The Living Galaxy

This book describes the possible distribution of life in the Milky Way. Our description is mathematical in order to be extrapolated from what we know that happened on Earth to what might have happened on the huge number of extrasolar planets existing in the Milky Way Galaxy. We use the statistical Drake equation, which identifies parameters for calculating the total number of life forms at all levels. While the original Drake equation (1961) contained seven factors only, we extend the number of factors to 50, thus incorporating much of the scientific knowledge about the Evolution of Life available in 2024.

As such, this book aims at being a narrative of a series of events, starting with pre-life epochs and extending them into the present and into the future. This book, while well rooted in scientific and mathematical models, depicts the drama of life - whether it emerges and thrives or succumbs and vanishes. It's a tale of attempts, defeats, and progress, unfolding not along the scale of Human Lifetimes, but rather along the scale of Galactic Civilizations billion years long.

Presents galactic life evolution uniquely Appeals to enthusiasts from diverse fields such as astrophysics, biology, paleontology Unfolds for everyone the captivating story of the Milky Way

Autorentext

Claudio Maccone is a SETI astronomer, space scientist and mathematician. From 2012 to 2021 he chaired the SETI Permanent Committee of the International Academy of Astronautics (IAA) which is based in Paris. Author of over 100 scientific articles, he published 6 books about future Space Missions, SETI and Astrobiology. He is now Chair of the IAA Moon Farside Protection Permanent Committee which aims to preserve (at United Nations) the radio silence still existing on the other side of the moon, before it is destroyed by the political rivalries between the various spatial countries today.

Andrea M.F. Valli, biophysicist and paleontologist. He was scientific advisor for the "Conseil général de l'Allier. Associated with the "Société Scientifique du Bourbonnais" (Allier), he participated in the cultural dissemination with conferences on paleontology and the evolution of life.

Eugenio Mieli, degree in physics. He has always worked in TLC. Noting the relevance between Maccone's work in the book "Mathematical Seti" and the biological scenario described by Valli in the book Bactéries, Dinosaures et Kangourous - Brève Histoire de la Biodiversité, has decided to face Drake's entire equation together with the two other authors.

Inhalt

INTRODUCTION.- Where are everyone?.- The phases and challenges.- Part I - The astronomical parameters NS, NP and FS.- 1st Drake: The star number of the galactic disc for stars of spectral class K, G and F.- 2nd Drake: number number per star, suitable for life in the habitable area (spectral class F, G and K).- 3rd Drake: fraction of stable planets for 7 gy (duration of the stellar population).- Part II - The biological parameters of Drake: fl and fi.- 4th Drake: the transition from non-living to the living.- 5th Drake: the probability of intelligent life.- Macro-interval A: the crucial passage; The onset of the Eukaryotic Cell.- Macro-interval B: the second step; The birth of animals (Metazoi).- Macro-interval B: The "solution" of the intelligence deduced by the definition of Kardaëv, centered on energy by individual, and its birth within the metzoi (the Homo case).- The oxygen curve.- Part III- The social parameters of Drake: FC and FL.- 6th Drake: fraction of planets where life decides to communicate.- 7th Drake: temporal fraction lasting a civilization.- The complete Drake equation Still the paradox of Fermi (but in short, where are everyone?).- Winners and won in the Milky Way.- Identikit of two possible intelligent alien species.- Epilogue - The mercy of the cheetah.- Appendices.