Life Beyond Earth

Rating:
Summary: Addresses one of the biggest of the "Big" questions
Review: As our modern day mythology, science fiction has filled the vast emptiness of unexplored space with archetypal symbols which range from our darkest fears to our greatest hopes. Just as our ancestors colored in the austere recesses of nature (such as murky forests and the endless depths of the oceans) with monsters, demons and magical beings, so too have our modern day mythmakers written of hostile alien races and strange and beautiful extra-terrestrial species.

We now live at one of the most pivotal epochs in human history. Through the use of robotic spacecraft and radio telescopes, we are at last able to delve into the perplexing questions of the cosmos; what, exactly, is really "out there?" are we alone? If not, is life frequent in the universe? Or is it sparse?

This is yet another outstanding film by Timothy Ferris of the university of California, Berkeley, which engages these topics. The film is split into two parts. Part 1 deals with the possibility / probablity of life originating on other planets via Darwinian evolution. In doing so, the documentary invokes everything from biology to astronomy. The most exciting aspect of this part is the current projects underway and in the works that have the objective of discerning if there may be microscopic alien life right here in our solar system. Moons such as Titan and Europa hold the best possibility for this scenario. There is also a brief section on the likelihood that there was once life on Mars. Included in this section is a discussion of the Martian meteorites which landed in Antartica, carrying with them what SEEMS to be signs of ancient alien microscopic life.

Part 2 centers on what we are trying to do to contact or at least "listen to" interstellar communications which (we hope) exist somewhere beyond our tiny solar system. The #1 problem with this approach is the sheer size of the universe. The Milky Way galaxy alone is some 100,000 light years across. According to the physicist Andrei Linde of Stanford university, the size of the universe (in centimeters) ranges some 10^10^12 across. The magnitude of this number is simply beyond human comprehension. Therefore, say that there is life out there, but the nearest technologically advanced civilization is some 60,000 light years away. That would mean that any radio emissions from earth (via television, radio or radio telescope) would take 60,000 years to reach the point in space where someone might actually hear it. Nevertheless, there is always the chance that we might hear transmissions which have originated from other civilizations. That remains the more exciting alternative than our listening in on their broadcasts; that way, we would know that they existed, whether they realized our humble patch in the universe, or not.

This is a worthwhile film which elucidates what we know, what we think we know, and what we don't know about the existance of aliens. Ferris constructively utilizes such influential scientists as Harvard's Stephen J. Gould and the legendary Princeton physicists Harold Gott and Freeman J. Dyson in his search for answers.

The enlightened among us will be glad to learn that Ferris does not waste time trying to credit or discredit UFO sightings. That is most certainly NOT the trajectory of this inquiry. Besides, there have been enough TV documentaries which do focus on that phenomenom to make them a dime a dozen. Fermi's "question" aside, we are bereft of any conclusive evidence that this planet has ever been visited by denizens whose origin was someplace elsewhere in the universe.

The late science fiction writer Ray Bradbury once told of an episode where one of his fans asked him if he believed in Martians. Bradbury's answer was "Yes, he did." His justification was that there already ARE Martians that exist. WE are the Martians. The question is not whether or not life can "happen," for it already HAS happened. We are the proof of that. Which brings us to the next question: are there any other Martians? Watch this video; it will bring you closer to the answer on what may always be an unanswerable question.

Rating:
Summary: A "Love-Letter" Monument to Carl Sagan's work
Review: Having seen this glorious program on PBS, I immediately purchased the video. I can't count how many times I've watched this. It is a love-letter to Carl Sagan and pays homage to our most beloved space-scientist. It also explains many things that most people take for granted - LIFE & TIME. How it evolved, branched out, died, and survived; and the millions of years it took to get us to where we are today. All the things on this planet, including us, are gloriously connected. Who needs religion when the wonders of the Universe is at your fingertips.

Rating:
Summary: Very good!
Review: I first saw this film by Timothy Ferris when it came out last fall on PBS. I thought it was wonderful and utilized a large number of well known scientists to help explain the history of the search and its current trend. I do agree that if you have a background or working knowledge of science (especially astronomy and other physical sciences) it would prove to be benficial in understanding the more complex matter. In either case, there is a good deal to be learned about the universe from this film.

Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!
Review: I saw this program on PBS and was so impressed that I wanted to own the DVD. I have yet to see more thorough and comprehensive coverage of this subject in a single documentary. It examines the basis and origins of life on earth, and then proceeds outward to the rest of the universe. Timothy Ferris' insights, anecdotes, and relaxing tutorial style, combined with the incredible CGI visuals, kept me captivated from beginning to end.

Rating:
Summary: Great film - but a major video problem with the DVD
Review: Life Beyond Earth is a wonderful film. Unfortunately the DVD picture suffers greatly from frequent frame stuttering and staggering - most prominent during the many animation sequences. What I recall as a smooth animated glide through the Eagle Nebula is now more of a bumpy bus ride. It's too bad, because other than that, the picture/color/clarity is greatly improved via my s-video connection, and the dolby surround, though not 5.1, does the soundtrack justice. Whether it's a flaw in the original transfer, or just bad duplication, I do not know, but I've now tested two copies on two different DVD players, and the flaws are consistent... and ohhhh so frequent. It's maddening. I certainly expected better from PBS.

Rating:
Summary: Stimulating and brilliant!
Review: Timothy Ferris is both a intelligent and humorous guide in our journey through the two parts of this tape. In the first part, the first 60 minutes, he explores how life developed on Earth and if there can be life on other worlds. On the second, he examines how man became intelligent, if intelligence could develop on other worlds and how to communicate with that alien intelligence. Lovely special effects, a great musical sore, interviews with scientists and just plain common sense makes the tape a MUST for any library. From PBS it has nothing that might upset the kiddies, so let them view it also!

"The long twilight of human loneliness may come to an end within our lifetime." - Timothy Ferris.