hello

This is probably a really stupid question, but is there any way I can convert a .mat file into a basic image, like jpeg or png? I tried downloading a texture, however it is in .mat format. I read up on it, and it seems to have something to do with matlab, or 3D max, but I am not sure. 

so could someone also explain to me what a .mat file is, and why images are in that format on this site?

thanks

-Err