There Are Thousands of Alien Empires in The Milky Way
Summary
TLDRThe video script explores the possibility of alien civilizations in the Milky Way, considering various scenarios and challenges. It questions the assumption that advanced technology would make space colonization easy, comparing the galaxy to Oceania, a region with scattered islands. The script discusses the potential for civilizations to expand like the Polynesians, colonizing only the most habitable planets and forming interconnected empires. It also addresses the difficulties of maintaining large empires across vast distances and the likelihood of civilizations developing independently, potentially leading to different species. The video ponders whether we are alone due to Earth's isolation or if we are yet to encounter the diverse civilizations that may exist in more densely populated regions of the galaxy.
Takeaways
- 🌌 The Milky Way could potentially host thousands of alien empires, but we have yet to encounter any, leading to questions about the true nature of interstellar travel and civilization expansion.
- 🚀 The common assumption that advanced technology will make space colonization easy might be flawed, suggesting that space travel could remain inherently challenging even for highly advanced civilizations.
- 🌊 Drawing a parallel to Oceania's colonization by Polynesians, the galaxy might be full of life, but the expansion could be slow and arduous, similar to the island hopping across the vast Pacific Ocean.
- 🏝️ Many Pacific islands, like some planets, are inhospitable or have limited resources, which could explain why certain areas of the galaxy remain uncolonized or abandoned by advanced civilizations.
- 🌍 Earth-like planets are abundant in the Milky Way, but most are extreme environments like Venus and Mars, which may not be suitable for life or colonization without significant terraforming efforts.
- 🚢 The idea of traveling for generations to colonize new star systems, only to encounter planets similar to Mars or Venus, might discourage interstellar expansion for alien civilizations.
- 💡 High-tech civilizations might opt for a more selective approach, colonizing only the most hospitable planets, leading to a patchwork of isolated empires rather than a single galaxy-spanning civilization.
- 🌠 The Milky Way's structure, with stars moving in their own orbits, creates temporary stellar neighborhoods that could facilitate the expansion of civilizations in regions with more 'good islands' at certain times.
- 🛸 Civilizations might form and re-form, colonize and abandon planets, and evolve into different species due to the vast distances and isolation, making a unified galactic empire unlikely.
- 🌐 The concept of isolated Earth might be temporary, with the possibility of future encounters with diverse civilizations as we explore and are explored in the vast galactic 'ocean'.
Q & A
What is the Fermi Paradox and how does the video script address it?
-The Fermi Paradox is the apparent contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial life in the universe and the lack of contact with such civilizations. The video script addresses it by speculating that even if there are thousands of alien empires, the vastness and challenges of space might prevent us from encountering them, suggesting that space travel might be harder than we think even for technologically advanced civilizations.
How does the script use the colonization of Oceania to draw parallels with potential space exploration and colonization?
-The script uses the colonization of Oceania as an analogy for space exploration, highlighting the challenges faced by early humans, such as traversing vast distances and settling on islands with varying levels of habitability. It suggests that alien civilizations might also face similar challenges in space, expanding slowly and carefully, rather than rapidly colonizing the entire galaxy.
What are some of the factors that might make a planet 'uninhabitable' according to the script?
-The script mentions several factors that could make a planet uninhabitable, including extreme conditions like lava worlds, frozen dead worlds, barren rocks, high radiation levels, and toxic atmospheres. It also points out that even planets like Venus and Mars, which are considered 'earth-like,' are actually very hostile to human life due to their respective environmental challenges.
How does the script challenge the assumption that advanced technology will make space colonization easy?
-The script challenges this assumption by proposing that space might be inherently difficult to conquer, regardless of technological advancement. It suggests that even with highly advanced technology, the process of colonizing new planets could be resource-intensive and not economically viable for most star systems, leading to a slower pace of galactic expansion than often predicted.
What is the significance of the 'good islands' in the Milky Way according to the script?
-The 'good islands' in the Milky Way are比喻为那些适宜生命存在和文明发展的星球。这些星球可能拥有液态水、适宜的气候和足够的资源来维持文明。根据剧本，这些好的星球可能是星际文明扩张的关键点，文明可能会在这些星球之间跳跃，形成连接的帝国，而不是均匀地在整个银河系扩张。
How does the script explain the possibility of Earth being an isolated 'Pitcairn island' in the Milky Way?
-The script suggests that Earth might be akin to the Pitcairn islands in terms of isolation. This is based on the idea that we could be located in a region of the galaxy that is surrounded by uninhabitable planets, making contact with other civilizations unlikely. It also raises the possibility that we might be overlooked or deemed not worth colonizing due to our remote location.
What are some existential risks that civilizations might face according to the script?
-The script mentions existential risks such as cultural, technological, and environmental threats that any civilization has to deal with. It suggests that even advanced civilizations might face challenges that could lead to their decline or destruction, such as unsustainable practices, self-destruction, or the inability to adapt to new environments.
How does the script view the potential for interstellar communication and cooperation among civilizations?
-The script posits that the enormous distances between stars could make consistent communication and cooperation among civilizations difficult. It suggests that it might take decades for messages to travel between civilizations, making it challenging to maintain a unified empire or to engage in non-genocidal interstellar wars. It also raises the possibility that isolated colonies might develop their own distinct cultures and species over time, further complicating cooperation and unity.
What is the role of the 'Ground News' service mentioned in the script?
-The 'Ground News' service is presented as a tool to help people navigate the biased media landscape by allowing them to compare different articles on the same topic from media with opposing viewpoints. This service aims to provide users with a more comprehensive understanding of events and issues, helping them to form their own opinions based on a wider range of perspectives.
How does the script relate the concept of 'island empires' to the potential structure of civilizations in the Milky Way?
-The script suggests that civilizations in the Milky Way might form 'island empires' similar to those established by Polynesians in Oceania. These empires would be composed of 'good islands' or habitable planets connected by their proximity and shared resources. However, the script also notes that these empires might be temporary and subject to change due to the dynamic nature of the galaxy and the various challenges faced by civilizations.
What is the significance of the 'kurgzesagt lab' and the final inspection by Duck in the script?
-The 'kurzgesagt lab' represents the creative and scientific process behind the content produced by the team. Duck's final inspection symbolizes the high standards and rigorous review that their work undergoes to ensure scientific accuracy and quality. This segment emphasizes the team's commitment to producing content that is both informative and visually appealing.
Outlines
🌌 The Paradox of Alien Civilizations
This paragraph introduces the concept of the Fermi Paradox, questioning why, despite the vast number of potential alien civilizations in the Milky Way, we have not encountered any signs of extraterrestrial life. It challenges the assumption that technological advancement inevitably leads to the colonization of space and instead proposes that space travel may always be inherently difficult, even for advanced civilizations. The paragraph draws an analogy between the colonization of Oceania by ancient Polynesians and the potential exploration of space by alien civilizations, highlighting the challenges and the possibility that Earth might be in a remote region of the galaxy, isolated from other inhabited star systems.
🚀 The Hard Reality of Space Expansion
This paragraph discusses the potential difficulties in space expansion for advanced civilizations. It suggests that even with highly advanced technology, the process of colonizing new planets might be as challenging as the Polynesians' oceanic voyages. The paragraph points out that many potentially habitable planets might be inhospitable, similar to Mars and Venus, making the idea of terraforming a massive investment of resources. It also considers the possibility that the economics of interstellar travel and colonization might not be feasible for most star systems. The discussion then shifts to the idea that alien civilizations might only choose the most hospitable planets, leading to the formation of small, isolated empires rather than a single, vast galactic empire.
🌐 Navigating Biased Information and the Quest for Truth
The final paragraph shifts focus from the cosmic scale to the challenges of understanding reality in the face of biased media. It introduces Ground News, a sponsor of the video, as a tool for navigating media bias by comparing articles on the same topic from different sources. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of having a comprehensive understanding of events and issues, rather than relying on a single perspective. It also shares a personal story of the founder of kurzgesagt, who discovered the extent of media framing during a hospital stay, and encourages viewers to use Ground News to gain a broader view of the world. The paragraph concludes with a brief mention of the kurzgesagt lab and an invitation for viewers to support the channel by purchasing products from their shop.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Alien Empires
💡Space Colonization
💡Oceania
💡Polynesians
💡Habitable Zone
💡Terraforming
💡Generation Ship
💡
💡Economic Feasibility
💡Interstellar Communication
💡Existential Risks
💡Genetic Drift
Highlights
The possibility of thousands of alien empires in the Milky Way, each spanning a few to tens of star systems, raises questions about interstellar communication and conflict.
The Fermi Paradox suggests that despite the vastness and age of the Milky Way, we have yet to see evidence of alien civilizations, leading to the assumption that space travel and colonization may not be as easy as previously thought.
Drawing a parallel between the colonization of Oceania by ancient Polynesians and the potential expansion of alien civilizations across the galaxy, highlighting the challenges and successes of such endeavors.
The vast majority of potentially habitable planets in the Milky Way may be inhospitable, similar to Mars and Venus, making the idea of terraforming a costly and resource-intensive process.
The concept of 'good islands' in the galaxy, which are star systems with suitable conditions for life and civilization, may be rare and far between, affecting the feasibility of large interconnected empires.
The potential for civilizations to expand in regions with abundant 'good islands', leading to the formation of interconnected empires that could engage in trade, conflict, or cultural exchange.
The likelihood that many planets, even those with potential for life, may be abandoned or recolonized over time due to various challenges and the inherent instability of interstellar empires.
The vast distances between stars in the galaxy may make maintaining a consistent civilization and effective communication between colonies difficult, affecting the viability of large empires.
The idea that Earth might be in a 'backwater' region of the galaxy, surrounded by less hospitable star systems, which could explain the lack of contact with other civilizations.
The potential for new civilizations to continually emerge, spread, and die out, with 'islands' being recolonized and abandoned over time, creating a dynamic and ever-changing galactic landscape.
The existential risks that any civilization, including humanity, must face, such as cultural, technological, and environmental threats, which could lead to the collapse of civilizations and the abandonment of colonies.
The concept that the galaxy may be more frightening than previously thought, with the possibility of thousands of diverse civilizations existing elsewhere, but being out of reach due to isolation.
The importance of humanity learning more about the universe and the potential for discovering 'good islands' closer to home, offering hope for future interstellar encounters.
The role of Ground News in helping individuals navigate biased media and gain a more comprehensive understanding of world events, promoting critical thinking and informed decision-making.
The personal story of Philipp, the founder of kurzgesagt, and his realization of media framing biases, underscoring the value of diverse perspectives and a balanced view of reality.
The kurzgesagt lab's efforts to create scientifically accurate and visually stunning content, such as posters, that capture the essence of astrophysical processes and the beauty of the universe.
Transcripts
What if there are thousands of alien empires in the Milky Way,
each spanning a few to maybe tens of star systems, chatting, trading,
sometimes shooting or ignoring each other politely? And if so, why is nobody visiting us?
While the Milky Way is ancient and gigantic, even travelling at 10% the speed of light,
any civilization could take over the whole galaxy within a million years.
But we haven’t seen anybody yet. So it seems we are alone in the Milky Way.
But this idea is built on a lot of assumptions. Usually when scientists
speculate where all the alien civilizations are, they assume technology will progress
to a point where colonising all of space becomes kind of easy.
But what if we are thinking about this the wrong way? What if the
universe is full of life, but no matter how technologically advanced you are,
space is never easy? What if aliens slowly crawl through space,
expanding like humans did over the ocean? Let's look at the only data point we have: ourselves.
The Available Real Estate in the Galaxy
Oceania is a region with tens of thousands of islands scattered across millions of square
kilometers, separated by an unforgiving, deadly sea. Kind of like a galaxy.
Some 5000 years ago the first people set out to colonise Oceania. Especially the
Polynesians achieved mind blowing feats. Without any modern technology they set
out into the vast nothingness hoping to find a new island to claim or like die far from home.
But most of the pacific islands are merely a few wet rocks or corrals, maybe some palm trees
and if you are lucky, birds making a pit stop. Others with more vegetation are often hostile,
lacking the resources to really sustain a lot of people and remain uninhabited even today.
And then there are the good islands.
The Polyneisians colonised them, spreading their culture and society to dozens of remote
islands of all sizes. Some united in kingdoms spanning many islands, others were independent,
many home to competing and belligerent tribes. And although thousands of kilometers apart, even the
most remote islands were connected with at least some trade and exchange. A microcosm of humanity.
But it didn’t always work out. The extremely isolated Pitcairn islands
were settled for hundreds of years and relied on trade with each other and bigger islands
hundreds of kilometers away. And then the local population vanished. We don’t
know why – maybe because the islanders did the human thing and ravaged the natural resources
until they became unsustainable. Maybe the decline on distant bigger islands severed
important connections. We only know their culture declined and they left or died out.
What if space is an ocean to us? A hostile place that’s hard to conquer?
Would alien civilizations spread like the Polynesians?
The Universe is kind of a horrible place
The Milky Way has around 200 billion star systems and it seems that almost all of them have planets.
Estimates vary, but there may be some 300 million to tens of billions of rocky, earth-like planets,
in the habitable zone around a star, where water can be liquid. Amazing! Except that most of them
are terrible. Hells of lava, dead frozen worlds, bare rocks sterile from radiation,
blanked by toxic atmospheres. It's easy to forget, but Venus and Mars are “earth-like”, too.
Mars is the next human frontier and fairly exciting – but Mars dust is poison and deadly
radiation and low gravity will make you sick. Mars is the worst. Except Venus is even worse,
crushing you to death, burning and dissolving you in acid.
If humanity was really motivated and had the resources and energy, both could be terraformed
within maybe a thousand years – we showed how in other videos. But the thing is, we already have
a planet that's pretty great, so currently humanity's motivation is not very strong.
Now let's think about this in terms of galactic expansion.
If the milky way is like a vast ocean full of islands, most are planets like Mars and Venus.,
Barren rocks or corals, where nothing grows and the elements kill you.
Imagine boarding a generation ship to travel for 100 years or more, only to arrive at a new star
and then you get a… Mars. Or worse, a Venus. What a let down. Terraforming them is such
an intense investment in terms of resources to make it worth spending the time to travel to the
stars for bad planets. Maybe the simple reason we don’t see galaxy spanning civilizations is
that the economics just don’t add up for almost all of the star systems out there.
But wait, you might say: It's actually easy! A high tech race with unlimited resources
could automate this process, sending thinking machines that report back every few thousand
years with new planets ready for fresh settlers, or automated ships with embryos. But if it were
that easy someone would have done it by now. So either we are really alone – or it's not easy.
Thinking about alien civilizations you need to make loads of assumptions – and
for this video we are assuming that space is hard,
even for high tech civilizations that have broken free from the limitations we have today.
Now things are getting exciting.
So what if alien civilizations actually ignore the bad islands and just pick
the very best? Stringing together island empires like the Polynesians?
Thousands of Galactic Empires
Every star moves in its own orbit through the galaxy and most stellar neighbourhoods
are only temporary. At any given time, in some regions there will be more good islands
than in others. While simply because of bad luck, other regions will be pretty isolated.
Earth might currently be in one of these backwaters, surrounded by really bad
islands for dozens of light years in all directions. We may be Pitcairn island,
so isolated that nobody knows we are here, or cares to establish a colony so remote.
But elsewhere in the Milky Way good islands may be more common! There it would be relatively
easy for a high tech civilization to jump from one good star system to the next, creating connected
empires. Strings of worlds, with all the adventure and challenges of expansion even to really good
planets. Do they need to animate dead worlds with oceans? How do they cope with alien microorganisms
or strange ecosystems? Do they need to burn it all down and create a mirror of their home world,
or do they adapt? How many centuries do they need to make a planet truly their home?
Empires expanding in regions full of good islands would probably meet each other. Maybe they trade,
maybe they fight. Maybe they have coffee and chat about the meaning of it all.
And just like some of the Polynesian islands, it is likely that many of these planets would
be abandoned or for the empires to break apart for a number of reasons:
First of all, most great neighbourhoods would dissolve over time and connected
islands would become remote. Then it just may be the nature of civilization to become
unsustainable or self destructive – humanity is extremely young and we’ve already flirted
with extinction. There are numerous existential risks, cultural, technological and environmental
that any civilization has to deal with. And smaller colonies on new planets would likely
be less resilient than their homeworlds and in bigger danger of dying out. Whenever this
happens this would leave a good island free again for others to rediscover and colonise.
Also space is just a different ballpark. The enormous distances between stars make
it hard to maintain a consistent civilization – just think about how many cultures we have
on Earth alone. Imagine if sending a message between continents took decades to arrive.
Would colonies care what the home world wants from them, if it can neither help nor really
enforce its will on them? This also would make interstellar war, except the genocidal kind,
completely uneconomic. Would you go to war with someone because their great grandfather killed
yours? At these distances, it's not like anyone could easily sneak up on each other anyway.
And on a much more fundamental level, if island empires don’t exchange relevant
amounts of genetic information – if there are no hook ups between worlds –, sooner
or later these populations will develop in different directions and eventually become
different species. Making it less likely that they’ll want to be under common rule.
So the idea of enormously big, connected empires may just not be feasible if the
galaxy is an ocean where good islands are few and far between. But this also means that new
civilizations may pop up constantly, spread and partially or completely die out, even if just
by splitting into different factions. Islands may be recolonized and abandoned over and over.
What would this mean for us?
We might think we are alone only because we are on an isolated island right now.
But there could be thousands of worlds full of diverse civilizations elsewhere, that we would
eventually drift closer to - does this make the milky way more scary or less scary? Is it
a good thing that we'd have time to get our act together before we face anyone else? Or is it a
great tragedy that we might not have the chance to meet our neighbours beyond for a long, long time?
Well we don’t know, but it is something for you to ponder tonight when you look up at the sky again.
Hopefully humanity is still at the beginning and we’re learning a tiny bit more about the
universe every day – one day, we might spot a good island. And if we are lucky, many more close by.
One huge problem we face as a species is that we can’t agree on what's going on. There are loads
of news media but most of them tend to frame reality through their point of view. And worse
they are trying to get your attention with the most alarmist take, distorting reality further.
Ground News, the sponsor of this video, helps you navigate our biased media
landscape by letting you directly compare different articles on the same topic,
from media with opposing viewpoints. This not only reveals how different sides are
framing reality for you, it also provides you with context you would
otherwise miss. Which massively improves how you can access what's really going on in the
world and can help you to make up your own mind – similar to what we try to do with kurzgesagt.
It’s like reading a meta study instead of one single study, giving you a much better
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access to every Ground News feature. Your subscription directly supports Kurzgesagt
and Ground News so they can continue to make you less reliant on single sources.
This is personal to us – like most people, kurzgesagt founder Philipp, who wrote this video,
got his information from the same news site for most of his life. Until during a long hospital
stay, he read all German newspapers out of boredom, every day – it was simply shocking
and revealing how much framing was going on, especially in headlines. One would be framing
an event as mildly noteworthy another as a huge scandal – or one side would completely ignore
events. If it seems to you that people who you disagree with live in a parallel world, this is
a huge reason why. But all of us really should have a complete picture of what's going on.
And this is why Ground News is a genuine, personal recommendation. If you consume news,
do it with a bird's eye perspective, above the framing. So check them out at
ground.news/nutshell to make sure you’re seeing the full picture.
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