The Soran Hypothesis

The emergence of the internet has significantly transformed human society, bringing both positive and negative changes. On the positive side, platforms like Wikipedia, Google, and YouTube have revolutionized online learning, while online stores have reshaped the way we shop. Social media has also emphasized the art of projecting a perfect life to the world. On the flip side, the internet has provided a platform for some bizarre conspiracy theories, such as claims that the Iraq War was orchestrated to prevent an Intergalactic war using a Stargate or that the Large Hadron Collider at CERN was built to summon an Egyptian god. While flat earthers remain a topic of debate, one of the most preposterous conspiracy theories suggests that shape-shifting blood-drinking aliens currently rule Earth.

However, let's delve into a less fantastical theory called the Soran Hypothesis, which questions whether there might have been a preceding advanced civilization on Earth before humans. Named after an intelligent reptilian race from the TV series Doctor Who, this hypothesis, published in the International Journal of Astrobiology in 2018 by British climatologist Gavin Schmidt and American astrophysicist Adam Frank, raises a simple question: Could humans have been the first advanced civilization to inhabit Earth?

Before we hastily dismiss this notion, consider this: Earth's history spans millions of years, and the Soran Hypothesis postulates the possibility of a highly intelligent civilization predating humans. Evolution doesn't necessarily culminate in humans as the pinnacle of development; intelligence can take many forms, and Earth's long history provides ample opportunities for other advanced species to have evolved.

Schmidt and Frank argue that Earth had sufficient fossil fuels to support an industrial civilization similar to our own for hundreds of millions of years, dating back to the Carboniferous period approximately 350 million years ago. This opens the door to the notion that another intelligent species could have evolved in Earth's distant past.

However, uncovering the existence of such a civilization is far from straightforward. Over millions of years, geological forces reshape the Earth's surface, erasing traces of civilizations that may have existed. Mighty monuments crumble to dust, and without concrete evidence, identifying a past civilization can be nearly impossible. Fossils, a common way of understanding Earth's history, are highly dependent on specific conditions for their formation, making the fossil record patchy and biased.

Rather than relying on direct evidence of past civilizations, the Soran Hypothesis suggests a novel approach. Humanity's impact on the planet, with activities like burning fossil fuels, altering the atmosphere's carbon isotopes, and changing the nitrogen cycle, is leaving a lasting mark in Earth's geological record. If advanced civilizations once thrived on Earth, similar imprints in the rock layers may exist, mimicking what we are currently creating.

One example from Earth's history is the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), around 55.5 million years ago. During this period, the Earth experienced dramatic changes in temperature, sea levels, and atmospheric carbon isotope ratios. While scientists can't conclusively pinpoint the cause of this event, one theory suggests a massive release of carbon into the atmosphere. Interestingly, lizards seemed to thrive during the PETM, dispelling the notion of blood-drinking lizard people.

The point is that even if there was a lost civilization on Earth, identifying it would be challenging. Different civilizations might leave different marks in the geological record, and if they existed millions of years ago or evolved differently, we might never discover their traces. The Soran Hypothesis serves as a thought experiment, encouraging us to ponder the possibility without definitive proof.

In closing, our understanding of Earth's history continually evolves. Just two centuries ago, people would have scoffed at the idea of dinosaurs, yet today, their existence is undeniable. Could there be another lost civilization waiting to be unearthed in Earth's history? While the Soran Hypothesis remains speculative, it reminds us that the secrets of our planet's past may still be hidden beneath our feet.