Is Mars habitable? A critical examination of Professor Percival Lowell's book "Mars and its canals," with an alternative explanation

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Wallace, Alfred Russel, 1823-1913

Language:

English

Physical Description:

1 online resource : multiple file formats

Place of Publication:

Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg,

Summary:

"Is Mars Habitable?" by Alfred Russel Wallace is a critical examination of Professor Percival Lowell's theories on the habitability of Mars, written in the early 20th century. The work critically addresses the claims made in Lowell's book, "Mars and Its Canals," particularly the idea that Mars may support intelligent life due to its supposed irrigation canals. Wallace presents scientific evidence and arguments that refute the notion of Mars as a habitable planet, focusing on its harsh climatic conditions and lack of substantial water sources. At the start of the book, Wallace details his motivations for challenging Lowell's theories, emphasizing the necessity of addressing the claims made in Lowell's recent mathematical publication. He reviews historical observations of Mars to establish a foundation for the discourse. Wallace outlines early astronomers' findings, including Schiaparelli's detection of the "canals" and subsequent assertions that they might be tools of an intelligent civilization. The opening chapters establish the groundwork for a thorough critique of Lowell's conclusions about Martian climate, geography, and potential for life, setting the stage for a scientific exploration of the realities of Mars, in contrast to the romanticized theories suggesting its habitability. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Credits:

Produced by Thaadd and the PG Distributed Proofreading Team

Notes:

Reading ease score: 50.1 (10th to 12th grade). Somewhat difficult to read.

Release date is 2004-01-01