Quote:
Originally Posted by SneakySnake
communication?
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Not quite, but probably close enough. The word used is 'detectable'.
The first five elements of the Drake Equation do exactly what Tom said; give an estimate of the number of intelligent life-forms. However, if all these life-forms do is sit around and write poetry, we'll almost certainly never notice them. The sixth part of the equation is whether or not the life-forms have created detectable technology (radio waves, death stars etc..). The seventh part is how long they have had this technology for - if an alien civilisation 300 light years away only started broadcasting radio last Thursday we're not going to notice for a while.
Anyway, sorry to be pedantic, but it is an important distinction.
Over to somebody else then.