I think that the current images show microbe/colonial organisms. Those dark spots seen in the clearer images, such as the recent Oppy micros...
Rings, arcs, heads with little tails - these forms can be seen clearly enough. "Dust" is not an adequate explanation, since so many of these are hemispherical or arcuate, branching and filamentous. They also cling to the rock in unlikely places, and have a distribution that is not wind emplaced.
The next most likely explanation is that these are features eroding out of the rock. These forms, while possible, seem unlikely to be of mineral origin. In particular, the rings and letter gamma shaped pieces are hard to explain.
When they do get a real microscope to Mars, with a SEM and microprobe, I will be vindicated for this opinion, I believe!
oddities
Space/Science » in reply to BTW, Philip!...
Call me crazy, but...
The whole thread (28 posts)
- The Dry Look
- seems similar to Nick H's views ..