I like the Drake Equation (Wiki link) as for the odds of finding extraterrestrial intelligence. But the equation has some serious flaws.



I think there may be life out there somewhere in this ridiculously massive universe. I do believe the nearly unimaginable distances between stars and the laws of physics would make it unlikely that we, as earthlings, will ever encounter sentient life forms. But there may be some life forms that are within our solar system reach.