Fermi paradox

See also: Fermi Paradox

English

Alternative forms

• Fermi Paradox

Etymology

Named after physicist Enrico Fermi (1901–1954).

Proper noun

Fermi paradox

1. (exobiology) The seeming contradiction, serving as a challenge to believers in the existence of advanced lifeforms throughout the universe, that there is no scientific evidence that extraterrestrial civilizations have tried to visit or communicate with Earth.
   • 2006, Kevin W. Plaxco, Michael Gross, Astrobiology: A Brief Introduction, →ISBN, page 246:

     Fermi argued that the fact that aliens don't seem to be hanging out with us here on Earth (the tabloid stories aside) strongly contradicts the assumed existence of intelligent life elsewhere in our galaxy, a problem that came to be known as the Fermi Paradox.

See also

• Drake equation
• exobiology
• Sagan's paradox

Further reading

• Fermi paradox, Fermi Paradox at Google Ngram Viewer,