A mechanism for explosive energy generation on a cosmic scale might also explain the Big Bang.
Invalidate:
Catastrophe engines should still be detectable due to extremely concentrated energy emission. A thorough infrared sky survey would rule them out along with more conventional hypotheses such as Dyson spheres.
If it becomes clear there is no way to exploit vacuum energy, this eliminates one of the main candidates for a new energy source.
A better understanding of the main constraints for engineering Matrioshka brains: if heat dissipation considerations already limit the size of a single brain, then there is no point in considering speculative energy sources.
Before we go further:
What specific observations and evidence does your idea explain, other than the Fermi paradox?
What specific observations and evidence, if we had them, would invalidate your idea?
For the original proposal:
Explain:
A mechanism for explosive energy generation on a cosmic scale might also explain the Big Bang.
Invalidate:
Catastrophe engines should still be detectable due to extremely concentrated energy emission. A thorough infrared sky survey would rule them out along with more conventional hypotheses such as Dyson spheres.
If it becomes clear there is no way to exploit vacuum energy, this eliminates one of the main candidates for a new energy source.
A better understanding of the main constraints for engineering Matrioshka brains: if heat dissipation considerations already limit the size of a single brain, then there is no point in considering speculative energy sources.