“The Martians” by David Baron explores how 19th-century businessman and amateur astronomer Percival Lowell fueled speculation that there were canals on Mars.

The dawn of the 20th century brought exciting advancements, including the automobile, mechanical flight and wireless messaging that could cross oceans. That led to an optimism about the future best ...

Talk about fake news: In 1907 a New York Times banner headline declared, “There Is Life On the Planet Mars.” Upping the ante the next year, the stodgy Wall Street Journal claimed “proof” of “conscious ...

As a kid in the 1960s and '70s, David Baron – like many others – was fascinated by Mars. “There was a popular sitcom back then called “My Favorite Martian,” about an alien from the Red planet who ...

In 1906, the New York Times ran the headline, “There is life on the planet Mars.” It was based on the work of Percival Lowell, a professor who was convinced Mars contained a series of irrigation ...

Mars, our reddish-hued neighbor in the solar system, oh how you have captivated us earthlings, fueling an obsession at the turn of the last century that David Baron documents in his ...

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, new discoveries about the surface of Mars fed a craze of speculation about the beings who might live there.

Why is Christian Science in our name? Our name is about honesty. The Monitor is owned by The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and we’ve always been transparent about that. The church publishes the ...

This is a web edition of GBH Daily, a weekday newsletter bringing you local stories you can trust so you can stay informed without feeling overwhelmed. Today we’ve got an out-of-this world story ...