Voting Station

Frank Drake

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Astronomer

The Resume

    (May 28, 1930-September 2, 2022)
    Born in Chicago, Illinois
    Pioneer of SETI (Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence)
    Created the Drake Equation:
    N = R* x f(p) x n(e) x f(l) x f(i) x f(c) x L
    where
    N = number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible
    R* = average rate of star formation per year
    f(p) = fraction of stars with planets
    n(e) = average number of planets potentially able to support life per star with planets
    f(l) = fraction of planets capable of supporting life on which life actually does develop
    f(i) = fraction of planets with life that develop intelligent life
    f(c) = fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signals into space
    L = Average length of time over which such civilizations release detectable signals into space

Why he might be annoying:

    He is frustrated that SETI often gets lumped in with UFOs and other pseudoscience.
    Except for R* and, to a lesser extent, f(p), so little is known about the other terms in the Drake equation that any value used is basically a wild guess.
    Michael Crichton noted, 'The Drake equation can have any value from 'billions and billions' to zero. An expression that can mean anything means nothing. Speaking precisely, the Drake equation is literally meaningless.'
    He and Carl Sagan designed a plaque for the Pioneer spacecraft showing the location of Earth, so when bug-eyed aliens follow it back and enslave humanity, you'll know who to blame.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He served as an electronics officer in the US Navy.
    He said that the Drake equation was not meant to be hard science but to stimulate dialogue about the topic.
    When the US government cut much of its funding for SETI (1993), he convinced Microsoft's Paul Allen, Intel's Gordon Moore and other technology leaders to provide the money.
    Fellow astronomer Seth Shostak called him 'kind of the Lewis and Clark of finding our cosmic cousins.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2022, Out of 141 Votes: 58.87% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 7 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 22 Votes: 40.91% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 17 Votes: 29.41% Annoying