Chapter 163: Isolated Humans

"Before discussing the Rare Earth Hypothesis, we still cannot bypass the 'Mediocrity Principle'."

"Before 500 years ago, everyone in the world, or rather 99% of people, believed that the Earth was the core of the universe."

"It wasn't until 500 years ago, after Nicolaus Copernicus researched and wrote 'On the Revolutions of the Heavenly Spheres', that perspectives gradually changed, realizing the Earth is not the core of the universe but revolves around the Sun."

"Fast forward to modern times, more and more astronomers at home and abroad have been researching whether extraterrestrial civilizations exist, so countries around the world have begun to transmit signals outside the Earth."

"What are these signals? They are vibrations across the universe."

Having said this, he pondered for a moment and continued to explain: "Consequently, every country with the capability embarked on a journey to search for extraterrestrial civilizations. After opening up all communication frequency bands, unfortunately, no country has dared to definitively say: [We have found signals of an extraterrestrial civilization]."

These phenomena are not unfamiliar to astronomy enthusiasts and scholars.

To this day, no signals—not even suspected ones—from extraterrestrial civilizations have been found.

In today's astronomical community, this has led people to a realization that is terrifying when you think about it: the Earth, including humanity, is truly unique in the universe.

This viewpoint is also one of the key insights supporting their firm belief in the 'Rare Earth Hypothesis'.

Soon, a clever audience member asked a question.

"Is there a possibility that the communication method used by aliens is not electromagnetic signals?"

"To the person above, if not electromagnetic signals, then what?"

"Quantum Entanglement! Extraterrestrial civilizations must use Quantum Entanglement for communication; we can't detect those bands."

"Yes, exactly! Quantum Entanglement is also a type of communication currently used by the military, and its bands cannot be detected."

"Hiss... now that you mention it, it seems really possible. Is our communication method wrong?"

"..."

Jiang Zhe was just about to continue explaining the hypothesis when he heard a question raised by a curious audience member in the livestream.

He was stunned at first, then smiled, discovering that the audience was quite keen on thinking.

"Quantum Entanglement?"

"That is a possibility, but only a possibility."

"If that's the case, doesn't it mean that all intelligent civilizations that might exist in the universe are more advanced than us Earthlings?"

"Does it mean that every extraterrestrial civilization that developed communication uses [Quantum Entanglement]? That seems a bit too exaggerated, doesn't it?"

"If a civilization 10 billion light-years away was using Quantum Entanglement for communication 100 years ago, wouldn't they have used ordinary signal transmission before developing Quantum Entanglement?"

"This clearly indicates that there should at least be civilizations in the universe on par with us, right?"

"If everyone used Quantum Entanglement for communication, that wouldn't be realistic!"

Once this answer was given, the audience suddenly realized the truth.

"That's right! Developing technology at least involves a process; it's impossible for everyone to develop quantum communication out of thin air!"

"Damn, there really is this possibility. I went to check domestic and international astronomy websites; I still haven't found any electromagnetic signals used by extraterrestrial civilizations."

"Moreover, with our current human technology, we can receive electromagnetic signals within 10 billion light-years. But as Jiang Zhe said, as long as a signal source is transmitted from that place, we humans would be able to receive it. But unfortunately, there isn't any, there isn't any, we haven't found anything at all!!"

"Stop talking, I've already got goosebumps."

"..."

Before Jiang Zhe could continue his explanation, many viewers in front of their TVs and in the livestream already felt goosebumps rising.

What does this mean?

It directly means that there are no extraterrestrial civilizations in the universe.

Only humanity!

However, these are just conjectures; there is no concrete evidence.

Jiang Zhe continued to explain:

"So, besides receiving [signals], we humans have also adopted other methods to detect extraterrestrial civilizations."

"For example, we are now sending spacecraft to Mars, and indeed, spacecraft have reached Mars."

"Like the [Pathfinder] spacecraft launched on December 4, 1996, and landed on Mars on July 4, 1997, as well as the [Tianwen-1] launched by our country in recent years."

"The goal is to collect soil and examine the geological structure. Another reason is that if humans had ever appeared there, it could also be detected through the soil."

"There are also the two [Voyager] spacecraft launched in 1977, which are currently flying towards the outside of the Solar System. When they encounter an unfamiliar planet, they will circle it twice to take a look. If an extraterrestrial civilization appears, they will contact our Earth immediately. Now, about 60 years have passed, and still nothing."

"Of course, this can be attributed to them flying too close and not yet reaching a planet with life."

Speaking of this, his expression was extremely serious. "Therefore, as these projects have unfolded and developed rapidly, we have yet to find any extraterrestrial civilization."

"Consequently, some astronomers have begun to refute Nicolaus Copernicus: [Is there a possibility that the reason we haven't found extraterrestrial civilization is that the 'Mediocrity Principle' is wrong?]"

"The Earth has never been mediocre. If we exhaust all our efforts and still haven't found extraterrestrial civilization, it is a very normal thing!"

"In this way, it can be proven that our Earth, our humanity, is indeed very special!"

At this point, he paused for a moment to give everyone time to react.

As this series of analyses concluded, it immediately sparked deep thought among a massive number of experts and audience members.

What he described were exploration methods that have already appeared in society.

After expending such tremendous energy, humanity's persistent failure to find traces of extraterrestrial civilization has actually already explained the issue.

Just then, in the lecture hall.

An elderly physicist asked: "Is there a possibility that aliens have already been to Earth, but we just haven't discovered it?"

An elderly archaeologist present spoke up to explain: "Jiang Zhe hasn't reached this stage of your question yet, and I can tell you bluntly: stop watching those marketing clickbait accounts. Marketing accounts say that murals appearing globally, which resemble aliens, mean aliens have been to Earth, and you believe them."

"Then why don't you talk about the [Sanxingdui Civilization] discovered by our country's archaeology in recent years?"

"Why don't you say the [Bronze Heads] look like aliens?"

Once these words were spoken, the young scholars who were originally full of interest were suddenly extremely embarrassed and speechless.

That's true...

Claiming that aliens had appeared on Earth beforehand based on some murals suspected to be aliens is indeed too exaggerated!

Now, some people abroad who don't read much are also saying that the [Sanxingdui Civilization] discovered in Xia Country is an alien civilization...

In this way, relying solely on ancient murals from countries around the world that supposedly depict aliens to claim that aliens have been to Earth is indeed inappropriate!

At this moment, Jiang Zhe's voice came from the screen.

"Now, let's take stock of just how special the Earth is!"

"We have previously talked about the [Habitable Zone]; our Earth happens to be located in this [Habitable Zone]."

"If it were even a little closer, the Earth's landscape would be like Venus; if it were a little further, it would be like Mars. Neither would be suitable for human survival. As mentioned before, in another billion years, the Earth will move to the current position of Mars and will no longer be in the [Habitable Zone]."

"So astronomers turned their attention to [water], with [water] as the theme, searching for it within the observable range."

"Later, they were not disappointed; there is a large amount of water in the universe, but it all exists as [ice]."

"Of course, there are also planets with liquid water, and they are very close to us. Tell me through the comments, which planet is it?"

The netizens in the comments were responsive, and many viewers sent: [Enceladus].

Hearing this, Jiang Zhe smiled and nodded in approval. "As you all said, that is correct. Like Enceladus, it has been continuously erupting [liquid water] into space."

"Alright, the conditions are met. Now that we have [liquid water], does that mean the birth or even existence of [life] is guaranteed?"

After saying this, a curve appeared at the corner of Jiang Zhe's mouth. He didn't keep anyone in suspense and directly explained: "Of course not necessarily. Having water only guarantees one prerequisite."

"Currently, through research—"

"On June 14, 2023, scientists further analyzed the data transmitted back by the long-crashed [Cassini] spacecraft and reached a startling conclusion."

"Within the substances ejected from the internal ocean of Enceladus, there exists a high concentration of phosphorus."

"This means that Enceladus has become the only extraterrestrial ocean body that has gathered the six basic elements of life (carbon, hydrogen, helium, oxygen, phosphorus, sulfur)."

"At the same time, it has also become 'the most promising place in the Solar System to search for extraterrestrial life'."