No Coal, No Aliens? A New Theory About Technological Civilizations
24 February 2026

No Coal, No Aliens? A New Theory About Technological Civilizations

Bedtime Astronomy

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This episode examines a provocative hypothesis: large coal deposits may be essential for the emergence of advanced alien civilizations. Fossil fuels could enable steel production — a prerequisite for technologies such as radio telescopes and interstellar communication.

The theory suggests that the search for intelligent life should focus on exoplanets with atmospheric signatures linked to fossil fuel combustion. However, the required geological and biological timing may be extraordinarily rare, implying that dense energy resources could be the decisive factor behind any industrial revolution in the cosmos.

This episode includes AI-generated content.