Technologies

NASA Spots Eerie ‘Spider’ Shapes in Mars Crater View

Just in time for Halloween season.

David Bowie was on to something with his Spiders from Mars. While there are no crawling arachnids in residence on the red planet, there are spectacular landscape features known as «spiders.» NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter peered down from above and captured a captivating view of what’s known as araneiform terrain. Araneiform means «spider-like.»

The image comes from the HiRise (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) camera on MRO. HiRise is operated by a team based at the University of Arizona. The team highlights noteworthy images from the camera’s extensive archives in a Picture of the Day feature it calls HiPOD. The orbiter snapped the «spiders» crater view in May 2022. The image was the HiPOD on Thursday.

It shows a view into a crater with two notable features. One is the spidery dark formations that resemble a cluster of arachnids crawling over the landscape. The other is the geometric polygon shapes that look a lot like dried mud. «This image was acquired to study the influence of exposure to the sun’s rays on spider versus polygon development in terrain like this,» the HiRise team said.

MRO view of Mars shows a diagonal strip of surface with a prominent crater in the center.

A wider view gives more context to what MRO was looking at. The crater pops out against the landscape.

The spiders tell a story of natural processes on Mars. The patterns come from the sublimation of ice below the surface. Sublimation is when a substance goes directly from a solid state to a gaseous state. These eye-catching formations have been spotted on other areas of Mars.

While the spiders capture the imagination, the polygon formations are also fascinating, even if they’re less flashy. Researchers have spotted similar forms in cold Earth environments subject to water freeze-thaw cycles. Martian polygons usually get their distinctive shape from raised ridges. The HiRise team said scientists can glean information about climate conditions and distribution of ice by studying polygons.

Science aside, the HiRise crater snapshot showcases the haunting beauty of Mars. This would be a great time to put on The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars and stare into a crater from a planet far away.

59 Weird Objects Seen on Mars, Explained

New view of Mars "face" shows just a blobby mesa., potato-shaped

A tangled, string-like object sits on the sandy brown Martian ground with a rock nearby.

+59 more

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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.

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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