NASA's Unexplained Files Season 3 Episode 1 Pluto Under Pressure

NASA's Unexplained Files is a science documentary series that delves into the mysterious, bizarre, and unexplained phenomena witnessed by astronauts, scientists, and NASA officials. The third season of the show begins with an episode titled "Pluto Under Pressure," which explores the strange, inexplicable activity that occurred on the distant dwarf planet of Pluto.

The episode begins with the New Horizons spacecraft, launched by NASA in 2006 to study Pluto and its moons, approaching the planet after a nine-year journey. The spacecraft captured images that baffled scientists who discovered a strange, heart-shaped feature on the planet's surface. As the spacecraft moved in closer, it picked up signals that suggested something strange was happening beneath Pluto's surface.

Viewers are taken on a journey inside NASA's mission control to learn more about the mysterious signals detected by New Horizons. Scientists discuss their theories on what could have caused them, from a massive impact on the planet's surface to a cryovolcanic eruption. The latter theory suggests that the signals were caused by Pluto's icy surface being disrupted by a volcanic eruption of liquid nitrogen.

As the episode progresses, viewers are introduced to other unexplained phenomena related to Pluto. NASA officials discuss their observation of "shadows on Pluto" that appear to move across the surface of the planet. While the team initially thought it was a glitch in the spacecraft's camera system, they later realized that the shadows were real and caused by something mysterious.

The episode takes a dramatic turn when it introduces the concept of a "Plutonian heat wave." NASA officials explain how they detected a surprising rise in temperature on the planet's surface despite the absence of a heat source. The team found this discovery even more puzzling as Pluto's atmosphere is made mostly of nitrogen and methane, two substances that don't retain heat very well.

Viewers are then introduced to another set of unexplained signals detected by the spacecraft. The signals were found to be Anomalous Transient Events, or ATEs, and appeared to originate from deep within Pluto's surface. Scientists were initially perplexed by the signals but later came up with a theory that suggested the possibility of Pluto having an underground ocean.

The episode then concludes with NASA officials discussing their plans for further exploration of Pluto and its moons in the years to come. The team is hopeful that the data gathered by the New Horizons spacecraft and future missions to the planet will help them unravel the mysteries of Pluto and perhaps provide a deeper understanding of the universe.

"Pluto Under Pressure" is a fascinating and thought-provoking episode of NASA's Unexplained Files that provides viewers with a glimpse into the world of space exploration and the mysteries that continue to puzzle even the most knowledgeable scientists. With its cutting-edge visuals and expert insights, this episode offers a glimpse into the exciting discoveries that await us on Pluto and beyond.