When it comes to space, everything seems like a mystery. Currently, the University of Arizona is working on a project called the Phoenix Mission, which involves the Phonemix Mars Lander. Recently, they have noticed strange clumps on the Lander, however.

UPI.com reports:

U.S. space agency scientists say they are baffled about the origin of "clumps" that are growing on one of the Phoenix Mars Lander's leg struts.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration researchers say an image captured by lander's robotic arm camera Sept. 1 shows growth of the clumps compared with what was present when a similar image was taken about three months earlier.

The NASA science team said it has discussed various possible explanations for the clumps. "One suggestion is that they may have started from a splash of mud if Phoenix's descent engines melted icy soil during the landing," the space agency said in a statement. "Another is that specks of salt may have landed on the strut and began attracting atmospheric moisture that freezes and accumulates."

…The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona-Tucson, on behalf of NASA. The project is managed by the space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

If the Mars Lander was a person, the clumps would probably be the symptom of some kind of STD. Maybe “atmospheric moisture” is just what the kids are calling giz these days. Or maybe the clumps really are just a bit of salt or mud.