LIBS1980 - Fermi Paradox Project: Analysis and Solutions

This project delves into the Fermi Paradox, a central question in astrobiology that explores the contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial civilizations and the lack of observed evidence. The project examines five major explanations for this paradox: abiogenesis as a limiting factor, evolution as a limiting factor, suitable planetary conditions as a limiting factor, alien motivations and communication methods as a limiting factor, and the problems with space travel as a limiting factor. Each explanation is discussed, including its merits and demerits, drawing upon scientific research and concepts. The project then defends the 'suitable planetary conditions' as the most likely explanation, emphasizing the importance of the rare earth hypothesis and the specific environmental requirements for complex life to evolve and thrive. The assignment concludes by highlighting the critical role of factors such as atmosphere, environment, and life-sustaining materials in the development and sustenance of intelligent life, reinforcing the complexity of life and the demanding conditions required for its existence.

Running head: FERMI PARADOX
An examination of the Fermi
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Contents
Introduction........................................................................................................................2
Abiogenesis is a limiting factor..........................................................................................3
Evolution is the limiting factor............................................................................................3
Suitable planetary conditions are the limiting factor..........................................................4
Alien motivations and communication methods are the limiting factor.............................5
The problems with space travel are the limiting factor......................................................6
Suitable planetary conditions as a chosen defensive stance............................................7
Conclusion.........................................................................................................................8
Reference..........................................................................................................................9

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Introduction
The Fermi Paradox states an argument which highlights that there is can be an
alien life to be existing in other extra- terrestrial planet but where is it. Fermi has put
forwards the question that the Earth and Sun are both a part of a young planetary
system in comparisons to the rest of the universe (Gray, 2015). Fermi through his
research on the nuclear reactor have highlighted that any civilization that have a fair
amount of rocket technology can have the power of colonizing the entire galaxy. Fermi
had highlighted that the milky way contains the hundreds and billions of star that are
quite similar to the sun. While it is highly likely that theses galaxies can have planets
similar to the Earth (Sandberg, Drexler & Ord, 2018). Therefore, if we can assume
through the Copernican principle that Earth is not actually special and intelligent life can
also exist in planets that have the Earth like atmosphere. While at the same time these
intelligent life forms can also develop technology that can help in interstellar travel.
Interstellar travel can take a long time, but the similar to the stars that are billions of
years of older, there is high probability that there is plenty of time where such travel
could have taken place. Therefore, after all this we still haven’t seen any trace of aliens
and where is everyone (A. Vakoch 2017). The study will basically surround the 5 major
types of the explanations relating to abiogenesis as a limiting factor, evolution as a
limiting factor and suitable planetary planetary condition as a limiting factor, alien
motivations and communications as the method of limiting factor and space travel as
limiting factor. All the five major points will be discussed along with its merits and
demerits as an explanation of the fermi paradox. The final part of the study will include a
small discussion that will defend one of the mentioned points pertaining to the Fermi

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Paradox. To conclude it is important to mention that suitable planetary conditions as
limiting factor will be used to defend the fermi paradox.
Abiogenesis is a limiting factor
Abiogenesis can be described as an idea that have highlighted that the life has
arose from nonlife and it has occurred for more than 3.5 billion years ago. Therefore,
the abiogenesis theory has highlighted that the first form of life was very simple and
they gradually matured to become complex organisms. The next taken up by the
biogenesis which took place after the abiogenesis The biogenesis is the step in which
the life was derived from another form of life through reproduction and it is important to
mention that it became impossible for the life to sustain under the harsh conditions that
prevailed during the earlier times in earth (Campos et al., 2014). The situation of
abiogenesis is proved by the Oparin- Halden theory in the year 1920, Both the scientists
believed that origin of life requires certain conditions. The formation of the organic
materials took place under the presence of abiogenic materials and also under the
presence of external source of energy. like th ultraviolet radiation. The primitive
atmosphere was more of a reducing nature as it had very low amounts of free oxygen
and along with it also contained the other gases, water vapour and ammonia. It is
suspected that the first life forms appeared from the primitive ocean that was warm and
it was heterotrophic instead of being autotrophic (that generated the nutrients and food
from the inorganic materials and sunlight (Dutta & Das, 2015).
Evolution is the limiting factor
The universe might have a lot of simple celled bacteria, however the complex life
is rare and it might be very rare as well. The evolutionary pattern has highlighted that

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the complex and intelligent alien life forms can only evolve only when the evolutionary
that once happened on earth, if gets repeated in somewhere else or other planet as
well. All the fungi, plants and animals evolved from a single ancestor which is called the
eukaryotic cell that are complex. It is important to note that the common ancestor of all
these organisms evolved from a single bacterium. however, it still remains a mystery
why it seems that that evolution from bacteria occurred only once and that too after the
billions of years (Jablonka & Lamb, 2014). Moreover, it is important to mention that the
whenever simple cells start to become complex then they run into problems of
generating enough energy. If living organisms wants to become more complex, then it
will require more cells. The more the number of cells the more the number of genes and
proteins will be required. Considering the fact that the humans are the ones that have
evolved to become technologically advanced species. Since there is no trace of the
aliens it can be said that humans might be the first technological species that have
evolved. Similarly, intelligent can only rarely evolve that might have the capability to
develop similar kind of technology. The intelligent life might be intelligent but it might not
develop technologies that could help them to make contact with earth or communicate
with the human beings, such intelligent species might take a lot of time before making
contact and in the meantime it might destroy itself (Martinez, 2014).
Suitable planetary conditions are the limiting factor
In this particular section, the rare earth hypothesis comes into play and the rare
earth hypothesis suggests that the planetary system is capable of sustaining the
complex life forms. it is also argued that life requires a terrestrial planet lie earth so that
the complex life can arise as because complex life cannot arise on gaseous planets. If a

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planet is very small, then it cannot hold much of the atmosphere and this will result into
a reduced surface temperature. Along with all these a small planet will also be unable to
have variable oceans. Along with it, a small planet will have a rough surface and deep
canyons and large mountains (Webb, 2015). The core of such a small planet will have
cool at a faster rate and the plate tectonics will be either entirely absent or will be very
thin. Whereas, on the other hand the planet that is very large will have a very dense
atmosphere like Venus. The rare earth hypothesis also highlights that the strong
magnetic field as well as plate tectonic are vital for the global temperature regulation,
biodiversity and carbon dioxide. The terrestrial life will be of the right size and it will be
required to maintain and retain an atmosphere like Venus and earth. One of the
highlighting feature of the ozone layer is that it provides protection from the ultraviolet
sunlight. Therefore, carbon dioxide and nitrogen are required at the right form and it
right proportion (Wandel, 2015).
Alien motivations and communication methods are the limiting factor
Humans are on one side of the universe and the alien motivations are not clear.
It can be speculated that aliens have no interest on the human beings and they do want
to show any interest on to the other intelligent human beings. While it can also be a
point that there can be signals around us and aliens use the sort of technology that we
humans do not still use or are not advanced yet to use such technology. The humans
have evolved from a single bacterial cell and all the while humans have stayed as an
isolated individual that can continue to evolve without any major interference (Rieber &
Kelly, 2014). Furthermore, it can be highlighted that intelligences are to look inward and
to the development of one self and this can be considered as a reason that is pushing

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the aliens to stay away from exploring any planet that have life. Therefore, it can be said
that the aliens might be staying away and is not interested in interstellar exploration for
the other life forms. There are other chances where the intelligent being or the aliens
exist know that other forms of life exists in other planets and that they are not alone and
due to this they are staying away from making any kind of contact with another
intelligent species (Jones, 2017). While it is also important to mention that intelligent
beings or the aliens might have a similar kinds of problems like funding and agreeing to
spend and the attempt to how they will make an attempt to contact the other intelligent
beings. Due to this the attempts can be said to have been sporadic just like the humans.
Humans have advanced technologies of receiving the transmissions over long
distances and this has led to the fact that humans are devising newer technologies so
that minute and very brief transmissions can be fetched as well as listened. However, it
can be also being concluded that the intelligent being might be doing the same thing
just like the humans. Only receiving and catching the transmission but not transmitting
anything in reply. There are a lot of possibilities where the intelligent beings are ahead
of us technologically and due to this they have tried all the options and choices that they
could probably have in order to give up over their SETI projects. There can be another
possibility where the intelligent being might be behind us and they will not be
broadcasting the until the humans have given up entirely (Cosmica, 2015).
The problems with space travel are the limiting factor
Signals as well as the explorers are on the way but the time it takes is usually
high. Space exploration is a costly affairs and it requires and advanced rocket
technology and celestial manoeuvre that can help in transporting the space ship from

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one point to another. It is important mention that space exploration can take a lot of time
and considering the fact that no technology has still been invented that can speed up
the space travel. Humans are still in search of a worm holes that can easily transport
from part of the space to another (Jenab & Pineau, 2015). Space travel might be lethal
to a scale needed to visit the other worlds. It is important to mention that the space
travel for a longer period of time can be lethal for the human body and it can also prove
to be lethal for other intelligent beings that is willing to conduct a space mission for a
long period of time. The vastness of the space can spell to be dangerous due to
unknown situations present in the world. It is important to mention that visit to the other
world might take visit to the other galaxies and these galaxies are all situated away from
each other for like trillions of light- years. Therefore, it can be said that the other
civilizations might be beyond the stage of exploration. The distance between such
inhabitable planets and life sustaining planets might be very distant and also beyond the
stage of exploration ((Smith et al., 2014).
Suitable planetary conditions as a chosen defensive stance
Suitable planetary conditions are in itself a self-explanatory topic which suggests
that that proper conditions are required to sustain life. It is important to mention that
intelligent form of life will require proper atmosphere, environment, and life sustaining
materials that can help in life sustenance. Therefore, life in itself is a complex being that
demands the perfect functioning of the entire sub- systems. We are not talking of
bacteria thriving in an acidic environment but in the sustenance of a life that has
developed entirely into a complex being (Wandel, 2015).

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Conclusion
From the above discussion it can be concluded that, life forms can exist in other
planetary systems but there is not solid proof that aliens exist and they are trying to
make contact with the humans. Whenever simple cells start to become complex then
they run into problems of generating enough energy. If living organisms wants to
become more complex, then it will require more cells. Such conditions often play to
disrupt the normal flow of evolution of life. It remains a question when the fermi paradox
will be proven wrong.

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Reference
A. Vakoch, D. (2017). Hawking’s fear of an alien invasion may explain the Fermi
Paradox. Theology and Science, 15(2), 134-138.
Campos, S., de Muynck, W., Peerally, A., & Tyler, D. (2014). Aliens and atheism.
Physics World, 27(11), 24.
Cosmica, L. (2015). Communicating with the other. The Impact of Discovering Life
beyond Earth.
Dutta, L. P., & Das, M. (2015). Coacervation—A Method for Drug Delivery. In
Advancements of Medical Electronics (pp. 379-386). Springer, New Delhi.
Gray, R. H. (2015). The Fermi paradox is neither Fermi's nor a paradox. Astrobiology,
15(3), 195-199.
Jablonka, E., & Lamb, M. J. (2014). Evolution in four dimensions, revised edition:
Genetic, epigenetic, behavioral, and symbolic variation in the history of life. MIT
press.
Jenab, K., & Pineau, J. (2015). Failure mode and effect analysis on safety critical
components of space travel. Management Science Letters, 5(7), 669-678.
Jones, G. (2017). Aliens in the fourth dimension. Science Fiction Criticism: An
Anthology of Essential Writings, 364.
Martinez, C. L. F. (2014). SETI in the light of cosmic convergent evolution. Acta
Astronautica, 104(1), 341-349.

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Rieber, R. W., & Kelly, R. J. (2014). The Aliens in Us and the Aliens Out There: Science
Fiction in the Movies. In Film, Television and the Psychology of the Social Dream
(pp. 31-44). Springer, New York, NY.
Sandberg, A., Drexler, E., & Ord, T. (2018). Dissolving the Fermi Paradox. arXiv
preprint arXiv:1806.02404.
Smith, S. M., Abrams, S. A., Davis-Street, J. E., Heer, M., O'Brien, K. O., Wastney, M.
E., & Zwart, S. R. (2014). Fifty years of human space travel: implications for bone
and calcium research. Annual review of nutrition, 34, 377-400.
Wandel, A. (2015). On the abundance of extraterrestrial life after the Kepler mission.
International Journal of Astrobiology, 14(3), 511-516.
Webb, S. (2015). If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens... WHERE IS EVERYBODY?:
Seventy-Five Solutions to the Fermi Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial
Life. Springer.