As reported by the tabloid The Guardian, new calculations present estimates for c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ from other worlds capable of communicating with each other. In fact, according to research and calculations made by astrophysicists, today there may be more than 30 intelligent c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ in our galaxy capable of communicating with other planets.
In 1961, astronomer Frank Drake proposed what became known as the Drake equation, establishing seven factors that should have been known to provide an estimate of the number of intelligent c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ “out there”.
These factors varied between the average number of stars that form each year in the galaxy and the length of time a c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳ would send out detectable signals. But some of the factors are measurable.
Estimates of the Drake equation ranged from zero to a few billion c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳. It\’s more of a tool for thinking about questions than something that has actually been solved, “said Christopher Conselice, professor of astrophysics at the University of Nottingham and co-author of the new research.
Prof. Conselice and his colleagues report in the Astrophysical Journal, how they have refined the equation with new data and hypotheses to present their estimates. “Basically, we assumed that intelligent life would form on other Earth-like planets like here. In other words, in a few billion years, life would automatically form as a natural part of evolution, “said the astronomer.
Experts say that the new work not only offers insights into the possibilities of life beyond the Earth, but can also shed light on our future and thus look out into the cosmos. “I think it is extremely important and exciting because for the first time ever we really have an estimate of the number of intelligent and active c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ in terms of communication, that we could come into contact with and discover that there is more life in the universe,” he said. the scientist.
Prof. Conselice added that, although it is a speculative theory, he believes that a̳l̳i̳e̳n̳ life would have similarities with life on Earth, even with regard to more advanced c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ than ours.
Under the narrowest set of premises, in which, as on Earth, life forms would have appeared between 4.5 and 5.5 billion years after the formation of its stars, there are probably between four and 211 c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ in the Via Lattea today able to communicate with others, 36 is a more probable number, but certainly there are many more.
But Conselice noted that this is a conservative estimate, mainly because it is based on how long our own c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳ has been sending signals into space, a period of only 100 years.
The team adds that our c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳ would need to survive at least another 6,120 years to establish two-way communication. “They would be very far… 17,000 light years is our calculation for the closest,” said Conselice. “If we found the closest things… that would mean that the lifespan of c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳s̳ is over 100 or a few hundred years. He would indicate that an intelligent c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳ can last for thousands or millions of years. The closer we find, the better the long-term survival of our own c̳i̳v̳i̳l̳i̳z̳a̳t̳i̳o̳n̳, ”said the scientist.
Professor Andrew Coates, of the Mullard Space Science Laboratory. at University College London, he said that the assumptions made by Conselice and colleagues are reasonable, but for now, the search for life is likely to take place closer to home.
“It\’s an interesting result, but it will be impossible to test using current techniques,” he said. “Meanwhile, research into whether we are alone in the universe will include visiting probable objects within our solar system, for example with our rover Rosalind Franklin to Mars, and future missions to the moons of Jupiter and Saturn Europa, \’ Enceladus and Titan. It\’s a fascinating time in search of life elsewhere, ”Coates concluded.
