Drake equation
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Drake Equation
The Drake Equation,[1] proposed by radio astronomer Frank Drake in 1961, is used to estimate the number of communicating civilizations that might be possible in our galaxy or even in the millions of galaxies.
The variables originally taken into account, include the rate of star formation, the fraction of stars with planets, and the likelihood of life developing on those planets. The final three terms in Drake's Equation, and would allow us to identify which classes of solution to Fermi's Paradox[2] fit with the evidence (or lack thereof).
Fact or hypotheses
Elements of reason:
- With billions of stars similar to the Sun in the galaxy.
- And a high probability of Earth-like planets in orbit.
- Many of these stars and planets are older than the Sun.
- Some may have developed intelligent life already.
- Some may have developed interstellar travel or communication.
- Even at the slow pace the galaxy could be traversed in time.
- Many stars are billions of years older than the Sun.
- Earth could have already been visited by extraterrestrial.
- However, there is insufficient evidence available that this has happened.
- ↑ Drake Equation is an heuristic equation: N = R * • f p • n e • f l • f i • f c • L. An heuristic equation is "a pragmatic method that is not fully optimized, perfected, or rationalized, but is nevertheless "good enough" as an approximation or attribute substitution."
- ↑ The Fermi paradox, created by Italian-American physicist Enrico Fermi in the summer of 1950, is the discrepancy between the lack of conclusive evidence of advanced extraterrestrial life and the apparently high likelihood of its existence.