Ep 7. Curse of the Comets

In the seventh episode of the sixth season of Space's Deepest Secrets, entitled "Curse of the Comets," viewers are taken on a journey through time and space to unravel the mystery behind the comets that hurtle through our solar system. Comets have been fascinating objects of study for as long as humans have been able to track their movement, but their origin and true nature remain shrouded in mystery.

The episode begins by delving into the long-held beliefs about comets being harbingers of doom and destruction, with historical footage and accounts of comets being associated with everything from wars, famine, and disease. The program examines how these beliefs have been shaped by cultural and religious traditions and scientific understanding, and how they continue to impact the way we view comets today.

The episode then moves on to explore the scientific investigations into the nature of comets that have taken place in the last few decades, as probes such as the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission and NASA's Deep Impact offered unprecedented close-up views of comets. Scientists have discovered that comets are not just dirty snowballs, as previously thought, but are also comprised of complex organic molecules, which raises the intriguing possibility that comets played a role in the origins of life on Earth.

The show also examines the role that comets might have played in shaping the history of the solar system itself, exploring theories that suggest that comets may have been responsible for creating the conditions necessary for life to evolve on Earth. Scientists believe that comets may have deposited water, amino acids, and other key building blocks of life on Earth, and the episode explores the evidence for these ideas and the implications they have for our understanding of the origins of life.

As the program approaches the conclusion of the episode, viewers are presented with some of the most recent discoveries about comets, including the strange behavior of a particular comet known as 'Oumuamua, which was detected in 2017 and has been classified as an interstellar object. The show also explores the current and future space missions that are planned to further investigate comets and what new insights these missions might offer into these fascinating objects.

Overall, "Curse of the Comets" provides an engaging and informative look at one of the most enigmatic objects in the solar system. Combining historical and cultural context with the latest scientific research, the episode offers a comprehensive view of the role that comets have played in shaping our understanding of our place in the universe.