Self-Replicating Interstellar Probes and the Fermi Paradox: Predator-Prey Dynamics, Oumuamua, and Next-Generation Astronomy

To the point

John von Neumann’s idea of self‑reproducing machines sparked the possibility of interstellar probes that could explore the cosmos or influence evolution, Duncan H. Forgan’s predator‑prey modeling suggests these probes could persist in large numbers despite no obvious evidence, and while objects like Oumuamua sparked speculation, upcoming telescopes such as JWST and WFIRST may finally constrain whether such probes exist.