Why haven't we met aliens yet and what to expect from first contact are some of the most heartbreaking questions among scientists.
For decades, mankind has been exploring space with telescopes and research probes. Modern technologies make it possible to "listen" to space in almost all ranges and observe the most distant stars. However, for all the time, not a single reliable signal from an alien civilization was found. Is this possible?
Fermi paradox or where is everyone?
Have you heard of the Drake equation? This is the formula for counting the number of extraterrestrial civilizations, which was invented by Frank Donald Drake. It takes into account the number of stars, planets and satellites, the average coefficient of life formation and much more. After counting, Drake got the number 50,000. This means that this is how many civilizations should be in the Milky Way.
Fermi, in turn, asked a logical question - if there are really so many aliens, then why did we not notice a single trace of their presence? This is how the famous Fermi paradox appeared. Many scientists have tried to answer this question, and some of them may indeed be real.
Recently, researchers at the University of Nottingham conducted a new study with more accurate input parameters. According to calculations, the number of civilizations in the entire Milky Way is estimated at only 30-35. Moreover, the distance to the nearest of them is about 17 thousand light years. With such a spread, the meeting really seems extremely unlikely. But what about signals?
Perhaps aliens are using technologies for communication that we cannot even imagine. For example, quantum, which is virtually impossible to track. Another option is that the signals simply fade out and are lost in cosmic noise while they cover the distance from the source to the observer from Earth.
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Indians and conquistadors
This is one of the most frequent comparisons when talking about the meeting of an alien civilization. Why? Obviously, when it comes to land expansion and resource extraction, the local population becomes either a hindrance or a resource.
The conquistadors did not share their experience or technology with the Indians, they considered them savages, far from civilization. It ended, which is not a real genocide. And in the scenario of meeting with the aliens, we will be the Indians.
Picture illustrating the battle of the conquistadors with the Indians.
Will people be able to fight back? Science fiction is full of examples where humanity has successfully confronted more technologically advanced invaders. But this is nothing more than a fiction.
If alien ships are able to cross interstellar space without consequences, then they are perfectly protected from all types of radiation. Simply put, they are not afraid of radiation, high temperatures and other destructive effects of space. This means that the most perfect weapon of mankind, the atomic bomb, will be nothing more than a firecracker for them …
It remains to count on the scenario from the "War of the Worlds", when the biosphere of our planet will be disastrous for the aliens. However, it is not a fact that biological weapons will not be used against us, or even worse - the complete terraforming of the planet.