Nikola Tesla not only believed in the possibility of life on other planets, he also believed that other civilizations were sending us signals.
A newspaper article from 1901:
Tesla Says Other Worlds are Trying to Signal the Earth
January 6, 1901 – Nikola Tesla, the wizard of electricity, is completely satisfied that attempts are being made by the inhabitants of some other planet to communicate with the people of this earth.
“In some experiments I have been conducting for some time,” said Mr. Tesla to the New York correspondent of the Chicago Times-Herald, “I have been noticing disturbances that have had a peculiar effect on my instruments. What these disturbances are caused by I am unable to say at present, but I am firm!y convinced that they are the results of an attempt by some human beings, not of our world, to speak to us by signals.
“I am certain of some points in connection with these things I have noticed. I am absolutely certain that they are not caused by anything terrestrial. I know, too, that they are not caused by the sun or moon, and hence I am forced to the belief that they come from some other planet.
“That we can send a message to a planet is certain. That we can get an answer is probable. Man on earth is not the only being in God’s great system of worlds that is in possession of a mind.”
So spoke the great inventor in explanation of his message of greeting to the new century, given to the Red Cross Association and read at all the watch night services conducted by that organization in different parts of America New Year’s night. The message given out by Mr. Tesla was written by him on Christmas eve, and this is how it reads:
“The retrospect is glorious, the prospect is inspiring. Much might be said of both. But one idea dominates my mind. This, my best, me dearest, is for your noble cause.
“I have observed electrical actions which have appeared inexplicable. Faint and uncertain though they were, they have given me a deep conviction and foreknowledge that ere long all human beings on this globe, as one, will turn their eyes to the firmament above with feeling of love and reverence, thrilled by the glad news:
‘Brethren! We have a message from another world. It reads:
‘* ‘One—two—three— ‘”
Puzzles the Wizard
For a long time it has been known to the scientific associates of Mr. Tesla that some remarkable phenomena had been observed by him in connection with the experiments he has been conducting. These experiments were in connecting with vibrations and the earth itself has been the subject.
Some remarkable effects have noted by Mr. Tesla of a terrestrial nature, and some which were palpably caused by the sun and moon. But there are others unexplained and inexplicable. These, Mr. Tesla confesses, puzzles him, but he has been patiently at work on them; and his conclusion is that they are the result of attempts made by the denizens of another world to open communication with the people on earth.
How long these attempts have been going on is, of course, problematic. It is possible that they have only just begun. It is possible, also, that they have been going on for centuries.
“Above all,” said Mr. Tesla, ‘‘please bear in mind I don’t assert that the phenomena I have noticed are from another world. All I can say is that I am positive they are caused neither by the sun, moon nor earth. Therefore, from their nature, I am completely given over to the conviction that they are the first attempts of some other planet to open up communication with us.
“Of course in an interview it is impossible for me to go into all the details of these phenomena. Suffice it to say that all I have observed has been of the simplest nature — rather a sort of suggestion that a question as to whether we understand, is being asked.
“Aside from all that I have noticed and the question of its probabilities, the question of interplanetary communication is one of the most fascinating that man can imagine. Since the conviction came to me that possibly we are on the eve of the most marvelous thing that has ever come to pass, I have been completely carried away by thinking of the wonderful possibilities that lie behind such a consummation.
“To begin with, supposing it were definitely discovered, as I feel certain that it
will be, that the people of another planet were signaling to us, there would be the preliminary calls and their answers. These might take years to perfect. That is what I refer to in the ‘One, Two, Three’ of my message,
“There must be a beginning — a primary, as it were, before actual messages could be sent and received. Both worlds would be compelled to reach a common basis of mutual understanding ere actual greetings could be exchanged. And then would come such revelations as would astound us all. Why, even as I ponder on the possibilities of all that lies in this marvel, I feel uplifted and almost, I might say, purified with even the contemplation of such a stupendous matter.” .
Queer Lights on Mars
The attention of Mr. Tesla was called to recent suggestions made by Flammarion and other noted astronomers that Mars might be communicated with by signal. Several unusually bright lights have been seen lately on different parts of the surface of Mars, and the idea has been advanced that perhaps these might be signal lights flashing in the hope that the people of the earth might notice them and send an answer back.
Flammarion, however, says that the bright lights are not signals, but merely the reflection of sunlight of clouds that are clustered about the Martian mountain tops. Mr. Tesla explained why, in his opinion, signals by such means would be improbable and to the earth impracticable. He pointed out that to flash a signal light from the earth to Mars would require a reflector at least a mile square. To construct such flashes would be impossible at this end. What the Martians could do, of course, is mere conjecture. Therefore Mr. Tesla is of the same opinion as Flammarion in regard to the signal lights — he discards them.
Besides Mr. Tesla is of the opinion that Venus and not Mars is more likely to be the planet that is the cause of the phenomena he has noticed.
“I have noticed these disturbances when Venus is rising,” he said, “and hence have come to the belief that perhaps while others are planning to talk to Mars, Venus has been trying to signal to us.
“Now a word as to answering the signals that I feel certain are being directed at us. Of course the inhabitants of some other planet may be in possession of some power of which we know nothing, or they may have a greater control over electrical forces than we have. But it is reasonable to suppose that the signals I have noticed are electrical in their nature. In fact, they must be, or my instruments would not have noticed them.
“My theory tis that this matter should not be passed over, and I feel certain that scientists, now that their attention is called to the marvelous things I have noticed, will agree with me that some arrangements should be made at once for recording these disturbances in a coherent manner. To do this observatory stations should be erected and every attempt made to catch some of the signals and perhaps planning to answer them.
“Already we are able to send over the surfaces of the earth a wave of electricity at any speed which may be desired by the manipulator. And this brings me to the subject of transmitting messages across the ocean by electricity and without wires. Therefore, as the greatest spaces can be more easily bridged without wires, I can see no reason why we cannot, in a comparatively short time, open a communication With either Mars or Venus, or perhaps both.
“In the measurements I have taken and the calculations I have made, and with the success my oscillator’s vibrations have met on the earth, I am certain that effects from a similar cause can be extended until they are perceptibly on some of the nearer planets. That we can secure a disturbance on a planet by the agitation of the electrical conditions surrounding the earth is not to be doubted.
“However, when I suggest a vibratory method of opening up a signal service with some of the planets, I know that I am going into a field that has not been tried or suggested by the other men who have made a study of inter-planetary communication. All these have had the idea of a vast reflector uppermost in their minds. Such a plan is plainly impracticable for the reason I have mentioned. Such a vast surface would be necessary to throw a ray of light to such a vast distance that it is out of the question. Electrical vibrations are the only reasonable means we can suggest in this case.
“Of course immense and powerful machinery would be necessary for the productions of vibrations that would do the work I have in mind. Also this machinery would, of necessity, have to be of the utmost delicacy, so that every disturbance coming in contact with it would be recorded beyond any question of a doubt. The vast distances to be taken into consideration and the immensity of the undertaking show without comment that nothing in connection with it could be done on a small scale.
“To conclude, I am certain, as I have said, that some planet is knocking at our door. My dearest wish is that I may be the one to say to the new century that at its dawn I was the being chosen to speak the word which means so much to science and even so much to the great brotherhood of man.”
Source: The age-herald. (Birmingham, Ala.), 06 Jan. 1901.
