Civilization Type I, II, or III?

I don't suppose you still believe that we are the only civilization in the universe (let alone on Earth—so I don't set the comment section on fire)? Let's take a look at how the Russian astrophysicist Kardashev envisioned cosmic civilizations and classified them into a list.

This scale initially categorized civilizations into three different types, later expanding to include three more, making a total of six (0–VI), based on the amount of energy they can harness. Let's briefly examine each type:

1. Kardashev I (Type I) – Planetary Civilization: Civilizations that can harness and control all the energy available on their planet (whether it is generated by the planet itself or arrives from the local star). This typically corresponds to a civilization operating on a global scale.

   
   

   

2. Kardashev II (Type II) – Stellar Civilization: Civilizations that can harness and control the energy emitted by their star. This typically corresponds to a civilization operating on a solar system-wide scale. It may become feasible within the next 1,000–3,000 years.

   
   

   

3. Kardashev III (Type III) – Galactic Civilization: Civilizations that can harness and control energy on a galactic scale. This typically corresponds to a civilization capable of colonizing an entire galaxy. Such a civilization would conquer stars and planetary systems, either through von Neumann machines (self-replicating robots) or advanced technology. It could potentially be a governing artificial intelligence or an entity that has transcended its biological nature. If such a civilization exists somewhere, it might have left detectable traces, as achieving this level would require millions of years of evolution.

   
   

These three types form the fundamental levels of the Kardashev scale, which assumes a gradual evolution of civilizations based on the energy they can control and utilize. This scale has been widely used in scientific discussions about the future of human civilizations and technological advancement.

As you can imagine, if Stage 1 is about controlling the energy of our planet, one could say that Stage 0.5 represents a point where we can manage it sufficiently… Humanity is currently estimated to be at 0.73 on the Kardashev scale. It is expected that we will reach Level 1 within the next 100–200 years, provided we continue our technological progress.

The next three categories could be considered somewhat extreme, and for now, we can quite confidently say that they are unlikely to apply to our universe—at least not yet:

1. Type IV (Kardashev IV) – Universal Civilization: This refers to civilizations capable of harnessing and utilizing energy from multiple galaxies within a vast region of space. They have access to cosmic forces such as dark matter and dark energy. They may be able to travel instantaneously through wormholes or manipulate physical reality on an unimaginable scale. Such civilizations might appear as “gods” to us.

   
   

2. 

   Type V (Kardashev V) – Multiversal Civilization: This refers to civilizations capable of harnessing and utilizing energy from all galaxies within a given cosmic structure. They might reach a level where they can control and even create multiple universes! Such a civilization could alter physical constants, establish new laws of physics, or even "program" reality itself. It could represent the ultimate form of supreme intelligence.

   
   

   

3. Type VI (Kardashev VI) – Trans-Existential Civilization: Such a civilization would possess power beyond our universe, controlling multiverses, the very fabric of physical constants, and perhaps even reality itself. It is so advanced that it transcends human imagination, surpassing all notions of space, time, and existence. It may exist beyond our perception of reality—perhaps as pure information or an entity that can be everywhere and nowhere at the same time.

   
   

In the search for civilizations more advanced than ours, KIC 8462852, also known as Boyajian's Star, has drawn attention due to its unusual brightness variations observed by NASA's Kepler satellite. These irregular fluctuations have sparked curiosity and led to numerous theories about their possible causes.

One hypothetical explanation for these light variations is the possible existence of a technological structure surrounding the star: a (theoretical) Dyson Sphere. A Dyson Sphere is a megastructure that could potentially encircle a star to harness its energy for various purposes—such as energy supply, space travel, or advanced information processing—for the benefit of an advanced civilization.

The idea that KIC 8462852 might host such a structure has intrigued the scientific community, prompting further observations and studies to explore this possibility.

However, it is important to note that no definitive confirmation has been made that the star’s peculiar light fluctuations are due to a massive technological construct orbiting it. Other potential explanations, such as passing comets or stellar debris, are also being considered. The scientific investigation continues to unravel the mystery of Boyajian's Star, but sometimes, imagination is more captivating than harsh reality...