Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Finding true love as rare as finding aliens?
Edmonton Journal ^ | unkown | Reuters

Posted on 05/15/2010 11:47:12 PM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld

Romance may happen every day, but finding true love in London is as rare as aliens in the galaxy, says one London-based economist.

Peter Backus, a teaching fellow of economics at the University of Warwick, has calculated that he has a 0.00034 percent chance of finding love in the British capital using the same "Drake" equation scientists use to determine the potential number of extra-terrestrials in our galaxy.

American astronomer and astrophysicist Frank Drake devised his namesake equation in the early 1960s.

The 31-year-old Backus -- who lives on a narrow boat in central London -- is not even that particular about his ideal match, requiring only that she be a London-based female, aged 24-34, with a university education.

"I am not trying to be an elitist or anything," he said about his educational requirements. "Everyone has preferences. I just think we would have more in common."

(Excerpt) Read more at canada.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: aliens; astronomy; drakeequation; frankdrake; love; relationships; romance; spacealiens; statistics; weird
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last
To: rdl6989

>I was going to say people looking for love just need to go to El Paso then.

I hate El Paso.


21 posted on 05/16/2010 12:44:18 AM PDT by OneWingedShark (Q: Why am I here? A: To do Justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with my God.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: sonofstrangelove
To be sure, a tool to attempt to quantify the uncertainty of the factors which determine the number of such extraterrestrial civilizations but applying it to finding love loses me in its calculations. :)

Even the economist finds it in his own back yard and defies the odds. That I'll buy. ;)


22 posted on 05/16/2010 12:46:12 AM PDT by Daffynition ("Play it, Sam, for old times' sake, play 'As Time Goes By'.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: Tolsti2

Those equations evolve over time. They must be tested to see it observed in the universe. Some times we stumble on to things like “Strange matter”. That was not spoken about until quite recently.


23 posted on 05/16/2010 12:47:17 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread:-General Heinz Guderian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

I agree with you. But I think he was having some fun.


24 posted on 05/16/2010 12:48:35 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread:-General Heinz Guderian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: sonofstrangelove
Fun is a good thing. A wonderful thing.

Here's a great Drake equation calculator [scroll down the page] just plug your numbers in and it will crank out how many civilizations you think there are in the galaxy or what your chances are for amore.

25 posted on 05/16/2010 12:54:09 AM PDT by Daffynition ("Play it, Sam, for old times' sake, play 'As Time Goes By'.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Love fades as does jupiters stripes : )


26 posted on 05/16/2010 12:55:17 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (1.416785(71) x 10^32)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: Daffynition

Thanks for the link. It was a very good article.


27 posted on 05/16/2010 1:22:38 AM PDT by ErnstStavroBlofeld ("You hit somebody with your fist and not with your fingers spread:-General Heinz Guderian)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: happinesswithoutpeace

“Love fades as does jupiters stripes : )”

which stripe was removed during Gajin mining operations, else it was removed for decorative puposes by the residents...


28 posted on 05/16/2010 5:43:31 AM PDT by PIF (They came for me and mine .. now it is your turn..)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: PIF

ok


29 posted on 05/16/2010 6:29:27 AM PDT by happinesswithoutpeace (1.416785(71) x 10^32)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: sonofstrangelove

Gee, I see aliens hanging around the Home Depot parking lot all the time. They aren’t that rare.


30 posted on 05/16/2010 6:32:39 AM PDT by MIchaelTArchangel (Obama makes me miss Jimmah Cahtah!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: MIchaelTArchangel

...or that attractive.


31 posted on 05/16/2010 6:50:33 AM PDT by rockrr (Everything is different now...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; Berosus; bigheadfred; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; ...
Thanks sonofstrangelove.
The 31-year-old Backus -- who lives on a narrow boat in central London -- is not even that particular about his ideal match, requiring only that she be a London-based female, aged 24-34, with a university education.

32 posted on 05/18/2010 6:09:24 PM PDT by SunkenCiv ("Fools learn from experience. I prefer to learn from the experience of others." -- Otto von Bismarck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SunkenCiv; sonofstrangelove

Pretty sure my wife is my true love. She’s been telling me that for 23 years. I would like to describe my MIL as otherworldly. But I think she’s a damn alien. What else could make you feel so like a bug under the microscope?


33 posted on 05/18/2010 6:26:10 PM PDT by bigheadfred (If I've said it once, I've said it a million times...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-33 last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson