Is it possible for creatures with intelligence more advanced than humans to evolve naturally in the universe?

And since the universe is so enormously big, it would be strange if we were the most intelligent creatures. Though, we will probably never find out.

So let's say that the aliens have fewer restrictions on brain size, and have more efficient brain wetware, and are subject to sexual selection for intelligence, then they will likely be much more intelligent than us.

Social groups, and theory of mind. You needed to keep tabs on everyone in the group and understand their drives. Being able to negotiate. It takes intelligence to succeed with this.

What are your funniest "lost in translation" moments if you grew up speaking more than one language?

Possibly, for us, it was a combination of different things after it reached a certain level:

Sexual selection. Intelligence is sexy. If you could tell a better story, make a better plan, make a better tool or weapon, you would be popular and get laid.

Right here on Earth, birds have at least twice as dense brains as humans. That means that they cram at least twice the computing capacity in the same space as primates. If we had bird brains we might have been much more intelligent.

Why won't biden give a last minute deferred action TO ALL undocumented immigrants so Trump can't deport them? Obama issued DACA, why can't Biden issue something similar that protects ALL undocumented immigrants from deportation?

Human intelligence is limited by how the brain works, and how big the head on a baby can be.

They may also not have the same limitations for the size of a birth canal. If they are similar to marsupials, the baby would be born very small and then develop in the pouch, without head restrictions of the birth canal.

Then we can wonder about the evolutionary selection pressure for intelligence.

Did you know God exists? 900+ answers later and no atheist has yet to be successful. Day 8 of asking Atheists to provide a SINGLE argument that demonstrates a cause for the beginning of the universe while avoiding the problem of infinite regression.

Aliens may have more efficient brains than humans, like birds, or even more efficient than any animal on Earth.