Rumi Nations

Taking the Drake Equation forward or modifying it, researchers have attempted to find out — estimate — the total number of intelligent civilizations that have ever existed in the visible universe since the Big Bang. In their words; Abstract: In this paper we address the cosmic frequency of technological species. Recent advances in exoplanet studies provide strong constraints on all astrophysical terms in the Drake Equation. Using these and modifying the form and intent of the Drake equation we show that we can set a firm lower bound on the probability that one or more additional technological species have evolved anywhere and at any time in the history of the observable Universe. We find that as long as the probability that a habitable zone planet develops a technological species is larger than ~10-24, then humanity is not the only time technological intelligence has evolved. This constraint has important scientific and philosophical consequences. The paper . ...

It's not that I am unfamiliar with the topics that Sagan covers in this series. In fact, I've read Cosmos and many of Sagan's other books. So, I guess the reason why I am lovin ' it so much is because it has been quite a while since I touched base with all these concepts that are so close to my heart. In this episode, Sagan daring touches upon what one might describe as the somewhat treacherous and murky grounds of UFOs and extraterrestrial intelligence. It was instructive to see him emphasize and repeat that ' extraordinary claims require extraordinary proofs .' The way he categorically ruled out that all the sightings of UFOs are anything but figment's of people's imaginations showed the essential spirit of scientific inquiry at its best — one might almost have concluded that Sagan doesn't really think that intelligent life exists elsewhere in the universe at all. But in fact Sagan and most other scientists do believe in the existence of extraterre...

I wander sometimes about the most important thing that we are doing as a species. In the broadest sense possible, I think it has got to be our scientific endeavors because science is the only human endeavor which has some universal validity. Of all the diverse scientific undertakings of human beings, the single endeavor that can be a game changer is the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence. More than other possible pathbreaking breakthroughs, say finding a vaccine for AIDS or a cure for most types of cancer, if we find intelligent civilizations elsewhere in the universe, that will fundamentally change our place in the universe. Unfortunately, most of us humans are too engrossed in our mundane, daily affairs to think too much about these abstract things. Indeed, I believe this search is a far from abstract quest. In spite of great communicators such as Carl Sagan, humanity's other more ancient instincts continue to hold sway over its thinking. Alas ...

I was thinking back to the days when I was younger and living at home. My father was not so much into these festivities and would go to sleep early ... as usual. He would wake up early next morning ... as usual and go to office at the appointed time. I wonder if that work ethic is worth emulating or what. We live in a time when we 'celebrate' so many things. It's not unusual now a days to see youngsters celebrating the birthdays of their parents!!! Would have been unheard of in my time. I will definitely feel a bit silly, I think, if my birthday were to be celebrated when I am 50 or 60 or 70 years old. Anyways, a new year is beginning and also a new decade. I wonder if I will live to see the end of this new decade and welcome another new decade. If I were asked to choose one thing I would love to see happen before I die, I will say this: I have thought about that and my only query about nature that I would love to see answered before my death is this: Are we alone in the U...