Life in Universe

The Drake equation for calculating the probable number of civilisations in our galaxy:

http://www.fermisparadox.com/Fermi-paradox.htm

Though I can see that life may have started as single celled organisms on another planet I cannot see any evidence for any intelligent life.  The Fermi paradox is very relevant to this discussion as if and when we develop the ability to travel around the galaxy, based on current scientific evidence, I think we will find we are the only "intelligent" beings(quotation marks are intentional.)!  As a scifi buff I would certainly would love the idea of other intelligent life forms,as of now, I cannot see it.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc ="s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CC8QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwaitbutwhy.com%2F2014%2F05%2Ffermi-paradox.html&ei=zSDhU5XZDbGS0QWkrIG4Bw&usg=AFQjCNEjGhcZFhSrN8Joq3EFuGLimVnBtA&sig2=J09l4RQuIz351T10FG9vxA" Further article to add to discussion.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/aug/08/search-for-life-beyond-earth-space. Interesting article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29368984 . Read with caution.

Scientists have found the beginnings of life-bearing chemistry at the centre of the galaxy.
Iso-propyl cyanide has been detected in a star-forming cloud 27,000 light-years from Earth.

You'd have thought iso-propyl cyanide would be life-killing chemistry, not life-bearing, no?

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc ="s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDMQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chemicalland21.com%2Findustrialchem%2Forganic%2FISOBUTYRONITRILE.htm&ei=x4wmVJ6jFs3KaL3jgIAM&usg=AFQjCNH6bUy5MaPe65Y-a38C5XMoB9OzAQ&sig2=YkgDqqyRITAJGysGfi0jTg" .

Well, at least a pretty poor joke about cyanide yielded a much better Google search from Brian than I was able to muster! Looks like incredibly useful stuff.