Chapter 170: Jiang Zhe's Formula for Calculating the Number of Extraterrestrial Civilizations

Monitoring Department.

Old Wang watched as both the television ratings and the number of live stream viewers surpassed 10 million.

He should have been excited, but Station Chief Old Zhao told him to keep a calm mindset, so he wasn't that excited after all.

However, over at SARFT, things were already boiling over. A group of staff members watched as the Su City local television station completely crushed the Spring Festival Gala of some smaller local stations.

Looking at these exaggerated ratings, everyone was stunned.

"Good grief, this local television station is just too exaggerated!"

"If the leadership hadn't told us beforehand that they weren't faking their numbers, I really wouldn't believe that both offline and online figures broke ten million."

"Is that guy named Jiang Zhe really that awesome already?"

"Of course he's awesome. At the very least, our side at SARFT can't compare at all, as long as he's there."

"So what exactly is that Jiang Zhe guy live streaming?"

"He's deciphering paradoxes and proposing new conceptual theories. It's very hardcore content; I suggest you watch it."

"Going to watch it now."

"..."

To learn from Jiang Zhe's strengths, many staff members joined in to watch the live stream.

However, as they watched, their mouths twitched reluctantly.

It's hilarious; it's impossible to learn!

Might as well just be an audience member.

...

On the big screen.

Jiang Zhe asked a question with a straight face: "If we want to know whether there are actually aliens in the universe, we must first understand and crack the problem of the potential number of alien civilizations. Only then can we better determine whether alien civilizations exist."

He thought this was just a simple, minor question, but who would have thought that in the eyes of experts and the audience, it was astonishing.

"Wait? Wait?"

"What did I just hear?"

"Teacher Jiang, you absolutely cannot joke about this. How could it be possible to know the number of alien civilizations?"

In the lecture hall.

Professor Hua Yunfeng and Old Feng looked bewildered.

"Hold on, do you even hear what you're saying?"

"To understand if there are aliens, you have to understand the number of aliens; is that something a human would say?"

The audience immediately became rowdy, all engaging in intense discussion over Jiang Zhe's words.

...

At this moment, inside the Huaqing faculty dormitory building.

Professor Zhuang, hearing this, could no longer stay calm. He stood up immediately, looking stunned: "Jiang Zhe, are you serious?"

"How could it be possible to know the number of aliens?"

"Do you really think alien civilizations are like cabbages that we can just calculate?"

The two women beside him were even more dumbfounded. Seeing Jiang Zhe's confident demeanor, could it be that he really could calculate it?

...

At this moment, in Su City, at the Astronomical Research Institute.

The institute was located not far from the suburban astronomical observatory.

Inside the office, a young staff member in a white lab coat was dumbfounded after seeing Jiang Zhe's words: "Could someone have calculated the number of existing alien civilizations?"

Holding this doubt, he hurriedly went to the director's office.

In the director's office, the silver-haired Director Wu, who was over sixty, was assigning today's observation work to his subordinates.

Suddenly, the young man ran over in a hurry: "Director Wu, I am very sorry to disturb you; I have an urgent matter to report."

Director Wu, a refined little old man wearing silver-rimmed glasses, did not mind his rudeness and asked curiously: "What is it? Could it be that an unnamed comet has been discovered?"

"No, it's not that. I want to ask, is there any possibility in our astronomical field to calculate the number of alien civilizations?"

As soon as these words were spoken, they immediately caused several middle-aged experts with some status in the office to burst into laughter.

"Young man, are you joking?"

"Young man, you shouldn't joke like that. How could there be any possibility of calculating the number of alien civilizations?"

"We haven't even figured out the Solar System properly yet, why calculate the number of alien civilizations? Are you bored or something?"

"..."

Director Wu shrugged: "You see, there isn't. But I'm curious why you asked that."

The young man took out his phone, and on the screen was Jiang Zhe's live stream.

Director Wu's expression darkened, thinking he was slacking off during his night shift. Just as he was about to reprimand him, he heard Jiang Zhe's voice coming from the phone.

"Everyone doesn't need to react this way. Actually, I have calculated the number of alien civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy, and even the minimum number of civilizations existing in the entire Observable Universe."

Upon hearing this, Director Wu's expression changed dramatically.

A host? Calculated the number of alien civilizations? What kind of fantasy is this?

"Hmph!" Director Wu looked at the young man with a serious face: "Don't just watch anything; this is of no help to our scientific research."

"Director, it's Jiang Zhe! He is a very popular host here in Su City!"

Upon hearing it was Jiang Zhe, Director Wu's displeasure immediately vanished. He had heard of him; he had recently become a household name in Su City.

"If it is him, then it's worth listening to, but we can't take it completely seriously."

"You stay here and watch the live stream with us for a while."

"Thank you, Director!"

The other minor leaders also watched reluctantly.

They had thought it was some random internet host who popped up from nowhere, but if it was Jiang Zhe, they had to take it seriously.

However, if there were mistakes, they would have to point them out. They could guarantee that no one was more professional in astronomy than they were!

Inside the phone screen.

Jiang Zhe's face froze. He confirmed it. From the barrage, he confirmed that this world did not have the [Drake Equation].

Not having the [Drake Equation] meant that this world also did not have the concepts of [Universal Civilization Classification] and [Dyson Sphere].

With that, it was even easier for Jiang Zhe to perform!

Jiang Zhe grinned: "Then, the formula is as follows."

After speaking, he wrote a series of formulas on the whiteboard.

To accommodate more of the public, he simplified the formula.

The specific expression of the [Jiang Zhe Formula] is: N = R* × Fp × Ne × Fl × Fi × Fc × L.

After simplification, it becomes — [Jiang Zhe Formula] expression: N = A × B × C × D × E × F × G.

Lifting the whiteboard and facing the camera, he explained them one by one:

"As everyone can see."

"This is the [Jiang Zhe Formula], which can calculate the number of alien civilizations that might exist in the universe."

"Let's start with the simplified N —"

"N = A × B × C × D × E × F × G"

"A: The number of stars born in the Milky Way Galaxy each year."

"B: The probability that these stars have planets."

"C: The number of planets among them that possess the conditions for life to emerge."

"D: The probability of life emerging."

"E: The probability that this life evolves into intelligent life forms."

"F: The probability of possessing the technology to communicate with other planets."

"G: The duration that this technological civilization can exist."

"N is the product of A through G, so it is a 7-factor equation."

"In other words: The number of alien civilizations that exist is based on these 7 factors."

"As for the complex first formula, for the sake of the people in the live stream, I will post it on my personal Weibo after it ends so everyone can use it as a reference."

At this moment, in the live stream, the audience was also stunned by this sudden move.

"Holy crap, I'm just watching a live stream, do you have to be this sharp? You actually gave a formula?"

"Fxxk, I was bored and couldn't sleep, I just finished watching a sci-fi movie, and you're able to provide the number of alien civilizations? You're actually playing for real; well, I'm not sleepy anymore!"

"Damn, which big shot can provide some data so I can calculate how many civilizations there actually are."

"This formula is way too accommodating for a middle schooler like me. Is this formula reliable and credible?"

"I'm an astronomy major, and I'm freaking amazed by this formula. Now I just need the specific data. If it can really be calculated, even if it's an estimate, this would be a slap in the face to those incompetent astronomers!"

"Damn, this is too incredible!"

"..."

They originally thought Jiang Zhe would only give a rough calculation method, but who would have thought he was playing for real?

Since he was playing for real, the audience naturally sent gifts flying madly in the live stream.

Almost in an instant, the live stream income surpassed 1 million.

Luxury yachts and spaceships were sent out crazily as the rich fans tapped their screens, as if the money meant nothing!