From the April 2018 issue

Apathy Now!

Would the discovery of extraterrestrial life really change the world?
By | Published: April 26, 2018 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
berman

Are you ready for some exciting news about apathy?

Back when Dan Goldin was administrator of NASA, his sister was one of my students. She thoughtfully told me he totally loved Discover magazine — especially my astronomy page. Pleased to hear it, I followed him closely after that, which is why I vividly remember August 6, 1996, when he called a press conference to make a jaw-dropping announcement: NASA’s analysis of the Antarctic martian meteorite ALH84001 revealed the possibility of life. Life on Mars! It finally happened!

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