PBS Space Time Season 2018 Episode 42 Did Life on Earth Come from Space?

PBS Space Time is an enthralling science series which delves into the mysteries of the universe and explores some of the most intriguing questions ever posed by humans. Season 2018 has witnessed an array of fascinating episodes, and episode 42 -- Did Life on Earth Come from Space? -- is no exception. This episode is an insightful discussion on the possibility of extraterrestrial origins of life on Earth.

The tantalizing possibility of life originating from space is an issue that has long fascinated scientists. This is because some of the ingredients of life, such as amino acids, have been found in meteorites, which raises the question of whether life could have started elsewhere in the universe before arriving on Earth.

In this episode, PBS Space Time delves deeper into the hypothesis of panspermia, which suggests that life may have been seeded on planets or moons from microbial lifeforms that traveled through space. However, this theory raises further questions, such as how these organisms managed to travel vast distances in space and whether they would have been able to survive long enough to land on a planet or moon and establish life.

The episode goes on to highlight the role of comets in this theory of extraterrestrial life. Comets are thought to be remnants from the formation of our solar system and are comprised of a range of organic compounds and water. These compounds could potentially provide the basis for the formation of life on a planet or moon, and instances of water found on the surface of comets where it would not be expected based on how the comets formed could suggest they may have altered after their formation in places where liquid water was present.

The show also features interviews with leading astrobiologists and researchers who offer intriguing insights about the possibility of extraterrestrial life. They explain how scientists are using space probes and telescopes to search for planets in other solar systems that could potentially support life. Additionally, they describe how findings from the Huygens probe mission to Saturn's moon, Titan, have discovered diverse and complex organic molecules possibly indicative of life.

PBS Space Time brings its expertise in physics and astrophysics to the question of extraterrestrial life origins, exploring scientific theories and experiments that give us a glimpse into the sheer scope of research in the field.

Unlike its previous episodes, PBS Space Time's Did Life on Earth Come from Space? engages with a topic that could challenge our understanding of the very essence of life itself. The show explores intriguing scientific theories and hypotheses and presents science as a dynamic and evolving field. The subject matter will undoubtedly fascinate anyone who has ever pondered the possibility of extraterrestrial life, providing a glimpse into the latest research and thinking on this interesting and complex topic.