“The Great Filter” by Marco Gehlhar is a documentary journey through an age defined by paradox: humanity is technologically advanced enough to scan the cosmos for life, yet simultaneously pushing Earth toward ecological collapse and nuclear peril. Through an exploration of key sites across the United States, the book investigates how our search for extraterrestrial intelligence reflects our deepest anxieties about the future. Beginning at the SETI Institute, where scientists sweep the galaxy for radio signals from extraterrestrial civilizations, the project follows parallel quests such as METI International, which broadcasts deliberate messages to nearby stars. The journey also enters the worlds of UFO-inspired religions, including the Aetherius Society and the Unarius Academy of Science, revealing how cosmic hope and earthly fear intertwine. Visually grounded in landscapes such as Roswell, the UFO Watchtower, the Allen Telescope Array, and key sites preserving the legacy of the nuclear era, the project weaves interviews, archives, and field research into a photo documentary that investigates myth, science, and belief. “The Great Filter” asks whether looking to the stars might ultimately illuminate what is unfolding here on Earth and what future we are creating for ourselves."
