They think the known universe is something like 14 billion years old. That could conceivably mean that somewhere out there is a civilization that has been around for 1 billion years.
Our modern civilization on Earth is only about 3000 years old (homo sapiens for 1 million years) — compare that to a civilization that has existed for 1 billion years. We have come a long way technologically in only 3000 years, but just think how advanced a civilization would be that has existed for 1 billion years. Such a civilization would regard us as “advanced” as mere bacteria.
Henry's Views 