PASADENA, CA—In an unsettling discovery that scientists described as a “potential cause for alarm,” NASA officials confirmed Monday that they had found a concerning lump on Mars. “It’s a large, unmovable mass on Mars that appears firm to the touch, with jagged edges,” said astrobiologist Bryce Varden, noting the location of the growth on the underside of the planet, which he stated “often goes unchecked.” It’s likely a benign build-up of sediment, which is extremely common for a celestial body of that age. “However, it’s better to be safe than sorry, especially given the Red Planet’s long history of direct sun exposure,” he added. “That spot on Jupiter ended up being nothing, but you never know.” Varden added that he would be able to find out more in a few decades when NASA was able to obtain samples from the Perseverance rover and get them over to the lab for examination.