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Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542
Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 10,542 |
OED Word of the Day:
Drake equation, n.
NEW EDITION: draft entry Sept. 2002
Astron.
An equation devised to estimate the number of extraterrestrial civilizations that may potentially be detected in our galaxy. The equation combines a number of independently estimated factors, [as] the rate of star formation, the number of planets per solar system capable of sustaining life, and the fraction of stars with planetary systems, the fraction of such planets which are capable of supporting life, the fraction that develop intelligent life, and the fraction that develop an advanced civilization capable of communicating with other civilizations, and the lifetime of such a civilization.
1964 W. SULLIVAN We are not Alone xvii. 264 There is no immediate way to determine the chief unknown..that of the longevity of a technological civilisation. The other factors in Drake's equation can be assessed by experiment or observation. 1979 Nature 18 Oct. 528/1 Hart pointed out that a calculation of N by means of the so-called Drake equation is essentially impossible owing to the orders of magnitude uncertainty in many of the terms. 1997 Economist 25 Jan. 109/1 The Drake equation..was a string of unknown terms, and a slightly jokey reminder ever since of that state of the search for extra-terrestrial intelligence, or SETI.
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Joined: Jul 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jul 2000
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AKA SWAG (simply wild-assed guess)
TEd
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Joined: Dec 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
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I've allus heard that the S was for Scientific.
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Joined: Jan 2002
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veteran
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veteran
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 1,526 |
of what is more generally known as a Fermi Equation or a "back of the envelope" computation.
k
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