This is a particularly good video about the Fermi paradox. There’s too much there to quickly summarize, but the part that I found compelling was speculation about the “Great Filter” hypothesis – that perhaps there exists a point in the evolution of life and intelligence that either stops evolution or destroys what is already there and that is virtually impossible to get past. The crucial question is if the Great Filter exists, is it behind us – have we already won an incredibly improbable lottery – or is it still ahead of us, dooming us to destruction?
If it’s behind us, it could something as basic as abiogenesis itself or the improbable evolution of mitochondria. If so, the galaxy could be full of habitable but lifeless planets, or teaming with life, none of which has evolved beyond bacteria. If it’s ahead of us, it could be the inevitability of nuclear destruction, or some new technology yet unknown, or known but considered benign, like artificial intelligence.
It’s a thoughtful video that’s worth your time. I don’t think it was previously posted:
