this post was submitted on 09 Nov 2025
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Astronomy

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Aliens Probably Exist - But They’re Staying Silent For a Reason (www.popularmechanics.com)
submitted 1 week ago by original_reader@lemmy.zip to c/astronomy@mander.xyz
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We just live too far apart.

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[–] RickyRigatoni@retrolemmy.com 6 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Yeah with all the time in the universe and how short our civilization has been technological I'm a big fan of the theory that the galaxy is just a big graveyard of civilizations that sprouted and died over the past few billion years. Maybe there's another few right now dotted around but we'll never know before we or they die out.

The universe is kinda sad honestly.

[–] kalkulat@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

civilizations that sprouted and died

Maybe there's something better than civilizations (not that we've ever had one yet) and they figured that out and are too blissed to listen.

[–] RickyRigatoni@retrolemmy.com 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

We've had at least 7 of them

[–] kalkulat@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

When I look back on human history, I can see no period that I would call 'civilized'. (Sure, there were pockets of civilization.)

[–] MotoAsh@piefed.social 3 points 1 week ago

I mean, even if there were many civilizations, I'm betting that any that are smart enough to explore the cosmos have realized one or multiple of the following:

  1. It's possible to 'explore' a massive amount of detail without leaving your home system.
  2. Any civilization that can communicate over vast distances also has vast capability to deliver power to an acute area.
  3. Any civilization on the cusp of 2 is capable of ridiculous levels of distruction, and it'd be wise to make sure they're totally peaceful before making them aware of you.

... Also, I'm a firm believer that humans and other megafauna are, well, mega. Humans are insanely massive on the scale of life as we know it, and life may not need to become so massive to never the less spread out. For all we know, Earth is a battlefield of life that is successful in the grand scheme of things, and humans et. al. are like the Death Stars of the ancient civilizations that are very much still alive.

(ok ok that last bit is very hyperbolic but it should still convey the idea!)

[–] MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

I’d say the universe is kinda safe… for now