--- title: "University Deletes Press Release Claiming Evidence of Bugs on Mars" description: "Entomologist Wiliam Romoser from Ohio University claims to have spotted proof of insect-like creatures living on the surface of Mars, pointing at photographic evidence. “There has been and still is life on Mars,” Romoser said in a press release about his presentation. The press release, including Romoser’s photographic evidence, on Ohio University’s website has since been […]" date: "2019-11-21" modified: "2019-11-21" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/university-deletes-press-release-claiming-mars-bugs" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Exobiology" - "Mars" - "Space" tags: - "aliens" - "life on mars" - "mars" --- # University Deletes Press Release Claiming Evidence of Bugs on Mars ![This scientist from Oregon State University believes the professor who claims to have evidence of insects on Mars was just an example of pareidolia.]() *\Image: NASA/Victor Tangermann\* Entomologist William Romoser from Ohio University claimed this week to have spotted [evidence of insect-like creatures]() living on the surface of Mars, pointing at blurry photographs. "There has been and still is life on Mars," Romoser said in a [press release]() about his presentation. But after [broad backlash](), the press release has since been [disappeared from Ohio University's site](). And on *EurekaAlert*, the release has been [replaced with a message]() that says it has been "removed at the request of the submitter." A [PDF poster]() of Romoser's research including images is still available through *ResearchGate* and [copies of the release]() remain elsewhere on the web. "The faculty member no longer wishes to engage with media regarding this research, so we have opted to remove the story from our website and EurekAlert," Ohio University spokesperson Jim Sabin told Futurism. Unsurprisingly, not everybody in the scientific community agreed with Romoser's fringe claims. Biology professor at Oregon State University David Maddison [told *Space.com*]() that Romoser is seeing things, pointing out that it may be an example of pareidolia, the phenomenon that leads people to see patterns in random stimuli. "I, personally, have pareidolia with respect to insects, beetles in particular," Maddison told *Space.com*. "I've worked on beetles for decades; I have collected many thousands of beetles around the world. Through the years I have built into my brain a pattern-recognition system for picking out beetles." In other words, Rosomer is probably wrong, even though he probably thinks he's right. "I do not think there are insects on Mars," Maddison added. "The photographs that are in that press release you sent are entirely unconvincing, as they fall within the range expected in zillions of non-insect objects photographed in lowish resolution on a Marscape." And NASA is just as skeptical. "We have no scientific data that would support this claim," said NASA in a [statement to *CNET*](). "There is insufficient oxygen to sustain the metabolism of metazoans on Mars. On Earth, animals, especially as complex as these, need lots of oxygen. There are only traces in Mars' atmosphere." But that isn't stopping NASA from looking for forms of life in distant places — far from it. "Although we have yet to find signs of extraterrestrial life, NASA is exploring the solar system and beyond to help us answer fundamental questions, including whether we are alone in the universe," a NASA spokesperson told *CNET*. Next year, NASA will launch its [Mars 2020 rover]() to the Red Planet for a February 2021 landing. Part of its mission will be to look for signs of past microbial life. Maybe then, we'll discover if the distant planet is crawling with insects or not. **READ MORE:** [It's Still Not Aliens: 'Mars Bug' Claim Could Damage the Search for Life]() \[*Space.com*\] **More on life on Mars:** *[Professor Claims to Have Discovered Insect-Like Life on Mars]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()