No, this isn’t a deep dive into conspiracy theories or a recap of Erich von Däniken’s speculative writings. This idea comes from entirely serious scientists at METI (Messaging Extraterrestrial Intelligence), a nonprofit organization of academics dedicated to the search for intelligent life beyond Earth.

For decades, researchers have been grappling with a question: Why haven’t we encountered aliens yet? The universe is vast, filled with countless stars, planets, and solar systems.

Our technology has advanced to the point where we can send probes into space and peer deep into the cosmos with powerful telescopes. So, where is everyone?

This same question was famously posed by physicist and Nobel Prize winner Enrico Fermi in 1950. The apparent contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial life and the lack of evidence for it has since been dubbed the Fermi Paradox.

There are countless theories attempting to explain this mystery. Perhaps civilizations have risn and fallen before crossing paths with us. Maybe they’re in a state of hibernation, or they exist in dimensions beyond our perception (a concept explored in Star Trek, where beings inhabit two-dimensional space).

Or, could it be that our own space probes and debris scattered across the cosmos have inadvertently driven them away? The truth remains elusive.

At a METI conference in Paris, another possibility was discussed: What if extraterrestrials are intentionally avoiding contact with us? Could Earth be under some form of quarantine, like a planet-sized exhibit in a cosmic zoo?