Japanese-born American theoretical physicist Michio Kaku argued that multiverses have a scientific basis and touched upon the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Kaku stated that humanity is still at the level of a “Type 0 civilization” and that civilizations we may encounter in the future could be tens of thousands of years ahead of us.
Referring to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and recent military radar recordings, Kaku said, “The maneuvers of these objects are so extraordinary that they cannot be explained by classical aerodynamics and the laws of physics.”
In his 70-minute video released last month, which attracted great interest, Kaku made striking statements about the simulation hypothesis, multiverses, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
Addressing a philosophical and scientific debate, Kaku referred to Nick Bostrom’s simulation argument and the discussion popularized by the film The Matrix, emphasizing that he approached the idea with skepticism. Kaku said: “The computational power required to model all quantum states and atomic interactions of the universe is unimaginably vast. Quantum mechanics is inherently probabilistic. Modeling all possible states of a system simultaneously would require an astronomically large dataset. For this reason, the notion that the universe is literally a simulation is, in my view, more of a philosophical speculation.”
The multiverse concept has a scientific basis
In contrast, Kaku argued that the concept of multiverses does have a scientific foundation. He explained that the principle of superposition in quantum mechanics suggests that particles can exist in multiple states at once and that the act of observation collapses these probabilities into a definite outcome. Referring to Everett’s many-worlds interpretation, Kaku noted that the universe branches at every measurement and each possible outcome occurs in a different universe. He added, “String theory also allows for different vacuum solutions, each representing a distinct physical universe.”
Kaku pointed out that the idea of multiverses attracts not only theoretical physics but also popular culture, through the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Oscar-winning films. He suggested that this fascination reflects humanity’s tendency to question reality and imagine alternative possibilities.
Considering the simulation hypothesis in a metaphorical framework, Kaku concluded that multiverses are a physically researchable phenomenon, emphasizing that future, more precise cosmological measurements, particularly anomalies in the cosmic microwave background, could provide indirect evidence of multiverses.
For the video please click here.
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence and civilizations on a cosmic scale
Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku addressed perhaps one of the most fundamental questions about humanity’s place in the universe: “Are we alone?” First defining the concept of intelligence, Kaku noted that it is not limited to human intelligence and can appear in different forms in nature. He cited studies on animal intelligence, particularly the communication systems of dolphins and other social animals, analyzed with the help of artificial intelligence, as examples.
Humanity is still largely dependent on fossil fuels
Expanding this approach to the cosmic scale, Kaku introduced the Kardashev scale, which classifies civilizations according to their energy consumption capacity. Kaku said: “Type I civilizations control all the energy of their planet, Type II civilizations can harness the energy of their star, and Type III civilizations manage energy on a galactic scale. Humanity is still at Type 0 and is largely dependent on fossil fuels. This shows that human civilization is still at the very beginning of its developmental journey.”
The search for extraterrestrial intelligence must now be more systematic and data-driven
Referring again to UAPs and recent military radar recordings, Kaku stated, “The maneuvers of these objects are so extraordinary that they cannot be explained by classical aerodynamics and the laws of physics.”
Kaku noted that while most of these observations can be explained by natural phenomena or man-made objects, a small fraction may point to unknown physical processes. He emphasized that this situation shows the search for extraterrestrial intelligence must now be conducted more systematically and in a data-driven manner. According to Kaku, the burden of proof now lies with those who argue that these phenomena have ordinary explanations.
Kaku added that civilizations humanity may encounter in the future could be tens of thousands of years more advanced, which would force us to reassess our role in the universe.
