TED-Ed: Why can't we see evidence of alien life? - Chris Anderson

The video explores the Fermi Paradox, questioning why we haven't found evidence of extraterrestrial life despite the vast number of planets. It discusses the Kepler space observatory's discoveries and the potential for life in the Milky Way. The video examines technological growth and its implications for alien civilizations, offering both dark and hopeful explanations for the lack of contact. It suggests new perspectives on communication and the nature of intelligent life, and looks forward to future discoveries and the ongoing quest for knowledge.

What famous question did Enrico Fermi pose in 1950 regarding extraterrestrial life?

• Why are there so many planets?

• What is the origin of life?

• Where is everybody?

• How do UFOs travel?

What has the Kepler space observatory discovered in recent years?

• Evidence of alien life

• Hundreds of planets around nearby stars

• A new type of star

• The end of the universe

Why is it puzzling that we haven't detected any signs of intelligent alien civilizations?

• Because they are too far away

• Because they might have spread across the galaxy

• Because they don't exist

• Because they are hiding

What is one dark possibility for why we haven't detected alien civilizations?

• A superintelligent civilization enforces radio silence

• They are too primitive

• They are uninterested in us

• They are extinct

What is one hopeful explanation for the lack of evidence of extraterrestrial life?

• Aliens are extinct

• Aliens are too advanced

• Aliens are invisible

• We are not looking hard enough

What role does SETI play in the search for extraterrestrial life?

• It builds spaceships

• It releases data to the public for analysis

• It creates new planets

• It hides evidence of aliens

What is one of the key messages about the quest for knowledge in the search for extraterrestrial life?

• It is too expensive

• It is only for scientists

• It never gets dull and is full of possibilities

• It is a waste of time