Seminar by Aurelien Crida (OCA)

Abstract

We now know that half of the galaxy’s 200 billion stars host planets, many of which are Earth-like and located in their star’s habitable zone, and are therefore capable of supporting life. On the other hand, the exponential progress of our space exploration allows us to dream of exploring and colonizing these planets within a few centuries—a mere blink of an eye on the scale of the Universe. But why would we be the first? Where are the others? This paradox, known as the Fermi paradox, rests on the implicit assumption of infinite exponential development. By illustrating the consequences of such development, and by showing that it necessarily reaches its limits quickly, I suggest that if no extraterrestrials have managed to reach Earth, this should prompt us to reflect on our sacrosanct growth…