Final answer:
The question covers three key concepts: the depiction of Martian weather intensity in 'The Martian,' historical beliefs about intelligent Martians, and the 'Face on Mars' pseudoscience. It evaluates the realism of the storm in the movie, discusses Percival Lowell's theories on Martian life, and looks at why claims about the 'Face on Mars' received so much media attention.
Step-by-step explanation:
Martian Atmosphere and the Realism of The Martian
In the popular book and film The Martian, an intense wind storm on Mars causes the protagonist to lose consciousness, raising questions about the realism of this scenario given what is known about the Martian atmosphere. The thin atmosphere on Mars, which is less than 1% of Earth's atmosphere, makes such strong wind storms capable of causing that level of physical damage unlikely. However, the author, Andy Weir, has acknowledged the scientific inaccuracy, showing a willingness to engage in discussions about the science behind the story.
Percival Lowell's Vision of Martians
Up until his death in 1916, Percival Lowell was a significant advocate for the existence of intelligent life on Mars, going so far as to suggest that Martians had built gigantic canals to save their civilization from a changing climate. Although this perspective on Mars was popular at the time, modern science has not found evidence to support the existence of these canals or intelligent life on the Red Planet.
Cultural Influence and the Face on Mars
The claim that the 'Face on Mars' was evidence of intelligent life, and not a natural formation, garnered extensive media attention and resulted in some public confusion. To counteract such pseudoscientific claims, astronomers seek methods to effectively communicate the scientific skepticism and evidence-based perspectives on such topics to the wider public.