Stop looking for ET, they will be late.

Gill Eapen
2 min readAug 20, 2023

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Extra-terrestrial hype and “research,” have kicked into high gear recently. There are whistle blowers, congressional hearings and even the space agency has succumbed to the trend, appointing commissions to investigate and report on the critters. People around the world have been seeing inexplicable phenomena, vehicles and “biological samples.” The stable geniuses in Washington appear confused, some looking to the heavens and others to hell to identify, tag and dispose those who came to the promise land, the third rock from an ordinary star that seems to be spewing radiation at a higher rate. To make matters more interesting, the inhabitants of the planet are racing to relieve the planet of its atmosphere before its star gets to it.

But alas, they are not here yet. Science and common sense may be of use to speculate on this topic. Astronomers estimate there are less than 30 potentially habitable exoplanets (1) within 100 light years from the center of the universe, the Earth. Since Mr. Marconi sent the first radio signal across the Atlantic, only about 125 years have elapsed. So, those who live in these 30 exoplanets are hearing it for the first time. They have to wait another 100 years before they can hear politicians advocating drinking bleach to cure viral infections. I know they can’t wait to get here but it is going to take at least 100 more years. They are going to be late.

I can understand the sentiment of ET. Afterall who want to travel 100 years in a metal tube packed like sardines, as elegantly demonstrated by Boeing and Airbus? They will likely have better designs but those seeing flying saucers in the air with blinking lights may well be advised it is unlikely. Interstellar travel will take better technology and once they reach the third rock, they are unlikely to suddenly crash only to be wheeled to “Area 51,” by mighty humans.

A planet with biological entities that demonstrate no intelligence as they try to suffocate themselves, is unlikely to be visited. And if the ET does take a much-awaited vacation on the blue (increasingly green) planet, they are going to be 100 years too late.

(1) Astronomers estimate 29 potentially habitable exoplanets may have received signals from Earth | CBC News

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Gill Eapen

Gill Eapen is the founder and CEO of Decision Options ®, Mr. Eapen has over 30 years of experience in strategy, finance, engineering, and general management