“The Kardashev Scale: Mapping Civilizations Among the Stars,” which introduces and explains the framework developed by Russian astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev in 1964. The host of Cosmic Horizons explains that this scale classifies civilizations based on their capacity to harness energy, serving as a metric for cosmic progress. The explanation details the three original levels: Type I, which describes a civilization mastering all the energy of its home planet, a level humanity is currently approaching at an estimated 0.7; Type II, which requires controlling the total energy output of its star, often conceptualized using a Dyson Sphere; and finally, Type III, which is a galactic civilization capable of harnessing the power of billions of stars. The script also briefly mentions speculative extensions, such as Type IV and V, emphasizing that reaching Type I is humanity’s immediate challenge for survival and progress.

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