The Universe Has 20 Times More Galaxies Than We Thought (gizmodo.com)

A new study by a team of international astronomers has produced some astounding results: they concluded that the universe contains at least two trillion galaxies -- as much as 20 times more than previously thought. The study adds that 90 percent of all galaxies are hidden from us. This hidden portion can't be seen even with our most powerful telescopes. Gizmodo adds: Consequently, this means we also have to update the number of stars in the observable universe, which now numbers around 700 sextillion (that's a 7 with 23 zeros behind it, or 700 thousand billion billion). And that's just within the observable universe. Because the cosmos emerged some 13.8 billion years ago, we're only able to observe objects up to a certain distance from Earth. Anything outside this "Hubble Bubble" is invisible to us because the light from these distant objects simply haven't had enough time to reach us. It's difficult -- if not impossible -- to know how many galaxies reside outside this cosmological blind spot.

Comments

Drake Equation....

[tekrat]

So, how does this affect the Drake Equation? Even if we assume a very, very low percentage of extraterrestrial life and even a lower percentage of *intelligent* extraterrestrial life, we're still looking at "billions and billions" (sorry Carl) of potential intelligent species out there, we just can't seem to contact them though due to the vast distances involved.

Too bad really. Until we can come up with some way of cheating physics, we are stuck in this solar system for the foreseeable future.

Drake Equation == 1

[TiggertheMad]

... we also know things like warp drive are just not feasible...

Yet. Three hundred years ago, most of the mundane tech we use on a daily basis would have been considered to be impossible. FTL travel might be impossible via acceleration, but there are many ways to skin a cat. I think that if we don't accidental wipe ourselves out, we will eventually work out some way to travel between stars.

And there is alien life out there. The trick is just finding it.

Re:Drake Equation == 1

[Anonymous Coward]

Easy: you bring the place you are and the place want to go closer to each other.

Yes, that's serious.

Re:Drake Equation == 1

[PsychoSlashDot]

FTL travel might be impossible via acceleration

How do you get from a velocity of "a bit" to a velocity of "a fucking fucking bastard fucking lot" without accelerating?

Understand I do not believe the following to be true, but they are answers that fit...

1} We discover that the universe is a simulation and learn how to edit parts of it, like X/Y/Z coordinates.
2} We discover unforeseen properties of the universe below our current observable/theorized smallest qualities that allow bypassing conventional transit.
3} We discover access to what is best described as "parallel universes" and can step from one to another, selecting specific parameters as differences between them, such as "my location".

Again, I don't buy any of those as likely. And #2 is nebulous at best. But the point the OP was making is that our understanding of the universe is not yet complete and given a long period of time, the discoveries yet to be made may be very, very startling to someone of our time period. Things we currently think impossible may be possible, just because our understanding of possible is incomplete. This mindset isn't science-fiction... it's just being humble. Speculating precisely what discoveries will be made and how they will work... that's fiction. But believing that we don't have an exhaustive understanding of physics is just sensible.

Re:So how does this affect the Drake Equation?

[wonkey_monkey]

It's not gibberish. It was devised as a tool for promoting discussion. It's not and never was meant to used in earnest.