The search for intelligent extraterrestrial life on other planets is a long-standing question. After decades since the beginning of this search was proposed several theories that attempt to explain the reasons for our failures in this matter. One of the most famous theories is called the Fermi paradox. Named after the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi, it asks the question of why humanity has still not met alien life, if all prerequisites indicate that in our Universe there must be other civilizations capable of interstellar travel.
Many have tried to answer this question. According to some, we’re just looking in the wrong places. Others believe that the aliens are dormant. According to the third, we are the only technologically advanced civilization in the Universe.
Alan stern, planetary scientist and scientific head of the NASA space mission “New horizons”, on this there is another theory. And on it he shared at the recent 49th annual meeting of planetary scientists, American astronomical society.
Writes Space.com stern came up with the idea that extraterrestrial intelligent life may indeed exist in other parts of our galaxy, but she lives, most likely in the dark ocean depths beneath the surface of the planets. Such oceans should definitely exist in our galaxy, at least as a minimum, because there are in our own Solar system – Pluto, Jupiter’s moons, Saturn’s moon Titan, to name but a few. Subsurface oceans, according to stern, would give life more time to develop it, protecting it from exposure to external threats that usually affect any other exposed surface of the planets.
“Solar flares, supernova explosions, a feature of the orbits, the presence or absence of the magnetosphere and atmosphere – all of these factors in this case be insignificant,” explained stern Space.com.
Continuing to delve into his theory, stern also suggested that an alien civilization all his time living beneath the surface may not be aware of the existence of another, adpowerzone the world. And if it is actually so, that these civilizations certainly know much less about their surrounding galaxy. Unfortunately, even if these civilizations wanted someone (in this case us) to make contact, we most likely would not be able to detect signs of these attempts. Very low frequency radio waves could, of course, do something to help, but even with them the chance for detection would be very low.
The constant life in the ocean can not to defer its mark. When you open the possibility and desire to travel between the stars such civilizations would have to find a solution to a serious problem associated with life-support systems, as the latter, of course, would work primarily on the water. The incredibly large volume of water. Water is known to be very heavy substance. Therefore, even in the case of the orbit of my home planet such civilizations would have to use a significantly more significant volumes of fuel required for acceleration of the spacecraft.
However, the theory of the stern – it’s just a theory. The astronomer never considered it as the ultimate answer to the Fermi paradox.
“Perhaps this puzzle has no answer. My theory merely adds a new element to the discussion of this issue,” he says.
Humanity, no doubt, will continue to search for intelligent extraterrestrial life, and its opening will certainly be the biggest in our human history. Accurately predict when it will happen, we can’t, but at least we got a plan of action when that time comes.
Aliens may be hiding in the oceans, says astronomer Alan stern
Nikolai Khizhnyak