Space's Deepest Secrets Season 3 Episode 15 Search for Alien Life
- November 27, 2017
In this episode of Space's Deepest Secrets, titled "Search for Alien Life," scientists and researchers from various fields come together to explore the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The episode takes a comprehensive look at humanity's ongoing search for alien life in our universe and the multiple approaches that scientists are taking to achieve this goal.
The show starts with a brief history of humanity's search for alien life, which dates back to the 16th century. Then it explores the various factors that have increased scientists' interest in finding extraterrestrial life in recent years. The episode highlights the stunning discoveries of exoplanets, which are planets outside our solar system, and their potential to harbor life. The episode introduces us to the concept of the habitable zone, which is the area where a planet's distance from its star is just right for liquid water to exist on the planet's surface. Researchers consider this the perfect condition to support life similar to Earth.
In "Search for Alien Life," the show delves into the techniques used in detecting extraterrestrial life. The episode covers the SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) program, which scans the universe for radio signals that might indicate the presence of life. Then, the episode showcases new technologies such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which is set to launch in 2021. The telescope is so powerful it can detect the chemical composition of a planet's atmosphere, providing scientists with an idea of what life forms might be present.
"Search for Alien Life" also discusses the possibility of microbial life forms. The episode ponders that finding complex life on other planets might be a challenge but discovering microbial life could give early hints to the possibility of habitable environments. The episode teaches us about extremophiles, which are microbial life forms that thrive in extreme conditions, and how scientists are using them to design missions that could detect microbial life forms on other planets.
Another highlight of the episode is the story of Mars, the Red Planet, and its role in the search for alien life. The episode explores the different missions sent to Mars and the data they have provided in search of microbial life on Mars. The show reveals the latest discovery of a liquid underground lake on Mars, which may hold crucial clues for the possibility of life in the Red Planet, which has been an area of intense focus for NASA's Mars exploration program.
Finally, the episode also dives into the philosophical and ethical debate about what happens once we finally make contact with alien life. Perhaps the biggest question of all: Are we ready to meet alien life? What could be the implications of discovering intelligent life beyond Earth? How should we approach the situation?
In conclusion, this episode of Space's Deepest Secrets titled "Search for Alien Life" offers an enlightening overview of humanity's quest to find life beyond our planet within our universe. Through engaging interviews with leading scientists from different disciplines, the show discusses the various techniques and technologies used in detecting life, the possibility of microbial life forms on other planets, and the possible implications of making contact with extraterrestrial life. The show also shares the latest knowledge in the field and leaves the audience in anticipation of making groundbreaking discoveries and answering humanity's long-standing question about the existence of life beyond Earth.