The New York herald., 1920-01-30
STRANGE RADIOS MAY.
ORIGINATE ON VENUS
Mars Impossible Starting Point
for Messages, Says Smith,
sonian Scientist.
TOO COLD FOR LIFE THERE
Other Planets Nearer and Warmer,
Declares DR.. G. B.
Abbot.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Thursday (by the
Are being received on the earth from some
other planet, as suggested by William
Marconi. Mars is not sending the sig
nails. but most probably Venus, says DR..
c. B. Abbot, director Of the Smithsonian
AstrophysicaI Observatory and assistant
secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
DR.. Abbot make no claim that the mys-
terious wireless signals do come from
another planet. but says if they do, Mars
is eliminated as possibility because
known conditions on that planet probably
would not permit the existence of any form
Of living creature.
I'm the first place." says DR.. Abbot, ION
account of the greater distance, nearly
two and one-half times less radiation
from the sun reaches Mars than reaches
the earth. 1t is probably nearly one hum
dred per cent colder on the average on
that distant planet than on the earth.
Knowing what low temperatures occur on
the earth in the course of the winter sea-
son, 1t readily will be realized what one
hundred degrees colder would mean. In
the second place, even If any form Of life
could withstand that degree of cold, it is
definitely known by the investigations of
Director Campbell. Of Lick Observatory
that there is practically no water-vapor
IN the atmosphere surrounding Mars
which fact crosses out the possibility of
that planet supporting any vegetation
or other form of food for living creatures.
1.-The polar caps which are seen on Mars
may be either hoar frost from the minute
traces of water vapor in the Marian
atmosphere or, which is quite as probable.
frozen carbonic acid gas The so~called
canals of Mars are non-existent, except
.as indefinite markings. according to such
iescopic observers as Barnard, Hale and
hers, who have observed with great tele-
scopes under well nigh perfect conditions.
But. 1t is objected, there may be other
strange forms Of beings which need no
water or vegetation or heat. This is alAo
reduced to impossibility by the fact that
l'all living things are made up largely of
different compounds of carbon. While
the spectrum shows that there is carbon
on ali heavenly bodies. the chemical COM
binations of this element, such as are re-
uuired for life, mostly require temperatures
above freezing to prevent rigidty. SO the
extremely low temperatures on Mars
probably never higher than zero, would
3 not allow the carbon compounds to exist
\ n a condition suitable for originating life
i,
shows every condition necessary for
i maintaining life. 1t is nearly the same
! size as the earth and is even nearer the
sun than the earth is This would ap-
parently make the climate considerably
otter on Venus except for the fact that
| ie atmosphere surrounding Venus is con-
nually cloudy. This universal cloudi-
ess, by reflecting the radiation from the
un, reduces the temperature to about the
anne range as that experienced here on
he earth. This coudiness also shows
| sufficient amount Of water vapor to
| upport vegetation and higher forms OF
lfe.
'As regards the possibility of receiving
wireless messages from another planet
Venus at its nearest approach to the earth
s % 100000 miles away, whereas Mars is
at least 10000, 600
From these considerations. 1t may be
concluded that If any planet is trying IL
signal our earth. Il is Venus and not
Mars. IL can be definitely proved that
Mars is unsuited for maintaining any form
OF life. while. with the conditions prevail
Venus there is every reason to believe
ing on Venus, there is every reason to be-
licvc that that planet may be populated by