Ep 4. Search for Alien Earths

In season 3 episode 4 of Space's Deepest Secrets named "Search for Alien Earths," viewers are taken on a journey to explore some of the most exciting and advanced exoplanet hunting techniques used by NASA scientists. With a focus on the search for Earth-like planets and extraterrestrial life, the episode covers a range of strategies and technologies used to detect planets beyond our solar system.

The episode sets out by introducing viewers to a newly discovered exoplanet, Kepler-452b, which NASA scientists suggest may be a possible Earth-like planet. This planet is deemed interesting as it is located in the "habitable zone" of its star, meaning its distance from its star would make it possible for liquid water to exist on its surface. This is a key characteristic often looked for in the search for potentially habitable exoplanets.

The episode journeys through some of the more advanced telescopes used by NASA to search the skies for exoplanets. These telescopes include the SPHEREx, a telescope designed to survey the sky in near-infrared light, and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS), a planet-hunting mission that has helped detect over 2,000 new exoplanets in just two years.

As the episode progresses, we hear from NASA scientists about some of the challenges involved in detecting exoplanets, including identifying planets hidden in the glare of their host star, and understanding the subtle movements caused by planets orbiting their stars.

The quest for detecting exoplanets is not hindered by the vast distances and unimaginable scale of space. The episode reveals how scientists use time-lapse techniques to gather data over long periods, in some cases taking years to accumulate enough data to confirm the existence of an exoplanet.

Viewers are also treated to stunning visualizations of different exoplanets, including the popular "hot Jupiter" planets, which are gas giants that orbit extremely close to their stars.

The episode delves deeper into the possibility of finding extraterrestrial life. NASA scientist Jeff Cuzzi discusses the possibility that life could exist outside of our solar system, and how scientists are currently in the process of determining the different ways life could potentially evolve on other planets.

The episode also covers the different technological challenges involved in actually finding evidence of extraterrestrial life, with interviews from scientists who are working on the cutting edge of exoplanet research.

Finally, the episode concludes by exploring the future of exoplanet research, including the development of new telescopes and technologies designed to detect and study exoplanets in more detail. Viewers are left with a sense of awe and wonder at the scale of the universe, and the great mystery that still surrounds the possibility of alien life.

Overall, "Search for Alien Earths" is an exciting and eye-opening journey into the science of exoplanet hunting, offering insight into the latest research and technology in the field, and offering tantalizing glimpses of what may lie beyond our solar system.