Regardless of what you think of Valentine’s Day, it at least provides an excellent opportunity to talk about the science of love. Like, for example, what the odds are of finding love?
PBS’s YouTube channel “It’s Okay to Be Smart” points out that every human culture seeks out some form of love. Then why with 7 billion people in the world does it seem for some at times so difficult to find that special someone?
Using nuclear physicist Enrico Fermi and his search for alien life (somehow this analogy worked), It’s Okay to Be Smart discusses the probability of finding love.
Fermi’s paradox was that if there are billions of planets capable of supporting life, how is it that we haven’t discovered other civilizations or been contacted by them yet. Frank Drake’s equation allows scientists to estimate the number of civilizations that might exist in the galaxy, but is is possible to calculate the odds of finding love?
It’s Okay to Be Smart tries with “Ann.” Ann lives in New York City, so the population of people she is most likely to come in contact with is about 8.2 million people. Half of that population represents Ann’s gender preference — so she has about 4.1 million people to potentially find love with. From there, it is noted that 44 percent of Americans are single at a given time and the percentage of people Ann might be able to actually meet is about 37 percent. The list of percentages narrowing down the number gets even longer factoring in an age range, English speaking preference, attractiveness and education level.
This is what you end up with as an equation for the number of people Ann could find love with in New York City.
(Image: YouTube Screenshot)
The calculation provides Ann with 871 potential special someones.
But then there are “X Factors” that narrow down these choices even more.
(Image: YouTube Screenshot)
“The more rules you make for how you define love, the fewer special people there are out there for you to find,” It’s Okay to Be Smart says.
Watch the less than five-minute special about the probability of finding love in this world:
(H/T: Gizmodo)
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blazingaway
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:35pmOne of the attributes of God is Love
God is love, God created us with the ability to know and experience love
Therefore, if you want to know what true love is (not lust, infatuation and every other emotional state confused for love) you must first know and understand God.
True Love, has more to do with thoughts where there is an emotional response to those thoughts than to and emotional state with little or no understand of why, what and/or just being filled with chemical releases in the brain
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nzkiwi
Feb. 14, 2013 at 4:22amI’ve just realised that, according to this, and with a starting population of only four million people that are well spread out, I’ve been pretty lucky in romance.
I don’t really think so, actually. I belong to the old school whereby, if see someone who is attractive to you, pursue them, woo them, and don’t give up at the first hurdle. It doesn’t always work, to be honest, but it’s fun anyway.
At 57 with two failed marriages, but with a wealth of experience, he are a couple of thoughts if anybody is interested…
Don’t be afraid of being single. Desperation can be detected no matter how one tries to hide it, and it puts people off. Be comfortable with single first.
Even you you think that things are going nowhere, relax and enjoy the time anyway. You will also meet their friends and one never knows…
Be completely honest with them and yourself. Lack of trust will kill a budding romance stone motherless dead, and leading someone on can be cruel.
Above all, be kind. They will be kind back and that’s a very good start, and even if things go nowhere, you will remember and think well of each other.
HAVE FUN.
I wonder if I can get paid for this…
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gridley1
Feb. 14, 2013 at 10:52amExcellent advise, NZKIWI. I could have used that advise a few decades ago! :-) Fortunately, I did eventually find true love, it just took me a loooong time and fair share of unpleasant relationships. The destination, however, was definitely worth the journey.
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Eastinfection
Feb. 13, 2013 at 8:53pm“Bltches aint shlt but hos n tricks” -Snoop
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jackact
Feb. 13, 2013 at 7:21pm….Ohmmm…….
Really?
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ScarletRose
Feb. 13, 2013 at 6:14pmThere is a lot of trash out there these days that “passes” for “love” – I wouldn’t have within 50,000 miles of me. I want some boundaries. And if I want someone else to live by them, I can do it, too. Seems to me that the reason that fewer relationships are working now-adays is because too many have lower or no standards, but big pipe dreams. If I could count the folks I’ve seen with NO standards who were shocked and devasted by the ones who mistreated and cheated and robbed them – HEY! What happened to their own rule of NO STANDARDS! Why all of a sudden, for 15 minutes, when thinking of the EXES, they do have standards – but their ideal for the next NEW one is LOWER THAN EVER!!! LOL! Let them enjoy!!!
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Platonician
Feb. 13, 2013 at 6:30pmWhy is The Blaze channeling communist PBS? That idiotic Obama supporter in the video is annoying!!
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Taxpayer550
Feb. 13, 2013 at 6:08pmIf you think about it, most of what we refer to as being “love” is not really love at all. Perfect love requires the absence of self. Once self is introduced into the equation, love becomes diluted or weakened disproportionate to the amount of self. The reason why very little actual love exists in our culture is that we are becoming more and more of a self-centered people. We can largely attribute that to the increasing popularity of pop culture, and the decreasing popularity of Christianity. The simple fact that both sexes seem to have a lengthy checklist when it comes to requirements for a potential mate is an indicator of that.
Jesus Christ remains the most powerful and perfect example of true love ever known to mankind. The fact that He voluntarily submitted himself as the only acceptable sacrifice, to die in our place for our sins, at no cost to us, so that we can have fellowship with God and live eternally, is love incomprehensible.
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justangry
Feb. 13, 2013 at 5:51pmYou don’t need science. Love is hard to find because most of us are undeserving of it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMNUdDC4tEc
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1956
Feb. 13, 2013 at 11:42pmWrong. Love is hard to find because most of us aren’t willing to make sacrifices or care about another’s needs over our own. It’s all about ME and not about THEE. The more you put yourself first, the less likely you will find (and keep) love.
(FYI – nothing biblical meant by the use of “thee”.)
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Eastinfection
Feb. 14, 2013 at 12:40am1956
It’s simpler than that:
Happy wife…
happy life.
Case closed.
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SpankDaMonkey
Feb. 13, 2013 at 5:37pm.
Because women are nuts……
Everyone but you Sweetie……..
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purple_circles
Feb. 13, 2013 at 5:33pmTrue love is unconditional, it is the unconditional part that’s challenging- meaning except the things you cannot change; hang on to your sense of humor; and understand your happiness relies on you only, not your loved one or others. Never hold a grudge it only poisons the soul. Remember too, we are all going to look like a monkey someday, again keep your sense of humor intact, if you can do these things who needs love of science?
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blazingaway
Feb. 14, 2013 at 1:38pmLove is not unconditional .. it is very much conditional … it does require a great deal of patience, tolerance and understanding … but it is and always will be conditional … especially personal love
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Just_Us2
Feb. 13, 2013 at 5:13pmWhy is love so hard to find? Because my wife wont let me go on dates!!! Kidding honey!!!!
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media-bias-steals-elections
Feb. 13, 2013 at 5:03pmIt might not be scientific, but God has a 100% success rate in find you the love of your life, all you have to do is trust Him?
Love is not about science, love is beyond science, it is faith?
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TheTram
Feb. 14, 2013 at 3:34pmThis man speaks the truth.
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InWithForGod
Feb. 14, 2013 at 9:34pmI agree with you. My question is, why the question marks? Are you unsure of your statements? Do you lack faith? Learn about grammar (“finding” vs “find”) and punctuation (“life. All…” vs “life, and” and the question marks after statements.) This goes for everybody! Even if you might have good ideas and commentaries, you reduce them to complete idiocy by your childish rendering of the English language. Stop it! I am growing increasingly tired and frustrated by the seemingly total lack of literacy in this country’s populace. The only thing I can attribute this to is the quality of education people receive in our public school system which can only operate from scientific perspectives sans the only source of love, knowledge, wisdom and truth. That source is God. Without him, we can do nothing. (John 15:1-5) Learn to communicate properly!
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