I used to read articles like this and nod my head about the plausibility, perhaps inevitability of life in the universe, then I read this paper and it completely changed my view.
"the results indicate that the probability we are alone (<1) in the galaxy is significant, while the maximum number of contemporary civilizations might be as few as a thousand"
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S00945...
"the results indicate that the probability we are alone (<1) in the galaxy is significant, while the maximum number of contemporary civilizations might be as few as a thousand"