In principle, the Drake equation should enable us to calculate the exact number of intelligent civilizations capable of interstellar communication in our galaxy right now. However, currently this is not feasible because
A) we do not have exact numbers for any of the factors in the equation
B) it is impossible for us to ever know the values of any of the factors
C) we have exact numbers for the first three factors, but not the last factor
D) we have an exact number for the first factor, but not for any of the other factors

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The Drake equation relies on variables such as the rate of star formation, the proportion of stars that have planets, the number of habitable planets, and the likelihood of life emerging on those planets. While we have estimates for some of these variables, we do not have exact numbers for them, making it impossible to use the Drake equation to calculate an exact number of intelligent civilizations in our galaxy.

In Principle, the Drake Equation Should Enable Us to Calculate