[thesis]

Have you seen a picture of the "bright object" this post references? Unless it's in that picture and I'm just missing it.

[libria]

A reddit user[1] enhanced a closeup: http://i.imgur.com/99jDI.jpg

This was taken from http://www.universetoday.com/97774/curiosity-finds-something...

[1] http://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/116q6s/curiosity_fi...

[chucknelson]

As a casual observer, I would think that it is just some bit of material that fell off of the rover.

[ceejayoz]

Which I'd imagine shouldn't ever happen, and that's why they're taking a very cautious approach to using the robotic arm until they can rule that out.

[ktizo]

I wouldn't worry. As anyone who has dismantled technology can tell you, usually anything up to 90% of the small screws in any piece of equipment are entirely unnecessary, and in many cases seem to have manifested themselves spontaneously out of the vacuum. Or possibly the hoover.

[waterlesscloud]

The best theory I've seen is that it's a piece of foil tape that's crumbled in the harsh cold. Hopefully that's all it is.

[ceejayoz]

There does appear to be a screw hole with a missing screw, though: http://postimage.org/image/ouvupuniz/full/

[junto]

With a jovial tone, I believe this is a case of Martian littering. Looks like part of a Martian Chips packet to me.

[res0nat0r]

Could possibly wire insulation: http://imgur.com/a/HR9DS#0

[jere]

http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msl/images/pia16225-Sol61-Mastcam34...

According to the article it's "In the foreground, near the bottom of the image." I do see something near the bottom, halfway in the gap between the rover, that looks grey.... maybe metallic.

[mobweb]

For context, I think this is where you can see it in the photo in the OP article: http://i.minus.com/ivmqgpKATRHlj.jpg