The Kardashev scale is a term familiar to those interested in astronomy and science fiction. Thanks to platforms like Evrim Ağacı( a famous Turkish Youtube channel) and other popular YouTube channels like Kurzgesagt, this concept has gradually gained recognition among the general public but for those unfamiliar with it, what does this term mean? Do civilizations truly have measurable levels? Let’s take a closer look at this concept, which captivates the curiosity of many.
What is Kardashev Scale
Nikolai Kardashev
Kaynak:Brics Magazine
It was first proposed in 1964 by Nikolai Kardashev, an award-winning Soviet astronomer. Kardashev scale measures the level of a civilization’s advancement based on the amount of energy it produces. How does this work? Can civilizations truly have a measurable level? While many of us may be unaware, every civilization has a place and classification on this scale. Kardashev initially categorized civilizations into three types:
- Type 1 civilization
- Type 2 civilization
- Type 3 civilization
Type 1 – Planetary Civilizations
It wouldn’t be inaccurate to refer to civilizations at the Type 1 level as “planetary.” These civilizations can fully harness and utilize all the resources available on their planet and exert complete control over it. In terms of energy, they are capable of using all the energy reaching their planet from their star or producing an equivalent amount of energy but what would achieving this level brings us?
A civilization at this stage would have made significant technological advancements and achieved a high level of development in energy production. Currently, humanity’s largest energy source is nuclear reactors. Transitioning to fusion energy would mark a significant step toward becoming a Type 1 civilization. Type 1 civilizations do not stagnate—they continue to advance. They would have begun to slowly colonize their star system and would likely be actively conducting space exploration.
Type 2 – Stellar Civilizations
To begin with, civilizations at the Type 2 level have successfully colonized an entire star system. In other words, all the planets and moons within that system belong to them. At this stage, such civilizations shift their focus toward harnessing their star’s energy in the most efficient way possible. Specifically, this could be achieved through a concept known as the Dyson Sphere.
To clarify, a Dyson Sphere is a massive, futuristic structure theorized to surround a star. However, even as a theoretical concept, it appears nearly impossible to realize. First and foremost, building something around a star requires materials capable of withstanding extreme heat. Moreover, when considering the Sun’s immense size, the resources needed for such a structure would be astronomical. On top of that, even if such resources were available, an overly heavy sphere could collapse into the star itself.
Despite these challenges, it is worth noting that this idea has captivated both scientists and science fiction writers. Finally, if we are to search for a Type 2 civilization, looking for signs of a Dyson Sphere would be a good starting point.
Source: BBC Science Focus
Type 3 – Galactic Civilizations
Let’s move on to Type 3 civilizations. This is where the traditional Kardashev Scale reaches its conclusion. To put it simply, Type 3 civilizations are classified as galactic, meaning they dominate an entire galaxy. Just imagine—controlling the entirety of a galaxy! Can you envision humanity ruling the entire Milky Way? The energy production at this level would be beyond comprehension.
According to renowned Japanese physicist Michio Kaku, humanity is still far from achieving this level. In fact, it could take hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of years to reach. But does it all end here? If we manage to conquer an entire galaxy and achieve unimaginable technological advancements, will we simply stop? Of course not. Humanity, with its boundless ambition, would never settle for that.
This is exactly where the Kardashev Scale evolves and becomes even more detailed.
Source: Gigazine
The Kardashev Scale and Carl Sagan
Carl Sagan, a name well-known in the popular science community, is the man who brought the joy of science to so many of us. To elaborate, Carl Sagan further expanded the Kardashev Scale by introducing additional classifications, such as Type 0 and Type 4 civilizations. He achieved this by developing his own formula to refine the scale, offering a broader perspective on the evolution of civilizations:
According to Carl Sagan’s formula, if we substitute 10⁶ for P, we arrive at a Type 0 civilization. Producing one million watts of energy may sound trivial, as humanity surpassed this level long ago. This level is considered the starting point, and today, even a few hundred homes can collectively generate that amount of energy.
So, where are we on this scale? I’ve been explaining the Kardashev Scale, but I haven’t yet mentioned humanity’s current position. As of now, we generate approximately 17.7 terawatts of energy, placing us at roughly 0.725 on the scale. To become a full-fledged Type 1 civilization, we would need to advance by 560 times our current energy production. In other words, we still have a long way to go.
Now that we’ve discussed Type 0, let’s move on to Type 4 civilizations. A Type 4 civilization would dominate multiple galaxies, wielding unimaginable power. Detecting such a civilization would be almost impossible to miss. However, as far as we know, no such civilization exists in the universe. If it did, we would likely have found some evidence by now.
Nevertheless, the Kardashev Scale does not end here. Successive scientists continue to refine and expand it, further dividing the scale to provide more accurate predictions. For instance, it is plausible that somewhere in the universe, there exists a Type 1.3 civilization. Such a civilization may have already colonized neighboring planets and could be gradually taking control of its star system, but we remain unaware of their existence.
Source: Gigazine
The Kardashev Scale: Questions for Humanity’s Future
At the end of the day, there’s a critical aspect of the Kardashev Scale that often goes overlooked: the assumption that humanity will remain united as it advances. But will we truly stay unified? For instance, will colonies on Mars or the Moon remain loyal to Earth? Who will have ownership over the Moon?
Moreover, as thousands of years pass, won’t humans undergo some degree of evolution? If we eventually transform into different species, what happens then? Additionally, if the construction of a Dyson Sphere proves impossible, this progress could come to a halt.Would our star system alone suffice for humanity’s growing needs? These are just a few of the many unanswered questions that linger as we ponder our future on the Kardashev Scale.
References:
- Home. (n.d.). Kurzgesagt. https://kurzgesagt.org/
- Yazar, Ç. M. B. (n.d.). Kardashev ölçeği nedir? Medeniyetimiz gelecekte neye benzeyecek? – Evrim ağacı. Evrim Ağacı. https://evrimagaci.org/kardashev-olcegi-nedir-medeniyetimiz-gelecekte-neye-benzeyecek-961
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