We continue to send signals into space, anticipating the first meeting with extraterrestrial intelligence. Usually people hope to meet technologically advanced creatures that will fit our level. The only reality is that the aliens will be much smarter than us.
Mobile phones, the Internet, spacecraft and other technological developments - this is of course incredibly cool. However, if we transcend other terrestrial species in intelligence, this does not mean that we occupy a leading position on the scale of the Universe. For example, you could hear about the Kardashev scale.
This is the method for determining the level of technological development of civilization, proposed by the Soviet scientist Nikolai Kardashev in 1964. Later, an expanded version of the scale from science fiction writer Helge Kautz became more popular. It includes seven types of civilizations:
- 0 type - the first stage of space research, where the inhabitants of the planet use most of the energy resources of the planet.
- Type I - all the resources of the planet are used, and the planets of the native system are completely colonized.
- Type II - full use of all the energy of the native system, the implementation of flights to other stars and colonization of exoplanets.
- Type III - the energy of the native galaxy is used.
- Type IV - the energy of galactic superclusters is used.
- V type - the energy of the entire Universe is used.
- VI - the ability to travel to other universes and use their energy.
If this scale is real, then several conclusions can be made. Most likely, the alien civilization has not advanced further than type IV (this is in the best scenario), otherwise we could already notice some activity in our galaxy. In addition, earthlings assigned the role of civilization 0 type.
In essence, humanity is only evolving. We are still tied to our home planet, we are not able to fully use its resources for the benefit of mankind, do not waste time on the maximum use of solar energy and are just preparing to populate the first space objects (the Moon and Mars). Moreover, if we continue to move at the same pace, by 2030 our figure will be only 0.73 on the Kardashev scale.
Of course, these concepts have received a lot of criticism, because they are based on the connection of civilization with energy. In the end, we do not know how extraterrestrial beings will develop. But there is one interesting point. We know that there is no one in the immediate vicinity. If aliens visit us, they are already initially superior to us in terms of development, since humanity has not yet learned how to overcome interstellar distances. And then how will highly developed creatures react to us? We can hope that our language will be understood and appreciated by the new Apple product.
However, more and more scientists are inclined to believe that our fate is rather sad. It is enough just to read the story and you will remember how the meetings of the natives with the “enlighteners” ended. If they do not destroy us, they will accept us as labor. You can protest, proving that we have intelligence and emotions. But all this is observed in the dolphin, cow and other representatives of the animal world. But we defined their role. And what aliens will we take? What do you think?
