Mars 'door' mystery debunked: Just a rock formation illusion
Photos from Mars have sparked a discussion about mysterious doors on the planet. The images surprised many as the peculiar formations resemble the work of intelligent beings. Researchers have concluded that it is merely an optical illusion.
Recently, the internet was abuzz with images from Mars, which allegedly depict a rock formation resembling a door. The discussion was initiated by the "UFO mania" profile on the X platform, suggesting that one of the rock formations looks like an entrance to a building. However, conspiracy theory enthusiasts might be disappointed, as researchers dismiss the theory that the door was created by extraterrestrial beings. According to IFLScience, it is merely an optical illusion.
Natural rock formations
Similar "doors" have been observed on Mars before. In 2022, a photo from the "East Cliffs" on Mount Sharp gained the interest of conspiracy theorists. NASA explained that these are natural fractures in the rock, which can resemble doors.
What is pareidolia?
The Curiosity Rover, which took the photos, also commented on the issue. "Sure, it may look like a tiny door, but really, it's a natural geologic feature," it clarified. The phenomenon that causes us to see familiar shapes in random objects is called pareidolia.
Photos from Sol 528 and Sol 529, which show the same landscape, do not include any "doors." This suggests that the image circulating online might have been edited. NASA emphasises that if there were evidence of life on Mars, the agency and the media would be very interested in it.
No evidence of life on the Red Planet
Similar situations have occurred before, such as with a rock sample from Silver Mountain, which also sparked excitement. However, as IFLScience points out, there is no evidence of life on Mars, and such photos are merely geological curiosities.
