If technologically advanced civilizations exist elsewhere in the Milky Way, they are likely to be both extremely rare and much older than our own, according to new research.
Presented at the EPSC–DPS 2025 Joint Meeting in Helsinki, the findings reveal the specific planetary conditions needed for such civilizations to arise, which may be so limited that the nearest example could be located 33,000 light-years away—potentially on the far side of our galaxy.
The new research builds on the idea that specific planetary factors are essential for life and technological development. Led by Dr. Manuel Scherf and Professor Helmut Lammer of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the study examines how features such as plate tectonics and atmospheric composition might determine whether a planet can host advanced societies with technological capabilities.
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