• Number of Intelligent Aliens in Galaxy Estimated
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[URL]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7870562.stm[/URL] [quote] [B] Number of alien worlds quantified [/B] [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/45445000/jpg/_45445519_tv000156139.jpg[/IMG] We are likely to be listening for a long time, even if there are many worlds [B]Intelligent civilisations are out there and there could be thousands of them, according to an Edinburgh scientist.[/B] The discovery of more than 330 planets outside our solar system in recent years has helped refine the number of life forms that are likely to exist. The current research estimates that there are at least 361 intelligent civilisations in our Galaxy and possibly as many as 38,000. The work is reported in the International Journal of Astrobiology. Even with the higher of the two estimates, however, it is not very likely that contact could be established with alien worlds. While researchers often come up with overall estimates of the likelihood of intelligent life in the universe, it is a process fraught with guesswork; recent guesses put the number anywhere between a million and less than one. "It's a process of quantifying our ignorance," said Duncan Forgan, the University of Edinburgh researcher who carried out the work. In his new approach, Mr Forgan simulated a galaxy much like our own, allowing it to develop solar systems based on what is now known from the existence of so-called exoplanets in our galactic neighbourhood. These simulated alien worlds were then subjected to a number of different scenarios. [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif[/IMG] [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif[/IMG] [B]If alien life forms do exist, we may not necessarily be able to make contact with them, and we have no idea what form they would take[/B] [IMG]http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif[/IMG] Duncan Forgan Edinburgh University The first assumed that it is difficult for life to be formed but easy for it to evolve, and suggested there were 361 intelligent civilisations in the galaxy. A second scenario assumed life was easily formed but struggled to develop intelligence. Under these conditions, 31,513 other forms of life were estimated to exist. The final scenario examined the possibility that life could be passed from one planet to another during asteroid collisions - a popular theory for how life arose here on Earth. That approach gave a result of some 37,964 intelligent civilisations in existence. [B]Form and function[/B] While far-flung planets may reduce uncertainty in how many Earth-like planets there are, some variables in the estimate will remain guesses. For example, the time from a planet's formation to the first sparks of life, or from there to the first intelligent civilisations, are large variables in the overall estimate. For those, Mr Forgan says, we will have to continue to assume Earth is an average case. "It is important to realise that the picture we've built up is still incomplete," said Mr Forgan. "Even if alien life forms do exist, we may not necessarily be able to make contact with them, and we have no idea what form they would take. "Life on other planets may be as varied as life on Earth and we cannot predict what intelligent life on other planets would look like or how they might behave." [/quote]Anywhere from 381 to 38,000. Science fiction was right on the mark.
[media][[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlikCebQSlY[/url][/media] Carl's all the knowledge I need.
This just in, we aren't the only planet with intelligent life on, in the infinity-sized space. :downs:
Multiply that by the trillions of galaxies out there....
This is absurd, we will never know.
The Drake equation has been around for a while, it's all dependent on the numbers you put in. Optimistic numbers make the result in the thousands.
[quote]While researchers often come up with overall estimates of the likelihood of intelligent life in the universe, it is a process fraught with guesswork; recent guesses put the number anywhere between a million and [b]less than one.[/b][/quote] What?
This is like saying: There are ants in 10 to 30 countries and there could be a lot of them.
Number of Intelligent Aliens in Galaxy Estimated: A LOT
Well, there's a pretty good chance that many of these life-bearing worlds are on the other side of the galaxy, since the core is obscuring our observation of that region, or even that there's one right next door, but we haven't even seen it yet since there's so many bloody stars and planets, making galactic exploration comparable to the exploration of our own deep oceans: as in we've barely scanned even a tiny percentage of our skies, just like we've barely scanned 1% of our own ocean deeps. Just imagine: so many worlds could bear life and water, and with it, vast ocean deeps. I wonder how well extraterrestrials would react to us combing their vast ocean deeps? Probably'd have to get a permit from their world government, or at least the strongest organisation they'd have...
Why not bolding the actual number ?
[QUOTE=sltungle;19874859]What?[/QUOTE] Intelligence on Earth is questionable.
the drake equation means nothing, it's all just guesses at numbers and then multiplying those numbers to get an even more useless number.
[QUOTE=Kyle Orton;19875194]the drake equation means nothing, it's all just guesses at numbers and then multiplying those numbers to get an even more useless number.[/QUOTE] Well it's a good thing you figured it out, or those scientists might have never known how dumb they were!
[QUOTE=Tools;19874727]This just in, we aren't the only planet with intelligent life on, in the infinity-sized space. :downs:[/QUOTE] The universe is not infinite.
[QUOTE=sltungle;19874859]What?[/QUOTE] Youtuber's bring down the global average intelligence to a negative value [editline]10:36PM[/editline] [QUOTE=sp00ks;19875281]The universe is not infinite.[/QUOTE] That's just one theory.
-snip-
Lets hope they're not evil.
[QUOTE=Tools;19874727]This just in, we aren't the only planet with intelligent life on, in the infinity-sized space. :downs:[/QUOTE] The universe is technically not infinite in size. Though it's so large it may as well be. That being said, there is a limit to it's size. It is expanding, though. [editline]09:58AM[/editline] [QUOTE=TurbisV2;19874735]This is absurd, we will never know.[/QUOTE] That's like saying you wouldn't know if there's food in your refrigerator, just because the door is closed and you can't see it. Make no mistake, there obviously is other intelligent life. We're never going to come into contact with it, though.
Well, you can't really give a number to something like this, but it would be idiotic to think we're the only intelligent life in the galaxy.
[QUOTE=Fedalkyn;19875321]Youtuber's bring down the global average intelligence to a negative value[/QUOTE] I hope that's not directed at me, because it doesn't say anything in the article about being the 'average number of intelligent species per galaxy' (which COULD well be below 1). It said [b]THE[/b] number of intelligent species. [b]Edit:[/b] Actually, it said 'universe', which is WORSE. Because there IS 1 intelligent species (at least) in the universe: us. Given that the universe contains by definition everything that exists you can't take an 'average' because dividing by '1' (1 universe) will just give you the same number.
[QUOTE=sltungle;19875447]I hope that's not directed at me, because it doesn't say anything in the article about being the 'average number of intelligent species per galaxy' (which COULD well be below 1). It said [b]THE[/b] number of intelligent species. [b]Edit:[/b] Actually, it said 'universe', which is WORSE. Because there IS 1 intelligent species (at least) in the universe: us. Given that the universe contains by definition everything that exists you can't take an 'average' because dividing by '1' (1 universe) will just give you the same number.[/QUOTE] Why did you think that was directed at you? What do you think I was criticising you? Christ you're a precious wee thing And in any case, why would you even begin to beleive my comment was meant in any way other than jest.
[QUOTE=Fedalkyn;19875536]Why did you think that was directed at you? What do you think I was criticising you? Christ you're a precious wee thing And in any case, why would you even begin to beleive my comment was meant in any way other than jest.[/QUOTE] I thought that youtuber thing was directed at me. Was just making sure that you understood that I understand the concept of taking an average (which alas some people do NOT actually understand).
[QUOTE=Kyle Orton;19875194]the drake equation means nothing, it's all just guesses at numbers and then multiplying those numbers to get an even more useless number.[/QUOTE] Drake equation is not nonsense. It's simply statistics - Founded on simple math. Still nobody knows the quantity of the parameters, that's why "thinking" about the equation is useless - We need to determine the parameters with "experiments" (hence: We need to discover space and find alien races).
[QUOTE=McSanchez;19874730]Multiply that by the trillions of galaxies out there....[/QUOTE] Figure out how far away from us they all are.
So where are the space gypsies? Inb4 Mass Effect.
Come on, colonizate mars faster, i want those mass relays.
obligatory avatar reference
[QUOTE=DainBramageStudios;19881711]obligatory avatar reference[/QUOTE] predictable response
[QUOTE=Sickle;19881813]predictable response[/QUOTE] generic snarky remark
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