Final answer:
Vernor Vinge popularized the term Singularity, an 11-letter word that describes a hypothetical future in which technological growth leads to the emergence of superhuman intelligence, altering human civilization in unforeseen ways.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 11-letter word that science fiction author Vernor Vinge popularized in his 1993 essay, describing the moment humanity invents an intelligence greater than its own, is Singularity. This concept suggests a future where the exponential growth of technology leads to the creation of superhuman intelligence, resulting in unpredictable or even incomprehensible changes to human civilization. In Vinge's vision, the advent of the technological Singularity would mark a point when our models for predicting future events become obsolete, and the outcomes could range from the benevolent to the existential, depending on how such intelligence is implemented and controlled.
The thought of discovering life on Europa, as Arthur C. Clarke speculated, or the realization of the Singularity, challenges us to contemplate the fundamental nature of intelligence and the potential for extraterrestrial intelligence. Both ideas provoke discussions about humanity's place in the universe and whether we are alone or part of a larger cosmic network of intelligent life, as addressed in concepts like the Fermi paradox.