A berserker probe is a hypothetical or fictional type of Von Neumann probe (a space-faring self-replicating machine) that has been deliberately (or inadvertently) designed to sterilize the entire galaxy so that life cannot emerge, and/or destroy all existing life in its path as the probes spread outward at an exponentially increasing rate across the galaxy. The Three Graces, here in a painting by Sandro Botticelli, were the goddesses of charm, beauty, nature, human creativity and fertility in Greek mythology. ... A von Neumann probe is a fictional or hypothetical self-replicating machine, specifically designed for space exploration or colonisation. ... A clanking replicator is an artificial self-replicating system that relies on conventional large-scale technology and automation. ... This article is about a celestial body. ... Life is a multi-faceted concept. ...

It has been speculated that the entire galaxy could be sterilized in this way in as little as half a million years. The technologies required for the construction of such probes do not currently exist and would likely require advanced molecular assembling nanotechnology and artificial intelligence. Molecular Nanotechnology (MNT) is a hypothetical (that is, not yet existent) field in which nanotechnology would be used for molecular manufacturing, an anticipated technology based on positionally-controlled mechanosynthesis guided by molecular machine systems. ... Artificial intelligence (also known as machine intelligence and often abbreviated as AI) is intelligence exhibited by any manufactured (i. ...

Currently, there is no evidence that berserker probes exist or have ever existed. The fact that life exists on Earth is a possible data point suggesting that a fleet of berserker probes has yet to sweep across our galaxy. Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third planet outward from the Sun. ... A datum is a statement accepted at face value (a given). Data is the plural of datum. ...

The absence of berserker probes may provide an example of the Fermi Paradox, as it might be expected that at least a few alien civilizations with malicious intent would deploy these probes to complete the objectives described above if intelligent life is abundant. Also, it is conceivable that berserker probes could inadvertantly "mutate" from life-bearing Von Neumann probes. Radio telescope observations play a role in researching the Fermi paradox The Fermi paradox is a paradox proposed by physicist Enrico Fermi that questions the probability of finding intelligent extraterrestrial life. ...

Another possibility is that berserker probes, in order to remain energy efficient, remain dormant until awakened by signs of advanced intelligence, such as radio signals.

It is also possible that no advanced extraterrestrial civilization has ever dared to develop such an apocalyptic technology. That being said, the question as to why there is no evidence for the existence of even benign Von Neumann probes remains unanswered as a form of the Fermi Paradox. Radio telescope observations play a role in researching the Fermi paradox The Fermi paradox is a paradox proposed by physicist Enrico Fermi that questions the probability of finding intelligent extraterrestrial life. ...

Popular culture

In the popular science fiction novel Berserker by Fred Saberhagen, a series of short stories include accounts of battles fought against extremely destructive berserker machines. Fred Saberhagens Berserker series is a space opera in which robotic self_replicating machines intend to destroy all organic life. ... Frederick Thomas Saberhagen (born 1930) is an American science fiction and fantasy fiction author most famous for his Berserker series of science fiction stories. ...

In Iain Banks' novel Excession, Hegemonising swarms are described as a form of Outside Context Problem. An example of an Aggressive Hegemonising Swarm Object is given as an uncontrolled self-replicating probe with the goal of turning all matter into copies of itself. After causing great damage, they are reprogrammed by The Culture and become Evangelical Hegemonising Swarm Objects. Iain Menzies Banks writes mainstream novels as Iain Banks and science fiction as Iain M. Banks. ... DeFoes Robinson Crusoe, Newspaper edition published in 1719 A novel (from French nouvelle, new) is an extended fictional narrative in prose. ... Excession is a science fiction novel by Iain M. Banks and the fourth published to feature The Culture. ... An Outside Context Problem or an OCP is any problem with an immediate, ubiquitous and lasting impact upon an entire culture or civilisation, such as where a less technologically advanced society encounters a much more sophisticated civilisation. ... This article is about the fictional society. ...

The Inhibitors from Alastair Reynolds' Revelation Space series are intelligent, self-replicating machines whose purpose is to inhibit the development of star-faring cultures. They are dormant for extreme periods of time until they detect the presence of a space-faring culture and proceed to exterminate it even to the point of sterilizing entire planets. They are very difficult to destroy as they seem to have faced any type of weapon ever devised and only need a short time to 'remember' the necessary counter-measures. Alastair Reynolds is a Welsh science fiction author. ... Revelation Space is a science fiction book by author Alastair Reynolds. ...

Mantrid Drones from the science fiction television series Lexx were an extremely aggressive type of self-replicating berserker machine, eventually converting the majority of the matter in the universe into copies of themselves in the course of their quest to thoroughly exterminate humanity. Mantrid is the maniacal computer/human/insect being who dominated the second series of Lexx. ... Science fiction is a form of speculative fiction principally dealing with the impact of imagined science and technology, or both, upon society and persons as individuals. ... It has been suggested that The Lexx be merged into this article or section. ...

In the computer game Star Control II, the Slylandro Probe is an out-of-control self-replicating probe. They were not originally intended to be a berserker probe, they sought out intelligent life to make peaceful contact with but due to a programming error they would immediately switch to "resource extraction" mode when they succeeded. The Star Control series is a trilogy of computer games with a cult following. ... Categories: Stub | Star Control races ...

The Babylon 5 television series episode "A Day in the Strife" featured an encounter with a "berserker probe," but there was no evidence that it was capable of self-replication. The Babylon 5 Station Babylon 5 is an epic science fiction television series created, produced, and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. ... A Day in the Strife is an episode from the third season of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5. ...

On Stargate SG-1 the Replicators were a vicious race of insect-like robots, that were created by an android named Reece originally to be playmates. They grew beyond her control and began to consume materials and replicate themselves, eventually spreading throughout the entire galaxy, threatening not just Humans, but the Goa'uld and the Asgard, for whatever they consume, they become. The more advanced the technology, the more advanced they become themselves. Stargate SG-1 (popularly abbreviated as SG1 or SG-1) is a television series based upon the 1994 science fiction film Stargate. ... The Replicators are a fictional mechanical race on the television series Stargate SG-1. ...

See also

• grey goo
• interstellar travel
• space colonization
• Von Neumann machine
• Von Neumann probe