This equation is sometimes called "The Green Bank equation", "The Green Bank Formula" or often erroneously called "The Sagan equation" (after the astronomer and SETI proponent Carl Sagan). The main purpose of the equation is to allow scientists to quantify the uncertainty of the factors that determine N.In a 2003 lecture at Caltech, Michael Crichton, the science fiction author, stated:
The problem, of course, is that none of the terms can be known, and most cannot even be estimated. The only way to work the equation is to fill in with guesses. As a result, [it] can have any value from "billions and billions" to zero. An expression that can mean anything means nothing. Speaking precisely, [it] is literally meaningless...It has made many appearances in popular culture. It is cited in Michael Crichton's Sphere, it appears in the Electronic Arts game Spore, it is mentioned multiple times in Carl Sagan's science fiction book Contact and this equation was mentioned by Howard and detailed by Sheldon in an episode of the The Big Bang Theory.
What's the equation about? Bonus points for identifying the parameters. As always, creative answers get most points :).
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8 comments:
Based on Sheldon and Howard (geeks) + science fiction
My guess would be something about intelligence of aliens (or extraterrestrial life).
Had you asked us to be creative would have had a shot at guessing the parameters....
The equation is to find the number of extra terrestrial types (aliens) in the universe
The Drake equation? If so, N would be the number of planets in the universe where life can be supported (thus probably found).
The various terms would be number of galaxies, average number of stars per galaxy, average number of planers per star, probability of having atmosphere, water etc...
Probability that there is extra-terrestrial life.
I know this one. This is an equation that is supposed to give you the probability of finding extra-terrestrial life (or the actual number of civilizations) from individual probabilities(or numbers). I'm guessing the subscripts p,e,l,i stand for planets, earths, life and intelligent life, no clue what the others are. Multiply them to get a final number - I think it is a stupidly obvious equation if and when some one can figure out the individual terms...
Is it to find out number of planets in milky way
This is the Drake equation that represents the probability that there is extra-terrestrial intelligence.
This is the Drake equation which attempts to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way with which we might come into contact.
Here is what the parameters mean:
- N is the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible;
- R* is the average rate of star formation per year in our galaxy
- fp is the fraction of those stars that have planets
- ne is the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
- fℓ is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point
- fi is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life
- fc is the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
- L is the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
Most of you got close enough for the full points. Congrats...
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