Exploring the Mysteries of Mars

There have been some unusual sightings on Mars, including a large angel-like figure, a mysterious forest, and a face that was once thought to belong to an ancient Martian civilization. However, scientists claim that these are merely random combinations of craters and lakes composed of carbon dioxide. In 1976, NASA published a photo of Sidonia, a region in the northern hemisphere of Mars, which was believed to show a giant face. Science fiction fans saw it as an analog of the Egyptian Sphinx created by a Martian civilization. This legend persisted for more than two decades until new photos from another angle revealed that the face was nothing more than a play of light and shadows on the uneven terrain. While there have been other unusual discoveries, such as floating spoons and a carved doorway, geologists explain that these are natural formations that are misinterpreted by our human minds. Therefore, it is unlikely that these strange things do not belong on the Red Planet.

Before exploring more strange findings on Mars, it is important to recognize that our tendency to see familiar shapes in random objects is not uncommon. This phenomenon, known as pareidolia, has been a part of human evolution, helping our ancestors quickly recognize dangerous predators in the wild. However, in modern times, pareidolia often leads to internet debates and conspiracy theories surrounding supposed sightings of faces, shapes, and other unusual objects. Nonetheless, what if some of these theories are not entirely unfounded? For instance, in 2001, science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke claimed to have spotted a forest on Mars, and in 2011, blogger David Martinez discovered what he believed to be an underground Martian bunker. These discoveries, however, are not supported by scientific evidence and are likely a result of pareidolia.

Scientists suggest that the Martian forest is not a forest at all but just a collection of intricate patterns produced by carbon dioxide. The movement of these patterns is explained by the thawing and freezing of dry ice, which fills the surface cracks in different ways every time. The amount and frequency of these coincidences are thought-provoking, but the whole situation becomes ten times as chaotic when the wild theories of Mars observers are unexpectedly confirmed.

In the 19th century, astronomers saw rivers and artificial channels on Mars, unmistakable signs of extraterrestrial life. However, it was later proven that they were merely traces of strong earthquakes, mountain ranges, or distorted telescope lenses. In 2017, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took a picture of a tadpole-shaped object on the planet's surface, which turned out to be a riverbed coursing through a crater after an impact. Thanks to these unusual shapes, we now know that the researchers of the 19th century were right after all, and Mars did have water in the past. In 2004, the Mars rover Opportunity found something similar to pool balls, which turned out to be iron-rich spherules called "blueberries."

The term "blueberries" used by some experts to describe the hematite crystals found on Mars only added fuel to the fire of enthusiasts who believed in the possibility of life on Mars. Some went as far as suggesting that these crystals were actually local species of mushrooms, a claim that was later debunked. However, further analysis showed that the shape of the hematite crystals could only be formed by flowing water, indicating the presence of a river in that area not so long ago. It is possible that Martian bacteria spores could be found near these blueberries. In 2012, the Curiosity rover captured a barely visible metallic object on camera that was thought to be remnants of an ancient Martian tool made of refined metal. However, it was later discovered to be a fallen piece of the rover itself. More recently, the Perseverance rover photographed a new shiny object, this time a chunk of rare earth metal. It remains to be seen whether this discovery could lead to the finding of iron ore mining equipment or other machines used by Martians to process minerals.