Most of the strange rocks in this article are ridiculously difficult to spot amongst the rubble that's strewn across every surface of the planet but there are a select few that stick out like a sore thumb. This amazingly face-like boulder, for example, was spotted by another Mars rover called Opportunity in 2010 and it sure is convincing. The large features and full beard have lead some people to describe this object as a carving of an ancient god or Mesopotamian figurine. This, of course, is not the first face on Mars that's circulated the media. It seems like they're ten to a penny. Why is that? Time for some science. When it comes to pareidolia, one thing we're particularly brilliant at spotting is things that resemble faces. "The Man in the Moon" and the 1998 "Face on Mars" are excellent examples. This is all thanks to a special area of the brain called the fusiform gyrus, whose sole job is to spot faces and work out whether they're new or familiar. Interestingly, for people with particular jobs or interests, the fusiform face area seems to be able to adapt to identifying other stimuli, given a certain level of expertise. For example, when a pro chess player analyses the placement of pieces on a board, there is notable activation in the fusiform gyrus. There is also some evidence to suggest that farmers use the fusiform area to identify their cattle. So, depending on who you are and how you spend your time, you could find yourself picking out all sorts of shapes from a rocky Martian landscape. Bearded faces are just the beginning.
Peter Austin initially joined WhatCulture as an occasional contributor to our Film, Gaming and Science sections, but made the mistake of telling us that he'd been making videos in his bedroom for over a decade. Since then he's been a vital member of our YouTube team and routinely sets the standard for smart-casual wear in the office.
