Have you ever wondered, “where is everyone?” This is the central question of the mind-boggling Fermi Paradox. If Earth is not unique, then where are all the other alien civilizations? Countless theories have been proposed to explain our apparent solitude in the vast universe, but none have been completely convincing. It’s a puzzle that continues to captivate our minds.
But now, Russian physicist Alexander Berezin from the National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET) has a new idea. He calls it the “First in, last out” solution to the Fermi Paradox. According to Berezin, once a civilization gains the ability to spread across the stars, it will inevitably wipe out all other civilizations it encounters.
Now, don’t imagine an evil alien race. It’s more likely that they simply won’t notice us. Their exponential expansion across the galaxy might be more important to them than our existence.
“They simply won’t notice, the same way a construction crew demolishes an anthill to build real estate because they lack incentive to protect it,” Berezin writes in his paper, which is available for pre-print and yet to be peer-reviewed.
But here’s the even grimmer aspect. Berezin suggests that the reason we’re still here is that we’re not likely to be the ants. We are the future destroyers of countless civilizations.
“Assuming the hypothesis above is correct, what does it mean for our future? The only explanation is the invocation of the anthropic principle. We are the first to arrive at the [interstellar] stage. And, most likely, will be the last to leave,” Berezin explains.
Berezin’s solution to the paradox is based on simplifying assumptions. He believes that the only parameter that truly matters for defining life is growth. If the drive for expansion becomes dominant, it will trample any other existing life in the universe. Historical examples like colonialism and capitalism support this idea.
So, is this our fate? Do we need to conquer or be destroyed? Well, Berezin hopes he’s wrong. Another requirement of his solution is that life can only be found nearby, not at a distance. So, if we discover alien life before we embark on a path of destruction, it might just make us a decent civilization.
