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Science Frontiers ONLINE No. 116: Mar-Apr 1998 |
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Plant Life On Mars?
"Strong evidence that plant life exists on Mars was advanced today by Earl C. Slipher, American astronomer, after observation of the planet, which is closer to the earth this month than at any time since 1924.
"His theory is founded on an apparent change in the planet's surface, regarded as his most important discovery.
"The huge dark spot (Solis Lacus) or the Great Eye of Mars, seems to have assumed a shape not observed for fifty years, if ever before. Mr. Slipher indicated that this was strong evidence that plant life existed on the planet, and suggested that the change was due to fresh vegetation over an area roughly the size of the United States."
(Anonymous; "Evidence of Plant Life on the Planet Mars Is Announced by an American Astronomer," New York Times, July 21, 1939. Cr. M. Piechota.)
Comment. What a difference 59 years make! Could those tiny structures in ALH 84001 be fossilized pollen grains?