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The Uninhabited Universe
IS
MANUNIQ_UE
AFTER
ALL?
Though optimism over contacting intel/igent crea–
tures on other planets of the galaxy is currently in
vague, the truth is that physical lije gives every
evidence of being a unique phenomenon found only
on planet Earth.
by
Robert A. Ginskey
nny thing has happened in the search for extraterres–
ial life.
Remember the excitement and anticipation of the
Yiking probes to Mars? The prime purpose of the
Viking explorations was to find life-if it existed-on the red
planet.
Sure enough , based on reports from the three different
experiments designed to detect life,
The Atlantic,
a respected
magazine, came out with an article entitled: "Life on Mars."
"Space scientists won ' t say so," the article announced, "but the
results of three brilliantly conceived experiments lead inevita–
bly to one startling conclusion: Life, in some form, exists on
Mars."
The good news that life had been found on Mars was no
doubt well received by many readers, but for most scientists the
article was a source of embarrassment, if not regarded with
outright contempt. In spite of wishful thinking, the overwhelm–
ing evidence is that physical life does not exist on Mars.
Probing the Solar System
Since Yiking, other spacecraft have been exploring additional
planets of the solar system. Mercury, closest to the sun, has
been found to be a harsh and airless planet totally unsuitable
for life. Venus, once considered the earth's sister planet, is so
15 MAN ALONE
in the universe? No sign of lite has ever been
detected by any of the probes man has sent out to explore the
distant reaches of space. The large photograph at lef t shows our
own Mi/ky Way galaxy. Top photos, from left: Jupiter (upper right)
and its four satellites in a collage assembled from Voyager 1
pictures; an unidentified ffying object (UFO); the barren, chaotic
surface of Mars; and a radio telescope.
H. Arm&trong Robert&, Top
letr
lo
fi(Jhr:
Courtesy JPL ·NASA. UPI.
Courte&y JPL ·NASA, Beord&more- PT
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