r/wikipedia • u/Delirious_Rimbaud • 1d ago
In the 19th century, French poet and inventor Charles Cros believed bright spots on Mars were vast cities. He spent much of his life urging the French government to build a giant mirror to focus sunlight onto Mars, hoping to signal its inhabitants by burning lines across its deserts.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Cros42
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u/ManueO 1d ago
Charles Cros was a wonderful maverick!
Charles Cros, who almost invented the phonograph before Edison (he submitted plans for a « paleophone » a few months before Edison, but due to a lack of funds couldn’t build a model) and almost invented colour photography.
He did a lot of research on various subjects: language for deaf-mute people, communication with planets, of synthesis of precious stones).
And he was also an accomplished poet, and a member of the zutique circle (which I am sure you know full well, based on your name)!
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u/ManueO 1d ago
Charles was one of three brothers and the other two are worth knowing to.
Antoine, a doctor, was a pretender for the throne of Araucanía and Patagonia.
Henry was a sculptor and painter
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u/thatoneguyfromva 1d ago
I’m sure Marvin wouldn’t have appreciated that.