Human face or Martian rock? Spooky still leaves scientists scratching their heads

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (Nasa) Perseverance rover, which has been touring Mars's surface since 2021, has recently sent back an eerie image of the Red Planet's surface, which has caused much confusion among scientists.

Mars, Earth's closest neighbour in the solar system, has long stirred human imagination regarding the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Despite extensive exploration in space, no such life has been confirmed. However, Nasa and other space agencies have utilised the most advanced robotic technology to investigate the Red Planet's surface.

This exploration revealed intriguing formations that spark both fear and optimism among scientists and space enthusiasts.

However, the latest discovery made by Nasa's Perseverance rover may be the grisliest one it has ever made.

According to Science Alert, an image captured recently by the Perseverance rover showed a rock that, at first glance, scientists and space enthusiasts may have mistaken for a severed human head.

The rock looks like a desiccated, decaying human head, withering away under the harsh light of the sun.

The rover acquired this image using its Right Mastcam-Z camera — a pair of cameras located high on the rover's mast — on September 27, 2024 (Sol 1282) at the local mean solar time of 11:50:05.

According to Science Alert, the rock looks like a chunk of sedimentary sandstone, not unlike other rocks around it, which isn't unusual for Mars, especially where water is once thought to have flowed.