Along the way we meet some remarkable Australian Scientists and discover a whole new life form.
A young Queensland geologist, Dr Unwins, has quite possibly made one of the most significant biological discoveries of the last 100 years. Ten times smaller than any known living creature, her so called nanobes could hold the key to the origin of life on earth. These tiny creatures appear to eat plastic, may have come from outer space and have been linked with cancer.
In 1998, mysterious 'organisms' were found in petroleum drilling samples. These tiny entities survived for millions of years in solid rock, two kilometers deeper into the Earth's crust than any recorded life.
When exposed to oxygen and nutrients, they grow, reproduce, organise to form colonies and contain the master molecules of life - DNA.
A Martian meteor and a micro-organism from Australia join forces to prove whether life could have started in outer space. Their ability to survive extremes of radiation, temperature and pressure, make them perfect space travelers and are the most convincing evidence yet of an extraterrestrial life form.
Alien Underworld Awards (ABC TV 2002)
2003 Eureka Prize for Science Journalism ($10,000)
2002 Grand Prix, Beijing International Science Film Festival
2003 Finalist New York Film Festival
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