--- title: "NASA Intrigued by Noodle-Like Object Found on Mars" description: "Chef's Kiss NASA's beloved Perseverance Mars rover discovered something particularly strange as it traversed the Red Planet on Tuesday — a coiled mess of unidentified, string-like material that almost resembles a swirl of noodles. Alas, while we wouldn't be surprised if extra terrestrial life also enjoys a delicious pasta, ramen, or any other noodle-centric meal, […]" date: "2022-07-15" modified: "2022-07-15" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-noodle-object-mars" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Mars" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "mars" - "NASA" - "perseverence" - "the digest" --- # NASA Intrigued by Noodle-Like Object Found on Mars ![NASA's Perseverance Mars rover discovered something strange as it traversed Mars on Tuesday — a string-like material that looked like noodles.]() *\Image: NASA\* ## Chef's Kiss NASA's beloved Perseverance Mars rover [discovered something]() particularly strange as it traversed the Red Planet — a coiled mess of [unidentified, string-like material]() that almost resembles a swirl of noodles. Alas, while we wouldn't be surprised to learn that extraterrestrial life also enjoys a delicious linguine, ramen, or any other pasta-centric meal, it's most likely that this oddity is actually a bit of NASA space junk, leftover from [Percy's 2021 arrival](). ## NASA Trash This isn't the first time Percy has come across NASA litter on the otherwise pristine planet. Just last month, the [rover discovered]() what's believed to be a piece of thermal blanket — formerly attached to the rocket-powered jet pack that helped the probe land on our cosmic neighbor's dusty surface last year — tucked into a rock about two kilometers from the landing site. Percy, with its [pet rock]() hopefully still in tow, is busy collecting a variety of precious specimens from the Jezero Crater, a fascinating region of the Red Planet that contains what's believed to be an ancient river delta. Scientists are hoping that the rocky materials recovered from the crater will provide clues as to whether Mars once [supported microbial life](). NASA is holding the line that the samples should be back on Earth [by 2033](), but that return trip — which has itself caused a [fair share of drama]() — is still logistically far off. In the meantime, Percy will continue to phone home with photos, and we'll be keeping our eyes peeled for any more space spaghetti. **More on Mars exploration**: [*NASA Rover Finds New Potential Evidence for Ancient Life on Mars*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()