The recent transit of an interstellar object known as “3I/ATLAS” through our solar system has sparked intense discussions regarding the possibility of extraterrestrial probes. However, a new theory proposed by a NASA scientist suggests that aliens might not possess technology that is significantly more advanced than our own.
In a research paper titled “A Less Terrifying Universe? Mundanity as an Explanation for the Fermi Paradox,” Robin Corbet, an astrophysicist at NASA and the University of Maryland, argues that the absence of encounters with alien civilizations could be due to their technological limitations. Corbet posits that extraterrestrial beings may lack capabilities such as warp drives or wormhole travel, which have long been the focus of science fiction.
Corbet applies a concept he refers to as “radical mundanity,” which suggests that the Galaxy may host a limited number of civilizations, none of which have achieved advanced technology capable of large-scale astro-engineering or are simply uninterested in exploring the cosmos. The paper”s title nods to a sentiment expressed by science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke, who speculated that humanity”s isolation in the universe is equally frightening whether we are alone or not.
The Fermi Paradox, named after physicist Enrico Fermi, raises the question of why, in a seemingly vast universe teeming with potential life, we have yet to encounter other intelligent beings. Various theories have emerged over the decades, ranging from humanity being the sole intelligent species to the idea that aliens may be so advanced that we are insignificant to them.
Corbet acknowledges the extensive discussions and subculture surrounding UFO sightings but emphasizes that there has been no conclusive evidence linking these sightings to extraterrestrial technology. In contrast, controversial theories from Avi Loeb, a Harvard scientist, have suggested that “3I/ATLAS” could represent a fragment of advanced alien engineering, though he has also engaged in rigorous scientific inquiry that counters some of the more extravagant speculations.
The radical mundanity concept is akin to Occam”s razor, implying that if we have yet to encounter aliens, it may be because they are relatively similar to us—perhaps just slightly more or less advanced. Corbet illustrates this by comparing it to having an iPhone 42 instead of an iPhone 17. He further posits that even advanced civilizations might launch probes only to find nothing of significance, ultimately giving up on exploration due to the vast distances and technological constraints that separate them from one another.
Corbet”s paper also considers potential counterarguments to the mundanity theory. If extraterrestrial beings were to arrive on Earth, it would challenge the notion that they lack advanced technology. Even if we were to detect a distant civilization, it might not be much more advanced than our own, leading to the conclusion that mundanity prevails in the Milky Way.
For enthusiasts of UFOs and extraterrestrial life, this theory may come as a disappointment, suggesting that the reality of our place in the universe could be less thrilling than many hope.
