CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON

Geophysical Laboratory

2601 UPTON STREET, N. W., WASHINGTON 8, D. C.

WOODLEY 6-0334

OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR

January 5, 1961

Dr. Joshua Lederberg
Stanford University
Stanford, California

Dear Dr. Lederberg:

I am enclosing a slightly modified version of the text of a talk which
I delivered at the AAAS meeting in New York, December 28, 1960. The essence
of my remarks was that it is unlikely that the kind of life we know about on
earth exists on the moon or on the other planets of our solar system. Venus
is too hot. Moon and Mars are too dry. The others are too hot or cold. I
did not take the position that there is no life, only that if it exists it
must be different from anything we've seen.

My intention is to revise this material further, converting it into a
manuscript suitable for Science or the Proceedings of the National Academy.
The substance will remain relatively the same but documentation will be
supplied.

I am sending this material to you because I feel that it has relevance
to the work of NASA consultant groups. I would welcome comments and sugges~
tions, particularly those useful in the preparation of the final draft of
the paper.

Sincerely yours,

Vi, hip Wi bete oy

Philip H. Abelson -€_

‘d 'N@STAHY