Dust circles mystery
by Yukio Toshima
Barsoom city, Mars
Back on Earth, the most enduring puzzle of rural life in the last century was the cause of some
bizarre circles and patterns that appeared in open fields around the world. Now that strange
phenomenon seems to be repeating itself, here on the Martian plains...
Impressive concentric rings and even complex Mandelbrot configurations have been spotted decorating
even the vast, uninhabited regions of the red planet's plains by the often-augmented eyesight of
colonial pilots. The most popular theory that seeks to explain these wonders - apart from the obvious
hoaxes - was developed by one of my own countrymen, several years ago. It is highly technical, and
difficult for a layman to comprehend. But basically, it involves potent electromagnetic forces and
the formation of plasma (not unlike the rare but natural occurrence of ball lightning). These
explosions of ionised gas promote cyclonic funnels in the air, disturbing Earthly crops or Martian
dust and leaving their large and often beautiful imprint on the land.
Aerial view of circular patterns in Martian dust, near refuelling station #6
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Although the 'circle effect' was reproduced a number of times during the 1990s under laboratory
conditions, the theory behind it is quite impossible to prove with any degree of certainty, despite
numerous scientific studies. Practical demonstrations of various techniques by the International
Department of Agriculture have failed to convince the general public. Earlier 'explanations' for the
crop disturbances on Earth, ranged from the uncanny pranks of supernatural pixies and fairies, to
strongly desirable evidence of an extraterrestrial visitation, and so the mystery has perpetuated.
Now, the race is on to discover if such dust designs exist anywhere on the Moon, as the complete
absence of an atmosphere there may prove the scientific theory right... or wrong.
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Swirling dust devils are frequent here
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