FORA.tv

Fuel the Enlightenment

FORA.tv Series: 'One Small Step' -- Unlocking the Secrets of Space

The Search for Extra-Terrestrial Life

Gresham College
Rate It
6,500 Views
  • Info
  • Bio
  • Full Program
  • Highlights
  • Transcript
  • Download
  • More
theunmovedmover Avatar
theunmovedmover
Posts: 3
Posted: 03.26.09, 04:32 PM
Although it's all very interesting and entertaining to talk about this, how can you possibly calculate anything that has to do with the chances of life arising (let alone intelligent life) on another planet? Considering we've very little idea of how many or what kind of variables exist in any given circumstance in any place in our galaxy.
Permalink
TadMC Avatar
TadMC
Posts: 1
Posted: 09.06.09, 10:23 PM
Its a thought experiment almost. Nothing from drakes equation is considered fact. Its just a rough number by tweeking variables. In fact the only number that is actual fact in the whole equation is the number of stars born per year
Permalink
nightlight Avatar
nightlight
Posts: 31
Posted: 10.12.09, 09:27 PM
There are a lot of people that are plugging in numbers into the Drake equation and giving there reasons why and it is little but a exercise in theory but never the less it is interesting and does render some insight as we gain more and more knowledge of the universe we live in.
I to was surprised that the current estimation of new star births in the Milky Way is only about seven. I don't think that it is totally invalid to plug in reflections of our own experience and thought, like is it likely that a technologically advanced society would destroy it's self or be subject to natural disasters like colliding with foreign objects and how long would it take for life to develop and how long would it take to develop intelligence and then develop the curiosity, technology and the will to want to communicate with intelligence outside of it's own world. Would they be asking the same questions we do, do we want to communicate, can we afford it and what are the rewards.
Permalink
Fora & Fauna Avatar
Fora & Fauna
Posts: 1
Posted: 01.31.10, 06:37 AM
I think we are searching for everything but for other life.
If it would be about life, then the search would end right here on earth.
I think its about the human soul that cries out for answers.
Imagine we would find a civilization and even communicate and find out that their knowledge is lower than ours. So the results would be: We cannot benefit from that species, so leave them be.
Permalink
Please log in or register to post a comment.
Advertisement

Related Programs

Prof. Ian Morison on Beauty in the Heavens Prof. Ian Morison on Beauty in the Heavens
00:50:10 min | 1,964 Views
The Search for a World Like Our Own: Imagine Earth 2.0 The Search for a World Like Our Own: Imagine Earth 2.0
01:07:48 min | 6,499 Views
Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Death by Black Hole Neil DeGrasse Tyson: Death by Black Hole
00:31:14 min | 292,486 Views
Prof. Ian Morison on Proving Einstein Right Prof. Ian Morison on Proving Einstein Right
00:56:58 min | 6,013 Views

Browse Programs by Tag

Arts Books Climate Change Computing Conflict Credit Crunch Defense Democratization Economic Policy Education Election 2008 Emerging Markets Energy Entertainment Entrepreneurship Environment Film Food Globalization Health & Wellness Healthcare History Internet Investing Law Medicine Music Muslim World Natural Sciences New Media Personal Technology Philanthropy Religion Social Issues Social Sciences Sustainability Terrorism The Bailout U.S. Foreign Policy White House 2009

Advertisement