] Plait has two words for the latest claims of alien
] objects on Mars. The first is "garbage." The second and
] more scientific word is "pareidolia." This is the same
] phenomenon that makes us see animals or other familiar
] objects in clouds.
]
] "It's pretty common," Plait said of pareidolia. "Just a
] few months ago, a water spot on my shower curtain took on
] the uncanny form of the face of Vladimir Lenin." Plait
] took a picture of the liquid Lenin and uses it illustrate
] his contention that, though objects on the surface of
] Mars can sometimes take on interesting shapes, they are
] just a bunch of rocks.

I can definately appreciate where he is coming from. I'm the founder of a paranormal research group. There are people that will SWEAR they see faces in leaves and everything they look at and it pisses me off because they make the ones doing real research all look like we are nuts. -LB

War of the words: Scientist attacks alien claims