Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Estimates of expansion time scales. [Settlement of Galaxy by spacefaring civilization]

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5058019
Monte Carlo simulations of the expansion of a spacefaring civilization show that descendants of that civilization should be found near virtually every useful star in the Galaxy in a time much less than the current age of the Galaxy. Only extreme assumptions about local population growth rates, emigration rates, or ship ranges can slow or halt an expansion. The apparent absence of extraterrestrials from the solar system suggests that no such civilization has arisen in the Galaxy. 1 figure.
Research Organization:
Los Alamos Scientific Lab., NM (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-36
OSTI ID:
5058019
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-80-2551; CONF-7911112-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English