Tag: alien civilizations

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.

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.

Zelvyn T’hrialis, The Undercover Cat

On By AlessandraIn Cats, Cats, Sci-Fi, Short Stories, Wolfram "Morsy" Chettoh

It had been nearly seven decades since Zelvyn T’hrialis first set foot on Earth as an undercover cat, black with piercing yellow eyes. Zelvyn came from the Omega Centauri star cluster. He was a member of a highly advanced humanoid race known for their incredible intellect and advanced technologies that far surpassed anything humans had developed. The High Command for Intergalactic Operations (HCIO) tasked him to study human behavior, delving deep into their social structures, emotional complexities, and daily routines. This was in preparation for the imminent invasion of Earth.

Zelvyn roamed the planet as a cat, observing humans and their interactions from a unique and often amusing perspective. He watched families during holidays, saw daily life’s mundane yet intimate rituals, and even experienced the fleeting joys and sorrows that filled human hearts. Over the years, he infiltrated countless households, always charming his way into the hearts of his unsuspecting owners with his intelligence and grace. But it was with Eliza, a kind-hearted middle-aged teacher who inspired young minds, that Zelvyn formed a more potent bond than before. Their bond transcended the boundaries between species and transformed their lives.

Eliza had rescued Zelvyn from a shelter sixteen years ago, unaware of his true identity. She had showered him with love and care, treating him like family and integrating him into her daily life with unwavering affection. Zelvyn, in turn, had grown to love Eliza in a way he never thought possible, feeling an emotional depth alien to his kind. But now, the time had come for him to move on to his next assignment, a mission that weighed heavily on his heart. Zelvyn found himself torn, caught in the crossfire of duty and love. He had to choose between his loyalty to his race and his attachment to his owner, a decision that would alter the course of their destinies forever.

On top of that, Zelvyn had recently befriended Luna, a lively Siamese cat that Eliza had adopted, injecting new energy into the household. Luna was a playful and affectionate feline, always eager to chase after stray shadows and pounce on unsuspecting toys. Still, Zelvyn couldn’t help but feel superior to her in every way. He constantly compared Luna to himself with a smugness he couldn’t shake, finding her antics amusing yet somewhat juvenile.

As the day of his departure drew near, marked on his mental calendar with a mixture of dread and anticipation, Zelvyn struggled with conflicting emotions. On one hand, he knew that his mission was crucial for the future of his race, a task that held the weight of intergalactic responsibility. But he faced a dilemma that gnawed at his conscience. He couldn’t bear leaving behind the home that had welcomed him so warmly. He also couldn’t bear leaving the people who had shown him so much kindness, understanding, and unconditional love, knowing that their lives would carry on without him as a comforting presence. Each pawstep felt heavier as he pondered the choices ahead, the invisible thread tying him to Eliza and the life they had built together, making his heart ache with the thought of separation.



Finally, on the eve of his departure, Zelvyn made a decision. He sent a message to the HCIO, informing them that he had chosen to stay on Earth. In his message, he painted a bleak picture of the planet and its inhabitants, describing humans as violent and ignorant creatures unworthy of conquest.

With that, Zelvyn destroyed his communication device and settled back into his life with Eliza and Luna. He knew that his decision would have consequences, but for the first time in his long existence, Zelvyn felt at peace. He had found a sense of belonging on Earth and was willing to risk everything to protect it.

As he curled up next to Eliza and Luna, Zelvyn felt the warmth of their presence. He knew he had made the right choice. Days turned into weeks, and Zelvyn embraced his new life as a simple Earth cat.

Great Sci-Fi Novels 4: H.P. Lovecraft’s ‘At the Mountains of Madness’

On By AlessandraIn Ancient Civilizations, Books, Reading, Silurian Hypothesis

In a recent post, I discussed the Silurian Hypothesis, which is the possibility that our human civilization is not the first one on Earth. Sci-fi authors have explored this concept in their works for at least a century.

One of the first was Howard Phillips Lovecraft, the author of the Cthulhu Mythos. As early as 1917, he wrote the story Dagon, where the protagonist escapes the German U-boat that sank his merchant ship. However, the sailor soon finds himself on a strange island that “[…] by some unprecedented volcanic upheaval […] must have been thrown to the surface, exposing regions that for innumerable years had lain hidden […]”.

In the middle of the island is a disturbing artifact, an ancient monolith engraved with occult symbols and figures. This human-amphibian mixture fills the protagonist with an inexplicable terror, which only grows worse when a slithering, sucking monstrosity crawls up from the sea and over the monolith. The sight plunges the unlucky man into madness. As a result, he runs away on a “delirious journey” until he wakes up in a San Francisco hospital, where no one believes him, and he’s left alone with the knowledge of the Thing’s existence and what it implies. A Thing so ancient that its existence dwarfs any human concept of time.

Although Dagon is an excellent introduction to Lovecraft’s obsession with vast, inhuman worlds beyond the limit of our knowledge, some of his later works dive even deeper into the rabbit hole of an unbearably old and malign civilization that predates and will outlast humans and their limited, relatively trivial experiences.

In February 1931, he wrote the sci-fi-horror novella At the Mountains of Madness, later serialized in the early 1936 issues of Astounding Stories.

The story is about an American expedition to Antarctica by geologist William Dyer from the fictional Miskatonic University of Arkham. Lovecraft had long been fascinated with Antarctica, though in the 1930s, the continent was not fully explored. As a result, Lovecraft could set his story in a mountainous chain “higher than the Himalayas” (the so-called Mountains of Madness) without fear of contradiction.

The expedition begins promisingly but ends in tragedy and horror after a sub-expedition led by a colleague of Dyer, the biologist Lake, discovers the frozen remains of monstrous barrel-shaped creatures that cannot be reconciled with the known evolution of this planet. They seem half-animal and half-vegetable, with greater brain capacity and super-human sensitivity. Lake jokingly identifies the strange beings with the Elder Things or Old Ones of the Necronomicon, who are “supposed to have created all Earth life as jest or mistake.”

Fig.1: An Antarctic setting in the style of Nicholas Roerich, H.P. Lovecraft’s favorite painter. Image made by the author with Midjourney AI.

Soon, Lake’s sub-expedition loses radio contact with the main party, apparently because of bad weather. However, when Dyer takes a small group of men in some airplanes to find out whatever happened to Lake and company, they discover a devasted camp and no trace of the specimens of the Old Ones, but for a few damaged ones, which they presume must have been buried by Gedney, the one human they couldn’t identify among the corpses.

Fig.2: Lovecraft had a lifelong interest in Antarctic exploration. Image made by the author with Midjourtney AI.

Dyer and a graduate student, Danforth, investigate the mysterious tragedy further by scaling the immense plateau that makes “Everest out of the running.” To their amazement, they find an enormous stone city, fifty to one hundred miles in extent, likely dating to millions of years before any humans evolved on the planet. The subsequent exploration of some interiors leads Dyer and Danforth to conclude that the Old Ones built the city.

Fig.3: A shoggoth in the city of the Old Ones. Image made by the author with Microsoft Bing AI.

Also, by studying some drawings and carvings on the city walls, the two adventurers discover that the Elder Things came from outer space millions of years ago, establishing themselves in Antarctica and eventually spreading across the entire Earth. This is where the shoggoths – shapeless, fifteen-foot masses of gel-like substance which they controlled using hypnotic suggestion – first become important. Over time, these living robots developed a somewhat conscious brain and will, which led to the Old Ones having to deal with the shoggoths’ frequent rebellion attempts. The Old Ones faced more difficulties when other extraterrestrial races, such as the fungus-like creatures from Yuggoth and the Cthulhu spawn, arrived on Earth. The ensuing territorial wars pushed them back to their original settlement in Antarctica. Ultimately, their extinction became inevitable when they lost the ability to travel through space.

Shortly after, Dyer and Danforth discover the body of Gedney and a dog. They also stumble upon a group of Old Ones without their heads, suggesting they regained consciousness after thawing in Lake’s camp. Dyer observes that Gedney’s body was carefully protected to avoid further harm. From this, it can be inferred that the Old Ones were responsible for the destruction of Lake’s camp and took Gedney as a sample. However, the question remains: who killed the Old Ones?

At that point, Dyer and Danforth hear a disturbing piping sound. Afraid it could be some other Old Ones, they flee in terror, but not before they turn their flashlights upon a fast-approaching thing and find that it is “… a terrible, indescribable thing vaster than any subway train – a shapeless congeries of protoplasmic bubbles, faintly self-luminous, and with myriads of temporary eyes forming and unforming as pustules of greenish light over the tunnel-filling front…”

But the two explorer’s trial is not yet over. As they return to camp, Danforth shrieks in horror: “Teke-li! Teke-li!” He has seen something even worse than the shoggoth who killed the Old Ones, something that unhinges his mind, although he refuses to tell Danforth what it is.

Although initially portrayed as scary creatures, the Old Ones are the main focus of the story “At the Mountains of Madness.” Eventually, they are overpowered by the shoggoths, who are described as “the things that even the scary things fear.” Near the end, the Old Ones stop being scary. This is a common theme in stories about civilizations that existed before our current one. For example, similar themes can be found in the novels A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr (1959) and The Second Sleep by Robert Harris (2019). The Old Ones have a deep connection with humans, representing a perfect society that Lovecraft hopes humanity will someday achieve. However, they are much more advanced than humans in various ways, such as intelligence, perception, and artistic ability. As mentioned earlier, the Old Ones are responsible for creating all life on Earth, including humans. Nevertheless, they are destroyed by the shoggoths, initially created by the Old Ones as slaves. This illustrates Lovecraft’s belief in the inevitable rise and fall of civilizations.

Finally, At the Mountains of Madness introduces what later became a trope of sci-fi and fringe literature: most mythological “gods” were mere extraterrestrial beings, and their followers were mistaken about their true nature. The critical passage occurs in the middle of the novella when Dyer acknowledges that the Old Ones must have built the gigantic city in which he has been wandering:

They were the makers and the enslavers of Earth life, and above all doubt the originals of the fiendish elder myths which things like the Pnakotic Manuscripts and the Necronomicon affrightedly hint about.

WHAT WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO SEARCH FOR ET?

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

The Dyson sphere is a hypothetical megastructure physicist Freeman Dyson proposed in 1960.

According to his paper published in Science magazine, a technologically advanced alien civilization would use increasing energy as it grew. As the most significant source of energy in any solar system is the parent star, sooner or later, the civilization would build orbiting solar panels to try to capture it. Such structures would take up more and more space until they eventually covered the entire star like a sphere.

In a 2008 interview with Slate, Dyson also credited the concept to writer Olaf Stapledon, who introduced it in his novel Star Maker in 1937.

Dyson’s hypothesis turned out to be hard to verify because a complete Dyson sphere, absorbing all of the light from the star, would be invisible to an exo-planet hunting telescope (such as NASA’s Kepler). Only half-completed spheres would have a chance to be discovered.

Unfortunately, a Dyson sphere is unlikely to remain under construction for long. The time it takes to make a Dyson sphere is relatively short. A 2013 paper by Stuart Armstrong and Anders Sandberg (“Eternity in six hours: Intergalactic spreading of intelligent life and sharpening the Fermi paradox”) estimates that disassembling Mercury to make a partial Dyson shell could be done in 31 years.

An alternative would be to look for waste heat in the infrared. After being absorbed and used, the energy from a star needs to be reradiated, or else it would build up and eventually melt the Dyson sphere. This energy would be shifted to longer wavelengths so that a Dyson sphere might give off a peculiar energy signature in the infrared. In other words, Freeman Dyson saw a search for his namesake spheres as a complement in the infrared to what Frank Drake’s Search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI, see previous blog post) had begun to do with radiotelescopes.

Carl Sagan and Russell Walker first voiced an issue with Dyson’s SETI notion in their 1966 paper “The Infrared Detectability of Dyson’s Civilizations” for the Astrophysical Journal. The authors noted that:

discrimination of Dyson civilizations from naturally occurring low temperature objects is very difficult, unless Dyson civilizations have some further distinguishing feature, such as monocromatic radio-frequency emission.

In the following decades, the search for Dyson spheres expanded dramatically. Starting from the 1980’s researchers went to work using sources identified by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). These early searches produced little o no results, as most Dyson sphere candidates had either non-technological explanations or needed further study. Subsequent investigations using NASA’s space-based WISE (Wide Field Infrared Survey), with higher resolution than IRAS, have all concluded that the identification of a promising source would not in itself be proof of an extraterrestrial civilization unless the object could be followed up with more conventional methods, such as laser or radio search.

Among the latest developments concerning Dyson spheres are the following:

  • Dyson spheres could be built around black holes instead of stars.

Black holes can radiate incredible amounts of energy (105 more energy than the Sun) produced by the so-called “accretion disk” of gas and dust falling into the black hole’s maw. As a consequence of their spiraling and spinning motions, these materials heat up through friction to millions of degrees, emitting extremely energetic X-ray photons.

But why would an alien civilization decide to build a Dyson sphere around a distant black hole (if it weren’t “distant,” the civilization would have been “eaten” long before it managed to construct the sphere) rather than using their much closer parent star? Black holes concentrate an enormous mass into a space area that is orders of magnitude smaller than a star’s, and are therefore easier to encircle. On the downside, black holes often have bursts of activity followed by quiet periods as they consume varying lumps of matter in their disks. An alien species woulod have to protect their orbiting structures from the huge explosions that might destroy them.

  • Dyson spheres could be circling the husks of sunlike stars known as white dwarfs.

Every star has a finite lifetime. If a civilization arose around a typical sun-like star, then someday that star would turn into a red giant and leave behind a white dwarf. That process would roast its solar system’s inner planets and freeze the outer ones as the white dwarf cooled off. Consequently, the civilization would have to choose between moving to another system or building a series of habitats that harvest the radiation from the remaining white dwarf. It seems unlikely that a civilization, no matter how advanced, would go through the enormous effort of traveling to another star only to build a Dyson sphere.

This allows a direct connection between stellar lifetimes and the prevalence of Dyson spheres.

If enough aliens decided to build Dyson spheres around their white dwarf homes, then astronomers should find at least one Dyson sphere in white dwarf surveys. The presence of a megastructure like a Dyson sphere around a white dwarf would absorb part of its radiation and convert it into reusable energy. Since no conversion is 100% efficient, this process would leave behind waste heat that would escape as infrared light.

Astronomers have already found many white dwarfs with excess infrared emission, usually explained as dust in those systems, not megastructures. According to a paper by Ben Zuckerman and recently accepted for publication in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, no more than 3% of habitable planets around sunlike stars give rise to a white dwarf sphere-building civilization. Still, there are so many planets orbiting sunlike stars that this calculation only provides an upper limit of 9 million potential alien civilizations in the Milky Way.