More Meteorite Mystery

Remember that noxious gas-spewing Peruvian meteorite from a few days ago? Many scientists, including one at NASA's JPL, believe it's much more likely that the gas-spewing hole was caused by a geyser-like explosion, not a meteorite. Statistically, this would seem to be a safe bet, considering meteorites aren't normally gas-spewing. (Do you realize how fun it is to say "gas-spewing"? Try it.) LiveScience has more details here. Note, however, that they link to another, later story wherein a Peruvian scientist assures that the crater was caused by a meteorite. Meanwhile, the BBC speculates that the mass illnesses may simply be mass hysteria. Curiouser and curiouser.