What is the "galactic zoo", the theory of some scientists to explain why we do not find extraterrestrial life

Why so much indifference?

If we are only a small point in the middle of a gigantic universe, it is possible that in some of these interstellar corners there is life.

But if so, why do not they talk to us?

This is one of the favorite mysteries of science fiction, but if we think about it well, it also contains an existential question.

Could they be afraid of us, or are we just too bored, or will they try to communicate but we do not realize it?

A group of astrophysicists, biologists, sociologists, psychologists and historians met a few days ago at the Museum of Science and Industry in Paris, France.

These researchers are part of the organization Intelligent Extraterrestrial Messages (METI), which is dedicated to sending interstellar signals in hopes of receiving, one day, an answer.

The silence

It seems contradictory that, although it is very likely that there is life on other planets, we have never managed to contact him.

The scholars of these subjects call this apparent contradiction "the great silence".

They also call it the "Fermi Paradox" because it is the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi who asked the question in 1950.

One of METI's missions is to understand why our possible cosmic neighbors ignore us.

During their interview, the researchers discussed one of the explanations they consider "more controversial". This is the so-called "zoo hypothesis".

"Maybe extraterrestrials are observing humans on Earth, as we observe animals at the zoo," said astrophysicist Douglas Vakoch, president of METI, in a statement.

"How to bring the guardians of this galactic zoo to be revealed?"

Galactic quarantine

For some scientists, the reason these guards did not reveal is that it could be dangerous.

"Past experiences show that any encounter of two civilizations is dangerous for both," said astrophysicist Danielle Briot, who works for the Paris Observatory.

"Knowing this, civilized extraterrestrials will not try to communicate with us."

Jean-Pierre Rospars, director of the National Institute of Agricultural Research in France, has a similar hypothesis.

"It seems likely that extraterrestrials impose a" galactic quarantine, "says Rospars. "They realize that it would be harmful to our culture to know them"

Vakoch proposes that humans seek "more active alternatives" to contact extraterrestrials.

"If we went to a zoo and a zebra looked into our eyes and started writing a series of prime numbers with his paw, it would establish a radically different relationship between us and the zebra and we would feel compelled to react. "he says. the scientist.

"We can do the same thing with extraterrestrials, transmitting powerful, intentional and informative radio signals to nearby stars."

But it is a controversial issue.

In 2004, for example, in an interview with National Geographic, physicist Stephen Hawking said that a possible contact with extraterrestrials "would be a disaster".

"The extraterrestrials would probably be way ahead of us (…) I think we should stay down," he added.

In 2010, he returned to this idea on Discovery Channel.

"By looking at ourselves, we can see how a smart life could become something we would not like to know," said Hawking.

The galactic zoo hypothesis feeds the debate about the possibility of extraterrestrial life, but the truth is that the question we ask all remains unanswered: are we alone in the universe?