Kardashev scale
A framework for ranking civilizations by how much energy they can harness — from a single planet's resources (Type I) to an entire galaxy's output (Type III) and beyond.
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Origin
Proposed by Soviet astrophysicist Nikolai Kardashev in his 1964 paper "Transmission of Information by Extraterrestrial Civilizations," presented at the Byurakan conference in Soviet Armenia. Originally three tiers — Type I harnesses all energy on its planet, Type II its star, Type III its galaxy — the scale has since been extended by other theorists to Types IV and V, reaching cosmic and multiverse scales.
Updated February 22, 2026