EXTRATERRESTRIAL CIVILIZATIONS IN MILKY WAY GALAXY

Using the assumption that intelligent life develops on exoplanets in a similar way as it develops on Earth, researchers have obtained an estimate for the number of communicating extraterrestrial intelligent civilizations within our Milky Way Galaxy. They calculate that there could be 36 active civilizations in the Galaxy. The nearest is 17,000 light-years away and most likely. hosted by a red dwarf star. There should be at least a few dozen active civilizations in our galaxy under assumption that it takes 5 billion years for intelligent life to form on other planets, as on Earth. The idea is looking at evolution, but on a cosmic level. Because of the immense distance to these civilizations communication would be difficult with our present technology. It is possible that we are the only civilization within the galaxy unless the survival times of civilizations like our own are long. If we find that intelligent life is common, then this would reveal that our civilization could exist for a much longer period of time. Alternatively if we find that there are no active civilizations in our galaxy one might suggest an ominous future for our own long-term existence. By searching for extraterrestrial intelligent life -even if we find nothing- we are discovering our own future and fate.