NEWS

Google Plans Trip To Mars In April Fools Bonanza

Ever since Google released a mind-reading search engine in 2000, April Fool’s jokes have been an annual part of the company’s public persona. In what is surely their most ambitious hoax yet, they have teamed with Virgin to create “Project Virgle,” the first permanent human colony on Mars.

This elaborate joke has an entire page filled with information about the Mars expedition, including an application to become a Mars pioneer, a Mission Control community, a FAQ section about the trip and a full 100-Year Plan.

Only in a very small link within the FAQ section does it lead to an error page that displays the following message:

oh, all right. Fine. April Fool’s. Ha, ha, ha. It isn’t real. There. Are you happy? Does it please you to drag us out of our lovely little fantasy world, to crush all our hopes and dreams? Is that really what you need to hear? Fine, you’ve heard it. Virgle isn’t real.

Yet.

After the jump, watch videos of Google and Virgin founders explaining Virgle and read about Google’s other April Fool’s Day hoaxes.

Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin explain “Project Virgle”:

Virgin CEO Richard Branson explains “Project Virgle”:

MORE GOOGLE APRIL FOOL’S JOKES:

-In the Gmail service, users were treated to a new feature called “Custom Time,” which allows you to send emails into the past. Never miss a deadline again!

-On Google-owned YouTube, every “featured video” on the homepage links directly to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up“.

-Google Calendar includes a new feature called the Wake-Up Kit that uses progressively more annoying methods to make sure you wake up for that appointment, including flipping your bed over and pouring a bucket of water on your head. Calendar also introduced a “Feeling Lucky” option when scheduling a new event, which automatically schedules in dates with celebrities.

-Google Books includes a new “Scratch & Sniff” feature that invites you to put your nose near the screen while it releases the odors.

[CNET]