"We Are the Aliens" : SBS One 03/07/2009

[Enchilada]

Just a reminder at 2.30pm to 3.30pm Friday 03rd July 2009 (afternoon) is the repeated documentary "We Are the Aliens" (2008). The programme talks of the ideas of panspermia , and the theories by Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe during the 1960's. Good for a laugh and those who might like to find out where all the run-of-the-mill fringe scientists actually comes from! Bit of a giggle.

The BBC gives the description;

"In the 1960s, scientists Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramsinghe came up with the remarkable theory of panspermia: the belief that clouds of alien life forms sweeping through outer space could “infect” planets with life. At the time, they were ridiculed. But over the last decade, the field of panspermia has turned into a reputable science. In WE ARE THE ALIENS, groundbreaking research into panspermia is explored. NASA now has many departments investigating the possibility of life on other planets and how it could get to earth. Narrated by renowned actor Ian Holm, WE ARE THE ALIENS employs clever effects and graphics for an accessible "sci-fi" appeal complete with clips from classic science fiction films, but its core is true scientific research. "

[Liz]

Just finished watching it E , and enjoyed it.

Finished with ...... 'if you think there's no other life out there, then think again' ..... in reference to the Hubble photo with multitude of galaxies in a small area.

[renormalised (Carl)]

Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe were far from "run of the mill" fringe scientist and panspermia is far from a fringe subject. Fred Hoyle was a respected member of the Royal Society. They may have been ridiculed for it to begin with but that's typical when new ideas come out which go against the prevailing paradigm. Academic hubris and intellectual arrogance are all too common in science. Scientist are also too often prone to thinking they know more than they actually do...or at least believing that they do.

As one myself, I go by the old maxim "The more I learn the less I actually know".

[Enchilada]

Originally Posted by renormalised

Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe were far from "run of the mill" fringe scientist and panspermia is far from a fringe subject.

i was originally inferring more of the others that came after them. I.e. Crick and Orgel 1973, etc. (Hoyle originally just said it to stimulate debate in one of his classes he was teaching to evaluate critical thinking!) The general poor contention of panspermia remains, but it is geogenesis IMO is probably more likely i.e. Life is already here and has a known history!

Panspermia is still quite speculative at best!

My favourite point is why were conditions better elsewhere than the perfect conditions for life that already exist on Earth?

An interesting debate. (I don't really believe it, though! )