A team of international researchers have found evidence that humans are the only intelligent life in the known universe, according to a new study published online.
For the research, the team analyzed the so-called Fermi paradox that shows, while there are millions of celestial bodies throughout the cosmos, there is no concrete evidence of alien life.
They broke down the equation initially proposed by Frank Drake in the 1960’s that states the vast size of the universe inherently suggests other intelligent life must exist.
However, when the team behind the recent study incorporated new elements into the equation they found it is open to both uncertainties and bias. As a result, it is likely not as accurate as previously believed.
“When the model is recast to represent realistic distributions of uncertainty, we find a substantial ex ante probability of there being no other intelligent life in our observable universe, and thus that there should be little surprise when we fail to detect any signs of it,” wrote the team in the research, according to Fox News. “This result dissolves the Fermi paradox, and in doing so removes any need to invoke speculative mechanisms by which civilizations would inevitably fail to have observable effects upon the universe.”
Their research revealed there is a 30 percent chance that humans are alone in the Milky Way galaxy. In addition, the team also found evidence that, should extraterrestrial life exist, it is likely less advanced that what we have on Earth.
”One can answer the Fermi Paradox by saying intelligence is very rare, but then it needs to be tremendously rare,” explained lead author Anders Sandberg, a researcher at Oxford University, according to International Business Times. “Another possibility is that intelligence doesn’t last very long, but it is enough that one civilization survives for it to become visible.”
While this suggests humans are alone, the study is not definitive. Many more processes need to be analyzed before that idea can be fully confirmed in one way or another.