EDITORIAL : LIFE ON MARS AND EARTH DISCOVERY FIRES THE IMAGINATION AND THE URGE TO EXPLORE.ORSON Wells' dramatic ``War of the Worlds'' caused pandemonium Pandemonium Milton’s capital of the devils. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost] See : Confusion Pandemonium chief city of Hell. [Br. Lit.: Paradise Lost] See : Hell when it was broadcast over the airwaves in 1938. Thousands of Americans believed the radio play - which detailed a Martian landing and invasion of the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. - and they prepared for the end of the world. Science fiction writers have often looked to Mars to speculate on whether life existed there and to weave tales as fascinating as they are entertaining. Now science is close to removing the fiction from the possiblity that primitive life had existed in the reddish soil 50 million miles from Earth. A meteorite meteorite, meteor that survives the intense heat of atmospheric friction and reaches the earth's surface. Because of the destructive effects of this friction, only the very largest meteors become meteorites. that fell to Earth from Mars 13,000 years ago - and was discovered in an Antarctic ice field 12 years ago - contains what scientists believe are organic compounds and certain minerals that they conclude ``are evidence for primitive life on early Mars.'' Just how primitive is primitive? One writer described the organic compounds as probably resembling ``the scum around a shower stall more than the freaks of science fiction.'' But potential shower-scum citings were enough to excite the White House. After NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. announced its findings, President Clinton pledged that ``the American space program will put its full intellectual power and technological prowess behind the search for further evidence of life on Mars Scientists have long speculated about the possibility of life on Mars owing to the planet's proximity and similarity to Earth. It remains an open question whether life exists on Mars now, or existed there in the past. .'' We hate to raise the red flag so soon, but it does seem more is at work here than mere harmonic convergence | The Harmonic Convergence was a loosely organized new age spiritual event which occurred on August 16 and August 17, 1987, when groups of people gathered in various sacred sites and "mystical" places all over the world to usher in a new era, a date based primarily on the . The news comes just three months before NASA launches a $150 million automated spacecraft to land on Mars next July. Actually, it's scheduled to land July 4, 1997, Independence Day. (The real day, not the movie. Could NASA be thinking: Major promotional movie tie-ins? If so, may the Force be with them.) While the news almost certainly is going to lead to a funding boost for space trips to Mars, we wonder about the timing of the scientific find. The new discovery could accelerate plans for a manned space flight to Mars, and attract funds that NASA and independent groups say are needed for thorough exploration. Perhaps it's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a to take a serious look at suggestions to ditch NASA in favor of privately-funded explorers - modern Marco Polos - and let them develop their own missions and commercial projects. The T-shirt sales alone could probably fund a space station. |
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