Evening star., 1948-07-16
stors, Men and Atoms
Mars Polar Caps Found
Like Those on the Earth
Astronomers Confirm Assumptions
By Infrared Photo Observations

Astronomers Confirm Assumptions
By Infrared Photo Observations
By Thomas r. Henry
McDoNALD OBSERVATORY. Fort Davia
Tex.-The polar caps Of Mars are ordinary ice,
like those Of the earth.
The water vapor In the planets atmosphere
changes directly to ice, without geing through
any intermediate liquid stage at = temperature
Of about % below Fahrenheit.
The haze In the atmosphere ID due to
extremely minute ice crystals. Tho clouds
sometimes seen floating over the surface are
slight concentrations of this haze. not unlike
low cirrus clouds over the earth.
Plant Life Probable.
Life on Mars Is possible and pr1bable-but
only for the lowest order OF plants.
These are the latest conclusions Of astrono.
mers here after analyzing results of observa.
tions last winter.
It long has been problematical whether the
white caps at both poles were sctual ice or
frozen carbon dioxide-"dry ice" The latter
photographs white in invisible infrared light.
Ordinary snow and ice are black. The latter
was the case with pictures taken on infrared
sensitive fllm.
That haze and clouds are due to ice crystals
u shown by the fact that both are completely
transparent to infrared. As would be expected
the haze is hghtest over the warmest parts OF
the planet.
Outstanding Discovery.
The problem Of life, 1t Is explained by DR..
Gerald p. Kuiper, director Of this observatory
which is under the joint direction Of the
University Of Texas and the University Of
Chicago, remains highly complicated and still
waits a final answer
An outstanding discovery at Mcdonald OBJ
servatory last year was that in Mars thin
atmosphere there was about twice as much
carbon dioxide as in the earth's atmosphere.
This now has been Abundantly confirmed.
The existence Of water is proved by the fact
that the polar caps are frozen water vapor.
Proof OF the existence Of both carbon dioxids
and water makes 1t certain that photosyn-
thesis, the key process Of all life on earth, Ii
possible on Mars. BY this process ssarches and
sugars are produced from carbon dioxide and
water through the energy Of sunlight Thus
is provided the "fuel" of living
But one other thing Is essential-nitrogen.
All living things. plant or animal require this
element in soluble form. The major part Of
that available on earth Is taken out OF the
atmosphere by lightning and deposited In the
soil by rain. There can be no rain on Mars.
AnOCner means OF SeJClNg nltrOBen li1tO tIlc
soil is by means Of nitrogen-flxing bacteria.
This very likely is the case on Mars. On earth
lichens, nearly the lowest form Of plant life.
almost always are associated with such soil
bacteria. Lichens are the form Of life most
probable on the other planet.
Assumptions Confirmed.
There are four major branches of the plant
kingdom-seed plants, ferns, MOSES and
miscellaneous group known as thallophyta
which include the bacteria, algae and fungi.
Seed plants and ferns are ruled out entirely
by the latest observations, Dr.. Kuiper explains.
They contain large amounts of the vital
green coloring matter, chlorophyll. The refec-
ton spectra from green areas on Mars are
completely devoid Of one light line which is
most closely associated with this substance.
They also show up black on an infrared plate.
Moses also seem to be excluded, insofar as
they have chlorophyll in their makeup
Quite different however, Is the case with
lichens--mixture Of algae, lowliest forms OF
life on earth, and fungi which usually are
parasitic and have no chlorophyil of their
own. Alsae have chlorophyll, but the algas
element In lichens Is small On An infrared
sensitive plate they would register white. This
Is the case with the vegetation on Mars.
Moreover, lichens are the hardest forms OF
life known on earth and probably could endure
the extreme temperatures Of the neighboring
planet.
Most Of these findings DR.. Kuiper explained,
are combinations Of previous assumptions with
definite evidence.