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

chucknelson · on Oct 9, 2012

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

ceejayoz · on Oct 9, 2012

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 · on Oct 9, 2012

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 · on Oct 9, 2012

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 · on Oct 9, 2012

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

3rd3 · on Oct 9, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjEgTuCFLU4&t=0m36s

ceejayoz · on Oct 9, 2012

Nice find!

junto · on Oct 10, 2012

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

res0nat0r · on Oct 9, 2012

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