Comments on: What on Earth is that thing on Mars? http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 22 May 2013 11:23:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: bigmike7 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1652965 bigmike7 Tue, 12 Feb 2013 05:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1652965 It doesn't look like the "chicken head" linked to above. This is shiny, those are not. Has anyone here ever gone on a stroll throughout he desert and seen a piece of naturally placed metal sticking out of eroding sandstone? I haven't. It looks unusual to me. It doesn’t look like the “chicken head” linked to above. This is shiny, those are not.

Has anyone here ever gone on a stroll throughout he desert and seen a piece of naturally placed metal sticking out of eroding sandstone? I haven’t. It looks unusual to me.

]]> By: kmuzu http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1652541 kmuzu Mon, 11 Feb 2013 21:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1652541 It seems most people's first instinct is to crack some joke or to ridicule anyone who might suggest the object is interesting. I think the education industry (especially here in America) has done an excellent job of teaching us not to be curious .. It is almost religious dogma that one must never speculate - this more than anything probably explains the popularity of Twilight .. It seems most people’s first instinct is to crack some joke or to ridicule anyone who might suggest the object is interesting. I think the education industry (especially here in America) has done an excellent job of teaching us not to be curious .. It is almost religious dogma that one must never speculate – this more than anything probably explains the popularity of Twilight ..

]]> By: jinkiesshaggy http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1652348 jinkiesshaggy Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:15:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1652348 Martians stole the Leaper off my Jag, BASTARDS!!  Martians stole the Leaper off my Jag, BASTARDS!! 

]]> By: DreamboatSkanky http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1652069 DreamboatSkanky Mon, 11 Feb 2013 14:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1652069 Just look at these Space Bananas! Just look at these Space Bananas!

]]> By: glascott http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651969 glascott Mon, 11 Feb 2013 12:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651969 That, is a good wife That, is a good wife

]]> By: Rob Wheeler http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651830 Rob Wheeler Mon, 11 Feb 2013 03:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651830 R2D2 poking his eye out of the sand. R2D2 poking his eye out of the sand.

]]> By: Art http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651338 Art Sun, 10 Feb 2013 12:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651338  That was my guess :)  That was my guess :)

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651330 Antinous / Moderator Sun, 10 Feb 2013 10:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651330 Get Sherriff Roscoe P. Collider on it. Get Sherriff Roscoe P. Collider on it.

]]> By: Vincenzo Ravina http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651303 Vincenzo Ravina Sun, 10 Feb 2013 08:54:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651303 We need to find Hogg's Boson. We need to find Hogg’s Boson.

]]> By: wilmcdaniel http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651285 wilmcdaniel Sun, 10 Feb 2013 07:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651285 So that's where I left it. Thank you NASA! So that’s where I left it. Thank you NASA!

]]> By: bloodybl http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651254 bloodybl Sun, 10 Feb 2013 05:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651254 Whatever it is, I think we should declare war on it and designate Mars an enemy planet. Whatever it is, I think we should declare war on it and designate Mars an enemy planet.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651216 Dlo Burns Sun, 10 Feb 2013 04:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651216 Quaid! start the reactor. Quaid! start the reactor.

]]> By: Bloo http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651190 Bloo Sun, 10 Feb 2013 03:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651190 It's the large handle of an industrial switch or release lever. No! Don't _pull_ it!! It’s the large handle of an industrial switch or release lever.

No! Don’t _pull_ it!!

]]> By: Urbane_Gorilla http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651182 Urbane_Gorilla Sun, 10 Feb 2013 03:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651182  You goof! That's a petrified prehistoric bikini ...Don't you know anything? ..Liked your answer.  You goof! That’s a petrified prehistoric bikini …Don’t you know anything? ..Liked your answer.

]]> By: Mark Dow http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651164 Mark Dow Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651164  Far less than exploration  and curiosity.  Far less than exploration  and curiosity.

]]> By: Steve Miller http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651150 Steve Miller Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651150 It is "a dololly that plings the inghams." Look it up! It is “a dololly that plings the inghams.” Look it up!

]]> By: Diogenes http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651146 Diogenes Sun, 10 Feb 2013 02:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651146 It's the handle of a sword.  If Curiosity can pull it out, Mars will have a robot king. It’s the handle of a sword.  If Curiosity can pull it out, Mars will have a robot king.

]]> By: Gerald Mander http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651130 Gerald Mander Sun, 10 Feb 2013 01:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651130  Of course you realize this means war.  Of course you realize this means war.

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651104 jere7my Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:57:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651104  Dude, what do you think science <i>is</i>?  Dude, what do you think science is?

]]> By: jere7my http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651102 jere7my Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651102  They did. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-248  They did. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?release=2012-248

]]> By: jansob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651090 jansob1 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651090 Seriously, are they going to wander over and take a closer look? Seems a no-brainer. Finding that it's something natural but neat would help people to learn not to jump to conclusions. Finding that it's a doorway to the underground world where Barsoomians fled the drying planet would be more than a little awesome as well. Seriously, are they going to wander over and take a closer look? Seems a no-brainer. Finding that it’s something natural but neat would help people to learn not to jump to conclusions. Finding that it’s a doorway to the underground world where Barsoomians fled the drying planet would be more than a little awesome as well.

]]> By: blueandroid http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651086 blueandroid Sat, 09 Feb 2013 23:08:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651086 It might be a fulgurite, or it might be a "chickenhead" erosion feature with the top at an angle that's catching the sun.  If you look at the rocks to the left of it in the big image, you can see similar bright highlights.  Here's a few big earth-chickenheads for comparison. http://www.mountainproject.com/images/57/13/107475713_large_655f99.jpg It might be a fulgurite, or it might be a “chickenhead” erosion feature with the top at an angle that’s catching the sun.  If you look at the rocks to the left of it in the big image, you can see similar bright highlights.  Here’s a few big earth-chickenheads for comparison. http://www.mountainproject.com/images/57/13/107475713_large_655f99.jpg

]]> By: Preston Sturges http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651083 Preston Sturges Sat, 09 Feb 2013 22:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651083  This makes me very angry, very angry indeed.  This makes me very angry, very angry indeed.

]]> By: Xploder http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651040 Xploder Sat, 09 Feb 2013 21:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651040  So it's a steamroller then?  So it’s a steamroller then?

]]> By: Peter http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651027 Peter Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651027 It's the tip of the Statue of Liberty's torch. YOU MANIACS.  YOU BLEW IT UP. AH, DAMN YOU.  GOD DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL. Turns out, Mars was Earth all along after a major disaster that sent it back in time. I know, I was pretty surprised too. It’s the tip of the Statue of Liberty’s torch.

YOU MANIACS.  YOU BLEW IT UP.

AH, DAMN YOU.  GOD DAMN YOU ALL TO HELL.

Turns out, Mars was Earth all along after a major disaster that sent it back in time.

I know, I was pretty surprised too.

]]> By: AwesomeRobot http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651017 AwesomeRobot Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651017 The chances are probably more like one in a trillion. I think you're underestimating how small these things are, and how large Mars is. It'd be like trying to find a Volvo on a completely barren Earth. Hell, we can't even find one in the place we parked it.  The chances are probably more like one in a trillion. I think you’re underestimating how small these things are, and how large Mars is. It’d be like trying to find a Volvo on a completely barren Earth. Hell, we can’t even find one in the place we parked it. 

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651016 Cowicide Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651016 Like this... Like this…

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651014 Cowicide Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651014 <blockquote>What on Earth is that thing on Mars?</blockquote>Lightning hit something on the ground and super-heated it into metal.  The ground eroded around it and there we are.  Or it may be from a meteorite that is now partially exposed from erosion.

What on Earth is that thing on Mars?

Lightning hit something on the ground and super-heated it into metal.  The ground eroded around it and there we are.  Or it may be from a meteorite that is now partially exposed from erosion.

]]> By: teufelsdrochk http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1651013 teufelsdrochk Sat, 09 Feb 2013 20:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1651013 "NASA: we look for rocks." Doesn't really inspire... “NASA: we look for rocks.” Doesn’t really inspire…

]]> By: Chris Hogan http://boingboing.net/2013/02/08/what-on-earth-is-that-thing-on.html#comment-1650978 Chris Hogan Sat, 09 Feb 2013 19:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=211962#comment-1650978  "Quick! Direct Curiosity to steal its Illudium Q-38 Explosive Space Modulator."  ”Quick! Direct Curiosity to steal its Illudium Q-38 Explosive Space Modulator.”

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