Hi, I'm Cody Gough.

And I'm Ashley Hamer.

We're from Curiosity.com, and we've got three stories to help you get smarter in just a few minutes.

Today, you'll learn about a theory that aliens are secretly studying humans.

We'll read you a very special new fairy tale, and we'll finally answer the age-old question.

How important is it to take your shoes off as soon as you get in the house?

Let's satisfy some curiosity.

Remember how we talked about the Fermi paradox a couple weeks ago?

It basically says that it's very likely that aliens exist,

but if that's true, then why haven't we found any evidence of that?

Because of the Fermi paradox.

Exactly.

Well I mentioned that there are dozens if not hundreds of theories about the Fermi

paradox and curiosity took a deep dive into one of them today.

It's called a zoo hypothesis and it goes like this.

Aliens know we're here but they're purposely avoiding contact with us so they can study us from

afar. This idea came from MIT astronomer John A Ball in 1973 and it's kind of like the prime directive from Star Trek.

Basically, don't get involved with other intelligent civilizations and change their progress.

Overall, though, John Ball actually laid out 10 possible solutions to the Fermi Paradox.

The Zoo hypothesis covers just two of them.

In one, aliens find us of some interest and study us casually.

In the other, aliens find us interesting and pay closer attention.

...