Ep 4. Aliens of the Infinity War

In the 4th episode of season 6 of What on Earth?, titled "Aliens of the Infinity War", the show delves into the theory of whether advanced alien civilizations have gone to war with one another and if there is any evidence of this in our universe. The episode kicks off with images of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, which is estimated to contain hundreds of billions of stars, and possibly millions of planets.

The narrator explains that astronomers have been searching for evidence of extraterrestrial life for decades. With the help of advanced telescopes and modern technology, we are now able to detect exoplanets - planets outside our solar system - that could support life as we know it. It is possible that somewhere out there, intelligent lifeforms have evolved and developed civilizations that are far more advanced than our own.

The show then introduces viewers to the Fermi Paradox, which is the contradiction between the high probability of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and the lack of evidence for, or contact with, such civilizations. One possible explanation for this paradox is that advanced civilizations could have self-destructed, or destroyed each other in wars.

To support this theory, the episode delves into one of the most famous science-fiction franchises of all time - Star Wars. The show compares the Infinity War storyline from the Marvel Cinematic Universe with the Star Wars storyline, where different alien species are seen battling each other. The show argues that if these stories are reflective of the real universe, then the existence of alien civilizations battling one another is not an implausible theory.

The episode then shifts focus to real-life evidence of interstellar wars. Viewers are introduced to the Kardashev Scale, which measures the technological advancement of a civilization based on its energy consumption. According to the scale, Type III civilizations have the ability to harness all the energy of their host galaxy. However, if two or more Type III civilizations were to enter into a conflict, it could result in a significant release of energy that could be detected by our telescopes.

The episode goes on to explore a strange phenomenon that has puzzled astronomers for decades – Fast Radio Bursts (FRBs). These are highly energetic pulses of radio waves that last for a few milliseconds and come from deep space. Scientists do not know what causes these bursts, but some suggest that they could be the result of interstellar communication or weapons.

The show then examines unexplained events from history that could potentially be linked to extraterrestrial wars. For instance, the Tunguska event in 1908, where a massive explosion occurred in the Siberian wilderness, has been attributed to a meteor strike. However, some conspiracy theorists believe that the event was caused by an extraterrestrial object entering Earth's atmosphere. The episode also explores the strange case of the Wow! Signal, a strong radio signal detected by the Big Ear radio telescope in Ohio in 1977. The signal, which lasted for 72 seconds, has not been explained.

As the episode comes to a close, the show provides a plausible explanation for the Fermi Paradox. It suggests that we have not been able to detect any extraterrestrial civilizations because they have already destroyed each other in wars, sending their galaxies back into the dark ages. However, the episode ends on a positive note, stating that since we have yet to detect conclusive evidence of extraterrestrial conflict, we can still hold hope for peaceful coexistence with potential alien neighbors.

Overall, the 4th episode of What on Earth? season 6, titled "Aliens of the Infinity War", takes viewers on a thought-provoking journey into the possibility of extraterrestrial life, interstellar wars, and the Fermi Paradox. The episode uses intriguing visuals, expert interviews and science-fiction references to explore these complex topics, leaving viewers with a lot to ponder on.