NASA scientists explain in a new paper why they think we haven't seen intelligent extraterrestrial life.
They argue that intelligent life has probably destroyed itself before reaching a point in evolution where it can support such an encounter. They believe that the same fate will await humans if we don't act.
According to the "Great Filter" theory, there have been other civilizations in the universe. The paper said that they all destroyed themselves before they could contact Earth.
The scientists fear that all intelligent life, such as humans, have deep ingrained problems that may snowball into the Great Filter.
There is still hope for humans if we can learn and take steps to avoid our own extinction.
Identifyingdestructive attributes in ourselves and neutralizing them in advance is the key to successfully traversing such a universal filter.
The paper is still being reviewed.
The authors argue that wiping out humans would also threaten intelligent life on other planets. Nuclear war, climate change, and uncontrollable artificial intelligence are likely culprits that could be impacted by humans or other intelligent life forms.
The researchers said the biggest challenge would be to survive.
Competition and collaboration have led to the highest peaks of invention in history. The writers warn that we prolong notions that seem to be the antithesis of long-term sustainable growth.
The full paper can be found here.
The article was first published on HuffPost.
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