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

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

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.

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.

Why do I feel worthless most of the time?

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.

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.

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

What advice would you give to a father of a teenage daughter on how to protect her from boys, dating, and social media? How should fathers discuss these topics with their daughters?

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.

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.

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

Why do women stubbornly refuse to let men lead, even though they are attracted to the man, and the man both loves and desires them? Why do they get angry and blame the man when he gets fed up and walks away, when it's entirely their own fault?

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