Another possibility is that we are the ancient alien civilization that we keep looking for. We are in a less active and older part of the universe. It is possib

Another possibility is that we are the ancient alien civilization that we keep looking for. We are in a less active and older part of the universe. It is possible it has taken this long in a more shielded realm for a civilization to properly form that could possibly begin to approach a type 2. Another possibility is that there are plenty of dinosaur planets, but no sapient life. For example imagine if the dinosaurs hadn't been wiped out in exactly the way they had here on Earth. Then perhaps small mammals dedicated to tool use could have never had a chance to develop. Either option is a sad and lonely prospect. And, if that happens to be the case, then in a way we owe it to the universe to seed it with intelligent life. What is the point of a universe if there is nothing living to observe it? Consider, if our species vanishes and the probability of our existence was so rare that it hasn't occurred anywhere else yet in the known universe. Then this snowflake of a civilization is really the few chances the universe has to exist. I imagine if the universe ceases to have observers then observable time ends. And, thereby the universe comes to completion immediately. It would cease to exist... The only thing "holding" it here in this moment is our observation of its existence. That is, if we are truly the only thing left in it that can observe. If I'm right, it is possible many universes came before ours that were lifeless and unobservable. That is, before the universe we are in now managed to hit the breakpoint in time where something existed that could observe it. I also have a separate theory about the moment we as individuals die. Subjectively for ourselves in that instant you reach the end of time. As you pass on essentially for you, at least, observation of the universe in that moment has ended. Your own observation of your environment holds you to this moment in the time of the universe. Dying skips to the end of time. Though I think sleeping or a coma still tethers you to observable time, whether you're actively aware of its passing or not. Dying and being brought back to life just skips to that next "breakpoint" where you are brought back, so you are still tethered to the observation of the universe. I also have this weird idea that our observation of ancient light arriving from other galaxies has an impact on observable time in those galaxies for the moment we observe it. It could be that the reason we keep miscalculating the expansion and nature of the universe is because observing it changes it. The watched pot never boils. Obligatory Data & Riker clip on the passage of time: https://youtu.be/hTlVc_hKi2M https://youtu.be/hTlVc_hKi2M