As a part-time college instructor, Ben believes it is important to communicate that there is no question anyone should fear to ask or pursue.  In the context of NatGeo’s 2012 series, “Chasing UFOs,” when the opportunity presented itself he felt it was his duty as a scientist to help people understand why the scientific establishment is open to the idea of extraterrestrial life, (e.g., astrobiology), but doesn’t support the “extraterrestrial hypothesis” - the idea that beings from another world are responsible for alleged unusual occurrences here at home. 

It begins with two very important questions:

1. ‣Is there physical evidence to support the claim?
   

2. ‣Have we ruled out simpler explanations first?
   

For more information, including discussions of optical illusions, atmospheric effects, logical fallacies, the problems of space travel, and the plausibility of life elsewhere in the universe coming to Earth, click the image below to link to Ben’s blog series on the NatGeo website, “Science Behind Chasing UFOs”:

"I have to argue about flying saucers on the beach with people, you know. And I was interested in this: they keep arguing that it is possible. And that's true. It is possible. They do not appreciate that the problem is not to demonstrate whether it's possible or not but whether it's going on or not."

- Richard Feynman, 1963 C.E.

For The Weather Channel’s television project, “Forecasting the End,” which explores the effects of low-probability, high-impact natural disasters on human civilization, Ben provided critical astronomical, geological, meteorological, and physics context and content.

A promotional description of the project is as follows:

"...In “Forecasting the End,” some of the world's leading scientists, along with elaborate computer graphics, illustrate the different "what if?" scenarios for how natural disasters - and the catastrophic weather that follows them - could transform our lives forever."

A short web video (webisode) demonstration Ben created for the “Gamma Ray” episode of the project can be found below:

"Man will not always stay on Earth; the pursuit of light and space will lead him to penetrate the bounds of the atmosphere, timidly at first, but in the end to conquer the whole of solar space."

1. -Konstantin Tsiolkovsky, 1935 C.E.

Ben served as a host and lead investigator for multiple segments of Travel Channel’s award-winning television series, “America Declassified.” 

As described in its initial announcement press release, the show synopsis is as follows:

"In each episode, investigators go on location and take a fresh look at stories and events with new evidence, unprecedented access and never-before-heard-from witnesses ... [to find out] what may (or may not) be going on behind the barbed wire and blacked-out windows.

...The series examines sites and events using scientific methods, forensics and state-of-the-art surveillance technology to pry the lid off these explosive stories.”

"We wish to find the truth, no matter where it lies.  But to find the truth we need imagination and skepticism both.  We will not be afraid to speculate, but we will be careful to distinguish speculation from fact."

1. -Carl Sagan,  ca. 1980 C.E.

Ben serves as a host/lead investigator for multiple segments of the Travel Channel’s new hit television series, “Ultimate World Access.”
(Air date/time TBD)

As included in the production company’s website, the project is described as follows:

"Some secret places are hidden in plain sight.  Others are world-famous, but never before filmed.  Every one-hour episode of Ultimate World Access is a cutting-edge investigation of classified sites and destinations, examined by a rotating group of experts, such as former CIA officer Mike Baker and scientist Ben McGee.”