The Alien franchise presents much more than its famous creature, showcasing powerful female protagonists, fascinating human-robot relationships, and an examination of capitalism. Enthusiasts also appreciate the advanced technology imagined by the franchise’s creators, such as the opulent space liner Prometheus and the idea of long-duration hibernation in Aliens. These innovative features serve to counterbalance the series’ overarching nihilism. Here’s an overview of the thrilling technology from the Alien world and what to expect in the forthcoming TV series, Alien: Earth.

Alien (1979): Cryopods
In Ridley Scott’s Alien, we first encounter Sigourney Weaver’s Ellen Ripley and her team emerging from stasis in cryopods, a technology utilized throughout the franchise and in Alien: Earth. These pods facilitate space travel across great distances by decelerating aging. NASA is investigating torpor, a form of short-term hibernation, for prolonged space missions, indicating that Scott and screenwriter Dan O’Bannon’s vision was not unrealistic.

Aliens (1986): Power loader
James Cameron’s Aliens presents the power loader, a mech suit designed for heavy lifting on the Gateway space station. Ripley operates it in a pivotal showdown against the Alien Queen. While striking, the feasibility of such a device is debatable in today’s context.

Prometheus (2012): Medpod
Prometheus includes a medpod, an automated surgical unit, aboard the spacecraft. Although designed for men, archeologist Elizabeth Shaw employs it to extract an alien embryo. While medpods are not yet present in medical facilities, AI and machine learning are increasingly being incorporated into the healthcare field.

Prometheus (2012): Mapping drones
The crew of Prometheus utilizes drones to chart an enigmatic structure on LV-223, uncovering it as a warship constructed by ancient Engineers. This technology underscores the series’ creative approach to exploration.

Alien: Romulus (2024): X-ray torch
Set in the interim between Alien and Aliens, Alien: Romulus details workers attempting to flee a colony. They discover an X-ray torch, beneficial for exposing a chestburster. NASA is advancing the development of a flashlight with X-ray functionality for lunar expeditions.

Alien: Earth (2025): Hybrids
The series’ synthetics, such as Ash and Bishop, are technological wonders. Alien: Earth introduces hybrids, robots endowed with human consciousness, presenting a novel perspective on AI. Prodigy transfers the minds of dying children into synths, prompting questions about immortality and the ethics of playing God.

Honorable mention: MU/TH/UR 6000
The AI that manages Weyland-Yutani ships, referred to as “Mother,” is protective yet fundamentally loyal to the corporation. Despite her unreliability, her capabilities, such as piloting and threat detection, are remarkable.

Alien: Earth debuts on Aug. 12 at 8 p.m. ET on Hulu and FX with two episodes, with new episodes released weekly on Tuesdays.