Throughout human history, many have wondered whether life exists on other planets—
In the new work, the researchers expandedresearch conducted by Frank Drake back in 1961. He and his colleagues developed an equation (now known as the Drake equation) to calculate the probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations—given everything that was known about space and astronomical objects at the time. The researchers took into account variables such as the number of suspected exoplanets and star systems, as well as how many of them could support life.
Recall that Drake's equation is a formula designed to determine the number of extraterrestrial civilizations in the Galaxy with which humanity has a chance to come into contact.
Since then, scientists have learned much more about spacemore in general and about the circumstances after the Big Bang. In this new work, the researchers took into account all the new factors and added something else that was not taken into account in 1961 - the possibility of other extraterrestrial civilizations arising and then being inadvertently destroyed. For example, humans are releasing greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which will cause the Earth to no longer be able to support life.
The result of the team's work is not an estimate of the likelihood of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations, but a new formula that others can use for their own calculations.
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