nice review about Drake’s equation !

the geek who laid the golden egg

Statistically speaking, humankind is likely to make first contact with an extraterrestrial civilization this century, and probably in the next 20 years.

Prof. Frank Drake’s famous equation shows how, with even the most conservative assumptions, we are likely surrounded by intelligent, technological civilizations on other planets.

Drake’s Equation goes as follows:

The variable N represents the likelihood that humans will make contact with an intelligent, communicating, extraterrestrial civilization.  The factors that determine this likelihood are:

• R* – the rate of how many stars form in our Milky Way galaxy
• f_p – how many of those stars have planets
• n_e – how many planets are capable of supporting life
• f_ℓ – how many of those planets actually do develop life
• f_i – how many of those life-harboring planets go on to develop intelligent life
• fc – how many of those intelligent civilizations develop technology that can…

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