Astrobiologica, also called the Wallace Project in its first episode, is a Speculative Biology project that started in July 2022. It is a video series found
on YouTube.
The series is about the Wallace solar system, a binary star system which contains the Sun-like yellow star Wallace and the red dwarf Sarawak. While 4 planets orbit just Wallace and 1 orbits just Sarawak, the beginning of the series focuses on the binary planetary system of mostly oceanic Ecco and barren Xea, which orbit both stars in a figure-8 elliptical pattern. As alien life emerges on Ecco, humans scientists observe the watery planet while also planning to colonize Xea, which they have determined is unlikely to develop life on its own.
Part 1 can be watched here.
Examples:
- Alien Non-Interference Clause: The humans determine that because Ecco is developing thriving ecosystems on its own, it would be unethical to introduce Earth life to it. However, they also determine that Xea will not develop life on its own, so it's okay to settle that planet.
- Arcology: 9 domed arcologies are constructed by autofactories on Xea for the human colonists to inhabit when the planet has yet to become easily habitable.
- Human Subspecies: An offshoot of the Xean humans emerges with stockier bodies, thick fur, extra lungs, and large eyes adapted to survive the orbital winter when the planet is far from both stars.
- Raised by Robots: The lab-grown humans colonizing Xea are raised by androids once they are born.
- Retraux: The series uses pixelated imagery reminiscent of 16-bit games from the 1990s.
- Terraform: Because Xea has almost no water and thus little opportunity to independently form the building blocks of life, the human scientists decide to terraform it so that they and other Earth organisms can settle on it.
