This Week in Space 222

We've all seen the movies... the aliens come to Earth, the aliens overcome the inferior humans, and the aliens fall prey to something dumb they overlooked, like microbes, Windows 95, or most absurdly, water. From the 1950s through yesterday, some of the best movies we've seen were about the invasion of our planet. They can be clever, scary, or even downright dumb, but they are all fun. Veteran space writer Rich Edwards joins us to give advice on how to repel the invaders!

Headlines:

• Department of Defense drops new batch of UFO/UAP files
• Blue Origin traces New Glenn rocket explosion to faulty oxygen valve
• SpaceX’s first public earnings call reveals key financials and hints at Starship's future
• Total solar eclipse set to cross Europe; safety tips and gear recommendations

Main Topic: How to Invade Earth in Sci-Fi—22 Dos and Don’ts with Rich Edwards

• The enduring appeal and adaptability of War of the Worlds
• Why alien invaders always go for major landmarks (and why it’s all for show)
• Critique of aliens with impractical invasion strategies—water allergies and cocky attitudes
• Pop culture’s obsession with alien disguises, conspiracy plots, and gradual infiltration
• Deep dive into Invasion of the Body Snatchers, Day of the Triffids, and the power of slow, stealthy takeovers
• Starting small: Alien invasions in isolated towns and subtle conquests
• The strategic use of time travel in alien invasion movies, with Star Trek: First Contact
• Why James Cameron's Aliens remains a sci-fi invasion classic decades later
• What makes a satisfying alien invasion ending—and the pitfalls of lazy resolutions

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Links

• Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters
• Blue Origin traces origin of huge New Glenn rocket explosion to oxygen valve, CEO says
• Where will the total solar eclipse 2026 be visible from?
• SpaceX Question Time
• How to invade planet Earth: A sci-fi movie alien's guide to bringing the human race to its knees
• Alien movies in order: chronological and release
• 'Aliens' at 40: Here are 26 reasons why James Cameron's sequel is still the greatest sci-fi action movie of all time