Are we alone..?
Probably.
I find it annoying when people say 'look how big the Universe is, it's stupid to think there is no other life in the Universe'.
We have a sample size of one. And even with this sample we have no idea how the first life form developed. Forget Panspermia, that's just kicking the can further down the road. So if we don't know the probability of life forming on our own planet, how can we possibly extrapolate life to rest of the Universe?
Assuming carbon based life forms and the requirement for an Earth type planet in the goldilocks zone (going by our large sample of one life bearing planet we know of; Earth) I reckon the odds are stacked against not only intelligent life but ANY life in the Universe.
It is estimated there are 50,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 Earth like planets in the observable Universe. But once you start doing the maths to take into account all the different parameters we know that life must require, this number begins to look ridiculously small!
Nonetheless, there is a much more profound question to be asked rather than 'Are we alone?' and that is 'Why is there something rather than nothing?'
I mean have you ever thought about it? Why the heck does anything exist?
I dunno, keep watching the skies!
The Drake Equation says otherwise.
N = R* • fp • ne • fl • fi • fc • L
N = The number of civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy whose electromagnetic emissions are detectable.
R* =The rate of formation of stars suitable for the development of intelligent life.
fp = The fraction of those stars with planetary systems.
ne = The number of planets, per solar system, with an environment suitable for life.
fl = The fraction of suitable planets on which life actually appears.
fi = The fraction of life bearing planets on which intelligent life emerges.
fc = The fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space.
L = The length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
Problem with Drake equation is that parameter fl is anyone's guess. Also you've got the Fermi paradox which is contrary to Drake Equation.
It would be amazing to confirm there is alien life. It would be just as amazing if the opposite holds true.
Congratulations @nextguy! You have completed some achievement on Steemit and have been rewarded with new badge(s) :
Click on any badge to view your own Board of Honnor on SteemitBoard.
For more information about SteemitBoard, click here
If you no longer want to receive notifications, reply to this comment with the word
STOPBy upvoting this notification, you can help all Steemit users. Learn how here!