资料图：美科学家称25年内人类能找到外星人

　　According to the Space.com, on August 15, Seth Shostak, an astronomer and researcher, the proof of extraterrestrial intelligence could come within 25 years. Shostak said he based his estimation on the Drake Equation, a formula conceived by SETI pioneer Frank Drake.

　　天文学家和研究者塞思·肖斯塔克声称在25年之内就能找到外星人的踪迹。肖斯塔说他的结论是基于德雷克公式推算出来的, 而这一公式是智慧生命搜寻计划协会先驱弗兰克.·德雷克计算出来的。

资料图：美科学家称25年内人类能找到外星人

　　The equation takes into account a variety of factors, including the rate of star formation in the galaxy, the fraction of stars that have planets, the fraction of planets that are habitable, the percentage of those that actually develop life, the percent of those that develop intelligent life, the fraction of civilizations that have a technology that can broadcast their presence into space, and the length of time those signals would be broadcasted.

　　德雷克公式计算了许多因子，其中包括：星系恒星形成的速率、可能拥有行星的恒星、适宜生存的行星、行星上形成生命体的百分比、形成高等智慧生命的百分比、拥有向太空传播信息的高科技技术的外星文明以及传播至太空的信号的时间长度。

　　"Taking the recent developments of science into consideration, it will not take scientists too long to discover an alien signal," said Shostak.

　　肖斯塔克指出，依据当前科学的发展，人类不会花太长的时间就能找到外星讯号。

资料图：美科学家称25年内人类能找到外星人

　　The SETI quest is set to take a leap forward when the Allen Telescope Array, a network of radio dishes under construction in northern California, becomes fully operational. By 2015, the array should be able to scan hundreds of thousands of stars for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence, Shostak said.　　

　　肖斯塔克还称，目前，加利福尼亚州北部正在全力建造一部网络无线艾伦望远镜，如果建成, 智慧生命搜寻计划将有显著进展。预计该望远镜将于2015年开始完全运行，它能够扫描数十万颗恒星，并有效探测外星生物的讯号。