Part 7/12:
The Great Filter theory, proposed by Robin Hanson in 1966, posits that there are stages of development in a civilization’s evolution that are extraordinarily challenging to surpass. Many advanced civilizations may have existed across the cosmos but fell victim to one or more of these critical filters. Jerry's concerns led him to question why humanity, having come so far in a mere 200,000 years, had not encountered evidence of other civilizations. If many Earth-like planets had life long before ours, why had they not made contact, or why were they not visible in any capacity?
As the conversation intensified, Alexa recognized that their immediate priority had to be survival rather than philosophical musings. Her decision was made: they would travel to Mars.