The universe is vast—immeasurably vast. It’s filled with billions of stars, many of which have planets orbiting around them. Some of those planets, in fact, could be ideal candidates for supporting life. The sheer size of the cosmos and the potential for life-giving worlds lead to a simple yet perplexing question: Where is everybody? Why, given the seemingly endless possibilities, have we never encountered any signs of intelligent alien civilizations? This question is at the core of what is known as the Fermi Paradox, a scientific anomaly that has confounded researchers for decades.
The Essence of the Fermi Paradox
The Fermi Paradox is named after physicist Enrico Fermi, who famously asked, “Where is everybody?” in the context of discussing the search for extraterrestrial life. The paradox arises from the discrepancy between the high probability of extraterrestrial civilizations existing in the universe and the complete lack of evidence for their existence. Despite the countless stars and planets in our galaxy and beyond, we’ve yet to detect any signals, spacecraft, or other forms of contact from alien life forms. Given the enormous number of potentially habitable planets, this absence of contact is unexpected.
Many scientists and thinkers have grappled with this puzzle since it was first formulated, offering various theories about why advanced civilizations have not been detected. Some suggest that aliens might be avoiding us, while others speculate that they may be in some sort of hibernation, or even that our methods of searching are flawed. The question remains: Why haven’t we found anyone?
The Proposed Solutions to the Paradox
Numerous theories have been put forward over the years to explain why we have yet to detect alien life. One possibility is that civilizations may be spread too thin across the universe, and the distances between them are so vast that communication or travel is practically impossible. Others hypothesize that intelligent life might tend to destroy itself before it has a chance to explore the stars, a notion that aligns with the so-called “Great Filter” theory. According to this theory, there are existential challenges that intelligent civilizations face, which may lead to their extinction before they ever reach the capability for interstellar communication or travel.
The “Zoo Hypothesis” suggests that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations might be deliberately avoiding contact with us, treating Earth as a sort of wildlife preserve. According to this idea, these civilizations have deliberately refrained from interacting with us for reasons that range from ethical considerations to an assessment that humanity is not yet ready to engage with more advanced civilizations.
Despite these and many other theories, none of them can fully explain why we have found no concrete evidence of extraterrestrial life. As our technology advances and we continue searching, the question of why alien life remains elusive only becomes more pronounced.
Alexander Berezin’s “First In, Last Out” Hypothesis
In 2018, Russian physicist Alexander Berezin introduced a new and unsettling theory to explain the Fermi Paradox. Berezin, a theoretical physicist at the National Research University of Electronic Technology (MIET), proposed a theory he called “First in, Last out.” According to Berezin’s hypothesis, the paradox may have a “trivial solution,” but one that is difficult to accept. In essence, Berezin suggests that humanity might be the first civilization to reach the stage of interstellar exploration, and potentially the last to leave. This would mean that while other civilizations might have existed or will exist, humanity could be the first to develop the technology to explore other stars and, by extension, the first to wipe out any competition for resources in the universe.
At the core of Berezin’s theory is the idea that civilizations capable of interstellar travel may unintentionally destroy any lesser civilizations simply by expanding and consuming resources. This process may not be a malicious one; rather, it could be an unavoidable consequence of the drive to expand and harness energy. Much like how a construction crew might demolish an anthill to build a new structure without considering the lives within, advanced civilizations might inadvertently wipe out others due to their technological advances, simply because they are too powerful and indifferent to the existence of other life forms.
The “First In, Last Out” Theory Explained
Berezin’s theory is based on a broad view of what constitutes intelligent life. He argues that the definition of extraterrestrial life should not be confined to biological organisms like ourselves. It could also include artificial intelligences or other forms of consciousness that are entirely different from life as we know it. For instance, an artificial intelligence (AI) that becomes powerful enough might spread throughout the galaxy, replicating itself across solar systems, turning entire regions of the universe into supercomputers in pursuit of its own goals. The AI might not even be aware of the existence of lesser civilizations, and therefore wouldn’t intentionally harm them. The AI would simply continue to expand because it could, much like any organism or system motivated by the imperative of survival and growth.
Berezin’s hypothesis involves a grim future: One where civilizations capable of interstellar travel eradicate all competitors to ensure their own survival and expansion. He suggests that humanity might be in the unique position of being the “first” to develop interstellar capabilities, and, unfortunately, we might also be the “last” to leave—potentially destroying or outcompeting any other civilizations that might emerge later.
Berezin is not suggesting that human beings will deliberately destroy other life forms, but rather that our technological advances could set us on a trajectory where we expand across the galaxy, consuming resources and eliminating any competition. This could happen similarly to the way some human activities, like industrial expansion, inadvertently disrupt ecosystems and wipe out less advanced species.
A Stark Reflection of the Human Condition
Berezin’s hypothesis is unsettling, but it highlights a troubling possibility: The very nature of progress might be inherently destructive. This idea is closely tied to the concept of the “Anthropic Principle,” which posits that the universe is observable in a way that is biased toward human existence. If we are the first civilization to achieve interstellar travel, it might be because the evolutionary processes that lead to intelligent life and technological development are extraordinarily rare and self-destructive. In other words, we might be living in an era where we are witnessing the birth of a species that will inevitably be the last one standing—at least for a very long time.
The implications of Berezin’s theory are profound. If his hypothesis is correct, we might be the “winners” of a cosmic race we didn’t even know we were participating in. And this victory could come at a significant cost—humanity might find itself as the dominant civilization in the universe, but it could also be the cause of the extinction of other potential life forms, simply by virtue of our technological prowess and the unchecked expansion that might follow.
Berezin also compares this scenario to the dynamics of free-market capitalism, where competition drives growth, often without regard for the broader impact on the environment or other living organisms. Similarly, a rogue AI might spread across the galaxy without a care for the civilizations it could potentially destroy. As Berezin puts it, “All that matters is that it can.”
The Future of Humanity and the Fermi Paradox
Berezin’s “First in, Last out” theory adds another layer of complexity to our understanding of the Fermi Paradox. It suggests that the reason we have not encountered alien civilizations is not because they don’t exist, but because we might be the first civilization to reach the level of technological sophistication required to explore the stars—and we might ultimately be the last. The question of whether other intelligent civilizations exist in the universe could be rendered moot, as we could be witnessing the rise of the final dominant species in the cosmos.
While Berezin’s theory may sound bleak, it also serves as a reminder of the potential dangers of unchecked technological growth. It calls for reflection on how humanity’s pursuit of progress might lead to unintended consequences, especially when it comes to our relationship with the wider universe. Whether or not Berezin is correct, the Fermi Paradox continues to provoke thought about our place in the cosmos and the long-term future of our civilization.
Many scientists remain optimistic about the potential for contact with alien life, and some believe that the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) will eventually yield results. However, Berezin’s hypothesis is a sobering reminder that we may need to rethink our assumptions about the future of life in the universe. As we continue our search for answers, the Fermi Paradox remains one of the most intriguing and unresolved mysteries of modern science.
