Imagine for a moment that you are face-to-face with a genuine
extraterrestrial. A not-of-this-world creature, at a time when the search for alien life is over
because humankind has finally discovered it. After years, decades and perhaps even
centuries of searching in earnest, we’ve finally proven that we are not alone. In your mind’s eye,
what do you see? How do you picture this meeting that’s taking place? And, actually,
are you really face-to-face with whatever it is you envision? Does its face bear any
resemblance to your own? Or, ultimately, would alien life take on an altogether different form?
This is Unveiled, and today we’re answering the extraordinary question;
would aliens look like humans?
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For centuries, humans have been captivated, perhaps even obsessed, by the idea of
extraterrestrial life. From ancient civilizations gazing at the stars to modern space exploration,
the question of whether aliens exist (and what they might look like, if they do) has continually
spurred us on. As such, the global, cultural image of an alien has evolved significantly
over the years. And, in general, what we imagine has moved away from the traditional humanoid
figures of classic science fiction… towards a more diverse and scientifically informed expectation.
In this video, we'll look at the historical fascination with alien life,
explore the shift in our perceptions, and discuss various theories and studies that challenge
the notion that extraterrestrials would ever resemble human beings.
For some, the seeming possibility of life beyond our planet is deeply rooted in ancient times.
And arguably in our development of stories based on gods, unknown forces of nature,
and apparently spiritual events. From ancient myths and religious texts to early astronomy,
humans have pondered the existence of beings from other worlds, largely in a bid to make sense of
the unknown. But, of course, in later years, and especially in the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries, the concept of an alien morphed from a hazy unknowableness into something
that the overwhelming majority of scientists believe could - even should - exist. Now,
the search for alien life has little to do with answering the unknown… and
everything to do with satisfying statistical probability. To modern minds, in a universe
of perhaps infinite variation, it would seem as though something else must be out there.
Nevertheless, our first representations of what an alien might look like were… somewhat
primitive. And the picture of generally humanoid extraterrestrials gained traction with the rise
of science fiction, again in the 19th and 20th centuries. Early, pioneering writers served to
shape our mental image of what aliens might look like. But almost all of the examples available
in the 18 and 1900s weren’t that far removed from the form that our own species takes. Eyes;
sometimes more than two, and often enlarged, but eyes all the same. A mouth, or some kind
of opening through which to communicate, usually front and center of a face. Limbs, again sometimes
more than the two arms and two legs that we’re used to, but still carrying out effectively the
same functions as our own do. Most of the earliest visualizations took on an invariably similar look.
Today, that’s changed. And any depiction of “little green men” or “lanky grays with
oversized heads” now feels pretty dated. The fact is that as scientific understanding has improved,
so too have the representations of what an alien might really be like. Working
from a greater-than-ever knowledge of the conditions required for life to exist,
scientists increasingly challenge the traditional, somewhat tired,
anthropocentric ideas. And, sometimes, even the very fundamentals are called into question.
For example, an increasing number propose that life elsewhere could exist based on
elements other than carbon. While carbon is the undisputed building block for life on Earth,
silicon has been considered, in particular, as a potential alternative. On Earth, and in humans,
carbon is so crucial (and prevalent) because it’s an extremely versatile element. It is a
defining feature of all the most important things that make us, from DNA to sugar,
protein to muscle. However, we know that although it’s dominant here, it isn’t necessarily the same
everywhere else. And silicon is usually touted as a comparably effective base material that
could be just as crucial to other (alien) instances of life. It then follows that
life forms with a silicon-based biochemistry might have (probably would have) entirely
different physical structures and properties. Humanoid, they almost certainly are not.
Elsewhere, and research on extremophiles - organisms that can thrive in the most
extreme conditions on Earth - has further expanded our understanding of the potential
for aliens. Increasingly, we must seriously consider that (despite all we’ve come to expect
of Earthly life) living organisms could well exist in any number of environments that were
previously thought inhospitable. These might include places with high radiation levels,
extreme temperatures, or intense pressure. This line of thinking is in part supported by our
growing understanding of what’s possible within a star’s habitable zone. We know that this is
the region within which conditions might allow for liquid water, but we also know - thanks to
growing research - that the surface conditions of worlds in a habitable zone are often very
different to our own. It would appear, then, again, that Earth’s way is not the only way.
Finally, and perhaps from a slightly more speculative point of view,
could it be possible that alien life is simply coded differently at the base level,
whatever that base level is? We know that life on Earth is based on DNA and RNA,
but alternative biochemistries might exist. And some research therefore explores the possibility
of extraterrestrial life using different genetic codes, which could (again, probably
should) lead to organisms with wholly different features distinct from anything found on Earth.
Indeed, any and all of the above could combine in any number of ways to produce something that’s
entirely different from anything we might expect or recognise. And, while we know that humans,
as we are, have at least managed to eke out a living on this particular planet,
and have at least managed to progress to this particular time and level… many have suggested
that it’s pure arrogance (or ignorance) to assume that anything else would take the same route.
So, let’s head back to your imaginary meeting at the top of this video. True alien life stands
before you, if it stands at all… and you have to try to make sense of what you see, if in fact
you can see it. If it were silicon based, then there’s really no telling what it would look like,
exactly, although popular depictions tend toward it having an intricate geometric form or else
being a transparent, jewel-like entity. If it were an extreme environment dweller, then it’ll have to
have adapted to survive whatever extremities it faces - such as the conditions inside a star, for
example - which means it may have further evolved unique, heat-resistant or pressure-tolerant
features. And all of that before we’ve even considered the discrepancies that would occur
on any creature from another planet, simply due to changes in gravity or disparities in sunlight.
Of course, given all that we’ve considered, it’s also possible that what you’d be looking at (from
your perspective) could also be nothing much at all. Life forms existing as gaseous entities,
lacking a traditional solid or liquid makeup, may challenge our understanding of biology… but also
might be common. On the face of it, these beings could exist inside the atmospheres of gas giants
or nebulae, with their appearance defined by ever-changing patterns and colors. Whether
or not a human could ever truly grasp that such an alien were alive… is another matter.
It could be a similar case with alien colonies. As human beings, and although
we do have societies and civilizations, we consider ourselves to be individual life forms.
There is some argument that this wouldn’t be the case with an advanced enough alien,
which would more likely (and efficiently) function as a collective intelligence. Such colonies could
naturally display intricate patterns, morphing shapes, and unique communication methods… but,
again, would a plain ol’ human being ever really understand what it was that they were
looking at? Add the potential for energy-based life into the equation - that is life that
transcends a physical body entirely - and the picture gets even more difficult to discern.
Of course, until such time as alien life is discovered, predictions as to its appearance
remain entirely speculative. But, for now, what’s clear is that while we might expect
it to demonstrate at least some recognisable characteristics…. it could also be entirely
non-humanoid, and perhaps fundamentally different to any other life form we know of. The human form,
far from being the pinnacle of evolution, may be just one of countless potential
configurations in the vast tapestry of the cosmos. It might not even be a particularly
good configuration. And, ultimately, that’s why aliens may look nothing like us, at all.
What do you think? Is there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments, check out these other
clips from Unveiled, and make sure you subscribe and ring the bell for our latest content.