Aliens
What lies behind stories of alien abduction and invasion? And can aliens or outsiders sometimes be a force for good? With Nnedi Okorafor, Chris Thomas and Richard McNally.
Scientists have now detected far-away planets that may contain life, but what makes some people believe in extra-terrestrial beings, and not others? What really lies behind stories of alien abduction or alien invasion? And how much damage do alien species of plants actually cause? Bridget Kendall asks ecologist Chris Thomas, science-fiction writer Nnedi Okorafor and psychologist Richard McNally.
(Illustration: Artist impression of alien spaceship hovering over a city landscape. By Shan Pillay)
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With biologist Chris Thomas. (Photo of the Iberian Lynx: Associated Press)
Chris Thomas
Nnedi Okorafor
Richard McNally
Professor Richard McNally is from the Psychology Department at Harvard Medical School. He tells us about his extensive studies on non-psychotic people who sincerely believe they've been abducted by aliens. He argues that this is very likely linked to a simple sleep disorder, which can nevertheless be very traumatic for the person involved, and is connected to false memory syndrome.
Broadcast
- Sat 11 Oct 2014 11:0091热爆 Radio 4
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