By Tim Swift, The Baltimore Sun
The conclave has released the black smoke monster for a second day, signaling no pope and trouble for the cast of 'Lost,' NASA says life on Mars was possible and another sinkhole is turning heads. Welcome to your online trends report for Wednesday, March 13, 2013.
Trending on: National Twitter, Baltimore Twitter, Google Trends
Why: Cardinals in secret conclave failed twice on Wednesday morning to elect a new pope, as black smoke over the Sistine Chapel showed ballots on the first full day of voting were inconclusive. After an inconclusive first vote on Tuesday night, the 115 cardinal electors should hold another two ballots later on Wednesday after praying for inspiration from God for a choice that can lead the Roman Catholic Church out of crisis. [ The Baltimore Sun ]
— GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP/Getty Images, Mar. 13, 2013
Trending on: Reddit, Google Plus
Why: Several billion years ago, Mars may well have been a pleasant place for tiny microbes to live, with plenty of water as well as minerals that could have served as food, NASA scientists said Tuesday at a news conference on the latest findings from their Mars rover. But they have yet to find signs that actual microbes did live in that oasis. [ New York Times ]
— HO / AFP/Getty Images, Feb. 10, 2013
Trending on: Google Trends
Why: The Miami Dolphins have signed free-agent wide receiver Mike Wallace. The Dolphins announced the deal on their official Twitter feed saying, "The ink is dry and it's official. Please welcome @Wallace17_daKid to the Miami Dolphins!" [ ESPN ]
— Justin K. Aller / Getty Images, Mar. 12, 2013
Trending on: Buzzfeed
Why: In the two weeks since a sinkhole killed a man in Florida, two new sinkholes have received a significant amount of press. One was reported in Washington D.C., but who cares; it was relatively small and no one was injured. The other one occurred Friday, when Mark Mihal fell into an 18-foot sinkhole during a round of golf with his friends in southern Illinois. [ Gawker ]
— Handout photo, Mar. 13, 2013
*Average of the seven days
— Theo Wargo / Getty Images, Mar. 9, 2013