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�
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narrator: Earth --
a planet defined by life.
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Stricker: The amazing thing
about life here on earth
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is no matter where you look,
you'll find it.
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Narrator: But is earth unique?
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Thaller:
The big question of our day is,
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does life exist somewhere else
beside the earth?
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Are we that special,
or is life everywhere?
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Narrator:
The ingredients for life
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are spread throughout
the universe.
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But then we started looking
into space and saying,
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"wait a second.
That chemistry is everywhere."
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Narrator:
Is life inevitable?
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I think that there have to be
planets out there
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that are capable
of hosting life.
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Narrator: What does life need
to get started,
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and once started,
can life spread?
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It's possible that life
started on Mars
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and was transferred to earth
inside of a meteorite.
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Narrator:
Life has conquered our planet,
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but can life conquer
the universe?
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�
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-- captions by vitac --
www.vitac.com
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captions paid for by
discovery communications
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�
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the universe
is a very big place.
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There are trillions of galaxies,
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each one home
to millions of stars
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and an unimaginable number
of planets.
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So where is everybody?
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One of the most basic
philosophical questions is,
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are we alone?
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Are we the only ones
looking out and thinking,
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"what is all this?"
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Is it all just for us, or do
we get to share it with anyone?
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I mean, that's about
as fundamental a question
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as you get.
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Narrator: What are the odds of
life existing somewhere else?
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We just don't have a good
insight
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to how probable life
is anywhere in the universe.
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Life could possibly
be forming everywhere.
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We don't quite know.
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There's a lot about life
that we don't understand.
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All we know is that
it happened at least once.
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But beyond this
one little planet,
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we don't know whether or not
it happened anywhere else.
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�
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narrator: The universe is
an unfriendly place.
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Planets with lava oceans
circle too close to their stars.
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Pulsars Blaze with
deadly gamma rays and x-rays.
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Black holes consume
everything in their path.
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Temperatures plummet close
to absolute zero.
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�
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it may seem impossible for life
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to survive in such
hostile environments,
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but here on earth,
life exists against the odds
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in some very strange places.
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Life has actually permeated
every part of our planet.
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There are places
where you're like,
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"how did you even get there?"
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Narrator: At first glance,
a beautiful lake
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might seem like
a good place for life,
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but California's salton sea
is no paradise.
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The toxic salt waters
are killer...
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...surrounded by scorched desert
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and volcanic geothermal fields.
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It's a deadly environment.
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One of the last places on earth
you'd expect to find life
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would be in boiling mud vents.
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You can start to hear
these vents because there's gas,
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and there's water and mud slurry
that's coming out, right here.
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So these are
active mud volcanoes.
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It's really hot.
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It's, like...
164 degrees fahrenheit.
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Narrator: But life is resilient,
finding a home even here,
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inside volcanic vents
in the California desert.
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We're in the middle
of a really hot desert,
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and as the mud comes up,
it's coming up hot,
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and it's kind of acid,
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and yet there can be microbes
in environments like this,
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happily thriving away.
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This is an environment that is
actually conducive to life,
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even though we think
it might not be.
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Narrator: Almost every inch
of the earth's surface
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is teeming
with microscopic life-forms.
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The thing about life on earth
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is that it exists in so many
different environments
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under such harsh,
extreme conditions.
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It's like it hangs on,
no matter what you throw at it.
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Very dry, high pressure,
very hot,
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even in high radiation
environments,
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which would kill
a human within seconds.
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Narrator: Life even survives
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being bombed with asteroids
and meteorites.
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We have a wonderful
indirect example
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of just how tenacious life is,
and that's the fact
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that it survived
the late heavy bombardment.
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Narrator:
The late heavy bombardment
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was a violent assault
on young earth,
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where life had just gotten
a foothold.
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Experts think
around 4 billion years ago,
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asteroids comets
and space debris
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rained down
on the inner solar system.
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This rocky barrage
would've melted parts
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of the earth's crust
and boiled away oceans.
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It was a violent time
called the hadean period.
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The hadean named, after Hades,
named after the underworld,
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after hell.
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It was a brutally unpleasant
place to be.
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It was spewing its own innards
out into the surface
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in this intense cycle
of hot volcanism.
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Narrator: If life on earth
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overcame these
hellish conditions,
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then perhaps life
can survive anywhere.
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Straugh: I think
if it can happen on earth,
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I think it can happen
on other planets.
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I think life finds a way,
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and I think we need
to go looking for it.
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Narrator: The question is,
what exactly are we looking for?
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Plait: What is life?
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You know, that seems
like a simple question,
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but it's not
that easy to answer.
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Life is incredibly hard
to define, right?
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It's sort of like, you know it
when you see it,
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but how do you
write down the rules?
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Stricker: Every time we think
we have a grasp,
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there's this new form
that comes about
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and completely questions
that entire definition.
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There's a joke in astrobiology
that if you ask
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200 scientists
for a definition of life,
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you'll get
200 different answers.
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Narrator: Life can be
as intricate as us humans
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or as simple as single-celled
organisms, like bacteria,
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but there are some things
all life-forms do.
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Plait:In broad terms,
life consumes things.
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It breathes. It eats.
It excretes.
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It grows. It reproduces.
It's complex.
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Narrator: Life has transformed
the earth in all sorts of ways,
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but life is
still just an accident.
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Life, as I see it,
is just a chemical reaction,
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but it's the most important
and special chemical reaction
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in the universe.
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Narrator: If life is just
a product of chemistry,
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then what are the odds of it
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starting anywhere
in the universe?
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One thing we know
about chemistry
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is that
given the right conditions,
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the same chemical reaction
will reliably occur.
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Narrator:
It's like a game of chance.
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For life to win, the conditions
need to be just right,
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but to figure out the odds,
we need to understand
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what those conditions are
and how common they are.
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Oluseyi: So it comes down
to a numbers game.
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It's about statistics and
probabilities and likelihoods.
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Narrator:
It's like having to roll a 6
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for each condition for life.
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But how many 6s would you need?
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How many precise conditions
does life require to get going?
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You might have 100 dice,
roll them all, get all 6s.
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Only then do you get life.
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Narrator:
You could need hundreds
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or hundreds of thousands
of dice.
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We just don't know.
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We honestly have no clue
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how common or rare life is
in the universe.
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Plait: We don't know how life
originated here on earth,
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where we kind of understand
the conditions.
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There are a lot of different
ways life could've started.
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Is life rare? Is life common?
We don't where it lands.
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Narrator:
Putting odds on life existing
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is a waste of time
until we understand it better,
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and maybe our answers
don't lie here on earth.
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One way to crack this problem
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is to go looking for life
elsewhere.
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If we can find
other examples of life,
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we can immediately begin
to put a quantitative answer
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to how probable it is
for life to happen anywhere.
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Narrator: And the best place
to look for life
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might be in our own backyard...
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...Mars.
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If life can start here,
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then maybe life
could conquer the universe.
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�
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narrator: For life to conquer
the universe,
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first, it has to get going.
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When we look at life on earth,
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it's possible that it all
has a common ancestor.
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Life started at one spot,
branched out, and became
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all the different kinds
of life that we see.
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Narrator:
But how did it start?
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The first question to answer is,
what is life made of?
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Top of the list are the most
basic building blocks --
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chemical elements.
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Here's what I know about
the universe --
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the laws of physics
appear to be same everywhere.
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The chemical composition,
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the elements are the same
everywhere.
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And the cosmos creates
these elements,
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not from the big bang
but from stars.
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00:11:01,262 --> 00:11:03,528
Narrator: Over the course
of a star's life,
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00:11:03,530 --> 00:11:05,397
it creates elements.
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00:11:05,399 --> 00:11:07,132
And when a star dies,
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00:11:07,134 --> 00:11:11,869
these elements are blasted out
into space in a supernova,
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spreading the ingredients
for life out into the cosmos.
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We, the earth, our solar system,
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00:11:19,947 --> 00:11:21,747
all the ingredients
that make us,
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us were forged in nuclear fires.
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So the death of stars
leads to the birth of life.
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00:11:33,760 --> 00:11:36,228
Narrator: Those key ingredients
include oxygen,
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00:11:36,230 --> 00:11:39,431
nitrogen, sulfur,
and phosphorus,
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00:11:39,433 --> 00:11:44,203
but the element most central
to life as we know it is carbon.
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All life as we know it on earth
is based on carbon.
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Carbon forms the structure,
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00:11:52,445 --> 00:11:55,747
the architecture
of our living molecules.
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00:11:58,118 --> 00:12:00,919
Narrator: Carbon is
an incredibly versatile
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00:12:00,921 --> 00:12:03,921
building material.
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00:12:03,923 --> 00:12:07,859
It can bond with other elements
to form long-chain molecules,
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00:12:07,861 --> 00:12:11,263
each with different properties.
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00:12:11,265 --> 00:12:14,933
As an element, it seems to be
capable of producing
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00:12:14,935 --> 00:12:19,404
a vast and complex chemistry,
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00:12:19,406 --> 00:12:25,009
and that complex chemistry
is what we find in life.
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00:12:25,011 --> 00:12:27,746
Narrator:
We call this organic chemistry.
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00:12:27,748 --> 00:12:31,216
�
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00:12:31,218 --> 00:12:34,019
but getting from
basic organic molecules
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00:12:34,021 --> 00:12:37,022
to complex life-forms
is a big leap.
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00:12:37,024 --> 00:12:40,825
We don't really have
the slightest idea,
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00:12:40,827 --> 00:12:45,630
to be honest, about how life
on earth got started.
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00:12:45,632 --> 00:12:49,301
Scharf: A really big question
is, how do you go from a mix
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00:12:49,303 --> 00:12:54,973
of relatively simple organic
molecules to a living system?
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00:12:54,975 --> 00:12:57,776
Narrator: We know it all starts
with basic elements created
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00:12:57,778 --> 00:12:59,444
in massive quantities...
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00:13:00,781 --> 00:13:03,581
...by the death of stars.
233
00:13:03,583 --> 00:13:07,119
But how do you start connecting
those lego bricks together
234
00:13:07,121 --> 00:13:09,053
to build that first cell?
235
00:13:09,055 --> 00:13:12,590
The short answer is,
"we don't know,"
236
00:13:12,592 --> 00:13:16,728
but we have some ideas
of potential steps.
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00:13:16,730 --> 00:13:19,063
Narrator:
Chains of organic molecules
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00:13:19,065 --> 00:13:20,798
become more and more complex.
239
00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:23,468
Amino acids form proteins.
240
00:13:23,470 --> 00:13:29,207
Fatty acids form phospholipids,
which makes cell membranes.
241
00:13:29,209 --> 00:13:31,877
Nucleic acids form DNA,
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00:13:31,879 --> 00:13:35,080
the molecule that stores
genetic information.
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00:13:35,082 --> 00:13:39,751
Eventually,
a simple cell emerges.
244
00:13:39,753 --> 00:13:42,420
So all of the bits you need
to plug together
245
00:13:42,422 --> 00:13:44,555
to build a cell from scratch
246
00:13:44,557 --> 00:13:48,427
seems to exist in outer space.
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00:13:48,429 --> 00:13:50,895
We found organic compounds
everywhere.
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00:13:50,897 --> 00:13:53,097
They're all over the place --
249
00:13:53,099 --> 00:13:56,935
planets, comets, gas clouds.
250
00:13:58,571 --> 00:14:01,439
The very basic
ingredients of life
251
00:14:01,441 --> 00:14:05,443
available elsewhere
in our solar system,
252
00:14:05,445 --> 00:14:08,113
so there could be life
everywhere.
253
00:14:08,115 --> 00:14:11,316
�
254
00:14:11,318 --> 00:14:13,017
narrator: In 2018,
255
00:14:13,019 --> 00:14:16,621
NASA announces it's found
organic molecules
256
00:14:16,623 --> 00:14:18,724
on another planet,
257
00:14:18,726 --> 00:14:23,995
a planet we've always suspected
of harboring alien life --
258
00:14:23,997 --> 00:14:26,398
...Mars.
259
00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:28,734
So whenever NASA has a
press conference, and they say,
260
00:14:28,736 --> 00:14:31,736
"hey, I have some results
to report on about Mars,"
261
00:14:31,738 --> 00:14:33,405
everyone goes nuts.
262
00:14:33,407 --> 00:14:36,141
Dartnell:
The Internet goes mad.
263
00:14:36,143 --> 00:14:38,677
Maybe we've got photograph
evidence of the green men
264
00:14:38,679 --> 00:14:40,812
in a ufo.
265
00:14:40,814 --> 00:14:42,414
Lanza:
This time, it's the martians.
266
00:14:42,416 --> 00:14:45,484
They're going to tell us
they found a martian.
267
00:14:45,486 --> 00:14:47,552
The world listens
'cause everyone wants to know.
268
00:14:47,554 --> 00:14:49,354
Everyone asks the question,
269
00:14:49,356 --> 00:14:50,989
"have we found evidence
of life?"
270
00:14:53,293 --> 00:14:54,826
Narrator: For 6 years,
271
00:14:54,828 --> 00:14:57,562
the Mars curiosity
rover has been exploring
272
00:14:57,564 --> 00:14:59,764
a region called Gale crater,
273
00:14:59,766 --> 00:15:02,567
hunting for signs of
ancient life.
274
00:15:04,905 --> 00:15:08,240
A bit like
fossil-hunting on earth.
275
00:15:08,242 --> 00:15:10,575
Gale crater is not unlike
places on earth
276
00:15:10,577 --> 00:15:13,512
that can preserve fossils,
so a really good example of this
277
00:15:13,514 --> 00:15:17,248
would be the petrified forest
in Arizona.
278
00:15:17,250 --> 00:15:21,719
This looks like a piece of wood,
but in fact, it is stone.
279
00:15:21,721 --> 00:15:24,989
It is all stone,
but it used to be a tree.
280
00:15:24,991 --> 00:15:29,461
This fossil lived
200 million years ago.
281
00:15:29,463 --> 00:15:31,329
Narrator:
This patch of desert in Arizona
282
00:15:31,331 --> 00:15:33,198
once looked
completely different.
283
00:15:35,402 --> 00:15:37,802
Lanza: This landscape looks
very dry right now,
284
00:15:37,804 --> 00:15:39,070
but 200 million years ago,
285
00:15:39,072 --> 00:15:44,009
it was wet swampland
with trees and flowing water.
286
00:15:45,612 --> 00:15:47,212
Narrator:
Like the petrified forest,
287
00:15:47,214 --> 00:15:51,082
Mars has also changed over time.
288
00:15:51,084 --> 00:15:55,954
Gale crater was once a lake bed
filled with fresh water.
289
00:15:55,956 --> 00:15:59,624
And it was just so exciting
because we knew then
290
00:15:59,626 --> 00:16:03,295
that we had landed
right on top of an environment
291
00:16:03,297 --> 00:16:05,497
that once had tons
of flowing water
292
00:16:05,499 --> 00:16:08,299
and could very well have
preserved organic materials,
293
00:16:08,301 --> 00:16:11,236
even though it looks very barren
and desolate to our eyes.
294
00:16:13,773 --> 00:16:15,307
Narrator: In 2018,
295
00:16:15,309 --> 00:16:18,510
curiosity drills into
this ancient martian lake
296
00:16:18,512 --> 00:16:21,246
and discovers organic molecules.
297
00:16:24,518 --> 00:16:27,652
Finding organics on Mars
is so exciting
298
00:16:27,654 --> 00:16:29,520
just because, I mean, wow.
299
00:16:29,522 --> 00:16:31,723
That is -- those are
the building blocks of life,
300
00:16:31,725 --> 00:16:34,125
not just the elements,
but actual molecules.
301
00:16:34,127 --> 00:16:36,727
There was a wave of excitement
302
00:16:36,729 --> 00:16:38,930
after the announcement
of organics
303
00:16:38,932 --> 00:16:41,399
found on Mars
and complex organics.
304
00:16:41,401 --> 00:16:44,002
It's not totally indicative
that life is there,
305
00:16:44,004 --> 00:16:46,538
but it's a really good
telltale sign
306
00:16:46,540 --> 00:16:51,543
that there may be
possibly life-forms on Mars.
307
00:16:51,545 --> 00:16:54,613
Narrator: The results aren't
proof of martians,
308
00:16:54,615 --> 00:16:58,883
but the ancient lake bed
is evidence that the red planet
309
00:16:58,885 --> 00:17:02,954
once had something else
crucial for life --
310
00:17:02,956 --> 00:17:04,289
liquid water.
311
00:17:04,291 --> 00:17:07,559
�
312
00:17:07,561 --> 00:17:09,694
it's one thing if you have
all these ingredients
313
00:17:09,696 --> 00:17:11,162
lying around for life.
314
00:17:11,164 --> 00:17:12,763
You could have, you know,
carbon over here and hydrogen
315
00:17:12,765 --> 00:17:15,033
over here,
maybe methane or whatever.
316
00:17:15,035 --> 00:17:16,568
You have to mix them together,
317
00:17:16,570 --> 00:17:21,239
so you need something for them
to be in, a medium of some sort.
318
00:17:21,241 --> 00:17:22,974
Narrator: Life needs a liquid
319
00:17:22,976 --> 00:17:26,911
to mix essential chemicals
together.
320
00:17:26,913 --> 00:17:28,313
We're used to thinking of earth
321
00:17:28,315 --> 00:17:33,251
as the only water world
in our solar system,
322
00:17:33,253 --> 00:17:35,921
but new evidence says
otherwise...
323
00:17:38,725 --> 00:17:42,127
...as extraterrestrial visitors
324
00:17:42,129 --> 00:17:46,531
carrying liquid water
from outer space reveal.
325
00:17:59,345 --> 00:18:00,679
�
326
00:18:00,681 --> 00:18:02,546
narrator: It's no coincidence
327
00:18:02,548 --> 00:18:05,483
our blue planet is
a water world.
328
00:18:05,485 --> 00:18:09,688
There are more than
366 million trillion gallons
329
00:18:09,690 --> 00:18:12,624
of water on earth.
330
00:18:12,626 --> 00:18:16,494
It even makes up
60% of our bodies.
331
00:18:16,496 --> 00:18:18,630
I think life on earth
could be easily described
332
00:18:18,632 --> 00:18:20,965
as water chemistry.
333
00:18:20,967 --> 00:18:24,569
That is the essential feature
of life on earth.
334
00:18:24,571 --> 00:18:27,104
Narrator:
Some is locked up in ice caps
335
00:18:27,106 --> 00:18:30,108
or as vapor in the air,
336
00:18:30,110 --> 00:18:34,980
but 96% of liquid water
is in our oceans.
337
00:18:34,982 --> 00:18:37,248
Well, earth is really special.
338
00:18:37,250 --> 00:18:39,984
There's no other place like it
that we've found.
339
00:18:39,986 --> 00:18:43,655
It's a pretty substantial planet
with liquid water
340
00:18:43,657 --> 00:18:45,857
covering 70% of the surface.
341
00:18:45,859 --> 00:18:48,526
All life on the earth requires
bodies of water
342
00:18:48,528 --> 00:18:49,661
in order to survive.
343
00:18:49,663 --> 00:18:51,296
No water, no life.
344
00:18:52,799 --> 00:18:56,935
Narrator: Water is what chemists
call a solvent,
345
00:18:56,937 --> 00:19:00,538
and it's the best solvent
we know of.
346
00:19:00,540 --> 00:19:04,142
It can dissolve more substances
than any other liquid,
347
00:19:04,144 --> 00:19:07,746
allowing molecules
to mix and interact.
348
00:19:07,748 --> 00:19:11,015
Wherever water goes,
it transports
349
00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:15,086
valuable chemicals, minerals,
and nutrients.
350
00:19:15,088 --> 00:19:16,554
Oluseyi:
If there was no liquid,
351
00:19:16,556 --> 00:19:18,490
things would just sit around
separately.
352
00:19:18,492 --> 00:19:20,891
You need this constant
interaction,
353
00:19:20,893 --> 00:19:23,294
and you need
a different chemical mix,
354
00:19:23,296 --> 00:19:25,530
and water does all of that.
355
00:19:27,634 --> 00:19:31,235
And so a lot of our searches
for lifelike planets,
356
00:19:31,237 --> 00:19:34,706
or earthlike planets,
outside our solar system
357
00:19:34,708 --> 00:19:38,109
are based on this sort of
primary assumption
358
00:19:38,111 --> 00:19:40,011
that we need liquid water.
359
00:19:42,249 --> 00:19:44,915
Narrator: We've long thought
earth has liquid water
360
00:19:44,917 --> 00:19:49,654
because of its unique position
in the solar system.
361
00:19:49,656 --> 00:19:53,057
It's right in this zone that
we call the habitable zone
362
00:19:53,059 --> 00:19:56,594
where the sunlight
can support liquid water
363
00:19:56,596 --> 00:19:58,263
on the surface of the planet.
364
00:19:58,265 --> 00:20:01,732
�
365
00:20:01,734 --> 00:20:04,202
narrator: But we have now
discovered that liquid water
366
00:20:04,204 --> 00:20:07,439
might exist in places
we never expected.
367
00:20:10,076 --> 00:20:14,779
In 1998, a meteorite crash-lands
in Texas.
368
00:20:19,352 --> 00:20:22,287
Today, scientists
at Arizona state university
369
00:20:22,289 --> 00:20:26,024
are still studying its secrets.
370
00:20:26,026 --> 00:20:27,825
We had no idea
that it would contain
371
00:20:27,827 --> 00:20:31,096
this really,
really spectacular finding.
372
00:20:31,098 --> 00:20:35,166
Narrator: It contains
a mysterious purple mineral.
373
00:20:35,168 --> 00:20:39,104
The exotic color comes from
exposure to cosmic radiation,
374
00:20:39,106 --> 00:20:42,907
but the compound itself
is very ordinary.
375
00:20:42,909 --> 00:20:44,843
It's actually sodium chloride,
376
00:20:44,845 --> 00:20:48,313
which is essentially
the same mineral as table salt,
377
00:20:48,315 --> 00:20:51,449
but what's really cool
is that it actually contains
378
00:20:51,451 --> 00:20:54,185
little globules of liquid water,
379
00:20:54,187 --> 00:20:57,655
and that liquid water
was trapped in these crystals
380
00:20:57,657 --> 00:21:00,992
4 1/2 billion years ago.
381
00:21:00,994 --> 00:21:04,161
Narrator: In 2018, scientists
reexamined the crystals
382
00:21:04,163 --> 00:21:08,399
and discovered the liquid water
wasn't traveling alone.
383
00:21:08,401 --> 00:21:11,803
We've now actually found
organic compounds in association
384
00:21:11,805 --> 00:21:15,473
with this liquid water
in these salt crystals,
385
00:21:15,475 --> 00:21:17,875
and that's something
that's really new
386
00:21:17,877 --> 00:21:20,078
and really spectacular.
387
00:21:22,682 --> 00:21:24,349
Thaller:
We actually found amino acids,
388
00:21:24,351 --> 00:21:27,818
the building blocks of all
of our proteins, even our DNA,
389
00:21:27,820 --> 00:21:29,487
and we found liquid water,
390
00:21:29,489 --> 00:21:32,524
the very building blocks
of life, inside a meteorite.
391
00:21:34,761 --> 00:21:36,961
Narrator: So could life exist
392
00:21:36,963 --> 00:21:39,029
somewhere else
in our solar system?
393
00:21:39,031 --> 00:21:42,767
�
394
00:21:42,769 --> 00:21:47,104
a NASA mission to saturn
turned up some shocking results.
395
00:21:47,106 --> 00:21:52,243
The cassini space probe flew
beneath saturn's moon enceladus.
396
00:21:52,245 --> 00:21:54,779
Dartnell:
Enceladus, no one cared about.
397
00:21:54,781 --> 00:22:01,186
It was a tiny, little snowball
of a world.
398
00:22:01,188 --> 00:22:04,222
Narrator: But enceladus
surprised everyone.
399
00:22:06,793 --> 00:22:11,129
Geysers of liquid water,
dozens of them,
400
00:22:11,131 --> 00:22:14,198
blast out of trenches
along the moon's surface,
401
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:17,535
coming from
a vast subsurface ocean.
402
00:22:21,541 --> 00:22:24,509
Oceans on earth
are full of life.
403
00:22:27,747 --> 00:22:30,882
Could the same be true
of enceladus?
404
00:22:30,884 --> 00:22:33,350
McKay:
I'm a big fan of enceladus.
405
00:22:33,352 --> 00:22:37,155
I think it's by far and away
the best place to go
406
00:22:37,157 --> 00:22:39,290
to search for evidence of life.
407
00:22:39,292 --> 00:22:40,758
Narrator: In 2018,
408
00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,761
researchers analyzing
the cassini data
409
00:22:43,763 --> 00:22:46,364
discovered that the plumes
of enceladus
410
00:22:46,366 --> 00:22:49,367
contain
complex organic molecules.
411
00:22:49,369 --> 00:22:52,970
Just simple molecules,
we find those, like methane,
412
00:22:52,972 --> 00:22:55,372
but the cassini results
are showing that there are
413
00:22:55,374 --> 00:22:59,977
these more complex, larger
organic molecules as well.
414
00:22:59,979 --> 00:23:03,047
Narrator: This is the first ever
detection of complex organics
415
00:23:03,049 --> 00:23:05,983
on an extraterrestrial
water world.
416
00:23:05,985 --> 00:23:09,587
All of a sudden,
here's water jetting out,
417
00:23:09,589 --> 00:23:13,791
carrying organic material, all
the ingredients needed for life.
418
00:23:13,793 --> 00:23:17,795
It was, like, too good
to be true.
419
00:23:17,797 --> 00:23:20,264
Narrator: But enceladus isn't
the only small world
420
00:23:20,266 --> 00:23:22,199
with a subsurface ocean.
421
00:23:22,201 --> 00:23:26,870
Other moons and dwarf planets
have liquid water, too.
422
00:23:26,872 --> 00:23:29,207
We think the most important
thing for life to form
423
00:23:29,209 --> 00:23:30,808
is the presence of liquid water,
424
00:23:30,810 --> 00:23:33,177
and our solar system
seems to be full of it.
425
00:23:35,548 --> 00:23:38,416
Sutter:
The discovery of liquid water
426
00:23:38,418 --> 00:23:40,151
in the outer solar system
427
00:23:40,153 --> 00:23:46,624
changes the rules of how life
might originate in the universe.
428
00:23:46,626 --> 00:23:50,228
�
429
00:23:50,230 --> 00:23:51,762
narrator: Across the universe,
430
00:23:51,764 --> 00:23:56,633
alien life could be hiding
underneath the surface.
431
00:23:56,635 --> 00:24:00,304
Internal water oceans are
far more common
432
00:24:00,306 --> 00:24:03,641
than surface water oceans,
433
00:24:03,643 --> 00:24:07,177
so if there is a lot of life
out there in the universe,
434
00:24:07,179 --> 00:24:11,382
chances are it's in an internal
ocean under miles of ice.
435
00:24:13,519 --> 00:24:15,186
Narrator:
Who knows what might be lurking
436
00:24:15,188 --> 00:24:18,522
inside icy exoworlds?
437
00:24:18,524 --> 00:24:22,126
There may be jellyfish
and octopuses all over the place
438
00:24:22,128 --> 00:24:25,329
in exomoons and exoplanets
under ice
439
00:24:25,331 --> 00:24:28,932
that have civilizations
that we just don't know about.
440
00:24:28,934 --> 00:24:31,068
Narrator:
Finding liquid water oceans
441
00:24:31,070 --> 00:24:33,705
could open up a world
of possibilities.
442
00:24:36,008 --> 00:24:37,808
If you're not excited about
443
00:24:37,810 --> 00:24:41,078
intelligent extraterrestrial
octopus civilians,
444
00:24:41,080 --> 00:24:42,747
I don't know what to say.
445
00:24:45,018 --> 00:24:47,952
Narrator: The chances of finding
life in our solar system
446
00:24:47,954 --> 00:24:49,921
just got a heck of a lot better.
447
00:24:53,292 --> 00:24:57,428
Building blocks
and liquid water are common,
448
00:24:57,430 --> 00:25:00,164
but you need more than
just these two conditions
449
00:25:00,166 --> 00:25:02,166
for life to take hold.
450
00:25:02,168 --> 00:25:04,835
Life needs a spark.
451
00:25:04,837 --> 00:25:06,904
Life appears to need
some form of energy
452
00:25:06,906 --> 00:25:08,906
to actually get
the molecules interacting.
453
00:25:08,908 --> 00:25:10,975
One thing that may have helped
kick-start life on earth
454
00:25:10,977 --> 00:25:13,577
is ultraviolet radiation
from the sun.
455
00:25:13,579 --> 00:25:17,181
Narrator: Ultraviolet light
is emitted by all stars.
456
00:25:17,183 --> 00:25:21,386
There are billions of stars
in our galaxy.
457
00:25:21,388 --> 00:25:24,988
Can life get started
around any star,
458
00:25:24,990 --> 00:25:29,127
or is our sun unique?
459
00:25:39,939 --> 00:25:43,674
Narrator: Earth is
a solar-powered planet.
460
00:25:43,676 --> 00:25:47,478
At the bottom of the food chain,
plants use photosynthesis
461
00:25:47,480 --> 00:25:50,882
to convert sunlight
into chemical energy --
462
00:25:50,884 --> 00:25:53,150
food for the rest of us.
463
00:25:53,152 --> 00:25:56,754
Dartnell: I like eating
both grass, essentially wheat,
464
00:25:56,756 --> 00:25:59,490
and I also fancy
the odd hamburger from a cow
465
00:25:59,492 --> 00:26:00,825
that has eaten that grass.
466
00:26:00,827 --> 00:26:06,030
This whole ecosystem
is powered by sunshine.
467
00:26:06,032 --> 00:26:08,699
Narrator: But recent studies
have shed new light
468
00:26:08,701 --> 00:26:12,303
on how life developed
under our sun,
469
00:26:12,305 --> 00:26:16,507
specifically the role of
ultraviolet light.
470
00:26:16,509 --> 00:26:20,778
U.v.a. Radiation is useful
for breaking molecules up
471
00:26:20,780 --> 00:26:22,513
and triggering reactions.
472
00:26:22,515 --> 00:26:24,982
Maybe that played a role
in the origin of life.
473
00:26:24,984 --> 00:26:27,852
It breaks down
simple organic molecules,
474
00:26:27,854 --> 00:26:29,386
and then they can
rebuild themselves
475
00:26:29,388 --> 00:26:31,255
into things
that are more complex.
476
00:26:31,257 --> 00:26:32,857
You do that over and over again,
eventually,
477
00:26:32,859 --> 00:26:34,658
you somehow get life.
478
00:26:34,660 --> 00:26:38,062
�
479
00:26:38,064 --> 00:26:39,663
narrator: Scientists think
life on earth
480
00:26:39,665 --> 00:26:42,933
started around
4 billion years ago...
481
00:26:42,935 --> 00:26:46,737
�
482
00:26:46,739 --> 00:26:48,806
...a time
when earth's atmosphere
483
00:26:48,808 --> 00:26:50,274
gave little protection.
484
00:26:53,813 --> 00:26:56,914
U.V. radiation levels
were 100 times higher.
485
00:26:59,219 --> 00:27:01,018
Was U.V. essential
486
00:27:01,020 --> 00:27:05,823
for the development
of life's code, DNA?
487
00:27:05,825 --> 00:27:10,161
We know that life on earth
stores information in DNA
488
00:27:10,163 --> 00:27:14,031
and then uses that information
to build proteins,
489
00:27:14,033 --> 00:27:16,700
so you have the blueprints
and the bricks.
490
00:27:16,702 --> 00:27:21,238
The blueprints are the DNA,
and the bricks are the protein.
491
00:27:21,240 --> 00:27:24,174
Dartnell: But we think that
the first life on earth,
492
00:27:24,176 --> 00:27:29,246
we used a chemical
which is much simpler.
493
00:27:29,248 --> 00:27:32,783
Narrator:
This simpler chemical was rna,
494
00:27:32,785 --> 00:27:37,254
DNA's single-stranded
forefather.
495
00:27:37,256 --> 00:27:40,791
Rna is almost like
a two-for-one offer.
496
00:27:40,793 --> 00:27:43,394
It does both of
the fundamental things
497
00:27:43,396 --> 00:27:48,199
you need for a cell
in the same compound.
498
00:27:48,201 --> 00:27:53,337
So it was simultaneously
the bricks and the blueprint.
499
00:27:53,339 --> 00:27:56,607
Narrator: Unlike other
molecules, rna is more resistant
500
00:27:56,609 --> 00:28:00,011
to the high U.V. environment
of early earth,
501
00:28:00,013 --> 00:28:03,747
allowing it to flourish.
502
00:28:03,749 --> 00:28:07,851
Rna eventually evolved
into DNA,
503
00:28:07,853 --> 00:28:09,753
and life started.
504
00:28:09,755 --> 00:28:11,422
Oluseyi:
To have life on the planet,
505
00:28:11,424 --> 00:28:12,757
one important consideration
506
00:28:12,759 --> 00:28:15,026
is a certain amount of light
that's going to be needed
507
00:28:15,028 --> 00:28:17,361
and a certain type of light
that's going to be needed.
508
00:28:17,363 --> 00:28:22,099
�
509
00:28:22,101 --> 00:28:25,569
narrator: So if all stars emit
some U.V. radiation,
510
00:28:25,571 --> 00:28:29,039
can life start around any star?
511
00:28:29,041 --> 00:28:30,441
When we think about
looking for places
512
00:28:30,443 --> 00:28:32,310
that are conducive for life,
513
00:28:32,312 --> 00:28:33,644
we want to find a planet
514
00:28:33,646 --> 00:28:35,913
that might have enough
U.V. radiation,
515
00:28:35,915 --> 00:28:39,516
so the star is, you know,
bright enough or close enough
516
00:28:39,518 --> 00:28:42,186
that's providing enough energy
to the surface for life,
517
00:28:42,188 --> 00:28:47,058
but we also don't want to have
too much U.V. radiation.
518
00:28:47,060 --> 00:28:50,661
Narrator: It seems you need just
the right amount of U.V.
519
00:28:50,663 --> 00:28:56,133
�
520
00:28:56,135 --> 00:28:59,770
the most common stars in
the galaxy are red dwarf stars.
521
00:29:02,675 --> 00:29:06,610
If red dwarf stars can harbor
life on planets around them,
522
00:29:06,612 --> 00:29:09,947
there's an awful lot
of real estate like that
523
00:29:09,949 --> 00:29:13,017
in our galaxy.
524
00:29:13,019 --> 00:29:16,019
Narrator: Red dwarf stars
could be good for life's chance
525
00:29:16,021 --> 00:29:20,091
of conquering the universe
in a number of ways.
526
00:29:20,093 --> 00:29:22,092
One, they represent over
three-quarters
527
00:29:22,094 --> 00:29:24,228
of all stars in the universe.
528
00:29:24,230 --> 00:29:26,897
Two, they live for over
a thousand times longer
529
00:29:26,899 --> 00:29:28,366
than sunlike stars,
530
00:29:28,368 --> 00:29:31,035
and, three, they seem to have
rocky planets around them
531
00:29:31,037 --> 00:29:34,238
much more often
than sunlike stars do.
532
00:29:34,240 --> 00:29:36,240
Narrator:
Those are the pros,
533
00:29:36,242 --> 00:29:39,576
but red dwarf stars
also have cons.
534
00:29:39,578 --> 00:29:44,648
For instance, they might not be
bright enough for life to begin.
535
00:29:44,650 --> 00:29:47,517
Some of the red dwarf stars
that we know emit
536
00:29:47,519 --> 00:29:49,920
less ultraviolet light
than the sun.
537
00:29:49,922 --> 00:29:51,922
They don't give off
much U.V. light at all.
538
00:29:51,924 --> 00:29:53,324
Maybe on a planet around them,
539
00:29:53,326 --> 00:29:56,593
there isn't enough energy
to get life started.
540
00:29:56,595 --> 00:30:00,331
Narrator: Red dwarf stars are
also much more temperamental.
541
00:30:00,333 --> 00:30:03,000
They can go from being
gentle and quiet
542
00:30:03,002 --> 00:30:05,169
to having violent outbursts...
543
00:30:07,206 --> 00:30:10,073
...stellar flares.
544
00:30:10,075 --> 00:30:13,344
These types of stars
have incredibly strong flares.
545
00:30:13,346 --> 00:30:15,012
That means they're shooting off
546
00:30:15,014 --> 00:30:18,082
a bunch of energetic particles
and radiation
547
00:30:18,084 --> 00:30:22,953
and light that's baking
the surface of those planets.
548
00:30:22,955 --> 00:30:24,255
Radebaugh: If the star is just
549
00:30:24,257 --> 00:30:25,756
bombarding the surface
with U.V.,
550
00:30:25,758 --> 00:30:29,360
then it will destroy all of
those things necessary for life.
551
00:30:29,362 --> 00:30:32,496
It will actually destroy
the life itself.
552
00:30:32,498 --> 00:30:37,568
�
553
00:30:37,570 --> 00:30:39,169
narrator:
These stellar flares
554
00:30:39,171 --> 00:30:41,105
could strip away
a planet's atmosphere,
555
00:30:41,107 --> 00:30:42,907
sterilizing the surface.
556
00:30:42,909 --> 00:30:46,777
�
557
00:30:46,779 --> 00:30:49,447
more research is needed,
but for now,
558
00:30:49,449 --> 00:30:54,118
the odds of life thriving around
dwarf stars are a toss-up.
559
00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:58,589
�
560
00:30:58,591 --> 00:31:00,391
so far,
the only thing we know
561
00:31:00,393 --> 00:31:02,459
is that there is one kind
of star
562
00:31:02,461 --> 00:31:05,862
that's definitely
right for life --
563
00:31:05,864 --> 00:31:07,464
our sun.
564
00:31:07,466 --> 00:31:10,601
We know of life in one place in
the universe, and that's here.
565
00:31:10,603 --> 00:31:12,936
That's earth.
566
00:31:12,938 --> 00:31:18,609
Narrator: Only 4% of stars in
the universe are like our sun.
567
00:31:18,611 --> 00:31:22,279
So if life can only get started
around these rare,
568
00:31:22,281 --> 00:31:24,081
medium-sized stars,
569
00:31:24,083 --> 00:31:26,350
the chances
are not looking good.
570
00:31:26,352 --> 00:31:31,555
�
571
00:31:31,557 --> 00:31:34,758
but life may have an Ace
up its sleeve.
572
00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:40,163
What if life can start on
just one planet and then spread?
573
00:31:40,165 --> 00:31:43,366
What if life travels
across the cosmos
574
00:31:43,368 --> 00:31:47,304
looking for planets to conquer?
575
00:31:58,050 --> 00:32:00,250
�
576
00:32:00,252 --> 00:32:03,187
narrator: Earth is
our only example of life
577
00:32:03,189 --> 00:32:06,524
emerging anywhere
in the universe.
578
00:32:06,526 --> 00:32:11,394
But what if life on earth
didn't start on earth at all?
579
00:32:11,396 --> 00:32:12,863
There's one idea that life
on earth
580
00:32:12,865 --> 00:32:16,133
actually didn't get going here
but was delivered from space.
581
00:32:16,135 --> 00:32:19,103
Narrator: Scientists
call this theory panspermia.
582
00:32:21,340 --> 00:32:23,541
Scharf: The idea of panspermia
essentially talks
583
00:32:23,543 --> 00:32:28,479
about the transferral of life
throughout the cosmos.
584
00:32:28,481 --> 00:32:31,548
Narrator: We know asteroids
and comets
585
00:32:31,550 --> 00:32:33,617
carry organic molecules.
586
00:32:33,619 --> 00:32:36,420
But could they carry
life itself?
587
00:32:36,422 --> 00:32:38,556
What if life starts
on one planet?
588
00:32:38,558 --> 00:32:43,093
Can it actually get itself
to a nearby planet?
589
00:32:43,095 --> 00:32:44,428
Is it possible that meteorites
590
00:32:44,430 --> 00:32:48,566
could actually transport
living beings?
591
00:32:48,568 --> 00:32:51,902
Narrator: For life to travel
around the cosmos,
592
00:32:51,904 --> 00:32:55,172
first, it needs to take flight.
593
00:32:55,174 --> 00:33:00,177
An asteroids is on a collision
course with an inhabited planet.
594
00:33:00,179 --> 00:33:02,780
So what happens if there's
a huge cataclysmic
595
00:33:02,782 --> 00:33:04,147
collision on a planet?
596
00:33:04,149 --> 00:33:06,783
Material is blasted off
into space.
597
00:33:06,785 --> 00:33:10,788
�
598
00:33:10,790 --> 00:33:12,789
narrator:
The impact might kill life
599
00:33:12,791 --> 00:33:14,258
on the surface of that planet,
600
00:33:14,260 --> 00:33:19,396
but it's possible
some bacteria might escape,
601
00:33:19,398 --> 00:33:24,335
hitching a ride on chunks
of the planet's surface.
602
00:33:24,337 --> 00:33:26,470
A meteorite being ejected
from a planet
603
00:33:26,472 --> 00:33:27,872
after an asteroids impact --
604
00:33:27,874 --> 00:33:29,873
I mean, that's not going
to be an easy ride.
605
00:33:29,875 --> 00:33:32,776
But it turns out
it's not as bad as you think.
606
00:33:32,778 --> 00:33:35,745
Some bacteria are
very, very hard to kill.
607
00:33:35,747 --> 00:33:37,948
Some we don't even know
how to kill.
608
00:33:37,950 --> 00:33:41,085
Even the impact that actually
threw that rock into space --
609
00:33:41,087 --> 00:33:42,953
the bacteria, no problem.
610
00:33:42,955 --> 00:33:46,890
If those chunks of rock expelled
during asteroids collisions
611
00:33:46,892 --> 00:33:50,427
could actually hold onto
viable organisms,
612
00:33:50,429 --> 00:33:52,562
then it really could change
the way
613
00:33:52,564 --> 00:33:58,301
in which we think about life
spreading in the universe.
614
00:33:58,303 --> 00:34:01,171
Narrator: If the microbes
can survive takeoff,
615
00:34:01,173 --> 00:34:03,907
then they can start
their journey to a new home.
616
00:34:03,909 --> 00:34:06,777
The odds of life
conquering the universe
617
00:34:06,779 --> 00:34:08,245
seem to be getting better.
618
00:34:08,247 --> 00:34:11,582
The important question now is,
how long could that life,
619
00:34:11,584 --> 00:34:13,450
those bacteria,
those microorganisms
620
00:34:13,452 --> 00:34:16,687
inside that rock,
survive the space environment?
621
00:34:18,324 --> 00:34:21,325
Narrator: Exposure to
U.V. radiation could be fatal,
622
00:34:21,327 --> 00:34:25,195
killing any life on the surface
of an asteroid.
623
00:34:25,197 --> 00:34:27,864
But experts think
that microbial passengers
624
00:34:27,866 --> 00:34:32,269
could still survive
by hiding underground.
625
00:34:32,271 --> 00:34:36,406
It doesn't take much to shield
a microorganism from U.V.
626
00:34:36,408 --> 00:34:39,610
Just a little bit of rock,
and you have enough protection
627
00:34:39,612 --> 00:34:43,480
to just hold on throughout
a journey to the next body,
628
00:34:43,482 --> 00:34:45,882
to your next home.
629
00:34:45,884 --> 00:34:49,686
Narrator: Eventually, they could
arrive at an uninhabited world
630
00:34:49,688 --> 00:34:52,222
that's ready and waiting
for life,
631
00:34:52,224 --> 00:34:54,658
but they're in for
a bumpy landing.
632
00:34:54,660 --> 00:34:58,696
Would the rock burn up coming
through a planet's atmosphere?
633
00:34:58,698 --> 00:35:02,099
It's in for a hot ride
but only for a few seconds,
634
00:35:02,101 --> 00:35:05,369
and only the outer layers
of that rock will blow off,
635
00:35:05,371 --> 00:35:08,171
and then it just falls and hits
the ground not that fast,
636
00:35:08,173 --> 00:35:11,175
a couple hundred miles an hour.
637
00:35:11,177 --> 00:35:13,110
If a human were in there,
that would be bad.
638
00:35:13,112 --> 00:35:15,912
But for bacteria, no big deal.
639
00:35:15,914 --> 00:35:18,582
Narrator:
The panspermia theory says
640
00:35:18,584 --> 00:35:21,251
life could start on
just one planet,
641
00:35:21,253 --> 00:35:26,190
then spread to another planet,
and possibly another.
642
00:35:26,192 --> 00:35:30,594
If we found alien life-forms,
would they look familiar?
643
00:35:30,596 --> 00:35:32,796
One of the biggest questions
about finding other life
644
00:35:32,798 --> 00:35:36,934
in the solar system is,
how similar will it be to us?
645
00:35:36,936 --> 00:35:39,970
If it's just like us,
it begs the question,
646
00:35:39,972 --> 00:35:41,805
did we have a common Genesis?
647
00:35:41,807 --> 00:35:45,742
Did we originally
come from another planet?
648
00:35:45,744 --> 00:35:48,278
Narrator: One radical idea
649
00:35:48,280 --> 00:35:52,149
is that life on earth
came from Mars.
650
00:35:52,151 --> 00:35:55,752
Imagine Mars
3 1/4, 4 billion years ago.
651
00:35:55,754 --> 00:35:58,956
It was more earthlike then
than earth was at that point.
652
00:35:58,958 --> 00:36:00,891
The earth was still quite warm.
653
00:36:00,893 --> 00:36:02,826
Mars actually had cooled
off faster,
654
00:36:02,828 --> 00:36:04,561
had a thick atmosphere, water.
655
00:36:04,563 --> 00:36:07,030
Life could've arisen there.
656
00:36:07,032 --> 00:36:10,901
Narrator: Mars has been
hit repeatedly by meteors,
657
00:36:10,903 --> 00:36:15,105
sending chunks of the planet
flying off into space,
658
00:36:15,107 --> 00:36:19,977
and some of those chunks
have landed here, on earth.
659
00:36:19,979 --> 00:36:23,247
So this is
a really unusual meteorite.
660
00:36:23,249 --> 00:36:26,717
It was found near
the city of Los Angeles,
661
00:36:26,719 --> 00:36:29,253
and we actually know
662
00:36:29,255 --> 00:36:32,455
that it actually came from
the planet Mars,
663
00:36:32,457 --> 00:36:35,459
and we know that because it has
gases trapped inside it
664
00:36:35,461 --> 00:36:38,128
that have the exact same
composition
665
00:36:38,130 --> 00:36:39,396
as the martian atmosphere.
666
00:36:39,398 --> 00:36:40,797
There's been a lot of transit
667
00:36:40,799 --> 00:36:43,533
between meteor strikes
hitting Mars and then earth.
668
00:36:43,535 --> 00:36:45,068
There's a little bit of Mars
on earth.
669
00:36:45,070 --> 00:36:47,471
There's a little bit
of earth on Mars.
670
00:36:47,473 --> 00:36:51,341
It's possible that life
started on Mars
671
00:36:51,343 --> 00:36:56,947
and was transferred to earth
inside of a meteorite.
672
00:36:56,949 --> 00:36:59,816
When you think about it,
maybe we're the immigrants.
673
00:36:59,818 --> 00:37:01,285
We are the martians.
674
00:37:01,287 --> 00:37:05,422
Life on earth started on Mars
and got transferred here.
675
00:37:05,424 --> 00:37:09,425
�
676
00:37:09,427 --> 00:37:11,495
narrator:
Panspermia could allow life
677
00:37:11,497 --> 00:37:13,497
to spread from planet to planet,
678
00:37:13,499 --> 00:37:15,632
conquering our solar system,
679
00:37:15,634 --> 00:37:19,903
but what about
even greater distances?
680
00:37:19,905 --> 00:37:24,307
In 2017, the cigar-shaped
space rock 'oumuamua
681
00:37:24,309 --> 00:37:26,243
appeared in our solar system.
682
00:37:26,245 --> 00:37:28,579
It came from interstellar space,
683
00:37:28,581 --> 00:37:32,582
and experts think it could be
carrying organic matter.
684
00:37:32,584 --> 00:37:34,651
One of the fascinating
things about 'oumuamua
685
00:37:34,653 --> 00:37:36,920
is it has sort of
a reddened surface.
686
00:37:36,922 --> 00:37:38,122
Now that could actually
partially be
687
00:37:38,124 --> 00:37:40,523
from the presence
of organic molecules.
688
00:37:40,525 --> 00:37:42,692
Narrator: Could life survive
689
00:37:42,694 --> 00:37:46,063
interstellar
or even intergalactic travel?
690
00:37:46,065 --> 00:37:49,800
Whether or not this is an easy
way to transfer life around
691
00:37:49,802 --> 00:37:52,736
in the universe,
it's still an open question.
692
00:37:52,738 --> 00:37:55,471
The possibility of transferring
life from star system
693
00:37:55,473 --> 00:37:59,042
to star system
seems a little bit remote.
694
00:37:59,044 --> 00:38:00,677
Narrator:
The immense distances
695
00:38:00,679 --> 00:38:02,545
and dangers
of interstellar travel
696
00:38:02,547 --> 00:38:04,481
would be hard to survive.
697
00:38:04,483 --> 00:38:08,352
Some experts think there is
one way for life
698
00:38:08,354 --> 00:38:11,888
to conquer the universe,
699
00:38:11,890 --> 00:38:14,992
but it won't be life
as we know it.
700
00:38:26,905 --> 00:38:31,107
Narrator: The universe is
unimaginably large.
701
00:38:31,109 --> 00:38:35,112
Many experts believe
there is life out there.
702
00:38:35,114 --> 00:38:37,447
We just have to go find it.
703
00:38:37,449 --> 00:38:40,650
Oluseyi: One of the things
I love about being a human
704
00:38:40,652 --> 00:38:44,654
is the fact that
I'm born with this curiosity.
705
00:38:44,656 --> 00:38:46,523
This curiosity drives us to
explore -- explore earth,
706
00:38:46,525 --> 00:38:50,060
explore our solar system
and beyond into the galaxy,
707
00:38:50,062 --> 00:38:52,929
look for other life-forms.
708
00:38:52,931 --> 00:38:55,198
Narrator:
But with current technology,
709
00:38:55,200 --> 00:38:59,469
it would take thousands of years
just to reach the nearest star.
710
00:38:59,471 --> 00:39:03,106
It's unlikely humans
will ever leave our galaxy.
711
00:39:05,744 --> 00:39:10,146
If life one day does spread
from earth into the cosmos,
712
00:39:10,148 --> 00:39:12,615
it's probably not just going to
be a bunch of meat bags,
713
00:39:12,617 --> 00:39:17,020
like us, but other forms of life
that are more suited
714
00:39:17,022 --> 00:39:21,224
for interstellar
and intergalactic travel.
715
00:39:21,226 --> 00:39:24,093
Narrator: Our fragile bodies are
not suited to the distances
716
00:39:24,095 --> 00:39:28,631
and dangers
of interstellar travel.
717
00:39:28,633 --> 00:39:33,170
Machine life may be more robust
for traveling between planets
718
00:39:33,172 --> 00:39:36,406
and between stars
than biological life.
719
00:39:38,710 --> 00:39:40,244
There are a lot of scientists
that think
720
00:39:40,246 --> 00:39:43,647
when we encounter aliens,
we won't be encountering them.
721
00:39:43,649 --> 00:39:45,248
We'll be encountering
their machines
722
00:39:45,250 --> 00:39:48,184
because we can build machines
that can last a million years,
723
00:39:48,186 --> 00:39:49,586
go from one star to the next.
724
00:39:49,588 --> 00:39:51,655
It's much easier
than transporting us,
725
00:39:51,657 --> 00:39:55,458
fragile gloppy bags of meat.
And so if we go out into space,
726
00:39:55,460 --> 00:40:00,998
we're more likely to find robots
than we are biological life.
727
00:40:01,000 --> 00:40:03,800
Narrator: For humanity to
discover alien life,
728
00:40:03,802 --> 00:40:08,338
humanity itself may have
to evolve
729
00:40:08,340 --> 00:40:13,543
from biological life
to artificial life.
730
00:40:13,545 --> 00:40:16,013
Oluseyi: What's really ironic
here is that
731
00:40:16,015 --> 00:40:20,016
while we're figuring out
the origin of life on earth,
732
00:40:20,018 --> 00:40:23,687
we humans could be inventing
a form of life on our own,
733
00:40:23,689 --> 00:40:27,090
and that is what we call
artificial intelligence.
734
00:40:27,092 --> 00:40:31,695
The development of a.I.,
self-replicating machines even,
735
00:40:31,697 --> 00:40:34,697
may very well be
just the next key transition
736
00:40:34,699 --> 00:40:37,034
in our evolutionary history.
737
00:40:39,972 --> 00:40:43,573
Narrator:
Could a superintelligent
self-replicating machine
738
00:40:43,575 --> 00:40:47,044
conquer the universe?
739
00:40:47,046 --> 00:40:51,848
Maybe this a.I. Can fashion
its own machines,
740
00:40:51,850 --> 00:40:55,318
create factories to create
resources to replicate itself,
741
00:40:55,320 --> 00:40:58,722
create ships
that will allow it travel
742
00:40:58,724 --> 00:41:01,024
from one place
in the universe to another.
743
00:41:03,928 --> 00:41:07,798
Narrator: But would a.I.
Represent a new form of life?
744
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,132
Thaller:
I think the answer is yes.
745
00:41:09,134 --> 00:41:11,134
I think it actually goes on
from there.
746
00:41:11,136 --> 00:41:13,070
I think artificial intelligence
might be
747
00:41:13,072 --> 00:41:15,672
the next necessary stage
in evolution.
748
00:41:15,674 --> 00:41:19,275
We made the computers.
They are our children.
749
00:41:19,277 --> 00:41:24,414
I think of life as a process
that can retain its complexity
750
00:41:24,416 --> 00:41:29,419
and reproduce,
so bacteria are life.
751
00:41:29,421 --> 00:41:33,423
Humans are life,
and some future creation
752
00:41:33,425 --> 00:41:34,958
of advanced
artificial intelligence
753
00:41:34,960 --> 00:41:38,662
that can do those things
should also count as life.
754
00:41:41,633 --> 00:41:44,300
Narrator:
Life could take many forms,
755
00:41:44,302 --> 00:41:47,637
and in such a vast universe,
756
00:41:47,639 --> 00:41:52,709
it could be that life
is inevitable.
757
00:41:52,711 --> 00:41:55,045
With all those stars
and all those planets,
758
00:41:55,047 --> 00:41:58,181
I think, without a doubt,
there is a good chance
759
00:41:58,183 --> 00:42:02,318
that life has developed
elsewhere in our universe.
760
00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:05,522
Must life happen
in our universe?
761
00:42:05,524 --> 00:42:10,660
Is it an inevitable consequence
of processes in operation?
762
00:42:10,662 --> 00:42:13,296
Maybe, maybe not.
763
00:42:16,668 --> 00:42:21,604
Narrator: Until we find it,
we won't know for sure
764
00:42:21,606 --> 00:42:25,475
whether life can conquer
the universe.
765
00:42:25,477 --> 00:42:28,478
�
61286
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