Although I very much enjoy the novel, I think Vlad's theory is more likely to be true: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9kbcGfX35M&ab_channel=PeterMulvey https

Although I very much enjoy the novel, I think Vlad's theory is more likely to be true: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9kbcGfX35M&ab_channel=PeterMulvey https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9kbcGfX35M&ab_channel=Peter... As of myself, I also have a theory why it's difficult for civilizations to see each other: 1 - You need very advanced technology to break through the barrier of speed of light (worm hole, someone?) 2 - Such advanced technology will need a long, continuous period of peace and prosperity for researchers to figure it out. Wars are "useful" in certain way but not always. 3 - Intelligent beings are in general greedy (regardless of their biological construction) and they want to take as much resources as possible. 4 - The resources in the universe is unlimited, but the resources that one civilization can obtain is very limited. 5 - Combine 3 & 4, you can probably figure out that the "long, continuous period of peace and prosperity" is very much unlikely and very likely to be broken by wars within the civilizations. 6 - The more advanced the civilizations they are, more likely those wars will wipe them out completely. 7 - Even if they managed to avoid those destructive wars (unlikely already). Another factor we need to consider is the number of smart scientists and technicians that can figure out and implement those fancy technologies. 8 - Yeah for sure, one man, such as Newton or Einstein can leap forward our understanding of the universe. 9 - But you need a very large of population to "grow" one Newton or Einstein. 10 - Go back to 3 & 4, now tell me, even if they manage to avoid wars, can they also avoid creating a caste and shut everyone else out of a prosperous life? I mean look at ourselves. 11 - If such thing happens (eventually), there is not going to be enough population to create a Newton or Einstein. And science/tech eventually just don't go forward. 12 - Combine 6 & 11, it is really very, very unlikely for any civilization to develop advanced technology to travel beyond the speed of light, which also means we don't get to see them (very often).