EXCLUSIVE: Cinematic depictions of aliens may not be that far off the real deal an expert has suggested, marking National Alien Day, and those conquering planets could come down to one thing
The reason why some aliens are more likely to conquer Earth than others could come down to just one thing, an expert has said.
UFO researcher Philip Mantle has suggested that while depictions of alien lifeforms in film and TV took humanoid form because of the limitations of special effects, it may not be that far off reality due to one thing.
Humanoids are frequently seen on the big and small screen, as for a long time extra terrestrials were portrayed by “men in suits wearing plastic heads”, said Philip, as production teams were restricted by the technology available at the time.
As the world celebrates Alien Day, Philip acknowledges that while aliens could take many forms, one species of alien could be more likely to colonise other planets over other alien species for the same reason humans are on top of the food chain here on Earth – thumbs.
“Without our thumbs, we’d be useless”, Philip said, adding that thumbs have enabled humans to create agriculture and build constructions.
He suggests thumbs set humans apart from other highly intelligent animals who are limited by their physicality – and it may not be that different for aliens.
Philip said: “There’s an argument that when it comes to mother nature, it’s the same irrespective where you are in the universe, so maybe humanoid form is the perfect form for conquering another planet, manipulating it and then leaving the planet, like we have done.”
He added that planet-conquering aliens could vary from humans in terms of how many heads, limbs and body parts they may have, but “as long as they have the thumb, they would be pretty humanoid-ish”.
Philip, who is yet to spot an alien himself, goes on to say that ETs could also take the shape of bacteria or insects, or could even be something completely unfamiliar and unknown to us.
He said: “[Alien life] could well be something different. We’ve only been on Earth for a short period of time and we’ve continued to evolve; we’re now taller and bigger than we’ve ever been.
“So it could be the same with off world species that have been around for billions of years.
“How they would have evolved is anyone’s guess. Just use your imagination.”