Zaherux/Mass Effect

Zaherux's nitrogen-argon atmosphere is being blasted away by the solar wind of the blue giant Grisson. Its surface consists of "seas" of loose silica dust, some kilometers deep, which periodically swirl into global sandstorms.

Many unmanned probes to Zaherux have been lost over the years. Though investigation has attributed all to mechanical failure or computational error, a popular extranet meme insists the the entire planet is composed of dormant nanotechnology, created millennia ago by a race even more advanced than the Protheans.

According to the story, Zaherux's silica dust is actually "disassembler" robots which periodically awaken to defend themselves. Though discounted by ever reputable scientist, this theory has been popularized by a series of sensationalist texts by asari author Delsae Orthysa.