A Redditor published this picture taken by a rover, which appears to have accidentally drawn the outline of a penis on Mars. Who says robots don't have a sense of humor?

(Photo: Reddit)

(h/t Gawker)

(Photo: Caters News Agency)

The Gmail app for iPad and iPhone got an upgrade. [Gmail Blog]

Despite the cluttered app market, half of all revenue from the app store goes to just 25 developers. [The Register]

Techstars company Karma has launched its $79 4G mobile hotspot that rewards users for sharing their connection. [TechCrunch]

If the Curiosity Rover can last eight more years, it will get a friend. NASA plans to send another rover to Mars in 2020. [BBC]

Why walk or drive to work when you could trampoline? [The Guardian]

(Photo: YouTube)

Millennial icon Bill Nye the Science Guy, whom this reporter once had the immense pleasure of interviewing, currently serves as the CEO of the Planetary Society. There, he's worked to raise awareness about the Curiosity Rover's mission to Mars, as well as advised Elon Musk on what the space research community needs out of a commercial space program. ("We need cheap access to orbit," Mr. Nye told us in an interview. "It’s the key first step. Getting to orbit right now is too expensive.")

Mr. Nye is working to raise awareness about NASA's gutted space exploration budget. Yesterday, his team published a YouTube video of Mr. Nye urging viewers to send a letter to the President, asking him to restore the budget.

"Even if you don't like the president, we'd like you to write to him because he's the guy that can make that last thing happen to make sure that the budget for planetary science gets restored," Mr. Nye says in the video. "We're talking about missions to Mars and Europa. Scientists have gone back through the budget, they've reconfigured things, they've come up with a budget to explore Mars that will be acceptable to everyone. But we have to push that last little bit."

The 2013 budget includes a proposed 21 percent cut to NASA's already eviscerated planetary sciences budget, and the Planetary Society hopes to convince lawmakers to reverse this decision. You can get more information, as well as a form letter to send to the president, here.

(Photo: NewNowNext)

It's been a few weeks since we last checked in with super-studly NASA scientist Bobak Ferdowsi, who became an Internet sensation overnight for helping land the Mars Curiosity rover while lookin' fly in a specially-styled mohawk. The Internet was agog when they discovered that genius young flight directors could also be attractive.

Now Mr. Ferdowsi is parlaying his devastating breed of smart and charming into a radio show he's hosting today, entitled "Getting Curious With the Mohawk Guy," natch.

According to Space Industry News, Mr. Ferdowsi:

will host a two-hour online broadcast on Internet radio station Third Rock Radio at 4 p.m. EDT, Thursday, August 30.

The show, entitled “Getting Curious with the Mohawk Guy,” will feature Ferdowsi discussing his experience with the landing of Curiosity, NASA’s evolving image, and renewed interest in science and exploration.

Third Rock Radio is "produced under a NASA Space Act Agreement" to help engage young people in science and engineering, so the partnership is a natural fit. Mr. Ferdowsi is a symbol of two previously polarized ideas: that cool people and scientists aren't mutually exclusive. Go figure.

Now if only we could get him his own reality show. Though--and our sincerest apologies, straight ladies and gay men--Mr. Ferdowsi does have a girlfriend, so he probably won't be showing up on The Bachelor any time soon.

Aliens can't even handle this. (Photo: Last.fm)

When one considers the ultimate symbol of American progress and invention, there is really only one person who comes to mind: Black Eyed Peas singer Will.i.am. His sartorial savvy? Swoon-worthy. His talented vocal breadth? Impeccable. Will.i.am. is not the hero America needs, but he is the one we deserve.

We can only imagine that this is why, during an educational initiative spearheaded by NASA that launches today at 4 p.m., the Curiosity Rover will broadcast a new single by Will.i.am. called "Reach for the Stars," natch. (Did we mention what a brilliant lyricist Mr. Am is?)

According to a NASA press release:

 NASA will hold an educational event to share findings about Mars with students and premiere a new song by musician will.i.am that will be broadcast from the surface of the Red Planet via the Curiosity rover....Members of the team that successfully landed the rover on Mars earlier this month will explain to students the mission and the technology behind the song's interplanetary transmission. will.i.am will then premiere "Reach for the Stars," a new composition about the singer's passion for science, technology and space exploration.

We certainly identify with the pressing need to teach children about science, but how do you think extraterrestrial life will react when they hear the stylings of Mr. Am projected over the wires? Otherworldly beings aren't prepared for such majesty. Whole alien civilizations could crumble when they realize that their native music could never compare to Mr. Am.

Don't say we didn't warn you.

(h/t Gawker)

<3 (Photo: Domain Gang)

Craigslist has taken a step back from becoming the Internet asshole, dropping exclusive license to all posts. [EFF]

How your tech story promotion sausage gets made. [New York Times]

Here's a 360 panoramic view of Mars taken by the Curiosity rover. It is riveting. [Wall Street Journal]

No surprise here: self-driving cars are better at driving than actual humans. [The Atlantic]

Oh good, you can now live without breathing. [Gizmodo]

Maybe the Singularity isn't coming, after all. [Cognitive Social Web]

(Photo: Facebook)

Pizza Hut is--as one Facebook commenter put it--"capitalizing on a national moment" for its own cheesy, corporate benefit by offering a Mars-themed pizza with all red toppings. For just $10, you can eat a "red planet" pizza with diced tomato, pepperoni and red onions.

And just how do Pizza Hut's Facebook fans feel about this? Ehhhh.

• "that sounds pretty nasty" - Walter P.
• "What a cheap corporate way to capitalize on a national moment." - Safwan M.
• "fire! fire in the hole!...might as well throw in some captain morgan and red pepper while we're at it!" - Missy C.

Well then.