What if life really did exist on other planets? Strange, funny, snuggly, or downright sinister and scary beings from the furthest galaxies and deepest oceans have long been fixtures of the human imagination. Now, in a delightful blend of popular imagery, science, and fiction, the exhibition Extraterrestrials: What If? is invading the Museum from February 26 to October 4, 2009. A production of the science of...
Extraterrestrials: What If? invites visitors on a fantastic voyage in four stages for some close encounters with the extraordinary beings that inhabit - or may inhabit - our universe. Discover creatures straight out of a science fiction novel, life forms that survive in the most extreme environments on Earth, and imagined inhabitants of other planets dreamed up by leading scientists. You’ll also learn about human attempts to communicate with extraterrestrial life and the status of current research on efforts to locate new planets and detect life outside of our solar system.
Artifacts, posters, models, inventive interactive games, movie clips, and videos vividly illustrate this captivating subject in a brilliant blend of astronomy, biology and semiology.
The essence of otherness
“This is a topic made to measure for Musée de la civilisation. Here, imagination, reality, science, and fiction seamlessly blend. Questions about extraterrestrial life are essentially human questions and reflect on how we look at ‘others’ through our own perceptions”, noted Claire Simard, Executive Director of Musée de la civilisation. “Furthermore, Extraterrestrials: What If? is a fabulous opportunity for us to work with a London-based organization whose remarkable productions have toured the world on multiple occasions. The science of... is dedicated to fostering a strong and heartfelt interest in science among young and old alike - just as we are through our regular programming,” concluded Ms. Simard.
Science fiction
Awaiting at the entrance to exhibition, the queen of the Aliens will give visitors a jolt with her surly manner and strident voice. She sets the tone by highlighting how fantastic creatures have captivated the human imagination. Twentieth century literature and movies are ample testimony to that, with figures like Frankenstein, Dracula, E.T., The Thing, Flash Gordon, and Vogons replacing dragons, unicorns, and other magical creatures. Aliens are often depicted as humanoids of superior intelligence whose technologies are light years ahead of ours. In this part of the exhibition, we also look at encounters of the third kind.
Science reality
Scientific speculation about the possibility of extraterrestrial life has been encouraged by the study of the strange life forms that live on our planet and in its oceans. Strangely shaped organisms with remarkable features have adapted to extreme conditions on earth and far beneath the sea. They include gulpers, water bears, spider crabs, cuttlefish, octopus, cockroaches, scorpions, and others with equally evocative names. Along with research on earth, probes have also been sent to explore Mars and Venus. Will they find water—and traces of microbiological life?
Between science and imagination
Well-known biologists, geologists, physicists, and chemists teamed up to imagine two planets, their physical characteristics, and the creatures likely to live there. Thus were born Aurelia and Blue Moon. Blue Moon orbits a gas giant star ten times the size of Jupiter and has highly active water and carbon cycles. Aurelia is a stationary prisoner of its star, one of its faces constantly illuminated, the other in permanent darkness. There is no day or night, no seasons. One of these planets is inhabited by three-eyed beings, the other by flying whales!
Communication
Probes and radio messages have been sent into space in hopes of connecting with extraterrestrial intelligence. Pioneer was launched in 1972, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 in 1977. Each probe carried information on the human race and Planet Earth. Thirty years later, they continue their voyage through space. At the same time, scientists are constantly listening for signals of non-terrestrial intelligence emitted purposefully or randomly by life forms on other planets. The exhibition even has an area where visitors can “send” their own message into space. Who knows, maybe someone is listening!
Extraterrestrials: What If? is a fascinating exhibition produced by the science of... presented at Musée de la civilisation from February 26 to October 4, 2009. One visit and you’ll never see little green men the same way again!