In The Martians, journalist David Baron recounts scientific and public debate over purported intelligent life on the Red Planet.
From the late 1800s through the early 1900s, a Mars mania gripped the world, and the United States in particular. Newspapers blared with sensationalist headlines. Astronomy lectures tantalized the public. Theater performances envisioned hypothetical interactions with Martians. Advertisers hitched themselves to the trend to sell their products. Even Alexander Graham Bell was convinced.
Among the most notable proponents was American astronomer Percival Lowell, an aristocrat who used his wealth to fund his observations of the planet. Alongside Lowell, the book follows several other scientists, including, who claimed to have detected Martian messages to Earth. Other Mars enthusiasts make cameos, including science fiction writer H.G.
The idea of life on Mars lodged itself in the public consciousness in ways that persist today. Baron recounts a comment by zoologist Edward S. Morse, who suggested that Martians might be similar to creatures on Earth that thrive under diverse conditions, including ants. Henceforth, Martians became antennaed.
The saga of Mars’ canals poses a cautionary tale for scientists who followed Lowell. He aimed to follow scientific principles but was misled by his own bias. Still, his work pushed science forward. He financed an expedition to take hundreds of photos of the Red Planet.
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