Drakes Equation

[Farrukh]

What is Drakes equation?

[haller]

if you're talking about that rediculous maths formula for working out the number of intelligent civizations able to communicate with our milky way - then that would be: N = R*fs*fp*ne*fl*fi*fc*L * = multiply (but i dont need to tell you that) source: http://www.seds.org/~rme/drakeeqn.htm

[AndyBoyce]

Further to the previous highly sceptical answer, Drake's equation is a way of estimating the likely numbers of intelligent species out there. If you go to http://www.seds.org/~rme/drakeeqn.htm you will get far more detail.

[haller]

why did post the same link as me? and i do most definately believe that there is life out there. i just dont think you can calculate it to any degree of accuracy (if you consider quantum physics).

[geofbob]

I think what most people forget about this issue is that it isn't just a matter of other "intelligent" civilisations, but of whether those civilisations exist "now" - "now" being related to the number of light years the planet concerned is away from earth. Remember just how short a time man has existed on earth - let alone man with the capability of sending radio signals - compared with the total lifetime of the universe. Intelligent life may have existed on planets in other galaxies millions or even billions of years ago; it may develop on some planets in millions or billions of years time. But during the speck of time during which we earthlings are active - I'm not so sure.