Columbia University professor David Kipping presented an unexpected caution for everyone interested in outer space. In his view, humanity’s initial encounter with extraterrestrial intellect will most likely be linked to tragic occurrences. Based on a new scientific concept, alien societies might only signal their presence at the moment of their culture’s ultimate collapse.
The scholar put forth the so-called eschatological hypothesis, which fundamentally alters the approach to seeking life in the Universe. Kipping posits that we will locate “peers in intelligence” not during their zenith and prosperity, but when their world is in the final phase of its existence. The core of the notion is straightforward: highly advanced communities behave quietly under normal conditions, striving to conserve resources and energy, making them hard to detect.
However, the situation shifts when a civilization confronts inevitable demise or a global cataclysm. At that point, the dying world begins generating a colossal volume of noise and potent radiation. Precisely this activity transforms the planet into a distinct cosmic beacon, becoming noticeable to terrestrial telescopes even across vast distances.
The theory’s author draws a parallel between the behavior of civilizations and the life cycle of stars. The research notes that the most luminous objects in the night sky are frequently expiring giants. Despite such stars forming only a minor fraction of the total stellar population, their death throes allow us to clearly observe them. Statistics confirm this paradox: the majority of bright objects we observe are on the verge of vanishing.
Astronomers register thousands of supernova explosions annually due to their incredible brilliance, whereas stable and placid worlds remain invisible to our instruments. Kipping asserts: “When we discover something novel in space, it is often not a standard instance, but a rare and extreme one.” Therefore, the possibility of picking up the “final cry” of a perishing planet is far greater than catching a routine message from a flourishing society.
This news prompts a reassessment of the methods employed by scientists and amateur astronomers. Instead of examining calm stellar systems, it is suggested to focus on searching for anomalous surges in luminosity. The professor clarified that cinema has accustomed us to anticipate either an alien invasion or a visit from wise mentors, but reality might prove dissimilar.
According to the researcher, “the initial contact will be with a civilization in terminal agony, violently convulsing before its end.” The detection of aliens will be tied to those behaving unusually loudly because of an impending catastrophe. In light of this theory, the story of the famous “Wow!” signal, received in 1977, takes on a new perspective.
That narrowband radio signal lasted merely 72 seconds and never repeated despite all astronomical efforts. The investigator suggests this might have been the last desperate transmission from a civilization facing nuclear conflict or a planetary-scale natural disaster. Consequently, the first trace of aliens we registered could be an epitaph for their existence.
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