August 25, 1835 the New York Sun published the first of six
articles describing the “great astronomical discoveries made by Sir John
Herschel (a prominent astronomer at that time) at the Cape of Good Hope.”
According to these articles the use of a powerful new telescope had led to the
discovery of life on the moon. They described in fascinating detail the strange
and wonderful lunar trees, goats, bison and unicorns. There were signs of
civilization on the moon: bat-winged humanoids who built elaborate temples. The
articles, which were never retracted, ended with the sad report that sunlight
through the telescope’s lenses caused a fire that destroyed the observatory,
making further discoveries impossible. 134 years later we watched as humans
first set foot on the moon. I have to wonder: which of our “scientific facts”
will people be laughing at in the year 2150?
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