The Drake equation which Isaac mentions in his lecture at the beginning of the film is a real attempt to work out scientifically the likelihood of humanity being able to find intelligent life in our galaxy. It's written as N = R* x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L, where:
The problem is that the equation is very far from scientific. There is no hard data for almost any of the variables except the first two, and some data which might constrain the values for the third variable. The others are nothing but guesses. This leads to a further problem: the guesses are usually far too optimistic, giving unrealistically high probabilities of being able to detect any civilizations at all.
- N = the number of civilizations in our galaxy with which communication might be possible;
- 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 with planets;
- fl = the fraction of planets that could support life that actually develop life;
- fi = the fraction of planets with life that actually go on to develop intelligent life;
- fc = the fraction of civilizations that develop a technology that releases detectable signals into space;
- L = the length of time for which such civilizations release detectable signals into space.
The problem is that the equation is very far from scientific. There is no hard data for almost any of the variables except the first two, and some data which might constrain the values for the third variable. The others are nothing but guesses. This leads to a further problem: the guesses are usually far too optimistic, giving unrealistically high probabilities of being able to detect any civilizations at all.
The man character name of Isaac Bruno is a reference to Isaac Newton the famous mathematician, physicist, astronomer and theologian and Giordano Bruno who was a philosopher, mathematician and cosmological theorist. Both men were the first to put forward the theory of habitable Exoplanets beyond our solar system, Bruno in the sixteenth century and Newton in the eighteenth.
Real life husband and wife Patrick J. Adams and Troian Bellisario both had guest appearances in each other's hit TV shows. Patrick had a guest appearance in Pretty Little Liars (2010), and Troian had two guest appearances in Suits, avocats sur mesure (2011).
Kevin Hanchard (Doctor) and Kristen Hager (Dr. Rebecca Jenkins) both starred in first season of The Expanse (2015). They didn't share any scenes in either project.