Mixing a fictional narrative with documentary interviews, "First Contact: An Alien Encounter" tells the dramatic story of an encounter with an extraterrestrial artifact and explores the new tools we have available in the search for life beyond earth.
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First Contact: An Alien Encounter is available to stream on pbs.org and the PBS app.
About the Show
In the last 20 years, new technologies have dramatically improved our ability to see and hear the universe around us. We've built networks of radio telescopes to scan the stars for signals and discovered over 50 potentially habitable worlds in the milky way galaxy alone.
As a result, many leading scientists now believe there's a genuine possibility we may soon detect the first evidence of extraterrestrial life.
More About the Show
"First Contact" offers up an awe-inspiring and, at times, troubling exploration of just what might happen in this unprecedented scenario.
Using a collage of fictional podcasts, media feeds and international news programs, this 21st century "War of the Worlds" tells the dramatic story of an encounter with an extraterrestrial artifact traveling through our solar system over the course of 12 days and explores how the world responds.
Mixing a deeply researched fictional narrative with real documentary interviews, it features some of the world's foremost scientists and thinkers - including Dr. Jill Tarter, pioneer in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence and Dr. Mazlan Othman, former director of the United Nations office for Outer Space affairs.
Together, these experts and others explore the scientific, social, and philosophical implications of first contact, as well as investigating the multitude of responses that may result. This isn't just about what might be out there in the universe - it offers up a fascinating new perspective on humanity here on earth.
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The sun rises behind the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank Observatory.
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© BBC 2022/Patrick Acum
An astronomer stands in a control room, with the Lovell Telescope in the background.
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© BBC 2022/Patrick Acum
Destroyed exoplanet debris orbiting a white dwarf star.
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© BBC 2022/BDH
A fictional Japanese news presenter reports on the extraterrestrial signal that has been detected.
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© BBC 2022/NHK
A scientist gives a presentation via video call to a conference audience.
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© BBC 2022/Brendan McGinty
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