Fermi paradox

Lorn-Kru

The Fermi paradox arises in our minds when two observations seem contradictory:

1) the universe is so large and so old that tool-using life forms like us should have evolved on other worlds long ago.

2) We have no evidence for the existence tool-using life forms, similar to us, but who evolved on other worlds long ago.

People who view the Fermi Paradox as a serious conundrum ask: Why doesn't someone send us a message or come to Earth for a visit?

Manny the bumpha

Some people try to resolve the Fermi Paradox by saying that it just ain't that easy for a tool-using creature to evolve, survive and reach out through the vast distances between stars and galaxies.

Science fiction provides an intellectual playground where we can explore solutions to the Fermi Paradox. My favorite "solution" is to imagine that Earth has been visited by extraterrestrials. After making that assumption then we have the fun of exploring why Earthlings do not realize that extraterrestrials have already visited our world. My science fiction stories that are concerned with this exploration are grouped together in what I call the Exodemic Fictional Universe. I assume that extraterrestrials with advanced nanotechnology, such as Manny the bumpha, can take on human form and live among us without being recognized as aliens.

My blog comments about the Fermi Paradox.

Related reading: The Astronomy of Death: detecting civilizations that self-destructed.