Stastics indicate that the galaxy is crammed with planets, many of them potentially habitable. Certainly there are others with life. It is the nature of life to chain up to more complex organisms, as far as possible in a given environment. So looking at Earth, you can see everything from small ecosystems like Antarctica or thermal pools to teeming ones like rainforests. The same will be true of planets.
Enter Drake's Equation. While life is common, sapient life is somewhat less so, first because of inherent risks like getting smacked by a comet ... second because intelligent life tends to be stupid when it comes to inventing ways to destroy itself. So finding a planet with lower tech is easier than finding one with higher tech, and FTL is really high tech. You have to clear a lot of "don't kill yourself" hurdles to get there. I mean, look at humanity, not winning any prizes on self-preservation right now. :/
Just because something is possible doesn't mean everyone will figure it out.
Oh, and most of the tech that high is extremely dangerous. Graviton technology in particular is "oops, I broke the planet" stuff.
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dancing_serpent
Well ...
Date: 2021-05-11 10:42 am (UTC)Enter Drake's Equation. While life is common, sapient life is somewhat less so, first because of inherent risks like getting smacked by a comet ... second because intelligent life tends to be stupid when it comes to inventing ways to destroy itself. So finding a planet with lower tech is easier than finding one with higher tech, and FTL is really high tech. You have to clear a lot of "don't kill yourself" hurdles to get there. I mean, look at humanity, not winning any prizes on self-preservation right now. :/
Just because something is possible doesn't mean everyone will figure it out.
Oh, and most of the tech that high is extremely dangerous. Graviton technology in particular is "oops, I broke the planet" stuff.