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Study Reveals Rare Intelligent Life in Milky Way

9/25/2025

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Summary

Story summary

A study by the Austrian Academy of Sciences suggests intelligent extraterrestrial life may be rarer than believed.
The findings were presented at the Europlanet Science Congress in Helsinki.
For advanced civilizations, key conditions include plate tectonics, carbon dioxide, and a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere.
The study estimates Milky Way civilizations could be 33,000 light-years away and must survive 280,000 years to coexist.

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Story summary

A study by the Austrian Academy of Sciences suggests intelligent extraterrestrial life may be rarer than believed.
The findings were presented at the Europlanet Science Congress in Helsinki.
For advanced civilizations, key conditions include plate tectonics, carbon dioxide, and a nitrogen-oxygen atmosphere.
The study estimates Milky Way civilizations could be 33,000 light-years away and must survive 280,000 years to coexist.