A Question Of Life (1977)

Email us at footage@avgeeks.com if you have questions about the footage and are interested in using it in your project. This educational film explores the fundamental characteristics of life as we know it, contrasting living organisms with non-living phenomena through microscopic examples and examining how extreme environments shape survival. It reviews the conditions of the inner planets—highlighting why Mercury and Venus cannot support life while Earth thrives with water, oxygen, and moderate temperatures. The narrative then shifts to space exploration, focusing on Mars as the most probable location for past or present extraterrestrial life. It details the historical geological forces that shaped the Martian landscape, including volcanoes, canyons, and ancient riverbeds, and discusses how water may now be locked in polar ice caps or permafrost. Finally, the film details the historic Viking lander mission and its sophisticated organic analysis instruments and biological experiments designed to test Martian soil for biochemical components and signs of active microorganisms. Keywords: astronomy, biology, Mars, Viking lander, solar system, microscopic life, extremophiles, space exploration, planets, scientific research