Mehdi Raza Khorasani 05198

Assignment Title: Critical Review

Where is everybody?
The article ‘Alone in the milky way’ was written by the famous science writer and astrophysicist
John (R.) Gribbin and published in the journal “Skeptic” on 1st January, 2013. The author has
served as a staff writer for nature (1970-75) as well as a physics consultant to New Scientist for
the University of Sussex (1978-98). Furthermore the author has received various Honor Awards
including awards for the study of nature of super luminous astronomical objects, on climatic
change (1991) and first prize from Griffith Observatory (1982), for reports on astronomical
discoveries pertaining to the shrinking of the sun. The above credentials clearly indicate that the
authors’ commentary on the topic is credible.

The authors’ main motivation for this article can be said to be the ambiguous nature of the topic at
hand. Additionally, the topic chosen is open ended and no scientific evidence for the nonexistence
of extraterrestrial life can be found, therefore the topic remains a popular one with regards to the
scientific as well as that of the common society.

Turning to the nature of the study conducted, it is clearly a theoretical one where the author
presents his point of view in light of theories that are best to the knowledge of todays’ science.
Additionally, to support his argument, the author uses facts like that of the historical coincidences
in the evolution of life on earth and the miraculous positioning of our planet in the universe which
led for life to prosper.

Explaining further, the author says that evolution of life on Earth is based on a chain of improbable
coincidences. The chain begins with the time our solar system came into existence. To explain the
idea, the author goes further back to the time when the universe consisted of stars mostly
comprising of Hydrogen and helium1. With the passage of time, these stars died out in supernova
explosions providing heaver metals for the next generation of stars. The earth and its solar system
have a special place in this time scale as well. As it turns out, the earth as well as its star consist of
just the right amount of metallic and rocky substances required to sustain life as well as to support
growth of intellectual species.
Furthermore, the earth’s location in the universe is a special one as well. To explain, the author
divides the universe into the two distinct regions, i.e. the habitable region and the inhabitable
region. To no one’s surprise, the earth is located at the most habitable region of the Milky Way
galaxy, i.e. its outer rim. In addition to the habitability of earth, the author also mentions the
complex evolution of life on earth and how it began. Life on earth can be said to begin twice, once
with the appearance of bacteria and archaea and the other when an archaeon engulfed a bacteria
without digesting it (Gribbin, 2018). This random phenomenon resulted in a gradual increase in
complexity of lifeforms over a period of billion years.
Also, the article includes a figure which consists of a plant whose blooming flower can be
interpreted to that of the sun. The figure portrays the branches of the plant to search for water,

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which signifies the importance of water for the sustenance of life. It seems, as if the author, through
this portrait is trying to create an image of the ingredients for life to exist.

Moving on, the authors’ position as presented in the article can be challenged as well. As a
narration goes, “All our logic, all our anti-isocentrism, assures us that we are not unique — that
they must be there. And yet we do not see them” (Krauthammer, 2011). Thus according to this
narrative, the silence of the universe doesn’t necessarily mean that life doesn’t exists beyond earth.
It could very much be true that there existed a civilization(s) so advanced that their technology
caused their doom (Krauthammer, 2011). This narrative, commonly known as The Fermi Paradox
is of vital importance in the scientific community.
In summary, the points discussed above give signs that an event so random is unlikely to reoccur.
This implies that extraterrestrial life is highly improbable as we’ve never found any evidence for
its existence. On the one hand, due to the expansion of the universe, our civilizations’ expansion
is limited to our local group (in an extreme case, although this level of civilization i.e. Type III is
only theoretically attainable) (Kurzgesagt - In a nutshell, 2016). These physical limitations hinders
humanity to ever witness the wonders our universe hides. Furthermore, as technology progresses,
one should be mindful of the consequences of technology as human species could very well end
up destroying itself as countless ones have done in the hypothetical history of the universe.

1
The older the star, the more H/He concentration it has.

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Bibliography
1. Title taken from: Krauthammer, C. (2011). Are We Alone in the Universe?
2. Gribbin, J. (2018). Alone in the Milky Way. Scientific American, 319(3), 94-99.
3. Krauthammer, C. (2011). Are We Alone in the Universe?
4. John (R.) Gribbin (1946-) Biography - Personal, Addresses, Career, Member, Honors
Awards, Writings, Sidelights. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://biography.jrank.org/pages/1526/Gribbin-John-R-1946.html.
5. [Kurzgesagt - In a nutshell]. (May 12, 2016) How Far Can We Go? Limits of Humanity.
[Video File]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZL4yYHdDSWs&t=6s

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