An image, taken by NASA's Curiosity Rover, has been highlighted and enhanced to reveal what looks like a primitive human-like skull lying amid the Martian sand.
The images were brought to light by a YouTuber, who claimed to have spotted an image of a "Sasquatch" on the red planet.
Experts however, have put something of a dampener on the excitement, saying that there's no way that life could exist on Mars just now, and that this is nothing more than an odd shaped rock.
Of course, this isn't the first time this sort of thing has happened — back in 1976, an image appeared to show a mysterious face on Mars' surface. Later, more advanced photography revealed that it was simply a trick of the light.
Even Art Bell said Hoagland should admit defeat after April 8, 2001 "Face on Mars" photo. https://t.co/pJQgq0cy4v pic.twitter.com/sXlYjpF1FU
— Skeptic History (@SkepticHistory) April 8, 2016
Seeing faces where there are none is actually an extremely common human trait. Psychologists call this phenomenon "pareidolia," and it's basically a flaw in our brains' ability to recognize patterns. Because we are "hard-wired" to recognize human faces, we sometimes see them when they're not there — for example, in cloud formations or the "man in the moon."
The Curiosity Rover has been on Mars since August 6, 2012 and is currently traversing the red planet gathering information about the Martian climate and its geology, as well as assessing the possibilities for life on Mars. Curiosity's mission was only intended to last for 2 years, but has been extended indefinitely.
The Sasquatch — if indeed he exists — is presumably still at large.
