Planetarium hypothesis

The planetarium hypothesis, conceived in 2001 by Stephen Baxter, attempts to provide a solution to the Fermi paradox by holding that our astronomical observations represent an illusion, created by a Type III civilization capable of manipulating matter and energy on galactic scales. He postulates that we do not see evidence of extraterrestrial life because the universe has been engineered so that it appears empty of other life.^[1]

Criticism

The hypothesis has been considered by some authors as speculative^[2][3] and even next to useless in any practical scientific sense and more related to the theological mode of thinking along with the Zoo hypothesis.^[4]

References

1. Baxter, Stephen, 2001, The Planetarium Hypothesis: A Resolution of the Fermi Paradox, Journal of the British Interplanetary Society, Vol. 54, no. 5/6, pp. 210–216.
2. Web, Stephen (2002). "If the Universe Is Teeming with Aliens - Where Is Everybody?: Fifty Solutions to Fermi's Paradox and the Problem of Extraterrestrial Life". books.google.co.uk. ISBN 978-0-387-95501-8. Retrieved 24 April 2011.
3. Ćirković, Milan M. (13 May 2008). "Against the Empire". arXiv:0805.1821.
4. Cirković, MM; Vukotić, B. (December 2008). "Astrobiological phase transition: towards resolution of Fermi's paradox.". Origins of life and evolution of the biosphere: the journal of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life. 38 (6): 535–47. Bibcode:2008OLEB...38..535C. doi:10.1007/s11084-008-9149-y. PMID 18855114.

External links

• Michaud, Michael (2006). "Contact with Alien Civilizations: Our Hopes and Fears about Encountering Extraterrestrials". books.google.co.uk. ISBN 978-0-387-28598-6. Retrieved 24 April 2011.