Horizon: We Are the Aliens
Is it possible that life did not originate on Earth but was brought to Earth by meteorites? Is it possible that we are the aliens? In this eye-opening documentary, BBC's 'Horizon' examines the evidence for this theory, known as panspermia, which is growing in favour among scientists. It may be that we are the aliens afterall!
Is it possible that life did not originate on Earth but was brought to Earth by meteorites? Is it possible that we are the aliens?
The idea that life on Earth came from another planet has been around as a modern scientific theory since the 1960s when it was proposed by Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe. At the time, they were ridiculed for their idea, known as panspermia. But now, with growing evidence, panspermia is back in vogue and even being studied by major scientific authorities.
In this eye-opening documentary first aired in 2006, BBC's 'Horizon' takes a look at the scientists on a mission to get to the bottom of the origins of life on Earth, from a team in Texas who are building a robotic submarine called DEPTHX to explore a moon of Jupiter, to southern India where scientists are investigating a mysterious red rain which fell for two months in 2001. According to local scientist Godfrey Louis, the rain contains biological cells unlike any he had seen before, with no DNA and the ability to replicate at 300C. Louis has come to the conclusion that the cells may be extra-terrestrial in origin!
Could all this really be proof that we are the aliens?