Using math to find out how many inhabitants are in the Cosmos

Space/Science » in reply to re: Too Early? On the Apparent Conflict of Astrobiology and Cosmology

ljk — 5/3/2005 5:15:46 PM (archived)

It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, but that not every one of them is inhabited. Therefore there must be a finite number of inhabited worlds. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near to nothing as makes no odds, so if every planet in the universe has a population of zero, then the entire population of the universe must also be zero, and any people you may meet from time to time are merely the products of a deranged imagination.

- The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy (of course)

http://us.imdb.com/title/tt0081874/quotes

The whole thread (23 posts)

The Great Silence - Adam - 5/3/2005 3:47:03 AM
- The paper is indecisive. - SDF - 5/4/2005 5:37:43 AM
  - I'd like to hear about your proof that interstellar travel is impossible to survive. (n/t) - alcaray - 5/5/2005 4:02:45 PM
    - 10 percent lightspeed is the limit - SDF - 5/8/2005 12:56:34 PM
      - What, exactly is the density of interstellar protons? (n/t) - alcaray - 5/9/2005 3:31:17 PM
      - I think .2c - .3c could be reached with manned craft. - Lee - 5/9/2005 5:09:41 AM
      - Bigger issues - Gary - 5/8/2005 10:44:51 PM
        
        I personally know someone who has survived 100 yrs exposure to cosmic rays. - alcaray - 5/9/2005 5:20:14 PM
        
        I think it's totally unrealistic - SDF - 5/9/2005 1:36:09 PM
        
        Why refit? - Lee - 5/9/2005 7:19:25 PM
        
        For our generation, unfortunately true - Gary - 5/9/2005 4:05:03 PM
  - Logarithmic scales... - Adam - 5/5/2005 11:01:47 AM
    - We.... haven't.....achieved..... interstellar travel - SDF - 5/8/2005 1:11:59 PM
- 'Astrobiology' = extremophiles + speculation + funding - Daniel - 5/3/2005 4:45:52 AM
  - Too Early? On the Apparent Conflict of Astrobiology and Cosmology - ljk - 5/3/2005 12:17:40 PM
    - thanks .. - Daniel - 5/4/2005 9:55:45 AM
    - rToo Early?Too Late?, or Just Right??? - Nick Hoffman - 5/3/2005 3:59:37 PM
      - re: rToo Early?Too Late?, or Just Right??? - ljk - 5/3/2005 4:06:22 PM
        
        Sounds a little like a state lottery ad: "You can't win if you don't play" - Mary Anne - 5/8/2005 3:44:37 PM
    - re: Too Early? On the Apparent Conflict of Astrobiology and Cosmology - Nick Hoffman - 5/3/2005 3:36:49 PM
      - Using math to find out how many inhabitants are in the Cosmos - ljk - 5/3/2005 5:15:46 PM
        
        Obviously not a mathematician - Adam - 5/3/2005 11:35:30 PM
        
        re: Obviously not a mathematician - ljk - 5/4/2005 1:26:58 PM

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