Mars face rock: Viral sensation sparks internet debate
NASA regularly publishes photos of Mars taken by robots exploring the Red Planet and discovering unusual rock formations. One of the more intriguing findings was a doughnut-shaped rock that might have originated from outside Mars. Even more captivating was a striped rock found by the Perseverance rover on the edge of Jezero Crater. The latest discovery, however, is a rock that resembles a human face.
12:48 PM EDT, October 11, 2024
Martian formations often spark amusing interpretations. Some people, fascinated by the photos, see shapes reminiscent of bones, doors, and even avocados. Recently, NASA released a photo of a rock that internet users voted as "Photo of the Week" (September 22–28, 2024). According to some, the rock resembles a human head or Bigfoot. Although visually fascinating, this rock holds no significant scientific importance.
Shapes that aren't there
The phenomenon that causes people to perceive familiar shapes where there are none is called pareidolia. It's a natural reaction of our brain, which has evolved to detect patterns. As Carl Sagan explains in his book "The Demon-Haunted World," the ability to recognize potential threats, such as a snake in the grass, was crucial for survival.
Dr. Jess Taubert from the University of Queensland offers similar explanations. In an interview with IFL Science, she emphasizes that "our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the surrounding world by detecting patterns that might help in assessing situations and responding appropriately."
According to Carl Sagan, the ability to quickly recognize threats—even where there were none—increased the chances of survival. Detecting a pattern, even a false one, could save a life. This helps explain why some people see human faces or other familiar shapes in Martian rocks, even if it's just a play of shadows and human imagination.
We can view unusual photos from Mars thanks to the Perseverance rover. It is one of the most technologically advanced research tools ever sent to Mars. The rover's mission began in 2020 and has so far provided countless valuable data about the Red Planet. Weighing over a ton, Perseverance was designed to look for signs of ancient life, study the planet's geology, and collect samples of rocks and regolith. It is equipped with a modern set of analytical instruments, including spectrometers, high-resolution cameras, and lasers for analyzing the chemical composition of rocks.
