Our team of assistant producers, Makena Bauss, Sam Bennion, Deidrene Crisanto, and audio engineer, Andre Marques, conducted an investigation of extraterrestrial life. Inspired by the stories of alien encounters, UFO sightings, and all things science fiction, the Apple Seed wanted to explore the science behind science fiction.

Brigham Young University professors Dr. David Dearden (Chemistry) and Dr. Carl Sederholm (College of Humanities) begin our conversation. Together, they teach a university course called, "Unexpected Connections," a course which brings together the disciplines of Physical Science and Global & Cultural Awareness to explore questions of extraterrestrial life from scientific and literary points of view.

We were pleased to be joined by awarding-winning & bestselling writer Rick Yancey, author The Fifth Wave series, a young adult trilogy about teenagers surviving waves of an alien invasion that have decimated the human population and knocked humankind back to the Stone Age. The sequel in the trilogy, The Infinite Sea, was recently released last year and the series will soon be adapted into film. The third book, The Last Star, will be released later this year. In our conversation, assistant producer, Sam Bennion, speaks with Rick a little bit about the conventions of alien fiction, and Rick puts in his two cents regarding the alien question. To learn more about Rick, visit his website here: www.rickyancey.com. Click here for more from our interview with Rick.

What is it about the stars that keeps us looking up? Ufologist and researcher, Dennis Balthaser, has been tackling this question since 1996 after moving to Roswell, New Mexico after having been keenly interested in the infamous Roswell Incident of 1947. A retired civil and Army engineer, Dennis has since worked as a UFO researcher/investigator of the Roswell Incident, Area 51, and conducts tours, lectures, on these and other topics related to ufology. To learn more about Dennis and his work, and to read more stories from Dennis, visit: www.truthseekeratroswell.com. For more from this interview, click here.

In the last segment of the episode, the Apple Seed Team travels to Roosevelt, Utah to investigate the paranormal activity around the popular UFO sighting area known as Skinwalker Ranch (also known as UFO Ranch). Inspired by the UFO researchers and investigators, like those we've heard from in this episode, Makena, Deidrene, Sam, and Andre investigated the accounts of UFO activity in the area and present their findings with us. Disclaimer: no extraterrestrials or citizens of earth were hurt in the process of our investigation. 

Skinwalker Ranch, commonly known as UFO Ranch

Pictured above: The entrance to Skinwalker Ranch, also known as UFO Ranch.