99% Invisible

A Man, a Plan, a Canal—Mars!

March 10, 2026·32 min·4-min readnarrativearts
Podzilla Summary (4 min)
TLDR
The episode explores a late 19th-century cultural and scientific delusion: the widespread belief in intelligent life on Mars, fueled by astronomer Percival Lowell’s flawed observations and amplified by media sensationalism. It reveals how desire, ego, and the limits of perception can dist

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Guest

D

David Barron

narrative on 99% Invisible

Mentions

Books, people, and resources mentioned in this episode.

People

Percival LowellDavid BarronGiovanni SchiaparelliNikola TeslaEdward Walter MaunderEugène Michel Antoniadi

Books

The Martiansby David Barron

Companies

SiriusXM

Topics

AstronomyLong Form JournalismScientific Method

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