Remnants of a fallen star or camouflaged aliens? Photo credit: NASAIs this just a storm in a teacup, or is there more to it? Conspiracy theorists have pounced on the latest Mars images released by NASA, treating them as a treasure trove. Their reason: In their 'expert' opinion, these aren't innocent inert objects like rocks or remnants of a meteor, but rather actual 'life' – aliens, iguanas, lizards, and other creatures that for reasons unknown, remain hidden from our eyes.
"The black object looks like a crashed UFO," wrote one theory supporter, eager to back up his claim with 'scientific' explanations.
Innocent rock or iguana? Photo credit: CNN
So once and for all – Is NASA confirming or denying the existence of other life forms on Mars? "We have the most advanced HD color cameras ever, with quality that far surpasses anything we had before," explained Ashwin Vasavada, the scientist leading the current project, in an interview with CNN. "Every image is nothing more than perfectly placed shadows and eroded rocks." On the tendency to see these inert objects as actual figures, Vasavada says it's a 'known phenomenon where the brain 'grabs' onto familiar objects or patterns that don't really exist."