2007-05-14 06:54:30 · 11 answers · asked by Cozmik 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
What are the implications here on Earth?
2007-05-14 06:54:53 · update #1
by other, are you implying we are "highly advanced"? : )
2007-05-14 06:59:33 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Drake Equation:
N = N*f(p)f(e)f(l)f(i)f(c)f(L)
N stands for advanced civilations
N* is the number of stars in the Milky Way - 100 to 400 billion
f(p) is the percentage with planets - 20 to 50%
f(e) is the percentage of earthlike planets - 1-5%
f(l) is the percentage where life has evolved - tremendously variable, anywhere from almost 0-100%
f(i) is the percentage where INTELLIGENT life evolved - again, tremendously variable, from almost 0 to 100%
f(c) is the percentage where life that can communicate across interstellar space - 10-20%
f(L) is how long said civilization lasts - ours has been around a little over 100 years, compared to an expected life span of the planet of 10 BILLION years - anywhere from 1 - 100 millionth to maybe 1 - 100 thousandth (0.00000001 to 0.00001)
Let's stack the deck.
N=400,000,000 x 0.50 x 0.05 x 1 x 1 x 0.20 x 0.000001
(stars x planets x earthlike x life INEVITABLE x intelligence INEVITABLE x critters REALLY LOOKING x 10,000 years)
gives us 20
Not a lot. Much depends on timing, especially in light of the dependency of the other civilization being out there and looking for us while we look for them.
That's for our galaxy. If you want to throw in the whole meshuggah, then the odds go up that there are others out there right now - but the closest galaxy of approximately the same size as ours is 2 million light-years away (roughly) - so we won't be sharing Britney Spears with them any time soon!
On the other hand, the odds that there having BEEN a civilization that COULD HAVE contacted us is pretty good - after all, we're here, right? But if they went away back when the dinosaurs were roaming, it won't matter too much to us now.
2007-05-14 08:15:56 · answer #2 · answered by Adam G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The bare probability for another advanced civilization existing at some point in the universe's habitable lifespan is sure to be fairly high. It boils down to a numbers game where no matter how rare life is or how rare intelligence is there are just so many planets out there that intelligent life would likely exist elsewhere. However the likelihood that we exist at the same time as this other life is proportional to the age of civilizations (around 400 years) to the age of the universe (13 billion years) so it's fairly unlikely that we'll ever get together to chat.
2007-05-14 07:15:21 · answer #3 · answered by mistofolese 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chances of other civilization is huge. If we say that 1 in a million solar system's have life- we can also say that there is a chance of 1 in a million stars with solar systems. Our galaxy alone has around 10 billion stars and there are around a million known galaxies.
The CHANCES ARE HUGE!!!!
2007-05-14 07:51:03 · answer #4 · answered by martinpaul2001 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes: considering the Universe is 13-14 billion years old, and our sun is only 4-5 billion years old, think how advanced a civilization could be if it were a mere million years older than us, a mere billion years older.
2007-05-14 10:28:15 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called the Drake Equation. It's not hard to understand, but most of the variables are almost impossible to put a reliable value to with the knowledge we have now. So yes, as things are we are still very much just stabbing in the dark (I mean, how can we possibly guess how many habitable planets will actually form life, for example). But have a look at it yourself and you can make your own opinion:
2007-05-14 07:19:51 · answer #6 · answered by Jack 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The chances are 1 in 1.
Almost no implications at all for us, we will never encounter them.
2007-05-14 08:08:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very low. There's an equation for all of this where you multiply ot a bunch of decimal probablities, but the problem is most of those values are arbitrary. The best estimate is that we won't find any...sure...don't go snooping around Stonehenge...nothing there...
Oh, and the human race is a FAR cry from advanced.
O what fools these mortals be...
2007-05-14 07:09:19 · answer #8 · answered by sciguy 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I would say good because there are so many unexplained things that have happened here and alot of sightings. Plus that they are going to start showing up again( in like 3 years) to teach you more things like anti-gravity cars. Well that's what Sylvia says anyways. So don't think I am a freak.
2007-05-14 07:05:55 · answer #9 · answered by arian13 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is so large that there is a good possibility but we may never communicate with them.
2007-05-14 10:14:19 · answer #10 · answered by JOHNNIE B 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mathematically there should be many, but this universe is alive and chose only one place.
2007-05-14 07:24:48 · answer #11 · answered by spir_i_tual 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋