EXTRATERRESTRIALS AND UFDS us
bits. (Furthermore, unlike planets, electrons can exhibit bizarre behavior that violates common sense, such as being two places at the same
time and having wavelike properties.)
THE PHYSICS OF ADVANCED
CIVILIZATIONS
It is also possible to use physics to sketch out the outlines of possible
civilizations in space. If we look at the rise of our own civilization over
the past 100,000 years, since modern humans emerged in Africa, it can
be seen as the story of rising energy consumption. Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Rardashev has conjectured that the stages in the development of extraterrestrial civilizations in the universe could also be
ranked by energy consumption. Using the laws of physics, he grouped
the possible civilizations into three types:
1. Type I civilizations: those that harvest planetary
power, utilizing all the sunlight that strikes their planet.
They can, perhaps, harness the power of volcanoes, manipulate the weather, control earthquakes, and build cities on
the ocean. All planetary power is within their control.
2. Type II civilizations: those that can utilize the entire
power of their sun, making them 10 billion times more powerful than a Type I civilization. The Federation of Planets in
Star Trek is a Type II civilization. A Type II civilization, in a
sense, is immortal; nothing known to science, such as ice
ages, meteor impacts, or even supernovae, can destroy it. (In
case their mother star is about to explode, these beings can
move to another star system, or perhaps even move their
home planet.)
3. Type III civilizations: those that can utilize the power
of an entire galaxy. They are 10 billion times more powerful
than a Type II civilization. The Borg in Star Trek, the Empire
in Star Wars, and the galactic civilization in Asimov's Foundation series correspond to a Type III civilization. They have
bits. (Furthermore, unlike planets, electrons can exhibit bizarre behavior that violates common sense, such as being two places at the same
time and having wavelike properties.)
THE PHYSICS OF ADVANCED
CIVILIZATIONS
It is also possible to use physics to sketch out the outlines of possible
civilizations in space. If we look at the rise of our own civilization over
the past 100,000 years, since modern humans emerged in Africa, it can
be seen as the story of rising energy consumption. Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Rardashev has conjectured that the stages in the development of extraterrestrial civilizations in the universe could also be
ranked by energy consumption. Using the laws of physics, he grouped
the possible civilizations into three types:
1. Type I civilizations: those that harvest planetary
power, utilizing all the sunlight that strikes their planet.
They can, perhaps, harness the power of volcanoes, manipulate the weather, control earthquakes, and build cities on
the ocean. All planetary power is within their control.
2. Type II civilizations: those that can utilize the entire
power of their sun, making them 10 billion times more powerful than a Type I civilization. The Federation of Planets in
Star Trek is a Type II civilization. A Type II civilization, in a
sense, is immortal; nothing known to science, such as ice
ages, meteor impacts, or even supernovae, can destroy it. (In
case their mother star is about to explode, these beings can
move to another star system, or perhaps even move their
home planet.)
3. Type III civilizations: those that can utilize the power
of an entire galaxy. They are 10 billion times more powerful
than a Type II civilization. The Borg in Star Trek, the Empire
in Star Wars, and the galactic civilization in Asimov's Foundation series correspond to a Type III civilization. They have