The Drake Equation

1. The Drake Equation Noah Weiss

2. Basics • The Drake Equation is a hypothetical equation created in an attempt to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy. • It was developed by Dr. Frank Drake in the 1960’s.

3. Frank Drake • Author of the Drake Equation. • Founder of the Search of Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) • Primary field is radio astronomy, which is the branch of astronomy in which celestial bodies and phenomena in space are studied by examining their radio wave emissions.

4. The Equation • The Drake Equation is: • N = (R*)(fp)(ne)(fl)(fi)(ft)(L)

5. The Variables • N is the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which we might expect to be able to communicate • R* is the rate of star formation in our galaxy • fp is the fraction of those stars which have planets • ne is average number of planets which can potentially support life per star that has planets • fl is the fraction of the above which actually go on to develop life • f is the fraction of the above which actually go on to develop intelligent life • fc is the fraction of the above which are willing and able to communicate • L is the expected lifetime of such a civilization

6. Current Drake Equation • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/drake.html • R*=10/year • fp=.5 • ne=2 • fl=1 • fi==.01 • fc=1 • L=10000 • N=10000

7. Is there life in the universe? • Current efforts to find life in out solar system are concentrated on Jupiter’s Moon Europa, which has a layer of liquid water under its surface, and examining meteors.

8. Works Cited • Microsoft Encarta, Exobiology • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/origins/drake.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SETI • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drake_equation • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Drake