S if for Symbiosis

Symbiosis refers to an interdependency between two different species.  We see examples of symbiosis all the time, though we may not always recognize them for what they are.  Our own digestive tracts are filled with bacteria.  The bacteria have a warm, nutrient-filled environment in which to thrive, and they help us process the foods that we eat.

The following video does a great job of explaining the different types of symbiotic relationships in greater detail.

We see plenty of examples of symbiotic relationships in science fiction.  In the Star Trek universe, we see the Trill, a species that can play host to a symbiont.  Not all Trill are paired with a symbiont, but those who are gain the memories of the new creature inhabiting their body.  The person playing host is permanently altered by the experience, and the symbiont is able to have a many new experiences they wouldn’t have been able to enjoy before.  The joining undeniably changes them both, but what kind of symbiotic relationship do they have?  It’s certainly beneficial for the symbiont, but could it be beneficial for the Trill as well?  Trill society, after all, reveres the idea of being a host, perhaps because it has been a fact of life for so long that it’s become an integral part of the culture.  Not all Trill can be hosts, so perhaps this too makes it seem like being chosen is an honor rather than an obligation.  How would you feel about having another intelligent organism living inside your body, knowing that you would never be the same as you were beforehand?

We also have the terrifying scenario in Alien, where the xenomorphs reproduce using the bodies of other creatures to reproduce.  The process is nonconsensual, and the births are violent, resulting in a gruesome death for the host.  We are treated as little more than incubators, our humanity denied.  Does this make the xenomorphs monstrous?  Or, since it is crucial to their survival, should we look at it merely as a creature acting according to its instincts?

There are also plenty of examples of science fiction where we see alien intelligences taking over a creature altogether.  These body-snatching scenarios seem far more sinister than mutually beneficial symbiotic relationships, in that there seems to be no semblance of the original person left.  For beings that value the freedom to make decisions and to act of our own volition above all else, this is a horrifying prospect.  Why are body-snatching and mind control scenarios so prevalent in science fiction?  What real world fears do these stories touch upon that make them so scary for audiences?

What other symbiotic relationships can you think of?  Which kind of symbiotic relationship do you find the most disturbing, and why?

F is for First Contact

Mankind will undoubtedly be changed if/when we make contact with an alien species.  The nature of this change has been explored in various science fiction narratives, and many stories show humanity coming together as a result of first contact.

Sometimes the aliens come in peace, and sometimes they don’t.  How do these two scenarios differ, and how does that effect humanity?

When aliens come with a purpose to conquer, you see humans banding together to vanquish the enemy.  United in a common purpose, people and countries set aside their petty squabbles.  Though these invasion stories are just as much a reflection of our own violent past as they are a speculation about what might happen if aliens come to Earth with hostile intentions, in doing so they showcase the best of us.  These stories are also a good excuse to have big explosions, but that’s another matter entirely.

However, what happens when aliens come in peace?  According to the future portrayed by Star Trek, the revelation that we aren’t alone unites us in a way never thought possible.  War, and famine disappear.  (War still exists, but it no longer takes place between different segments of humanity.  We all know conflict was still prevalent in Star Trek.)  The need for material wealth no longer exists.  We see ourselves as one race instead of a multitude of groups.  Humanity is also generally accepting of alien cultures.  While disagreements happen, humanity as a whole prides itself on having moved beyond prejudice.

Image from Star Trek: First Contact

Babylon 5 paints a different picture.  While the people of Earth have generally come together, there is still homelessness and prejudice.  You hear people describe the Marsies with disdain, and there are groups that vehemently distrust alien races.  Government corruption ultimately leads to a civil war.

Given humanity’s past, is the Star Trek vision of the future too optimistic, or do you think we could eventually get there?  What implications would first contact have for religious belief?  For politics?  What new avenues would science have to explore?  Could we genuinely relate with and find common ground with a species that is vastly different from our own?

D is for Drake Equation

The Drake Equation is well known to most who wonder about the possibility of intelligent life existing elsewhere in the universe.  Personally, I have no doubt intelligent life exists somewhere in the universe.  The only question is, how common is it? 

The Drake Equation is meant to estimate how many intelligent civilizations may exist in our galaxy that have the technological capability to communicate with us.

Background Image courtesy of tungphoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This video gives a good background of the equation and looks at a couple of the estimates that have been made using the equation.

C is for Constellations

Throughout human history, we've looked up at the night sky in awe.  Before we had science to explain the things we saw, each culture made up it's own stories about the pictures it saw in the sky.  These stories say a lot about the groups that made them.  Though we know now that the constellations are not actual groupings of stars, but rather appear that way from our perspective, they are still a part of who we are.  We grow up looking at them.  For many, they are our first exposure to the wonders of the cosmos.

Sometimes I find myself wondering about a hypothetical alien race and what they see in the unique images they would see in their own night sky.

Tweets in Space!

Do you want to send your message to the stars?  Here's how you can!

On Friday September 21, 2012, log onto Twitter and add #tweetsinspace to your message. Now remember, timing is of the essence.  This must be done 8:30 – 9:00 PM Mountain Time, or 7:30-8PM PST; 9:30-10PM CST; 10:30-11PM EST.  I know all these time zones can make life confusing when it comes to coordinating an interstellar event like this, so thanks to the people at Tweets in Space for spelling it out so clearly on their webpage.

To learn more, watch this groovy video!  It's fun to watch, and the little girl at the end is WAY too cute!

Talking With Extraterrestrials

In response to the unexplained 'Wow! Signal' received in 1977, tweets are being collected to be rolled into a response that will be sent out on August 15.  The details from the Huff Post article tell you how you can participate.  To read the full article, click HERE.

All tweets composed between 8 p.m. EDT Friday (June 29) and 3 a.m. EDT Saturday (June 30) tagged with the hashtag #ChasingUFOs will be rolled into a single message, according to the National Geographic Channel, which is timing the Twitter event to coincide with the premiere of the channel's new series, "Chasing UFOs."

Whether the signal came from aliens or some other source, this is a rare opportunity.  I would encourage anyone who dreams of meeting aliens to add their words into the mix.  Why not?  It may seem like the stuff of science fiction, but science fiction often turns to science fact.

Anyone Got Some Sunglasses?

This is cool.  In the effort to confirm whether extrasolar harbor extraterrestrial life, scientists need to be able to look directly at the planet itself.  Of course, the light of the parent planet inevitably creates a viewing problem as it drowns out the image.  Now scientists are playing with an idea originally conceived in the '60's by Lyman Spitzer.  They want to build a spaceshade that would be positioned out ahead of the telescope so it could filter out the interfering light.

Now, before anyone offers NASA their used sunglasses so they can save money, it isn't that simple.  The shade needs to be very specifically shaped to avoid the other problem of sunlight bending around the shade to screw up the image.  In short, we're hoping to build a giant sunflower in space.  Wow, that sounds even cooler here than it did in my head.

Scientists are also entertaining other ideas to combat the problem, including coordinating multiple telescopes to cancel out the light or techno-babbly add-ons for future telescopes.

I hope they get this figured out soon, because I really can't wait to see where the aliens might be.