FICTION
Intelligent Life, elsewhere in the Milky Way
If it is possible that there is life in the galaxy, intelligent life—then what are the possibilities for getting in touch with these aliens?
Excerpt from the novel The Last Human in the Milky Way
(…)
He had come across this article, a research document from a group of researchers who looked at the statistical possibilities or chances for extra-terrestrial intelligence (ETI). As he sat and read the article, he was sure he was on the right track. Man is not alone in the universe. It is statistically necessary to prove that extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) exists, even if we are not able to prove it physically—at least not at the current stage in human development.
He had spent both the day and the following night getting acquainted with this. He had become so gripped by what he read and the perspectives that lay within it. It is so incredible and unexpected! Statistically, it is probable that life may have existed elsewhere in the Milky Way, or at least in other galaxies.
“Before astrobiology, the exact location, distribution, and age of potential extra-terrestrial intelligence (ETI) have not been explicitly explored. Here, we address these inquiries using an empirical galactic simulation model to analyse spatial-temporal variations and the distribution of potential ETIs in the galaxy. This model estimates the prevalence of ETIs, and provides guidance on where to look for intelligent life.
Search for ETI (SETI) with a set of criteria, including well-established astrophysical properties of the Milky Way. Furthermore, factors such as the process of abiogenesis (abiogenesis, generatio aequivoca, generatio spontanea are typically overlooked. Today, abiogenesis is referred to as a scientific hypothesis in which inorganic matter spontaneously merges to form organic molecules capable of copying itself), various evolutionary time scales and potential self-destruct incorporated to explore the growth of inclination towards the EIT. ”
He had to stop for a moment to try to grasp it. Intelligent life in our galaxy, intelligent life with potential self-annihilation incorporated. It was dizzying, it was as if he were walking in a cloud of euphoric intoxication. He just had to read on:
«We examine three main parameters: probability of abiogenesis (λA); evolutionary time scales (Tevo); and probability of self-extinction of complex life (Pann). We found Pann as the most influential parameter that determined the amount and age of galactic intelligent life. Our model simulation also identified an apex of the ETI in an annular region about 4 kpc from the galactic center around 8 billion years (Gyrs), with a complex life that is reduced temporally and spatially from the apex, claiming a high probability of intelligent life in the galactic inner disk. The simulated age distributions also suggest that most of the intelligent life in our galaxy is young, thus making observation or detection difficult. “
He stopped, holding his breath as he tried to think, the scope of what he read and what this meant, for humanity and the people around him. For him.
He was on fire. What was lacking in this article was the answer to the question he himself asked: If it is possible—or probable—that there is life in the galaxy, intelligent life, then what are the possibilities for getting in touch with these aliens?
He regained consciousness. He woke up as one wakes up from a dream.
This new possibility that had been discovered, as stated in this article, was that other living beings may exist or may have existed elsewhere. Could there be a chance that they were intelligent beings? But anyway, he thought, they’re too far away, and that was a long time ago. They are too far away, in time and space, out of reach—so why should that mean anything for me? Should the possibility of intelligent life elsewhere in the universe mean anything to me, for my life? If so, in what ways? Can it give new perspectives on life and existence? Does it put my life in a new perspective?
He was excited. He no longer knew if he was in a kind of dream world or in the real world. What is true, what is not true? What is important to me? Is this important to me—knowing that life probably exists or has existed long, long, long ago?
What is important and what is not important? What is true and what is not true?
(…)