The number of species that have come and gone

throughout history is more or less equal to the number of stars out there is more or less equal to the number of years that the universe has been in existence. The actual numbers may vary by a factor of ten or even a hundred, even by current estimates, because no one really knows. The point is that in all that time in all that space, in all those species there’s only one that we know for sure has ever transmitted a radio signal for the purpose of communication. Show me one more and the odds will change drastically, similar to the odds of getting published the first time compared to the second time. For all practical purposes, we’re it, folks. One shot. Do the right thing simply because it’s the right thing. Now go back to work.

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