Editing 384: The Drake Equation
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This comic is multi-layered, and seems to be [[Randall]]'s take on the {{w|Fermi paradox}}. | This comic is multi-layered, and seems to be [[Randall]]'s take on the {{w|Fermi paradox}}. | ||
− | For starters, the {{w|Drake equation}} is a model | + | For starters, the {{w|Drake equation}} is a model for estimating the number of communicating life forms in our galaxy. |
− | Even if there is life on other planets, most life forms will not establish civilizations. However, if there are any communicating civilizations, their messages would have to travel for hundreds, thousands, or hundreds of thousands of years to reach us, and then our response would take an equivalent amount of time, leaving them waiting for | + | Even if there is life on other planets, most life forms will not establish civilizations. However, if there are any communicating civilizations, their messages would have to travel for hundreds, thousands, or hundreds of thousands of years to reach us, and then our response would take an equivalent amount of time, leaving them waiting for a doubled time of years according to their distance in light years for a response. |
− | All the factors | + | That is the reason why Randall also added the factor for the "Amount of bullshit you're willing to buy from Frank Drake". All the factors are difficult to measure or estimate, no number is determined with sufficient accuracy, so the equation is a guideline for a thought experiment at best, and just "bullshit" at worst. |
− | The title text makes fun of the {{w|SETI|Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI)}} project, which | + | The title text makes fun of the {{w|SETI|Search for ExtraTerrestrial Intelligence (SETI)}} project, which searches for intelligent life on other planets by looking for radio communications, and the intelligence of their researchers. Nearly nothing, if not nothing, restricts potential extraterrestrial communications to the frequencies that SETI searches at any given moment. Even if another civilization communicated on one of SETI's search frequencies, they would most likely live extremely far away. Additionally, an extraterrestrial source that doesn't know we're here would have to send a constant and powerful signal in all directions for us to notice it. |
− | The SETI project is searching at the 21 cm {{w|Hydrogen line}}, which, although considered a favorable frequency | + | The SETI project is searching at the 21 cm {{w|Hydrogen line}}, which, although considered a favorable frequency by potential extraterrestrial civilizations, is not used by humans. Therefore, a SETI-like organization would have a hard time finding earth. |
− | The title text suggests | + | The title text suggests Randall does not think Drake is a nutjob; he just has a more conservative expectation of discovering extraterrestrial life. |
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==Transcript== | ==Transcript== | ||
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[[Category:Comics with color]] | [[Category:Comics with color]] | ||
[[Category:Science]] | [[Category:Science]] | ||
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