One of the oddest Martian discoveries arrived in 2024 when Curiosity chanced upon yellow crystalline sulfur. That’s not supposed to be on the surface of Mars. Pure sulfur on Earth is normally associated with volcanoes or bacteria, so this unusual deposit might be pointing to Mars’ volcanic past, or possibly even biology.
11. The Zebra Rock
Mars is not totally red dust. Perseverance photographed in September 2024 a striped black-and-white rock, soon nicknamed the “Zebra rock.” Its striking lines imply atypical igneous or metamorphic processes, and although its origin remains unknown, unlocking the mystery of the rock might unlock important information about ancient Martian geology.
10. A Skull-Shaped Rock
To further Mars’ spooky atmosphere, Perseverance discovered a skull-rock in Jezero Crater. It likely didn’t originate there; erosion likely deposited it upon the terrai, but its spooky appearance is enough to send chills down your spine.
9. The “Doorway” Illusion
In May 2022, Curiosity snapped a photo that appeared to be a small rectangular doorway carved into a cliff. Of course, that fueled speculation about extraterrestrial civilizations. Scientists tell us it’s nothing more than an erosion and seismic fracture, but the photo remains one of Mars’ most famous optical illusions.
8. The “Thigh Bone”
Curiosity photographed a rock that resembled a human thigh bone in 2014. Conspiracy theories went wild, but scientists attributed it to pareidolia, our brains playing tricks on us and recognizing patterns where there are none. On Mars, dastardly winds batter rocks into all sorts of eerie shapes.
7. The Jelly Doughnut Rock
In 2,014, the Opportunity rover snapped a picture of a rock that resembled a jelly doughnut. It wasn’t Martian pasty, naturally, the rover had inadvertently flipped over the rock to reveal an untrodden surface that had not seen sunlight in billions of years.
6. A Star Trek Insignia
In 2019, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter snapped a photo of a formation in Hellas Planitia that resembled the Starfleet logo from Star Trek. The formation changed through a combination of dunes, lava, and erosion, but to sci-fi enthusiasts, it was like Mars was giving a message: “Live long and prosper.”
5. Animal-Like Tracks
In 2018, researchers observed stick-like structures on rocks that resembled fossilized animal tracks. Although some believed they were evidence of Martian animals, researchers determined that they were mineral deposits that remained when salty water evaporated.
4. The “Spoon”
In 2016, Curiosity snapped a photo of what appeared to be a spoon hovering over the ground. The “floating spoon” was actually a thin rock slab eaten away by wind and molded by shadows, another masterful example of Mars tricking our eyes.
3. Martian Blueberries
Opportunity also found small iron-rich spheres, referred to as “blueberries.” The hematite concretions are significant because, on Earth, they tend to form in water. They imply Mars had once had groundwater moving under its surface, which suggests the planet was more aqueous than we thought.
2. The Face on Mars
No list of Martian mysteries is complete without the iconic “Face on Mars.” Initially imaged by Viking 1 in 1976, the mesa near the Cydonia region resembled a human face. Subsequent, higher-resolution images confirmed it to be simply a rocky hill, yet the illusion continues to spawn science fiction and speculation.
1. Potential Biosignature at Jezero Crater
The most thrilling find so far might be from Jezero Crater. In rocks gathered from a riverbed of ancient times, Perseverance found organic carbon, sulfur, and phosphorus, all the ingredients of life. Although non-biological processes exist, some of the minerals are similar to those found on Earth and associated with microbes. Should that be the case, that means Mars could have been habitable for much longer than scientists have thought.
From haunted skull rocks to possible signs of life, Mars just keeps on surprising us. Each find, be it an illusion or a breakthrough, puts us one step closer to comprehending the Red Planet’s history and its possibilities for supporting life. Mars might still have its greatest secrets, but for now, it is the universe’s most intriguing mystery box.