Mars, a modern-day myth
Because of its similarities to Earth, Mars appears to be the only other planet in the Solar System capable of harbouring life. The discovery of its famous “canals” by the Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli in the 19th century excited great interest even beyond the world of science.
It was popularly believed that these canals had been built by intelligent beings to form a huge irrigation network: the myth of the Martians was born.
The beginnings of the space age brought a change in how we approach the search for extraterrestrial life. Scientists no longer look for intelligent beings, but for the presence of water, an essential element for the formation of life, either on the surface or hidden underground.