Fermi paradox

The apparent contradiction between the high probability of extraterrestrial civilizations existing in our galaxy and the lack of evidence for or contact with such civilizations. Named after physicist Enrico Fermi's famous question 'Where is everybody?'

Named after Enrico Fermi who posed the question during a 1950 lunch conversation, though the formal paradox was articulated later by others. The term combines Fermi's name with 'paradox' (Greek 'paradoxon' meaning contrary to expectation).