The Drake Equation

Ponder the possibility of extraterrestrial civilizations

In this app you will use the Drake Equation by selecting and changing the values of the different factors. You will be encouraged to ponder the possibility of intelligent communicating life elsewhere in the Milky Way and the rest of the universe. The Drake Equation also will inspire you to think about astronomy, astrophysics, biology, philosophy, psychology and more.

Astronomers are hot on the trail of rocky exoplanets about the size of Earth, planets with enough gravity to hold an atmosphere, and orbiting their stars in the so-called habitable zone, at distances where temperatures will permit liquid surface water. We know that there are hundreds of billions of stars and very likely planets in our galaxy, and there are as many galaxies in the observable universe. There is at least a chance that we are not alone. What might it mean for humans to one day learn about intelligent extraterrestrials?

Over half a century ago, astronomer Frank Drake used a radio telescope to listen for intelligent signals from other star systems. He also formulated an equation proven to be quite useful when hypothesizing about the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in our galaxy, and about how many of them are transmitting radio signals which we can potentially receive and decode? N, the number of civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy which broadcast detectable signals, is a multiple of seven factors, each of which limit the resulting value, each of which must be carefully examined in order to arrive at an estimate.

Use the app. Discuss it with your friends and family. Enjoy!