  Our Universe is a vast, tantalizing enigma - a mystery that has aroused
humankind's innate curiosity for eons. Begging questions on alien lifeforms
have been thus far unfruitful, even with the bounding advancements we have
embarked upon in recent years. Coupled with logical assumption and calculations
such as made by Dr. Frank Drake starting in the early 1960s, evidence in the
millions should exist in our galaxy alone, and yet we've produced no clear
affirmation in practice. So, where is everybody? In one sense, the seeming
silence of the Universe past terra firma reveals layers of stubborn human
limitation. Even as ambitious programs such as SETI aim to solve these knotty
challenges, the results have turned up rather pessimistic possibilities. An
existential disaster may lay in wait as our society advances exponentially
towards space exploration, acting as the Great Filter: a phenomenon that wipes
out civilizations before they can encounter each other, which may explain the
cosmic silence. In this article, we propose several possible doomsday-type
scenarios, including anthropogenic and natural hazards, both of which can be
prevented with reforms in individual, institutional and intrinsic behaviors. We
take into account multiple calamity candidates: nuclear warfare, pathogens and
pandemics, artificial intelligence, asteroid and comet impacts, and climate
change. Each of these categories have various influences but lack critical
adjustment to accommodate to their high risk. We have long ignored the quickly
encroaching Great Filter, even as it threatens to consume us entirely,
especially as our rate of progress correlates directly to the severity of our
fall. This indicates a necessary period of introspection, followed by
appropriate refinements to properly approach our predicament, and see our way
through it.
