People in the Middle Ages had nothing but superstition to go on. How many, end of the world scenarios did they believe in (just like today). Problem is, this is not some religious apocalypse idea. It is based on science. Anyone paying attention to the basic facts of nature and the effects of climate change, and the idea we humans are somehow immune from our increasing impacts on the LIFE support system (we are in the Anthropocene or sixth great extinction). Most people have noo idea of our numbers and activities and. My daughter knows of my feelings in the environmental field but, the other day I mentioned some numbers and she was shocked. Always, people need to do their own research. [worldometers.info] This has been a passion of mine for 28 years. The basics are simple, but the details will bury us.

Then why not state some of the misconceptions. I have seen this before in other publications and several environmental groups that focused on the science of population demographics have also theorized this is very likely to happen if we don't change our way fast. We see the crash and extinction of other species when their numbers get too big, how are we any different?

@JackPedigo We may well not be different. It doesn't look good, but we adapt and so does life.

As to the Drake Equation:
N= number of civilizations with which humans could communicate. This begs the question of what the is meant by communication. How well do we communicate with dolphins? No, the means of communication is limited to the Radio Astronomy signals which are WRONGLY assumed to be the means by which an advanced species would communicate with us (as if they’d have any desire to). This is arrogant gaslighting and nothing less.

ne = mean number of planets that could support life per star with planets. Since the Drake Equation was first formulated, science has discovered how life can thrive on chemical sources, and flourishes hundreds of feet below the surface. Basically, our understanding of where life can survive is poor at best. We have no other perspectives other than our own solar system.

fl and fi = percent of planets developing life and percent of planets developing intelligent life. These calculations ignore transportation of life, intelligent or otherwise by intelligent species. That doesn’t even assume FTL travel.

Fundamentally, we do not have an understanding of how well life survives stellar life cycles, intra-galactic churning, nor how quickly heavier elements necessary for life built up in the early universe. If segregation processes are efficient, life could have started soon after the Big Bang. We simply cannot know these factors.

The Drake Equation seeks to endorse the work of SETI, and to discount the possibility of alien visitation. However, many legitimate historical documents indicate that the presence of aliens is either very good or a certainty. Newer documents only address the blowback of trying to keep this a secret in the face of interactions relating to surveillance of defense capabilities.

It is a certainty that many more flaws in the Drake Equation can be identified.

@racocn8 So to add more complicated equations to deal with a seemingly simple issue. The zone in the Milky way is called the Goldilocks zone." [exoplanets.nasa.gov] The age of the Universe shows other life forms had adequate time to evolve before our own. A publication in the 'Humanist Magazine' New Atheism, Meet Existential Risk Studies" indicate religion is a universal tendency. Just comparing history and looking at what's going here and now with a plethora of hits to the life on this planet should spell things out for most but the most obtuse to see. It's really not that hard.
[thehumanist.com]

It also explains the republican party - cold and dead.

The expanding universe will take many eons before it can affect us. Even the sun will die out in a couple of billion of years. We will be long gone before any of those things happen. We need to think of the next few decades.

@JackPedigo I'm saying it's already happened. We are an illusion within that true Universe.

@rainmanjr And this illusion is from whom or what? I see this as more anthropocentrism. We atheists are supposed to have a clearer understanding of the reality of life.

@JackPedigo I have said many times what causes it. Electrons magnetically attracted causing vibration. The illusion is the product of wave/particle formation in that vibration.

@rainmanjr So it's not an illusion but a reality. Maybe the illusion is all in some peoples minds. When I hear the comment "when a tree falls in the forest and no one (meaning human) is there to hear it does it make a sound?" Of course it does.

@JackPedigo Well, no it doesn't. This happens all the time in space (things explode) but no sound is made. As for the illusion being reality...again, no. Visualizations end with the uncoupling of electrons so they can not be said to be real.

@rainmanjr We are not talking about 'space' but an area with air which can transmit sound waves.

@JackPedigo If there is no receptor then there is no sound. That's my answer (staying with science). I do like the humor of an illusion being only in some people's mind, though.

@rainmanjr Seems we can, civilly, agree to disagree, good.