Scientists use the Drake Equation to estimate the number of communicating civilizations in the cosmos, or the odds of finding intelligent life in the universe. In 1994, the scientist, Carl Sagan gave a speech at Cornell University about space exploration and the possibility of life on other planets. When listening to Sagan’s arguments, he makes the listener become more optimistic about life developing in places besides our own planet. His argument changed my personal estimation of the “fl” variable in the Drake Equation. This variable represents the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life at some point. Sagan’s argument about this interested me because he stated in the speech that there are planets outside of our solar system that have some of the same components of planets in our system that could support life.
Although, the lecture was given in 1994 it does not surprise me at all how much we knew back then. What surprises me is how much we knew in the 1600s. For example, scientists were using telescopes in the 1600s to observe Jupiter and discover other planets in our solar system. I think it is also interesting when an astronomer thought he was looking at canals on Mars.
If I could speak with Sagan today, I would be excited to tell him that in recent years scientists and astronomers have discovered possible habitable planets because of the Kepler. It has discovered over fifty planets that could be possibly habitable and also has discovered super-Earths. I would also tell Sagan about rovers that have been sent into space and the development of discoveries about Mars. I believe that he would also be interested to learn that we have orbited asteroids and even landed on them. I believe that Carl Sagan would be disappointed to be informed that Pluto is not considered a planet anymore. It is now simply a dwarf planet. I would go most likely on NASA’s website and show him pictures we have obtained of the outer planets from flybys. The most exciting information for Carl Sagan would be the landing of InSight on Mars.
Dominique Avin Dr. Wray EAS 1601 30 November 2018 Bonus Writing Assignment Letter to Congressional Representative Hello Congressman Ferguson, I would first like to congratulate you on being reelected as the representative for Georgia’s 3rd congressional district. Also, congratulations on recently being appointed to serve as chief deputy whip for the 116th Congress. It was a pleasure helping Johnathan with your first campaign back in 2016 and I was very excited to have the opportunity to vote for you in this year’s election. I am aware that you are familiar with the Oak Mountain community because we helped with the campaign and being an alum of Oak Mountain Academy, you would know that education and the development of science is important to me.
I would like to inform you on why you should consider implementing science into policy making over the next two years. Yes, I understand that science tends to be apolitical and may seem that science would not be involved in politics, but it can be taken into consideration when looking at agriculture. Being a graduate of the University of Georgia, you would understand that agriculture is an important aspect to the state and the district that you represent. The government is the one that provides much of the funding for science, and science in turn can be used to support government policies. By increasing the funding for science, when looking at policy making for agriculture, we could increase agricultural scientific development. This could possibly help farmers and growers produce crops a different and more efficient way. If crops are being produced more efficiently then farmers could help the economy. Science can also help with policy making because the research provides evidence for whatever legislation is trying to be made.
