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Intelligent aliens would need a power supply to jump-start their civilization — would they require fossil fuels?
- Intelligent aliens building a civilization would likely require a source of energy as abundant as fossil fuels.
- Aliens may need to follow a similar path as humans in utilizing fossil fuels initially, due to the energy requirements for industrialization.
- The production of alternative energy sources like solar panels also demands significant energy input, creating a dilemma.
- While aliens could start by burning materials for fuel, they might eventually harness starlight or wind energy for more sustainable sources.
- However, wind energy alone may not generate the high temperatures necessary for industrial processes like metalworking.
- Hydropower could be a viable option if the alien planet has significant accessible liquid, which is uncommon in planets observed so far.
- The presence of fossil fuels on a planet correlates with plate tectonics regulating climate and creating conditions for life to evolve and transform into fuels.
- Active plate tectonics contribute to the formation of fossil fuels like coal over millions of years by creating ideal conditions for life and fuel production.
- Scientists have yet to find another planet with active plate tectonics or fossil fuels, but evidence of fuel components like hydrogen and carbon exists in space.
- Aliens may have access to elements like liquid hydrocarbons on moons, such as Saturn's Titan, which could potentially serve as fuel sources.
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