New research raises the eternal question: Are we alone in the universe?

 

science

New research raises the eternal question: Are we alone in the universe?

For decades, scientists have theorized about Earth-like planets and possible intelligent beings that might share this vast universe with us , while space missions and giant observatories seek to capture any sign that proves we are not alone.

But despite all this research, the truth remains elusive. Are we really the only exception in this cosmic sea? Or is there other life silently watching us from distant worlds?

"isolation zone"

This eternal question returns with a new study that opens a fascinating debate about the possibility that humanity may be alone in the universe, within what is known as the "Zone of Isolation."

Scientists have revealed that there is a one-in-three chance that we are alone in the universe—that is, we are the only civilization of our kind—and we will never make contact with aliens.

In a new study published by Dr. Feris Antal, an assistant professor of mathematics at the Hungarian University of Agriculture, the researcher suggests that Earth may be within what he calls the "Solitude Zone" — a statistical range in which the probability of having just one civilization at our technological level is higher than the probability of having multiple civilizations or none at all, according to a report published by the Daily Mail.

"The only civilization in the universe"

Antal added in his research, published in the journal Acta Astronautica, that our chances of falling into the "zone of isolation" are close to zero in the most optimistic scenarios, but reach about 29% in realistic scenarios, meaning there is a probability of approximately one in three that humanity will be the only advanced civilization in the universe.

He explained that the likelihood of isolation depends on the level of complexity of life, saying, "For simple life, isolation is almost impossible, but for highly advanced civilizations, it may become the most likely statistical possibility."

This idea is a new attempt to explain the Fermi Paradox, which asks: If there are hundreds of billions of stars and planets in our galaxy, why haven't we yet found any evidence of other intelligent life?

While some scientists believe that life is very rare, or that advanced organisms choose to hide, Antal approaches the issue from a purely mathematical perspective, arguing that there are a set of circumstances that make isolation the most likely outcome—that is, we may be within a "zone of isolation."

The researcher identifies three main factors to estimate this possibility:

1. The number of planets in the universe.

2. The degree of complexity of the civilization.

3. The probability of a civilization with this level of complexity emerging (which is the most volatile factor).

Antal also pointed out that life must be common enough for some organisms to arise, but rare enough for multiple advanced civilizations not to exist at the same time.

According to his calculations, there is a 29.1% chance that we are in the "exclusion zone," and in the most extreme scenario called "Critical Earth," the percentage is only 30.3%.

The researcher concluded that these results do not necessarily mean that we are alone, but rather leave a greater than 70% chance of the existence of other advanced civilizations elsewhere in this vast universe.