1
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Sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ
2
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Sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ
Protocol Labs
3
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Sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ
Protocol Labs
Follow your curiosity.
4
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Sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ
Protocol Labs
Follow your curiosity.
Lead humanity forward.
5
00:00:09,187 --> 00:00:09,437
Protocol Labs
Follow your curiosity.
Lead humanity forward.
6
00:00:09,437 --> 00:00:09,687
Follow your curiosity.
Lead humanity forward.
7
00:00:16,820 --> 00:00:19,129
In all the universe,
8
00:00:19,129 --> 00:00:24,540
In all the universe,
there stands only one known tree of life.
9
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Does it stand alone?
10
00:00:34,443 --> 00:00:40,311
Does it stand alone?
Or is it part of a vast cosmic wilderness?
11
00:00:46,038 --> 00:00:52,517
Imagine a museum
containing every type of life in the universe.
12
00:00:58,362 --> 00:01:00,757
What strange things would such a museum hold?
13
00:01:16,257 --> 00:01:18,667
What is possible under the laws of nature?
14
00:01:39,767 --> 00:01:40,906
LIFE
15
00:01:40,906 --> 00:01:45,610
LIFE BEYOND
16
00:01:49,016 --> 00:01:49,885
CHAPTER II
17
00:01:49,885 --> 00:01:55,406
CHAPTER II
The Museum Of Alien Life
18
00:02:02,805 --> 00:02:03,657
To have any hope-
19
00:02:03,657 --> 00:02:05,506
of finding alien life,
20
00:02:05,537 --> 00:02:07,408
we have to know what to look for.
21
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But where do we begin?
22
00:02:15,303 --> 00:02:16,446
How do we narrow down...
23
00:02:16,568 --> 00:02:18,068
a seemingly infinite set-
24
00:02:18,068 --> 00:02:20,175
of possibilities...
25
00:02:27,310 --> 00:02:29,968
There's one thing we know for sure...
26
00:02:30,683 --> 00:02:32,045
nature will have to play-
27
00:02:32,075 --> 00:02:33,375
by her own rules.
28
00:02:36,791 --> 00:02:38,166
No matter how strange-
29
00:02:38,196 --> 00:02:39,806
alien life might be,
30
00:02:40,386 --> 00:02:41,180
is going to be limited-
31
00:02:41,220 --> 00:02:42,596
by the same physical...
32
00:02:42,606 --> 00:02:44,756
and chemical laws that we are....
33
00:02:46,952 --> 00:02:47,014
6
34
00:02:47,014 --> 00:02:47,077
6 C
35
00:02:47,077 --> 00:02:47,139
6 CO
36
00:02:47,139 --> 00:02:47,202
6 CO₂
37
00:02:47,202 --> 00:02:47,264
6 CO₂ +
38
00:02:47,264 --> 00:02:47,327
6 CO₂ + 6
39
00:02:47,327 --> 00:02:47,389
6 CO₂ + 6 H
40
00:02:47,389 --> 00:02:47,452
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂
41
00:02:47,452 --> 00:02:47,514
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O
42
00:02:47,514 --> 00:02:47,577
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O +
43
00:02:47,577 --> 00:02:47,639
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + L
44
00:02:47,639 --> 00:02:47,702
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Li
45
00:02:47,702 --> 00:02:47,764
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Lig
46
00:02:47,764 --> 00:02:47,827
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Ligh
47
00:02:47,827 --> 00:02:47,889
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light
48
00:02:47,889 --> 00:02:47,952
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light →
49
00:02:47,952 --> 00:02:48,014
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C
50
00:02:48,014 --> 00:02:48,077
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆
51
00:02:48,077 --> 00:02:48,139
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H
52
00:02:48,139 --> 00:02:48,202
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁
53
00:02:48,202 --> 00:02:48,264
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂
54
00:02:48,264 --> 00:02:48,326
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O
55
00:02:48,326 --> 00:02:48,389
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆
56
00:02:48,389 --> 00:02:48,451
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ +
57
00:02:48,451 --> 00:02:48,514
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6
58
00:02:48,514 --> 00:02:48,576
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O
59
00:02:48,576 --> 00:02:51,613
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂
60
00:02:51,613 --> 00:02:52,312
On top of this,
6 CO₂ + 6 H₂O + Light → C₆H₁₂O₆ + 6 O₂
61
00:02:52,312 --> 00:02:52,733
On top of this,
62
00:02:53,183 --> 00:02:53,694
each alien environment will further limit-
63
00:02:53,694 --> 00:02:53,756
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ
each alien environment will further limit-
64
00:02:53,756 --> 00:02:53,819
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆
each alien environment will further limit-
65
00:02:53,819 --> 00:02:53,881
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H
each alien environment will further limit-
66
00:02:53,881 --> 00:02:53,944
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁
each alien environment will further limit-
67
00:02:53,944 --> 00:02:54,006
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂
each alien environment will further limit-
68
00:02:54,006 --> 00:02:54,069
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O
each alien environment will further limit-
69
00:02:54,069 --> 00:02:54,131
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆
each alien environment will further limit-
70
00:02:54,131 --> 00:02:54,194
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ →
each alien environment will further limit-
71
00:02:54,194 --> 00:02:54,256
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2
each alien environment will further limit-
72
00:02:54,256 --> 00:02:54,319
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C
each alien environment will further limit-
73
00:02:54,319 --> 00:02:54,381
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂
each alien environment will further limit-
74
00:02:54,381 --> 00:02:54,444
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H
each alien environment will further limit-
75
00:02:54,444 --> 00:02:54,506
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅
each alien environment will further limit-
76
00:02:54,506 --> 00:02:54,569
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅O
each alien environment will further limit-
77
00:02:54,569 --> 00:02:54,631
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH
each alien environment will further limit-
78
00:02:54,631 --> 00:02:54,694
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +
each alien environment will further limit-
79
00:02:54,694 --> 00:02:54,756
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2
each alien environment will further limit-
80
00:02:54,756 --> 00:02:54,819
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2C
each alien environment will further limit-
81
00:02:54,819 --> 00:02:54,881
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO
each alien environment will further limit-
82
00:02:54,881 --> 00:02:54,944
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ +
each alien environment will further limit-
83
00:02:54,944 --> 00:02:55,006
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + E
each alien environment will further limit-
84
00:02:55,006 --> 00:02:55,069
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + En
each alien environment will further limit-
85
00:02:55,069 --> 00:02:55,131
⁴⁵⁸ ʜʏᴅʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Ene
each alien environment will further limit-
86
00:02:55,131 --> 00:02:55,194
⁴⁵⁸ ᴏxʏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Ener
each alien environment will further limit-
87
00:02:55,194 --> 00:02:55,256
⁴⁵⁸ ᴏxʏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Energ
each alien environment will further limit-
88
00:02:55,256 --> 00:02:55,319
⁴⁵⁸ ᴏxʏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Energy
each alien environment will further limit-
89
00:02:55,319 --> 00:02:55,632
⁴⁵⁸ ᴏxʏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Energy
each alien environment will further limit-
90
00:02:55,632 --> 00:02:57,311
⁴⁵⁸ ᴏxʏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Energy
what kinds of life forms can evolve there.
91
00:02:57,311 --> 00:02:57,436
⁴⁵⁸ ɴɪʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Energy
what kinds of life forms can evolve there.
92
00:02:57,436 --> 00:02:59,376
⁴⁰⁵⁰ ɴɪʀᴏɢᴇɴ | C₆H₁₂O₆ → 2C₂H₅OH +2CO₂ + Energy
what kinds of life forms can evolve there.
93
00:03:06,992 --> 00:03:09,189
Despite these natural boundaries,
94
00:03:09,243 --> 00:03:12,206
the possibilities are staggering to imagine.
95
00:03:14,235 --> 00:03:15,640
Trillions of planets,
96
00:03:15,778 --> 00:03:17,878
each a unique cauldron of chemicals,
97
00:03:17,924 --> 00:03:23,036
undergoing their own complex evolution.
98
00:03:28,150 --> 00:03:29,360
To guide our thinking,
99
00:03:29,598 --> 00:03:31,316
this museum of alien life-
100
00:03:31,316 --> 00:03:34,396
will be divided into two exhibits...
101
00:03:35,668 --> 00:03:36,041
Life as we know it,
102
00:03:36,041 --> 00:03:37,194
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
Life as we know it,
103
00:03:37,194 --> 00:03:38,215
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
home to beings-
104
00:03:38,215 --> 00:03:40,940
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
with bio-chemistries like ours.
105
00:03:41,569 --> 00:03:41,694
EXHIBIT II
Life As We Know Don't It
ᴱˣᵒᵗᶦᶜ ᴮᶦᵒᶜʰᵉᵐᶦˢᵗʳᶦᵉˢ
106
00:03:41,694 --> 00:03:43,588
EXHIBIT II
Life As We Know Don't It
ᴱˣᵒᵗᶦᶜ ᴮᶦᵒᶜʰᵉᵐᶦˢᵗʳᶦᵉˢ
And life as we don't know it,
107
00:03:43,588 --> 00:03:44,068
EXHIBIT II
Life As We Know Don't It
ᴱˣᵒᵗᶦᶜ ᴮᶦᵒᶜʰᵉᵐᶦˢᵗʳᶦᵉˢ
108
00:03:44,068 --> 00:03:45,038
EXHIBIT II
Life As We Know Don't It
ᴱˣᵒᵗᶦᶜ ᴮᶦᵒᶜʰᵉᵐᶦˢᵗʳᶦᵉˢ
home to beings-
109
00:03:45,038 --> 00:03:47,818
EXHIBIT II
Life As We Know Don't It
ᴱˣᵒᵗᶦᶜ ᴮᶦᵒᶜʰᵉᵐᶦˢᵗʳᶦᵉˢ
that challenge our concept of life itself.
110
00:03:54,022 --> 00:03:54,986
Before we venture-
111
00:03:55,042 --> 00:03:56,889
too far into the unknown,
112
00:03:57,103 --> 00:03:59,177
we have to ask ourselves...
113
00:03:59,956 --> 00:04:01,059
what if alien life-
114
00:04:01,183 --> 00:04:02,253
is more like us...
115
00:04:02,253 --> 00:04:03,939
than we think?
116
00:04:10,759 --> 00:04:12,728
EXHIBIT I
117
00:04:12,728 --> 00:04:14,746
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
118
00:04:14,746 --> 00:04:15,174
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
119
00:04:15,174 --> 00:04:16,307
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
If there's one feature-
120
00:04:16,307 --> 00:04:17,327
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
that unites us...
121
00:04:17,327 --> 00:04:19,510
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
with these other specimes in this museum,
122
00:04:19,510 --> 00:04:19,922
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
123
00:04:19,922 --> 00:04:21,245
EXHIBIT I
Life As We Know It
ᶜᵃʳᵇᵒⁿ ᵃⁿᵈ ʷᵃᵗᵉʳ ᵇᵃˢᵉᵈ
it's carbon...
124
00:04:21,775 --> 00:04:22,025
Carbon
125
00:04:22,025 --> 00:04:22,087
Carbon ⁴
126
00:04:22,087 --> 00:04:22,150
S
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ
127
00:04:22,150 --> 00:04:22,212
ᴀ Sᴜ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐ
128
00:04:22,212 --> 00:04:22,275
C
ᴀᴛ Sᴜʙ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒ
129
00:04:22,275 --> 00:04:22,337
R | C 0
ᴀᴛᴏ Sᴜʙʟ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢ
130
00:04:22,337 --> 00:04:22,400
R + | C 00
ᴀᴛᴏᴍ Sᴜʙʟɪ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ
131
00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:22,462
R + 7: | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃ
132
00:04:22,462 --> 00:04:22,525
R + 7: 9 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇ
133
00:04:22,525 --> 00:04:22,587
R + 7: 9: | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘ
134
00:04:22,587 --> 00:04:22,650
R + 7: 9: 5 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿ
135
00:04:22,650 --> 00:04:22,712
R + 7: 9: 56 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈ
136
00:04:22,712 --> 00:04:22,775
R + 7: 9: 56. | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃ
137
00:04:22,775 --> 00:04:22,837
R + 7: 9: 56.2 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿ
138
00:04:22,837 --> 00:04:22,900
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ
139
00:04:22,900 --> 00:04:22,962
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉ
140
00:04:22,962 --> 00:04:23,025
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡ
141
00:04:23,025 --> 00:04:23,087
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂. Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉ
142
00:04:23,087 --> 00:04:23,150
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ:
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐ
143
00:04:23,150 --> 00:04:23,212
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉ
144
00:04:23,212 --> 00:04:23,275
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿ
145
00:04:23,275 --> 00:04:23,337
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
146
00:04:23,337 --> 00:04:23,400
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
147
00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:24,545
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
148
00:04:24,545 --> 00:04:24,670
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Period 2
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
149
00:04:24,670 --> 00:04:26,147
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Period 2
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
Carbon is ubiquitous,
150
00:04:26,147 --> 00:04:26,287
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Period 2
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
151
00:04:26,287 --> 00:04:26,655
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Period 2
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
it's one o' tho most-
152
00:04:26,655 --> 00:04:27,514
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | P-block
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
it's one o' tho most-
153
00:04:27,514 --> 00:04:28,790
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | P-block
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
common elements in the universe,
154
00:04:28,790 --> 00:04:29,357
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Group 14
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
common elements in the universe,
155
00:04:29,357 --> 00:04:29,515
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Group 14
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
156
00:04:29,515 --> 00:04:30,529
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Group 14
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
and is very good at forming-
157
00:04:30,529 --> 00:04:30,883
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | [He] 2s² 2p²
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
and is very good at forming-
158
00:04:30,883 --> 00:04:32,351
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | [He] 2s² 2p²
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
large stable molecules.
159
00:04:32,351 --> 00:04:32,822
R + 7: 9: 56.25
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
large stable molecules.
160
00:04:32,822 --> 00:04:33,545
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
large stable molecules.
161
00:04:33,545 --> 00:04:34,574
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
162
00:04:34,574 --> 00:04:36,829
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Period 2
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
163
00:04:36,829 --> 00:04:37,079
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | P-block
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
164
00:04:37,079 --> 00:04:38,638
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | P-block
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
Carbon has the rare ability-
165
00:04:38,638 --> 00:04:38,888
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | P-block
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
to form four way bounds-
166
00:04:38,888 --> 00:04:40,354
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Group 14
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
to form four way bounds-
167
00:04:40,354 --> 00:04:40,651
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | Group 14
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
with other elements...
168
00:04:40,651 --> 00:04:41,533
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | [HE] 2s² 2p²
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
with other elements...
169
00:04:41,533 --> 00:04:41,753
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | [HE] 2s² 2p²
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
170
00:04:41,753 --> 00:04:42,433
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | [HE] 2s² 2p²
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
and to bind to itself-
171
00:04:42,433 --> 00:04:42,914
R + 7: 9: 56.25
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
and to bind to itself-
172
00:04:42,914 --> 00:04:42,977
R + 7: 9: 56.25
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
in long stable chains...
173
00:04:42,977 --> 00:04:44,546
R + 7: 9: 56.25 | C 006
ᴀᴛᴏᴍɪᴄ ᴡᴇɪɢʜᴛ: ₁₂.₀₁₁ Sᴜʙʟɪᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ ᴘᴏɪɴᴛ: ³⁹¹⁵ ᴷ
Carbon ⁴ᵗʰ ᵐᵒˢᵗ ᵃᵇᵘⁿᵈᵃⁿᵗ ᵉˡᵉᵐᵉⁿᵗ
in long stable chains...
174
00:04:46,164 --> 00:04:47,475
enabling the formation...
175
00:04:47,525 --> 00:04:51,196
of huge complex molecules.
176
00:04:56,197 --> 00:04:59,093
This versatility makes carbon the center piece
177
00:04:59,093 --> 00:05:01,130
in the moleculary machinery of life.
178
00:05:03,260 --> 00:05:05,002
And the same carbon compounds
179
00:05:05,172 --> 00:05:06,346
that we use have been-
180
00:05:06,346 --> 00:05:08,507
found far from Earth,
181
00:05:08,696 --> 00:05:09,894
clinging to meteorites
182
00:05:10,848 --> 00:05:10,973
G
183
00:05:10,973 --> 00:05:11,035
Gl
184
00:05:11,035 --> 00:05:11,098
Gly
185
00:05:11,098 --> 00:05:11,225
Glyc
186
00:05:11,225 --> 00:05:11,289
Glyci
187
00:05:11,289 --> 00:05:11,353
Glycin
188
00:05:11,353 --> 00:05:12,148
Glycine
189
00:05:12,148 --> 00:05:14,591
Glycine
to floating in far off clouds...
190
00:05:14,591 --> 00:05:14,653
Glycine
191
00:05:14,653 --> 00:05:16,403
Glycine
of cosmic dust.
192
00:05:16,403 --> 00:05:18,480
Glycine
193
00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:19,964
Glycine
The building blocks of life...
194
00:05:21,180 --> 00:05:23,860
drifting like snow through the universe.
195
00:05:29,872 --> 00:05:32,490
And if alien life has selected other-
196
00:05:32,550 --> 00:05:34,954
carbon compounds for the biochemistry,
197
00:05:35,633 --> 00:05:37,954
they will have plenty to choose from.
198
00:05:40,449 --> 00:05:40,699
Z DNA | B DNA
199
00:05:41,958 --> 00:05:43,820
Scientists recently identified
200
00:05:43,820 --> 00:05:45,663
over a million possible-
201
00:05:45,753 --> 00:05:47,903
alternatives to DNA...
202
00:05:48,458 --> 00:05:50,769
all carbon based.
203
00:05:57,678 --> 00:05:58,877
If we ever discover-
204
00:05:58,877 --> 00:06:00,967
other carbon based life forms,
205
00:06:01,540 --> 00:06:05,561
we will be fundamentally related.
206
00:06:07,688 --> 00:06:11,030
They will be our cosmic brother.
207
00:06:13,216 --> 00:06:15,491
But would they look anything like us?
208
00:06:19,685 --> 00:06:22,222
If they hail from Earth like planets,
209
00:06:22,627 --> 00:06:24,172
we could share even more in common,
210
00:06:24,915 --> 00:06:28,442
than just our biochemistry.
211
00:06:29,686 --> 00:06:31,119
What would life be like-
212
00:06:31,155 --> 00:06:32,188
on another planets,
213
00:06:32,188 --> 00:06:32,961
if it is evolved?
214
00:06:33,466 --> 00:06:34,321
Would it be like,
215
00:06:34,651 --> 00:06:37,061
the world today here on Earth?
216
00:06:37,392 --> 00:06:39,562
Or would be completely different?
217
00:06:40,409 --> 00:06:41,231
There are those,
218
00:06:41,231 --> 00:06:42,156
who argue that...
219
00:06:42,206 --> 00:06:44,220
from the argument of convergent evolution,
220
00:06:44,713 --> 00:06:47,534
if conditions on other planets are similar to here,
221
00:06:47,579 --> 00:06:50,259
then we will see very similar life forms...
222
00:06:54,466 --> 00:06:56,846
animal and plant-like organisms,
223
00:06:56,919 --> 00:06:59,777
that look very familiar.
224
00:07:12,048 --> 00:07:12,768
On Earth,
225
00:07:12,820 --> 00:07:15,087
certain features like eyesight,
226
00:07:15,190 --> 00:07:16,788
echo-location and flight
227
00:07:16,788 --> 00:07:18,635
have evolved multiple times,
228
00:07:18,663 --> 00:07:19,595
independently...
229
00:07:19,595 --> 00:07:21,757
in different species.
230
00:07:23,648 --> 00:07:26,182
This process of convergent evolution...
231
00:07:26,290 --> 00:07:28,890
could extend to alien planets like Earth,
232
00:07:28,890 --> 00:07:34,712
where creatures share similar environmental pressures.
233
00:07:35,412 --> 00:07:36,949
It's no guarantee,
234
00:07:37,219 --> 00:07:38,689
but there could be certain
235
00:07:38,689 --> 00:07:41,679
universalities of life...
236
00:07:44,177 --> 00:07:45,972
the greatest hits of evolution...
237
00:07:45,972 --> 00:07:48,842
on repeat across the Universe.
238
00:07:57,720 --> 00:07:59,451
Each feature would be a tune
239
00:07:59,451 --> 00:08:02,234
to its local environment.
240
00:08:02,808 --> 00:08:04,169
Dimly lit planets...
241
00:08:04,169 --> 00:08:07,639
would produce huge eyes to suck in extra light,
242
00:08:07,985 --> 00:08:11,304
like nocturnal mammals.
243
00:08:14,090 --> 00:08:15,098
Some people have gone-
244
00:08:15,098 --> 00:08:16,467
so far as to say-
245
00:08:16,551 --> 00:08:18,496
that human type organism,
246
00:08:18,506 --> 00:08:19,231
humanoids,
247
00:08:19,231 --> 00:08:21,584
will occur on other planets.
248
00:08:25,886 --> 00:08:27,026
The existence of other-
249
00:08:27,076 --> 00:08:28,551
human-like organisms...
250
00:08:28,551 --> 00:08:29,821
seems unlikely,
251
00:08:30,025 --> 00:08:30,804
given the long...
252
00:08:30,804 --> 00:08:32,662
convoluted chain of events-
253
00:08:32,722 --> 00:08:33,722
that produced us.
254
00:08:35,016 --> 00:08:37,378
But we can't rule it out.
255
00:08:40,707 --> 00:08:41,898
If just one in every-
256
00:08:41,898 --> 00:08:44,758
100 trillion Earth-like planets produced-
257
00:08:44,798 --> 00:08:46,371
a human-like form...
258
00:08:46,424 --> 00:08:47,284
there could still be...
259
00:08:47,284 --> 00:08:51,238
thousands of creatures like us out there...
260
00:09:02,415 --> 00:09:07,288
"But in reality, we are more likely to find
something lower on the food chain."
261
00:09:10,051 --> 00:09:11,303
Convergent evolution-
262
00:09:11,327 --> 00:09:13,547
is also rampant in plant life...
263
00:09:13,877 --> 00:09:15,817
and C4 photosynthesis-
264
00:09:15,817 --> 00:09:17,355
has arisen independently...
265
00:09:17,484 --> 00:09:19,234
over 40 times...
266
00:09:21,479 --> 00:09:23,607
Would alien plants look like ours...
267
00:09:23,607 --> 00:09:25,814
or something else entirely?
268
00:09:36,696 --> 00:09:37,407
On Earth,
269
00:09:37,567 --> 00:09:38,950
plants appear green
270
00:09:38,950 --> 00:09:39,507
because they absorb
271
00:09:39,567 --> 00:09:40,867
the other wavelenghts
272
00:09:40,867 --> 00:09:44,234
in the Sun's light spectrum.
273
00:09:45,432 --> 00:09:48,937
But stars come in many colors..
274
00:09:52,429 --> 00:09:53,882
and alien plants would evolve-
275
00:09:53,882 --> 00:09:54,872
different pigments...
276
00:09:54,922 --> 00:09:58,612
to adapt to their sun's unique spectrum
277
00:10:04,431 --> 00:10:07,530
Plants feeding off hotter stars
could appear redder,
278
00:10:08,284 --> 00:10:11,161
by absorbing their energy rich bluer light.
279
00:10:19,761 --> 00:10:24,219
Around dim Red Dwarfs stars,
vegetation could appear black,
280
00:10:25,072 --> 00:10:28,155
adapted to absorb all visible
wavelengths of light.
281
00:10:45,058 --> 00:10:47,572
Earth itself may have once
appeared purple,
282
00:10:48,101 --> 00:10:52,004
due a pigment called retinal, that was
an early precursor to chlorophyll.
283
00:10:55,019 --> 00:10:57,779
Some think that retinal's molecular simplicity
284
00:10:58,189 --> 00:11:00,547
could make it a more universal pigment.
285
00:11:04,070 --> 00:11:09,146
If so, we may find that purple,
is life's favorite color.
286
00:11:19,820 --> 00:11:23,713
But the color of alien vegetation
is more than just a curiosity,
287
00:11:25,696 --> 00:11:29,155
it's chemical information that could
be seen from light years away.
288
00:11:34,504 --> 00:11:38,528
Earth plants leave a signature bump
in the light reflected off our planet.
289
00:11:40,306 --> 00:11:43,434
Finding a similar signal from another
world could point the way
290
00:11:43,647 --> 00:11:45,116
to alien vegetation.
291
00:11:50,376 --> 00:11:53,866
Perhaps this will be our first glimpse at alien life;
292
00:11:54,965 --> 00:11:58,375
a vibrant hue, cast by a distinct world.
293
00:12:12,005 --> 00:12:20,055
But the biggest influence on life won't be it's host star; it will be it's home planet.
294
00:12:20,715 --> 00:12:23,415
What happens, when you change the day - length of a planet?
295
00:12:23,495 --> 00:12:25,465
What happens when you change the tilt of a planet?
296
00:12:25,545 --> 00:12:27,626
What happens when you change the shape of the orbit?
297
00:12:27,965 --> 00:12:30,637
What happens when you change the gravity of a planet?
298
00:12:34,498 --> 00:12:38,938
Planets with long, elliptical orbits would see drastic seasons.
299
00:12:41,298 --> 00:12:44,823
There could be worlds that appear dead for thousands of years,
300
00:12:45,528 --> 00:12:47,496
then suddenly spring to life.
301
00:13:02,583 --> 00:13:07,073
Most of the rocky planets discovered so far have been massive "Super Earths".
302
00:13:09,243 --> 00:13:12,433
GJ 357 D
Super Earth
Distance: ~ 31 Light Years
Mass: ~ 7× Earth
Temperature: ~ -53°C
303
00:13:12,570 --> 00:13:15,097
How would life evolve on these worlds?
304
00:13:18,580 --> 00:13:21,656
In the seas, gravity may not matter much at all.
305
00:13:29,590 --> 00:13:32,120
A high - gravity planet isn't high - gravity all over.
306
00:13:33,680 --> 00:13:37,660
If you're in the sea, that's where all life starts, there's very nearly no gravity,
307
00:13:37,660 --> 00:13:40,225
cause you're much the density as the stuff around you.
308
00:13:43,450 --> 00:13:47,270
It's when the animals come out on land, that they feel the gravity.
309
00:13:51,628 --> 00:13:53,628
High G - forces [vaguely, gravitational forces] would necessitate
310
00:13:53,628 --> 00:13:57,458
large bones and muscle mass in complex life on land.
311
00:13:59,748 --> 00:14:03,178
They would also demand a more robust circulatory system.
312
00:14:04,958 --> 00:14:10,578
And plant life could be stunted by the energy cost of carrying nutrients under stronger gravity.
313
00:14:17,318 --> 00:14:21,446
Low - gravity planets would more easily lose their atmospheres to space;
314
00:14:21,838 --> 00:14:25,158
and lack a magnetic field to protect from cosmic rays.
315
00:14:35,821 --> 00:14:39,091
But smaller worlds could be home to secret oases;
316
00:14:46,251 --> 00:14:49,451
huge cave systems that provide hide-outs for life.
317
00:15:02,751 --> 00:15:11,242
With steadier temperatures and protection from cosmic rays, life could thrive underground on planets with deadly surfaces.
318
00:15:26,732 --> 00:15:33,093
The smallest possible habitable planets are estimated at 2.5% Earth's mass.
319
00:15:35,042 --> 00:15:37,735
If surface life does evolve on these worlds,
320
00:15:38,822 --> 00:15:40,766
it could be a sight to behold.
321
00:15:44,584 --> 00:15:47,064
Plant life could grow to towering heights,
322
00:15:47,484 --> 00:15:50,594
able to carry nutrients higher, at lesser gravity.
323
00:15:59,194 --> 00:16:02,611
And without the need for bulky skeletons and muscle mass,
324
00:16:02,904 --> 00:16:06,031
animals could have body types, that boggle the mind.
325
00:16:22,292 --> 00:16:28,347
"Despite our eager imagination, large complex lifeforms
are probably a cosmic rarity."
326
00:16:31,631 --> 00:16:34,920
Here on Earth, it took three
billion years for evolution
327
00:16:34,920 --> 00:16:37,234
to produce complex plant and animal life.
328
00:16:39,723 --> 00:16:42,584
Simple organisms are hardier,
more adaptable
329
00:16:42,986 --> 00:16:44,041
and more widespread.
330
00:16:48,383 --> 00:16:51,390
The largest collection in the
museum of alien life
331
00:16:51,390 --> 00:16:54,309
would likely be the Hall of Microbes.
332
00:17:10,306 --> 00:17:14,674
Yet finding even the tiniest alien microbe
would be a profound discovery.
333
00:17:30,735 --> 00:17:33,619
And bite-sized life could leave
a big footprint.
334
00:17:35,892 --> 00:17:39,997
Like stromatolites on Earth, layers of
microbes could build up into huge
335
00:17:39,997 --> 00:17:41,170
rock mounds over time.
336
00:17:41,642 --> 00:17:43,876
Leaving behind eery structures.
337
00:17:48,780 --> 00:17:51,202
And in big enough numbers
some alien
338
00:17:51,202 --> 00:17:54,004
bacteria could leave a
distinct biosignature,
339
00:17:55,964 --> 00:17:58,622
by exhaling gases that wouldn't
coexist naturally:
340
00:17:59,453 --> 00:18:01,124
like oxygen and methane.
341
00:18:07,406 --> 00:18:08,996
There's ways to make oxygen without life.
342
00:18:08,996 --> 00:18:10,579
There's ways to make methane without life.
343
00:18:11,067 --> 00:18:12,582
But to have them in the atmosphere together?
344
00:18:13,212 --> 00:18:16,501
Is almost impossible unless you've got
biology making those gases at the surface.
345
00:18:17,883 --> 00:18:20,828
And it would have a imprint on
the planet's spectrum of colors.
346
00:18:22,945 --> 00:18:26,267
Next generation space telescopes
could find a signal like this,
347
00:18:28,574 --> 00:18:30,531
on a world not far from home.
348
00:18:32,274 --> 00:18:36,578
The closest Sun-like star with an
Earth-like exoplanet in the
349
00:18:36,578 --> 00:18:40,206
habitable zone is probably only
20 light years away
350
00:18:40,489 --> 00:18:42,409
and can be seen with a naked eye.
351
00:18:46,298 --> 00:18:52,373
But there may be an even easier target to aim for than tiny Earth-like planets.
352
00:18:54,805 --> 00:19:02,008
The Brown Dwarfs: too small to
be stars, to big to be planets.
353
00:19:06,389 --> 00:19:09,928
Most Brown Dwarfs are too hot
to support life as we know it.
354
00:19:11,136 --> 00:19:12,604
But some are just cold enough.
355
00:19:13,978 --> 00:19:14,558
WISE 0855-0714
356
00:19:14,758 --> 00:19:15,008
WISE 0855-0714
Sub-Brown Dwarf
357
00:19:15,008 --> 00:19:15,258
WISE 0855-0714
Sub-Brown Dwarf
Distance: 7 Light Years
358
00:19:15,268 --> 00:19:15,518
WISE 0855-0714
Sub-Brown Dwarf
Distance: 7 Light Years
Mass: 3.10x Jupiter
359
00:19:15,518 --> 00:19:22,724
WISE 0855-0714
Sub-Brown Dwarf
Distance: 7 Light Years
Mass: 3.10x Jupiter
Temperature: -50 - -13ºC
360
00:19:24,457 --> 00:19:28,640
All the prime elements for life have
been detected inside their atmospheres.
361
00:19:31,588 --> 00:19:35,755
And within these clouds, some layers
would provide ideal temperatures
362
00:19:35,755 --> 00:19:37,456
and pressures for habitability.
363
00:19:46,176 --> 00:19:48,938
There could be photosynthetic
plankton in these skies,
364
00:19:50,092 --> 00:19:52,500
kept aloft by churning upwinds.
365
00:19:57,603 --> 00:20:01,186
And with enough force, these upwinds
could even support larger,
366
00:20:01,186 --> 00:20:02,722
more complex life.
367
00:20:06,101 --> 00:20:06,754
Predadors.
368
00:20:15,348 --> 00:20:19,238
There are over 25 billion Brown
Dwarfs in our galaxy alone,
369
00:20:19,238 --> 00:20:24,396
and their sizes will make them
easier targets for study.
370
00:20:27,046 --> 00:20:35,235
The first specimen we discover from the museum of life may not be from a planet at all.
371
00:20:44,142 --> 00:20:46,054
This raises a crucial question:
372
00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:50,253
what if we've been looking in
all the wrong places?
373
00:20:52,618 --> 00:20:54,896
What if nature has other ideas?
374
00:20:58,925 --> 00:21:01,213
EXHIBIT II
375
00:21:01,213 --> 00:21:03,494
EXHIBIT II
LIFE AS WE DON'T KNOW IT
376
00:21:03,494 --> 00:21:08,057
EXHIBIT II
LIFE AS WE DON'T KNOW IT
EXOTIC BIOCHEMISTRIES
377
00:21:21,172 --> 00:21:25,627
Most of the Universe is too cold or too
hot for liquid water and the
378
00:21:25,627 --> 00:21:28,161
biochemistry that supports
life as we know it.
379
00:21:31,514 --> 00:21:33,544
But in case our biases are misleading,
380
00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:36,307
we have to cast a wide net.
381
00:21:38,908 --> 00:21:41,431
To search for life outside
the habitable zone,
382
00:21:42,271 --> 00:21:44,881
in places that seem wildly hostile to us.
383
00:21:49,586 --> 00:21:53,085
Exotic environments will demand
exotic biochemistries.
384
00:21:53,646 --> 00:21:56,533
And while no element can match
carbon's versatility,
385
00:21:57,125 --> 00:21:58,918
one contender is a front runner.
386
00:22:07,707 --> 00:22:10,713
At first glance, silicon seem
similar to carbon.
387
00:22:13,025 --> 00:22:16,850
It forms the same four-way bonds and is
also abundant in the Universe.
388
00:22:19,462 --> 00:22:23,215
But a closer look reveals that these
two elements are false twins.
389
00:22:27,388 --> 00:22:32,397
Silicon bonds are weaker and less prone
to forming large complex molecules.
390
00:22:36,420 --> 00:22:39,961
Despite this, they can withstand
a wider range of temperatures,
391
00:22:41,050 --> 00:22:43,670
opening up intriguing possibilities.
392
00:22:47,381 --> 00:22:50,405
Life based on the silicon atom
instead of carbon,
393
00:22:50,698 --> 00:22:53,262
would be more resistant to
the extreme cold.
394
00:22:54,722 --> 00:22:57,982
Providing a whole new range of weird forms.
395
00:23:01,491 --> 00:23:02,755
But silicon has a problem:
396
00:23:04,616 --> 00:23:08,125
in the presence of oxygen,
it binds into solid rock.
397
00:23:10,373 --> 00:23:13,339
To avoid turning to stone, silicon beings
398
00:23:13,339 --> 00:23:15,970
might be confined to oxygen free environments.
399
00:23:16,598 --> 00:23:18,717
Like Saturn's frigid moon, Titan.
400
00:23:18,717 --> 00:23:23,048
TITAN
Saturnian Moon
Distance: 1,2 Million KM
Mass: .023X Earth
Temperature: -129ºC
401
00:23:23,048 --> 00:23:27,089
Its vast lakes of liquid methane and
ethane could be an ideal medium
402
00:23:27,089 --> 00:23:28,755
for silicon-based life,
403
00:23:29,204 --> 00:23:31,472
or other radical biochemistries.
404
00:23:37,433 --> 00:23:39,913
Without ample sunlight, beings on worlds
405
00:23:39,913 --> 00:23:42,961
like Titan, would likely be chemosynthetic.
406
00:23:43,337 --> 00:23:46,043
Deriving their energy by
breaking down rocks.
407
00:24:01,536 --> 00:24:03,770
Such life forms could have ultra slow
408
00:24:03,770 --> 00:24:07,906
metabolisms and life cycles
measured in millions of years.
409
00:24:16,015 --> 00:24:21,377
And frozen worlds aren't the only possible
harbor for exotic life.
410
00:24:22,566 --> 00:24:23,026
CoRoT-7B
411
00:24:23,026 --> 00:24:23,376
CoRoT-7B
Super Earth
412
00:24:23,376 --> 00:24:23,626
CoRoT-7B
Super Earth
Distance: ~520 Light Years
413
00:24:23,636 --> 00:24:23,886
CoRoT-7B
Super Earth
Distance: ~520 Light Years
Mass: -8x Earth
414
00:24:23,886 --> 00:24:25,961
CoRoT-7B
Super Earth
Distance: ~520 Light Years
Mass: -8x Earth
Temperature: 1026-1526ºC
415
00:24:25,961 --> 00:24:30,279
In high temperatures, typically rigid
silicon oxygen bonds become more
416
00:24:30,279 --> 00:24:31,780
flexible and reactive.
417
00:24:33,003 --> 00:24:34,831
Triggering more dynamic chemistry.
418
00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:42,846
This has led to a truly bizarre proposal:
419
00:24:43,704 --> 00:24:48,609
silicon-based life forms that live
inside molten silicate rock.
420
00:25:01,093 --> 00:25:03,424
In theory, these forms could even exist
421
00:25:03,424 --> 00:25:06,104
deep beneath the Earth inside
magma chambers
422
00:25:06,306 --> 00:25:08,460
as part of a shadow biosphere.
423
00:25:12,472 --> 00:25:16,505
If so, then the aliens are right
under our noses.
424
00:25:20,799 --> 00:25:23,017
Other shadow biospheres have
been proposed:
425
00:25:23,570 --> 00:25:27,036
forms of life living alongside us
that we don't even know are here.
426
00:25:27,528 --> 00:25:30,416
Including tiny RNA-based life, small
427
00:25:30,416 --> 00:25:33,543
enough to go undetected by
existing instruments.
428
00:25:46,821 --> 00:25:50,797
Clouds of dust and empty space might
seem like the last place you'd expect
429
00:25:50,797 --> 00:25:52,092
to find anything living.
430
00:25:54,398 --> 00:25:57,207
But when cosmic dust makes
contact with plasma,
431
00:25:57,570 --> 00:25:59,006
a type of ionized gas,
432
00:25:59,494 --> 00:26:00,717
something strange happens.
433
00:26:05,770 --> 00:26:08,338
In simulated conditions, dust particles,
434
00:26:08,341 --> 00:26:11,105
have been seen spontaneously
self-organizing
435
00:26:11,105 --> 00:26:13,623
into helical structures that resemble DNA.
436
00:26:18,848 --> 00:26:22,262
These plasma crystals even begin
to exhibit life-like behavior:
437
00:26:23,728 --> 00:26:28,464
replicating, evolving into more stable
forms and passing on information.
438
00:26:35,715 --> 00:26:38,878
Could these crystals be considered alive?
439
00:26:41,564 --> 00:26:48,715
To some researchers, they meet all the criteria
to qualify as inorganic life forms.
440
00:26:52,469 --> 00:26:57,113
So far, we have only ever seen them in computer simulations.
441
00:26:58,443 --> 00:27:04,672
But some speculate we could find them
among the ice particles in the rings of Uranus.
442
00:27:12,270 --> 00:27:15,761
Plasma is the most common state
of matter in the Universe.
443
00:27:17,666 --> 00:27:20,769
If complex evolving plasma
crystals really exist
444
00:27:21,252 --> 00:27:22,758
and if they can be considered life,
445
00:27:23,377 --> 00:27:25,253
they could be its most common form.
446
00:27:38,505 --> 00:27:43,043
Or perhaps life is lurking in the
polar opposite environment:
447
00:27:43,043 --> 00:27:46,997
inside the hearts of dead stars.
448
00:27:51,400 --> 00:27:54,319
When massive suns explode, some collapase into
449
00:27:54,319 --> 00:27:57,044
ultra dense cores called neutron stars.
450
00:27:57,044 --> 00:27:58,168
PSR B1509-58
Neutron Star
Distante: 17,000 Light Years
Spin Rate: ~7/second
451
00:27:58,168 --> 00:28:01,902
Hulking masses of atomic nuclei
crammed together like sardines.
452
00:28:05,556 --> 00:28:07,774
Conditions on the surface are mind-boggling:
453
00:28:08,922 --> 00:28:12,210
gravity is a hundred billion times
stronger than Earth's.
454
00:28:15,724 --> 00:28:19,243
But beneath their iron nuclei
crust lies something strange:
455
00:28:21,474 --> 00:28:25,358
a hot dense sea of neutrons
and subatomic particles.
456
00:28:34,550 --> 00:28:36,827
Stripped of their electron shells, these
457
00:28:36,827 --> 00:28:39,906
nuclei would obey entirely
different laws of chemistry,
458
00:28:40,486 --> 00:28:42,714
based not on the electromagnetic force,
459
00:28:42,994 --> 00:28:44,956
but the strong nuclear force,
460
00:28:45,227 --> 00:28:46,655
which binds nuclei together.
461
00:28:49,720 --> 00:28:52,129
In theory, these particles could link-up
462
00:28:52,129 --> 00:28:55,406
to form larger macronuclei,
which could then
463
00:28:55,406 --> 00:28:58,253
combine into even bigger super nuclei.
464
00:29:06,696 --> 00:29:09,665
If so, then this bewildering environment
465
00:29:09,665 --> 00:29:11,714
would mimic the basic conditions for life.
466
00:29:12,484 --> 00:29:16,745
Heavy nucleon molecules floating
in a complex particle ocean.
467
00:29:22,729 --> 00:29:25,221
Some scientists have proposed
the unimaginable:
468
00:29:26,532 --> 00:29:30,326
exotic life forms drifting through
the strange particle sea,
469
00:29:31,143 --> 00:29:35,880
living, evolving and dying on
incomprehensibly fast time scales.
470
00:29:55,942 --> 00:30:01,025
There's probably no chance of ever detecting
such a strange breed of life.
471
00:30:02,572 --> 00:30:07,802
But there may be hope for finding
an even more exotic form.
472
00:30:19,436 --> 00:30:22,466
Life is not something that has to evolve naturally.
473
00:30:26,286 --> 00:30:27,456
It can be designed.
474
00:30:41,566 --> 00:30:45,176
And once intelligence is introduced into the evolutionary process,
475
00:30:46,226 --> 00:30:48,206
a Pandora's Box is opened.
476
00:31:06,007 --> 00:31:12,989
Free from typical biological limitations, synthetic and machine - based life could be the most successful of all.
477
00:31:16,547 --> 00:31:20,375
It could thrive almost anywhere, including the vaccum of space,
478
00:31:20,807 --> 00:31:25,244
opening up vast frontiers unavailable to biological organisms.
479
00:31:31,777 --> 00:31:36,777
And compared to the glacial pace of natural selection, technical evolution
480
00:31:36,927 --> 00:31:41,941
allows exponentially faster growth, adaptability and resilience.
481
00:31:56,237 --> 00:32:00,377
By some estimates, autonomous, self - replicating machines could colonize
482
00:32:00,377 --> 00:32:03,923
an entire galaxy in as little as a million years.
483
00:32:18,877 --> 00:32:22,870
We can't predict how hyper - intelligent life would organise itself,
484
00:32:26,507 --> 00:32:29,893
but in theory, there could be convergent evolution at play.
485
00:32:32,247 --> 00:32:37,819
The electrical properties of Silicon might make it a universal basis for machine intelligence,
486
00:32:38,697 --> 00:32:41,689
a redemption for its biological shortcomings.
487
00:33:03,036 --> 00:33:04,776
With all its potential advantages,
488
00:33:04,776 --> 00:33:10,016
With all its potential advantages, machine life may even be a universal endpoint :
489
00:33:10,016 --> 00:33:15,393
With all its potential advantages, machine life may even be a universal endpoint: the apex of evolutionary process.
490
00:33:53,413 --> 00:33:58,123
As the universe ages, perhaps machine intelligence would come to dominate,
491
00:33:58,733 --> 00:34:03,738
and naturally occurring biological life will be viewed as a quaint starting point.
492
00:34:09,663 --> 00:34:12,156
Perhaps, we ourselves will lead this transition,
493
00:34:12,973 --> 00:34:19,695
and the great human experiment would be merely a first link in a sprawling intergalactic chain of life.
494
00:34:51,225 --> 00:35:01,959
In the end, we are still the only beings we know of in the museum of alien life.
495
00:35:07,479 --> 00:35:10,489
To truly know ourselves, we will have to know :
496
00:35:10,489 --> 00:35:13,409
To truly know ourselves, we will have to know: are we the only ones?
497
00:35:27,479 --> 00:35:32,229
Loren Eisley has said, that one does not meet oneself until
498
00:35:32,229 --> 00:35:36,531
one catches the reflection from an eye other than human.
499
00:35:38,754 --> 00:35:42,840
One day that eye may be that of an intelligent alien.
500
00:35:45,724 --> 00:35:50,620
And the sooner we eschew our narrow view of evolution,
501
00:35:52,284 --> 00:35:59,121
the sooner we can truly explore our ultimate origins and destinations.
502
00:36:04,474 --> 00:36:07,494
We have seen what could be out there.
503
00:36:10,486 --> 00:36:12,956
And we know how we might find it.
504
00:36:15,936 --> 00:36:18,626
There is only one thing left to do.
505
00:36:22,196 --> 00:36:25,526
Go looking.
506
00:36:34,506 --> 00:36:36,846
HANDCRAFTED BY MELODYSHEEP