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Possible Signs of Intelligent Life
In humanity's search for life beyond the Earth, there have been few pieces of evidence to indicate extraterrestrial life. However, in the course of our search, there has been reason to believe intelligent life does exist. This has been evinced both probabilistically and by coincidence, but it is important to note the example discussed in this article does not prove the existence of intelligent, alien, life. They simply offer grounds for further exploration! The search for extraterrestrial intelligence is a term used for the collective scientific searches for intelligent extraterrestrial life.
Mathematical Support for Intelligent Life: The Drake Equation
Drake's equation was derived to simplify the search for extraterrestrial life, by breaking it into smaller pieces. Later, it became an equation used to estimate how many intelligent alien civilizations there are at any given time in the Milky Way Galaxy. The creator is an astrophysicist named Dr. Frank Drake, the first person to begin a systematic search for intelligent life.
This model calls for a lot of guessing, especially because the last four parameters of the equation are unknown. Since we haven't made contact with one civilization, let alone multiple civilizations, we can only make estimates as to what those values might be.
Drake concludes that, when taking into account uncertainties, there are anywhere between 100 and 100,000,000 civilizations in our galaxy at one time.
As mentioned previously, Drake's equation is not proof. Additionally, results with a six orders of magnitude difference between its upper and lower bound isn't saying anything profound in this specific case.
However, over the years, more, improved estimates have been made and will continue to be made as we learn more about the cosmos and our own galaxy.
Drake concludes that, when taking into account uncertainties, there are anywhere between 100 and 100,000,000 civilizations in our galaxy at one time.
As mentioned previously, Drake's equation is not proof. Additionally, results with a six orders of magnitude difference between its upper and lower bound isn't saying anything profound in this specific case.
However, over the years, more, improved estimates have been made and will continue to be made as we learn more about the cosmos and our own galaxy. Drake concludes that, when taking into account uncertainties, there are anywhere between 100 and 100,000,000 civilizations in our galaxy at one time.
Conclusion
There have been many proposed modifications to Drake's equation as we have considered more seriously the possibility of alien life.
Some of these modifications include colonizations, METI and the possibility of the migration of intelligent life.
Furthermore, while the Drake equation does not guarantee the existence of intelligent life, it does offer probabilistic evidence that there is, indeed, a reason to search.