Post by Andrei Tchentchik on Apr 6, 2019 11:03:48 GMT 2
(.#172).- Drake's equation.
Drake's equation.
The plays of a possible extraterrestrial intelligence are today more than 50 years old. It's an opportunity to look back, to measure changes and progress. One of the major breakthroughs is certainly the introduction of the Drake equation, which will remain a reference in the evaluation of a possible extraterrestrial civilization.
Drake equation. © Geralt CCO
Drake's equation in image. © Élisabeth Piotelat
The "Dauphin Order" meeting
At the end of the Ozma project, Drake decided to bring together various specialists in fields related to the search for extraterrestrial life: astronomy, chemistry, biology, etc. The meeting called "Order of the Dauphin" took place on Halloween 1961.
The agenda was developed as an equation listing all the conditions necessary for the development of a technological civilization:
N: number of civilizations with which we could communicate in the galaxy;
R *: rate of formation of stars favorable to the development of life in the galaxy;
Fp: fraction of these stars having a planetary system;
Ne: number of planets where an ecosystem has developed. For example, in the Solar System, we can think that Venus, Mars and the Earth are located at a reasonable distance from the Sun, so Ne = 3;
Fl: fraction of these planets where life has appeared (one third for the Solar System, only the Earth, on the 3 planets mentioned above, is appropriate);
Fi: fraction of these planets where intelligence has appeared (1 for the Solar System);
Fc: fraction of these planets where communication possibilities have been developed (1);
L: lifespan of technological civilizations.
The Drake equation, base of extraterrestrial research
This equation remained famous even though it was originally just an agenda. Drake himself recently stated that it is essentially used to quantify our ignorance.
Fifty years ago, it was difficult to put a figure on most of these factors. Scientists used the "principle of mediocrity" to express the fact that what happened around the Sun could have happened elsewhere (Fp = 1). Others retorted that the Sun was perhaps the only star with a planetary system (Fp = 0). Today, missions like Corot or Kepler allow us to give estimates of the value of Fp.
However, we are not able to detect an ecosystem (and calculate Ne) but the Darwin mission should provide us with some answers.
In 1961, that is during the Cold War, some thought that we would not celebrate Seti's 50th birthday.
Every technological civilization self-destroys rapidly by discovering nuclear energy after developing communication capabilities.
F I N.
Drake's equation.
The plays of a possible extraterrestrial intelligence are today more than 50 years old. It's an opportunity to look back, to measure changes and progress. One of the major breakthroughs is certainly the introduction of the Drake equation, which will remain a reference in the evaluation of a possible extraterrestrial civilization.
Drake equation. © Geralt CCO
Drake's equation in image. © Élisabeth Piotelat
The "Dauphin Order" meeting
At the end of the Ozma project, Drake decided to bring together various specialists in fields related to the search for extraterrestrial life: astronomy, chemistry, biology, etc. The meeting called "Order of the Dauphin" took place on Halloween 1961.
The agenda was developed as an equation listing all the conditions necessary for the development of a technological civilization:
N: number of civilizations with which we could communicate in the galaxy;
R *: rate of formation of stars favorable to the development of life in the galaxy;
Fp: fraction of these stars having a planetary system;
Ne: number of planets where an ecosystem has developed. For example, in the Solar System, we can think that Venus, Mars and the Earth are located at a reasonable distance from the Sun, so Ne = 3;
Fl: fraction of these planets where life has appeared (one third for the Solar System, only the Earth, on the 3 planets mentioned above, is appropriate);
Fi: fraction of these planets where intelligence has appeared (1 for the Solar System);
Fc: fraction of these planets where communication possibilities have been developed (1);
L: lifespan of technological civilizations.
The Drake equation, base of extraterrestrial research
This equation remained famous even though it was originally just an agenda. Drake himself recently stated that it is essentially used to quantify our ignorance.
Fifty years ago, it was difficult to put a figure on most of these factors. Scientists used the "principle of mediocrity" to express the fact that what happened around the Sun could have happened elsewhere (Fp = 1). Others retorted that the Sun was perhaps the only star with a planetary system (Fp = 0). Today, missions like Corot or Kepler allow us to give estimates of the value of Fp.
However, we are not able to detect an ecosystem (and calculate Ne) but the Darwin mission should provide us with some answers.
In 1961, that is during the Cold War, some thought that we would not celebrate Seti's 50th birthday.
Every technological civilization self-destroys rapidly by discovering nuclear energy after developing communication capabilities.
F I N.
