But "as far as we know" is exactly the problem with the Drake equation. The number of communicating alien civilizations in our galaxy is a statistical estimate, and like all statistical estimates it can vary a lot depending on the assumptions that are used to make it. In the Drake equation, about half the unknowns are about extraterrestrial civilizations. Since we know nothing about ET, astronomers have to make some guesses.
One way statisticians learn about a large, unknown population is by taking a small sample and extrapolating to the larger population. This is, essentially, what Conselice and Westby did in their paper. The problem is they extrapolated from a sample of one, which is a bit like trying to predict a national election by surveying only yourself.
Were you following this:
TV tonight: aliens invade Berlin in a chilling sci-fi series | Television & radio | The Guardian
For Gemini and James, transforming the back of their three-bed into an open plan kitchen-diner was draining – and their home-improvement hassle isn't over yet. Luckily, architects Laura Jane Clark and Robert Jamison are here to re-energise their project, with help from Angela Scanlon's VR tech. Ellen E Jones
The eponymous A&E medic takes to the streets of Croydon to consult those who can't or won't go to the GP; dishing out diagnoses and treatments in boxing gyms, nail salons and cafes, for everything from depression to excess sweating, fungal nails and a verruca. Ali Catterall
Trump Says He's Heard 'Interesting' Things About Roswell - The New York Times
President Donald Trump says he's heard some interesting things about Roswell, but he's not sharing even with his eldest child.
Trump made the comments Thursday in a Father's Day-themed interview with his son Don Trump Jr., hosted by the president's reelection campaign. Don Jr. wound down his interview by jokingly asking his Dad/President if he would ever divulge more information about Roswell, the New Mexico city known for its proximity to arguably most famous UFO event — "and let us know what's really going on."
There may be 36 intelligent alien civilizations in the Milky Way | WTOP
According to a new study in The Astrophysical Journal , scientists at the University of Nottingham estimate that there is a minimum of 36 communicating intelligent alien civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy.
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The team of researchers in Nottingham refined the equation using new data and assumptions. They found that there are likely between four and 211 civilizations capable of communicating with others, with 36 the most likely number.
Not to change the topic here:
Why NASA's Mars Perseverance rover is essential despite the coronavirus
Called the Mars Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter, the NASA science mission is the latest in line to head over to study the red planet.
The spacecraft is scheduled to launch atop United Launch Alliance's Atlas V rocket at 9:15 a.m. July 20 — 51 years after Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin set foot on the moon — from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Launch Complex 41.
Perseverance will join the ranks of past rovers like Sojourner, Spirit and Opportunity, and Curiosity, but will do so during a turbulent and unprecedented time here on Earth.
This Is What The Entire Sky Looks Like Through X-Ray Eyes
A space telescope launched in July 2019 has just completed its first survey. For months , the eROSITA telescope aboard the Spektr-RG space observatory has been scanning the entire sky, collecting observations for the deepest all-sky survey in X-ray wavelengths.
Now, all those data have been compiled into a map containing over 1 million bright X-ray objects - approximately doubling the number of such objects from the entire 60 years of X-ray astronomy prior.
More Than 30 Extraterrestrial Civilizations in Milky Way, Study Suggests | Voice of America -
A study by researchers at Britain's University of Nottingham published this week suggests there could be more than 30 intelligent civilizations in our galaxy.
They caution, however that communication with these civilizations could be difficult, as the average distance to them would be about 17,000 light-years. They also say whether or not we are currently alone in the galaxy depends on how long the civilizations survive.
Breathtaking new map of the X-ray Universe - BBC News
A German-Russian space telescope has just acquired a breakthrough map of the sky that traces the heavens in X-rays.
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This orbiting telescope was launched in July last year and despatched to an observing position some 1.5 million km from Earth. Once commissioned and declared fully operational in December, it was left to slowly rotate and scan the depths of space.
eRosita's first all-sky data-set, represented in the image at the top of this page, was completed only last week. It records over a million sources of X-rays.
Happening on Twitter
In the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, there's really only one big question: Where is everybody? https://t.co/kH4KeAHMZp WIRED (from San Francisco/New York) Thu Jun 18 16:47:06 +0000 2020
ESTUDO aponta existência de pelo menos 36 civilizações como a nossa na GALÁXIA: https://t.co/ZmvCgFtaI2. cálculos d… https://t.co/fnss6QK91u srlm (from recife, brazil) Fri Jun 19 01:42:55 +0000 2020
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