2018/01/18 by Abraham Loeb, Loeb, Abraham
Physics and Astronomy · #Astro and Planetary Science #Earth and Planetary Astrophysics (astro-ph.EP) #FOS: Physical sciences #Instrumentation and Methods for Astrophysics (astro-ph.IM) #Popular Physics (physics.pop-ph) #Space Science and Extraterrestrial Life #Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.1801.06180
openalex publication_date 2018/01/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
As we discover numerous habitable planets around other stars in the Milky Way galaxy, including the nearest star, Proxima Centauri, one cannot help but wonder why have we not detected evidence for an advanced alien civilization as of yet. The surfaces of other planets might show either relics of advanced civilizations that destroyed themselves by self-inflicted catastrophes or living civilizations that are technologically primitive. Such circumstances can only be revealed by visiting those planets and not by remote observations.