Kardashev Scale

The Kardashev scale is a way to measure a civilization’s level of technological advancement.  It classifies civilizations based on the amount of useable energy a civilization has access to.  Although we use this scale, it is only theoretical.  It was first proposed by Astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in 1964.  The base theory has three categories of civilizations; Type 1, 2, and 3, but other people have proposed more types of civilizations.  Overall, a type 1 civilization has access to all energy on their planet,  type 2 has access to all energy in their solar system, and type 3 civilizations have access to all the energy in their galaxy.
A type one civilization would have access to, and use, all available power on their “earth” (estimated to be about 4 x 1012 watts for the human race.).  These power sources could include fusion of hydrogen (Technically not renewable), and other renewable resources.  Complete communication world-wide (Internet) would be available. Construction on gigantic projects, Megascale engineering, would be going on.  The civilization would start to colonize other planets/moons in their solar system.  On their home planet, the would have control of the weather.

Type two civilizations would have access to, and use, all available power in their solar system (calculated to be around 4 x 1029 watts for the human race).  One way to harness all the energy would to construct a Dyson Sphere around the sun.  Type two civilizations would be conducting interstellar travel, and interstellar communication.  They would be colonising other solar systems, and terraforming planets/moons.


The human race is on track to become a type one civilization.  Currently according to the Kardashev scale, we are a type .73 civilization, according to our technological advancements and energy consumption.   It is estimated that we will reach type 1 “status” in roughly 100 to 200 years.  World wide communication is a close future. With the Internet, we're able to communicate and share ideas/work with just about anyone. As countries develop, and Internet access is available everywhere , communication with anyone will be possible.  Space colonization is closer than you might think. There is currently a program called Mars One, that plans to send a colonizing ship to mars in 2024. Although, there are a few concerns.  As Michio Kaku said, “Terrorism in some sense is a reaction against the creation of a type one civilization.“  As we have the capabilities of destroying ourself, we will either end up destroying ourself, or advancing as a type one civilization.