"The Drake equation can have any value from “billions and billions” to zero. An expression that can mean anything means nothing. Speaking precisely, the Drake equation is literally meaningless, and has nothing to do with science. - Michael Crichton,(reply>), Good science and nihilism never mixed.    U gotta start somewhere.,(reply>), I think the Drake Equation gives us a framework in which to discuss, challenge, dream and debate the existence of life in the Universe. It opens up a word of thought and mind experiments.,(reply>), Nonsense, you could make that argument about many useful heuristic equations. It completely ignores the thought put into the various factors.