Scientists Pinpoint the Closest Place Alien Life Could Exist
New study explores advanced alien civilizations, their rarity, and possible distances in the Milky Way galaxy.
The Study Is About Advanced Aliens, Not Microbes
The 33,000-Light-Year Figure Is a Model, Not a Discovery
Plate Tectonics May Be Essential
Carbon Dioxide Has to Be Balanced
Oxygen Also Matters for Technology
Earth’s Habitability Window May Be Limited
Alien Civilizations May Not Overlap in Time
This Helps Explain the Fermi Paradox
The Search for Life Is Still Open
The Closest “Place” May Be Deep in the Milky Way
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The idea of alien life usually makes people imagine nearby worlds: Mars, Europa, Enceladus, or planets orbiting stars close to the Sun. But a new study discussed by Space.com suggests that if we are talking specifically about technologically advanced alien civilizations, the nearest one may be much farther away than many people expect — possibly around 33,000 light-years from Earth.
That does not mean scientists have found aliens, and it does not mean simple alien life cannot exist closer to us. The study is focused on civilizations capable of technology, which may require a rare combination of long-lasting habitability, plate tectonics, stable carbon dioxide levels, enough oxygen, and time for complex life to evolve. In other words, the closest place alien life could exist may depend heavily on what kind of alien life we mean.