Are we alone? Is there life out there, and could this life be…

Are we alone? Is there life out there, and could this life be intelligent? We have been trying to detect and send out signals, but at present, we have no evidence of life or intelligent life outside of Earth.

Topic 1: Discuss how the Drake Equation – a Fermi problem proposed by astronomer Frank Drake to estimate the probability of finding other intelligent life in the universe – and how the equation might be affected by what we now know about the types of stars and exoplanets that could support life, and the abundance of water in the universe.

Topic 2: What factors might explain why we have no scientific evidence of the existence of intelligent life beyond Earth?

Topic 3: What have we done to attempt to communicate with other potential intelligent life in the universe? What are the risks and possible rewards of this endeavor? Support your answer to the 2nd question with scientific data and evidence (cited appropriately) versus appealing to emotions or resorting to the logical fallacies we studied earlier in the course.