Eric,

"ErstWhile" wrote in message
...
When at the age of 11 I read in a book by Carl Sagan the formel N = R* .
fp
. ne . fl . fi . fc . L
I couldn't understand what the use is for a formula for which none of the
variables are really known.
I still don't know, but that doesn't matter.

Yes, I think the concept and the equation itself, in so far as it goes, is
accurate, but the basic problem is the lack of data. Someday we'll
know all the values of those parameters, but, then the equation won't
be as interesting then.

I think that Frank Drake intended the equation to be "a point of
discussion", that would inspire thinking about the possibilities of
life in the Galaxy, and I think that he (and the equation) succeeded
very well!!


It's a very good initiative to have the series of talks available on the
website.
In 1976 I'd never have thought to hear Mr. Drake speak on a computer in my
lifetime,
since Personal Computers were Science Fiction then.

I enjoyed the talk too. I "tuned" in at 1PM, but there was nothing. Later
though I
heard the whole talk ...


Nor would I have thought it possible to be able to help fill in one of the
variables of Mr. Drake's equation,
with my PC and s@h.

eric

"Alfred A. Aburto Jr." wrote in message
news
SETI Live Webcast 15 Nov @1PM PST:

http://www.exploratorium.edu/origins...ive/index.html

You can watch our Webcasts online, or come to the museum and be part of
the
audience!

Live Webcasts

Is There Life Elsewhere?

Saturday, Nov. 15, 1:00 p.m. PST

Guest: Frank Drake, Senior Scientist, SETI Institute

N = R* . fp . ne . fl . fi . fc . L
How can a mathematical equation frame the question of life in the
universe?
We'll talk with Frank Drake, one of the founders of the SETI Institute,
about his famous equation and how it frames the search for signs of
intelligent life in the universe.