"Alien Planet" on Discovery Channel

[toymaker]

http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/alienplanet<br />"What happens when we find life outside our own planet? Discovery Channel brings viewers on a virtual mission of the future. Right now, the search for planets with "life signatures" goes on. These efforts are global, and experts tell us on camera how this search for life is progressing around the world. No longer just the domain of science fiction, what could alien life really look like? Alien Planet dramatizes an exciting — and possible — answer. <br /><br />The drama takes place on Darwin IV, a fictional planet 6.5 light-years from Earth, with two suns and 60 percent gravity. Having identified Darwin as a world that could support life, Earth sends a pilot mission consisting of the mothership Von Braun and three probes: Balboa, Da Vinci and Newton. This unmanned fleet is responsible for finding and assessing any life-forms on Darwin IV. Initially, the expectation is to find microscopic life, but the probes soon find themselves in the middle of a developed ecosystem teeming with life of all sizes. <br /><br />The viewer experiences Darwin IV through the "eyes" of the probes Ike (Newton) and Leo (Da Vinci), whose data is relayed back to the mothership and then communicated to Earth. The biological and atmospheric data from the probes and mothership are relayed to viewers through computer voice simulation and on-screen readouts. <br /><br />Real scientists consider data in this planetary environment. They discuss the larger issues of the possibilities of life outside our solar system and deconstruct the animals on Darwin IV, basing the analysis on the laws of evolution and physics. Where possible, life-size animal images and the real probe prototypes will help the audience to understand the current, real basis of the search for other planets. Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku and other big thinkers and scientists will participate in the d

 

[hansolo0]

That link doesn't work try this one...<br /><br /><br />http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/alienplanet/splash.html<br /><br /><br />Basically a special on Discovery channel, may 14 8Est.<br /><br /><br />Cool animations you can interact with at the link

 

[thalion]

This is apparently based on Wayne Barlowe's book <i>Expedition: Being an Account in Words and Artwork of the 2358 A.D. Voyage to Darwin IV</i>, (Workman Publishing Co., 1990).<br /><br />Amazon entry:<br />http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0894806297/qid=1114491022/sr=2-4/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_4/104-9611225-8078322

 

[wmdragon]

YES! when I bought that amazing book, Expedition, years ago the first thing I thought was: "this is a Discovery Channel documentary from the future". they read my mind. I <i>have</i> to see this! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

shameful, I have found no acknowledgement of Wayne Barlowe on the website, in fact they give scientists all the credit:<br /><br /> "scientists have designed the planet of Darwin IV (which lies in a known star system), the probes and spacecraft, as well as the various life-forms found."<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[thalion]

I was a bit appalled that I saw no mention of Barlowe either, but he must have been involved with the project somehow, with copyright laws and all that. Perhaps he wanted to be incognito?

 

[toymaker]

"I was a bit appalled that I saw no mention of Barlowe either, but he must have been involved with the project somehow, with copyright laws and all that. Perhaps he wanted to be incognito?"<br />He is mentioned :<br />http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/alienplanet/scientists/barlowe.html

 

[rogers_buck]

When will it air?

 

[wmdragon]

thanks Toymaker, I went over that list looking for him, but I missed it. <br /><br />from his own website:<br />"In 2004 Barlowe's book Expedition was sold to the Discovery Channel for a two hour presentation. He is one of the show's executive producers, writer and art director."<br /><br />still, I think Discovery gives him little explicit credit for his creation. maybe it's part of the contract. oh well<br /><br />and man am I excited about this other bit!<br /><br />"In the summer of 1999 Barlowe began work on a screenplay to accompany his art book. In November the completed screenplay entitled INFERNO: REBELLION IN HELL and the book were sold to Fox Feature Animation."<br /><br />http://www.waynebarlowe.com<br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

airs may 14, 15, 19 and 20 <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[rogers_buck]

Thanks.

 

[redracer02]

I liked it, taped it in case I missed parts of it, which I did (kids and wife). My brother came up with a good point. If Leo was designed to take risks and Ike was playing it safe, what was Balboa designed to do?<br /><br />The ship that transported them there was really cool and well thought out.<br /><br />But there didn't seem to be enough life, of course maybe it was a dying world.

 

[thalion]

I loved it, and plan to tape it the next time it's on.<br /><br />Ditto for Balboa--what was it supposed to do?<br /><br />I too expected a little more life, and a more robust food chain base for what seemed to be almost entirely heterotrophic organisms. The few minor quibbles I had with it weren't enough to dampen my great enjoyment of the show, though. I was truly inspired. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[wmdragon]

I have to see it, but the illustration book it is based on is really just a collection of snapshot of different lifeforms on Darwin IV, it doesnt go much into environmental relationships. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[jurgens]

I think they might have actually been using Alpha Centauri as the basis for the show. The Alpha Centauri Binary System's sun is indeed like our own. Plus a stable planetary orbit at around .8AU-2AU exists for the primary star.

 

[wmdragon]

maybe, it's possible they combined the artist's fictional Darwin IV with the real alpha centauri. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[spacefire]

yeah? where were the mindworms and the locusts of chiron then? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[wmdragon]

and you will still get to see it before me. I recorded it and have yet to watch it. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p> </p><p><font color="#993366"><em>The only laws of matter are those which our minds must fabricate, and the only laws of mind are fabricated for it by matter.</em> <br /> --- James Clerk Maxwell</font></p> </div>

 

[lunatio_gordin]

it was an awesome show. the graphics are quite amazing for TV. (i can't help critique graphics. i've tried modeling. it's very hard. gives you a whole new respect for video games.)<br />certainly well worth the time to watch it.