THE GREAT FILTER

Assuming an advanced civilisation possessed the capability to travel interstellar distances at a velocity of 0.1% of the speed of light, it could potentially establish colonies throughout the Milky Way Galaxy within a span of approximately 100 million years. This duration, while significant, is comparatively brief in light of the galaxy’s estimated age of over 13 billion years. And yet we see and hear nothing. The Universe seems empty and dead. However, given the possibility for the rapid growth of any spacefaring civilisation across extensive regions of the galaxy, it begs the question of where they are. The absence of extraterrestrial life remains a perplexing enigma, with no definitive explanation. However, one plausible conjecture that has been posited is the Great Filter hypothesis. The progression of life, starting from its origin to the present day, can be envisioned as a staircase. Each step represents a significant milestone of the ‘evolutionary staircase of life.’ Therefore, let us embark on an exploration of our journey—from the beginning of everything, the origin and evolution of life, and the rise and future of humankind—and briefly and meticulously examine the Great Filter staircase.