Aliens among us?

Astrobiologist Dr. Rhawn Joseph, filed a lawsuit based on images shot by the Opportunity rover on Mars. NASA identified the object in question as a rock, but the scientist is stating it could be more, and a proper scientific investigation is necessary. Huffington Post states, “He is suing NASA and its administrator, Charles Bolden, in an effort to compel the space agency to take a closer look at the rock. The petition, which was filed Monday in California, calls for NASA to closely photograph and thoroughly scientifically examine and investigate a putative biological organism.” While NASA may have determined that this unidentifiable object is a rock, Joseph believes the image resembles some type of fungus.

Joseph states that NASA is refusing to take further shots of the specimen from various angles, or release high resolution photos. “NASA spokesman Allard Beutel told The Huffington Post that agency scientists are continuing to analyze the rock. Finding evidence of life on worlds other than Earth is obviously an important goal for NASA,” Beutel said. But it has to be definitive evidence.” Dr. Joseph continues to wait for high resolution photos of the specimen to further examine himself. He stands by his initial analysis of the object that it is certainly more than a rock, and could be evidence of life on Mars.

If further examination of this object through additional and high resolution photos could determine life on Mars, why would NASA drag its feet? The astrobiologist states that sufficient investigation of the object was lacking, and will continue to push the issue.