Last summer we were doing what are called "Fermi questions" - so-called "back of an envelope" estimations of outrageous things. My favourite has been calculating your chances of becoming a rock star. Yes it is possible to do this.
I read in the paper that a man called Peter Backus has applied what is called the Drake Equation to calculate a man's chances of finding the perfect partner. It turned out to be 1 in 285,00o. He noted that this meant "There are 26 women in London with whom I might have a wonderful relationship. So on a night out, there is a 0.0000034 per cent chance of meeting one of these special people".
The Drake Equation is what scientists use to estimate the number of alien civilisations throughout the Universe. Google it.
Thanks to Linda for fetching the Metro newspaper back from London.
