Books Quote by H.G. Wells
““The planet Mars, I scarcely need remind the reader, revolves about the sun at a mean distance of 140,000,000 miles, and the light and heat it receives from the sun is barely half of that received by this world. It must be, if the nebular hypothesis has any truth, older than our world; and long before this earth ceased to be molten, life upon its surface must have begun its course. The fact that it is scarcely one seventh of the volume of the earth must have accelerated its cooling to the temperature at which life could begin. It has air and water and all that is necessary for the support of animated existence.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The War of the Worlds, H.G. Wells, 1898
Mars likely cooled faster than Earth, allowing life to arise earlier despite its smaller size and weaker sunlight.
In simple terms: Mars may have hosted early life because it cooled quickly.
Key Takeaway
Consider planetary conditions that enable life.
Themes
planetary science
astrobiology
history of science
Mood
curious
speculative
Type
scientific
educational
When to use this quote
- search for life on Mars
- comparative planetology
- educational lectures
- science documentaries
Key Concepts
cooling rates
habitable zones
planetary formation
Questions to Reflect On
- What factors make a planet habitable?
- How does planetary size affect cooling?
A Different Perspective
Mars' thin atmosphere limits habitability today.
![“The thing [Henry James'] novel is about is always there. It is like a church lit but without a congregation to distract you, with every light and line focused on the high altar. And on the altar, very reverently placed, intensely there, is a dead kitten, an egg-shell, a bit of string.” quote by H.G. Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/19f/h-g-wells-2-1299_books_the-thing-henry-james-novel-is-about-is_138893.jpg)
