Rovers crossing Mars’ surface. Spacecraft orbiting around the red planet. Astronomers taking images from afar with sophisticated telescopes. Scientists are constantly learning about Mars’ geology, geography, environmental history and more. But the science hasn’t always been this clear.

As Smithsonian historian Matthew Shindell writes, back in the 19th century, astronomers could see only a blurry spot through their telescopes. They knew that Mars was probably somewhat similar to Earth, but they couldn’t tell much about what lay on its surface. And many astronomers who drafted maps based on their observations came up with wildly different results. One prominent writer, Camille Flammarion, reviewed hundreds of drawings that his colleagues had made of Mars’ surface for a book he was writing. The research got him thinking about what life, if it existed on Mars, might look like.

Ever an optimist, Flammarion wrote novels where he imagined a sophisticated, technologically advanced society on Mars full of intellectually curious beings who didn’t have to fight wars or face starvation. His books are just one example of how science fiction can use real science as a starting point to explore what the future might hold. “Flammarion’s Mars is a reminder that imagining a future on Mars is as much about understanding ourselves and our societal aspirations as it is about developing the technologies to take us there,” Shindell writes.

This week we also liked articles about what the AI boom could do to your electric bill, how the Michelin star system got started, and why Taiwanese pop star Teresa Teng became a global sensation.

[ The latest on philanthropy and nonprofits. Sign up for our weekly newsletter, Giving Today.]