DrakeEQ7.0.0 - App Store

Are we alone?

We created DrakeEQ to provide a visually elegant answer to the extraterrestrial question, using the intellectually elegant Drake Equation. We coupled this fun calculator with beautiful, 3D galaxies in motion!

To help us celebrate 15 years since the first release in 2009, DrakeEQ 7.0.0 now features our Galaxene Galaxy Engine!

Use this fun simulator to graphically quantify the number of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations in our Milky Way Galaxy.

Travel the Universe and explore infinitely variable galaxies! Just pinch anywhere and tap the targeting indicator.

Perform thought experiments with this unique visual tool; it’s both educational and entertaining.

Learn about the famous Drake Equation through direct manipulation of its 7 parameters with DrakeEQ.

The Drake Equation states that:
N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible

where:
R* = the average rate of star formation in our galaxy
fp = the fraction of those stars that have planets
ne = the average number of planets that can potentially support life per star that has planets
fℓ = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop life at some point
fi = the fraction of the above that actually go on to develop intelligent life
fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signs of their existence into space
L = the length of time such civilizations release detectable signals into space.

Drake Equation. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.

Version History All new graphics!
Infinitely variable, 3D galaxies, including spiral, elliptical and many more
Universe traversal feature
New calculator controls 7.0.0 09/30/2024 Full iPhone X support 6.0.2 01/29/2018 Adjust fractional values for R*
Bug fixes 6.0.1 08/21/2017 Improved graphics
bug fixes
64-bit support 6.0.0 07/28/2017 - Selector for common low, medium and high estimates
- Supports decimal values for ne!
- Dismiss parameters with swipe up
- Keyboard enter zero values
- Bug fixes
Recent 5.0 updates
- Redesigned for iOS 7!
- New Quasar Engine awakens the Milky Way's black hole, Sagittarius A*
- Smoother, more efficient animation 5.0.1 01/27/2014 - Redesigned for iOS 7!
- New Quasar Engine awakens the Milky Way's black hole, Sagittarius A*
- Smoother, more efficient animation
- Bug fixes and minor enhancements 5.0.0 01/13/2014 - iOS 7 compatible
- Improved animation
- Refreshed UI and Retina graphics!
- iPhone 5 ready!
- Display average distance between civilizations
- Display solar system position
- Greatly increased max number of animated civilizations!
- Use touch gesture to change viewing angle of spinning galaxy
- Tweet and email your results for N!
- Bug fixes 4.0.0 01/25/2013 Follow us on Twitter for update information
www.twitter.com/onomaly

- added parameter value display
- improved animation efficiency & performance
- fixed info display bug
- added more comprehensive description of Drake Equation
- more localizations added (Portuguese, Chinese, Korean)
- added wiki links and others 1.4 05/20/2010 - direct keyboard manipulation of parameters
- variable precision available for fractional parameters
- variable star colors (random and user-controlled)
- now has FULLY random star positioning -- no more straight lines!
- better star icons (no longer asterisks, etc)
- handles 4X more stars than before!
- multiple viewing angle
- more efficient animation
- chinese localization added 1.3 11/09/2009 - improved 3D graphics
- more realistic galaxy (no longer "flat")
- more star colors and and variability
- enhanced center glow
- current multiplier placeholder added
- updated interface
- rounds decimal numbers to 2 digits
- minor bug fixes 1.2 10/13/2009 Fixed iPhone OS 3.0 compatibility issue 1.1 07/03/2009 1.0 05/14/2009