So I'm not entirely sure if this happened during any of the recent patchs, but it would appear that the research site of Pinch of Salt mission has become more...oppressed:
http://i1168.photobucket.com/albums/r490/l_obsidious/2012-04-13_00001.jpg
Note that there were originally lots of little lichens surrounding the place before I took the shot (Guess what happened to them ;)). But yeah, I do hope this isn't a random occurrence as I first thought it was when just entering the place, because it brings a much better feeling of the camp being in troubling and needing the salt.
Nope I believe the research camp can be in different layouts