Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-05-09
EARTH LIKE MARS?
DR.. Arrhenius of Sweden Says
Change Is Gradually TAX
ing Place.
WILL NOT SUSTAIN LIFE
However, It May Be 10000 Years Oh
More Before Carbon Di-oxide
Is Exhausted.

That this earth will become like
the planet Mars, incapable of sus-
tanning life, was the prediction made
by DR.. Svante A. Arrhenius. Stock
holm, Sweden, in lecture at Angus
tana college on the subject, The
Development of the Atmosphere of
the Planets" Saturday night. DR..
Arrhenius, who won the Nobel prize
in chemistry in 1903 because of his
eIectrolytical dissertation theory. is
regarded az the worlds foremost
authority on cosmogony.
DR.. Arrhenius stated that two
causes are operating to bring about
extinction of life on earth. Loss Of
heat generated by the sun is one of
the dangers threatened while
dimunition OF the supply Of carbonic
acid IN the atmosphere is the other
menace to life on this terrestrial
globe of ours. However, lest the
timid might be led to believe that the
end is here, DR.. Arrhenius explained
that the sun will continue TO give
of sufficient heat to sustain life for
at least a billion years. This he de-
clared was about the length of time
life had already existed on the earth.
The more imminent danger, he said,
lies IN the exhaustion of carbonic
acid. At the present rate at which
it is entering into other chemical
combinations, DR.. Arrhenius figured
that within 10000 years there will
not be enough carbonic acid in the
atmosphere TO sustain vegetation. !
The only thing retarding this process
at the present time is the enormous
combustion Of coal.
MARS NOT INHABITED.
The speaker held that the atmos-
phere of tho earth will become more
and more like that of Mars which
is a much older planet and contains
very little carbonic acid. DR.. Ar
rhenius disputed DR.. Lowell's theory
that Mars is inhabited. declaring that
the low temperature on the planet
makes life impossible. He believes
that the entire planet IS covered with
ice and snow. The so-called Marian
canals he attributed to volcanic fis- |
sures on It's surface, accumulated by |
the melting of the ice from the heat |
escaping from the interior. There |
is absolutely no proof that they are |
artificial. that theory being merely /
the product of a good imagination.
The Swedish scientist compared the
assures on Mars to some on the earth
referring especially to two, one in
Austria near Vienna, and the other
near the island Sicily. Mars. he con-
tinued further, is planet that has
gone its course and Is matured, hav-
ing passed all through the stages
that the earth has.
Venus. the great chemist claimed,
has a much denser atmosphere than
the earth, some astronomers having
figured II to be twice that of the
world. Our planet was in that state
to begin with. Venus is always COW
cred with clouds and as clouds are
composed OF vapor, water must ex-
ist there. DR.. Arrhenius took issue
with Professor Lowell on his claim
that Venus does not revolve around
its axis. This the speaker stated
was not true because those who
support that theory cannot explain
the presence of clouds, which would
not exist II only one side were al
ways turned to the sun, because
there would be too much heat and
in that case the clouds would dry
up and disappear.
Stereopticon views were shown to
illustrate the lecture. A good crowd
was present 20 greet the Swedish
scientist and he was given an ova-
ton. DR.. J. A. Udden introduced
the speaker OF the evening.
Is GIVEN WELCOME.
After the lecture the Augustana
rooters' club babe DR.. Arrhenius
welcome IN their telling way. DR..
E J. Colberg made the address of
welcome for the student body. to
which the scientist responded. The
chorus also rendered
some songs in honor OF the noted
guest.
This demonstration was followed
by banquet given by the professors
and alumni to the great chemist. DR..
Andreen acted as POSTMASTER and
Dr. S. G. Youngert, Professor Jules
AIauritzon and DR.. ]. p. Magnusson
delivered addresses of welcome to
the guest of honor. who responded
In a numerous and hearty manner.
DR.. Arrhenius left this morning for
university. where he will :
deliver a series of lectures. Ia