“NO INTELLIGENT LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS”

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30064, 23 February 1963, Page 8

“NO INTELLIGENT LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS”

Conclusion Of Noted Space Scientist [By Dr. KAIN tn BERGIR, in an <sddr«M to ths American Astronautwal Society] NEW YORK. MAN won’t find intelligent life on other planets, but he might discover some familiar earthlike .micro-organisms, an American space scientist, predicts. Extraterrestrial life probably consists of micro-organisms and plants, Dr. Rainer Berger, of the Lockheed-California Company, stated at the American Astronautical Society’s recent annual meeting. His paper, presented at the interplanetary missions’ conference of the organisation, described the work of many research workers.

"There is no experimental evidence whatever, nor any reasonable scientific hypothesis,” said Dr. Berger, “that would support the thesis of intelligent life anywhere in the solar system except on earth." In laboratory testa by Dr. Berger and other investigators, experiments were made on the type of primeval atmosphere that enveloped all solar-system planets. Introducing ultra-violet Light, simulated lighting, and particle bombardment into this . atmosphere produced organic compounds that make up the building blocks of life, but not life itself. It is possible, therefore, that very primitive micro-

organisms might be much the same on earth and other planets. On the other hand, Dr. Berger said, there probably would be a great difference in higher forms of plant life, due to evolution and environment. Life-Detector Instruments Life-detector instruments can determine the existence and type of micro-organ isms on other planets, Dr. Berger said. A device aboard an inter-planetary space-craft, for example, could place soil samples into various growth substances and transmit the results to earth electronically. A somewhat similar detector is in the design stage at Lockheed. Of all the planets, said Dr. Berger, ice-capped Mars—which has water and a surface temperature reaching up to 60 degrees—has the best climate to sustain life.

and scorching Venue one of the worst Surface temperature of Venus, closer to the sun than earth and heated by toe •greenhouse effect" of carbon-dioxide in its atmoeohere. is believed to approach an estimated 600 degrees Fahrenheit. Any form of life would have to be protected from the immense heat to survive. Dr. Berger said. “From our experiences on earth.” he pointed out. “organism can no longer exist at temperatures much beyond toe boiHng point of water (212 degrees). There is a strong possibility of a primitive form of life on the far-away outer planetsmassive Jupiter. Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.”

Planet Surface .Although the outer atmosphere of Jupiter, Saaurn. Uranus. and Neptune may reach some 300 degrees below zero, the planet surface temperatures may be at life-support level This condition could result from a combination of the “greenhouse effect" and heating from a warm plane* interior. Seas of water and ammonia also may exist, and prebiological reaction* such as occurred on earth billions of years ago, could occur in the oceans of far-off planets These could be triggered by organic material produced in the atmosphere by radiation or lightning, carried downward, and dissolved in the sees.

•'Such proMsaee may have occurred for the last several billion yean and resulted in life-forms," said Dr. Berger. Mercury, closest planet to the sun and affiliated with extreme hot and cold temperature* in all probability cannot sustain even primitive life. Dr. Berger said. Farthest from the sun, Pluto is so distant that even astronomical <>ectroeoopy cannot determine whether it has an. atmosphere