The End of Humanity and Cristina Starts a Cult

"Chelsea talks about one of the theories relating for the Fermi Paradox and Cristina manages to start her own conspiracy."

## The Fermi Paradox

### Presented by: Chelsea

Category: Scientific Theory

The Fermi Paradox is the incongruity of the apparent lack of verifiable alien life and the high probability of alien life existing. One of the more popular theories is the Great Filter, which posits that something in the process from the beginning of life to spacefaring is unlikely. Robert Hanson put together the following list that outlines the process:

1. The right star system
2. Reproductive molecules
3. Simple single-cell organisms
4. Complex single-cell organisms
5. Sexual reproduction
6. Multi-cell organism
7. Tool-using, big brained animals
8. Us
9. Space colonization

Given that we have no idea which of the steps is unlikely, we have no idea whether we've Escaped the Great Filter or not. The following arguments on this point have been made:

* Advanced weaponry will leading to us wiping ourselves out first.
	+ Somewhat less bleak, species simply don't last long enough to break the scientific threshold.
* Aliens aren't rare, they just can't break the scientific threshold.
	+ It's possible it's too expensive.
	+ Nanobots exist and spacefaring species don't come this far.
* The Prime Directive exists.
	+ First contacts are dangerous, so alien species hide.
	+ For whatever reason, Aliens have chosen to ignore earth.
* Humans are one of the oldest, if not the oldest series.
* Life, but not as we know it.

One a more hopeful note, we might have already passed the Great Filter.

## The Stock Market Alchemist

### Presented by: Cristina

Category: Conspiracy

Based on a comedy sketch, the Stock Market Alchemist theory posits that it wasn't a coincidence that alchemy died out as a practice just prior to the founding of the London Stock Exchange.

Alchemy is an ancient practice devoted to creating things out of nothing or transmuting objects into something else. Alchemy had many goals, such as creating a cure-all medicine, a universal solvent and an elixir of immortality. It's most famous purpose was to turn base metals into gold.

Usually characterized as a Philosopher's Stone, the legend is long and varied. Thomas Aquinas claimed to have seen the transmutation personally, but he doesn't confess to doing it himself. By far the most famous alchemist in history is Nicolas Flamel, though his association with alchemy is entirely posthumously.

The conspiracy goes that alchemist guild agreed to give up public alchemy in exchange for the secret for creating gold. They use the stock market as a cover for it. Alchemists control the value of gold. In 1792, 1 oz was worth $19.39 ($442.35-$472.93 adjusted for inflation). In 2017, 1 oz was worth $1600. Supposedly, the earth's supply of gold is running out. However, gold is still being "discovered". In fact, the alchemists are managing the flow of gold into to the market to keep it's value high.

## Trivia

* The title indicates Cristina started a cult, but really she started a conspiracy. Also, she didn't start the conspiracy.
* Cristina said that if new gold was discovered, it would be proof. A few months later, new gold was discovered.