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New planet vs. Drake's Equation
Maybe it's the optimist in me, but the discovery of a new,
"potentially" Earth-like planet makes me hopeful for the future of Drake's Equation. Given the state of current technology, it seems that we may not be able to conduct any kind of detailed study of the new planet in Gliese for, oh, maybe thirty to fifty years. But when that time comes, all eyes will be focused on it. For *if* they find some kind of evidence of life, it could radically alter the equation. The chances of life existing on the *very first* Earth-like planet discovered by Humanity could very well be a factor in the equation -- for if there is life there, then it *might* be a sign that life is commonplace in the Universe, and easily found. That life may be no more than algae and sludge, but it would still mean that there is life elsewhere in the Universe. If life is actually found on the next two or three Earth-like planets discovered, then it might be time to start un-corking the champagne bottles. And if no life is found on any Earth-like planets discovered in the next, oh, two centuries or so, then that might affect the equation in the other direction. It might suggest that life is rare, or at least scarce enough to make it hard to find. As an optimist, I'm hoping for the first option to turn out to be true. Still, just knowing that there is a chance -- however slim -- that life on another planet might indeed be discovered within my own lifetime, that alone gives me pause. And it makes me quite glad. -- The High Weirdness Project http://www.modemac.com |
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New planet vs. Drake's Equation
"M" == Modemac writes:
M Maybe it's the optimist in me, but the discovery of a new, M "potentially" Earth-like planet makes me hopeful for the future of M Drake's Equation. M Given the state of current technology, it seems that we may not be M able to conduct any kind of detailed study of the new planet in M Gliese for, oh, maybe thirty to fifty years. But when that time M comes, all eyes will be focused on it. For *if* they find some M kind of evidence of life, it could radically alter the equation. No, it won't. It may alter the values we assign to the various factors of the equation, by giving us a better estimate of them, but it will not alter the equation. -- Lt. Lazio, HTML police | e-mail: No means no, stop rape. | http://patriot.net/%7Ejlazio/ sci.astro FAQ at http://sciastro.astronomy.net/sci.astro.html |
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