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Appendix 5 - Fermi Paradox - Where is everybody?
Appendix 5 - Fermi Paradox - Where is everybody?
The Fermi paradox is: "If our galaxy has several civilizations, capable of interstellar space travel , why we don't have frequent alien visitors here on Earth?".
Latest Drake equation estimate for number of civilizations developing technology in our galaxy is about 5000 civilizations, by Claudio Maccone . Let's consider following possibility as a solution to the Fermi paradox:
In adult human body on Earth there is over 1 kg of microbes, bacteria which we need . We can not exist without them. Same kind of symbiosis with their own home planet microbes probably exist with alien species, especially if alien life bases to same DNA molecule as ours.
Statement 1: The macroscopic life on Earth is in balance with its microbes.
Statement 2: The macroscopic life on other distant alien planet is in balance with its own microbes.
If alien species would visit us and make a physical contact, then the microbial life of the aliens is spread and mixed to Earth. And also the aliens are infected by Earth microbes. And the end result can be:
Result 1: Both the aliens and humans are killed by the exchanged microbes.
Result 2: Only the other one is killed.
Result 3: No harm from microbes, both survive. Because of panspermia mechanism [105,106], the microbes between habitable planets in our galaxy are exchanged all the time. A kind of interstellar vaccination.
So this could be a planetary protection issue. If the first case is the probable result, then intelligent alien species would be wise enough to avoid direct physical contact. Or at least perform extensive biological tests before the contact. "Use gloves when shaking hand with the alien."
<p>In Breakthrough initiatives there is the Starshot project where the plan is to send small ultra-light nanocrafts to the nearest star Alpha Centauri, to get images of recently discovered Earth-like planet Proxima b. The nanocrafts should be sterilized extremely well. Just in case.. Something to think about for the Breakthrough initiatives board: Yuri Milner and Mark Zuckerberg. When we send nanocrafts to Proxima b, then we are the aliens to possible habitants of Proxima b. But are we wise?
One possibility is that the basic assumption of Fermi paradox is completely wrong and we have been visited. About 3 billion years after big bang (10 billion years ago) the massive stars had produced enough heavy elements by supernova explosions to make emergence of DNA based life possible. Civilizations with capability to interstellar space travel could have developed much before our solar system was born 4.6 billion years ago. If so we can ask: Have all habitable environments in our Milky Way galaxy already been habited? We Earthlings may be latecomers. Interesting related issue is also the Zoo hypothesis , and evolution biologists William D. Hamilton's ideas about it: New York Times, Robert Wright , December 2016: Can Evolution Have a ‘Higher Purpose’?
Another solution to Fermi paradox, The Great Filter, is handled by Patrick Rowan in January 2017 Skywatch: Can narcissism explain the Fermi paradox? . Related writing is also by Tim Urban 2014: The Fermi Paradox . The idea in Great Filter solution is that when a civilization develops science and technology, it may reach a point of self-destruction. As one example is development of nuclear weapons, and a global war with these weapons. And see Professor Nick Bostrom of Oxford University explaining the relation of The Great Filter solution of Fermi Paradox and the discovery of Life on Mars, 2008: WHERE ARE THEY? . Dr. Bostrom writes well. But there is one basic problem in his assumptions of probabilities. The panspermia mechanism increases the probabilities for life in our galaxy. Life does not have to be born from scratch again in every new planet. Instead microbial life spreads relatively fast from planet to planet in our galaxy with microbes traveling inside meteorites and comets. Dr. Bostrom is the director of Future of Humanity Institute and director of Strategic Artificial Intelligence Research Center.
My own hypothesis is that there are in our Milky Way galaxy civilizations, which have been wise enough and passed The Great Filter billions of years ago. And they would be capable to interstellar travel and capable to habit other habitable planets. We humans have just started to dream of these same steps and we have started to take the first steps. And I see the Zoo hypothesis as a valid alternative, and also Dr.Bostrom says in his article: "I don’t see how we can conclusively rule out this possibility. ". There is hope to pass the Great Filter. But first we must learn to protect our own planet Earth. We must handle the climate change and the risk of using nuclear weapons. And the world leaders should be intelligent enough to handle these global issues. But to make it clear once more: The NASA plan to bring Martian microbes, alien life, directly to Earth on 2030 decade may be the most potential Great Filter coming closer to us.
The Alcubierre drive is interesting possibility for fast interstellar space travel for advanced civilizations. If there would be frequent alien visitors on Earth, then the planetary protection rules possibly could be relaxed. In that case microbes from several other planets of our galaxy would already have been mixed to Earth biosphere.
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