We’re alone? Where are the other civilizations? The Fermi paradox, the reason we have not yet contacted another intelligent civilization, was formulated in 1950 by the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi. Why haven’t we already done it? At least humanity should have detected some by now; however, we have not received any sign that confirms or denies that we are not alone in the cosmos.
Now, summoned at the Paris Science Museum Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie by an organization called METI (Sending messages to an extraterrestrial intelligence), researchers from various scientific fields such as astrophysics, biology or history, have raised the possibility that aliens remain at a safe distance from the impact that this intelligent civilization may have on humanity.
According to Florence Raulin Cerceau, co-chair of the workshop and member of the METI Board of Directors who states that the workshop was organized to discuss the Fermi Paradox, “this puzzle of why we have not detected extraterrestrial life has been discussed often, but in the Unique to this workshop, many of the talks addressed a controversial explanation first suggested in the 1970s called the zoo hypothesis. “
And what about The Great Silence? Why haven’t they contacted us?
“Perhaps aliens are observing humans on Earth, just like we observe animals in a zoo. How can we make galactic keepers reveal themselves? If we went to a zoo and suddenly a zebra turned towards us, it would look at us eye to eye and start throwing a series of prime numbers with his helmet, that would establish a radically different relationship between us and the zebra, and we would feel compelled to respond. We can do the same with aliens by transmitting powerful, purposeful and rich radio signals in information to nearby stars “, says Douglas Vakoch, president of METI.
Could we really be part of a galactic zoo? To be observed but from a distance? Or, going one step further, could we be quarantined from the rest of the galaxy? The idea was voiced by Jean-Pierre Rospars, honorary director of research at the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and co-chair of the workshop:
“It seems likely that aliens are imposing a ‘galactic quarantine’ because they realize that it would be culturally detrimental for us to learn about them. Cognitive evolution on Earth displays random characteristics while also following predictable paths. There is no reason to think that humans have reached the highest possible cognitive level. “
Smart life?
All of these guesses also depend on how many civilizations actually exist, which is still unknown. The Drake equation has been used to try to estimate that number, but there are still unknown variables that must be taken into account. How many exoplanets can support life? How many actually do it? How often does intelligent life evolve? How many civilizations are more advanced than us?
While the zoo hypothesis may offer no further answers, it does at least offer another hypothetical explanation for why the universe seems such a lonely place at times.
What will we do if there is finally extraterrestrial contact?
The basic protocols for our first contact with aliens were put into practice in the 1980s, but these are nothing more than guidelines , rather than an action plan for dealing with extraterrestrial contact.
Seth Shostak, who leads the efforts of the SETI Institute for the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, has previously commented that a more detailed plan of action must be implemented. As it stands right now, our response “would be as if the Neanderthals had a plan in case the US Air Force showed up,” Shostak explained.
Referencia: METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence)
