"Average number of hospitable planets," she repeated quietly as she wrote it down in her notes. "Per star system."

Maybe this would make it easier for her later on when it came to homework.

But he mentioned to just take away that the equation exists, and it was proven a science. Which is weird, if you think about it. Oh well. Sophia wasn't sure if there were things out there that weren't like them anyway. If there was, that'd be weird. But interesting.

Nika nodded as she looked at the professor with wide eyes. She scratched her notes as a whole and wrote instead of all of that what the professor had told her. That an equation is there and that it's for how many alien civilisations exist in our galaxy. Good enough for her. "Yes, that helps a lot! Thank you professor." Okay hopefully astronomy will start to get easier.

Ryden listened attentively as the professor talked, writing it all down as she stored away this information, making sure it clicked before she nodded to the professor with a small smile. So, she was kind of right then - this equation was just a fancy way of saying that no one can possibly calculate the number of civilisations by pure maths.

How enlightening. And dead useful, too.

Holy popsicles.

This was a lot of information and it had been, what, five or ten minutes? As soon as Antares began describing what the different letters meant, Ellie frantically pulled her notebook out and began scribbling down notes.


GUH, her hand was cramping.

Alex had been silent the entire lesson, just sitting there, blinking stupidly as the professor explained the equation to all of them. He had no idea WHAT was going on, but he scribbled down the equation anyways. Bleh. Math. It wasn't his friend by any means.

BUT Risu said that all the needed to know was that the equation was there, so no worries. Alex let out a little sigh of relief.

Eino's attempt to follow the lesson was often interrupted by a sound or sight from outside the window. Nonethless, he had miraculously managed to note most of the lecture and explanations so far. His hand was beginning to cramp, and he was almost positive he hadn't brought a spare bottle of ink. "So..." He began with his hand raised "how exactly do we find the numbers so that we can, umm, equate?" He asked nervously. Wouldn't it take days, months, years, maybe, to gather all that information? That better not be homework.

William is confused in the Astronomy class." I am confused" Willaim told the profesor." Can you help me?" William asked the professor.

"You're very welcome," he said with a smile. "Erm, before we continue, let me just complete our list on the blackboard..." He turned around and tapped the blackboard several times, brow furrowed in concentration. "First, we have the list of parameters for our very own equation... That looks about right." Risu stepped back.

Calculating the number of extraterrestrial civilisations we can communicate with

• Rate of star formation
• Number of stars with planets
• Number of hospitable planets
• Number of hospitable planets that develop any kind of life
• Number of planets with life where the life becomes advanced enough to send out signals
• Length of time the advanced life spends on sending signals

He nodded to himself. "Yep. And now... The Drake equation..." Writing appeared on the right side of the blackboard, each line corresponding to the list on the left as closely as possible.

The Drake equation; N = number of extraterrestrial civilisations we can communicate with
N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L

• R* = rate of star formation
• fp = fraction of those stars with planets
• ne = average number of hospitable planets per star with planets
• fl = fraction of those hospitable planets that actually have life
• fi = fraction of those hospitable planets with life that develop intelligent life
• fc = fraction of intelligent life that sends signals into space
• L = length of time this intelligent life continues sending signals

Risu put his wand down on the desk and stepped aside so that everyone had a clear view of the blackboard. "That should be right," he announced, wiping his hands on his robes, where they left grubby lines of chalk.

"Well, that's the question!" Risu said, leaning against the wall next to the blackboard. "And it's a question I pose to you and everyone else in this class. With the specifics of the Drake equation figured out, I would like to ask you to discuss the value of it. As I commented earlier, the equation was first proposed as a way of making the search for alien life scientific. In your opinion, does this equation achieve this?

"Further, if you disagree, why? We've already mentioned a number of criticisms of the equation. The specific values for those factors are practically impossible to figure out accurately. The equation assumes that life on other planets is similar to life on Earth, and so on, needing water, an atmosphere... Are there any other reasons why the equation doesn't seem convincing to you?

"And, on the other hand, are there arguments against those criticisms? For example, isn't it a good idea to search for the kind of life we are familiar with first, since it gives us a possible starting point? Yes? No?" He shrugged. "What do you think?"

"And while you do that, I'll try to answer any remaining questions. Yes. What can I help you with?"

Nika looked at the professor and raised an eyebrow. Right. Okay lots and lots of questions started to form in her head. "I don't think the equation will work..." She said a bit unsure. "Because... well... erm..." Now to think of a reasoning behind her opinion. "I don't think that random numbers can give us accurate information." Or maybe she was just hoping that she wouldn't have to use this information to do the work herself. "I think it would be a good starting point though."

Wait, so this equation didn't even really work? Alex had already scribbled down all the stuff the professor had written on the board and just stared at it, wondering if he'd even needed to bother writing that down...nah, he probably should have, just to be safe. Still, this equation simply confused him and suddenly, the answer to the professor's question popped into his head. He raised his hand.

"Well, I have doubts about this equation because, if it really DID work, wouldn't we have found aliens already?" he explained his reasoning while raising an eyebrow, "Like everyone already said it's nearly impossible to get exact numbers for it, but even if you could get KIND of close, I'm sure they'd be able to just float around the area for a bit and stumble upon something. But we haven't so, to me, that doesn't sound too legit," he finished.

" I am really confused with the equations of the planets" William told the professor. "Do they pertain to one or all of the planets?' William asked the professor.

As usual for the most part, Astronomy class was one of his hardest to deal with. Simon wasn't sure why seeing as he was good with the math and pretty decent with the science it just tended to get away from him and so he was relatively quiet. The seventh year was taking notes however, his quill moving along his parchement as he wrote.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Some of Simon's notes

The Drake equation
N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L

Simon finally raised his hand to offer an opinion as the professor asked for it. "Wouldn't it be difficult and perhaps of no use seeing as we can never fully be sure the full size of the universe and numbers included within. So the equation would only apply to the averages and numbers we do know and thereby not be accurate?"

Zara began correcting her notes, copying those on the board. Whoah whoah whoah. That was a lot of questions. Zara blinked. Okay, were they supposed to answer professor's question? Or think about it on their own first? Or share ideas with other? *blink*

I guess they have to answer him, "Professor, I don't really know but I think I wouldn't agree with the equation much. Life on other planets cannot be determined by just an equation, no matter how specific or important its factors are. Why? Simply because alien civilization is something unknown to mankind, they are creatures of other planets and we cannot simply calculate their existence by formulas and equations. These creatures are unfamiliar to us, and so are we to them. Just think, they, themselves cannot count us humans who communicate to them by simply gathering factors and squishing them in into an equation," Zara argued. Okay, she was getting carried away and didn't even know if what she said made sense. "Also we don't have proof that these alien civilizations do exist. We still lack evidence despite appearances of UFO's and all that. Also, these factors aren't sufficient enough to actually prove that it can determine the number. Maybe there are still other factors that need to be included like how many alien civilizations could re-appear at the same planet and all that. So I guess the factor of 'how many times an intelligent alien civilization may occur on planets where it has happened once' should also be included to this equation. Many arguments have been made and other proposals to further improve this equation. That would be all." She bit her lip. It was as if she wrote an essay and read it out loud. Still, she got some of those she said from sources from books that retained in her mind.

Then she had more, "We cannot determine the values of these factors also. They can't even be estimated at all. And its parameters aren't measured very well. And there might be other planets in the galaxy that are earth-like. But I guess even though the equation wouldn't accurately give us an accurate 'N' or end result, as you have said earlier, it isn't important to know all these factors. What's important is to know that it exists. So that means, it is simply a good foundation or basis that alien civilization exists and that we are not alone in this universe." With that, she stopped. Too. Much. Speaking. Zara. Get. A. Hold. Of. Yourself.

While the discussion, pleasingly, started around him (slowly but surely), Risu vacated his lounging spot near the wall and wandered over to the boy who'd raised his hand.

"Well, there are several bits of the equation that pertain to planets," he explained, indicating the fractions. "It depends on which one you're looking at. The first fraction, fp, deals with all existing planets. No matter what they look like or what they're made of. But then we get more specific. For this equation we need planets that can support life." He pointed at ne. "That's this next bit. Obviously there are a lot of planets that can't support life, so we just forget about those. Then we need planets that not only can support life but that actually have life. That's another number still. And so forth until we get to the number of planets that satisfy all these condictions. Does that help?"

Ryden put down her quill as the next part of the class seemed to be a discussion. Well, she knew where HER opinions lay - the equation was a big fat load of nothing. But the thing is, the professor did have a point. . . It WOULD be nice if the first aliens they came across were a little bit similar to them.

BUT then again, this equation was still a fat load of nothing. "Professor, I think that this equation is rather pointless. It sets out to achieve what Drake wanted, but nothing else. I mean, you cannot possibly ever hope to be able to put numbers in it, so it will never really give you much information. Plus, how did he come to get to this equation? Did he guess? Because while it makes sense somehow, how could he have tested it out?" she ranted a little, mainly because she hated pointless and useless things.

Like chatter. And occasionally Bridget. But that was beside the point.

"And even if we do assume that it works - which, I think, we are - there is NOTHING guaranteeing us that... Erm..." the brunette lost her track of thought, and had to pause to rephrase herself. "I just don't see it ever working - and if it doesn't work, then it had no real scientific purpose, does it?"

Nope, it does not. It shows that aliens CAN be scientific, well done.

" I understand now, thank you" William told the professor. "This is an interesting class" William said to the professor.

Eino shook his head. "I don't think so." He answered with his hand raised then gestured to the Hufflepuff boy. "I agree with him. If it worked, wouldn't we have some proof? Wouldn't we have found something?" That only seemed like the right answer. If they hadn't found any extraterrestrial life, then how could they know the equation worked. All Eino could target was really the obvious since he didn't possess an extensive amount of knowledge in this field to suggest anything else.

"You're most welcome, and thank you very much," Risu said with a faint smile. He straightened up and wandered back to the front of the room near his desk while around him the rest of his students voiced their opinions.

And he surfaced to a strong opinion. "I think you'll find little disagreement from anyone here, Miss Di Marco, but I do have another question in that case. I'm certain the author of the equation didn't simply guess at the parameters but thought about what kind of things would be needed for sufficiently intelligent life - a star, a hospitable planet, and so on. Here, then, is my question: Which parameters would you choose? Which would you remove, which would you add? Or is it your view that any equation of this sort is doomed from the start?"

OOC: This is where I break for the night, I think. Been at it for six hours, I need some food. ^^

I'll continue the lesson tomorrow, but in the meantime, do take the opportunity to discuss this topic with your classmates. There's no right or wrong way to go at this equation, so I really am interested in your opinions and the reasons for them. If there are any other questions, don't hesitate to ask, and if someone else feels comfortable answering them, go for it. Discussions, questions, answers are all good for points. ^^

"Anyone want to siscuss the the classwork with me?" William asked the students in class. then he added. "please"

Ok, so see here. Ryden loved studying, she really did, but what she loved MOST was interesting questions that bothered her long after they were asked.

She had a feeling this one would be an addition to those questions.

As she took her time to think, she heard a person in the class ask to, ahem, "discuss the classwork" with them. Pffft. Who even asks those questions? They were all discussing the classwork with everyone. Rolling her eyes, Ryden glared at the pipsqueak and continued thinking for a few moments before sighing and raising her hand.

"Personally, I do not see the relevance of the L thing. I mean, how is it contributing to the calculation, assuming that this calculation is in fact correct. And how do you know that they are all only times one? There's those things... powers, no? When there are things that are squared and cubes and stuff," she said, remembering her advanced maths private teacher talk about them. "So," she continued, "how do we know that the fraction of, let's say, the average of stars forming isn't a lot more influential than L?"

"And here's another one; technically, if fi doesn't exist on a planet, then fc couldn't ever ever happen. They're all dependable on each other, but those two the most," she said, speaking quickly so that she wouldn't lose her track of thought, which happened way too often for her liking. "Why is fi so important, in the end? One could just take fl and fc and be done with it, no?"

There was one more thing too, but Ryden didn't really feel like sharing yet... The thought needed to stew in her head as it was something she thought the equation kind of needed - but it sounded rather childish even to her own ears. Lowering her hand, she settled down to listen to the rest of the class, jotting her own little ideas on her parchment. If this got into a heated debate, then she could use them as back up. Hehe.

Aurora breathed out, this was so complicated. She finished scribbling down notes and looked at them. Trying to get some sort of sense out of them. She looked around at the other students, they all seemed to get it and she shook her head. She would have to get someone to help her with this...

Evan read through the blackboard the second time, trying to get it all in. He still didn't believe any word of it--yes, the universe was enourmous, but, there was no sign the conditions for a life could be achieved there as well. Thus, upon reading it again, he decided he got it enough to comment on it.

"As far as I understand, this equation gives a definite number, right? I mean, we can't be communicating with two and a half planet... but, all of those numbers are fractions besides only one. Which makes it matematically impossible to be a definite number--unless that integer is enourmous to 'simplify' all the denominator, which I doubt... this formula proves itself wrong." Not that he was great at maths or anything, but he remembered something from primary school. After a pause, he added "And, there is absolutely NO guarantee that the aliens might be depending on, say, carbonmonoxide, a compound fatal for us. So we cannot even define the form of a life outside our planet, which makes it pointless to even start." If there really was a developed civilisation like this out there, they should come to Earth. The humans had much bigger issues to solve than to waste trillions of money in something so unlikely and nearly impossible to achieve.

... Seriously? Ryden was looking for in depth analysis and thoughtful replies and she gets THIS? "Yes, but look here Mr, we've already said that the equation's pretty much worthless. As Professor Antares (okay, HOW did she know that was his name?) said before, we're now discussing how to improve this disastrous thing. So - ideas? Suggestions? Anything?" she pointed out, sneering every so slightly at the older Slytherin.

Oh - was that a badge? All the better. Taunting people of power was so much fun. Ryden got comfortable in her seat and suddenly noticed the amount of rather blank faces around the classroom. The brunette sighed - was NO ONE getting this? She wasn't THAT clever herself, it was just a matter of listening. And THINKING. Were these kids not able to think? Where were the Ravenclaws?

An odd thought popped into the fourth year's head and she quickly tried to dismiss it. Should she suggest to help? The professor seemed content to just listen for a while, she saw as she glanced at him quickly... But no. If they wanted help, they should ask. She wouldn't offer - she'd just put a pleasant expression on her face. Turning her scowl at the students upside down, she glanced around the classroom at the midgets.

Anyone?

Kimalia ran her fingers through her hair in slight frustration. Gosh, and here she thought there wasn't anything more to Astronomy than pointing out the planets and star constellations. Now to throw in math with it made it overwhelming. "Okay, relax.." She looked around at a few other students who looked confused as well. Taking the parchment with the notes she looked it over in hopes to digest it easily.



Okay, so basically it's just a bunch of formulas.. She would have to try to remember what all the letters stood for..



Okay, this was good. Kimalia breathed a sigh of relief. She wasn't going to be completely lost now. As long as they actually plug in some numbers to do equation. With the Professor's permission she turned to Aurora for her opinion.
"Hey, um I'm not 100% sure but I think this might be it?" She showed her her note taking. Maybe Aurora knows something that Kimalia doesn't.

Kurumi had kind of been zoning in and out during the discussion. Perhaps it was due to the injuries from the fire? Her head had been whacked against the wall rather hard and it would be naive to think that she was perfectly fine after a mere few days.

Kurumi looked at the board, and then back at her notes, and back to the board again. She heard another student mention that the equation was kind of worthless. Kurumi hadn't thought so, until she really looked at what each letter in the equation meant. "So...this equation essentially gives us, human beings, a number value that represents hope of us not being alone in the universe," she said aloud, not really to anyone in particular, but to whoever would listen. "It merely calculates a large number of probabilities...I personally don't even think that a majority of these factors can even be estimated." She cocked her head to the side and squinted at her paper for a moment. "I am not sure this equation was ever meant to be used for actual results, since results can vary so much based on speculation. Seems to be more of a means of getting the discussion about other life in the universe started."

Kurumi frowned and tickled her nose with her quill. "Doesn't this equation also come with the disclaimer that the planets being thought about are Earth-like planets," she continued as she tickled her nose a bit more. "I don't feel like this equation ACTUALLY gives us an answer. The answer lies more in the thought process and questions that arise when trying to calculate it." She was kind of repeating herself, but the second time around she felt she had stated things a little more clearly.

"So, the equation was essentially a beacon of hope that we are not along in the universe...it's more of an enigma than anything else."

She set her quill down and leaned back in her seat. Could they PLEASE learn about constellations now?