Technologies

Fowl Play! NASA Rover Spots ‘Duck’ on Mars

The menagerie of animal lookalike rocks on the red planet gets a new player.

This story is part of Welcome to Mars, our series exploring the red planet.

Daffy, is that you?

We have yet to find microbes on Mars, much less full-size animals, but we’ve sure found a lot of rocks that remind us of creatures from home. We can now welcome a darling duck-shaped rock seen by NASA’s Curiosity rover to go along with previous finds of a fish, a cat, and a butt.

The rover originally snapped the rock in late October with its mast-mounted camera. We get to enjoy a colorized version of the rock thanks to the keen eyes of image processor Andrea Luck. Luck shared the funny formation on Twitter on Tuesday.

The rover photographed the rock at a perfect angle so it resembles a duck floating in the water and turning its head to look over its back. NASA has found marsquakes on the red planet, but this may be the first example of a marsquack.

The Martian duck fails the classic «if it walks like a duck, talks like a duck» test because it doesn’t walk, talk or swim. It just sits there being a rock, toying with our imaginations.

Curiosity has been busy exploring an incredibly scenic area of the Gale Crater full of wild and wonderful formations. Scientists are interested in the salty minerals found there and what it tells them about the planet’s history of water. The rover is looking for signs of organic molecules as it investigates whether Mars might have once been habitable for microbial life.

Curiosity has been in residence at Mars since 2012, delivering outstanding science data and captivating images from the inhospitable planet. There may be no ducks on Mars, but at least there’s a duck rock, and that’s worth celebrating. Suggested soundtrack music: Weird Al Yankovic’s I Want a New Duck.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im