Evening star., 1925-06-26
RACE OF INTELLIGENT TOADS
MAY BE INHABITANTS OF MARS
Only Creatures Capable of Standing Rapid Tenn pera-
ture Changes Could Liue on PInnst DR.. Cob
Iens of Bureau of Standards BelieSes.

adjacent dark areas are surnawhat
warmer, having temperatures of 40
degrees to 90 degree r This Is just
the reverse of terrestrial t1mpera-
ture conditions. While this difference
in temperature might arise solely from
a difference in abSorptivity III the sur
face, it appears that the dark areas
may be at a lower Iev/l than the
bright areas, which would prevent
winds and retain the heat.
Since everybody WAS interested in
Mars on August %, ] shall give some
of our measurements. On this date
there was no phase on Mars. that is
to say. the whole surface facing us
was brightly Illuminated. and these
thermocouples showed that the noon
day temperature of the bright regions
on the equator was about 5 degrees c.
t40 degrees FL. while the adjacent dark
regions were perhaps up TO Is degrees
c. go degrees F.. At the same time
the temperature of the east limb or
sunrise edge was As degrees G.
- so degrees F. and the sunset
edge was degree c. The tempera-
ture of the illuminated polar regions
was down to 20 degrees G. = 80
degrees F., which is not much diff
ferent from our Arctic regions The
temperature of the night side probably
extreme daily temperature variations
are no doubt owing To a rare atmos-
phere; but they also seem to indi-
cate that this atmosphere is more
extensive than was heretofore sup
posed TO be present on Mars.
1T will no doubt be realized that
these temperature values were estab-
lished under great difficulties. and
that it was quite an accomplishment
Obtain ta
measurements at all on the poles.
Hence, the numerical values may not
flt the calculated values for different
parts of the surface as accurately as
we might desire. That is to say. the
calculated tempera ture gradient from
the equator to the poles may not be
as great as observed: but this will be
merely another proof of the presence
of an apDreciable atmosphere on Mars
However, as already stated, tempera-
lures of 80 to TO- c. occur in
our polar regions. Hence. il should
not be surprising TO find equally low
temperatures in the Marian polar
regions.
Nights Deadly Cold.
What about life on Mars? That
depends upon our viewpoint; whether
we think of tropical vegetation or the
MOSES and lichens which thrive under
our Arctic SHOWS and in this latitude
during the mild days of January to
March, but which shrivel up in Sum
mer. These measurements show that
for few hours at hoonday on the
equator of Mars the surface tempera-
ture is not unlike that of New York
or Philadelphia on some bright dav
in March and April. But consider
the exceedingly cold nights The great
daily variation in temperature of per
Es4r v IND -r.-
OF the atmosphere is very low. No
doubt water exists on Mars. but il is
not present in sufficient quantity to
form large lakes. What little there
is boils at about AS G. Gl5' F. and
with midday temperature of half
that value. IL appears that during the
noon hour evaporation Of water pro-
ceeds rapidly, while during the cold
nights much of the water vapor is
removed from the atmosphere.
Hence. with MONDAY temperatures
of only s. G. to Is c. (4O' to So FL
even on the hottest spots on the
equator, and with exceedingly low
temperatures at night. it seems evil
dent that any vegetable or animal
life that may exist on Mars must be
adapted to withstand these great eX-
tremes in temperature and humidity
Such adaptat tion seems possible in
low forms of living matter. for ex-
ample, the brilliantly colored lichens
which one sees growing on the old
lava flows of Arizona, bordering on
the Colorado Desert. 1t is. of course
we'll known that the horned toad is
accustomed to drought and has about
three months of activity during the
Summer. However. ii was a surprise
to ind that even our common garden
toad can adapt himself TO dry con-
d1t1ons l saw one above ground near
the observatory on the only really
wet night We had in July. But with
practically no rain from April to
october he had quiet time of il
underground this past Summer: and
he will have d still quieter time during
the coming long Winter. Martian life
would be equally inactive for the
greater part of the year.
1t seems evident that while life on
Mars appears to be possible. it must
be of a kind that can stand prolonged
drought and intense cold. Moreover.
with temperatures changing in six
hours from freezing halfway up to
the boiling point of water. evidently
the reactions must be rapid. With
much Of the surface at frigid tempera-
lures. 1t is reasonable to assume that
II vegetable life similar to ours can
exist on Mars it must be like the
moses and lichenS, which can thrive
in cold weather. Similarly animal
life must be troglodytic, able to bur-
row deep and hibernate, or able to
Withstand the intense cold in a be-
numbed state. as do, for example. the
torpid grasshoppers. wasps and ants
one finds on wa rrn davc in Wipfor