From: mk_thisisit
While 95% of UFO observations are dismissible, approximately 5% are considered “hair-raising” [00:00:08]. These compelling cases often involve observations made by multiple witnesses using various technologies [00:01:06].
The Search for Intelligent Life
Despite numerous observations, the “gold standard” in the search for intelligent life forms in the universe does not consist of merely observing flying saucers [00:01:12]. There is a lack of tangible proof [00:01:27]. No one has managed to find alien technology or capture an alien [00:01:31].
Call for Tangible Evidence
Individuals sometimes report being abducted by aliens or visiting flying saucers [00:01:48]. However, for such claims to be scientifically verifiable, tangible evidence is required. This could be “anything: a spaceship, an alien hammer, a transistor” [00:02:04]. As of today, there is no such repeatable, multiple-method evidence confirming contact with a technologically advanced civilization [00:02:22].
Advanced Propulsion Concepts
Observations of “hypersonic ships” that appear to travel faster than light raise questions [00:02:37]. While faster-than-light travel is not currently believed possible, concepts like Warp Drive are theoretically considered [00:02:51].
Two types of Warp Drives are distinguished:
- Alcubierre Drive: This method involves squeezing spacetime to take a “shortcut” from point A to point B [00:03:04]. Miguel Alcubierre discovered a solution to Einstein’s equations that allows for movement faster than light through the bending of spacetime [00:03:39].
- Wormhole: This method involves cutting a “hole” in spacetime to create a shortcut [00:03:21].
The primary hurdle for building a Warp Drive or wormhole is the immense energy required, known as Planck energy [00:04:17]. Planck energy is 10^19 billion electron volts, far beyond the trillions of electron volts our current accelerators can reach [00:04:33].
Civilization Types and Visitation
The ability to achieve Planck energy characterizes a Type 3 civilization [00:04:47]. Such a civilization could potentially bend spacetime, and even build a time machine [00:04:55]. Humanity is currently considered a Type Zero civilization [00:05:09].
The Kardashev Scale
Physicists analyze space for clues about alien technology and civilizations, categorizing them into types based on their energy mastery [00:11:08]:
- Type 1 Civilization: Controls all energy on its home planet, including geological forces and solar energy hitting the planet [00:11:14]. A Type 1 civilization can technically traverse its solar system [00:05:25].
- Type 2 Civilization: Utilizes the entire energy output of its star [00:11:31]. The Federation of Planets in Star Trek is an example of a Type 2 civilization [00:11:52].
- Type 3 Civilization: Has a galactic scale, capable of traveling galactic routes and manipulating phenomena like black holes [00:11:59]. Star Wars depicts a galactic civilization that would be Type 3 [00:12:13].
A Type 1 civilization could only colonize a few planets in its solar system [00:12:30]. A Type 2 civilization begins to understand stars, but even that energy is not enough to approach the speed of light needed for universe travel [00:12:41]. Only a Type 3 civilization, which may have access to Planck energy, would be capable of interstellar travel to visit us [00:08:26]. A Type 3 civilization would be approximately 100,000 years more advanced than Earth [00:08:33].
Planck Energy and Spacetime Foam
Planck energy is the highest energy in the universe, where the universe itself loses stability [00:13:02]. At this energy level, space-time anomalies, or “bubbles,” can form, leading to what Stephen Hawking called “space-time foam” [00:13:16]. When Planck energy is exceeded, new worlds may begin to form [00:13:56]. The Big Bang itself could have been a bubble that reached Planck energy and began to expand [00:14:02]. This environment could potentially be a gateway to space travel for a Type 3 civilization [00:14:18].
Belief in Aliens and the “Zoo Hypothesis”
Many people, particularly in the United States, believe in the existence of intelligent life forms [00:07:35]. However, the question remains whether they have visited Earth, as proof is still needed [00:07:59].
Analogy of the Deer
The concept of alien visitation can be likened to a human trying to converse with a deer [00:09:11]. The deer might seem interested initially, but the conversation is one-sided, and the deer eventually loses interest and leaves [00:09:23]. Similarly, if advanced extraterrestrial beings were to encounter humanity, they might find us “boring” because we have little to offer them [00:09:40]. Gold and silver, for example, would likely be useless to their civilization [00:10:00]. They might observe and analyze humanity out of curiosity before becoming bored, similar to how humans rarely spend significant time studying animals for profit or deep interaction [00:10:24].
Scientific Skepticism
Despite anecdotal accounts and widespread belief, there is no hard scientific evidence of alien technology or bodies [00:06:35]. Recent testimonies before the US parliament by former military personnel, while claiming government evidence of unidentified objects, did not provide personal direct observation of such “hard evidence” [00:06:15]. Scientific skepticism about UFO sightings emphasizes the need for definitive, repeatable proof [00:06:56].