NASA researchers have suggested a surprisingly practical explanation for one of astronomy’s long-standing questions: why we haven’t received any signals from other alien civilizations.
In a study published on the preprint server arXiv, although not yet peer-reviewed, Dr. Robin Corbett, a professor at the University of Maryland and affiliated with NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, posits that the answer might be quite “mundane.”
Corbett’s hypothesis offers a unique, albeit somewhat letdown, explanation for the Fermi paradox: despite the universe’s immense potential for hosting numerous habitable planets, there is no conclusive evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life.
Instead of assuming that advanced civilizations are either hidden from us, incomprehensible beings, or simply extinct, Corbett theorizes that alien societies might plateau at a moderate technological level and gradually lose interest in exploration.
In his theory termed “radical everydayness,” Corbett states, “the most ordinary explanation is most likely to be accurate if it is physically achievable.”
In this “less frightening” reality, there may indeed be many technological civilizations scattered throughout the Milky Way, but none will aspire to develop the galaxy-spanning capabilities often depicted in science fiction.
This implies no Dyson spheres, no global laser beacons, and no fleets of probes traversing the expanses of space.
Even if interstellar travel were feasible, Corbett notes, “the potential benefits must surpass the costs and risks involved.”
Over time, any civilization might come to realize that “there wasn’t much new to uncover in each interaction” with other civilizations, leading to a loss of motivation for further exploration. This could be seen as the galactic equivalent of scientific burnout.
Corbett compares this phenomenon to a form of cosmic habituation, where “an organism’s response to repeated stimulation diminishes.” If most civilizations hit their technological ceilings, they may determine that sending probes and beacons across the galaxy is futile, not worth the effort, and even hazardous.
In this context, humanity’s own radio exploration would likely intercept only faint “leak” signals rather than intentional communications.
“Historically speaking, detection may not be too far off,” Corbett concluded.
“While this could have substantial implications in numerous ways, it might not lead to a significant boost in technology and could be somewhat disappointing.”
In other words, the galaxy might be teeming with life, but it may not be particularly engaging for us.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
