“But where is everybody?” This now famous phrase that informed one of the greatest paradoxes in history was supposedly uttered by Italian American physicist Enrico Fermi during a random chitchat with fellow esteemed physicists. The scientist pondered over the fact that, given the scale of our universe and the relative abundance of materials deemed necessary for the existence of life, we had not detected any extraterrestrial activity. Fermi’s assertions, now dubbed Fermi’s Paradox, have confounded scholars for decades. There has not been any concrete explanation to disprove or rectify his hypothesis.
Scientists have discovered many planets that resemble Earth’s topography and are potentially habitable. Water, which had previously been thought of as a scarce resource, is now commonplace. Traces of frozen ice have been detected within the polar regions of our closest neighbor, Mars. Europa, one of the moons orbiting Jupiter, is practically a giant ball of ice. Scientists have also discovered planets submerged in endless oceans. These planets have viable atmospheres that resemble that of a primitive Earth. At this point it is no longer a question of whether life exists beyond our small pea-sized planet. It seems more plausible to consider what form of life we are after. These large water bodies almost certainly host microbial life; current technologies, however, we are not able to detect life at this scale.
The primordial soup hypothesis still remains our best explanation for the origin of life. It has been proven through Halden’s experiment that it’s relatively simple to transition from inorganic to organic matter. The ingredients for this simple reaction are plentiful and scattered throughout our universe. Carbon and nitrogen form the basis of life. It is probable that life would have sprung up from these simple elements in any of the planets we have discovered so far. Furthermore, given the scale of the universe, it would be incredibly naive and egotistical to outrightly deny the existence of extraterrestrial life as we are yet to fully grasp the scale of the universe.
Some galaxies are moving further away from us at speeds faster than light, essentially making them inaccessible. With the recent proposal of the existence of an infinite number of universes, the possibilities are endless; the only limit is our imagination. So, now that it has been established that the materials needed for life to exist are in plenty and the ever-increasing number of potentially habitable zones, the question still remains: where is everybody? I will only sample a few of the proposed solutions to this paradox.
We as humans are victims of our own intrinsic biases. As a species, we have only been exposed to carbon-based life. This unfortunately leaves us with an arm tied behind our back as we search for traces of extraterrestrial life. Some planets that we consider inhabitable as they do not meet the criteria for the supposed Goldilocks zone might be teeming with life. Evidence of this is the fact that we have found life in the most extreme conditions on our own planet. Take, for example, archebacteria, which have been found to inhabit very harsh environments, or the crustaceans that inhabit the deepest parts of our oceans. It is clear that life can emerge in the most unexpected places; it is therefore necessary that we remain open to these possibilities.
Another interesting explanation of our failure to detect extraterrestrial life is that the existing life forms are either too advanced or still in the early stages of evolution. Earth has existed for close to 4 billion years. It has experienced several mass extinction events during this period, all of which have helped shape life as we know it today. It is possible that we are the most advanced civilization currently in existence. Detection of inferior life forms is not as easy.
Alternatively, the existing life forms might be way ahead of the human species. These are known as type three civilizations according to the Kardashev scale. These species have mastered the universe and are able to harness the power of entire galaxies. We are but a tiny spec in their presence. Species in a type 3 civilization simply have no interest interacting with a species that is yet to master their own planet. This phenomenon is referred to as the dark forest hypothesis. A type 3 civilization would be more interested in remaining hidden as opposed to meddling in the affairs of mere mortals. Given their scale of their operations, we do not have the resources to attract them enough to risk exposure.
Why would they hide, you ask? Well, imagine the stakes if they were at war with another type three civilization from a separate galaxy or universe. Heck, I’ll throw a spanner in the works and say galaxies are metaphysical bodies and we are a cog in their wheel. Or better yet, we are all part of a giant simulation orchestrated by a type 3 civilization. Perhaps the answer to Fermi’s paradox lies not in the stars but in our own limitations—our biases, our technology, and our understanding of what life truly is. Maybe extraterrestrials are already here, observing us from dimensions we cannot perceive. Maybe they have transcended physical form, existing as pure consciousness, beyond our grasp. Or maybe, just maybe, we are alone in this vast cosmic ocean, the first flicker of intelligence in an otherwise silent universe. Until we know for sure, we remain both the question and the answer, searching the cosmos for a reflection of ourselves. So, where is everybody? Maybe the real question is—are we ready to find out?
Kerry's blog 