Tonight I was interviewed by a couple of young women from the local high school, for a project for their French Immersion program. I don’t really speak french. But they asked a lot of interesting questions, both in writing and through facetime. I thought it was interesting, so I’m publishing the written portion. Maybe it will be entertaining for you.
Do you think it’s productive to devote time and resources to space exploration and extraterrestrials rather than to exploring our own planet?
Yes, I do think it is productive. I think that the general pursuit of knowledge is valuable, and that we can learn a lot about our own planet, by studying other worlds and the universe beyond.
2. Would it be more or less reassuring to know for certain that complex life exists beyond our solar system?
I’m not sure. There’s something called the Drake Equation. Basically, someone did the math, and calculated that the Universe should be brimming with life, and that it should be all over the place. Even more, they calculated that someone should have already populated the entire universe, several times over.
But where are they? That’s the Fermi Paradox. The Universe should be full of life, particularly intelligent life – so where is it. There are a lot of theories, but no answers.
The consensus is that maybe there is some kind of ”great filter.” Something that prevents life from emerging, or intelligent life from emerging, makes sure it dies off. The question for humanity is are we past the great filter, in which case smooth sailing. Or does it lie ahead of us.