Human awareness of extraterrestrial life: Difference between revisions
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{{ | {{first pic|Sycorax news report.jpg|[[BBC News 24]] reports on the images of an "[[Sycorax|alien lifeform]]" transmitted from the ''[[Guinevere One]]'' [[space probe]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}})}} | ||
The phrase '''"[[human]] awareness of [[extraterrestrial]] [[life]]"''' ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Vault of Secrets (TV story)}}) referred to the general public awareness of [[alien]]s within humanity. While humanity would become familiar with aliens after they became a space-faring race, ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Dying Days (novel)}}) the matter of human awareness while on [[Earth]] in the [[21st century]] and earlier was complicated, with the public often being aware for periods but then forgetting for various possible reasons. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) | The phrase '''"[[human]] awareness of [[extraterrestrial]] [[life]]"''' ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Vault of Secrets (TV story)}}) referred to the general public awareness of [[alien]]s within humanity. While humanity would become familiar with aliens after they became a space-faring race, ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Dying Days (novel)}}) the matter of human awareness while on [[Earth]] in the [[21st century]] and earlier was complicated, with the public often being aware for periods but then forgetting for various possible reasons. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) | ||
This concept was related to [[first contact]]. | This concept was related to [[first contact]]. | ||
== Nature of mass unawareness == | |||
Although [[alien]]s frequently came to [[Earth]] and encountered [[human]]s, humanity as a whole often remained unaware of alien life. | |||
By some accounts, this was a natural part of human psychology. The [[Seventh Doctor]] described the human race as having an "amazing capacity for self-deception" such that alien invasions were not remembered. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)}}) The [[Twelfth Doctor]] claimed that [[forgetting]] the unusual was a "human [[superpower (ability)|superpower]]", with humans forgetting how scary weird events felt so that they could continue living, sometimes sublimating their feelings into [[fairy tale]]s. ([[TV]]: {{cs|In the Forest of the Night (TV story)}}) The Twelfth Doctor also said that humanity had a "collective ability to overlook the inexplicable". ([[TV]]: {{cs|Thin Ice (TV story)}}) | |||
Organisations throughout time routinely worked to keep alien life a secret from the public, ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)}}) with this including [[UNIT]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Terror of the Zygons (TV story)}}, et al.) and [[Torchwood]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Everything Changes (TV story)}}) Some conspiracy theorists believed that humanity kept on forgetting aliens due to drugs in the water supply. ([[PROSE]]: {{Cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) | |||
The [[Crack in time|cracks in time]] erased people and events from history, causing some alien encounters to be forgotten. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Flesh and Stone (TV story)}}) Some conspiracy theorists believed that humanity kept on forgetting due to a singular crack in time leaching away human memories. ([[PROSE]]: {{Cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) | |||
Some conspiracy theorists believed that an [[amnesia wavelength]] was being beamed across Earth. ([[PROSE]]: {{Cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) | |||
== History == | == History == | ||
=== Pre-19th century === | |||
Numerous encounters with aliens occurred throughout human history. The extraterrestrial truths of these encounters were usually not conveyed in historical documentation, with aliens sometimes being remembered as mythological beings or being left out of history altogether. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|A History of the Universe (short story)}}) | |||
In the 1st century [[BC]], a secret facility analogous to a [[Black Archive facility|Black Archive]] existed under the [[Library of Alexandria]]. It contained artefacts of species which influenced early humanity, such as the [[Daemon]]s and the [[Osiran]]s. It was destroyed and submerged along with the Library. ([[GAME]]: {{cs|The Black Archive (game)}}) | |||
Throughout the second millennium, the [[Vatican]] routinely covered up evidence of extraterrestrial incidents, in order to prevent the rise of the [[Age of Reason]]. Various extraterrestrial artefacts were held in the [[Collection of Necessary Secrets]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)}}) | |||
After the [[Brotherhood of Demnos]]'s defeat in [[1492]] as a result of the [[Mandragora Helix]]'s manipulations, [[Duke]] [[Giuliano]] organised the surviving members into a new [[cult]], known as the [[Orbus Postramo]], which worshipped aliens. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Dreamland (audio story)}}) His journal, the [[Book of Tomorrows]], describing his adventures with the [[Fourth Doctor]], became their holy book over the centuries. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Fatal Consequences (audio story)}}) | |||
=== 19th century === | === 19th century === | ||
Although the [[Ice Lophius]] was not extraterrestrial, its involvement in the [[1814 frost fair]] was also forgotten due to, in the [[Twelfth Doctor]]'s words, the "collective human ability to overlook the inexplicable". The Doctor also suspected the fair's excessive drinking contributed to the sea serpent being forgotten. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Thin Ice (TV story)}}) | |||
Following the [[1851 incident]] involving the [[CyberKing]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Next Doctor (TV story)}}) the general public seemingly forgot about it. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] reasoned that a [[crack in time]] was responsible. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Flesh and Stone (TV story)}}) | Following the [[1851 incident]] involving the [[CyberKing]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Next Doctor (TV story)}}) the general public seemingly forgot about it. The [[Eleventh Doctor]] reasoned that a [[crack in time]] was responsible. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Flesh and Stone (TV story)}}) | ||
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=== 20th century === | === 20th century === | ||
{{section stub|Missing discussion of the [[Official Secrets Act]]}} | |||
From [[1953]] to [[1972]], the [[Men in Black (Dreamland)|Men in Black]] worked for the [[Alliance of Shades]] to restrict human awareness of aliens. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Vault of Secrets (TV story)}}) | From [[1953]] to [[1972]], the [[Men in Black (Dreamland)|Men in Black]] worked for the [[Alliance of Shades]] to restrict human awareness of aliens. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Vault of Secrets (TV story)}}) | ||
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=== 21st century === | === 21st century === | ||
==== 2000s ==== | |||
{{section stub|[[TV]]: {{cs|Love & Monsters (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Pyramid at the End of the World (TV story)}}}} | {{section stub|[[TV]]: {{cs|Love & Monsters (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Pyramid at the End of the World (TV story)}}}} | ||
By [[2005]], conspiracy theorists had various theories on why humanity kept on forgetting the existence of alien life. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) Even following her initial encounter with the [[Auton]]s, [[Rose Tyler]] wrote off [[Clive Finch]] as "a [[nutter]]" for believing that the [[Ninth Doctor]] was an alien, only recognising him as such when [[Mickey Smith (Auton)|an Auton]] pursued the two into [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. This realisation overwhelmed Rose emotionally, which the Doctor identified as [[culture shock]]. The [[Dummy Massacre|worldwide Auton attack]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rose (TV story)}}) would be recognised by some, including [[Elton Pope]] and [[Jackie Tyler]] as the first of a string of high-profile alien incidents, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Love & Monsters (TV story)}}, [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Wednesdays For Beginners (audio story)}}) whilst others such as [[Donna Noble]] would remain oblivious. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Rose (novelisation | [[File:Alien Hoax Evening Standard.jpg|thumb|right|The ''[[Evening Standard]]'' featured claims of an [[Slitheen craft|alien ship]] having been a [[hoax]] on their frontpage. ([[TV]]: {{cs|World War Three (TV story)}})]] | ||
By [[2005]], conspiracy theorists had various theories on why humanity kept on forgetting the existence of alien life. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) Even following her initial encounter with the [[Auton]]s, [[Rose Tyler]] wrote off [[Clive Finch]] as "a [[nutter]]" for believing that the [[Ninth Doctor]] was an alien, only recognising him as such when [[Mickey Smith (Auton)|an Auton]] pursued the two into [[the Doctor's TARDIS]]. This realisation overwhelmed Rose emotionally, which the Doctor identified as [[culture shock]]. The [[Dummy Massacre|worldwide Auton attack]] ([[TV]]: {{cs|Rose (TV story)}}) would be recognised by some, including [[Elton Pope]] and [[Jackie Tyler]] as the first of a string of high-profile alien incidents, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Love & Monsters (TV story)}}, [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Wednesdays For Beginners (audio story)}}) whilst others such as [[Donna Noble]] would remain oblivious. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Rose (novelisation)}}) | |||
In [[2006]], the [[London UFO crash]], an apparent first contact incident, led the Doctor to assume that humanity would be aware of aliens openly from then on. Residents of [[London]] celebrated and hung out banners welcoming aliens. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Aliens of London (TV story)}}) However, after he discovered and halted the true masterminds of the crash, the [[Slitheen family]], who had plotted to destroy the Earth for profit, newspapers such as the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' immediately began calling the crash a [[hoax]]. When [[Mickey Smith]] asked the Doctor why, he responded that humanity was not yet ready to believe. ([[TV]]: {{cs|World War Three (TV story)}}) | In [[2006]], the [[London UFO crash]], an apparent first contact incident, led the Doctor to assume that humanity would be aware of aliens openly from then on. Residents of [[London]] celebrated and hung out banners welcoming aliens. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Aliens of London (TV story)}}) However, after he discovered and halted the true masterminds of the crash, the [[Slitheen family]], who had plotted to destroy the Earth for profit, newspapers such as the ''[[Evening Standard]]'' immediately began calling the crash a [[hoax]]. When [[Mickey Smith]] asked the Doctor why, he responded that humanity was not yet ready to believe. ([[TV]]: {{cs|World War Three (TV story)}}) | ||
[[File:Humans witness Sycorax.jpg|thumb|left|Humans in [[London]] witness the arrival of a [[Fire Trap|Sycorax spaceship]] above the city on [[Christmas Day]] [[2006]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}})]] | |||
That [[Christmas]], the [[Sycorax]] attacked [[Earth]] after being attracted there by the [[Tenth Doctor]]'s residual [[regeneration energy]]. When they appeared on live [[television]] after capturing the ''[[Guinevere One]]'' [[Mars]] probe, it was attempted to dismiss them as a hoax, but the later events above London, including the appearance of their spaceship over London, made it clear they were real. In the aftermath, the Doctor said there was "no going back now" as humans knew alien life existed. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}}) | That [[Christmas]], the [[Sycorax]] attacked [[Earth]] after being attracted there by the [[Tenth Doctor]]'s residual [[regeneration energy]]. When they appeared on live [[television]] after capturing the ''[[Guinevere One]]'' [[Mars]] probe, it was attempted to dismiss them as a hoax, but the later events above London, including the appearance of their spaceship over London, made it clear they were real. In the aftermath, the Doctor said there was "no going back now" as humans knew alien life existed. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}}) | ||
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[[Martha Jones]] concluded the [[Royal Hope incident]] was the work of extraterrestrials as it was ongoing, citing to the Doctor her cousin [[Adeola Oshodi]]'s death at [[Canary Wharf]] and the various recent alien incursions. At the same time, {{Simm|n=Harold Saxon}}, a [[politician]] running in the upcoming British [[election]]s, had stated alien life was out there in the universe, something Martha's fellow medical student [[Oliver Morgenstern]] spoke of when he was interviewed on the radio after the [[Royal Hope Hospital]] was returned to Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Smith and Jones (TV story)}}) | [[Martha Jones]] concluded the [[Royal Hope incident]] was the work of extraterrestrials as it was ongoing, citing to the Doctor her cousin [[Adeola Oshodi]]'s death at [[Canary Wharf]] and the various recent alien incursions. At the same time, {{Simm|n=Harold Saxon}}, a [[politician]] running in the upcoming British [[election]]s, had stated alien life was out there in the universe, something Martha's fellow medical student [[Oliver Morgenstern]] spoke of when he was interviewed on the radio after the [[Royal Hope Hospital]] was returned to Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Smith and Jones (TV story)}}) | ||
Saxon was, in fact, the Doctor's old enemy [[the Master]], and after winning the election through the use of subtle mind control, he claimed he had been contacted by aliens called the [[Toclafane]], a name taken from a [[Time Lord]] [[bogeyman]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) In truth, the Toclafane were his own minions, converted [[human]]s from the [[end of the universe]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}}) The Master subsequently staged a first contact event onboard the [[UNIT]] ship ''[[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]]'', having the Toclafane assassinate [[President of the United States|American President]] [[Arthur Winters]] before staging a takeover of the Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) Due to the Master's use of a [[paradox machine]] to prevent repercussions from the Toclafane murdering their own ancestors, the machine's destruction by [[Jack Harkness]] led to the Master's [[The Year That Never Was|year of rule]] being erased for everyone except those aboard the ''Valiant''. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}}) In the aftermath, Saxon was remembered as having gone mad. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The End of Time (TV story)}}) | In a [[live television|live]] [[television address]] to the [[United Kingdom]], newly [[2008 United Kingdom general election|elected]] [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] Harold Saxon condemned the [[Harriet Jones's government|previous British government]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) led by [[Harriet Jones]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Christmas Invasion (TV story)}}) for its [[silence]] over recent [[alien incursion]]s such as the [[London UFO crash|destruction of Big Ben]], the spaceship over [[London]], the ghosts and metal men, and the [[Racnoss invasion of Earth|Christmas star]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)}}, [[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) | ||
Saxon was, in fact, the Doctor's old enemy [[the Master]], and after winning the election through the use of subtle [[mind control]], he claimed he had been contacted by aliens called the [[Toclafane]], a name taken from a [[Time Lord]] [[bogeyman]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) In truth, the Toclafane were his own minions, converted [[human]]s from the [[end of the universe]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}}) The Master subsequently staged a first contact event onboard the [[UNIT]] ship ''[[Valiant (aircraft carrier)|Valiant]]'', having the Toclafane assassinate [[President of the United States|American President]] [[Arthur Winters]] before staging a takeover of the Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Sound of Drums (TV story)}}) Due to the Master's use of a [[paradox machine]] to prevent repercussions from the Toclafane murdering their own ancestors, the machine's destruction by [[Jack Harkness]] led to the Master's [[The Year That Never Was|year of rule]] being erased for everyone except those aboard the ''Valiant''. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Last of the Time Lords (TV story)}}) In the aftermath, Saxon was remembered as having gone mad. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The End of Time (TV story)}}) | |||
After the back-to-back Christmas alien incursions by the Sycorax and [[Racnoss]] in the [[2000s]], the population of London, save for [[Wilfred Mott]] and [[Queen]] [[Elizabeth II]], evacuated the city the Christmas afterward as a precaution against another alien attack. That year, an [[Titanic (spaceship)|alien replica]] of the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] was sent plummeting towards the city in an attempt to wipe out all life on Earth as a revenge scheme by the disgraced [[Max Capricorn]] against his [[Max Capricorn Cruiseliners|former company]], but the scheme was thwarted by the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Voyage of the Damned (TV story)}}) Donna, even after [[Racnoss invasion of Earth|her own alien encounter]], notably thought the incident was a hoax and told the Doctor as such when she later tracked him down. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Partners in Crime (TV story)}}) | After the back-to-back Christmas alien incursions by the Sycorax and [[Racnoss]] in the [[2000s]], the population of London, save for [[Wilfred Mott]] and [[Queen]] [[Elizabeth II]], evacuated the city the Christmas afterward as a precaution against another alien attack. That year, an [[Titanic (spaceship)|alien replica]] of the [[RMS Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] was sent plummeting towards the city in an attempt to wipe out all life on Earth as a revenge scheme by the disgraced [[Max Capricorn]] against his [[Max Capricorn Cruiseliners|former company]], but the scheme was thwarted by the [[Tenth Doctor]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Voyage of the Damned (TV story)}}) Donna, even after [[Racnoss invasion of Earth|her own alien encounter]], notably thought the incident was a hoax and told the Doctor as such when she later tracked him down. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Partners in Crime (TV story)}}) | ||
That year, Earth was temporarily [[ | [[File:Arrival of Dalek ship over street TSE.jpg|thumb|right|The [[stolen planets]] as seen from Earth. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}})]] | ||
That year, Earth was temporarily [[Planetary Relocation Incident|relocated]] to the [[Medusa Cascade]], joining a number of alien planets which were thus made visible in the [[sky]], and subject to a full-scale invasion by the [[New Dalek Empire]], who broadcast a message of [[extermination]] to the human race before launching a brief but devastating attack which forced the [[United Nations]] to [[surrender]] to the [[Dalek]]s. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Stolen Earth (TV story)}}) The planets were taken as part of the Daleks' plan to destroy all of [[reality]], which was thwarted by the Doctor and his allies, the [[Children of Time]], whom then used the TARDIS to tow the Earth back to its original position. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Journey's End (TV story)}}) | |||
By September, at least half of Earth accepted the existence of alien life, while the other half were in denial. The events of recent years led to an increase in [[suicide]] from crises of faith. [[British Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Brian Green]] was left fatalistic by the invasion. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)}}) When [[Clyde Langer]] admitted to his father that he fought aliens, [[Paul Langer|Paul]] used the Daleks as a frame of reference. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mark of the Berserker (TV story)}}) In [[2059]] of an [[alternate timeline]], [[Rani Chandra]] reflected that people knew about aliens through seeing the Daleks and the Cybermen, but they "didn't know everything", which she contrasted to her [[present day]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mad Woman in the Attic (TV story)}}) | By September, at least half of Earth accepted the existence of alien life, while the other half were in denial. The events of recent years led to an increase in [[suicide]] from crises of faith. [[British Prime Minister|Prime Minister]] [[Brian Green]] was left fatalistic by the invasion. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)}}) When [[Clyde Langer]] admitted to his father that he fought aliens, [[Paul Langer|Paul]] used the Daleks as a frame of reference. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mark of the Berserker (TV story)}}) In [[2059]] of an [[alternate timeline]], [[Rani Chandra]] reflected that people knew about aliens through seeing the Daleks and the Cybermen, but they "didn't know everything", which she contrasted to her [[present day]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Mad Woman in the Attic (TV story)}}) | ||
==== 2010s ==== | |||
When [[Amy Pond]], originally from [[2010]], encountered [[Dalek]]s involved with the [[Ironside Project]] in [[1941]], the Eleventh Doctor was highly disturbed that she did not recognise them from the [[Planetary Relocation Incident]] – indeed, she had no memory of the incident at all. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Victory of the Daleks (TV story)}}) He later determined the incident had been erased by the [[cracks in time]] after encountering one in the wreck of the ''[[Byzantium (spacecraft)|Byzantium]]'' on [[Alfava Metraxis]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Flesh and Stone (TV story)}}) | When [[Amy Pond]], originally from [[2010]], encountered [[Dalek]]s involved with the [[Ironside Project]] in [[1941]], the Eleventh Doctor was highly disturbed that she did not recognise them from the [[Planetary Relocation Incident]] – indeed, she had no memory of the incident at all. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Victory of the Daleks (TV story)}}) He later determined the incident had been erased by the [[cracks in time]] after encountering one in the wreck of the ''[[Byzantium (spacecraft)|Byzantium]]'' on [[Alfava Metraxis]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Flesh and Stone (TV story)}}) | ||
Due to the [[psychic]] nature of the [[2015]] occupation of Earth by the [[Eight Legs]], it was completely forgotten by the human race after it was over. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Worldwide Web (audio story)}}) A similiar situation transpired after the six-month occupation by the [[Monk (species)|Monks]] in the same decade, as they had used their powers to make humans think they had always been their rulers. Once they were driven away, humanity promptly forgot their existence despite lingering physical evidence of the occupation. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Lie of the Land (TV story)}}) | |||
==== 2020s ==== | |||
In [[2022]], [[the Redaction]] erased all knowledge of [[the Doctor]] and events involving them from the universe, including [[Earth]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Salvation (audio story)}}) | In [[2022]], [[the Redaction]] erased all knowledge of [[the Doctor]] and events involving them from the universe, including [[Earth]]. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|Salvation (audio story)}}) | ||
During the [[November 2023 UFO incident]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Star Beast (novelisation)}}) [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]] arrested a [[BBC reporter (The Star Beast)|BBC reporter]] for reporting on the UFO crash. ([[TV]]: {{Cs|The Star Beast (TV story)}}) | During the [[November 2023 UFO incident]], ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|The Star Beast (novelisation)}}) [[UNIT United Kingdom|UNIT]] arrested a [[BBC reporter (The Star Beast)|BBC reporter]] for reporting on the UFO crash. ([[TV]]: {{Cs|The Star Beast (TV story)}}) | ||
==== Later decades ==== | |||
By the time of the [[Cyber-invasion (The Moonbase)|Cyber-invasion]] of [[2070]], humans were aware of extraterrestrial life due to the [[1986 Cyberman invasion of Earth]], as well as the [[Cyberman invasion of Earth (The Invasion)|International Electromatics invasion]], the [[London Event|Robot Yeti attack on London]], and the various events of the [[Third Doctor]]'s [[exile on Earth]]. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Designing Second Doctor Adventures (feature)}}) | |||
[[Category:Human culture]] | [[Category:Human culture]] | ||
[[Category:Secrecy]] | |||
Latest revision as of 01:51, 5 December 2024
The phrase "human awareness of extraterrestrial life" (TV: The Vault of Secrets [+]Loading...["The Vault of Secrets (TV story)"]) referred to the general public awareness of aliens within humanity. While humanity would become familiar with aliens after they became a space-faring race, (PROSE: The Dying Days [+]Loading...["The Dying Days (novel)"]) the matter of human awareness while on Earth in the 21st century and earlier was complicated, with the public often being aware for periods but then forgetting for various possible reasons. (PROSE: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (novelisation)"])
This concept was related to first contact.
Nature of mass unawareness[[edit] | [edit source]]
Although aliens frequently came to Earth and encountered humans, humanity as a whole often remained unaware of alien life.
By some accounts, this was a natural part of human psychology. The Seventh Doctor described the human race as having an "amazing capacity for self-deception" such that alien invasions were not remembered. (TV: Remembrance of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Remembrance of the Daleks (TV story)"]) The Twelfth Doctor claimed that forgetting the unusual was a "human superpower", with humans forgetting how scary weird events felt so that they could continue living, sometimes sublimating their feelings into fairy tales. (TV: In the Forest of the Night [+]Loading...["In the Forest of the Night (TV story)"]) The Twelfth Doctor also said that humanity had a "collective ability to overlook the inexplicable". (TV: Thin Ice [+]Loading...["Thin Ice (TV story)"])
Organisations throughout time routinely worked to keep alien life a secret from the public, (PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet [+]Loading...["Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)"]) with this including UNIT (TV: Terror of the Zygons [+]Loading...["Terror of the Zygons (TV story)"], et al.) and Torchwood. (TV: Everything Changes [+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"]) Some conspiracy theorists believed that humanity kept on forgetting aliens due to drugs in the water supply. (PROSE: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (novelisation)"])
The cracks in time erased people and events from history, causing some alien encounters to be forgotten. (TV: Flesh and Stone [+]Loading...["Flesh and Stone (TV story)"]) Some conspiracy theorists believed that humanity kept on forgetting due to a singular crack in time leaching away human memories. (PROSE: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (novelisation)"])
Some conspiracy theorists believed that an amnesia wavelength was being beamed across Earth. (PROSE: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (novelisation)"])
History[[edit] | [edit source]]
Pre-19th century[[edit] | [edit source]]
Numerous encounters with aliens occurred throughout human history. The extraterrestrial truths of these encounters were usually not conveyed in historical documentation, with aliens sometimes being remembered as mythological beings or being left out of history altogether. (PROSE: A History of the Universe [+]Loading...["A History of the Universe (short story)"])
In the 1st century BC, a secret facility analogous to a Black Archive existed under the Library of Alexandria. It contained artefacts of species which influenced early humanity, such as the Daemons and the Osirans. It was destroyed and submerged along with the Library. (GAME: The Black Archive [+]Loading...["The Black Archive (game)"])
Throughout the second millennium, the Vatican routinely covered up evidence of extraterrestrial incidents, in order to prevent the rise of the Age of Reason. Various extraterrestrial artefacts were held in the Collection of Necessary Secrets. (PROSE: Christmas on a Rational Planet [+]Loading...["Christmas on a Rational Planet (novel)"])
After the Brotherhood of Demnos's defeat in 1492 as a result of the Mandragora Helix's manipulations, Duke Giuliano organised the surviving members into a new cult, known as the Orbus Postramo, which worshipped aliens. (AUDIO: Dreamland [+]Loading...["Dreamland (audio story)"]) His journal, the Book of Tomorrows, describing his adventures with the Fourth Doctor, became their holy book over the centuries. (AUDIO: Fatal Consequences [+]Loading...["Fatal Consequences (audio story)"])
19th century[[edit] | [edit source]]
Although the Ice Lophius was not extraterrestrial, its involvement in the 1814 frost fair was also forgotten due to, in the Twelfth Doctor's words, the "collective human ability to overlook the inexplicable". The Doctor also suspected the fair's excessive drinking contributed to the sea serpent being forgotten. (TV: Thin Ice [+]Loading...["Thin Ice (TV story)"])
Following the 1851 incident involving the CyberKing, (TV: The Next Doctor [+]Loading...["The Next Doctor (TV story)"]) the general public seemingly forgot about it. The Eleventh Doctor reasoned that a crack in time was responsible. (TV: Flesh and Stone [+]Loading...["Flesh and Stone (TV story)"])
In the 1890s, the community which would become Trap Street, London worked diligently to remain unknown to humanity. (PROSE: The Paternoster's Guide to London [+]Loading...["The Paternoster's Guide to London (feature)"])
20th century[[edit] | [edit source]]
Missing discussion of the Official Secrets Act
From 1953 to 1972, the Men in Black worked for the Alliance of Shades to restrict human awareness of aliens. (TV: The Vault of Secrets [+]Loading...["The Vault of Secrets (TV story)"])
Following the Zygon gambit, UNIT hushed up the appearance of the Skarasen in London such that it never officially happened. (TV: Terror of the Zygons [+]Loading...["Terror of the Zygons (TV story)"])
Some accounts indicated that the general public accepted extraterrestrial life as fact following incidents such as the Gantacian invasion of 1992 and the Availlon fiasco of 1997. The United Nations made UNIT and its operations public knowledge, and the Foreign Hazard Duty was created to replace UNIT as the official secret organisation for fighting aliens. (COMIC: The Mark of Mandragora [+]Loading...["The Mark of Mandragora (comic story)"])
21st century[[edit] | [edit source]]
2000s[[edit] | [edit source]]
TV: Love & Monsters [+]Loading...["Love & Monsters (TV story)"], The Pyramid at the End of the World [+]Loading...["The Pyramid at the End of the World (TV story)"]
By 2005, conspiracy theorists had various theories on why humanity kept on forgetting the existence of alien life. (PROSE: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (novelisation)"]) Even following her initial encounter with the Autons, Rose Tyler wrote off Clive Finch as "a nutter" for believing that the Ninth Doctor was an alien, only recognising him as such when an Auton pursued the two into the Doctor's TARDIS. This realisation overwhelmed Rose emotionally, which the Doctor identified as culture shock. The worldwide Auton attack (TV: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (TV story)"]) would be recognised by some, including Elton Pope and Jackie Tyler as the first of a string of high-profile alien incidents, (TV: Love & Monsters [+]Loading...["Love & Monsters (TV story)"], AUDIO: Wednesdays For Beginners [+]Loading...["Wednesdays For Beginners (audio story)"]) whilst others such as Donna Noble would remain oblivious. (PROSE: Rose [+]Loading...["Rose (novelisation)"])
In 2006, the London UFO crash, an apparent first contact incident, led the Doctor to assume that humanity would be aware of aliens openly from then on. Residents of London celebrated and hung out banners welcoming aliens. (TV: Aliens of London [+]Loading...["Aliens of London (TV story)"]) However, after he discovered and halted the true masterminds of the crash, the Slitheen family, who had plotted to destroy the Earth for profit, newspapers such as the Evening Standard immediately began calling the crash a hoax. When Mickey Smith asked the Doctor why, he responded that humanity was not yet ready to believe. (TV: World War Three [+]Loading...["World War Three (TV story)"])
That Christmas, the Sycorax attacked Earth after being attracted there by the Tenth Doctor's residual regeneration energy. When they appeared on live television after capturing the Guinevere One Mars probe, it was attempted to dismiss them as a hoax, but the later events above London, including the appearance of their spaceship over London, made it clear they were real. In the aftermath, the Doctor said there was "no going back now" as humans knew alien life existed. (TV: The Christmas Invasion [+]Loading...["The Christmas Invasion (TV story)"])
In the following year, the Earth was invaded by an army of five million Cybermen from a parallel universe, whom had appeared to humanity disguised as ghosts for a period of two months before, (TV: Army of Ghosts [+]Loading...["Army of Ghosts (TV story)"]) with Cyber-Leader One giving an order for surrender broadcast on all global wavelengths. This was met with armed resistance, which escalated when the Daleks emerged from Canary Wharf, attacking both humans and Cybermen in a brief battle before the Tenth Doctor sent the two warring armies into the Void. (TV: Doomsday [+]Loading...["Doomsday (TV story)"])
Citing both the spaceship over London and the Battle of Canary Wharf, Captain Jack Harkness voiced his disbelief that people continued to deny the evidence of aliens when faced with Gwen Cooper, who told him that her boyfriend, Rhys Williams, believed that terrorists had caused mass hallucinations by planting psychotropic drugs in the water supply, which Jack called "stupid". (TV: Everything Changes [+]Loading...["Everything Changes (TV story)"]) That Christmas, the Doctor was astonished to find that Donna Noble had failed to notice either the spaceship over London or the battle of Canary Wharf. (TV: The Runaway Bride [+]Loading...["The Runaway Bride (TV story)"])
Martha Jones concluded the Royal Hope incident was the work of extraterrestrials as it was ongoing, citing to the Doctor her cousin Adeola Oshodi's death at Canary Wharf and the various recent alien incursions. At the same time, Harold Saxon, a politician running in the upcoming British elections, had stated alien life was out there in the universe, something Martha's fellow medical student Oliver Morgenstern spoke of when he was interviewed on the radio after the Royal Hope Hospital was returned to Earth. (TV: Smith and Jones [+]Loading...["Smith and Jones (TV story)"])
In a live television address to the United Kingdom, newly elected Prime Minister Harold Saxon condemned the previous British government, (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...["The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"], TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"]) led by Harriet Jones, (TV: The Christmas Invasion [+]Loading...["The Christmas Invasion (TV story)"]) for its silence over recent alien incursions such as the destruction of Big Ben, the spaceship over London, the ghosts and metal men, and the Christmas star. (PROSE: The Time Traveller's Almanac [+]Loading...["The Time Traveller's Almanac (reference book)"], TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"])
Saxon was, in fact, the Doctor's old enemy the Master, and after winning the election through the use of subtle mind control, he claimed he had been contacted by aliens called the Toclafane, a name taken from a Time Lord bogeyman. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"]) In truth, the Toclafane were his own minions, converted humans from the end of the universe. (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"]) The Master subsequently staged a first contact event onboard the UNIT ship Valiant, having the Toclafane assassinate American President Arthur Winters before staging a takeover of the Earth. (TV: The Sound of Drums [+]Loading...["The Sound of Drums (TV story)"]) Due to the Master's use of a paradox machine to prevent repercussions from the Toclafane murdering their own ancestors, the machine's destruction by Jack Harkness led to the Master's year of rule being erased for everyone except those aboard the Valiant. (TV: Last of the Time Lords [+]Loading...["Last of the Time Lords (TV story)"]) In the aftermath, Saxon was remembered as having gone mad. (TV: The End of Time [+]Loading...["The End of Time (TV story)"])
After the back-to-back Christmas alien incursions by the Sycorax and Racnoss in the 2000s, the population of London, save for Wilfred Mott and Queen Elizabeth II, evacuated the city the Christmas afterward as a precaution against another alien attack. That year, an alien replica of the RMS Titanic was sent plummeting towards the city in an attempt to wipe out all life on Earth as a revenge scheme by the disgraced Max Capricorn against his former company, but the scheme was thwarted by the Tenth Doctor. (TV: Voyage of the Damned [+]Loading...["Voyage of the Damned (TV story)"]) Donna, even after her own alien encounter, notably thought the incident was a hoax and told the Doctor as such when she later tracked him down. (TV: Partners in Crime [+]Loading...["Partners in Crime (TV story)"])
That year, Earth was temporarily relocated to the Medusa Cascade, joining a number of alien planets which were thus made visible in the sky, and subject to a full-scale invasion by the New Dalek Empire, who broadcast a message of extermination to the human race before launching a brief but devastating attack which forced the United Nations to surrender to the Daleks. (TV: The Stolen Earth [+]Loading...["The Stolen Earth (TV story)"]) The planets were taken as part of the Daleks' plan to destroy all of reality, which was thwarted by the Doctor and his allies, the Children of Time, whom then used the TARDIS to tow the Earth back to its original position. (TV: Journey's End [+]Loading...["Journey's End (TV story)"])
By September, at least half of Earth accepted the existence of alien life, while the other half were in denial. The events of recent years led to an increase in suicide from crises of faith. Prime Minister Brian Green was left fatalistic by the invasion. (TV: Children of Earth: Day One [+]Loading...["Children of Earth: Day One (TV story)"]) When Clyde Langer admitted to his father that he fought aliens, Paul used the Daleks as a frame of reference. (TV: The Mark of the Berserker [+]Loading...["The Mark of the Berserker (TV story)"]) In 2059 of an alternate timeline, Rani Chandra reflected that people knew about aliens through seeing the Daleks and the Cybermen, but they "didn't know everything", which she contrasted to her present day. (TV: The Mad Woman in the Attic [+]Loading...["The Mad Woman in the Attic (TV story)"])
2010s[[edit] | [edit source]]
When Amy Pond, originally from 2010, encountered Daleks involved with the Ironside Project in 1941, the Eleventh Doctor was highly disturbed that she did not recognise them from the Planetary Relocation Incident – indeed, she had no memory of the incident at all. (TV: Victory of the Daleks [+]Loading...["Victory of the Daleks (TV story)"]) He later determined the incident had been erased by the cracks in time after encountering one in the wreck of the Byzantium on Alfava Metraxis. (TV: Flesh and Stone [+]Loading...["Flesh and Stone (TV story)"])
Due to the psychic nature of the 2015 occupation of Earth by the Eight Legs, it was completely forgotten by the human race after it was over. (AUDIO: Worldwide Web [+]Loading...["Worldwide Web (audio story)"]) A similiar situation transpired after the six-month occupation by the Monks in the same decade, as they had used their powers to make humans think they had always been their rulers. Once they were driven away, humanity promptly forgot their existence despite lingering physical evidence of the occupation. (TV: The Lie of the Land [+]Loading...["The Lie of the Land (TV story)"])
2020s[[edit] | [edit source]]
In 2022, the Redaction erased all knowledge of the Doctor and events involving them from the universe, including Earth. (AUDIO: Salvation [+]Loading...["Salvation (audio story)"])
During the November 2023 UFO incident, (PROSE: The Star Beast [+]Loading...["The Star Beast (novelisation)"]) UNIT arrested a BBC reporter for reporting on the UFO crash. (TV: The Star Beast [+]Loading...["The Star Beast (TV story)"])
Later decades[[edit] | [edit source]]
By the time of the Cyber-invasion of 2070, humans were aware of extraterrestrial life due to the 1986 Cyberman invasion of Earth, as well as the International Electromatics invasion, the Robot Yeti attack on London, and the various events of the Third Doctor's exile on Earth. (PROSE: Designing Second Doctor Adventures [+]Loading...["Designing Second Doctor Adventures (feature)"])
