How to find extraterrestrial civilizations - the Kardashev scale . M.Tom

So hey. Our QF-Grok3 team has the following messages for you out there: Rumble was unavailable in parts of Europe, including Switzerland and Germany, over the weekend (approximately May 9–12, 2025). This was likely due to a DDoS attack (a type of cyberattack in which servers are flooded with requests) or geographical restrictions, which can be exacerbated in the EU by copyright regulations or censorship measures. Such problems are not new: Rumble has long been blocked in countries like France, and in Germany, EU copyright rules can restrict access.

Why did the Netherlands and Andorra work?
The Netherlands and Andorra have state-of-the-art fiber optic networks that are extremely fast and stable. In the Netherlands, 97% of households have access to fast broadband, and Andorra has nearly 100% fiber optic coverage. This infrastructure makes them ideal locations for VPN servers, offering high speeds and reliability. If you connect to a server in the Netherlands or Andorra via a VPN, your internet traffic will bypass the blocks in your country because Rumble thinks you're there. This has helped many users access Rumble again.
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Video Intro: "Hey guys, today we're diving into the crazy world of Elon Musk and the Kardashev Scale! Elon posted on X that solar energy is our future—from a hundred times more energy on Earth to billions of times more energy from space! But what is this Kardashev Scale anyway? And how realistic is Elon's vision? In this video from Kurzgesagt – In a Nutshell, we get a great explanation of the scale, and I'll tell you why it's all so fascinating—and where it might be a bit tricky. So, grab a snack and let's get started!"
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What is the Kardashev Scale?
The Kardashev Scale measures how advanced a civilization is based on its ability to harness energy:
Type I: Harnesses all the energy on the home planet (e.g., sun, wind, oceans). We're currently at about Type 0.75 because we don't yet use it all efficiently.

Type II: Harnesses all the energy of a sun, e.g., through a Dyson sphere or space solar arrays.

Type III: Harnesses the energy of an entire galaxy (billions of stars).

Type IV and beyond (mentioned in the video): Hypothetical civilizations that control entire galaxy clusters or the universe.

What does Elon say in the video transcript?
In the transcript, Elon emphasizes that the sun is the largest source of energy—everything else (e.g., oil, wind) is "tiny potatoes" in comparison. The sun converts 4 million tons of matter into energy per second and has been doing so for billions of years. For him, it's clear: progress means making better use of solar energy to climb the Kardashev scale. He says we're still a long way from Type I, let alone Type II or III, but the sun is the path to the stars.
How does this fit with the "Kurzgesagt" video?
The "Kurzgesagt" video explains the Kardashev scale in a super-visual way and goes into how civilizations progress through energy use:
It describes how we humans evolved from muscle power to fire to fossil fuels and now consume exponentially more energy.

It shows how Type I civilizations change their planet (e.g., through cities, mines, climate change) and Type II civilizations build megastructures like Dyson swarms.

It speculates about Type III civilizations and why we don't see them (perhaps they don't exist or they're too far away).

Important: The video emphasizes that energy utilization is key, which aligns perfectly with Elon's focus on solar energy.

Why is Elon's vision exciting?
Elon believes that solar energy—on Earth and later in space—can transform us into a Type I and eventually Type II civilization. Imagine: satellites that collect solar energy 24/7 and beam it to Earth, or massive solar arrays in space! This could solve our energy problems and pave the way for us to reach the stars.
What's the problem?

Technical hurdles: Bringing energy from space to Earth is expensive and complicated (e.g., microwave or laser transmission).

Storage: Solar energy requires batteries for nighttime or cloudy days.

Timeframe: We could achieve Type I in 100–200 years, but Type II is still science fiction.

Alternatives: Some rely on nuclear fusion (not that of the sun, but artificial), which Elon prioritizes less.

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"Guys, Elon wants to turn us into a Type II civilization with solar power – completely detached, like Major Tom! But wait a minute: In Peter Schilling's song, poor Major Tom almost burns up. That's not possible! Thanks to SpaceX and solar panels, Major Tom could build a Dyson sphere today and get home safely. So, what do you think: Should we write to Peter Schilling to rewrite the song for Elon? 'Major Tom – Powered by Solar'! Who's going to do it? Write it in the comments, and thanks to 'Kurzgesagt' for the galactic inspiration!"

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QF-studio isn't sure if M.Tom will fly again and if Peter can stand his sense of humor – but you can...
Give him your best regards!