The Fermi paradox is named after physicist Enrico Fermi and refers to the apparent contradiction between the lack of evidence for and the high probability estimates[1]
- There are billions of stars in the galaxy that are similar to the Sun,[3][4] and many of these stars are billions of years older than the Solar system.[5][6]
- With high probability, some of these stars have Earth-like planets,[7][8] and if the Earth is typical, some may have developed intelligent life.
- Some of these civilizations may have developed interstellar travel, a step the Earth is investigating now.
- Even at the slow pace of currently envisioned interstellar travel, the Milky Way galaxy could be completely traversed in a few million years.[9]
According to this line of reasoning, the Earth should have already been visited by extraterrestrial aliens.
Fermi's name is linked because of a casual conversation he had in the Summer of 1950 with fellow physicists Edward Teller, Herbert York, and Emil Konopinski. While walking to lunch, the men happened to discuss recent UFO reports, a humorous cartoon, and the possibility of faster-than-light travel. The conversation moved on to other topics, until during lunch Fermi suddenly said, "Where are they?" (Teller's remembrance), or alternatively "Don't you ever wonder where everybody is?" (York's remembrance), or alternatively "But where is everybody?" (Konopinski's remembrance).[10][11]
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