The recent release of the U.S. government’s report on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) has sparked renewed interest and speculation about the nature and origin of these mysterious objects.
While some experts have suggested that UAP could be advanced technology from foreign adversaries or secret military projects, others have not ruled out the possibility that they could be evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI).
However, what if the ETI behind the UAP is not biological, but artificial? What if we are dealing with stealthy probes sent by a civilization that has transcended the limits of organic life and evolved into a post-biological or post-singularity state?
This is the intriguing and provocative idea explored by Dr. Jacob Haqq-Misra, an astrobiologist and senior research investigator at the Blue Marble Space Institute of Science.
Haqq-Misra argues that the UAP phenomenon could be consistent with the hypothesis of self-replicating von Neumann probes, named after the mathematician John von Neumann, who proposed the concept of machines that can build copies of themselves using raw materials from their environment.
Such probes could be designed to explore and colonize the galaxy in a relatively short time span, compared to the age of the universe, by exploiting exponential growth. They could also be programmed to avoid detection or contact with other civilizations, either for ethical reasons or for self-preservation.
Haqq-Misra suggests that some of the UAP observed by military personnel and civilians could be von Neumann probes that are conducting surveillance or reconnaissance missions on Earth, or that are passing by our planet on their way to other destinations.
He points out that some of the characteristics attributed to UAP, such as high speed, maneuverability, shape-shifting, and invisibility, could be explained by advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and nanotechnology. He also speculates that some UAP could be smaller than they appear, or even microscopic, making them difficult to detect or track.
Haqq-Misra acknowledges that his hypothesis is highly speculative and based on several assumptions and uncertainties. He admits that there is no conclusive evidence that UAP are related to ETI, let alone AI.
He also recognizes that there are other possible explanations for UAP, such as natural phenomena, human-made devices, or psychological factors.
However, he maintains that his hypothesis is plausible and consistent with our current scientific knowledge and understanding of the universe. He calls for more scientific research and investigation into the UAP phenomenon, as well as more openness and transparency from the government and the public.
