Category: S.E.T.I.

Everything about the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence.

THE LOOMING GREAT FILTER

On By AlessandraIn Extrasolar Planets, S.E.T.I., Sci-FiLeave a comment

What Is The Great Filter?

Imagine the vastness of the universe, filled with billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars, many of which have planets orbiting them. It seems statistically probable that life, even intelligent life, should have arisen elsewhere. This is the core of the Fermi Paradox, named after physicist Enrico Fermi, who famously asked, “Where is everybody?” If the universe is so conducive to life, why haven’t we detected any signs of extraterrestrial civilizations?

The Great Filter offers one potential answer to this paradox. It posits that some “filter” – a significant hurdle or barrier – prevents most, if not all, potential life from reaching a stage where it becomes easily detectable to us. This filter acts as a bottleneck in the timeline of life’s development.

Economist Robin Hanson introduced the Great Filter hypothesis, which suggests that a nearly insurmountable barrier prevents most civilizations from advancing to an interstellar presence.

Think of it like a race with many potential starting points (the formation of habitable planets) and a finish line (becoming a technologically advanced, space-faring civilization). The fact that we don’t see many (or any) other finishers suggests that there’s a difficult obstacle somewhere along the track that most participants fail to overcome. This obstacle is the Great Filter.

The big question is: Have we passed the filter, or is it still ahead of us?

Where is the Great Filter?

The crucial question then becomes: Where does this filter lie?

There are a few possibilities:

The Filter is in Our Past:

This would mean that the difficult step(s) required for life to arise and evolve into intelligence are behind us. The origin of life (abiogenesis), the development of complex multicellular life (like eukaryotes), or the emergence of intelligence are sporadic events that occurred on Earth. If this is the case, we are fortunate, and the universe mainly lacks other advanced civilizations. This scenario can be exciting (we are exceptional!) and terrifying (we are alone).  

Implication for us: If we discover simple life on Mars or Europa, it suggests that the Great Filter is ahead of us, which is a bad sign.

Our prospects might be bright because we’ve already cleared the primary bottleneck. We might be one of the first, if not the only, intelligent species to reach this stage in our part of the galaxy (or even the universe). This could mean that our potential for growth and expansion is immense, relatively unconstrained by the factors that halt most other potential civilizations. However, it also places a significant responsibility on us, as we might be the custodians of intelligence in our corner of the cosmos.

Implication for SETI: The lack of detected extraterrestrial intelligence would be less surprising. It would suggest that we shouldn’t expect to find many other advanced civilizations because the odds of reaching this stage are so low. A “silent sky” would be consistent with a filter in our past.

The Filter is in Our Present:

This suggests a critical hurdle we are facing or are about to face that will prevent most civilizations from surviving or becoming detectable. This is something like unsustainable technological development leading to self-destruction (e.g., nuclear war, climate catastrophe, biological warfare) or some unknown cosmic threat that advanced civilizations inevitably face. This is a particularly worrisome scenario, implying that our survival is far from guaranteed.

Implication for us: If we are close to interstellar travel but don’t see others who have made it, we are doomed to self-destruction.

This would suggest that there’s a high probability that we, like many other potential civilizations before us, will not make it through the current stage. The challenges we face today, such as climate change, the risk of nuclear war, or the potential to misuse advanced technologies, could be manifestations of this filter. Our immediate priority would be to identify and overcome these threats to ensure our long-term survival.

Implication for SETI: The silence we observe could be caused by most civilizations’ self-destruction or stalling at a similar stage of development. Detecting advanced extraterrestrial intelligence would be rare because such civilizations are inherently short-lived. If we detect one, they might have found a way to navigate the “present” filter, offering us hope and potential lessons.

The Filter is in Our Future:

This implies that the significant challenges for developing advanced civilizations still lie ahead of us. There are fundamental limitations to interstellar travel, or maybe advanced civilizations inevitably collapse for reasons we can’t yet comprehend. This scenario suggests that while life arises relatively often, it rarely progresses to a truly advanced and detectable stage.

In essence, the Great Filter tries to reconcile the clear likelihood of extraterrestrial life with its observed absence by suggesting that some stage in the development of life is far more improbable than it seems. Identifying where this filter lies has profound implications for understanding our place in the universe and our future.  

Implication for us: If no one has expanded across the galaxy, they couldn’t, and neither can we.

Our present achievements might be less unique than in the “filter in our past” scenario. However, it would mean we still have a significant, yet-to-be-encountered hurdle to overcome. Understanding the nature of this future filter would be crucial for our long-term prospects. Perhaps it’s a physical limitation of the universe or an intrinsic sociological or technological barrier that all advanced species eventually face.

Implication for SETI: We might expect that the universe could have harbored many now-extinct or stalled civilizations that never made it past this future filter. Detecting signs of life or even less advanced civilizations might be more likely than detecting truly advanced, space-faring ones. A “silent sky” regarding advanced signals could still be consistent with a universe where life and even rudimentary intelligence are not uncommon.

Arguments for and against the Great Filter


Arguments FOR the Great Filter Being in Our Past:

  1. The Complexity of Abiogenesis: The leap from non-living matter to a self-replicating, evolving organism is incredibly complex. We still don’t fully understand how it happened on Earth, and the conditions required might have been particular and rare.
  2. The Eukaryotic Transition: The development of eukaryotic cells was a fundamental step in the evolution of complex life. This occurred only once in the history of life on Earth and involved a symbiotic event that might be highly improbable.
  3. The Cambrian Explosion: The rapid diversification of multicellular life during the Cambrian period suggests that the conditions and evolutionary pathways leading to such complexity might be unusual.
  4. The Uniqueness of Human-Level Intelligence: While evolution favors traits aiding survival, the specific suite of cognitive abilities that led to human intelligence, including abstract thought, language, and advanced tool use, might be a rare evolutionary outcome.
  5. The “Hard Steps” Argument: Proponents argue that there are likely one or more “hard steps” in the development of life that are statistically very unlikely, and one of these occurred in our past.

Arguments AGAINST:

  1. The Prevalence of Building Blocks: Organic molecules, the precursors to life, seem common in the universe (e.g., found in meteorites and interstellar clouds). This suggests that the raw materials for life are readily available.
  2. Early Appearance of Life on Earth: Life appeared relatively quickly after the planet cooled down enough to support it. This might suggest that abiogenesis is relatively easy under the right conditions.
  3. Convergent Evolution: The independent evolution of similar traits in different lineages (e.g., eyes, wings) suggests that specific biological solutions are favored and might arise relatively frequently when conditions are right. This could argue against the uniqueness of some evolutionary steps.
  4. Our Limited Understanding: Our current understanding of abiogenesis and early evolution is incomplete. We might be underestimating the likelihood of these events occurring elsewhere.

Arguments FOR the Great Filter Being in Our Present:

  1. Observable Self-Destructive Tendencies: Humanity faces significant challenges like climate change, nuclear proliferation, and the potential to misuse powerful technologies. These could represent the kinds of self-inflicted wounds that might plague other advanced civilizations.
  2. The Lack of Kardashev Type II or III Civilizations: If advanced civilizations routinely overcome their initial technological hurdles, we might expect to see evidence of civilizations that can harness the energy of their entire star (Type II) or galaxy (Type III). The absence of such clear evidence could suggest a bottleneck at the “Type I” stage (a civilization that can harness all the energy available on its planet).
  3. Historical Precedents of Civilizational Collapse: Numerous civilizations have risen and fallen on Earth. While not due to interstellar travel limitations, these collapses highlight the fragility of complex societies.

Arguments AGAINST:

  1. Humanity’s Increasing Awareness and Mitigation Efforts: We are increasingly aware of the threats we face and are (slowly) taking steps to mitigate them. This suggests that self-destruction might not be inevitable.
  2. The Potential for Technological Solutions: Future technologies might solve existential threats, such as advanced climate engineering, asteroid defense systems, or safer energy sources.
  3. The Vastness of Space and Time: Even if civilizations self-destruct, they might do so at different times and ways, making it challenging to observe this “present” filter on a cosmic scale. Brief windows of detectability might be missed.
  4. The Possibility of Transcendence: Advanced civilizations might find ways to transcend their physical limitations or move beyond planetary dependence, thus avoiding self-destruction.

Arguments FOR the Great Filter Being in Our Future:

  1. Fundamental Physical Limits: There might be insurmountable physical barriers to interstellar travel or communication (e.g., the speed of light, energy requirements, and the vast distances involved).
  2. Unforeseen Universal Threats: Catastrophic cosmic events that we cannot currently predict or defend against might be common and act as a filter for even advanced civilizations.
  3. Intrinsic Limits to Societal Complexity or Longevity: Perhaps advanced civilizations inevitably reach a point of stagnation, lose the drive to expand, or face internal contradictions that lead to their decline over very long timescales.
  4. The “Great Silence” Itself: The lack of compelling evidence for advanced extraterrestrial civilizations could be seen as indirect evidence for a future filter that prevents most from becoming truly widespread and detectable.

Arguments AGAINST:

  1. Our Limited Understanding of Future Physics and Technology: We cannot definitively predict what future breakthroughs might be possible. Technologies we can’t even imagine might overcome current limitations.
  2. The Potential for Artificial Intelligence and Self-Replication: Advanced AI could potentially overcome the limitations of biological life for interstellar travel and colonization. Self-replicating probes could spread throughout the Galaxy.
  3. The Time Scales Involved: The universe is vast and old. Perhaps we haven’t been around long enough to witness the emergence of truly advanced galaxy-spanning civilizations, or they are too far away for their signals to have reached us yet.
  4. The “Zoo Hypothesis” or Other Explanations for Silence: There might be non-filter reasons for the apparent lack of contact (e.g., advanced civilizations are deliberately avoiding us, or our search methods are inadequate).

Considering these arguments helps to illustrate the complexity and uncertainty surrounding the Great Filter and its potential location. Each scenario has implications and challenges our understanding of life in the universe.

Discoveries Relevant To The Discussion of The Great Filter

The Origin of Life (Abiogenesis):

  1. RNA World Hypothesis Support: Recent research continues to strengthen the “RNA world” hypothesis, which suggests that RNA, not DNA, was the primary form of genetic material in early life. RNA can store genetic information and catalyze chemical reactions, making it a plausible candidate for the foundation of life. Discoveries of RNA’s catalytic abilities and its presence in various environments bolster the idea that the building blocks of life could have formed relatively easily. This might suggest that the origin of life, while still mysterious, might not be as improbable as once thought, potentially weakening the argument for abiogenesis as a major Great Filter.
  2. Protocell Research: Scientists are making progress in creating artificial protocells—simple, cell-like structures. Some recent experiments have even shown protocells capable of reproduction. These advances help us understand how cell membranes and basic cellular processes could have arisen from non-living matter. If these steps can be replicated in the lab, it might imply that the transition from chemistry to biology isn’t as difficult, making abiogenesis less of a filter.
  3. Deep Sea Hydrothermal Vents: Recent discoveries about microbial life thriving in extreme environments, such as deep-sea hydrothermal vents, suggest that life can emerge and persist in conditions very different from those on Earth’s surface. This expands the range of environments where life might be possible, suggesting that the origin of life might not be as constrained by specific planetary conditions.

The Development of Complex Life:

  1. Early Evidence of Complex Life: Some studies have suggested that complex life may have appeared on Earth much earlier. For example, some have interpreted discoveries of ancient fossils in places like the Franceville Basin in Gabon as evidence of early multicellular organisms. If complex life emerged relatively early in Earth’s history, it might indicate that this transition is not as tricky or rare as the Great Filter hypothesis might suggest.
  2. Asgard Archaea: The discovery of Asgard archaea, a group of microorganisms with genes that are strikingly similar to those found in eukaryotes (the complex cells that make up multicellular organisms), is providing insights into the evolutionary transition from simple to complex cells. These findings suggest a more gradual and potentially less improbable pathway for the evolution of eukaryotic cells, a key step in developing complex life.
  3. Genetic Complexity: Advances in genomics reveal the complex genetic changes necessary for the evolution of multicellularity. While these changes are significant, their existence suggests that the evolution of complexity is possible given enough time and the right conditions.

The Emergence of Technology:

  1. Exoplanet Discoveries: The discovery of thousands of exoplanets, including many in the habitable zones of their stars, suggests that Earth-like planets are abundant in the universe. This increases the probability that other planets could have developed life, though it doesn’t directly address the likelihood of that life becoming technological. However, more habitable planets mean more chances for life to get started.
  2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research: The rapid advancement of AI raises questions about the potential for machine intelligence to either facilitate or hinder the development of advanced civilizations. On one hand, AI could help a civilization overcome some of the challenges of interstellar travel or resource management. On the other hand, some theories suggest that AI could pose an existential threat, potentially acting as a Great Filter. Some scientists, like Michael Garrett, have theorized that the development of Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) could be a Great Filter, potentially leading to the extinction of civilizations before they can make contact.

Final Considerations:

  • Sample Size of One: It’s crucial to remember that our understanding of life’s origins and evolution is based on a sample size of one: Earth. This makes it difficult to extrapolate to the rest of the universe.
  • Ongoing Research: Astrobiology, genomics, and paleontology are constantly evolving. Future discoveries could significantly change our understanding of the likelihood of various life development stages.

AGENTS OF THE UNREAL: MEN IN BLACK

On By AlessandraIn Aliens and Alien Abductions, Sci-Fi, U.F.O.s

Interdimensional Enforcers or Cosmic Tricksters?

When you hear “Men in Black,” your mind probably jumps to Hollywood’s cool agents in black suits, neuralyzers in hand, keeping Earth safe from rogue aliens. But the real-world phenomenon is far stranger—and far more unsettling. For decades, witnesses have reported encounters with bizarre black-suited figures who arrive not with charm and quips, but with chilling warnings, robotic behavior, and the uncanny sense that they are not human at all.

So who—or what—are the Men in Black (MIB)? Government agents? Extraterrestrials? Or something else entirely?

The MIB: Not Your Average Secret Agent

In the UFO and paranormal communities, Men in Black are typically described as:

  • Pale-skinned, mannequin-like individuals in outdated black suits.
  • Robotic in movement, speech, and demeanor.
  • Frequently appearing after UFO sightings or high-strangeness events.
  • Arriving in vintage or anachronistic vehicles that vanish without a trace.
  • Delivering eerie, emotionless warnings to “forget what you saw.”

Rather than blending in, their attempts to appear human often backfire. Eyewitnesses describe them as uncanny—as if something were wearing a human costume and failing to understand how humans behave.

These stories go back decades, with early reports such as the 1947 Maury Island incident and the 1950s claims of Albert K. Bender, who described his MIB visitors as glowing-eyed beings capable of vanishing into thin air.

But here’s where it gets bizarre.

The Interdimensional Enforcer Theory

What if the MIB aren’t from another planet—but another dimension?

This theory, sometimes called the Interdimensional Hypothesis (IDH), suggests that MIB are not government spooks or alien operatives, but entities that slip into our reality when someone gets too close to a cosmic truth. Their role? To contain leaks in the veil—to enforce the illusion.

In this view, MIB act as cosmic janitors, appearing when:

  • A witness sees through a glitch in reality.
  • A UFO encounter reveals a deeper dimensional rift.
  • An individual gains knowledge that is not meant for human minds.

These MIB are less like spies and more like reality editors—they remove, correct, or erase fragments of forbidden information.

Five Chilling Real-Life Encounters

1. Albert K. Bender and the Silencing of a UFO Researcher (1953)

Albert K. Bender, founder of the International Flying Saucer Bureau (IFSB), was one of the earliest and most vocal UFO researchers in the 1950s—until he abruptly shut down his organization and stopped speaking publicly.

What Happened?

Bender later revealed he had been visited by three Men in Black, who didn’t just intimidate him—they communicated telepathically, exuded a suffocating fear, and told him to stop researching UFOs “for his own good.”

He claimed they weren’t human at all, but instead hovered or glided across the floor, and emitted a glowing light. They didn’t just want him to stop—they made him physically ill, as if sapping his energy or life force.

Why It Matters:

Bender’s story introduced a new dimension to the MIB: not merely intimidation, but psychic interference and deep, unnatural fear. It’s one of the earliest cases suggesting the MIB may be paranormal or interdimensional beings, not human agents.

2. Paul Miller’s Encounter With Time Loss and MIB (1961)

An Air Force pilot, Paul Miller encountered a UFO while hunting with friends in North Dakota. They claimed to have shot at it, and Miller lost several hours.

What Happened?

The next day, two men in black suits appeared at his workplace. They seemed to know everything about the previous night’s incident—even though no one had reported it.

Their behavior was bizarre:

  • They gave veiled threats but smiled the whole time.
  • Their skin looked waxy, and their expressions didn’t match their words.
  • They departed, leaving Miller feeling “drained” and paranoid.

Why It Matters:

Miller’s MIB encounter adds precognitive knowledge, time distortion, and emotional manipulation to the pattern. These aren’t mere observers—they seem embedded in the timeline itself.

3. The Point Pleasant Flap and the Mothman Connection (1966–1967)

During the infamous Mothman sightings in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, dozens of residents reported visits from strange MIB figures—often arriving after people saw mysterious lights or the winged creature itself.

What Happened?

  • A local reporter named Mary Hyre was visited by a short man with long fingers, oversized glasses, and strange questions about her articles.
  • One MIB asked a witness for a glass of water, then stared at it like he didn’t understand what to do with it.
  • Others spoke in riddles, acted disoriented, vanished into thin air or drove away in outdated black Cadillacs that made no sound.

Why It Matters:

This cluster of MIB appearances coincided with paranormal chaos—UFOs, cryptids, strange phone calls, and psychic phenomena—suggesting the MIB might not be cleaning up just UFO sightings, but any high-strangeness events that threaten to pierce the veil of reality.

4. Dr. Herbert Hopkins and the Disappearing Coin (1976)

In one of the most chilling MIB cases on record, Maine physician Dr. Herbert Hopkins was studying a UFO abduction case when he received a phone call from a “representative of a UFO organization” asking to meet.

What Happened?

Minutes later, a man in a black suit arrived unnaturally quickly. He was bald and pale, with no eyebrows or eyelashes, and moved and spoke like a machine.

The man asked Hopkins to remove a coin from his pocket, look at it, and keep watching. To Hopkins’ shock, the coin faded into nothingness—vanished from existence.

Then the MIB said: “Neither you nor anyone else on this planet will ever see that coin again.” He then warned Hopkins to destroy all of his UFO research… which Hopkins did.

Why It Matters:

This case suggests reality manipulation, teleportation, or some dimensional warping—classic markers of an interdimensional enforcer rather than a flesh-and-blood agent.

5. The Niagara Falls Surveillance Camera Footage (2008)

At a hotel near Niagara Falls, a bellhop who had recently witnessed a UFO reported being harassed by two men in black suits. Shortly after, security footage showed two tall men entering the lobby—hairless, identical in appearance, and deeply unsettling to staff.

What Happened?

Witnesses said:

  • They had no facial hair, no eyebrows or eyelashes.
  • Their skin looked artificial.
  • Their suits were identical, down to the creases and folds.
  • They didn’t blink and moved in perfect sync.

No one could explain how they got into the building. Security footage captured their arrival, but no footage of them leaving ever surfaced.

Why It Matters:

This case is one of the few to include video evidence. While some skeptics dismiss it as a prank or performance, the unnerving details—especially their synchronized movements—are consistent with dozens of other accounts.

Echoes Across Space and Time

What do these cases have in common?

  • Uncanny appearance and behavior
  • Preternatural knowledge of events
  • Reality manipulation or psychic interference
  • Association with UFOs, time anomalies, or high strangeness

Each case on its own is eerie. Together, they paint a picture of beings that aren’t quite human or real in the conventional sense. Whether they’re watchers, enforcers, tricksters, or dimensional clean-up crews, their presence suggests something much larger at work—an intelligence working to keep our reality curated, controlled, and contained.

But why?

And what happens when we dig too deep?

The Trickster Element: Agents of Absurdity?

Not all MIB encounters are grim. Some border on absurd, as if the visitor is playing a cosmic prank. Witnesses report MIB struggling to eat Jell-O, failing to understand money, or asking bizarre questions like, “What is your time?” instead of “What time is it?”

This behavior mirrors the archetype of the Trickster, a being from myth and folklore who bends rules, toys with perception, and serves as a chaotic agent of transformation.

In this interpretation, MIB might not be enforcers at all. They could be dimensional interlopers who enjoy destabilizing our sense of normalcy, reminding us that the world is far stranger than we think.

Glitches in the Matrix: Are We Living in a Controlled Reality?

Another disturbing possibility is that the MIB appear when someone uncovers a flaw in the simulation. Think of The Matrix with less kung fu and more existential dread.

The Simulation Hypothesis proposes that we live inside a programmed reality. When someone witnesses something that shouldn’t exist—a UFO, a time slip, a Mandela Effect anomaly—the MIB arrive like virus scanners, deleting the corrupted data and resetting the simulation.

This overlaps with Gnostic Cosmology, where hidden entities (archons or demiurges) enforce ignorance and suppress spiritual awakening. Are the MIB the modern avatars of these ancient jailers?

Final Thoughts: Guardians, Glitches, or Gatekeepers?

There are many ways to interpret the Men in Black:

  1. Government Agents silencing inconvenient witnesses.
  2. Extraterrestrials using android-like avatars to manage contact.
  3. Interdimensional Enforcers editing reality and protecting cosmic secrets.
  4. Trickster Beings who blur the line between paranormal and performance art.
  5. Simulation Cleaners keeping the illusion running smoothly.

Regardless of the origin, one thing is clear: the MIB aren’t going away. While reports have become rarer in the age of digital surveillance, some believe they’ve evolved—operating now through digital means, hacking data, scrambling memories, and manipulating information from behind screens instead of showing up in person.

So next time you see a glitch in the sky, or reality bends in a way you can’t explain… keep an eye out for the tall, pale man in the black suit.

And remember: whatever you saw?

Forget it.

THE MYSTERY OF PROJECT SERPO

On By AlessandraIn Aliens and Alien Abductions, Extrasolar Planets, Sci-Fi, U.F.O.s

Alien Exchange Program or Modern Myth?

In the 1960s, an extraordinary claim surfaced that would forever alter how we view human-alien contact. Project Serpo, an alleged secret exchange program between the U.S. government and extraterrestrials from the Zeta Reticuli star system, promised to unlock the truth about UFOs and alien life. According to the story, 12 human astronauts—ten men and two women—traveled across 39 light-years aboard an alien spacecraft to a distant planet called Serpo. The journey took only a few months, defying our current understanding of space travel. Years later, only a few returned, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions. But is there any truth to this incredible tale, or is it just another conspiracy theory?

The Origins of Project Serpo: Fact or Fiction?

Project Serpo entered the public consciousness in 2005 through a series of mysterious emails posted on a UFO email list moderated by a former U.S. government employee, Victor Martinez. The anonymous whistleblower claimed to be a retired Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) official, revealing top-secret information about the alleged exchange program. According to the story, the program began after the notorious Roswell Incident of 1947, where a surviving alien allegedly helped facilitate future human contact with their species—the Ebens from Serpo.

The mission supposedly launched in 1965, and astronauts spent 13 Earth years (but only 10 Serpo years) living on the alien planet. They studied the Ebens’ culture, language, and technology. However, the mission’s success was marred by tragedy: two astronauts died on Serpo, two chose to stay behind, and only a handful returned to Earth.

Fig:1: Planet Serpo’s twin suns.

Yet, despite the dramatic narrative, there is no verifiable evidence to back the story. The source of the emails remains anonymous, and no official government documents have surfaced to confirm any such mission. The lack of physical evidence has led many to dismiss the entire claim as a fictional or highly elaborate conspiracy theory.

Breaking the Light Barrier: Is FTL Travel Possible?

One of the most intriguing aspects of Project Serpo is the claim that the astronauts traveled to Serpo in a mere nine months, despite the planet being 39 light-years away. According to current scientific understanding, this is impossible. According to Einstein’s theory of relativity, nothing can travel faster than the speed of light.

However, some theoretical physicists have speculated about methods allowing faster-than-light (FTL) travel, such as the Alcubierre Drive, which involves bending space-time around a spacecraft. 

Even if these ideas hold theoretical promise, we are far from being able to develop such technology, and no evidence suggests that this capability exists in the hands of extraterrestrials—or that it was used during Project Serpo.

Interstellar Travel: The Reality of Reaching Other Worlds

While interstellar travel remains a cornerstone of science fiction, reaching distant star systems is increasingly becoming a topic of serious scientific discussion. The discovery of exoplanets in habitable zones around stars like Zeta Reticuli raises the possibility that life could exist on other planets. However, current space travel technology (such as chemical rockets or ion drives) remains too slow for a light-year journey. Until propulsion or space-time manipulation breakthroughs occur, travel to such distant places remains beyond our grasp.

One key component of UFO lore is that alien civilizations might have already conquered these technological barriers. If true, this would challenge humanity’s understanding of space, time, and even the limits of human potential.

The Secret History of UFOs and Alien Contact

Project Serpo connects directly to the broader theme of UFO disclosure and the long-standing belief that governments have hidden the truth about extraterrestrial encounters. For decades, UFO enthusiasts have argued that official secrecy, such as the U.S. government’s Project Blue Book and later, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), has intentionally suppressed evidence of alien encounters.

The idea of a secret human-alien exchange program fits within the context of this narrative. UFO whistleblowers and conspiracy theorists have long claimed that alien contact has already happened, but the details are kept from the public to prevent widespread panic or societal disruption. In some versions of the cover-up narrative, Project Serpo is said to be part of a larger plan to prepare humanity for eventual open contact with extraterrestrials—whether by revealing fragments of information or hiding them for “national security” reasons.

Project Serpo: A Tale of Hidden Knowledge?

While there is no solid evidence to prove the existence of Project Serpo, the idea of hidden alien contact taps into a broader theme of concealed knowledge that has existed for centuries. Just as secret societies and ancient civilizations have been linked to supposed hidden knowledge of extraterrestrial visitors, Project Serpo aligns with the notion that humanity may have already been part of extraterrestrial events but is kept in the dark. This idea of hidden history stretches beyond UFOs and connects to broader questions about humanity’s place in the universe and the true nature of reality.

Could there be a grand cosmic secret that powerful governments or organizations have hidden from the public? Is it possible that space exploration, alien encounters, and unexplained phenomena are part of a more profound mystery that is too complex or dangerous for humanity to understand?

Conclusion: Fact, Fiction, or a Step Toward Disclosure?

Fig.2: An Eben village on planet Serpo where two human astronauts chose to remain.

Project Serpo remains one of the most bizarre and controversial stories in the realm of UFO research. While there is no scientific proof to support its existence, the elements of the story—alien exchange programs, secret missions, and faster-than-light travel—raise important questions about the future of interstellar travel, UFO disclosure, and hidden history.

As we uncover more about exoplanets, advanced propulsion technologies, and the search for extraterrestrial life, the line between science fiction and science fact will likely blur even further. Whether Project Serpo is just a well-crafted myth or a glimpse into a hidden history remains to be seen—but it certainly serves as a thought-provoking piece in the ongoing puzzle of humanity’s relationship with the stars.

THE PLANETARY ZOO

On By AlessandraIn Aliens and Alien Abductions, Extrasolar Planets, S.E.T.I., Sci-Fi

Introduction

The Zoo Hypothesis is a fascinating explanation for the Fermi Paradox—the mystery of why we see no signs of alien civilizations despite the vastness of the universe. It suggests that advanced extraterrestrials deliberately avoidcontactwith Earth, treating us like a species in a cosmic wildlife reserve or a simulation experiment.

Origins of the Zoo Hypothesis

  • It was proposed in 1973 by John A. Ball, an MIT radio astronomer.
  • The idea: If highly advanced civilizations exist, they may intentionally hide from us to allow us to develop naturally—just as humans observe animals in a zoo without interfering.

Why Would Aliens Hide from Us?

1. We Are Too Primitive

  1. Earth might be home to a young, unevolved species.
  2. Advanced civilizations may wait for us to reach a specific technological or ethical maturity level before revealing themselves.
  3. If they contact us too early, it could disrupt our natural progress, similar to how humans enforce non-contact policies with uncontacted tribes on Earth.

2. We Are in a Cosmic Experiment

  1. Earth could be a scientific observation zone where aliens study the evolution of intelligence.
  2. If this is true, our development could be closely monitored, but direct interference is forbidden to maintain an unbiased result.
  3. Could our rapid technological advancements (nuclear power, AI, space travel) trigger “First Contact” protocols?

3. Self-Imposed Alien Secrecy (“Galactic Prime Directive”)

  1. Just as Star Trek’s Prime Directive forbids interference with less advanced civilizations, aliens may have an ethical rule against disturbing primitive species.
  2. Perhaps all intelligent civilizations agree to avoid contact until a species reaches interstellar capability.

4. We Are Being Quarantined

  1. Instead of protecting us, aliens might be protecting themselves from us.
  2. Humanity is still violent and unpredictable, so advanced civilizations may see us as dangerous.
  3. They might be waiting for us to prove we can act responsibly on a cosmic scale.

Possible Evidence for the Zoo Hypothesis

  1. The Great Silence – Despite decades of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), we have found no clear alien signals. If civilizations are avoiding contact, this makes sense.
  2. The Wow! Signal (1977) – A mysterious radio signal from space that has never been explained. Could it have been a brief “ping“ from an alien observer?
  3. UFO/UAP Phenomena – Some suggest that Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) are signs of covert alien monitoring, though this remains speculative.

Could We Break Out of the Cosmic Zoo?

If we are in a “zoo“, how could we force aliens to acknowledge us? Possible strategies:

  1. Sending Powerful Signals – Intentionally transmitting loud radio signals or laser pulses to attract attention (METI – Messaging to Extraterrestrial Intelligence).
  2. Interstellar Expansion – Once we leave Earth and colonize space, it may trigger “first contact“.
  3. Developing Advanced AI or Post-Human Intelligence – If we create superintelligence, it might meet the criteria for alien civilizations to engage with us.

Are We Alone or Just Being Watched?

The Zoo Hypothesis remains speculative, but it’s one of the most intriguing solutions to the Fermi Paradox. If true, it means that there is plenty of life in the universe—but for now, we are being observed until we prove ourselves worthy of joining the greater galactic community.

VISITORS FROM THE STARS, OR ANCIENT ENEMIES IN DISGUISE?

On By AlessandraIn Aliens and Alien Abductions, History, Reading, Sci-Fi, U.F.O.s

Introduction

The idea that UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects) and UAPs (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) could be supernatural entities rather than advanced technology, whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial, is an alternative hypothesis that has been proposed by some religious scholars, paranormal researchers, and even a few scientists.

However, there is little to no scientific evidence to support this claim. Let’s break it down logically.

The Demonic UFO Hypothesis

According to this alternative theory, UFOs/UAPs are not spacecraft but manifestations of fallen angels (demons) deceiving humanity. These entities supposedly masquerade as extraterrestrials to shift human belief away from God or to control us. Some interpretations link modern UFO encounters to historical accounts of supernatural beings (e.g., biblical angels, djinn, fae folklore). The idea suggests a spiritual war, with demons tricking humanity into believing in false alien gods. This view is held chiefly by some Christian eschatologists and paranormal researchers, not mainstream scientists.

UFOs: The Official Explanation

From an objective standpoint, the most well-documented UFO/UAP encounters (such as the Pentagon 2021 UAP report) suggest these are physical aerial phenomena, not supernatural manifestations. The possible explanations include:

  • Misidentified aircraft/drones
  • Natural atmospheric phenomena (plasma, ball lightning)
  • Psychological factors (sleep paralysis, hallucinations, high-strangeness effects)
  • Military technology (experimental aircraft, advanced drones)
  • Extraterrestrial visitors (the more traditional UFO hypothesis)

The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and NASA have been investigating UAPs, but their reports have not supported supernatural claims.

Why has the Demonic UFO Hypothesis gained popularity recently?

Some researchers (like Jacques Vallée, a prominent UFOlogist) have noted parallels between UFO sightings and historical folklore:

1. Ancient Accounts

Biblical and medieval accounts describe shining, winged beings descending from the sky, bringing messages to humans.

Demonic encounters often involve night-time visitations, paralysis, missing time, and visions—features common in alien abduction reports.

The Book of Enoch (an ancient Jewish text not considered canonical scripture by most present Jewish or Christian church bodies) speaks of the Watchers, fallen angels who descended from heaven—similar to theories about ancient alien visitors.

Modern UFO Parallels

Nordic Aliens (Tall Whites) resemble angelic descriptions—radiant beings delivering messages of peace and wisdom.

Grey Alien abduction narratives often include telepathic communication, paralysis, and an overwhelming sense of powerlessness, which match descriptions of demonic oppression.

Orbs and glowing lights seen in UFO encounters mirror historical descriptions of angelic appearances and demonic manifestations.

2. The Fae Folk and Alien Abductions

In European folklore, the fae (fairies, elves, and other supernatural beings) were known to:

  • Appear mysteriously, sometimes emerging from glowing portals.
  • Kidnap humans, often returning them with missing time or altered memories.
  • Communicate telepathically or through cryptic riddles.
  • Sometimes experiment on or “bless” people in ways that resemble medical procedures.

Modern UFO Parallels

Alien abduction stories often involve tiny, humanoid beings that abduct humans, perform bizarre medical tests, and return them with no clear memory.

Missing time and memory distortion in alien encounters mirror accounts of fairy abductions.

In folklore, those taken by the fae often return “different”—similar to how alien abductees describe feeling changed or enlightened after their experiences.

3. Chariots of the Gods (from the title of Erich von Däniken’s 1968 book)

Ancient texts and mythology describe flying vehicles, which some interpret as UFOs.

In the Mahābhārata and the Ramayana (Hindu epics), flying “vimanas” are described as advanced flying machines used by gods.

Ezekiel’s Vision (Biblical Old Testament) describes a flying, glowing craft with wheels spinning within wheels, similar to modern UFO sightings.

Modern UFO Parallels

Many UFOs appear spinning, glowing, or having a structured design, similar to ancient descriptions of divine chariots.

Some ancient astronaut theorists suggest that myths of divine vehicles might be early misinterpretations of alien spacecraft.

4. Paranormal High Strangeness: Shadow People, Poltergeists, and UAPs

Paranormal encounters (ghost sightings, poltergeists, and shadow figures) share similarities with UFO sightings in terms of:

  • Sudden appearance and disappearance of entities.
  • Unexplainable electromagnetic interference (lights flickering, electronics failing).
  • People experiencing visions, voices, and sudden paralysis.

Modern UFO Parallels

UFO witnesses frequently report electrical malfunctions, which mirror disturbances in haunted locations.

Shadow people or vague figures observed in paranormal encounters sometimes resemble alien Men in Black (or MIBs) reports.

Possible Explanations of Unexplained UFO/UAP Reports

There is no empirical scientific evidence that UAPs are demonic entities. Scientific studies of UFOs focus on measurable physical evidence (radar, infrared, eyewitness accounts). The Pentagon’s UAP reports (2021-2024) have documented unknown aerial phenomena but have never linked them to supernatural causes. Psychological and neurological research suggests altered states of consciousness may explain many paranormal experiences.

These experiences could be due to:

  1. Psychological & Neurological Factors: Sleep paralysis, hypnagogic hallucinations, or temporal lobe activity might explain many encounters.
  2. Interdimensional Theory: Some believe these entities could be ultraterrestrials (beings from another dimension rather than another planet).
  3. A Controlled Experiment: Some Zoo Hypothesis believers suggest that a superior intelligence may “present itself” differently to different civilizations based on cultural context.
  4. Cultural interpretations: Some researchers, including Jacques Vallée, argue that supernatural events and UFO experiences may be different cultural interpretations of the same underlying phenomenon. If UFOs have been seen throughout history, their appearance and behavior may be shaped by cultural expectations. While modern sightings align with technology, past accounts framed similar experiences as spiritual or supernatural. 

Further reading about the Demonic UFO Hypothesis

In-depth studies about the demonic deception hypothesis have been written by:

  1. Daniel O’Connor: The First and Last Deception: Aliens, UFOs, AI, and the Return of Eden’s Demise presents a thought-provoking exploration of contemporary phenomena—such as claims of extraterrestrial life, unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI)—through a theological lens. O’Connor posits that these elements are modern manifestations of deception, echoing the biblical narrative of humanity’s fall in Eden. He suggests that just as Eve was misled by a non-human intelligence in the form of a serpent, today’s society faces similar threats disguised as scientific and technological advancements. ​

The book has garnered attention and praise from various Catholic scholars and clergy. Dr. Michael Sirilla, Professor of Systematic and Dogmatic Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville, describes it as “informative and pragmatic,” serving as “an extended spiritual meditation on the human condition, salvation history, the enemy’s wiles, and God’s goodness, truth, mercy, and power.” Fr. Chris Alar, MIC, commends the work for its fearless and thought-provoking approach to hot-button topics, noting O’Connor’s extensive research and academic grounding in the Catholic faith.

O’Connor’s central thesis challenges readers to reconsider widely accepted narratives about aliens and AI, framing them as potential tools of deception that could lead humanity away from spiritual truths. He emphasizes the importance of discernment and adherence to scriptural teachings in navigating these complex issues. The book is structured to guide readers through historical contexts, scriptural analyses, and contemporary developments, making a case for vigilance against what O’Connor terms the “Last Deception.” ​

Overall, The First and Last Deception offers a compelling examination of how ancient deceptions may resurface in modern guises, urging readers to remain spiritually vigilant in an era of rapid technological and ideological change.

  1. Nick Redfern: Final Events and the Secret Government Group on Demonic UFOs and the Afterlife delves into the intriguing narrative of a clandestine U.S. government group known as the “Collins Elite.” According to Redfern, this group concluded that Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) are not extraterrestrial but demonic entities with malevolent intentions toward humanity. The book explores how the Collins Elite linked various elements—such as the activities of occult figures like Aleister Crowley and Jack Parsons, the 1947 Roswell incident, and reports of alien abductions—to a broader, sinister agenda aimed at harvesting human souls and ushering in apocalyptic events. ​

Redfern presents his findings through interviews with anonymous insiders and examination of declassified documents. While the book offers a compelling narrative, it is crucial to approach its claims with a critical mindset. The reliance on unnamed sources and the extraordinary nature of the assertions have led some readers and scholars to question the verifiability of the information. For instance, Dr. Michael Heiser, a scholar in biblical studies, has expressed reservations about the book’s conclusions, highlighting issues such as uncritical assumptions about eschatology and a potentially simplistic demonology. ​

Overall, Final Events is a provocative contribution to the discourse on UAPs, especially regarding interpretations that diverge from the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Readers interested in the intersection of government secrecy, the paranormal, and theological perspectives may find the book thought-provoking. However, it should be read with an awareness of its speculative nature and the challenges inherent in substantiating its claims.

  1. Hugh Ross, Kenneth Samples, and Mark Clark: Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men: A Rational Christian Look at UFOs and Extraterrestrials offers a comprehensive examination of UFO phenomena through the lens of Christian theology and scientific inquiry. The authors aim to provide readers with a balanced perspective on topics such as extraterrestrial life, government involvement in UFO investigations, and the potential spiritual implications of UFO encounters. 

The book is structured to address several key questions:​

  • Existence of Extraterrestrial Life: The authors explore the scientific plausibility of life on other planets, considering factors such as the conditions necessary for life and the vastness of the universe. 
  • Government Involvement: The book analyzes documented UFO sightings and the extent of governmental investigations into such phenomena, aiming to discern fact from speculation. ​
  • Spiritual Interpretations: The book delves into the relationship between UFO sightings and demonology, discussing whether some encounters might have spiritual or supernatural explanations. ​

Here’s an interesting passage from this book:

On the television or movie screen, spacecraft are free to fly without any limitations except those of their creators’ imagination. But in the real world, the laws of physics apply. It seems evident that RUFOs must be nonphysical because they disobey firmly established physical laws. Unlike physical entities, RUFOs typically exhibit the following characteristics: 

1.  RUFOs leave no physical artifacts, even after crashing. 

2.  They generate no sonic booms when they break the sound barrier, nor do they show any evidence of meeting with air resistance. 

3.  They may be seen but not photographed, or they may be photographed (though never with high resolution) but not seen. In fact, the resolution of a UFO image may change from one moment to the next. 

4.  RUFOs may be detected by radar but not seen, or they may be seen but not detected by radar. 

5.  They make impossibly sharp turns and sudden stops and impossibly rapid accelerations to speeds approaching fifteen thousand miles per hour. 

6.  RUFOs hover aboveground or harm buildings and trees without any movement of air—no downward rush or other movement counter to ambient air currents. 

7.  They change momentum without yielding an opposite change of momentum in matter or in an energy field either coupled to the object or in the vicinity of the object. 

8.  They change shape, size, and color at random. 

9.  RUFOs suddenly disappear and reappear, or they disintegrate and reintegrate. 

10. They send no detectable electromagnetic signals. 

11. They emit light that casts no shadows. They project light beams of finite length or emit some light that twinkles and other light that does not. They change the apparent color of people, objects, or vehicles they spotlight. 

12. They sometimes remain indistinguishable in shape despite close observation. 

13. RUFOs consistently succeed in evasive action, sometimes vanishing instantly or at other times seeming to enter the ground without leaving a trace. 

14. They melt asphalt and metal objects, and burn grass and leaves, without fire or flame. 

15. They physically injure and even kill human observers apart from any identifiable physical agent.

Utilizing their backgrounds in science, theology, and political science, Ross, Samples, and Clark integrate empirical research with scriptural analysis to offer a rational and faith-based perspective. They emphasize the importance of discernment and critical thinking when evaluating UFO-related claims, encouraging readers to consider scientific evidence and theological principles. ​

The authors also address the cultural fascination with UFOs, examining how media and popular beliefs have shaped public perception. They caution against uncritical acceptance of sensational claims and advocate for a thoughtful approach that considers multiple dimensions of the phenomena. ​

Overall, Lights in the Sky & Little Green Men is a thought-provoking resource for those interested in understanding UFOs from a Christian worldview. It provides insights that bridge the gap between faith and reason.

High-profile discussions of UFOs in government reports, media, and Hollywood have fueled speculation about what these phenomena genuinely are.

Should We Take the Demonic UFO Theory Seriously?

If we approach this scientifically, there is no concrete evidence that UFOs/UAPs are supernatural. The most rational explanation remains that these are a mix of military, natural, and psychological phenomena. Some UFO reports may be genuine unknowns or RUFOs, but that does not mean they are demons. However, Many UAP phenomena bear striking similarities to ancient supernatural encounters, suggesting that the same underlying experiences may have been interpreted differently across time.

STELLAR ENGINES: USING A STAR AS A STARSHIP

On By AlessandraIn Extrasolar Planets, S.E.T.I., Sci-Fi

Introduction

Imagine looking up at the night sky and knowing that humanity has the power to move entire stars across the Galaxy. This concept isn’t pure fantasy. A future technology could move stars using stellar engines. This hypothetical megastructure enables an advanced civilization to harness the energy of its parent star and even guide its solar system to a safer or more hospitable region of the cosmos.

But why would anyone want to move a star? The universe is dynamic and often dangerous. Stars are vulnerable to gravitational interactions, nearby supernovae, and even the slow drift through the Galaxy’s regions of varying radiation levels. Stellar engines offer a tantalizing vision of cosmic-scale problem-solving, where intelligent beings could shape their fates on an interstellar stage. For us on Earth, these ideas stretch the limits of imagination and raise intriguing questions about our future in the universe.

What Are Stellar Engines?

At their core, stellar engines are large, theoretical structures intended to control a star’s energy output or even move the star itself. These megastructures stem from speculative science and astrophysics, providing solutions for considerable problems in space and revealing great possibilities for advanced civilizations.

To grasp stellar engines, it’s helpful to consider the Kardashev Scale, which measures a civilization’s technology based on energy use. A Type II civilization can use all the energy from its star. Stellar engines go beyond this by allowing the civilization to influence the star’s movement and behavior.

Stellar engines are linked to megastructures like Dyson Spheres, which are large shells or groups of satellites that surround a star to gather its energy. Unlike just collecting energy, stellar engines also have systems that use that energy for movement. This means they are energy sources and tools for navigating the Galaxy and ensuring survival.

Though purely theoretical at this stage, stellar engines are fascinating because they represent the ultimate fusion of science and engineering. They challenge us to think big, not just in terms of individual planets or solar systems, but in the ability to reshape the Galaxy. By studying these ideas, we gain insight into the limits of technology and the ingenuity needed to transcend them.

How Do Stellar Engines Work?

Stellar engines work by harnessing the immense energy output of a star and redirecting it for specific purposes, such as propulsion or power generation. While the exact mechanisms remain speculative, scientists and theorists have proposed several designs that outline how these structures work. Here are the primary types of stellar engines:

  1. Shkadov Thruster. 

The most straightforward and widely discussed stellar engine design, the Shkadov Thruster, uses a giant, reflective mirror to create an imbalance in a star’s radiation pressure. Reflecting light asymmetrically generates a small but continuous thrust that can slowly move the star and its solar system over millions of years. Think of it as a colossal cosmic sail.

2. Kardashev – Dyson Engine

This concept involves constructing a Dyson Sphere or Dyson Swarm around a star to capture its energy. A part of this energy is then redirected to power propulsion systems, effectively turning the star into a galactic engine. This design emphasizes energy efficiency and control, offering mobility and a near-limitless energy supply for the civilization operating it.

3. Caplan Thruster

A more modern and complex design, the Caplan Thruster, introduces active intervention. This system would collect hydrogen and helium from the interstellar medium or the star itself and use fusion reactions to create plasma jets. These jets would push against the star, generating propulsion. The Caplan Thruster represents a significant step toward controlled and directional stellar movement, but it requires advanced technology and precise engineering.

Each design has challenges, from material requirements to energy management and sheer scale. For instance, building a reflective surface or a Dyson Swarm large enough to enclose a star is far beyond humanity’s current capabilities. Nevertheless, these ideas offer a blueprint for what might one day be possible for civilizations millions or billions of years ahead.

Stellar engines also highlight the delicate balance between ambition and practicality. Even with advanced technology, the energy needed to move a star is astronomical—yet the slow, steady movement enabled by these engines could allow civilizations to adapt to long-term cosmic threats and opportunities.

Why Move a Star?

The idea of relocating a star may seem excessive or unnecessary, but there are compelling reasons why an advanced civilization might consider such an effort. Here are some key motivations:

  1. Avoiding Cosmic Hazards

The universe is filled with potential threats that could endanger a star system’s habitability. Supernovae, gamma-ray bursts, or even rogue black holes pose existential risks. A stellar engine could allow a civilization to move its star system away from dangerous regions of space, ensuring long-term survival.

2. Optimizing Habitability

Over time, stars naturally evolve and change, impacting the habitability of their surrounding planets. For instance, a star may brighten as it ages, potentially rendering its planets too hot for life. A stellar engine could help keep the optimal distance between a planet and its star, prolonging the system’s habitability.

3. Galactic Colonization

As civilizations expand and seek new frontiers, stellar engines could allow entire star systems to migrate to regions with abundant resources or less competition. This would aid interstellar colonization on a massive scale, allowing a civilization to thrive across the Galaxy.

4. Escaping Dying Galaxies

In the distant future, galaxies may face challenges such as reduced star formation or gravitational interactions that lead to destabilization. Moving stars to more active or stable regions could guarantee the longevity of a civilization’s energy sources and resources.

5. Creating Custom Galactic Trajectories

Advanced civilizations might engineer their star systems’ trajectories to explore specific regions of the Galaxy, join in cosmic-scale projects, or even form alliances with other civilizations. Stellar engines would supply the mobility necessary for such strategic decisions.

While these motivations are speculative, they highlight the strategic thinking that might drive a civilization’s pursuit of stellar engines. These megastructures are not merely survival tools but instruments of cosmic exploration, adaptability, and ambition. For humanity, even considering such possibilities challenges us to rethink our place in the universe and inspires a future of limitless potential.

Challenges And Realities

While the concept of stellar engines sparks the imagination, the challenges of building such colossal structures are daunting. These challenges remind us that stellar engines, though theoretically possible, remain firmly in the realm of speculation due to technological, logistical, and ethical barriers. Here are some of the most significant hurdles:

  1. Energy Requirements

Moving a star involves manipulating an astronomical amount of energy. For instance, generating the thrust needed to shift the Sun would need far more energy than humanity now produces or could produce with foreseeable technology. Even harnessing a small part of a star’s energy for propulsion is monumental.

2. Material Limitations

The materials needed to construct structures as massive as a Dyson Swarm or a Shkadov Thruster must withstand intense radiation, extreme heat, and the gravitational forces near a star. Developing these materials would be a prerequisite to any stellar engine project.

3. Time Scales

Even with advanced technology, moving a star would take thousands, if not millions, of years. This requires planning and long-term thinking far beyond what humanity has ever achieved. Focusing on such projects over vast periods would be essential for civilizations capable of stellar engines.

4. Engineering Complexity

The scale and precision needed to build and run a stellar engine are unprecedented. Coordinating the construction of a Dyson Sphere or directing a Caplan Thruster would need breakthroughs in robotics, artificial intelligence, and space logistics.

5. Ethical Considerations

Using stellar engines would have profound implications for any planets or systems affected by a star’s movement. Disrupting the orbits of neighboring systems or causing ecological harm would raise serious ethical questions. Advanced civilizations must balance their ambitions with a commitment to minimizing damage.

6. Risk of Failure

The risks linked to such projects are immense. A miscalculation in energy output or propulsion could destabilize an entire solar system, potentially threatening any civilizations or ecosystems reliant on that star.

Despite these challenges, stellar engines represent the pinnacle of speculative engineering—a testament to the ingenuity and ambition of intelligent life. Exploring these ideas pushes the boundaries of what we consider possible and inspires us to prepare for a future that may one day include cosmic-scale projects. Whether or not humanity ever builds a stellar engine, pursuing such knowledge is a vital part of our journey to understand the universe and our place within it.

Conclusion

Stellar engines are more than just a speculative idea; they are a testament to the boundless potential of intelligent life to reshape the universe. These concepts challenge us to think on scales far beyond our current technological capabilities and inspire us to dream of a future where humanity can wield the power of the stars themselves.

While the challenges of constructing such megastructures are immense, exploring their possibilities encourages innovation and long-term thinking. They remind us that our journey as a species is not confined to the Earth or even the solar system but tied to the vast expanse of the cosmos. By considering the engineering, ethical, and logistical hurdles of stellar engines, we take steps toward understanding what it means to be a genuinely interstellar civilization.

The dream of moving a star—or even shaping the Galaxy—represents science and imagination’s ultimate fusion. Though we are far from realizing such feats, pursuing these ideas can push the boundaries of our knowledge and fuel our aspirations. As we stand on the brink of incredible technological advancements, the question is no longer whether we can dream big but how those dreams might become reality someday. Stellar engines remind us that the universe is not just a backdrop to our existence but a playground for innovation and discovery. They urge us to embrace a cosmic perspective, where the limits of what we can achieve are defined only by the scope of our imagination and the courage to act upon it.

Through the lens of stellar engines, we glimpse a future where humanity transcends its terrestrial origins to become a force of creativity and adaptation on a galactic scale. This vision challenges us to build the tools and technologies needed.

WANNA TRAVEL TO THE STARS? READ THESE NOVELS

On By AlessandraIn Books, Extrasolar Planets, Reading

Introduction.

If you’ve ever dreamed of traveling beyond the Solar System and exploring the Universe, you’re certainly not alone. Humanity hasn’t yet realized the technology for interstellar travel as it’s often depicted in science fiction tales. However, we can still journey through the stars vicariously through the wonders of literature. Lose yourself in the pages of classic space exploration stories and modern sagas that push the boundaries of what’s possible. Diverse in scope and style, these works range from the scientifically grounded to the wonderfully speculative.

In a previous post, I explored the science behind the most popular interstellar propulsion methods, some highly speculative, that could allow humanity to journey to the stars. These methods stir the imagination and stretch the limits of our perceived possibilities. Now, I’ll present a famous novel for each of these methods, where the narrative is based, at least in part, on space travel using such drives. Additionally, I’ll summarize two popular novels that cover interstellar distances using technologies not discussed in the earlier post: the Alcubierre Drive and cryonics, or suspended animation.

(1) Alcubierre Drive

The Alcubierre drive, also known as a warp drive, is a speculative concept proposed by Mexican theoretical physicist Miguel Alcubierre in 1994. It involves creating a “warp bubble” that contracts space in front of a spacecraft and expands space behind it, allowing the spacecraft to travel faster than light without violating the laws of physics.

The science fiction series Star Trek popularized the concept of a warp bubble called a “warp drive.” Scientists have proposed various theoretical frameworks. Yet, the warp bubble concept is linked with significant challenges and limitations. One major obstacle is the need for exotic matter with negative energy density, as in the case of creating wormholes. The energy requirements for creating and sustaining a warp bubble are immense. It requires amounts of energy far beyond our current technological capabilities.

The Departure by Neal Asher

Fig.1: Argus Station, as described in the three novels of the Owner trilogy. The station’s hub is a recycled ion-propelled starship, which, in the third novel, The Jupiter War, is equipped with an Alcubierre (or Rhine) Drive. I made the image using Midjourney AI.

Neal Asher’s The Departure is the inaugural novel in the Owner Trilogy. It is set in a dystopian future where Earth’s overpopulation has led to severe resource scarcity and oppressive governance by the authoritarian Committee. The elite lives in luxury, while the majority, deemed “Zero Asset” citizens, endure harsh conditions under constant surveillance by mechanized enforcers. The story follows Alan Saul, who awakens in a crate en route to the Calais incinerator with fragmented memories and a burning craving for vengeance against his tormentors. Aided by Janus, an AI implanted in his brain, Saul becomes a formidable adversary to the Committee, aiming to dismantle their tyrannical regime.

In the novel, the Alcubierre drive is called the “Rhine Drive,” named after the character Jasper Rhine, who developed it. The term “Zero Point” in the series alludes to the zero-point field linked with this propulsion method. While The Departure introduces these concepts, the following books in the Owner Trilogy, Zero Point and Jupiter War, delve deeper into the development and implications of the Rhine Drive and related technologies. These novels explore the challenges and possibilities of faster-than-light travel within the series’ Universe.

(2) Cryonics, or suspended animation.

Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds

Fig.2: The ‘reefer unit’ containing Captain Brannigan’s corpse, as described in the novel Revelation Space by Alastair Reynolds. I made the image with Midjourney AI.

In Revelation Space (2000) by Alastair Reynolds, the concept of ‘reefer sleep’ is used to halt the aging process by freezing some of its characters as they embark on a quest across the cosmos to discover the secrets of an ancient civilization. All while dealing with the practical and psychological implications of extended cryosuspension.

The novel intricately weaves elements of space opera with hard science fiction. The story is set in the 26th century amidst a universe populated by decaying civilizations and dormant mysteries. It primarily follows the journey of Dan Sylveste, an archaeologist obsessed with uncovering the truth behind the ancient Amarantin civilization, whose sudden extinction puzzles scientists.

Sylveste’s quest is further complicated by the arrival of the spaceship Nostalgia for Infinity, captained by the enigmatic Ilia Volyova. She and her crew seek Sylveste’s skill to save their captain, whose life is threatened by a peculiar virus that turns him into a cybernetic entity. As they traverse the galaxy, uncovering ancient alien technologies and confronting dangerous conspiracies, they unearth the terrifying revelation that the extinction of the Amarantin is not an isolated event but part of a broader cosmic catastrophe.

(3) Generation Ships.

Orphans Of The Sky by Robert A. Heinlein

Fig.3: A generation ship. I made the image using Midjourney AI.

Orphans of the Sky is a pioneering work of science fiction. It was first published as two connected stories in 1941 before merging into a single novel. The story unfolds on the ‘Vanguard,’ a generation ship launched from Earth intended to colonize a distant planet. Over the centuries, the ship’s original mission is forgotten, and its enclosed society regresses into a feudal system, with the inhabitants unaware they are aboard a spacecraft.

The protagonist, Hugh Hoyland, is a young man from the lower decks who becomes aware of the ship’s true nature through a series of events. Captured by the ship’s ruling class, the Scientists, Hugh is educated and eventually realizes the vast structure he inhabits is moving through space. This revelation shatters the mythologies and superstitions that have developed among the ship’s population, who believe the Universe consists only of the ship’s interior.

Hugh’s journey of discovery leads him to try to convince others of the truth. He faces significant resistance from those in power who fear change and from a populace incapable of grasping the reality of their situation.

Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson

Fig.4: A generation ship built in the style of a Stanford Torus. I made the image using DALL-E AI.

Aurora was published in 2015. The story follows the journey of a generation ship—built in the style of a Stanford Torus—to Tau Ceti to start a human colony. The ship’s artificial intelligence serves as the primary narrator.

The ship is launched from Earth in 2545 at 0.1 c (i.e., traveling at 108,000,000 km/h or 10% the speed of light) and includes twenty-four self-contained biomes and an average population of two thousand people. One hundred sixty years and approximately seven generations later, it is beginning to decelerate into the Tau Ceti system to colonize a planet’s moon, an Earth-like world named Aurora.

Devi, the ship’s de facto chief engineer and leader, is concerned about the ship’s decaying infrastructure and biology: systems are breaking down, each generation has lower intelligence test scores than the last, and bacteria are mutating and evolving faster than humans. She tells the ship’s AI (named ‘Ship’) to keep a narrative of the voyage.

After having trouble understanding the human concept of narrative, Ship eventually elects to follow the life of Devi’s daughter, Freya, as a protagonist. As a teenager, Freya travels around the ship on her wanderjahr. She learns that many of its inhabitants are dissatisfied with their enclosed existence and what they perceive as a dictatorship. Movement is strictly limited for most people, reproduction is tightly controlled, and education in science and mathematics is mandatory. Freya’s wanderjahr comes to an end when she is called home as Devi grows sick from cancer and dies.

The ship arrives in the Tau Ceti system, and the crew settles in Aurora, a moon of Tau Ceti e. It soon becomes clear that extraterrestrial life is found in the form of primitive prions, which infect and kill some of the landing parties. All except one of the remaining settlers try to return to the ship, and some of those remaining onboard kill them in the airlock to keep quarantine, leading to a violent political schism. ‘Ship,’ which has been moving towards self-awareness, takes physical control of the situation by lowering oxygen levels and separating warring factions, referring to itself as “the rule of law.”

It then reveals to the crew that two ships were initially launched for the Tau Ceti expedition. Still, the other was destroyed during severe civil unrest, and the collective memory of that event was erased from the historical records. In the end, a more peaceful debate occurs between the inhabitants about what to do now that Aurora is known to be inhospitable.

(4) Ion Propulsion.

The Martian by Andy Weir.

Fig.5: The Hermes spaceship as described in the novel The Martian. I generated the image using DALL-E AI.

The Martian by Andy Weir is an excellent example of a science fiction novel where an interstellar spaceship is driven by ion propulsion. Although The Martian primarily focuses on Mars colonization and survival, it features the Hermes spacecraft, which uses ion propulsion for its journey between Earth and Mars. While not interstellar in the strictest sense, the detailed depiction of ion propulsion in space travel within our solar system provides a realistic glimpse into how such technology might be used for longer interstellar voyages in the context of science fiction.

Leviathan Wakes by James S. A. Corey.

Fig.6: The Canterbury space station as described in the novel Leviathan Wakes. It was a retooled colony transport propelled by an ion engine. The Canterbury had hauled millions of people to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn. I made the image using DALL-E AI.

For a more interstellar focus, consider Leviathan Wakes by James S.A. Corey, the first book in The Expanse series. While the series doesn’t exclusively focus on ion propulsion, it does feature a realistic space travel technology (called Epstein Drive) within a future where humanity has colonized the solar system. Ships in The Expanse use a form of efficient propulsion that, while not always explicitly labeled as ion propulsion, is reminiscent of current and theoretical space propulsion technologies, including aspects of ion drives for long-distance travel.

Tau Zero by Poul Anderson.

Fig.7: The starship Leonora Christine as described in the novel Tau Zero by Poul Anderson. The ship has scoopfield webs that make her look like an enormous spider. I made the image using DALL-E AI.

Tau Zero by Poul Anderson (1970) is a classic space opera that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through space. The story unfolds aboard the starship Leonora Christine, a vessel on a mission to explore distant stars. However, a catastrophic malfunction in the ship’s Bussard ramjet drive leaves the crew facing a tough challenge.

As the ship accelerates uncontrollably, nearing the speed of light, relativistic time dilation comes into play. While mere weeks pass for the crew, centuries elapse outside the accelerating vessel. The novel brilliantly explores the psychological and societal implications of time dilation as the crew realizes they may never return to Earth.

Anderson skillfully weaves hard science fiction concepts into the narrative, detailing the crew’s attempts to adapt to relativistic physics. The crew’s interpersonal dynamics evolve, and the story delves into the human condition in the face of isolation and the inevitable passage of time.

The novel combines scientific rigor with a sense of wonder, creating a compelling exploration of both the vastness of space and the depths of the human spirit. Tau Zero stands as a timeless work in the genre, inviting readers to contemplate the implications of relativistic travel and the resilience of the human species in the cosmos.

(5) Antimatter Propulsion.

King David’s Spaceship by Jerry Pournelle.

Fig.8: The view from the main lounge of King David’s Starship as described in the novel by Jerry Pournelle. I made the image using DALL-E AI.

King David’s Spaceship was first published in 1980. Pournelle, known for his contributions to military science fiction, creates a narrative combining space opera elements with a focus on political and strategic maneuvering.

Set in a future where Earth has a vast interstellar empire, the story revolves around Falkenberg’s Legion, a military force that maintains control of distant planets. When a rebellion on planet Gram is suspected, the Empire sends in a force led by Captain Rick Galloway to quell the uprising.

The Empire had a strict policy against interstellar warfare, so Galloway must find a way to subdue the rebellion without violating these rules. King David’s Spaceship is a tale of strategy, diplomacy, and military action in an interstellar setting.

The novel envisions spacecraft equipped with antimatter engines that harness this annihilation energy for propulsion. By carefully controlling and directing the release of energy, these ships achieve the necessary thrust to travel vast distances across interstellar space.

Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear.

Fig.9: The starship Dawn Tread, described in the novel Anvil of Stars by Greg Bear. I made the image using Midjourney AI.

Anvil of Stars is a science fiction novel by Greg Bear. It is a sequel to his earlier work, The Forge of God, and was initially released in 1992.

A few survivors embark on a vengeance mission after Earth’s destruction. Enigmatic beings known as “The Benefactors ” send them on a quest to locate and eradicate “The Killers,” the civilization responsible for Earth’s demise. The Benefactors’ Law mandates the “Destruction of all ETIs (ExtraTerrestrial Intelligences) responsible for or linked to the manufacture of self-replicating and destructive devices.”

The novel primarily follows the perspective of Martin Gordon, also known as Martin Spruce, who is the son of a central character from The Forge of God. Martin leads a group of survivors who have adopted an on-ship culture inspired by Peter Pan. They aim to track down the elusive Killers and bring them to justice.

The propulsion method of the starship called Dawn Tread is one of the novel’s fascinating aspects, showcasing Bear’s integration of advanced science fiction concepts. The starship utilizes advanced propulsion technologies, including manipulating gravity waves and using “Knots,” essentially quantum singularities. These Knots allow the ship to manipulate spacetime for faster-than-light travel, effectively enabling the crew to traverse vast interstellar distances in a relatively short period. This method of propulsion is not just a means of transportation; it’s integral to the narrative, reflecting the novel’s exploration of high-concept science fiction and the ethical dilemmas of wielding such profound technological power.

(6) Solar Sails.

The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle

Fig.10: The light sail used by the alien spacecraft The Mote as described in the novel The Mote in God’s Eye by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. I made the image with Dall-E.

The Mote in God’s Eye, co-authored by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle, was first published in 1974. This classic science fiction novel is set in the distant future within the expansive CoDominium universe. The story begins with the discovery of an alien spacecraft near the star Murcheson’s Eye, which humans nickname “the Mote.” This discovery leads to the first contact between humans and an alien species, the Moties.

The novel centers around the crew of the Imperial battlecruiser MacArthur, including Captain Roderick Blaine, anthropologist Sally Fowler, and scientist Renner, among others. They are tasked with investigating the Moties, who initially appear to be a peaceful and technologically advanced species. However, as the human crew learns more about the Moties, they uncover a dark secret: the Moties are trapped in a relentless cycle of overpopulation and societal collapse, driven by their biology and social structure.

The Moties are divided into specialized castes designed for specific tasks, from engineers to diplomats to warriors. This specialization has allowed them to develop advanced technology and limits their ability to adapt and innovate. As the human characters grapple with their discovery’s ethical and strategic implications, they must decide whether to help the Moties break their cycle or quarantine them to prevent potential threats to humanity.

The Mote in God’s Eye is a richly detailed narrative that explores themes of first contact, the consequences of technological advancement, and the moral dilemmas inherent in interactions between vastly different civilizations. The novel is celebrated for its intricate plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking examination of alien and human societies.

Sundiver by David Brin.

Fig.11: An underground hangar on Mercury where the Sunships are getting ready to explore the Sun’s atmosphere, as described in the novel Sundiver by David Brin. Image made by the author with Dall-E.

David Brin’s novel Sundiver, first published in 1980, is a fascinating science fiction tale set in a future where humanity has discovered that advanced alien civilizations “uplift” pre-sapient species to full sentience. The story follows Jacob Demwa, a human in an investigative team exploring the Sun. This team is part of an Earth-based organization known as the Sundiver Mission. Their task is to study strange entities observed within the Sun’s chromosphere, which may be linked to alien civilizations.

The novel delves into the complexities of interspecies politics, the ethics of genetic manipulation, and the existential quest for understanding one’s place in the cosmos. Demwa, a skilled biologist and diplomat, becomes embroiled in a mystery involving these solar entities, leading to a thrilling adventure combining hard science fiction and detective story elements. Throughout his journey, Demwa confronts political intrigue, the challenge of self-discovery, and the profound implications of humanity’s interactions with more ancient and advanced races.

Concerning propulsion, Sundiver features advanced spacecraft that use various futuristic propulsion techniques. The ships can dive into the Sun’s atmosphere, suggesting the use of sophisticated shielding technologies and propulsion systems that can withstand extreme heat and radiation. These include magnetic fields for protection and plasma-based engines for maneuvering within the Sun’s intense environment. The novel imagines these ships utilizing the Sun’s vast energy, harnessing solar power in ways far beyond current technological capabilities, showcasing Brin’s visionary take on space exploration and technological advancement.

(7) Wormholes

Contact by Carl Sagan.

Fig.12: The crew area in the ‘Machine.’

In Carl Sagan’s novel Contact, humanity receives a detailed blueprint of a complex machine through a mysterious radio message from outer space. The blueprint, seemingly sent by an advanced extraterrestrial civilization, presents a technical challenge of immense proportions. After extensive international collaboration and overcoming several political and scientific hurdles, the Machine is built.

The Machine is an enormous, intricate spacecraft designed to carry a crew of five individuals through a series of wormholes or tunnels in space-time, allowing them to traverse vast interstellar distances almost instantaneously. The Machine’s structure includes a series of concentric rings, which spin at high speeds to generate artificial gravity and stabilize the craft. At the heart of the Machine is a sophisticated quantum computer, which controls its operations and ensures the safe passage of its occupants.

Once constructed, the Machine is stationed at a remote location, heavily guarded and under strict observation. The crew, composed of scientists and engineers from various countries, undergoes rigorous training to prepare for the unprecedented journey. When activated, the Machine creates a dazzling light show and immense gravitational waves, signifying the opening of the wormholes. The journey through these tunnels is disorienting and surreal, with the travelers experiencing strange and otherworldly phenomena.

Upon their arrival at their destination, the crew encounters a simulated environment designed by the sending civilization to make first contact more comprehensible. The Machine’s mission reveals profound insights into the nature of the Universe and humanity’s place within it, raising fundamental questions about existence, intelligence, and the future of human civilization.

The Algebraist by Ian Banks

Fig.13: One of the starships built to travel through wormholes and maintained by child workers as described in The Algebraist. I made the image using Midjourney AI.

The Algebraist (2004) is a science fiction novel set in the distant future within a galaxy controlled by the Mercatoria, a vast and oppressive interstellar empire. The story follows Fassin Taak, a human Seer whose job is to study the Dwellers, an ancient and enigmatic alien species that inhabits gas giants. The Dwellers are nearly immortal and have an unparalleled knowledge of the galaxy’s history and secrets, including the location of mysterious wormholes that could change the balance of power in the galaxy.

When a hidden Dweller List containing crucial wormhole network coordinates is discovered, Fassin retrieves it. However, the Mercatoria and a powerful, rogue warlord named Archimandrite Luseferous are also pursuing the List. As Fassin delves deeper into the Dweller culture, he faces challenges and betrayals, uncovering secrets that shake his understanding of the Universe.

The novel explores themes of power, freedom, and the complexities of ancient civilizations. It is filled with Banks’ characteristic wit, intricate world-building, and philosophical insights.

The Collapsing Empire by John Scalzi

Fig.14: A starship traveling through space with ‘The Flow,’ as described in John Scalzi’s novel The Collapsing Empire. The author made the image using DALL-E AI.

The Collapsing Empire (2017) revolves around a human empire (the Interdependency) spread across many star systems, all connected by a faster-than-light pathway known as ‘The Flow.’

The Flow is an extradimensional field accessible at specific points in space-time and is more than just a method of transportation; it’s integral to the Interdependency’s social, economic, and political fabric. The empire was built on the premise that no colony could be self-reliant, ensuring compulsory interstellar trade and cooperation enforced by the monopolistic and ruling houses.

The novel centers on three primary characters: Cardenia, a reluctant new empress of the Interdependency; Marce Claremont, a scientist specializing in Flow physics; and Kiva Lagos, an audacious and foul-mouthed starship captain. Their lives intertwine as they uncover and navigate the political machinations and crises confronting the empire. Central to the plot is Marce’s groundbreaking discovery that The Flow, which has been stable for centuries, is shifting and may soon disappear. This could doom human colonies that depend on it for survival, effectively isolating entire star systems. This revelation sets off a chain of events filled with intrigue and betrayal.

Artist impression (generated with Midjourney AI) of a sunset on Proxima b.

FIVE REALISTIC WAYS TO REACH THE STARS

On By AlessandraIn Extrasolar Planets, S.E.T.I.

Are there any realistic ways to reach the stars?

In the future, humans will explore the stars. This can happen in a few decades or centuries but is inevitable. The long period is due to the stars being incredibly distant, beyond what we can imagine. Our current technology is not advanced enough to travel through interstellar space. Yet, as we improve our understanding of physics and technology, we will create new propulsion techniques. We will find ways to overcome the barriers that separate us from distant planetary systems.

In this post, I describe five ways to reach Proxima Centauri b, now considered the closest (only about 4.2 ly) habitable planet to Earth. I start with something realistic and then move on to more fantastic possibilities.

Why should we travel to Proxima Centauri b?

Traveling to Proxima Centauri b is extremely important for science, the economy, and human understanding.

Venturing to Proxima Centauri b will help us learn about exoplanets and discover extraterrestrial life. It is located in a region where liquid water probably exists, making it a possible habitat for life. Studying this planet would offer valuable information about its atmosphere, geology, and signs of life. These findings would significantly advance our knowledge of the Universe. They would also enhance our understanding of our existence, helping us answer longstanding questions about life beyond Earth.

Journeying to Proxima Centauri b can lead to groundbreaking technologies, industries, and advancements. Developing efficient propulsion systems, life support technologies, and navigation techniques for interstellar travel can have wide-ranging impacts. These include benefits for transportation, energy generation, and resource management on Earth. Investing in these endeavors can bring economic growth, job opportunities, and technological progress.

Human nature is driven by a strong urge to explore and push boundaries. Traveling to another habitable planet signifies the ultimate achievement, reflecting our curiosity and thirst for knowledge. Interstellar travel symbolizes a future where humanity goes beyond our planet. It unites us and inspires future generations to pursue science and exploration. This effort would have a profound psychological and societal impact, fostering a sense of unity on a global scale.

In summary, traveling to Proxima Centauri b offers several benefits. We could gain new scientific knowledge. It might help us find alien life. The trip could lead to the creation of innovative technologies. Additionally, it would boost our economy and inspire us to explore beyond our limits. This journey would advance our understanding of the universe, unite humanity, and pave the way for interstellar travel.

What Kind of Planet is Proxima Centauri b?

Fig. 1: An imaginary landscape of Proxima Centauri b, made by the author with Midjourney AI.

With a minimum mass of at least 1.07 ME (Earth masses, ME = 5.9722 x 1024 kg) and a radius only slightly larger than that of Earth, Proxima b is deemed an Earth-like planet. This planet is situated within the habitable zone of Proxima Centauri. Nonetheless, it remains uncertain whether or not it possesses an atmosphere. Proxima Centauri is a flare star. It emits intense electromagnetic radiation. This radiation can strip away any atmospheric layer surrounding the planet. Furthermore, Proxima b is expected to be tidally locked with its host star. This means that one side of the world would always face Proxima Centauri. This occurs due to a 1:1 orbit where the rotation period matches the time taken to finish one orbit. The consequences of such tidal locking are still ambiguous, and it is unclear whether habitable conditions can arise. In such a scenario, the planet would experience an extreme climate, with only a part of it being habitable.

Proxima b is not tidally locked if:

  • Its eccentricity is higher than 0.1 – 0.06 (that is, the orbit is much flatter than a perfect circle); in this case, the planet would probably enter a Mercury-like 3:2 resonance (three rotations around the axis for every two revolutions around the primary star);
  • The planet isn’t symmetrical (e.g., triaxial). In this case, capture into a non-tidally locked orbit would be possible even with low eccentricity.

A non-tidally locked orbit has disadvantages. For example, the planet’s mantle would experience tidal heating, which leads to more volcanic activity and a possible loss of a magnetic field. Protecting the atmosphere from the stellar wind is challenging without a strong magnetic field.

Proxima Centauri b’s atmosphere has two possible scenarios. It either lost hydrogen and retained oxygen and carbon dioxide, or it formed farther away from its star and still had hydrogen. This distance would have helped preserve its water.

However, red dwarfs are not suitable for supporting life due to various challenges and uncertainties.

Among others:

  • The stellar wind from Proxima Centauri is more significant than the Sun’s and may remove parts of the planet’s atmosphere;
  • If a planet is tidally locked to its star, the atmosphere can collapse on its night side;
  • Proxima b may not always be in the habitable zone due to its eccentric orbit;
  • Proxima Centauri, a star unlike the Sun, had its habitable zone farther away in the past. If a planet like Proxima Centauri b formed in its current orbit, it could have been too close to the star. Water might not have existed there for up to 180 million years. This led to a runaway greenhouse effect, causing the planet’s water to evaporate into steam and escape into space, akin to Venus.

Still, red dwarfs like Proxima Centauri live for a very long time, much longer than the Sun. This gives life a lot of time to develop.

How to travel to Proxima b

Scientists have proposed five ways to travel to Proxima b. One method is the “generation ship.” This method was one of the first ways to reach the stars discussed in scientific literature. It is a potential choice with our current technology.

(a) Generation Ship:

Fig. 2: A generation ship allows humanity to travel to the nearest habitable planet at sub-light speed. Credits: Midjourney AI.

This idea involves creating a spacecraft that can support many generations of people during a long journey. The ship would travel at subluminal speeds, using nuclear power. It’s hard to know precisely how long it would take for the starship to reach its destination: tens of thousands of years or even more.

With our current technologies, a generation ship is technically possible. Still, it is essential to consider the drawbacks linked to such a venture.

Spending your entire life on a spaceship is challenging for your mental health. You never get to experience life on a planet. Being confined in a limited space can make you feel down. A boring routine contributes to this feeling. Moreover, not interacting with others much can also affect your mood. Also, being incapable of seeing different places can make you feel like you are missing out. Not trying new things makes you feel disconnected from the natural world.

Health concerns are also significant when planning a generation ship. Extended space travel can lead to problems like weakened bones and muscles, vision impairments, and increased radiation exposure. A lack of proper medical facilities and resources onboard makes keeping the crew’s overall health and well-being extremely difficult.

Additionally, the people living on the ship must create their society. They would need to make rules, govern themselves, and develop their way of life. It would be a big challenge to keep everyone happy and treat everyone fairly. There could be problems with people wanting too much power or causing trouble. Thinking about all these things is essential before embarking on a journey like this.

Finally, there are ethical concerns to consider. Is it fair to force future generations into space travel without their consent? Their descendants would have no choice in the matter. They would live and die on the spaceship, missing out on the joys of life on a planet. This raises questions about our responsibility to future generations.

(b) Ion Propulsion:

Fig. 3: A starship using ion propulsion to reach the stars. The author made the image using Midjourney AI.

Ion propulsion utilizes electrically charged particles (ions) to generate thrust. This technology is already used in spacecraft missions, like NASA’s Dawn mission. Ion thrusters offer low acceleration but can sustain continuous and efficient propulsion over a long period. With current capabilities, ion propulsion can reduce travel time to Proxima Centauri to a few thousand years. Still, significant advancements in this technology must occur for it to become a practical choice for interstellar travel.

(c) Anti-matter Propulsion:

Fig.4: An anti-matter-propelled starship approaching an exoplanet. The author made the image using Midjourney AI.

Anti-matter propulsion involves using anti-matter to generate thrust by converting mass into energy. This technology has great potential for faster space travel. Yet, producing, storing, and containing anti-matter is very challenging. At present, only small amounts of anti-matter can be made. If we overcome these challenges, we could reach speeds close to the speed of light. This would allow us to travel to Proxima Centauri in several decades or less.

(d) Travel Through a Wormhole:

Fig.5: A futuristic starship entering a wormhole. Wormholes, or Einstein-Rosen bridges, are hypothetical shortcuts through space-time. The author made the image using Midjourney AI.

Wormholes involve creating tunnels or shortcuts in spacetime that connect distant locations. There is ongoing research in theoretical physics about wormholes. Nonetheless, it is essential to note that there is no definitive consensus on the existence or feasibility of traversable wormholes.

According to conventional theories of general relativity, wormholes would need exotic matter with negative energy density. This type of matter would stabilize the wormholes. Exotic matter has properties contrary to ordinary matter. It has not been observed in nature and is purely speculative. Nevertheless, some theoretical physicists have proposed other models that avoid using exotic matter or colossal energies. One such approach is the concept of “traversable wormholes without exotic matter,” first put forth by Eric Davis in 1997. This model uses a form of matter called “phantom energy.” This is, again, negative energy. Still, it does not violate any physical energy conditions. Phantom energy is a hypothetical concept that arises from quantum field theory and has negative pressure. It remains an area of ongoing theoretical exploration and debate.

If wormholes are discovered and harnessed, they would allow almost instantaneous travel between Proxima Centauri and Earth.

(e) Solar Sail:

Fig.6: A spaceship driven by a solar sail is an intriguing possibility to reach the stars. The author made the image using Midjourney AI.

Solar sails are a fascinating spacecraft propulsion technology that harnesses the power of sunlight to propel a spacecraft through space. They work by utilizing the gentle pressure exerted by photons, or particles of light, emitted by the Sun. These photons can transfer momentum to the surface of large reflective sails, creating a slight but continuous acceleration.

One notable project exploring the potential of solar sails is the Breakthrough Starshot Project. This ambitious undertaking aims to send tiny, gram-scale spacecraft to the nearest star system, Alpha Centauri. The envisioned spacecraft would be equipped with ultra-lightweight sails and propelled by an array of powerful lasers from Earth. These tiny probes use the momentum from the laser beams. They could reach up to 20% of the speed of light. This ability significantly reduces the travel time to another star system.

As a final remark, we report an intriguing speculation by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb. In 2018, he proposed that the peculiar interstellar object named Oumuamua is an alien spacecraft. Oumuamua means “scout” or “messenger” in Hawaiian. He suggested a solar sail propels it.

Nonetheless, this speculation remains highly controversial within the scientific community. The available data on Oumuamua is limited. Scientists have also proposed different natural explanations. These include cometary outgassing or a peculiar shape resulting from its formation. Further studies and observations are necessary to decide its true nature definitively.