Toward Type 1

Lately I was reading this book, “Parallel Worlds” by Michio Kaku and came across the bizarre idea of categorizing civilizations according to their ability to harvest energy. The idea was first proposed by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev back in 1964 and later Carl Sagan modified the scale in 1973. However, Kaku elaborated the idea of Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3 civilizations quite a bit.

A Type 1 civilization is the one which can utilize all of the energy its planet receives from the mother star. At this stage a civilization has total control over its planet. It can literally turn off volcanoes, delay the ice age and control the weather! On the other hand, a Type 2 civilization can harvest all of the energy of its mother star, which is almost 10 billion times greater than the energy output of a Type 1 civilization. At this stage a civilization starts to colonize other planets and develops a multi planetary civilization, confined within the periphery of its solar system. However, on reaching the level Type 3, a civilization goes galactic. It masters the energy from its entire galaxy with an output 10 billion times greater than that of a Type 2 civilization. At this stage it colonizes the entire galaxy, draws energy from billons of stars and resembles the galactic confederation of Star Wars!

Now on this scale, our civilization rates a mere Type 0.7, since we are still dependent mostly on fossil fuels. However, going by the present rate of development we can achieve Type 1 status in another 200 years, Type 2 status in a few thousand years, and Type 3 status in about 100,000 to a million years. So perhaps it is too early to think about Type 2 or Type 3, but we certainly are standing at the very doorstep of our own Type 1 civilization. Kaku described the formation of European Union and invention of Internet as the first step towards a Type 1 economy and communication system. But he was not sure whether we’ll be able to achieve this feat or will destroy our kind long before, leaving a nuclear trail behind. Every now and then he expressed concern over the growing act of terrorism and the rising popularity of the weapons of mass destruction.

Reading Kaku I felt the choice is ours whether to follow the vision of scientists like him or of today’s new-age terrorists. A Type 1 civilization is not only tolerant but also supportive to all its life forms, ethnic groups and cultural diversities that coexist in different parts of the same planet. So probably it’s time for us to join hands and take a united step toward a Type 1 human civilization.

By Arijit Goswami