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Podcast: StarDate
Episode: Guzman Prize
Description: At the cusp of the 20th century, it seemed like contact with another world was just a matter of time. In fact, the French Academy of Sciences announced a prize for such a feat 125 years ago today. The winner would receive 100,000 francs. There was only one catch: Mars didn’t count.
The prize was established by Clara Guzman in honor of her son. He was a follower of astronomer Camille Flammarion, who wrote extensively – and fancifully – about the Red Planet.
Guzman excluded Mars from the competition because it seemed just too easy.
Percival Lowell...