Mars is ingrained in our culture, from David Bowie's extra-terrestrial spiders to H.G. Wells's The War of the Worlds. The red planet has inspired hundreds of scientists, authors and filmmakers - but why? What is it about this particular planet that makes it so intriguing? Ancient mythologies defined Mars as a violent harbinger of war, and astrologers found meaning in the planet's dance through the sky. Stargazers puzzled over Mars's unfamiliar properties; some claimed to see canals criss-crossing its surface, while images from early spacecraft showed startling faced and pyramids carved out of rusty rock. Did Martians exist? If so, were they intelligent, civilised beings? We now have a better understanding of Mars: its red hue, small moons, atmosphere (or lack of it), and mysterious past. Robots have trundled across the planet's surface, beaming back astonishing views of the alien landscape and seeking clues on how it has evolved. While little green Martians are now firmly the preserve of literature, evidence is growing that the now arid, frozen planet was once warmer, wetter, and possibly thronging with microbial life. Soon, we may set food on the planet. What challenges are involved, and how are we preparing for them? Is there a future for humanity on Mars? In 4th Rock from the Sun, Nicky Jenner reviews Mars in its entirety, exploring its nature, attributes, potential as a human colony and impact on 3rd Rock-culture - everything you need to know about the Red Planet.

First Published in 2002. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Before this world is made into a virtual utopia it’s destined to be destroyed by fire; But Christians won’t have to go through those fiery days that shall burn as an oven, as recorded in Malachi 4; And our Heavens won’t even allow their tears to be shed, as thirsty grounds below swiftly spread everywhere, while turning our planet into a giant dust bowl. Then our earth’s crust will resonate from the resounding of moving mantle, that shall quickly waste all of the cities of a doomed race that foolishly followed after the ways of Babylon. And the electrical explosions of lightening crackles will then suddenly detonate within our expanse like unstable chemicals, that reacts ferociously with non compatible elements. Even our continental shelves shall also be rearranged in our new earth, when the underlying strata is moved miles out of it’s place by gargantuan earthquakes. Then our abandoned coastlines will be rapidly betrayed by waters, that leave real quick without any word. And within all areas of the circle of our earth new dry land shall suddenly arise to contend with bloody looking muck that shall be thrown up during volcanic conniptions. For our former forgotten seas will be swiftly transformed from eruptions, while they abruptly become parched badlands of the driest thirsty kind. And those bone dry lands will suddenly be floating upon steaming lava as it cools. Then the deepest gorges will be unexpectedly filled in by our ever shaking earth. At that point, our entire firmament will also be enshrouded with some real dusty ashes, while speedily producing real stagnant blackened clouds, that will be unable to empty themselves, due to the supernatural restraints that God shall place upon them. Furthermore, all unprotected life will then hastily cease, during those most foreboding, and darkest hours of God’s very worst fury; For all of the past vegetation of our greenest plains will then abruptly curl up into little balls, while quickly perishing very quick beneath the scorching rays of our sun that has gone more than crazy. And our planet will then immediately be stripped naked due to all of those combined happenings, that will rapidly lead to untold destruction. But after all those above horrid things have finally come to pass, only at that point shall our earth soon arise and shine, with our God’s most loving restoration. And the mortal remnant of our great tribulation era shall then always live together with immortal resurrected people, that shall no longer be male or female. And all of our Lord's elect shall then live evermore upon a blessed remade world, that will never pass away.