Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Where is everybody?

  • Published:
Naturwissenschaften Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In our Galaxy we expect about 109 habitable planets, similar to our Earth but mostly a few 109 years older. If we generalize our own case and present state, we should try by all means to take up radio contact with the other civilizations. But if we generalize our probable future technical activities, the Galaxy should be teeming with life, of which we have seen no sign so far, and all habitable planets including Earth should have been colonized long ago by others, which certainly is not the case. This is considered a severe puzzle: it seems difficult to avoid the conclusion of our uniqueness, but even more difficult to accept and explain it.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hoerner, S. von, in: H II Regions and Related Topics, p. 53 (ed. T.L. Wilson, D. Downes). New York: Springer 1975

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cameron, A.G.W., (ed.): Interstellar Communication. New York: Benjamin 1963

    Google Scholar 

  3. Sagan, C. (ed.): Communication with Extraterrestrial Intelligence. Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press 1973

    Google Scholar 

  4. Bracewell, R.N.: The Galactic Club, The Portable Stanford (1974)

  5. Dole, S.H.: Habitable Planets for Man. New York: Elsevier 1970

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hoerner, S. von: Science 137, 18 (1962)

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dyson, F.J.: Phys. Today 21, 41 (1968)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Oliver, B.M.: Project Cyclops, NASA/Ames Research Center 1971

  9. O'Neill, G.K.: Phys. Today 27 (9), 32 (1974)

    Google Scholar 

  10. O'Neill, G.K.: The High Frontier (Human Colonies in Space). William Morrow 1977

  11. Sampson, A.: The Arms Bazaar. New York: Viking Press 1977

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hoerner, S. von: J. Brit. Interplanet. Soc. 28, 691 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jones, E.M.: Icarus 28, 421 (1976)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hart, M.H.: Quart. J. R. Astr. Soc. 16, 128 (1975)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Papagiannis, M.D.: Int. Conf. on the Origin of Life, Japan; Astron. Contrib. Boston Univ. Series II, No. 61 (1977)

  16. Sagan, C.: The Dragons of Eden. New York: Random House 1977

    Google Scholar 

  17. Dyson, F.J.: Perspectives in Modern Physics, Thoughts on the Search for Extraterrestrial Technology. New York: Interscience 1966

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bova, B.: Amaz. Fact Sci. Fict. 37, 113 (1963)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Ball, J.A.: Icarus 19, 347 (1973)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Radio Astronomy Observatory, 24944, Green Bank, West Virginia

    Sebastian von Hoerner

Authors
  1. Sebastian von Hoerner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

von Hoerner, S. Where is everybody?. Naturwissenschaften 65, 553–557 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00364904

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00364904

Keywords

Search

Navigation