I’m starting a new series with a borrowed idea. Lately, my social media curation includes things I never knew, rare scientific facts, collections of words/phrases/themes, and/or whackadoo crap I’m wholly unprepared to speak to. Surprise.

Beginning with The Fermi Paradox –

Upon a basic search, the Fermi Paradox, also known as the Great Silence Theory, was surrounded with every iteration of “where are all the aliens?”

In 1950, physicist Enrico Fermi, posited if we haven’t discovered other life by now, then it just does not exist. Fermi reasoned that even a small number of the hospitable hosting planets could harbor life, rapidly expand their own technology and intelligence, then reach out. The fact that it has not happened yet is the premise of this paradox.

Some explain the lack of other life with the Dark Forest Theory (extraterrestrial civilizations choose to stay hidden), Zoo Hypothesis (aliens observe us but do not interact), and/or the Great Filter Theory (explained later).

Limiting observations: similar to “just because I don’t see something, then it doesn’t exist”, scientists have bridged a vast universe of data, or lack thereof, into one paradox. Obviously, this type of philosophy comes with challenges.

Recently, the New York Post published an article stating scientists have determined most civilizations last only about 5,000 years which is not enough time for other species to make contact, citing “space weather” and other space-related challenges as the reason for this relatively short time span.

The SETI Institute also has a great article providing more information on Fermi and some of the core arguments for/against the paradox.

As I learn about these (new to me) ideas and principles, maybe it will spark more creative learning topics. Because why not. Never too old to learn! I understand many will believe this nothing more than a load of crap, but when we stop exploring or challenging ourselves with our own thoughts, the brain slowly loses capacity to understand new ideas and we may even become resistant to other people.

But not me!

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I ask you –

Were you aware of the Fermi Paradox?

(The post Expand Your Mind, pt 1 – Fermi Paradox first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

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