Fermi paradox

Bill Nye’s Answer to Fermi Paradox: Be Patient

The Fermi Paradox is a question that stumps and fascinates scientists (and pretty much everyone else, let’s be real.) The question, originally posed by Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, wonders at why there are theoretically so many habitable planets in the universe, but humanity has yet to make contact with any form of intelligent life. https://gizmodo.com/the-fermi-paradox-where-the-hell-are-the-other-earths-1580345495…

Space & Spaceflight Darren Orf Dec 28

This Short Video Explains Why You’ve Never Met An Alien

Given the extreme age of the Galaxy, extraterrestrial civilizations should have occupied every corner of it by now. Yet we see no signs of this. A short new video produced by New Scientist beautifully explains why the Fermi Paradox is a very real scientific problem and why it should be taken more seriously. An accompanying…

io9 George Dvorsky Dec 16

Is It Time to Accept That We’re Alone in the Universe?

We have yet to discover any signs of aliens, a troubling observation that has led to much speculation. One possible solution to the Great Silence is that nobody’s out there. It’s a conclusion that sounds impossible to believe, but there may be something to it. Here’s why we may be alone in the universe. Photo:…

io9 George Dvorsky Nov 5

Have Humans Already Conquered The Threat Of Extinction?

The Great Filter theory suggests that all advanced civilizations eventually destroy themselves before acquiring the capacity to colonize space — a notion that could explain why we’ve never been visited by aliens. But there may be another reason for the celestial silence. Yes, the Great Filter exists, but we’ve already passed it. Here’s what this…

io9 George Dvorsky Sep 1

How would humanity change if we knew aliens existed?

We have yet to discover any signs of an extraterrestrial civilization — a prospect that could quite literally change overnight. Should that happen, our sense of ourselves and our place in the cosmos would forever be shaken. It could even change the course of human history. Or would it? Top image: Josh Kao; more about…

io9 George Dvorsky Feb 14

A Few Possible Ways That We Could Fund Interstellar Travel

Stephen Hawking argues in the recent book Starship Century that humans need to spread out into interstellar space in the next thousand years, or we’re doomed. So over at Forbes, Elise Ackerman lays out three scenarios in which we could pay the immense cost of interstellar colonization. Image via Merbel on CG Hub. In a…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Nov 18

It’s Easier for Aliens to Visit Us Than Previously Thought

A new study suggests that by using the slingshot effect to propel self-replicating probes through interstellar space, an advanced extraterrestrial civilization should be able to visit every corner of the galaxy in a startlingly short amount of time. The Fermi Paradox, it would seem, is alive and well. Top image: Translight jump by Francis Tsai.…

io9 George Dvorsky Jul 25

11 of the Weirdest Solutions to the Fermi Paradox

Most people take it for granted that we have yet to make contact with an extraterrestrial civilization. Trouble is, the numbers don’t add up. Our Galaxy is so old that every corner of it should have been visited many, many times over by now. No theory to date has satisfactorily explained away this Great Silence,…

io9 George Dvorsky Mar 20

The Great Filter theory suggests humans have already conquered the threat of extinction

It’s difficult to not be pessimistic when considering humanity’s future prospects. Many people would agree that it’s more likely than not that we’ll eventually do ourselves in. And in fact, some astrobiologists theorize that all advanced civilizations hit the same insurmountable developmental wall we have. They call it the Great Filter. It’s a notion that’s…

io9 George Dvorsky Dec 21

With all these exoplanets, where the hell is the alien life?

If there’s one thing the Kepler mission has taught us, it’s that planets are everywhere. Lately, it seems like if we’re not discovering new exoplanets, we’re finding evidence that there are hundreds of billions of them out there (many of them probably even Earthlike), and we just haven’t found them yet. https://gizmodo.com/kepler-scientists-find-freaky-solar-system-thats-unlike-5920596 https://gizmodo.com/a-game-changer-in-the-search-for-alien-life-all-stars-5918518 On one…

io9 Robbie Gonzalez Jun 25

Does a galaxy filled with habitable planets mean humanity is doomed?

Last week, we reported on the astounding confirmation that all solar systems in the Galaxy probably have planets, and that Earthlike planets are more common than previously thought. While this seems like good news for SETI-enthusiasts, the revelation is actually quite disturbing. Given that we have yet to meet any extraterrestrials, the finding could mean…

io9 George Dvorsky Jun 18

Latest Alien Life Theory Posits the Quietest Civilizations Probably Live Longest

For decades the Fermi Paradox has stipulated that unless life is unique to Earth, it must exist throughout the galaxy. And yet, so far there’s been no word. Hence, paradox. A new theory, based on natural selection, might explain why. According to paradox-smasher Adrian Kent of the Perimeter Institute in Waterloo, Ontario, aliens (should they…

Space & Spaceflight Jack Loftus Apr 10

Is ET avoiding us out of a fear of human galactic conquest?

Has ET evolved to be discreet? An evolutionary tendency for inconspicuous aliens would solve a nagging paradox – and also suggest that we Earthlings should think twice before advertising our own existence. As physicist Enrico Fermi argued in 1950, unless the evolution of life is unique to Earth, there must be many intelligent species out…

io9 Mark Buchanan - New Scientist Apr 10

The REAL reason we haven’t encountered any other intelligent life forms in the cosmos

My short story “The Fermi Paradox Is Our Business Model” is up now at Tor.Com. Aliens come to Earth with a very intriguing business proposition… but unfortunately, it’s not quite so lucrative for the human race. Here’s the beginning of the story: The thing about seeking out new civilizations is, every discovery brings a day…

Books & Comics Charlie Jane Anders Aug 11

Oh No! Aliens Have Taken Over Answers.Com!

In our constant search for news of extraterrestrial life, we came across the following question at Answers.com, which appeared to be a desperate attempt to communicate: What Science fiction book Aliens invade destroying human population Group of humans discover an underground race with a weapon that can defeat the aliens? I’m not sure what’s scarier:…

io9 Charlie Jane Anders Dec 1

Why Aren’t Aliens Talking to Us?

Several of the most imaginative minds in science fiction (and science) gathered at this year’s Readercon to discuss a fundamental question of our existence: Why does it seem like we’re alone in the universe? Writers Jeff Hecht, Steven Popkes, Robert J. Sawyer, Ian Randal Strock, and Michael A. Burstein offered their recommendations for the best…

io9 Nivair H. Gabriel Jul 23

Bill Nye’s Answer to Fermi Paradox: Be Patient

This Short Video Explains Why You’ve Never Met An Alien

Is It Time to Accept That We’re Alone in the Universe?

Have Humans Already Conquered The Threat Of Extinction?

How would humanity change if we knew aliens existed?

A Few Possible Ways That We Could Fund Interstellar Travel

It’s Easier for Aliens to Visit Us Than Previously Thought

11 of the Weirdest Solutions to the Fermi Paradox

The Great Filter theory suggests humans have already conquered the threat of extinction

With all these exoplanets, where the hell is the alien life?

Does a galaxy filled with habitable planets mean humanity is doomed?

Latest Alien Life Theory Posits the Quietest Civilizations Probably Live Longest

Is ET avoiding us out of a fear of human galactic conquest?

The REAL reason we haven’t encountered any other intelligent life forms in the cosmos

Oh No! Aliens Have Taken Over Answers.Com!

Why Aren’t Aliens Talking to Us?

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