

Despite claims to the contrary the 'bone' really is just a rock. Image Credit: NASA

Eagle-eyed Internet users have spotted an alleged 'thigh bone' in images taken by NASA's Curiosity rover.

The latest in a long line of bizarre objects claimed to have been sighted in photographs of Mars, the apparent 'bone' at least vaguely resembles what many are claiming it to be.Snapped in amongst a pile of randomly shaped rocks by the rover's MastCam on August 14th, the object is almost certainly a case of pareidolia, the brain's tendency to see meaningful shapes in otherwise abstract patterns.Unfortunately this hasn't stopped a deluge of speculation and bizarre claims circulating the Internet suggesting that the object is everything from a "fossilized, reptilian spine" to evidence of dinosaurs.