Topside - Issue 10 - 1962 Summer

Magazine Overview

Title: TOPSIDE
Issue: Number 10
Date: Summer 1962
Publisher: Ottawa Flying Saucer Club
Location: Published at 26 Desjardins Street, Hull, Quebec.

This issue of TOPSIDE, the Journal of the Ottawa Flying Saucer Club, Number 10, published in Summer 1962, explores a range of topics related to extraterrestrial life, space exploration, and unexplained phenomena. The publication includes a disclaimer stating that the opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the club, and grants permission to copy with acknowledgment.

Article: DID MARTIANS "U" SPACE RACE?

This article, attributed to Norad News Service on July 21, 1962, speculates on whether Martians might have achieved space superiority in the 19th century. Dr. Helvin L. Stehsel of Aerojet-General Corporation suggests that the network of "canals" observed on Mars could indicate an intelligent civilization. He further points to the appearance of one of Mars' moons, which may have been an artificial satellite launched between 1862 and 1877. Astronomical observations in 1862 did not detect this moon, but it was visible in 1877. The article notes that this potential Martian satellite changes velocity like artificial satellites. It also mentions that the North American Air Defence Command's SPADATS system tracks over 200 objects in space but is not tracking the Mars-orbiting satellite.

Article: IS SOMEBODY THERE?

By Michael Jacot, from the Imperial Oil Review (August 1962), this article presents the contention of an oil scientist and two university colleagues that animal and plant life may exist, or have existed, on another planet. Their findings are based on physical evidence from a fragment of a meteorite that fell in France 98 years ago. The scientists, Dr. Jarren Meinschein of Esso Research Engineering, and Drs. Bartholomew Nagy and Douglas Hennessy of Fordham University, presented their findings to the New York Academy of Sciences. Oil industry techniques, particularly those used in searching for oil-bearing rock, have been instrumental in analyzing the evidence. Dr. Frank Staplin, a paleontologist at Imperial Oil in Calgary, has examined the 98-year-old meteorite and confirmed some findings.

The article details how Nagy, Hennessy, and Meinschein analyzed organic compounds in the Orgueil meteorite (fallen in 1864) using advanced spectroscopy techniques. They detected hydrocarbons, which are molecules of hydrogen and carbon, similar to those found in living matter on Earth. Dr. Meinschein, interviewed at Esso Research and Engineering, described his work on the origin of oil and geological research. He stated that "wherever this meteorite originated, something lived." While the specific type of life is unknown, the distribution of certain hydrocarbon molecules, characterized by odd numbers of carbon atoms, is distinctive to terrestrial life. Meinschein believes it is highly improbable that these molecules could be formed by non-living processes.

Further analysis of the Orgueil meteorite involved distilling off water, which was found to be different from earthly water. The extraterrestrial hydrocarbons were found to be similar to those produced by living things on Earth. The meteorite also showed a consistent amount of hydrocarbons throughout, suggesting it did not pick up contaminants from Earth's surface. The discovery of organic matter with an odd carbon count, indicative of "life," has been repeatedly tested and confirmed. A similar analysis of a meteorite that fell in Kentucky in 1952 yielded almost identical results.

Dr. Meinschein cautiously stated, "These hydrocarbons are certainly traces of other life," but acknowledged that more work is needed. He dismissed the idea that the meteorites originated from Earth, citing differences in metal content and the lack of known natural forces that could place a stone in orbit. He suggested meteorites likely come from the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, possibly fragments of a demolished planet. The analysis indicates that the parent body of these meteorites held large bodies of water where cellular life could grow. The age of meteorites is calculated at 4.6 billion years, with life possibly emerging later.

Dr. George Claus of New York University joined the team and found fossilized organisms in fragments of the Orgueil meteorite and other meteorites from India, Africa, and France. He identified 25 different organisms, some single-celled, others with unusual features. Dr. Frank Staplin later examined additional specimens and confirmed Dr. Meinschein's discoveries but suggested that chondrite meteorites might have originated from Earth, having been ejected into space and returned. Dr. Harold Urey proposed that meteorites might contain ancient life forms or the beginnings of life that were ejected from Earth, possibly to the Moon, and then returned. Dr. Else Barghoorn of Harvard University has also found evidence of life in two-billion-year-old rocks from Earth.

Frank Staplin of Imperial's labs expressed reservations about the average 4.6 billion-year age of carbonaceous meteorites, noting that little is known about the earliest history of Earth and life. He stated that while it's mathematically unlikely that other solar systems lack life, current evidence from meteorites is limited. The article concludes that humanity is slowly unraveling a great mystery.

Article: "STRANGE" OBJECT LIGHTS NIGHT SKY

This report from the Ottawa Journal (August 12, 1962) details a strange aerial phenomenon observed over Ottawa. Police officers reported seeing a mysterious flash moving from south to north, lighting up the sky momentarily before disappearing, leaving what appeared to be "vapor trails." Several citizens also reported similar sightings. Officials at Uplands and Rockcliffe airports had no radar record of any aircraft or flying objects, and the Dominion Observatory did not observe the flash. Dr. Ian Halliday, acting chief of the Stellar Physics Division at the Dominion Observatory, suggested that the description fits that of a bright meteor, which can appear at any time and leave a luminous train or vapor trail at altitudes between 30 and 50 miles.

Article: SCIENTISTS STILL EYE MARS LIFE

By Stuart H. Loory, from the Montreal Gazette (April 17, 1962), this article discusses the possibility of high forms of intelligent life on Mars. Colorado botanist Prof. Frank J. Salisbury of Colorado State University theorizes that Martians might have launched two satellites into orbit around their planet between 1862 and 1877, and that they stopped further interplanetary exploration due to being "more diplomatic than us."

Salisbury's ideas are considered theoretical and bordering on science fiction. However, the question of life on Mars is taken seriously by the scientific community, with the Journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science dedicating a lead article to the topic. Salisbury reviewed 36 references from scientists worldwide. He concluded that it is premature to dismiss the possibility of intelligent life on Mars and suggested that Earthlings should conduct further observations via telescopes and fly-by probes before landing robotic vehicles.

Salisbury noted that any life on Mars would have to endure harsh conditions, including extreme temperature ranges (-90 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit), low atmospheric pressure (one-tenth of Earth's), and a lack of water and oxygen. Despite these handicaps, he believes life could survive and thrive. He suggests that high forms of plant life could explain the seasonal color changes on Mars, and that animals feeding on them might also exist, potentially leading to human-like beings. He speculates that such beings could be responsible for bringing water to the planet's surface from the poles, explaining the observed "canals."

Salisbury further speculates that if humans can build pipelines, Martians could build rockets and satellites, referencing Phobos and Deimos, the two Martian satellites discovered in 1877. He notes their circular, equatorial orbits and their visibility in 1877 but not in 1862, suggesting they were placed in orbit in the interim. While acknowledging this is not direct evidence, he believes it warrants further consideration for landings in space programs.

An "AS A NOTE OF INTEREST" section highlights Dr. Salisbury's background as a naturalist and his work in astronomy from a botanist's perspective. He is researching "biological clocks" in plants, alpine plants as potential Martian prototypes, and space biology. He is currently in Germany researching biological clocks, stating that understanding gene activation in plant flowering would solve a fundamental problem in biology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of TOPSIDE are the potential for extraterrestrial life, particularly on Mars, and the scientific investigation of unexplained phenomena, such as meteorites and unidentified aerial objects. The journal presents scientific theories and research findings, often with a speculative edge, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the mysteries of space and life beyond Earth, presenting various scientific viewpoints and ongoing research.