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Ad Astra, v. 1, issue 2, July 1939

Page 18

THE SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT                       #3

ganic life forms. But a surface covered with red sand, as Mars probably is, immediately suggests the silicon life base. Silicon, with its similarity to carbon, is a highly appropriate element to permit a logical departure from the conventional life-form standards, is it not?

   Far beyond Mars revolves the stupendously gigantic mass of Jupiter. This majestic world no chance to organic creatures, since its atmosphere consists of Ammonia and Methane, and other more virulent gasses..All suggestion of life is immediately precluded by this condition. It is more likely that one of Jupiter's moons, such as Io, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede, or one of the others, would support organic life, and even this is improbably, because these satellites are so far distant from the Sun.

   Saturn, with its density, less than that of water; Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, with their enormous distances from the Sun, will unquestionably not support organic life. These last three are so remote from Sol, that they catch but the merest and most minute quantity of the Solar System's furnace radiation. How forbidding must the thought of living on one of these worlds be!

   We have considered each of the planets of the System, and we have seen only two -- possibly three -- Earth, Venus, and Mars, who have conditions under which the seed of life could successfully propagate.

   Most of us, with our inherent vanity, will not conceed the possibility of the existence of non-organic life. Of course life would not have to assume the forms we know of. As a matter of fact, the chances are strong that, due to increased or decreased gravity, due to dense or thin atmospheres, due to high or low temperatures, the supposedly inorganic life-forms, or creatures, would develop radically different shapes, more so than we can possibly imagine.

   Consider, for example, an inhabitant of Jupiter. What would he look like? Well, due to the great gravitational attraction of mighty Jupiter, he would most likely be short and squat. The high density of the methane-laden atmosphere would give him an enormous set of lungs, if by any chance, he breathed in a manner similar to ours. And so on.

   We might mentally construct these imaginary inhabitants for all the planets, if we so desired. But until the first intrepid explorer sets foot on an alien world -- we shall never really know. "Life on other planets?"

                   The End
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   Should AD ASTRA continue this new feature? It's up to you. We want to, of course, but we're guided primarily by your likes and dislikes.

   Each issue we propose to feature a science supplement on the order of this by some fan or author. There will be no set topics; the writer can roam the universe at will -- with the only provision that the article must hold interest to the general reader. No highly technical material will be printed -- just down to earth language.

   Could you write a "science supplement for AD ASTRA? Why not try?

Saving...

THE SCIENCE SUPPLEMENT #3 ganic life forms. But a surface covered with red sand, as Mars probably is, immediately suggests the silicon life base. Silicon, with its similarity to carbon, is a highly appropriate element to permit a logical departure from the conventional life-form standards, is it not? Far beyond Mars revolves the stupendously gigantic mass of Jupiter. This majestic world no chance to organic creatures, since its atmosphere consists of Ammonia and Methane, and other more virulent gasses..All suggestion of life is immediately precluded by this condition. It is more likely that one of Jupiter's moons, such as Io, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede, or one of the others, would support organic life, and even this is improbably, because these satellites are so far distant from the Sun. Saturn, with its density, less than that of water; Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, with their enormous distances from the Sun, will unquestionably not support organic life. These last three are so remote from Sol, that they catch but the merest and most minute quantity of the Solar System's furnace radiation. How forbidding must the thought of living on one of these worlds be! We have considered each of the planets of the System, and we have seen only two -- possibly three -- Earth, Venus, and Mars, who have conditions under which the seed of life could successfully propagate. Most of us, with our inherent vanity, will not conceed the possibility of the existence of non-organic life. Of course life would not have to assume the forms we know of. As a matter of fact, the chances are strong that, due to increased or decreased gravity, due to dense or thin atmospheres, due to high or low temperatures, the supposedly inorganic life-forms, or creatures, would develop radically different shapes, more so than we can possibly imagine. Consider, for example, an inhabitant of Jupiter. What would he look like? Well, due to the great gravitational attraction of mighty Jupiter, he would most likely be short and squat. The high density of the methane-laden atmosphere would give him an enormous set of lungs, if by any chance, he breathed in a manner similar to ours. And so on. We might mentally construct these imaginary inhabitants for all the planets, if we so desired. But until the first intrepid explorer sets foot on an alien world -- we shall never really know. "Life on other planets?" The End ********************************************************* ********************************************************* Should AD ASTRA continue this new feature? It's up to you. We want to, of course, but we're guided primarily by your likes and dislikes. Each issue we propose to feature a science supplement on the order of this by some fan or author. There will be no set topics; the writer can roam the universe at will -- with the only provision that the article must hold interest to the general reader. No highly technical material will be printed -- just down to earth language. Could you write a "science supplement for AD ASTRA? Why not try?