17. Homeworld speculation - Speculations about the alien species (Movies: Alien)
Description
This article is from the Alien Movies FAQ, by Darryll Hobsonand Eelko de Vos E.W.C.deVos@TWI.TUDelft.NL with numerous contributions by others.
17. Homeworld speculation - Speculations about the alien species (Movies: Alien)
(assuming that the aliens are not entirely subterranean)
The homeworld has a higher atmospheric pressure and possibly a greater
gravity than terrestrial standards. It has oceans which are of a very
low pH and most likely an atmosphere of similar low pH. The EM
spectrum incident upon the homeworld is significantly different from
terrestrial standards, lacking "visible" wavelengths. This might
indicate that the planet's orbit is very large, that it is extremely
overcast or that it orbits a weak sun. In this case, the ecosystem
might be based on geochemical and geothermal systems. Geothermal
activity might also provide a relatively high ambient temperature. The
acidic nature of the aquatic and atmospheric environments might also
be due to extensive production of hydrogen sulfide and other "high
energy" compounds via geochemical activity. A high level of volcanic
and tectonic activity might be maintained by tidal forces stemming
from planetary and stellar bodies in the system.
An ecosystem not based on photosynthesis would require
radically different energy production schemes. Such an
ecosystem might be founded on thermo- and acidophilic
microorganisms. Larger autotrophs might incorporate
endosymbiotic versions of these microorganisms. Vegetative
"plants" would be found around areas of geothermal and
geochemical activity, both on the surface and on the floor of
the oceans. Other organisms might exploit the difference in
pH and temperature at the boundary between aquatic and
terrestrial environments. If volcanic activity were
responsible for the overcast nature of the atmosphere,
incident light might be used by photosynthetic organisms high
in the atmosphere. Thermophilic photosynthesizing organisms
might also be found near lava flows. Areas free of volcanic
activity would be dead zones, possibly inhabited by
hibernating organisms awaiting an increase in ocean level or
the occasional lost creature.
Extensive tectonic and volcanic activity might result in
habitats subject to frequent change. A geothermal habitat
might be replaced by a geochemical or volcanic habitat, or
might be flooded. If this were the case, organisms would have
to be either extremely adaptive or mobile in order to survive.
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