Space dust as Earth’s sun shield

Dust launched from the moon’s surface or from a space station positioned between Earth and the sun could reduce enough solar radiation to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

Peer-Reviewed Publication

UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

iMAGE: SIMULATED STREAM OF DUST LAUNCHED BETWEEN EARTH AND THE SUN. THIS DUST CLOUD IS SHOWN AS IT CROSSES THE DISK OF THE SUN, VIEWED FROM EARTH. STREAMS LIKE THIS ONE, INCLUDING THOSE LAUNCHED FROM THE MOON’S SURFACE, CAN ACT AS A TEMPORARY SUNSHADE. view more 

CREDIT: BEN BROMLEY/UNIVERSITY OF UTAH

On a cold winter day, the warmth of the sun is welcome. Yet as humanity emits more and more greenhouse gases, the Earth'satmosphere traps more and more of the sun's energy and steadily increases the Earth's temperature. One strategy for reversing this trend is to intercept a fraction of sunlight before it reaches our planet. For decades, scientists have considered using screens, objects or dust particles to block just enough of the sun’s radiation—between 1 or 2%—to mitigate the effects of global warming.

A University of Utah-led study explored the potential of using dust to shield sunlight. They analyzed different properties of dust particles, quantities of dust and the orbits that would be best suited for shading Earth. The authors found that launching dustfrom Earth to a way station at the “Lagrange Point” between Earth and the sun (L1) would be most effective but would require astronomical cost and effort. An alternative is to use moondust. The authors argue that launching lunar dust from the moon instead could be a cheap and effective way to shade the Earth.

The team of astronomers applied a technique used to study planet formation around distant stars, their usual research focus. Planet formation is a messy process that kicks up lots ofastronomical dust that can form rings around the host star. These rings intercept light from the central star and re-radiate it in a way that we can detect it on Earth. One way to discover stars that are forming new planets is to look for these dusty rings.

“That was the seed of the idea; if we took a small amount of material and put it on a special orbit between the Earth and the sun and broke it up, we could block out a lot of sunlight with a little amount of mass,” said Ben Bromley, professor of physics and astronomy and lead author of the study.

"It is amazing to contemplate how moon dust—which took over four billion years to generate—might help slow the rise in Earth’s temperature, a problem that took us less than 300 years to produce,” said Scott Kenyon, co-author of the study from the Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian.

The paper was published on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023, in the journal PLOS Climate.

Casting a shadow

A shield’s overall effectiveness depends on its ability to sustain an orbit that casts a shadow on Earth. Sameer Khan, undergraduate student and the study’s co-author, led the initial exploration into which orbits could hold dust in position long enough to provide adequate shading. Khan’s work demonstrated the difficulty of keeping dust where you need it to be.

“Because we know the positions and masses of the major celestial bodies in our solar system, we can simply use the laws of gravity to track the position of a simulated sunshield over time for several different orbits,” said Khan.

Two scenarios were promising. In the first scenario, the authors positioned a space platform at the L1 Lagrange point, the closest point between Earth and the sun where the gravitational forces are balanced. Objects at Lagrange points tend to stay along a path between the two celestial bodies, which is why the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) is located at L2, a Lagrange point on the opposite side of the Earth. 

In computer simulations, the researchers shot test particles along the L1 orbit, including the position of Earth, the sun, the moon, and other solar system planets, and tracked where the particles scattered. The authors found that when launched precisely, the dust would follow a path between Earth and the sun, effectively creating shade, at least for a while. Unlike the 13,000-pound JWST, the dust was easily blown off course by the solar winds, radiation, and gravity within the solar system. Any L1 platform would need to create an endless supply of new dust batches to blast into orbit every few days after the initial spray dissipates.

“It was rather difficult to get the shield to stay at L1 long enough to cast a meaningful shadow. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, though, since L1 is an unstable equilibrium point. Even the slightest deviation in the sunshield’s orbit can cause it to rapidly drift out of place, so our simulations had to be extremely precise,” Khan said. 

In the second scenario, the authors shot lunar dust from the surface of the moon towards the sun. They found that the inherent properties of lunar dust were just right to effectively work as a sun shield. The simulations tested how lunar dust scattered along various courses until they found excellent trajectories aimed toward L1 that served as an effective sun shield. These results are welcome news, because much less energy is needed to launch dust from the moon than from Earth. This is important because the amount of dust in a solar shield is large, comparable to the output of a big mining operation here on Earth.  Furthermore, the discovery of the new sun-shielding trajectories means delivering the lunar dust to a separate platform at L1 may not be necessary. 

Just a moonshot?

The authors stress that this study only explores the potential impact of this strategy, rather than evaluate whether these scenarios are logistically feasible.

“We aren’t experts in climate change, or the rocket science needed to move mass from one place to the other. We’re just exploring different kinds of dust on a variety of orbits to see how effective this approach might be. We do not want to miss a game changer for such a critical problem,” said Bromley.  

One of the biggest logistical challenges—replenishing dust streams every few days—also has an advantage. Eventually, the sun’s radiation disperses the dust particles throughout the solar system; the sun shield is temporary and shield particles do not fall onto Earth. The authors assure that their approach would not create a permanently cold, uninhabitable planet, as in the science fiction story, “Snowpiercer.”

“Our strategy could be an option in addressing climate change,” said Bromley, “if what we need is more time.” 

{ https://www.eurekalert.org/ }

21-03-2023 om 01:36 geschreven door peter  

Stof lanceren vanaf de maan om zonlicht tegen te houden, het klinkt als toekomstmuziek, maar de mogelijkheid komt dichterbij en het zou zomaar eens serieus kunnen helpen om de opwarming van de Aarde tegen te gaan.

Het lijkt namelijk nu veilig en technisch mogelijk om zo’n zonnescherm te creëren tussen de Aarde en de zon. Daarvoor moet dan wel om de paar dagen stof worden afgeschoten vanaf de maan. Zo bereikt minder zonlicht de Aarde, waardoor de planeet afkoelt.

Minder zonlicht op aarde
Het is een futuristisch plan waar al langer in verschillende vormen over wordt nagedacht: een kunstmatige barrière opwerpen tussen de zon en de aarde om klimaatverandering tegen te gaan. In het boek SuperFreakonomics uit 2009 staat bijvoorbeeld al een hoofdstuk over de mogelijkheid om zwaveldioxide (SO2) in de stratosfeer te schieten om de aarde tijdelijk af te koelen. De schrijvers baseren zich hierbij onder andere op de enorme uitbarsting in 1883 van de Krakatau-vulkaan in Indonesië, waarbij 20 miljoen ton SO2 vrijkwam. De wereld was toen vijf jaar lang enkele graden kouder dan normaal, omdat minder zonlicht het aardoppervlak bereikte. Maar critici schoten dit wilde plan vrijwel direct af.

Lagrange Points
Maar het idee bleef bestaan. Wetenschappers van de University of Utah gaan nu nog een stap verder en hebben verschillende scenario’s doorgerekend voor een haalbare strategie om zonlicht tegen te houden. Ze overwogen om satellietschermen te plaatsen of andere objecten of stofdeeltjes buiten onze dampkring te brengen. Uiteindelijk kwamen ze tot de conclusie dat de meest efficiënte manier om een of twee procent van het zonlicht te blokkeren – dat is al genoeg om de huidige klimaatopwarming teniet te doen – is om stofdeeltjes te lanceren vanaf de maan. Voor een optimale werking moet het stofspoor precies naar het Lagrange Point worden geschoten. Er zijn twee Lagrange Points rondom de aarde. L1 is het dichtstbijzijnde punt tussen de aarde en de zon waar de zwaartekrachten in evenwicht zijn. De James Webb-ruimtetelescoop bevindt zich op L2, een Lagrange-punt aan de andere kant van de aarde.

“De basis van ons idee is om een beperkte hoeveelheid materiaal te gebruiken om in een speciale baan tussen de aarde en de zon te plaatsen en daar uit elkaar te laten vallen. Op deze manier kunnen we veel zonlicht blokkeren met een kleine hoeveelheid massa”, vertelt hoogleraar natuurkunde en astronomie Ben Bromley tegen Scientias.nl. “Ons onderzoek richtte zich hoofdzakelijk op de conceptvraag. Ik kan alleen maar gissen naar de tijd en de kosten die zo’n gigantisch ruimteproject met zich meebrengen. Het zal in ieder geval een astronomisch bedrag zijn, maar vergeet niet dat de gevolgen van klimaatopwarming ook een enorm kostenplaatje hebben.”

Kan maanstof de opwarming van de aarde helpen tegenhouden? Niet aan beginnen, denkt menig wetenschapper. 

 © HUM Images/Universal Images Group

Stofkanon op de maan
Het is een fascinerend idee om vier miljard jaar oud maanstof te gebruiken om de door de mens in tweehonderd jaar veroorzaakte klimaatopwarming tegen te gaan. Het ruimtegruis werkt in de berekeningen korte tijd heel goed, maar wordt dan al snel uit koers geblazen door de zonnewinden, straling en zwaartekracht in ons zonnestelsel. Elke paar dagen is er een nieuwe lading stof nodig om richting het Lagrange Point te schieten en aangezien het enorm veel kracht kost om het stof iedere keer vanaf de Aarde te lanceren, vanwege de zwaartekracht en de atmosfeer, is het volgens de onderzoeker een beter idee om dit vanaf de maan te gaan doen, ook al moet er daar dan eerst een basis worden gebouwd.

Niet te zien
Veel zullen mensen er op het eerste gezicht niet van merken, verwacht Bromley. “Aangezien de stofdeeltjes maar een fractie van het zonlicht tegenhouden, is het verschil vanaf de Aarde met het blote oog nauwelijks te zien. De stofdeeltjes verspreiden zich over de volle breedte van de zonneschijf.” Maar wat gebeurt er eigenlijk met het stofspoor nadat het uit elkaar is gevallen? Gaan we daar in de toekomst geen last mee krijgen? “We weten dat de deeltjes in ieder geval niet neervallen op aarde, op de maan of op onze satellieten. Maar het is onduidelijk of het gruis in de toekomst nog schade kan berokkenen bij ruimtereizen of iets dergelijks. Mocht dit concept echt worden uitgevoerd, dan zal eerst extra onderzoek hiernaar nodig zijn”, legt Bromley uit.

Astronomische parasol
Er zijn ook scenario’s doorgerekend, waarbij een meer permanente barrière wordt gevormd. “Sterrenkundige J. Roger Angel kwam met het idee om een vloot met een heleboel kleine bestuurbare satellieten in te zetten. Het probleem is dat bij Lagrange Point 1 het gebied dat je moet bestrijken erg groot is. Het gaat hier om een vlak van honderden bij honderden kilometers”, aldus de professor.

Bromley ziet zijn plan als een noodoplossing. “We zijn geen experts in klimaatverandering of de raketwetenschap die nodig is om massa van de ene plaats naar de andere te verplaatsen, maar we hebben wel onderzocht hoe verschillende soorten stof het zonlicht kunnen tegenhouden op verschillende plekken in ons zonnestelsel. Verder maken we de effectiviteit van deze aanpak overzichtelijk. Het zou doodzonde zijn om een alternatieve oplossing als deze voor het enorme klimaatprobleem op aarde niet door te rekenen. Onze strategie zou een optie kunnen zijn om tijd te kopen in de race tegen de klok, nu de tekenen van de destructieve klimaatverandering steeds duidelijker worden.”

Minder uitstoot
Maar ook de professor vindt dat in de eerste plaats de CO2-uitstoot omlaag moet. “Ons concept is een interessant onderdeel van een groter internationaal plan om klimaatverandering tegen te gaan. De belangrijkste stap is echter om de oorzaken van de opwarming van de aarde aan te pakken en de hoeveelheid broeikasgassen in onze eigen atmosfeer drastisch te verminderen”, besluit Bromley.

Bronmateriaal

• "In an astro-engineering approach to climate change mitigation, researchers calculate how dust could be fired from the Moon into space to attentuate the Sun's rays" - PLOS Climate
  Interview met professor Ben Bromley van de University of Utah
• Afbeelding bovenaan dit artikel: Shaman1006 / Getty (via Canva.com)

{ https://scientias.nl/ }

21-03-2023 om 01:20 geschreven door peter  

Graphic depiction of Bend-Forming of Large Electrostatically Actuated Space Structures.

Credit: Zachary Cordero

MATT WILLIAMS

Their proposed telescope addresses a key issue with space telescopes and other large payloads that are packaged for launch and then deployed in orbit. In short, size and surface precision tradeoffs limit the diameter of deployable space telescopes to the 10s of meters. Consider the recently-launched James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), the largest and most powerful telescope ever sent to space. To fit into its payload fairing (atop an Ariane 5 rocket), the telescope was designed so that it could be folded into a more compact form.

This included its primary mirror, secondary mirror, and sunshield, which all unfolded once the space telescope was in orbit. Meanwhile, the primary mirror (the most complex and powerful ever deployed) measures 6.5 meters (21 feet) in diameter. Its successor, the Large UV/Optical/IR Surveyor (LUVOIR), will have a similar folding assembly and a primary mirror measuring 8 to 15 meters (26.5 to 49 feet) in diameter – depending on the selected design (LUVOIR-A or -B). As Bhundiya explained to Universe Today via email:

“Today, most spacecraft antennas are deployed in orbit (e.g., Northrop Grumman’s Astromesh antenna) and have been optimized to achieve high performance and gain. However, they have limitations: 1) They are passive deployable systems. I.e. once you deploy them you cannot adaptively change the shape of the antenna. 2) They become difficult to slew as their size increases. 3) They exhibit a tradeoff between diameter and precision. I.e. their precision decreases as their size increases, which is a challenge for achieving astronomy and sensing applications that require both large diameters and high precision (e.g. JWST).”

While many in-space construction methods have been proposed to overcome these limitations, detailed analyses of their performance for building precision structures (like large-diameter reflectors) are lacking. For the sake of their proposal, Cordero and his colleagues conducted a quantitative, system-level comparison of materials and processes for in-space manufacturing. Ultimately, they determined that this limitation could be overcome using advanced materials and a novel in-space manufacturing method called Bend-Forming.

This technique, invented by researchers at the AMSL and described in a recent paper co-authored by Bhundiya and Cordero, relies on a combination of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) deformation processing and hierarchical high-performance materials. As Harsh explained it:

“Bend-Forming is a process for fabricating 3D wireframe structures from metal wire feedstock. It works by bending a single strand of wire at specific nodes and with specific angles, and adding joints to the nodes to make a stiff structure. So to fabricate a given structure, you convert it into bending instructions which can be implemented on a machine like a CNC wire bender to fabricate it from a single strand of feedstock. The key application of Bend-Forming is to manufacture the support structure for a large antenna on orbit. The process is well-suited for this application because it is low-power, can fabricate structures with high compaction ratios, and has essentially no size limit.”

In contrast to other in-space assembly and manufacturing approaches, Bend-Forming is low-power and is uniquely enabled by the extremely low-temperature environment of space. In addition, this technique enables smart structures that leverage multifunctional materials to achieve new combinations of size, mass, stiffness, and precision. Additionally, the resulting smart structures leverage multifunctional materials to achieve unprecedented combinations of size, mass, stiffness, and precision, breaking the design paradigms that limit conventional truss or tension-aligned space structures.

In addition to their native precision, Large Bend-Formed structures can use their electrostatic actuators to contour a reflector surface with sub-millimeter precision. This, said Harsh, will increase the precision of their fabricated antenna in orbit:

“The method of active control is called electrostatic actuation and uses forces generated by electrostatic attraction to precisely shape a metallic mesh into a curved shape which acts as the antenna reflector. We do this by applying a voltage between the mesh and a ‘command surface’ which consists of the Bend-Formed support structure and deployable electrodes. By adjusting this voltage, we can precisely shape the reflector surface and achieve a high-gain, parabolic antenna.”

An arrangement of 3 exoplanets to explore how the atmospheres can look different based on the chemistry present and incoming flux. Credit: Jack H. Madden used with permission

Harsh and his colleagues deduce that this technique will allow for a deployable mirror measuring more than 100 meters (328 ft) in diameter that could achieve a surface precision of 100 m/m and a specific area of more than 10 m²/kg. This capability would surpass existing microwave radiometry technology and could lead to significant improvements in storm forecasts and an improved understanding of atmospheric processes like the hydrologic cycle. This would have significant implications for Earth Observation and exoplanet studies.

The team recently demonstrated a 1-meter (3.3 ft) prototype of an electrostatically-actuated reflector with a Bend-Formed support structure at the 2023 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) SciTech Conference, which ran from January 23rd to 27th in National Harbor, Maryland. With this Phase I NIAC grant, the team plans to mature the technology with the ultimate aim of creating a microwave radiometry reflector.

Looking ahead, the team plans to investigate how Bend-Forming can be used in geostationary orbit (GEO) to create a microwave radiometry reflector with a 15km (9.3 mi) field of view, a ground resolution of 35km (21.75 mi) and a proposed frequency span of 50 to 56 GHz – the super-high and extremely-high frequent range (SHF/EHF). This will enable the telescope to retrieve temperature profiles from exoplanet atmospheres, a key characteristic allowing astrobiologists to measure habitability.

“Our goal with the NIAC now is to work towards implementing our technology of Bend-Forming and electrostatic actuation in space,” said Harsh. “We envision fabricating 100-m diameter antennas in geostationary orbit with have Bend-Formed support structure and electrostatically-actuated reflector surfaces. These antennas will enable a new generation of spacecraft with increased sensing, communication, and power capabilities.”

Further Reading: 

• NASA

{  https://www.universetoday.com/ }

20-03-2023 om 23:54 geschreven door peter  

{ https://scientias.nl/ }

20-03-2023 om 23:18 geschreven door peter  

The Doomsday Clock Just Hit 90 Seconds to Midnight. That's Dangerously Close.

BY TIM NEWCOMB

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was founded in 1945 by Albert Einstein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Eugene Rabinowitch, and other scientists involved in developing the first atomic weapons. They believed their work created man-made threats to human existence. Two years later, they introduced the Doomsday Clock to show the world’s vulnerability to catastrophe from nuclear weapons, technology, and other factors.

The 2023 Doomsday Clock shift—the clock had been set at 100 seconds to midnight since 2020—is due largely, but not exclusively, thanks to Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine and the increased risk of nuclear escalation for every month the two countries remain in conflict. The Bulletin says continued threats from climate crisis, and the breakdown of institutions needed to mitigate risks associated with advancing technologies and biological threats, also contributed to the shift.

From the Bulletin’s statement:

“Russia’s war on Ukraine has raised profound questions about how states interact, eroding norms of international conduct that underpin successful responses to a variety of global risks. And worst of all, Russia’s thinly veiled threats to use nuclear weapons remind the world that escalation of the conflict—by accident, intention, or miscalculation—is a terrible risk. The possibility that the conflict could spin out of anyone’s control remains high.”

Along with the Russian aggression, the scientists also warn about a Russian-American treaty covering nuclear weapons that expires in February 2026, as well as the continued expansion of nuclear weapon capabilities in China, North Korea, Iran, and India.

To add to the mix, the Bulletin says the climate crisis is worsening, bio-threats—including laboratory accidents—are greater now than ever before, and disruptive technology has grown in concern.

“The Doomsday Clock is sounding an alarm for the whole of humanity,” said Mary Robinson, former United Nations high commissioner for human rights. “We are on the brink of a precipice.”

{ https://www.popularmechanics.com/ }

20-03-2023 om 23:15 geschreven door peter  

Why Was the Book of Enoch Removed from the Bible?

Brooks Manley

20-03-2023 om 21:23 geschreven door peter  

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: Insights from Two Experienced Fighter Pilots

Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, have long been a subject of fascination and debate. Recently, the discussion has gained new momentum, with more former military personnel coming forward to share their experiences. In a candid interview, two retired fighter pilots, Chris Lehto and Ryan Graves, discuss their encounters with UAPs and the need for more investigation into the phenomenon. Both pilots have extensive experience, with Lehto having flown F-16s and Graves piloting F/A-18 Super Hornets during their military careers.

The Americans for Safe Aerospace Initiative

During the interview, Graves talks about his involvement with the Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA), an organization that aims to raise awareness about UAPs and their potential implications on national security and aerospace safety. ASA collaborates with experts in various fields, including military personnel, scientists, and engineers, to study and analyze these enigmatic objects.

Graves’ Briefing at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics

As part of his efforts to raise awareness, Graves presented a briefing at the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), discussing his encounters with UAPs and the need for further research. He emphasized that these objects exhibit advanced capabilities, such as high speeds and rapid acceleration, which are beyond the known capabilities of existing aircraft.

• UFO Mania: Experts Warn of Impending UAP Sightings Wave in the UK

Debunking the Balloon Theory

A common argument against the existence of UAPs is that they could be balloons or other man-made objects. However, both Lehto and Graves dismiss this notion, stating that they have encountered balloons during their flying careers and can easily distinguish them from UAPs. They believe that the objects they’ve encountered are not balloons, given their unique flight characteristics and the fact that they were detected within close range.

Interesting Radar Contacts

During their time in service, both pilots had encountered radar contacts with unusual characteristics that were later identified as UAPs. These objects displayed advanced flight capabilities, such as rapid acceleration and instant changes in direction, which are not typical of conventional aircraft.

The ‘Gimbal’ Video and Nimitz Radar Data

Graves shares his insights on the famous ‘Gimbal’ video, which shows an object rotating in mid-air. He believes that the object in the video is not a balloon, given its flight characteristics and proximity to the aircraft. He also discusses the Nimitz radar data, which shows unexplained aerial objects moving at incredible speeds. Graves highlights the classification issues surrounding these incidents, as UAP encounters are often classified at a higher level, making it challenging for researchers to access and analyze relevant data.

The interview between Chris Lehto and Ryan Graves sheds light on the experiences of two experienced fighter pilots who have encountered UAPs during their military careers. Their insights underline the need for further investigation into this phenomenon, as the potential implications on national security and aerospace safety cannot be ignored. As more military personnel come forward to share their experiences, the conversation surrounding UAPs is likely to gain more traction and, perhaps, lead to a better understanding of these mysterious objects.

{ https://www.latest-ufo-sightings.net/ }

20-03-2023 om 12:49 geschreven door peter  

10 Bizarre Relics from History

Footprints, Fairies and even a Foreskin...

From time immemorial, people had the need to venerate objects of great significance: religious relics, mythical symbols, or depictions of holy figures. And as if answering this need, the religious establishment has provided. Throughout time relics have been widely worshiped throughout the world. Some of them are relics in the true meaning of that term: holy items of ancient times that are a marvel to witness. Then again, some relics are simply strange and bizarre. Reading about them we can easily explore the limits of human belief and analyze the complex anatomies of faith.

1. The Fairy Flag: Strange Relic of the MacLeod Clan in Scotland

A relic is not necessarily a religious item. Some of them can be important heirlooms and artifacts with a lengthy heritage and history. One such item is the so-called Fairy Flag, a venerated and very old heirloom of the Chiefs of the Scottish Clan MacLeod . Known in Scottish as Am Bratach Sìth, it is kept in the clan’s seat at Dunvegan Castle and is considered an indivisible part of their heritage.

• The Mysterious Fairy Flag of Clan MacLeod and its Legendary Protective Powers

• The Hippie Town of Calcata - Hiding-Place of the Holy Foreskin of Christ

The Fairy Flag is made from silk that originated in the far east, denoting its luxury status on the remote Isle of Skye. Being very old, it is now quite torn and tattered, and covered with tiny red “elf spots.” Shrouded in mystery, this strange relic has attained legendary status and is said to have magical properties and plenty of healing powers . Its origins are somewhat enigmatic, and the legends state that the MacLeod chiefs were presented with the flag by fairy folk . However, scholars suggested that its origins might lie not with the fairies, but in the Crusades, or the Viking invasions, for whom it could have been a raven banner. Nevertheless, it remains as one of the most precious and strangest in Scotland.

2. The Footprints of Muhammad: Petrified Relics of the Prophet

The founder of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad is the most venerated figure of this widespread religion. Accordingly, just like in Christianity, religious relics associated with him are aplenty. But one stands out as quite peculiar: the petrified footprint of Muhammad. Some Muslims believe that wherever the prophet stepped, his left foot made an impression that remained fixed in place.

According to numerous written and oral sources, this prophet left numerous such footprints across the Arabic world. One such alleged footprint is located in the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, where it is venerated by thousands of believers every year. Some other notable examples of his preserved footprints are located in the mausoleum of Qaitbey in Cairo, or in the Mosque of the Footprint in Qadam, just south of Damascus and directly on the pilgrimage route to Mecca.

Numerous legends are associated with these peculiar relics. One legend says that a royal eunuch of the Nizam (Muslim Indian sovereign) once discovered an imprint after being guided to it by a dream vision of the prophet himself. Whatever one might believe, a petrified footprint is certainly a strange phenomenon, and also one that is quite difficult to skillfully replicate or fake.

3. The Holy Prepuce of Jesus Christ

Possibly one of the strangest relics in the world, the Holy Prepuce - also known as the Holy Foreskin - is just another in a long line of relics associated with Jesus Christ . This relic allegedly originates from the circumcision of Christ, and became an important religious item in the early periods of Christianity. Numerous healing powers have been attributed to this foreskin, and it was soon claimed as a prized item by several churches in Europe.

Alongside the umbilical cord of Christ, the foreskin had a long and turbulent journey in medieval Europe. In 800 AD, it was given as a present to Pope Leo III by King Charlemagne, who most likely received the relic as a present from the Byzantine Empress Irene. The Pope housed the relic in a lavish jeweled gold cross, which was kept under the altar of the Chapel of Saint Lawrence in Rome.

Alas, with the Sack of Rome in 1527, the jeweled cross with Jesus’ foreskin was looted, and later retrieved in a village north of Rome, Calcata, where it was reportedly kept until 1983, when it was yet again stolen. However, its authenticity at that time was dubious at best, and the actual existence of the Holy Foreskin remains a big enigma. Nevertheless, as far as strange relics go, the veneration of a foreskin is definitely a strange practice.

5. The Antikythera Mechanism: The Ancient Analogue Computer

Just like religious relics carry a lot of importance for believers, so do the relics of ancient civilizations bear importance for history enthusiasts all over the world. The Antikythera Mechanism remains one of the strangest and most enigmatic discoveries connected with the ancient Greeks, puzzling the scientists to this very day. It was discovered in 1901 off the coast of the Greek island called Antikythera, within a shipwreck at a depth of 45 meters.

The complex gears and mechanism pieces that comprise it were soon recognized, and since then this item has been recognized as one of the world’s first analogue computers. What makes it so strange is the time in which it was built. Being made in roughly 100 BC, it is surprisingly advanced and seems almost futuristic in many ways.

This device is a complex clockwork mechanism that contains more than 30 delicate bronze gears. Scientists proposed that it was used as an orrery, used by the Ancient Greeks to predict astronomical positions and eclipses. Such knowledge could be used for calendar and astrological purposes and provide them with this information decades in advance. As such it is certainly one of the most enigmatic relics of the ancient world.

6. The Virgin Mary Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yup, you read that right. When it comes to religious relics, the options become limitless. Not all religious relics were discovered in ancient history. The old toast and sandwich manifestation of holy figures is the true relic of modern times, as strange as it may seem. A woman from Fort Lauderdale in Florida, USA, named Diana Duyser, sold her 10-year-old grilled cheese sandwich in 2004 - with one bite taken out of it - for $28,000 on an online auction! But it was no ordinary grilled cheese sandwich: it allegedly bore the image of the face of the Virgin Mary . Mrs. Duyser kept the sandwich sealed for 10 years before deciding to try and sell it - she never assumed it would fetch such a stellar price.

For the faithful, it could be called a miracle. However, those with a bit more reason will realize that it is simply a curious coincidence: the dark crust formed a pattern that surprisingly accurately depicts a female face. This strange modern-day relic was bought by an online casino, the Golden Palace, whose representatives say that they quickly understood the novelty of such a “recognizable part of modern pop culture.” They did not hesitate to pay $28,000 (£20,113) to own it. This makes it the world’s most expensive grilled cheese sandwich!

7. The Remains of St. Datian in New York

The tradition of Catacomb Saints spread like wildfire through the Christian world, when holy relics and preserved skeletons of “saints” began emerging throughout the world. One such holy relic is considerably stranger than the others, and it found its way all the way to New York. This relic is the body of Saint Datian.

This odd relic is housed in a glass sarcophagus in the Church of the Most Holy Redeemer in East Village, New York City. Not much is known about Saint Datian. In fact, this saint is virtually unknown in preserved written sources. It is possible that Datian was a cruel roman leader who persecuted Christians zealously, but later repented, became a monk, and was later martyred.

The remains (bones) of this saint arrived at the church in 1892 and were housed in a lifelike wax effigy. The relics were donated to the church by a wealthy Italian lady, but the earlier origins of the bones remain a mystery. But some people quickly placed the authenticity of these remains into question. As early as 1897 it was suggested that the encased remains are actually those of a police officer shot and killed while defending the church from a burglary. This belief remained widespread until the late 1940’s. The truth about this strange relic remains unknown.

8. The Lion-Man of the Hohlenstein-Stadel: Prehistoric Ivory Relic

Religion - whether monotheistic or polytheistic - has deep and ancient origins. What beliefs did our earliest ancestors have? Have some of their ancient relics survived until today? The Lion-man, known also as Löwenmensch, is an elaborate prehistoric mammoth ivory figurine that quite possibly depicts an ancient mythical being worshipped by the prehistoric man. In 1939 it was discovered in a cave in Germany and is considered the oldest zoomorphic figurine in the world. Dated to the Upper Paleolithic, it is roughly 40,000 years old and was made from mammoth ivory .

Researchers came to a conclusion that the lion-headed figure was an important part of the mythology of the Paleolithic humans inhabiting this region. It also might be one of the earliest connections with shamanism. It deepens the mystery of numerous Paleolithic depictions of “beast-men,” like the bird-headed man from the Lascaux Cave , the lion-woman from Chauvet Cave , or the stag-headed “Sorcerer” from the Trois Frères cave. Prehistory was undoubtedly strange, seen now from our modern point of view, and ancient relics are all that remains of their belief systems.

9. Breast Milk of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem

Another in a long line of strange Christian relics is the so-called breast milk of the Virgin Mary . “The Nursing Madonna,” or Maddona Lactans , has been often depicted in Christian religious art, nurturing the baby Jesus at her breast. But did you know that her breast milk is venerated as a relic? It is situated in the Chapel of the Milk Grotto of Our Lady in Bethlehem, some 10km south of Jerusalem. Ever since the Byzantine Era, this site has been frequented as one of the major Christian pilgrimage sites. It is believed that Virgin Mary found refuge in this grotto with infant Jesus, and while she breastfed him a drop of her milk fell on the cave floor and turned it white.

• The Mystery of the Lion Man Sculpture

• Erasing History: Why Islamic State is Blowing Up Ancient Artifacts

Pilgrims visit this site, especially those couples seeking to conceive a child as the faithful believe that this shrine helps those suffering with infertility. The Catholic officials sought to capitalize on this belief, selling limestone powder made from the stone of the grotto, which ought to be diluted in water and drank. It supposedly helps cure infertility. You thought that veneration of a foreskin is strange? How about drinking powdered cave floor? This strange relic is as strange as can be.

10. The Venus of Hohle Fels: 40,000-Year-Old Ivory Sculpture

Venus figurines are the most iconic relics of the world’s earliest history. These fertility symbols were one of the major cultic items for early humans, and pose a great insight into their cryptic and mysterious beliefs. The Venus Of Hohle Fels is one of the strangest of all ancient relics, and can be interpreted in many ways. Unearthed in the Hohle Fels cave in Germany, this ivory sculpture is dated to the very beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period, some 40,000 years ago. It is the oldest, undisputed depiction of a human being and gives us a crucial glimpse into the earliest origins of Cro-Magnons in Europe.

This relic might look strange to us, but for the early man it might have been a revered mythical concept. It depicts a buxom - perhaps even obese - woman with enormous breasts, a large (pregnant) belly, and a prominent vulva. These are clear connections with fertility. It can be easily understood that life was quite hard in the Upper Paleolithic and infant death rates could have been quite high. People were also probably malnourished and lean, so a depiction of a buxom, hale, and fat woman could have been an ideal of health, fertility, prosperity, and good life. Either way, we will never know the true meaning of the Venus figurines, and this one remains a truly strange ancient relic.

• Top image: The relics humans have chosen to worship over the course of human history can often help us understand the extent of belief systems and the anatomies of faith.
• Source: Top: Village Preservation Blog Bottom: epic_images / Adobe Stock; Public domain ; Golden Palace Events

By Aleksa Vučković

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{ https://www.ancientoriginsunleashed.com/ }

20-03-2023 om 01:40 geschreven door peter  

Top 15 Unbelievable Rock Sculptures (Video)

Marvels of human creativity and engineering prowess, these top 15 rock sculptures captivate the imagination and inspire awe. Among these awe-inspiring rock sculptures are the towering Colossal Statue of Shapur, the remarkable Gopachal Jain monuments , the poignant Lion of Lucerne , the imposing Apennine Colossus , and the serene Avukana Buddha. These extraordinary feats of artistry and craftsmanship have withstood the test of time, leaving an indelible mark on the landscape and serving as a testament to the heights of human achievement. As diverse as the cultures and epochs they represent, these magnificent rock sculptures continue to fascinate and enchant visitors from around the world, offering a glimpse into the boundless potential of human creativity and our enduring connection to the natural world.

• Top image: Gopachal Jain monuments.
• Source: sumit / Adobe Stock

By Joanna Gillan

{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

20-03-2023 om 00:46 geschreven door peter  

Chris Young

 

A new space laser propulsion concept

Today's chemical rockets are simply not fast enough to take us far beyond our solar system within any reasonable timeframe. That's why Davoyan proposed a new concept to propel spacecraft using pellet-beam propulsion.

The new concept was partly inspired by Breakthrough Starshot, a $100 million initiative announced by Russian-born philanthropist Yuri Milner in 2016. Breakthrough Starshot proposed using millions of lasers trained on a tiny probe with a light sail to send it to our nearest star, Proxima Centauri, in as little as 20 years.

For Dayovan's pellet-beam propulsion concept, he and his team proposed using two spacecraft. One would set off towards interstellar space, while the other would go into orbit around Earth. From there, the orbital spacecraft would fire thousands of tiny metallic pellets at the interstellar spacecraft every second. It would also either fire a 10-megawatt laser beam at the interstellar probe or align a laser fired from the ground toward the interstellar craft.

That laser would hit the pellets and heat them to the point that a layer is removed and become plasma. That plasma accelerates the pellet remnants, and the pellet beam provides thrust that propels the spacecraft at enormous speeds.

Dayovan also proposed an alternative method where an onboard magnetic field-generating device could deflect the pellets and propel the craft forward.

Traveling into deep space at 480,000 km/h

The Breakthrough Starshot concept aims to propel its probe at 20 percent the speed of light, though it seeks to use a tiny probe only capable of carrying a basic camera.

Dayovan believes the pellet-beam propulsion system could propel a 1-ton probe at speeds of up to roughly 480,000 kilometers per hour (300,000 miles per hour), meaning it would be 10 times faster than chemical propulsion systems for traditional rockets. It would also be fast enough to overtake Voyager 1 — the farthest human-made spacecraft from Earth — in only five years.

Thanks to NASA's NIAC program, Dayovan, and his team now have $175,000 in funding to demonstrate the concept's feasibility. Much like with Breakthrough Starshot, the new concept relies on significant advances in laser design, meaning it will be some time before we see a pellet-beam propulsion system take to the skies.

{ https://interestingengineering.com/ }

19-03-2023 om 23:33 geschreven door peter  

NASA discovers the perfect cave to live in on the moon 

Credit: NASA / Goddard / Arizona State University

A NASA-funded team of researchers has identified a lunar pit on the moon that’s always a balmy 63 degrees Fahrenheit — suggesting it could be the perfect place for future astronauts to establish a moon base. 

The challenge: 

NASA plans to return humans to the moon as soon as 2025, with the goal of establishing a long-term presence on the lunar surface. The hope is that this will give astronauts enough time to conduct the research needed to eventually send people to Mars and beyond.

Finding a safe location for future astronauts to set up a moon base is essential to NASA’s exploration plans, but the moon is not a hospitable place for people. 

Surface temperatures on the moon range from -280 F at night to 260 F during the day.

Because the moon doesn’t have an atmosphere or magnetic field, astronauts will be exposed to about 200 times as much radiation as people on Earth. The lack of an atmosphere makes meteorite strikes on the moon harder and faster than on Earth, too, so space rocks and impact debris are another threat.

The moon’s day-night cycle is nearly 30 Earth-days long, so astronauts will also need to get used to 15 straight days of darkness and light. They’ll need to deal with the moon’s extreme temperatures, too, which can range from a frigid -280 F at night to a blistering 260 F during the day.

Underground moon base: 

Lava tubes — subterranean tunnels created more than two billion years ago when the moon was volcanically active — could be the answer to astronauts’ housing problem.

Since 2009, astronomers have discovered 16 pits on the moon’s surface that they believe formed when the roof of a lunar lava tube caved in. Future astronauts could potentially access a tube through a lunar pit and build a moon base within the cave.

This would protect astronauts from space radiation and meteorites, while still offering them direct access to the moon’s surface. And now, new research suggests it would help them avoid the moon’s wild temperature fluctuations, too.

Cozy cave: Using computer models and data collected by a thermal camera aboard NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, researchers have determined that temperatures within the shaded part of one lunar pit remain about 63 F during the entire day-night cycle.

They believe this is due to the pit’s overhang preventing the area under it from getting too hot during the day, while also trapping heat from radiating out of the pit at night.

Getting in and out of the pit wouldn’t be easy — the bottom is 328 feet below the moon’s surface, so it’d be like rappelling down a 30-story building. But if NASA can make it work, astronauts wouldn’t have to expend energy on yet-to-be-invented climate control systems for their future moon base.

“Humans evolved living in caves, and to caves we might return when we live on the moon,” said study co-author David Paige.

{ https://www.freethink.com/ }

19-03-2023 om 23:07 geschreven door peter  

19-03-2023 om 22:35 geschreven door peter  

Don’t look up, these asteroids might be too difficult to destroy. It’s not all bad news though

If we can spot an asteroid in time, we should be about to bat it away.

Matthew Agius

Jourdan’s team also suggested going for the nuclear option might be a viable option if kinetic impact was ruled out.

But rather than launching a high-powered warhead into the asteroid to vaporise it, the detonation of such a weapon in close proximity to the asteroid would provide a suitable shockwave to steer the rubble pile out of the way.

The Curtin team will next take samples from the larger asteroid Bennu which was probed by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission for study later this year, and will also take receipt of samples from the Martian moon Phobos at the end of the decade.

An illustration of Nasa's 'Dart' mission to test asteroid-smashing technology. NASA / JHUAPL / STEVE GRIBBEN

{ https://cosmosmagazine.com/ }

19-03-2023 om 22:20 geschreven door peter  

Tucker Carlson Relays Strange Account of Soldiers Falling Victim to UFO Encounters

The enigma of unidentified flying objects has fascinated the public and military for decades. Recently, Fox News host Tucker Carlson reignited the discussion with an intriguing tale of troops dying from UFO-inflicted brain injuries. While the U.S. military denies these allegations, the story raises questions about the extent of our knowledge on UFOs and their potential impact on human lives.

Tucker Carlson’s UFO Brain Injury Claims

On the “Full Send” podcast, Carlson recounted a conversation he had with a Stanford professor who, according to the host, was assigned by the Defense Department 11 years ago to investigate cases of troops dying due to UFO-inflicted brain injuries. The professor allegedly had expertise in traumatic brain injury and examined the brains of over 100 troops who died after encounters with UFOs. Moreover, the professor informed Carlson of numerous open court cases supporting these claims.

Carlson expressed his disbelief that such stories were not making front-page headlines, questioning why such significant information remained under the radar.

• Retiree snaps photo of UFO resembling “Close Encounters” hovering above resid

The Pentagon’s Response

In response to these claims, the U.S. military has been quick to deny their validity. Susan Gough, a Defense Department spokesperson, declared the story false and the Pentagon declined to comment further. Despite the military’s dismissal, UFOs continue to be a topic of interest within the defense community.

Recent Developments in UFO Research

In recent months, UFOs have taken center stage in military discussions. Last week, Sean Kirkpatrick, head of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, co-authored a report with Abraham Loeb, chairman of Harvard University’s astronomy department. The report, titled “Physical Constraints on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena,” explores the possibility that alien vessels could be sending out search probes throughout our solar system.

The authors suggest that an interstellar object could be a parent craft releasing multiple small probes during its close passage to Earth, a concept similar to certain NASA missions. This report was published after weeks of heightened attention on unidentified aerial phenomena, sparked by a Chinese spy balloon entering U.S. airspace.

While the U.S. military denies Tucker Carlson’s claims about troops dying from UFO-inflicted brain injuries, the ongoing interest in UFOs highlights our curiosity and thirst for understanding these mysterious phenomena. As researchers continue to investigate the existence and potential implications of unidentified flying objects, the line between fact and fiction remains blurred. The public can only hope that forthcoming studies will shed light on these enigmatic occurrences and their possible impact on human lives.

ALL RELATED VIDEOS, selected and posted by peter2011

{ https://www.latest-ufo-sightings.net/ }

19-03-2023 om 20:10 geschreven door peter  

'This stuff is real': Sci-fi author details how he saw an 'enormous silver V-shaped UFO' at age 14 as his unsurprised military father gave him a knowing WINK

• Dan Harary, 66, saw a UFO hovering above his New Jersey neighborhood in 1970
• He told DailyMail.com his father, Jack, acted as though he had seen one before 
• Harary has said that the experience has inspired his new novel, After They Came

By ERICA NARDOZZI FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

It was an ordinary afternoon in 1970 when a 14-year-old Dan Harary looked through the windshield of his father's car and saw a V-shaped UFO hovering above his New Jersey neighborhood in broad daylight. 

The Hollywood publicist-turned-sci-fi writer never forgot the incredible moment, but it wasn't until decades later that he became convinced his military dad, Jack, knew more about the flying saucer than he had let on.  

Harary's father worked as an electronics engineer with the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1996 and never discussed his top secret projects. 

It was not until Jack died in 2017, that his son remembered he had given him a knowing wink after their UFO sighting. 'I thought, "Oh my God, I wonder if my dad knew what that was,"' Harary, 66, told DailyMail.com. 

The author's growing conviction that his father knew about UFOs during his 45 years in the military inspired his new alien novel, After They Came, which tells the story of a man who is beamed up by extraterrestrials after trying to drown himself on his 70th birthday.

Hollywood publicist-turned-sci-fi writer Dan Harary, 66, penned a new alien novel, After They Came, that was inspired by the first UFO sighting he had with his military father in 1970

Harary's father, Jack (pictured in New Jersey in 1957), worked as an electronics engineer with the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1996 and never discussed his top secret projects. Harary was in the car with his dad when he spotted an 'enormous V-shaped UFO'

Harary was born and raised outside Asbury Park, New Jersey, where he developed a passion for rock music — not aliens. The existence of extraterrestrial life didn't really cross his mind until his first UFO sighting as a teen.

He recalled how his father had been driving him home from Hebrew school around 4.30pm when he spotted something flying in the air. He yelled for his dad to pull over, and when they got out of the car, they saw an 'enormous silver V-shaped UFO.' 

'It was maybe 200 feet in the air, completely silent, and it was just hovering. It just went very, very slowly over my neighborhood, and I could not believe what I was seeing,' he said.  

'So I was jumping up and down. "Dad, a UFO! Dad, a UFO! It's so cool!" My father looked at it like he was thinking about what he had to buy at the grocery store the next day. He had no interest. Just the look on my father's face was like he'd seen it a hundred times already.'

Before they left, his father looked at him and gave him a wink, something he had never done before. When they got home, Harary called his local newspaper and was told they were 'getting a lot of phone calls about this sight,' but nothing was ever published. 

The writer had asked his father what he thought about aliens and UFOs three or four times over the years, but his reaction was always the same. He would simply chuckle and say, 'Well, I don't know.'

Harary (pictured with his father and brother Bob) recalled how his dad seemed unimpressed by the sight as if it was something he had already seen before giving him a knowing wink

Harary (pictured in 1974) was more interested in rock music than aliens as a teen, but he never forgot that moment with his father. He recalled asking his dad about his thoughts on UFOs and extraterrestrial life over the years, but he would just chuckle and say, "Well, I don't know' 

The sci-fi author (pictured with his mother, Joan, and brothers, Bob and Mike, in 2001) said he saw a second UFO that was a 'white light shaped like an egg' in Lancaster, California, in 1994. He saw a third at Gilliland's Ranch, an alleged UFO hotspot in Trout Lake, Washington, in 2008

He noted that his father's 'goal in life was to get his pension' and would never risk losing it by sharing top secret information with anyone, even his family.

Harary said he had a second UFO sighting while visiting his two children at his ex-wife's house in Lancaster, California, in 1994. 

Harary's new book tells the story of a man who is beamed up by extraterrestrials and becomes a world hero

After tucking his kids into bed, he went outside and saw a 'white light shaped like an egg' that traveled from one end of the sky to another and suddenly stopped.

It then reversed its course and returned to its original point of origin. 

'Nothing manmade can do that,' he thought to himself. 

However, Harary didn't start researching UFOs and extraterrestrial life until he wandered into the paranormal section of a Los Angeles bookstore in 2007.

After buying and reading about a dozen books on the topic, he became a believer and joined the Los Angeles chapter of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), an international organization that investigates reported UFO sightings.

'The things I heard and saw absolutely blew my mind,' he said. 

'I just could not believe all the history, all the evidence, all the testimony of so many people that have experienced things that I was never aware of... It just completely changed my worldview.' 

In 2008, Harary saw his third UFO while spending a long weekend at Gilliland's Ranch, an alleged UFO hotspot in Trout Lake, Washington.

Harary (pictured with his mother and Mel Brooks in 2006) was a longtime Hollywood publicist and worked with dozens of celebrities. Last year, he published his memoir, Flirting with Fame: A Hollywood Publicist Recalls 50 Years of Celebrity Close Encounters

The author (pictured with Steven Spielberg in 2010) started researching UFOs and extraterrestrial life in 2008. He joined the Los Angeles chapter of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), an international organization that investigates reported UFO sightings

Harary (pictured with E.T. star Dee Wallace in 2022) told DailyMail.com that it wasn't until after his father's death that remembered how he had winked at him during their UFO sighting. He is now convinced that his father knew about UFOs through his work in the military 

James Gilliland, founder of the Enlightened Contact with Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ECETI), owns the property and has been hosting stargazing events since 1986. 

'At night, we could go out into the field just at the base of Mount Adams. People would sing and dance, play guitars and tambourines, and dance around,' Harary recalled. 'We did that for three nights in a row hoping to summon up a UFO. That was the goal. 

'I kept thinking, "No way while I'm here that something is gonna happen. There's no chance." First night, nothing. Second night, nothing. The third night, the last night we were there, people are singing and chanting, and then suddenly out of nowhere a bright green emerald-shaped craft appeared right above us.'

Harary said the light flashed on and off a few times before it sped off. They all looked at each other with amazement, and he started to cry. Of the three UFOs he has seen, he noted that 'no two were even close to the same.' 

After his father's death, he asked his mother if he had ever mentioned UFOs or aliens. She told him that the first week he worked at Fort Monmouth, a former army installation in Monmouth County, New Jersey, he was taken down into the vaults and shown 'something remarkable.'

'He came home and said, "I saw something that I can never tell you about." My mother said he looked pale and he was scared s******s,' he explained. 'He never discussed it with anyone. She even said he was never the same. We'll never know what he saw.' 

Harary (pictured promoting his memoir in 2022) shared that his mother told him that his father had seen 'something remarkable' at one of the vaults at Fort Monmouth, a former army installation in Monmouth County, New Jersey, but couldn't tell her about it 

Harary (pictured with his daughter Anjuli) said that he is constantly trying to prove to his friends and family that 'this stuff is real.' He is convinced that if people took the time to read the research UFOs and aliens, they would become believers too

UFOs have been making headlines in recent weeks after three were shot down over U.S. and Canadian airspace in three days. A week prior, a Chinese spy balloon was shot down over South Carolina

Harary believes the focus has been on the Chinese balloon 'because the other three were not manmade.' 'Still to this day, they don't want to reveal it to the public,' he said of the government's alleged knowledge of extraterrestrial life. 'They think there will be a panic. That's the thing'

UFOs, or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) as the U.S. government now calls them, have long been the subject of fascination and skepticism. However, Harary is convinced that if people took the time to research UFOs and aliens, they would become believers too. 

He rattled off ancient cave paintings, the Nazca Lines in Peru, the Egyptian pyramids, and the deathbed confessions of military men who allegedly helped cover up the Roswell UFO crash as evidence that extraterrestrials exist. 

UFOs have been making headlines in recent weeks after three were shot down over U.S. and Canadian airspace in three days. A week prior, a Chinese spy balloon was shot down over South Carolina.

'The other three objects have never been identified. They've not been recovered. They haven't been shown on television,' Harary noted, saying the focus has been on the Chinese balloon 'because the other three were not manmade.' 

'Still to this day, they don't want to reveal it to the public,' he said of the government's alleged knowledge of extraterrestrial life. 'They think there will be a panic. That's the thing.'

Harary knows that some people think he is a 'lunatic,' including his own doctor, who asked if he was going to 'wear a tinfoil hat' as a costume while promoting his book at Aliencon, which took place in Pasadena, California, this month. 

'I'm trying to tell my friends and relatives, "Hey, this stuff is real, and when the day comes when it's proven, don't be too surprised because it's all absolutely real,"' he said. 'And my mother goes, "Enough with the aliens!"'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

19-03-2023 om 19:39 geschreven door peter  

Sci-fi writer recounts witnessing a giant silver V-shaped UFO at 14, while his military dad, seemingly unsurprised, gives him a knowing wink

In 1970, Dan Harary, a 14-year-old boy from New Jersey, had an extraordinary encounter that would go on to shape his life and inspire his career as a sci-fi writer. Sitting in his father’s car, Harary spotted a V-shaped UFO hovering above their neighborhood in broad daylight. The experience was unforgettable, but it took decades for Harary to realize that his military father, Jack, might have known more about the incident than he let on.

Jack Harary, an electronics engineer with the U.S. Army from 1951 to 1996, had always remained tight-lipped about his top-secret projects. It wasn’t until Jack’s death in 2017 that Dan remembered the knowing wink his father had given him after their UFO sighting. This revelation sparked Harary’s curiosity and fueled the creation of his new alien novel, After They Came.

Dan Harary’s fascination with extraterrestrial life didn’t emerge until he had multiple UFO sightings throughout his life. In addition to the encounter in 1970, he experienced another sighting in 1994 and a third in 2008. It was after his second sighting that Harary began researching UFOs and extraterrestrial life, which led him to join the Los Angeles chapter of the Mutual UFO Network MUFON in 2008.

• The Pilot Who Chased a UFO... and died - Thomas Mantell

• Weather Balloon or UFO? | The Mantell UFO Incident

Harary’s journey from a casual observer to a firm believer in extraterrestrial life is a testament to the impact that personal experiences and dedicated research can have on one’s worldview. He has since become an advocate for open discussion on the topic of UFOs and extraterrestrial life, arguing that the evidence supporting their existence is too substantial to ignore. His conviction has driven him to share his story and encourage others to explore the subject with an open mind.

Dan Harary

As a sci-fi writer, Harary has used his passion for the topic to create engaging stories that captivate readers and explore the possibilities of life beyond Earth. His novel, After They Came (Amazon link), draws from his own experiences and the belief that his father had knowledge of UFOs through his work in the military. The book tells the story of a man who is beamed up by extraterrestrials after trying to drown himself on his 70th birthday, taking readers on an intriguing journey through the realm of the unknown.

Despite the skepticism he faces from some, including his own doctor, Harary remains committed to proving the existence of extraterrestrial life. He believes that if people took the time to research UFOs and aliens, they too would become believers. With his writing and advocacy, Harary hopes to inspire others to question the limits of our understanding and embrace the possibility of life beyond our planet. As the author himself states, “this stuff is real,” and when the day comes that it’s proven, he wants people to be prepared for the truth.

{ https://www.latest-ufo-sightings.net/ }

19-03-2023 om 17:49 geschreven door peter  

How Intelligent Is Artificial Intelligence? - The Highwire with Del Bigtree

Source: The Highwire with Del Bigtree

Artificial intelligence is permeating every sector of society. Systems like ChatGPT have been rolled out for public consumption boasting an interactive dialogue, and an ability to write ‘in your voice.’ But how ‘intelligent’ is this new artificial intelligence? We have a little fun putting it to the test.

{ https://beforeitsnews.com/ }

18-03-2023 om 23:05 geschreven door peter  

3 UFO Reports of Fire In The Sky Over California, March 17, 2023, Videos, UFO Sighting News.

Date of all sighting: March 17, 2023

Locations of sighting: 

1. Lodi, California, USA

2. Woodland, California, USA

3. Santa Rosa, California, USA

Source: MUFON

 

Guys check out these three different eyewitness videos below. Each on the same night, each from a different city in California. One eyewitness even scares the kids when he ask if this is the end of the world? What ever is happening here, NASA didn't give us any heads up of this event. So its probably not a passing meteor or comet. They would have known and alerted the public. These are UFOs, they are traveling horizontal across the sky. If they were meteors, gravity would be pulling the downward, but they are not even close to falling. They were much too slow to be meteors. Absolute proof of UFOs over California this week!

Scott C. Waring - Taiwan 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

18-03-2023 om 21:32 geschreven door peter  

Two UFOs created Clouds Over Reno, Nevada 3-8-2023, UFO Sighting News.

Date of sighting: March 8, 2023

Location of sighting: Reno, Nevada, USA

Eyewitness:

• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6c5aQ24_ta0R1BiyZi1_Qw

Here is a fantastic catch by Youtuber 'Hanging With Spiritual Sal.' He caught not one but two UFOs that created clouds around them so that they could both hide and come low a close to the cities without anyone suspecting a thing. The close UFO is obvious and even he said he had seeing for hours not moving in the sky, but there is also another one in the background that is leaving a trail of clouds behind it which shows there is a wind, the tail is proof of that, but the UFOs hold position. Nevada is home to top secret bases Area 51, Area S4 and also the Extra Terrestrial highway where sightings are abound. This video is 100% proof that aliens are still active in Nevada. 

Scott C. Waring - Taiwan 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

18-03-2023 om 21:04 geschreven door peter  

One of the first observations made by NASA’s James Webb Telescope shows a Wolf-Rayet star, named WR 124. The rare sight of a Wolf-Rayet star – among the most luminous, most massive, and most briefly detectable stars known – was one of the first observations made by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope in June 2022. Webb shows the star, WR 124, in unprecedented detail with its powerful infrared instruments. The star is 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius. 

But the James Webb Space Telescope has not only captured a remarkable image of the star WR 124, as the same image also shows a mysterious luminous object in space at a considerable distance of the star WR 124. 

A closer look reveals that the enormous object resembles what looks like an alien craft in the form of a flying saucer with a rectangular porthole at the front of the craft. Furthermore it looks like there is some kind of rectangular platform underneath the UFO that may have been attached to the craft.  

Another detail is the object's unique shape which is symmetrical, (see image below) making it more likely that JWST captured an alien spacecraft rather than a celestial body.

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18-03-2023 om 20:17 geschreven door peter