Pareidolia on Mars: How our brains see faces in rocks
NASA regularly publishes photos of Mars taken by robots exploring the Red Planet and discovering unusual rock formations. One of the more intriguing discoveries was a doughnut-shaped rock that may originate from outside Mars. Even more fascinating was a striped rock found by the Perseverance rover on the edge of the Jezero Crater. However, The latest discovery is a rock resembling a human face.
Martian formations often spark amusing interpretations. Some people, fascinated by the photos, see shapes reminiscent of bones, doors, and even avocados. Recently, NASA released a photo of a rock that internet users chose as "Photo of the Week" (22nd–28th September 2024). According to some, the rock resembles a human head or Bigfoot. Although visually captivating, this rock holds no significant scientific importance.
Shapes that aren't there
The phenomenon that causes people to perceive familiar shapes where there are none is called pareidolia. It's a natural reaction of our brain, which has evolved to detect patterns. As Carl Sagan explains in his book "The Demon-Haunted World," the ability to recognise potential threats, such as a snake in the grass, was crucial for survival.
Similar explanations are presented by Dr Jess Taubert from the University of Queensland. In an interview with IFL Science, she emphasises that "our brain is constantly trying to make sense of the surrounding world by detecting patterns that might help in assessing situations and responding appropriately."
According to Carl Sagan, the ability to quickly recognise threats – even where there were none – increased the chances of survival. Detecting a pattern, even a false one, could save a life. This explains why some people see human faces or other familiar shapes in Martian rocks, even if it's just a play of shadows and human imagination.
We can view unusual photos from Mars thanks to the Perseverance rover. It is one of the most technologically advanced research tools ever sent to Mars. The rover's mission began in 2020 and has so far provided countless valuable data about the Red Planet. Weighing over a tonne, Perseverance was designed to look for signs of ancient life, study the planet's geology, and collect samples of rocks and regolith. It is equipped with a modern set of analytical instruments, including spectrometers, high-resolution cameras, and lasers for analysing the chemical composition of rocks.
