How much intelligent life is there?

[choxorn]

A pretty straightforward question. How many species of intelligent life do you think exists in this galaxy?

I would say the universe, but that's pretty damn big, so let's just confine it to this galaxy. If you want to ask about the universe, go start another thread.

And let's not get into any stupid discussions about what something needs to be "intelligent", okay? Let's just define it as "capable of rational thought and imagination" or something like that. Again, just go take it to another thread.

Poll will be there soon.

 

[Bigfoot3814]

Probably at least one or two besides us here on Earth.

 

[LightFang]

I think, probably, at least another one.

 

[carmen510]

There is probably one other planet with some form of intelligent life, we just haven't discovered it yet, to my knowledge at least.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

Just in this galaxy? Probably a lot. I'd guess at the very least another 500,000. why not? The milky way is 100,000 light years across. a light year is ten trillion kilometres.

 

[PeteAtoms]

The Drake equation states that:

N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L

where:

N is the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible;

and

R* is the average rate of star formation in our galaxy
fp is the fraction of those stars that have planets
ne is the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
fℓ is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point
fi is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life
fc is the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L is the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.

--------------------------

Thats from wikipedia. I don't know what it means, but I'm pretty sure it's relevant.

 

[TheLastOne36]

(reply to Alpine Trooper)That'd be pretty interesting, ounce we meet some of them. Although if they find us, then they are probably much more technologically advance then us, and would probably easily wipe us out.

 

[Mirc]

I love the probabilities thrown around randomly in this thread. Count the times the word "probably" has been used in this thread. Now count how many of those instances actually have ANYTHING to back that up. Granted, I couldn't expect otherwise for a thread about this. Kinda reminds me of a certain police novel, but I won't elaborate.

@the last one: I really abstained many times from this, but I've seen you do it like 100 times - it is ONCE, not OUNCE. An OUNCE is a unit. ONCE, TWICE, one hundred times. I'm not a grammar nazi, I really think you should know because nobody told you AFAIK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ounce Not exactly what you have in mind!

 

[Alpine Trooper]

The Drake equation states that:

N = R^{\ast} \times f_p \times n_e \times f_{\ell} \times f_i \times f_c \times L \!

where:

N is the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible;

and

R* is the average rate of star formation in our galaxy
fp is the fraction of those stars that have planets
ne is the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
fℓ is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point
fi is the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life
fc is the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L is the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.

That is ridiculous.

 

[El_Machinae]

I expect there to be less than ten independent intelligent species in this galaxy. There are many, many galaxies though.

 

[Dachs]

I picked the popular option.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

I expect there to be less than ten independent intelligent species in this galaxy. There are many, many galaxies though.

So there are hundreds of billions of star systems in our galaxy and you think there are 10?

 

[Dachs]

So there are hundreds on billions of trillions of star systems in our galaxy and you think there are 10?

There are 200 to 400 billion stars in this galaxy, not the incredibly inflated number you just posted. Also please do not neglect the problem of, you know, planets, and the stuff you need to get life, and then of course assume it's intelligent. 10 is much more reasonable than your number.

 

[choxorn]

(reply to Alpine Trooper)That'd be pretty interesting, ounce we meet some of them. Although if they find us, then they are probably much more technologically advance then us, and would probably easily wipe us out.

Who's to say they wouldn't be friendly?

 

[Perfection]

Well, if they're common, why haven't they take over the galaxy yet?

I would guess one (me and Fifty).

 

[TheLastOne36]

@the last one: I really abstained many times from this, but I've seen you do it like 100 times - it is ONCE, not OUNCE. An OUNCE is a unit. ONCE, TWICE, one hundred times. I'm not a grammar nazi, I really think you should know because nobody told you AFAIK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ounce Not exactly what you have in mind!

hmm not really what i had in mind as a reply, but i guess it's better to be told sooner then later...

now lemme practice...

Once, once once once once once once upon a time... once once once ounce once once once once once...

 

[azzaman333]

Perfection is the only species of intellegent life in the galaxy.

 

[PeteAtoms]

If you want to fill in your own answers to the variables of the drake equation, but are too lazy to do the math, go here. it will calculate it for you

 

[Shylock]

So there are hundreds of billions of star systems in our galaxy and you think there are 10?

Not all of them possess the necessary balance of elements (and especially metals) required for life, at least in the Earth sense.

Also there is the issue of distance from the galactic centre as the closer you get the more volatile the region in terms of impacts and radiation. We are about 2/3 of the way out on a spiral arm.

 

[El_Machinae]

So there are hundreds of billions of star systems in our galaxy and you think there are 10?

There's the Fermi paradox to consider. As well, an intelligent species can colonise portions of the galaxy, and thus prevent the indigenous evolution of intelligent life by co-opting the ecosystem.

I find it funny that you used the LOL icon for my predictions on such a zany topic. It's like you think my opinion is outrageous.