A MESSAGE FROM MARS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16035, 28 January 1920, Page 9

A MESSAGE FROM MARS.

STRANGE WIRELESS SIGNALS MAE CON PS REMARKABLE STATEMENT.

SCIENTISTS PUZZLED

AMERICAN PROFESSOR’S ANNOUNCEMENT.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.

Received January 28, 2.50 p.m. LONDON, January 27. The Daily Mail gives publicity to a remarkable statement made by Marconi, the purport of which is that for some time past wireless operators day and night have been puzzled by interruptions and signals taking the form of meaningless combinations of letters. The sounds are not confined to any country or continent, and are heard simultaneously in London and New York. Marconi describes the very queer sounds, which from indications might come from somewhere outside the earth. Some letters particularly occur with the greatest frequency. In no case yet has anything been picked np that is translatable as a definite message. The combinations are of identical intensity, and seem to emanate from the greatest distances. They have not the slightest proof of origin, find are possibly due to natural electrical disturbances such as eruptions in the sun. Asked if it was possible that another planet was attempting to communicate with tlie earth, Marconi replied: ‘T cannot rule out the possibility, but there is no proof. The strange sounds are not confined to any particular period, and are as frequent in the day as in the night. The phenomena was first noticed in the period prior to tne war. which suspended further investigation as to the cause.” The Daily Mail, discussing the sun theory in relation to the Marconi statement, says it is difficult to see in that case why special letters should recur with special frequency. Regarding the other two possible sources—the moon and Mars—the paper quotes Professor Soddy’s cabled theory that the moon is not dead. Professor Pickering has caused extraordinary interest in America by a recent announcement that lie saw signs of life in the moon. Discussing Lowell’s ami other theories in reference to the existence of life on Mars, the Mail asks; “Arc wc on the threshold of the most tremendous discovery in the history of the human race, that somewhere in what has been thought of as a vast interminable emptiness of space, other beinfs exist:'”

The idea of messages arriving from Mars, or the moon, is familiar, but so far without any foundation. That there may be certain forms of life on Mars is probable, but it may be said bore that in the opinion of most eminent astronomers of to-day the elaborate system of “canals” seen by S-ii : aff*Peil! and Lowell, does not exist. And it was upon the objective reality of this intricate system of irrigating canals—or channels—that the popular ideas of Mars being inhabited by intelligent beings came into existence. It is still the opinion of the great bulk of reputable astronomers that the moon is n dead world. That its atmosphere, and its waters no longer exist- around its surface, and that life, such as we are acquainted with it on the earth, is no longer possible on the moon. Even could we say, definitely, that there is life on Mars, we are confronted with the difficulty of knowing if it is possible to project these wireless vibrations beyond the atmosphere in which they are generated. It is more probable that certain vibratory movements may roach us from certain disturbed conditions on the sun. The huge storms that take place upon our luminary, one form of which becomes visible to us in the “spots” that appear upon its brilliant photosphere, may generate electrical conditions which may be responsible for these vibrations referred to, but, in this case, it would be an exercise of the imagination to make “words” of them. It is rather in the nature of a coincidence, however, that attention should be drawn in these unknown vibrations at a moment when such an immense disturbance is making itself visible upon the sun’s surface.