Researchers Propose Galactic Empires Might Exist at Milky Way’s Core

For decades, scientists have grappled with a profound question posed by physicist Enrico Fermi: “Where is everybody?” The search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI) has faced numerous challenges, including limited funding and the complexities inherent in understanding advanced civilizations. A recent paper suggests that some of these civilizations could reside at the center of our galaxy, providing a potential explanation for humanity’s silence in the cosmos.

In their study titled “Redshifted civilizations, galactic empires, and the Fermi paradox,” researchers Chris Reiss and Justin C. Feng from the Central European Institute for Cosmology and Fundamental Physics examined the possibility of extraterrestrial civilizations expanding in a relativistic universe. Their findings indicate that a Type II civilization could inhabit the core region of the Milky Way, which may explain why we have not been able to detect any signs of life beyond Earth.

The Milky Way galaxy contains between 100 and 200 billion stars, and with the universe hosting more than two trillion galaxies, the emergence of life seems plausible. Given the universe’s age of 13.8 billion years and the relatively brief existence of our Solar System—around 4.6 billion years—it is reasonable to assume that intelligent life may have arisen multiple times throughout cosmic history.

Historically, Fermi’s Paradox has been interpreted through the lens of the Hart-Tipler Conjecture, which posits that if advanced civilizations exist, they should have developed technologies for communication and space travel. According to their estimates, such civilizations would require 650,000 to 2 million years to colonize the entire galaxy. The absence of evidence for these civilizations has led some to conclude that they do not exist. Yet, as Carl Sagan famously stated, “absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.”

Exploring the Relativistic Universe

The study by Reiss and Feng challenges conventional assumptions about the expansion of civilizations. They argue that the constraints of General Relativity complicate the prospect of interstellar travel, especially the notion of faster-than-light communication. As noted by Dr. Rebecca Charbonneau of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory, the limitations imposed by Einstein’s Theory of Relativity mean that achieving speeds close to that of light would require an immense amount of energy, far exceeding our current capabilities.

Reiss and Feng explored the implications of time dilation, a phenomenon that occurs at relativistic speeds. They illustrate this with an example involving a spacecraft traveling to Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to Earth. A round trip at 20% the speed of light would take over 42.5 years from Earth’s perspective, while passengers aboard the ship would only experience about 10 years of travel time. This disparity raises significant questions about communication and interaction among civilizations.

The researchers propose that a civilization could mitigate these challenges by relocating to a time-dilated environment, such as an orbit around a supermassive black hole like Sagittarius A* at the center of our galaxy. Living in this “red frame” would allow a civilization to experience time at a slower pace compared to the outside universe, enabling them to observe cosmic evolution and advancements in technology more rapidly than civilizations existing in the “blue frame.”

Implications for Extraterrestrial Intelligence

Reiss and Feng’s findings suggest that civilizations near the galactic core may adopt strategies to avoid detection, aligning with the Dark Forest Hypothesis. This theory posits that advanced civilizations remain silent due to the finite nature of resources and the inherent risks of competition. As civilizations evolve, the fear of potential threats from others may lead to a policy of non-contact.

The researchers also propose that if multiple civilizations co-exist near a supermassive black hole, they could engage in resource competition that could manifest as detectable signals. For instance, vessels orbiting a black hole would require significant energy to counteract gravitational drag, potentially producing electromagnetic signals that could be observed from Earth.

The implications of this research extend beyond theoretical musings; it opens the door to new avenues for SETI surveys. The quest for extraterrestrial life may not only involve searching for signals but also understanding the conditions under which advanced civilizations might operate. As Reiss and Feng continue to investigate these possibilities, their work emphasizes the importance of re-evaluating our assumptions about life beyond Earth.

In conclusion, while the silence of the universe remains a mystery, theories like those proposed by Reiss and Feng provide a fresh perspective on the potential existence of advanced civilizations. By considering the unique environments of the galaxy’s core, researchers may inch closer to uncovering the secrets of the cosmos.