Researchers have invented a new formula for calculating the approximate number of planets in the galaxy where a civilization like ours could have originated and developed. So, scientists named 36 similar variants.
This is reported by CNN with reference to the Astrophysical Journal.
Previously, scientists used the Drake equation (named after the astrophysicist Frank Drake, who invented it in 1961). However, scientists from the University of Nottingham decided to develop their own method of mathematical search for exoplanets.
“Drake has developed an equation that can essentially be used to calculate the number of intelligent civilizations in the Milky Way galaxy that are suitable for contact. However, many of its conditions are unknown. In addition, it is necessary to use other methods to calculate the likely number of civilizations suitable for contact,” the report says.
“The key difference between our calculations and the previous ones, which were based on the Drake equation, is that we make very simple assumptions about the development of life,” said Christopher Conselis, professor of astrophysics.
“One of them says that life arises quite scientifically. If there are the right conditions, then life appears. This avoids questions that cannot be answered, such as: “What part of the planets in the zone of life near the stars can become the place of origin of life?” or: “How many living forms evolve to intelligence?”. There are no answers to these questions until we find life, which we haven’t done yet,” he added.
So, the new “Astrobiological principle of Copernicus” is based on data on the history of the formation of stars and planets, their age, metal content, the probability of the presence of exoplanets, and being in the “zone of life”, which implies a comfortable stay in the orbit of the star. Simply put, the temperature on the planet should not be too cold and not too hot for the appearance of life like us. The study concerns only biological forms that can resemble humans – on the same planets as Earth, since other conditions for the emergence of life are still unknown to humanity.
It is also important that the planet remains stable for the 4.5-5.5 billion years that intelligent life needs to develop.
“The two Astrobiological limits of Copernicus say that intelligent life is formed in a little less or a little more than 5 billion years. Actually, because on Earth, a contact-friendly civilization emerged after 4.5 billion years, ” added co-author of the study, Professor Tom Westby.
According to the results of mathematical calculations, the researchers came to the conclusion that the Earth is not a special planet and similar to it, with the presence of an intelligent life form, maybe at least 36 in the entire galaxy. At the same time, all the conditions for a similar composition of stars in the planets were taken into account.
Recall, the staff of the University of California at Berkeley (USA) in the framework of a large-scale search for extraterrestrial Intelligence program Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, or SETI, surveyed 1327 neighboring stars. Astrophysicists have not recorded a single radio signal or other evidence of the existence of alien civilizations.
As reported by the “Country”, a teacher at the famous Oxford University, Professor Yang-hae Chi said that extraterrestrials should not be searched for in telescopes. They have been on the Earth for a long time and conduct their activities among people.
p-cosmos.com
