Finding proof that alien life exists has long piqued the interest of the public. In fact, several conspiracy theorists, astrobiologists, scientists, and even physicists have become obsessed with it. Fortunately, a new theory from former National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) scientist Alan Stern explains the possibility as to why we haven’t found aliens and why they haven’t contacted the human world.

It is an undeniable fact that some of us believe that we are not the only living species in the universe. For the past years, scientists have been trying to shed some light on the mysteries of extraterrestrial (ET) existence.

With Stern’s recent findings, scientists might be able to find more clues regarding the other forms of life in the universe.

Stern’s theory

Finding substantial evidence that aliens exist has long been a controversial quest in the field of science. Fortunately, Stern, who is currently working as a planetary scientist at the Southwest Research Institute in Texas, hypothesized that aliens do exist but they cannot be found roaming somewhere.

Stern explained that aliens are living deep down in the frozen oceans of distant planets because they prefer colder climates.

According to Bustle, they live underwater to protect themselves from natural disasters such as space radiation spikes and star explosions.

Considering the environment they’re living in, it is safe to assume that living at the bottom of a frozen ocean would make communicating and finding them pretty challenging. Stern’s theory does make sense and it could also offer a potential answer to Fermi’s Paradox, which questions why humans do not see any signs of ET existence.

Fermi’s Paradox

Fermi’s Paradox emerged when Italian physicist and Nobel Prize awardee Enrico Fermi got stuck with the question why he didn’t see any alien life despite the fact that there’s lots of life in the universe. In Fermi’s theory, he believed that humans should have met aliens by now, considering how young the Earth is, and “how easy interstellar travel could possibly be.”

Stern, however, stressed that his theory could have been overlooked in the past.

He added that there are several ocean worlds around our own planetary system and most are moons -- including Saturn’s Enceladus and Jupiter’s Europa.

He also explained that there are 10 to 20 ocean worlds and one of them is the Earth, which “wears its oceans on the outside,” while the rest have subsurface oceans, Newsweek noted. However, Stern admitted that it would be hard to determine if alien life exists in one of them.

Look for aliens

Since aliens are apparently living in subsurface ocean realms, Stern said that they might not be coming to the human world. Instead, he suggested that scientists might have to go to them. Stern also believes that the development of spaceflight could be harder for these “ocean-dwelling organisms.” In addition, Stern believes that these ocean-based ET beings would not be able to understand the concept of the universe, which is loaded with planets and stars.

Meanwhile, Stern is scheduled to appear at the Habitable Worlds conference next month to present his theory. He is also reportedly working on a study that revolves around the same topic and will be published in the journal Astrobiology.

Aliens are sleeping

Aside from Stern’s theory, other experts believe that aliens do exist, but they're sleeping. The reason? Based on this theory, the universe is apparently “too hot for more advanced civilizations to effectively use their resources.” That is why they suggested that aliens are “hibernating” until the universe cools down.

In other related news, a Phoenix ranch called the “Alien Ranch” is up for sale for $5 million because of being a “hotspot” of extraterrestrial activity. Owner John Edmonds even claimed that he has already killed 18 aliens with a “samurai sword” while living on the ranch, as per The Sacramento Bee.