no evidence of life. Over the years, various solutions have been proposed to explain the Fermi Paradox. The possibility of communicating with beings from outer space may be hindered by their great distance from us. While movies depict spaceships traveling between stars with ease, in reality, traversing through space is a slow and cumbersome process. Even our fastest rocket would take thousands of years to reach a nearby star. Considering the vastness of the cosmos, it is like searching for a needle in a haystack. It is also possible that we are the first civilization to emerge in the universe, which is a lonely thought. Moreover, the responsibility of preserving life on our planet falls on us, as if we were to disappear, all life would disappear with us. Intelligent life like ours has only existed for a tiny fraction of the universe's billions of years. Perhaps we are early bloomers, waiting for someone else to catch up to support this theory. A study conducted in 2015 using the Hubble Space Telescope found that only 8% of the worlds that could sustain life are as old as the Earth. The rest are too young and have not yet reached the point in their evolution where life can thrive. There is a possibility that extraterrestrial life from our galaxy is observing us from a distance. A scientist from another planet might be studying us as primitive life forms right now and choosing not to interact with us yet, similar to how we observe ants in an ant farm during science class. They may have calculated a precise timing for our meeting and are in a hibernation status, which could be a wise decision given that we have all of eternity ahead. Another idea is that our planet and humanity are not yet cool enough for other civilizations to interact with, and we may not be evolved enough to be accepted into the galactic "high school senior class." Additionally, it is possible that life is more fragile than we believe, and even if it has existed in the universe, it may not have evolved to a stage where it could have contacted us. Some thinkers believe that civilizations tend to destroy themselves at some point in their technological evolution, which could be a potential future for us as well. We have not yet reached that level of intelligence and power in our technology, which could potentially lead to our downfall. However, it's not just us; if it can happen to humans, it could have happened to other species on other planets. Despite all the theories, there is one possibility that is both sobering and profound: we may truly be alone in the universe forever. The conditions for life may be so rare that Earth is the only oasis in a vast desert of emptiness. The creepiest answer to the Fermi Paradox is called The Dark Forest Theory. First proposed in the 1980s, this theory suggests that the universe is a huge version of a haunted forest, and other types of creatures are out there playing a game of hide-and-seek. The theory is an expanded version of the survival of the fittest. History on Earth shows that less technologically advanced groups usually end up worse off when meeting more advanced ones. The huge differences in technology often lead to a situation where attacking first seems like the best option if there's even a small chance that cosmic neighbours might harm us. Destroying them first could be our only hope. If the galaxy is full of advanced life, it's smart for us to stay quiet and avoid contact. Other civilizations would probably reach the same conclusion, even peaceful ones might feel forced to attack to survive. That's why some scientists criticize the idea of sending messages out there and think searching for them might be pointless. However, this idea isn't new. A story from the' 40s called First Contact describes humans meeting other types of civilizations for the first time. The two factions formed a bond, yet they cannot afford to reveal the locations of their respective home planets. They would rather annihilate each other than jeopardize their own safety. Another narrative, "The Forge of God," delves into the peril of our signals reaching hostile extraterrestrial beings. It draws a parallel between Earth's broadcasts and a baby's cries that attract wolves, implying that our innocence might put us in danger. The concept of the dark force Theory is also explored in a radio play titled "Calls from Far Away," which depicts how the discovery of alien life on Pluto alters people's perspectives. Some dismiss the news as false, while others strive to comprehend the reality of our not being alone. Additionally, it suggests that perhaps we should prioritize addressing our own issues instead of reaching for the stars. If this doesn't sound alarming, consider the following: we have been transmitting signals of our existence into the vastness of space for decades. At this point, any advanced civilization within a 100-light-year radius might be receiving our signals and, if they possess sufficient knowledge, they will know precisely where to locate us. If there is any reason for us to conceal ourselves from them, it is already too late. Setting aside our galactic counterparts, we must persist in our quest to discover habitable planets for a more urgent reason: our beloved Earth will not endure indefinitely. When our star eventually diminishes, all life within the solar system will fade away. Current estimates suggest that we have approximately 1.3 billion years remaining before our planet becomes uninhabitable. Mans will probably never be able to survive on their surface but other creatures may have evolved to do so. One planet that may feature these weird life conditions is closer than we think. Venus its atmosphere is made out of 97% carbon dioxide it's also very hot and has enough pressure to sustain this theoretical model.