While extraterrestrial beings are a common feature of pop culture, we are yet to find any proof that there is actually life outside of our planet.
Due to the vast expanse of the universe, many experts share the belief alien life is very likely to exist, so if that is true, why haven’t they reached out? A NASA scientist might have the answer.
Astrophysicist Dr Robin Corbet has offered up a new theory known as ‘radical mundanity’, which could explain why aliens haven’t made contact with Earth.
A NASA scientist has shared a new theory about alien civilizations (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)
According to this theory, alien civilizations that may exist elsewhere in the universe are not significantly more technologically advanced than we are and likely use tech in a similar way that we do.
In a report by the Independent, it details how Corbet argues that aliens likely lack the proper technology or motivation to be able to send out beacons powerful enough to be detected from Earth.
While Corbet has said that there is a ‘reasonable chance’ we could one day make contact with an alien civilization, the discovery would likely be ‘slightly disappointing’ because they wouldn’t have any ‘super science’ capabilities like faster-than-light travel.
There are other theories surrounding why we haven’t found any ET civilizations yet, with some being more sinister than ‘radical mundanity’.
Another reason why we haven’t had communications from aliens yet could possibly be explained by the Dark Forest hypothesis.
This is a theory that suggests that the universe is a hostile place where alien civilizations must remain quiet and hidden in order to avoid being found and invaded by other alien civilizations.
A scientist has revealed why aliens haven’t made any contact with Earth (David Wall/Getty Images)
According to this theory, we haven’t heard from ETs because they are remaining silent to avoid detection and potential destruction by other, potentially hostile, civilizations.
By broadcasting our whereabouts, it could be argued that we might be putting humanity at risk of invasion from alien life.
Humanity has been anything but silent though, as back in 1974, scientists sent a message out to space using the Arecibo radio telescope as a symbol of humanity’s technological capabilities.
Aimed at a group of stars located a whopping 22,000 light years away from Earth, the message is still yet to reach its destination and it won’t arrive in our lifetime.
Instead, it is expected to arrive in a whopping 222 centuries.
Image released by NASA of bizarre interstellar object sparks mind-blowing conspiracy theories
It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s… well, none of us actually know. As we look to the stars and learn more about space, the conspiracy theories continue to swirl.
We might not have been back to the Moon since 1972, but that hasn’t stopped NASA from exploring the cosmos.
Alongside wild claims that we found life on Mars and killed it 50 years ago, there’s the idea that the Big Bang is a mirror to a different universe, and people are still obsessed with what could be hiding at Area 51.
With Elon Musk trying to colonize Mars and SpaceX continuing to dominate the exploration industry as Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin focuses on tourism, the vast expanse of space is getting ever so slightly smaller.
There are ever-present fears that alien lifeforms could come to Earth and wipe us out, with the discovery of the mysterious 3I/ATLAS object doing nothing to quell them.
First spotted on July 1, 3I/ATLAS is hurtling toward Earth at 209,000 km/h and is being considered by some as a ‘hostile alien threat’ as it becomes the fastest interstellar object ever observed.
3I/ATLAS continues to baffle astronomers (The European Space Agency)
NASA has now seemingly released the first picture of 31/ATLAS, and while we still don’t know what the mysterious object actually is, it’s sent conspiracy theories into overdrive.
The shot was apparently captured by NASA’s Mars Perseverance rover and has gone viral on social media. We can see what looks like a cylindrical object that’s flying through the Martian sky with a bright light.
As you can imagine, it wasn’t long before the comments were flooded with some pretty out-there claims, with some stating it’s an ‘alien mothership’.
Still, experts like Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb suggest the unusual shape of the object is due to how the image was captured. NDTV claims the shot was captured on October 3, with 3I/ATLAS measuring around 46km in diameter and rocketing along at a jaw-dropping 60 km/sec.
While the European Space Agency has reported on the find, NASA has yet to clarify that this is 3I/ATLAS.
🚨 These are the alleged first Photographs of the Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS that was taken from Mars by Perseverance Rover Does this looks like a comet to you? #Ufotwitter #3IATLAS
Over on X, the theorists were out in full force, with one person writing: “1. It’s not a comet. 2. It’s where the wow sound originated from in 1977. 3. It is on a very precisely calculated purposeful trajectory. 4. We will not be the same once it passes.”
Another added: “Definitely cigar shaped like many UAP sightings 👀.”
A third said: “What a timing they are coming when we are on the verge of WW3.”
Someone even asked Grok whether it’s the real deal, with Elon Musk’s sassy AI concluding: “The photos of 3I/ATLAS from Perseverance show an elongated, blurry streak likely due to its high speed (137,000 mph) causing motion blur in exposures. The 29 million km distance also limits detail. Spinning might add to the odd shape if rotating fast, per initial analyses.”
Whatever 3I/ATLAS is, astronomers believe it has come from the edge of the galaxy and could be billions of years older than our Sun. Alongside Oumuamua and Borisov, it’s only the third interstellar object detected and will make its closest pass to the Sun on October 30.
