The Great Filter

“The Great Filter” series explores the connections between the environmental crisis, the threat of nuclear war, and one of humanity’s biggest questions: “Are we alone in the universe?”

We are living in peculiar times – an era where our civilization has advanced enough technologically to scan the galaxy for alien life. Meanwhile, human progress has disrupted the natural balance of our planet, potentially leading to the collapse of civilization. “The Great Filter” series explores the connections between the environmental crisis, the threat of nuclear war, and one of humanity’s biggest questions: “Are we alone in the universe?”. This question has long inspired scientists and even sparked the creation of new religious movements. But what can extraterrestrial life tell us about our own fate on Earth? “The Great Filter” seeks to expand our perspective and explore possible answers, examining both the scientific and cultural aspects of humanity’s search for extraterrestrial life. The scientific perspective is represented by the work of the SETI Institute, which scans the galaxy for alien transmissions using radio telescopes in Northern California. A similar fascination with our cosmic neighbors can be seen in the teachings of the Aetherius Society and the Unarius Academy of Science, two religious movements that emerged during the UFO craze of the 1950s. Finally, the origins of two modern myths are uncovered: the famous UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, and the conspiracy theories surrounding cattle mutilations occurring in the American heartland in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Sometimes questioning what is out there does lead to answers about what is happening “down here”.