Extraterrestrial

Claims of 'fungus' on Mars spark controversy

By T.K. Randall
May 8, 2021 ·  18 comments

This image, the scientists argue, shows evidence of Martian fungus. Image Credit: NASA Over the years we've seen hundreds of examples of strange things being photographed by NASA's Mars rovers, however these always turn out to be examples of pareidolia - the human brain's natural tendency to make out familiar shapes - such as faces and figures - in otherwise abstract patterns.

This latest claim however is a little bit more interesting, not least because it comes from a group of scientists who have even published a paper on the subject.

The paper, which was published in Advances in Microbiology, describes "fungus-like Martian specimens" spotted in photographs captured by NASA's rovers.

"Fungi thrive in radiation intense environments," the researchers wrote."Sequential photos document that fungus-like Martian specimens emerge from the soil and increase in size, including those resembling puffballs."

"After obliteration of spherical specimens by the rover wheels, new sphericals - some with stalks - appeared atop the crests of old tracks."

The paper's authors also claimed to have seen "black fungi-bacteria-like specimens" on top of the rovers themselves, as well as evidence of "amorphous specimens" that "changed shape and location then disappeared."

"It is well established that a variety of terrestrial organisms survive Mars-like conditions," they wrote.

So far, however, neither NASA nor the scientific community at large have come forward to give the team's findings any credence.

Source: Futurism | Comments (18)

Tags: Mars, Fungus