Alien Planet
Imagine a world like our own, just 6.5 light years away – but teeming with life forms unlike anything found on Earth.
Take a simulated journey into the near future, where astronomers and biologists alike marvel at the potential of Darwin IV, a nearby planet with two suns, 60% gravity and an atmosphere capable of supporting life. Having identified Darwin as a likely home for life, scientists send a series of unmanned probes to the planet. Initially, the expectation is to find microscopic life. But the probes soon find themselves in the middle of a developed ecosystem, teeming with diverse creatures of all sizes.
Peering through the "eyes" of the probes, marvel at the planet's bizarre inhabitants – like the lumbering Groveback, which supports a mini forest of vegetation on its back; deadly Prongheads who hunt in packs like wolves; and the graceful Gyrosprinter, an elk-like creature with a body dotted by luminescent biolights. The look and biology of each animal is based on the laws of evolution and physics, then modeled to fit the hypothetical environment of Darwin IV. Leading minds in the fields of paleontology, astrophysics and astrobiology explain how these creatures might evolve otherworldy characteristics like hollow bodies, "jet" propulsion and piercing tongue skewers.
Member Reviews
Alien Planet - starduke
I really enjoyed this show, but I found it somewhat lacking in good hard science. More could have been done to provide a better scientific approach to the show. But a good start, until we find a real world out there with life. I agree with the others the interviews with the scientists did not really add to the show. But worth you time to watch.No not science, but, yes, a ton of fun - Manuel
"Alien Planet" is pure science fiction, don't try to make it something it is not. I see where the comparisons to "Future is Wild" are drawn as they are both fun, animated visions of what fantasy artists/writers can dream up. In reality, like future geographic constructions, life in the future or life on other planets is strictly unpredictable. Most of the organisms on this alien planet seem to be amalgams of extant Earth creatures. Most are bipedal or arboreal, bearing strong resemblances to modern animals on our own planet. I got the impression that the artists may have watched the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" a few times before inventing these creatures as many resemble the Vacuum Beast that sucks up everything! Even the two droids exploring the planet are very anthropomorphic in their appearance. Most scientists agree that life on other planets will probably not resemble anything on our planet and may not even be carbon-based. Certainly, exploratory probes will look like typical NASA constructs: very mechanical.
That is why this film should be viewed for fun. It is not based on any data or any scientific expectation. In fact, only a handful of astrobiologists are included as interviewees. The diversity of scientists seems to be an attempt to validate the project since none of these great minds has any inkling of what could be out there. Besides, what do Stephen Hawking, Jack Horner and Michio Kaku know about astrobiology? In fact, I would say that the scientific interviews were more of a drawback than anything else. Many were out-of-sequence, or had nothing to do with the subject at hand. I often phased out during those interludes. It did seem that many were having fun.Alien planet - zzoldan
I thought that the re-inctment of what life would be like on Darwin 4 Was absolutely captivating. but i also agree with kaiza. the program was very interesting but the interviews with the scientists had little to no relevance of what was happening at that time.
Member Reviews
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Alien Planet - starduke
I really enjoyed this show, but I found it somewhat lacking in good hard science. More could have been done to provide a better scientific approach to the show. But a good start, until we find a real world out there with life. I agree with the others the interviews ...No not science, but, yes, a ton of fun - Manuel
"Alien Planet" is pure science fiction, don't try to make it something it is not. I see where the comparisons to "Future is Wild" are drawn as they are both fun, animated visions of what fantasy artists/writers can dream up. In reality, like future geographic ...Alien planet - zzoldan
I thought that the re-inctment of what life would be like on Darwin 4 Was absolutely captivating. but i also agree with kaiza. the program was very interesting but the interviews with the scientists had little to no relevance of what was happening at that ...