While humans have discovered that we are a part of an infinite collection of matter, we have failed to find a single sign of intelligent life (or life for that matter) anywhere in the infinite universe. The constraints to discovering life in outer space appear just as vast as the universe that we live in. Time is as crippling as anything, thinking of the shear time the universe has been in existence is enough to make your head spin. Distance is unquantifiable for humans in space. The nearest planetary system with planets of earth like construction is 40 light years away or just a million times further than humans have ever traveled. Our technology is literally light years behind exploration of this distance. The expenses alone created by researching and traveling this far are enough to shut the entire program down. Despite every single one of these challenges we must explore as far as we can. While understanding the shortcomings of the search we, as humans and one collective race, can learn valuable pieces of information about the origin of life and the simplicity that makes us. 

The Fermi paradox is the most often cited paradox about the search for extra-terrestrial life. It reads literally: “If there is intelligent life outside of earth, why have we not found any signs of it”. This paradox is important because its answers can be rather ominous about intelligent life. Stephen Hawking suggests that perhaps when a civilization becomes able to send messages or other forms of communication it simply cannot support itself anymore and collapses (Hawking). These reasons for collapse are referred to as limiting factors (Fermi Paradox). As we begin the search for intelligent life it will be important to consider what the real limiting factors of intelligent life are. This is important because it can teach us a lot about our own culture and when disaster might be imminent. Understanding limiting factors is also important because it can help us reshape our equation for how often life could develop given the atoms, heat, and pressure available to a planet after the big bang (Schultz). Because of our limited discovery of other planetary systems and the surfaces of planets within our own solar system we cannot be sure where life is limited. Is the toughest thing for life to do: develop at all, grow out of single cells, exist in an organization, or become complex without destroying its population? The answer to this question will only be discovered through deep space exploration and only then can we have an accurate picture of how many civilizations could be within reach. 

Those who choose a pessimistic outlook toward the paradox seem to believe that we will die or become unable to inhabit the earth before we ever find another civilization. Their answer is to say why even bother. But their answer is fundamentally lacking for a multitude of reasons. For one it doesn’t answer the question of whether we are alone or not it merely leaves it open ended and yet another question we will never know. It also fails to adequately account for what we would do if we did discover life whether its intelligent or not.  

These limiting factors can be narrowed down quicker than one might think with deep space research. Already our telescopes are capable of measuring size, mass, and proximity to their star that a planetary object outside our solar system has. With improved imaging and satellites sent at high speeds to take pictures of solar systems near us we should be able to discover surface types and perhaps if there is primitive or sustained life on the planet (Kluger). We should be able to have a large enough sample size of planets in the next two years of earth size and distance from their stars -- as evident by the recent NASA Discovery (Reddit) to be able to tell with more certainty just how hard it is for life creating conditions to form even on a planet that resembles earth in many ways. 

The infinite property of time is a very difficult concept for humans to grasp when thinking about other civilizations. Recorded human life on earth has accounted for less than a thousandth of a percent of the earth’s lifespan. When considering that the earth has only existed as an orbiting sphere for one third of the time that the universe has existed it can be rather mind bending to realize how fractional our existence is. This unbelievably large time scale is important when discussing the search for other life because it is completely possible that many, if not an infinite number of civilizations existed elsewhere or close to us in our galaxy in the time that we were unable to look for them (Hawking). The way we must think about our search must change because of this. This is because as humans we must know that we are only capable of searching what is occurring in the present. Time must be thought about almost strictly without involving humans (Klugar). This will help us realize that a great deal happened before our time on earth and there could be a great deal that happens after. We must try and find the diamonds in the rough that are around at the same time. 

Time is also such a crippling dimension because theoretically we could do everything right in our search for life and find the specific type of planets that harbor it and still just show up too late or too early in the development process. This is why we must broaden our view to planets other than ones that fall in the exact earth like description. “Just because we can’t thrive there doesn’t mean others can’t” (Schultz). There is no question that life can develop in a multitude of ways so who’s to say life can’t take on infinite shapes and sizes that are radically different than the earth’s broad arrangement of plants and animals. 

Distance, along with time are the two infinite variables in space. Because of this aspect we are unable to process just how far apart objects are in space. This is important because it will shape our technologies and how we choose to physically explore space. The closest known galaxy is still 40 light years away (Urban). This distance is currently unreachable by current technologies for thousands and thousands of years. Technological estimates show us being able to shave that to hundreds of years by the end of the century for unmanned solar powered Nano-space crafts.  (Hawking). This is important because in order to ever truly become enriched with knowledge about solar systems near us we must become much more knowledgeable with our own solar system. Mars was discovered to have ice water on its poles that must be explored, and many large moons orbiting other planets have been theorized to be somewhat habitable for simple life. While these are small steps we must first have an idea of how hard it is for life to develop in our own solar system before we push to the limits of the galaxy and beyond our own sun. 

Expenses are often cited as the major reason for not supporting the search for life. When operated correctly science institutions and ones designed for space exploration can be great investments because of their versatility. By researching light speed travel and the building blocks of life physicists get closer every day to unlocking the reason of why we are here. These multi-use discoveries can be beneficial for so many communities it is a no brainer to invest in them. 

Time needs to be studied with more depth and the best way to observe time is over vast distances. “Linear time is created by the inability of our human brains to quantify time as a dimension” (Moder). This is important because by exploring deep into the universe there could be an opportunity to rediscover how we process time. Time is also the one unknown variable to the string theory (Hawking). By exploring how much else is out there we can put our true place in the universe on the map. 

By understanding the problems distance creates in space we can better understand the necessary solutions needed to travel those lengths. The most interesting study taking place right now is how to literally shrink distances in space. “Worm hole physics and the principles behind them are sound and could be the most interesting discovery for humans as they explore space” (Kluger). These worm holes are important because, instead of revolutionizing technology to travel at light speeds that would still be slow in relation to the size of the universe, we could theoretically alter gravity and time to fold the universe in half. This type of discovery is typically only reserved for science fiction, but many physicists agree that given the time and resources to explore worm holes could become a reality of deep space travel. Discovering these almost fictional ways of travel is important for two reasons. The first is that the only real way to know the feasibility of this mechanism of travel is to send humans and other probes further into space than ever before. This can only happen if we push forward in the quest to find intelligent life outside the universe. The second reason trying to find ways to bend space is important is that if we are to ever forge relationships with other civilizations past knowing that they exist or ever try to control large distances in space we must be able to travel at an instantaneous rate. Worm holes would in turn give us the ability to in theory time travel by hopping unimaginable distances in moments. 

Philosophically the search for other life is an important step for humans to take. The fact is that there are only two possibilities and both are equally as haunting. We either are alone in an infinite universe for some reason unexplainable by current science or someone else is out there searching for us. It is important to understand the philosophical piece of this because it shapes the way we think about other civilizations. Going into deep space does not represent one race, country or ideology it represents all of the collective ideas of earth. Space cares no mind to the invisible borders that we have placed on our land. This is relevant because there needs to be more collaboration on the search for life. Currently there is only one multinational organization directed for this search: SETI (Search for Extra – Terrestrial Intelligence). We as a society need to have more cohesion because finding life when we aren’t prepared for it could be just as damaging as never searching at all. 

Looking for other civilizations in the universe is also a great chance to be introspective about the values that humans have created for our societies. The fears we have about potentially more intelligent life forms than us show what we fear in our own society. For example, many people point out that achieving contact with intelligent life forms from another planet could place us in harm’s way. Automatically characterizing them to colonize and use us as a resource instead of an ally is a specific human trait. It reveals how deceitful humans have been on earth to races deemed as less intelligent. It is crucially important to not personify these theoretical civilizations based on our colonizing behaviors as humans but it can be interesting to learn how we would perceive an outside civilization.

The final piece that can be learned from interstellar travel and exploration of life outside earth is the realization of our own mortality. When we are able to understand all of the difficulties previously mentioned we can really understand how fragile life is. Life is incredibly difficult to appear and until we realize this we risk jepordizing our future as a species. By exploring the limits of space and time we can prove even further just how unlikely a perfect planet and the unbelievable evolution of humans is. It is something to be celebrated and must be considered a key piece to search for other signs of intelligent life.

The challenges are in front of us. The opportunities are endless. Discovering life must be pursued without limits and without preconceived notion of failure. “Discovery of life outside of earth, no matter how small, will be the most impactful finding the world has ever seen” (Ulvestad). This is important because for the first time in human history we would know for certain that we aren’t alone. The end goal of answering the question “Are we alone” must be the sole goal of the mission and search. With the natural born curiosity of humans in mind there is no stopping the quest to eventually find other life. To think it is too hard or inconceivable to build technology capable of ever discover life is an excuse. Remember that humans went from never being able to fly to landing on the moon in a time span of 70 years. There is always a path toward discovery in the words of Stephen Hawking. As we take steps to discover we can also learn about our own humanity as much as another species. As discussed earlier limiting factors might surprise humans but exploring them can only give us more insight into how best to avoid them. Technology can be one of the most dangerous weapons moving forward for humans (Hawking). This is because eventually it can be mobilized. We must be cautious to this while recognizing the goal of finding another civilization like us. 
