Unraveling the Texas UFO Puzzle: Fighter Jet and Glowing Octagonal Object

On the evening of March 21, 2023, a bizarre UFO sighting took place over the skies of Texas, leaving residents baffled and sparking curiosity across the nation. The witness, who managed to capture the event on video using his iPhone, reported seeing an F-111 fighter jet flying low over his house, followed by a strange orb-like object just seconds later.

The witness described the jet flying from west to east over his home, which he found peculiar, as fighter jets are not commonly seen in the area. Furthermore, he noted that F-111 fighter jets were decommissioned, adding another layer of mystery to the sighting.

Just moments after the jet’s appearance, the witness and his wife spotted a round object flying through the sky. Initially thought to be a balloon, the object seemed to have an octagonal shape and emitted a glowing aura. The UFO traveled from the area where the jet had disappeared, first heading north before making a sharp turn westward and vanishing from sight.

The video, shot on an iPhone, clearly shows the unidentified object moving at varying speeds. At times, the object appeared to be flying quickly, while at other moments, it seemed to slow down to an almost complete stop before changing direction.

The mysterious sighting has raised several questions, such as why an F-111 fighter jet, which is no longer in service, would be present in the area. Additionally, the erratic movements and glowing appearance of the unidentified object defy conventional explanations.

As of now, there has been no official comment from the military or aviation authorities on the incident. However, the video evidence and witness account have intrigued UFO enthusiasts and the general public alike, prompting further investigations into the event.

• Find out more UFO sightings from Texas at this tag!

As we await answers, the enigmatic UFO sighting over Texas serves as a reminder that there is still much to learn about our skies and the potential for unexplained phenomena. Whether the object turns out to be a military experiment, an advanced drone, or something more otherworldly, this incident has undoubtedly captured the imagination of people all around the world.

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

22-03-2023 om 17:46 geschreven door peter  

How Metal Artists In India Are Keeping A 4,500-Year-Old Craft Alive (Video)

Despite the challenges, metal artists in India are working to keep the ancient craft of Dhokra art alive. This traditional craft involves the use of a non-ferrous metal, often brass or bronze, to create intricate and detailed sculptures. The process of creating Dhokra art, which has endured for over four millennia, involves a combination of wax casting and metal casting techniques, resulting in unique and one-of-a-kind pieces.

To ensure the survival of this craft, metal artists are working to adapt and evolve their techniques, while also educating younger generations about the art form. By incorporating modern technologies and experimenting with new materials, these artists are finding new ways to produce Dhokra art and keep the tradition alive for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.

• Top image: A bronze sculpture, representational.
• Source: DivineWorld / Adobe Stock

By Joanna Gillan

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{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

22-03-2023 om 01:44 geschreven door peter  

15 of Ancient History’s Most Ingenious Siege Weapons (Video)

Warfare has been a constant throughout human history, and with it, the development of increasingly sophisticated weaponry to overcome defensive fortifications. The ancient world was no exception, and siege warfare was a common tactic used to conquer enemy cities and strongholds. To accomplish this, ancient armies employed an array of ingenious siege weapons that varied from simple battering rams to complex machines capable of launching projectiles with deadly accuracy.

From the ballista, a giant crossbow first used by the ancient Greeks, to the trebuchet, which could hurl projectiles weighing over 1,000kg with ease, our ancestors were no slouches when it came to creating devastating weaponry.  As technology advanced, so did the sophistication of these ancient siege weapons , with some armies even employing early forms of flamethrowers and chemical weapons. While the brutality of ancient siege warfare may seem barbaric by modern standards, the ingenuity and engineering prowess displayed in these ancient siege weapons are a testament to humanity's endless quest for innovation and advancement.

• Top image: Siege weapon in action.
• Source: Smulsky / Adobe Stock.

By Robbie Mitchell

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{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

22-03-2023 om 01:25 geschreven door peter  

Zowat 3,3 tot 3,6 miljard mensen, voornamelijk in de armste landen, wonen momenteel al in een gebied dat zeer kwetsbaar is voor de klimaatverandering. Dat terwijl zij eigenlijk het minst hebben bijgedragen aan die opwarming.

{ https://www.hln.be/  }

22-03-2023 om 01:09 geschreven door peter  

Underwater UFO/USO Caught on Film | Deep Ocean ROV Footage

What do you think it is? Like, comment and subscribe for more deep water exploration footage.

Timestamps:

- Context from an ROV Operator (00:30)

- USO Footage (12:00)

- USO Replay (12:40)

- USO Slow Motion (13:00)

Overview:

This USO/UFO footage was filmed with a work class ROV at an ocean depth of 5870 Feet (1789 Meters) in the Gulf of Mexico. While the footage quality isn't excellent, ROV operators that have seen the footage have concluded that it is not organic. The USO was untethered and was operating at a depth that prevented any kind of remote operation. If it was of Russian or Chinese origin, the USO demonstrated advanced AI operation, construction, and power management capabilities that are not known in the commercial ROV world.

USOs have been sighted before by commercial ROV pilots, but this is the first footage (as far as we know) to ever see the light of day.

{ https://www.youtube.com/ }

21-03-2023 om 22:58 geschreven door peter  

Peruvian Archaeologists Uncover Two-faced Moche Men with Cosmic Connections

Painted on a pillar within a ceremonial hall, archaeologists have found a 1,400-year-old “two faced man”, with cosmic associations.

The Moche culture was a pre-Columbian civilization that thrived between 100 BC and 700 AD, farming and fishing, in the northern coastal region of Peru. Known for their exquisite pottery featuring animals, people, and scenes from everyday life, they were also skilled metalworkers and produced fine gold and silver jewelry.

Now, a team of archaeologists have discovered two 1,400-year-old murals depicting two-faced men within a ceremonial hall. According to a report in Live Science , the two-faced men might refer to sacrifice, and "cosmic realms".

Upper and lower men are visible here on the pillar. Archaeologist Gabriela Cervantes Quequezana examines the imagery of the painted pillar.

(Lisa Trever/ Panamarca)

Rediscovering Ancient Artisans

Two murals of two-faced men holding unusual treasures were unearthed by archaeologists in August 2022 at the 1,400-year-old archaeological site of Pañamarca. Located in Peru's lower Nepeña Valley province of Huari, in the Ancash region of coastal Peru, the site features a large complex of stone structures including a central plaza, several temples, and residential areas. The murals were drawn between 550 AD and 800 AD, at the height of the Moche people’s rule of northern coastal Peru.

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The archaeological work was conducted by the Archaeological Research Project (PIA) “ Paisajes Arqueológicos de Pañamarca ” which is collaboratively led by the international team of Jessica Ortiz Zevallos, Lisa Trever of Columbia University and Michele Koons of the Denver Museum of Nature & Science (DMNS).

Interpreting The Painted Pillar

The two murals both adorn the same pillar within a large ceremonial hall. One of the murals, located at the top of the pillar, features a man with two faces holding a feather fan in one hand, and in the other hand he holds a goblet with four hummingbirds drinking from it. The second two-faced man is painted on the lower aspect of the pillar and has a moving feather fan in one hand and a stick-like object in the other.

Two images of two-faced men have been discovered at the Moche site of Pañamarca, Peru. Left; The upper figure painted on the pillar holding a goblet feeding hummingbirds, and a feather fan. Right; the lower figure holding a fan and an unidentified stick-like object.  

(Lisa Trever/ Panamarca)

Both of the two-faced men are depicted with headdresses or crowns and wearing colorful clothing held tight with sizable belts. Lisa Trever is an associate professor of pre-Columbian art history and archaeology at Columbia University , who led the discovery team, and she told Live Science that the reason the Moche artists depicted these two men “is a mystery.”

Probing the Two-faced Men Mystery

Dr. Trever suspects that the ancient artists may have been “experimenting with how to show movement, and two narrative moments at once." Furthermore, the archaeologist suspects the two men “may be deities,” but she added that this is uncertain because most depictions of deities in Moche art have non-human aspects “like fangs, or the faces or tails or wings of various creatures.” But these two murals, even though they have two faces, “seem entirely human," Trever noted.

Since uncovering the first mural in 1958, archaeologists have been studying the ceremonial hall at Pañamarca, now for over 60 years. Putting the depictions of two headed men in context, other murals within the ceremonial hall depict a priestess, a serpent and a bat. And according to a statement by the team, despite six decades of study, much of the hall is still unexcavated and it is thought that many more murals are awaiting discovery.

Panoramas of the Moche complex under excavation at Pañamarca. 

(Aerial drone photography by J. Antonio Ochatoma Cabrera/ Panamarca)

Exploring Cosmic Connections

Trever said one of the interesting things about the hall is the unusual density of paintings within it. This means the team can only excavate selected aspects of the building each archaeological field season. Trever said the team still has a lot of questions about the architecture and its functions and that it's still unknown how the Moche used this ritual space.

What is known about the ceremonial hall, however, is that it was reserved for use only by priests. The narrow passages and interior spaces suggest ritual use, and that “it was not a public space." Trever added it was probably open to “the leaders or elders of the community at Pañamarca." Edward Swenson , director of the Archaeology Centre at the University of Toronto, told Live Science that the two-faced men might have represented “a mortal wearing a mask and thus impersonating or becoming one with [the] supernatural." Furthermore, a connection with the gods might also be indicated in the detail of the hummingbirds drinking from the goblet.

Picking From the Peruvian Pantheon

Swenson said he interprets the hummingbirds drinking from the cup as “a powerful invocation of the centrality of sacrifice in Moche worldview." He added that sacrifice served as “a critical mechanism to ensure the circulation of life-giving fluids between beings and cosmic realms."

Like the Inca of Peru, the Moche people worshipped a wide variety of gods and deities associated with nature, agriculture, and fertility. Their primary gods included “Ai-Apaec,” a god of sacrifice and warfare; the “Decapitator,” who was a god of death and the underworld; and the Moon Goddess, who was associated with fertility, childbirth, and the menstrual cycle. It might be the case that the hummingbird was regarded as a messenger of the gods, transferring sacrificed human souls to the other world/s.

• Top image: The two-faced Moche man figure painted on the lower part of the pillar. Two images of two-faced men have been discovered at the Moche site of Pañamarca, Peru.  
• Source: Lisa Trever/ Panamarca

By Ashley Cowie

{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

21-03-2023 om 22:49 geschreven door peter  

Is Archaeology Getting it Wrong? ‘Ancient Stone Tools’ Accidentally Made by Modern Monkeys

Archaeologists from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology have announced their discovery of stone fragments that closely resemble ancient stone tools made by prehistoric humans. What is notable is that these apparently worked stone objects were actually made unintentionally by old world monkeys living in the forests of Thailand. Does this have implications for stone flakes taken to be tools at ancient hominin sites?

These industrious monkeys were not trying to make cutting or scraping tools. Yet they still produced pieces of rock with sharp edges perfect for cutting and scraping, as a side effect of their use of larger chunks of rocks to crack open hard nuts and shellfish. Impressively sharp flakes are sometimes chipped off during this process, and incredibly enough these rock slices look and feel a lot like some objects that have been identified as ancient stone tools purposely made by ancient humans and by ancient human ancestors.

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Until now, it had been believed that hominins like Homo sapiens ( modern humans ) and Neanderthals were history’s only toolmakers. But the stunning results of this new study, which has just been published in Science Advances , call into question the identification of at least some ancient stone tools as human cutting or scraping objects.

This wouldn’t be the case for all of the tools identified , since many (if not most) ancient stone tools are found in archaeological contexts that show other indications of human settlement and activity. But isolated stone “tools” supposedly made by ancient toolmaking cultures may now require much more careful analysis than in the past, to be sure that they really are human artifacts.

Examples of sharp-edged flakes produced unintentionally by long-tailed macaques. (© Proffitt et al, 2023/ Science)

If Monkeys Can Make ‘Tools’ Too, what Are the Ramifications?

The animals studied in this research were long-tailed macaques living in Phang Nga National Park along Thailand’s southwestern peninsular coast. The clever macaques use heavy stones to break open nuts and shellfish, and over time these stones have a tendency to break into pieces after repeated use. Pieces of these stones can be found all over the park land, and many of them do indeed bear a remarkable resemblance to the sharpened stone tools recovered from various ancient archaeological sites in East Africa.

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“The ability to intentionally make sharp stone flakes is seen as a crucial point in the evolution of hominins, and understanding how and when this occurred is a huge question that is typically investigated through the study of past artifacts and fossils,” lead study author Tomos Proffitt stated in a Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology press release .

“Our study shows that stone tool production is not unique to humans and our ancestors.”

Notably, this is not the first study that suggests some ancient stone tools could actually have been made by monkeys. A 2016 University of Oxford study published in the journal  Nature revealed that capuchin monkeys living in Brazil’s Serra de Capivara National Park frequently created rock flakes and chips that looked exactly like prehistoric stone tools (these primates use hard quartz and quartzite rock to break open stones that contain mineral dust they like to lick). The authors of that study noted similarities between the shapes of the capuchin “artifacts” and some of the simpler tools associated with the ancient Oldowan culture , which is alleged to have been manufacturing stone tools in East Africa more than two million years ago.

Did Humans Make the First Sharp-Edged Tools by Accident?

Naturally, a lot of the focus on this study will be on the doubts raised about past identifications of stone tools as man-made artifacts. But another important aspect of the research is what it suggests about how ancient humans started using sharp-edged tools in the first place.

Were the earliest modern humans, or human ancestors living millions of years ago, manufacturing all these tools themselves? Or did they start out by experimenting with sharp rock chips and flakes created when they were using larger rocks to break open difficult-to-access food sources?

“Cracking nuts using stone hammers and anvils, similar to what some primates do today, has been suggested by some as a possible precursor to intentional stone tool production,” said Lydia Luncz, the senior study author and the head of the Technological Primates Research Group at the Max Planck Institute. “This discovery shows how living primates can help researchers investigate the origin and evolution of tool use in our own lineage.”

Healthy Skepticism Means Better Science

In order to uncover accurate information about the origin of important cultural practices, archaeologists must interpret ancient artifacts properly and not misidentify natural objects as man-made. In this instance, the situation is interesting because the “natural forces” that can produce objects resembling human tools are still emerging from the intelligent actions of a primate species.

From now on there may be added uncertainty about whether relatively simple sharp-edged stone tools taken from ancient sites were really made by humans as cutting tools. To reach a definitive conclusion researchers will need to rely on more than the presence of sharp edges on stone flakes to identify them as man-made. Such identifications will now require added context to make them fully accepted, meaning they will need to be found mixed in with other man-made objects, collections of animal bones, or other remnants of past human activity that make it obvious that the stone objects were really tools and were being used as such.

In the long run this added scrutiny will be beneficial to the archaeological profession, as its research into prehistoric toolmaking practices will be carried out with a bit more healthy skepticism than was present before.

• Top image: Example of a long-tailed macaque using a stone tool to access food.  
• Source: © Lydia V. Luncz/ Science

By Nathan Falde

{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

21-03-2023 om 22:10 geschreven door peter  

Is There More to the Mechanics of the Great Pyramid?

At the beginning of March, Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism & Antiquities (MOTA) announced a newly discovered chamber above the main (North) entrance to the Pyramid of Khufu, also known as the Great Pyramid of Giza, outside Cairo. This 9 meter by 2 meter chamber sits directly above the North entrance, and why it was included there currently remains unknown. Could it be part of a long since dismantled locking system?

Another cavity exists between the Grand Gallery and the King’s Chamber, and far more is known about this space, which has a 3 stone blocking mechanism. But it is still somewhat enigmatic. Here, with an analysis of what is known of the construction of the blocking mechanism of this Antechamber, a mystery of the whole of the pyramid’s design is explored.

Current Thinking on the Antechamber to the King’s Chamber

From the time of the early archaeologists, the Antechamber between the Grand Gallery and the King’s chamber of the Pyramid of Khufu has been supposed to be a blocking device with three granite blocks in a row. The empty sarcophagus in the King’s chamber, the majestic Grand Gallery leading to it and this elaborate closing device led everyone to accept blindly that this was Khufu’s burial chamber. Three blocks were obviously meant to seal this chamber off.

The blocking is assumed to have worked this way. Maragioglio & Rinaldi: L’archittura delle piramidi Menfiti, parte 4, tavole (tav. 8 detail).

The vertical protruding “ribs” on the east and west walls looks like guiding lines for blocks. Fair enough. But why three, when one bigger one would be sufficient? Is it symbolic?

This way of blocking the entrance is not used in other pyramids we know of. Cylindrical rollers over the blocks seem to have been used to lower them into sealing-off position. Accurately measured drawings of Maragioglio & Rinaldi show how the blocks, in their view, were simply held up temporarily by wooden logs. So, while others bashed the supporting logs away, the blocks were held back by workers holding ropes, and then slowly lowered into their closing position.

I have calculated the weight of one such stone block to be approximately 1.5 -2 tons, (1.2m x 1.2m x 0.5 m = approx.0.8 m ³ x 2.5 t (average weight of 1 m ³ granite) = approx. 2 t). So it would have taken the weight of 20-30 Egyptians weighing 70 kg each just to hold one block. They must have been standing in the Grand Gallery. But why have nice rollers above the blocks and then a sharp – not even rounded - edge on the corridor’s ceiling. It doesn’t seem well planned.

The ropes must have gone out under a sharp edge.

(Guardian's Egypt - Copyright © 1995-2014 Andrew Bayuk. All Rights Reserved/ Guardian.net)

And what about the open shaft in front of the closing blocks? If the blocks were supposed to be lowered by gradually slacking the ropes over the cylindrical rollers, it leaves this “pre-Antechamber” open to intruders afterwards, who would quickly realize that only the inner of the three blocks would have to be broken to gain access to the supposed burial chamber. Not very smart, though I admit that the damage to the southern wall (repaired) could suggest an attack from above.

But why use rollers at all?

This was a very complicated system for a one-time use. Ropes would easily slide over rounded edges of normally square blocks - the friction would even help the careful lowering, giving an argument against the roller idea - and with just narrow gaps or holes in the masonry, grave-robbers would have had a much harder job.

The rollers led me to conclude that they may have been familiar with pulley systems. Also, because I believe in Australian Paul Hai’s theory: that they rolled big stone blocks, even up the pyramid sides, with the help of convex wooden “sleighs” fastened to the blocks. Models of such sleighs or “rockers” are found.

Images from Paul Hai’s book, illustrating his wonderful idea. (Author provided)

Gods and Chambers

In an earlier article I have proposed that the closing system was designed to be used time after time and was made as a counterweight opening and closing system. It is the most logical reason for using rollers to eliminate friction.

The idea suits my basic theory that all the chambers in the pyramid were equally important.

I believe that each chamber honored one of the cosmological gods of the area. The Giza pyramids are only 30 km from Heliopolis. The five first listed gods there were gods for nature elements – earth, water (actually rain and mist = water moving vertically), and air, for some, and the three chambers we know were formed to suit one god’s element each. The gods in question were Geb, Tefnut and Shu respectfully.

And yes, I do believe that two other chambers existed: one on top of the pyramid honoring the sky goddess Nut, just covered by the pyramid’s casing stones until they fell off in an earthquake, which also loosened many of the casing stones from the sides; and a hidden chamber honoring the sun- and creator god Re-Atum. These five were the gods who had created the world.

Built vertically into the pyramid the chambers were steps on a ladder helping the deceased king ascend to heaven.

Khufu’s pyramid, including the two missing chambers higher up. I believe the chambers honored local element gods. (Author provided)

All the Chambers Display Symbolism

I believe that Khufu was buried in the subterranean chamber. The chamber was not unfinished and abandoned. This was the earth god Geb’s chamber, and a lot of the bedrock was left, intentionally giving the impression of a quarry. We can imagine how stone masonry was highly respected in ancient Egypt – a divine craft associated with Geb, I presume. Looking carefully you will see that there is a flat level area big enough to house a sarcophagus, wooden, assembled on the spot.

When the Greek historian Herodotus visited Egypt two thousand years after Khufu lived, priests told Herodotus that the king lay buried under the pyramid, on an island surrounded by water coming from an artificial canal.

With a wooden tube and some water, the words of Herodotus are brought to life in a symbolic tableau. (Author provided)

Now watch how much difference a little imagination can result in: All it takes to make us realize that Herodotus’ words may be a rather precise description of an incredible original tableau is a square wooden tube. Placed vertically in the well, with two sides resting on the cut-out ledge and tightened with clay or silt you would have a proper water well (it has been dug out deep enough to conclude that it reached ground water level at least in flooded periods).

Why have they dug the well so deep? Because they needed a lot of water. Pouring water onto the floor would result in a tableau like the one I have drawn. And more water was needed higher in the pyramid.

The Queen’s chamber and the Grand Gallery. Maragioglio tav. 7, partly cleaned for clarity. (Author provided)

Water in Tefnut’s (the Queen’s) chamber. (Author provided)

The Queen’s chamber and the Grand Gallery were wonderful gems too and call for attention, but they are only briefly referred to in this article. The Queen’s chamber had water on the floor and water in the closed canals.

Details reveal that the Grand Gallery is not my missing chamber for the sun god – the sloping Gallery is clearly not a chamber – and anyway his chamber should be closer to the sky/the top chamber. I have come to the conclusion that the Gallery is linked to the sun anyway, in the respect that it represents the sun’s rays, bringing warmth, light, heat, fire and life to the lower world. It represents the fire element on earth, whereas the sun god’s actual chamber is higher up.

Counterweight System Details

After a critical examination of the system I previously proposed for the opening and closing system: a wooden tube, balanced by a stone block in the first shaft, I have realized it was a hasty thought. A wooden tube, even three times the size of one blocking stone, would not balance the weight of a heavy stone counterweight. A wooden tube, even 20 cm (8 inches) thick and having a base area of approx. 1x2 meters – 2 square meters, would only weigh as much as 600 kg, having the average weight of e.g. cedar wood.

The remains of the counterweight stone from the shaft in front may very well be the broken stone block with drilled holes on display outside the pyramid’s entrance. From the looks of it (I haven’t measured) it is as thick as the other assumed stone blocks, therefore possibly weighing 1.5-2 tons.

The wooden tube idea. (Author provided)

I regret having to give up the wooden tube idea. The side walls’ ribs of stone would function as fine guides preventing the tube from getting stuck (from tilting forwards or backwards). I do realize that a tube could be made heavier by putting extra stones on top of it or inside the tube, but a whole extra ton?

Another counterweight possibility: a stone basin, closed and open.
The grill (see below) still waits for someone to pull the rope. (Author provided)

A Low Stone Basin

To balance a stone block, “the wooden tube” must instead have been made of stone. A basin almost formed as a sarcophagus, open in both ends, would work. With side wall thicknesses like the sarcophagus inside the chamber, which is c. 15 cm (6 inches), the side walls of a stone basin may have had about the height of the corridor, and contained some water.

Alternately the basin could have had rather low sides and a bottom thickness of about the half of the counterweight, c. 25 cm (because the vertical counterweight area is roughly half that of the floor area under the three rollers). The low side version is shown here, but higher sides would better prevent it from being stuck by tilting.

The vertical grooves with a grill.  The grooves continue all up to the ceiling. (Unknown photographer)

Grooves for ropes or a grill?

The interesting vertical grooves on the south wall, over the last bit of corridor leading to the King’s Chamber, could have given room for the ropes holding the inner block, in the popular three-block version. But why, in that case, were the grooves chiseled in all the way up to the ceiling? Even though the big wall stone with the most of the grooves ends a little below the ceiling, the grooves continue on another stone. That would not be necessary, if those grooves were for ropes around the roller.

The grooves could instead have guided a grill, blocking the entrance. It could be lifted with a rope going around the closest roller. It is the best use I can see for these grooves. The grill can be held close to the wall with a wooden beam or two, crossing from wall to wall. An explanation to why it should be there is proposed below.

Temple Functions

Rites were carried out in the grave temple outside the pyramid. Could the pyramid itself be a temple? The later roman writer Apuleius describes in his book The Golden Ass his own initiation into the Isis cult. He wrote that he came to the boundaries of death and then returned, going through all the elements . The Greeks had (re-) invented the elements by then, without gods, but his significant words about elements give meaning to speculations of whether Khufu’s pyramid with its element chambers functioned as an initiation temple as well as grave for a king.

In such a context the Ante-chamber’s layout is very interesting. Coming to this level the initiate would have descended to the bottom chamber, had seen the sarcophagus, had noticed the bedrock linking this chamber to the earth god Geb, had noticed the water seemingly floating in from the square canal on the opposite wall, and seen the hollow upper end of the wooden tube, seemingly a hole to the underworld. To him, this was the boundaries of death.

From here he went up, visited the Queen’s chamber (Tefnut’s watery element), and had passed through the stylized sun beams of the Grand Gallery. Now he stood on the landing in front of the last earthbound element’s chamber, the air god Shu’s chamber. He was the god who had lifted the sky from the earth and was still holding it up by his hands, standing on the earth.
The initiate found the entrance closed.

Natural vertical order of elements. Sky goddess Nut held up by air god Shu. Earth god Geb lying on the ground. The sun sailed below the sky. (Author provided)

A Test

Standing in front of a closed entrance must have felt like being tested. Now what? He should probably demonstrate that he mastered manipulation of the elements he had passed on his way.

One of the earth element’s most obvious powers is its weight. Could he overcome that?

The blocking stone didn’t rest perfectly on the floor. A one-centimeter gap gave him no other choice than to try to lift the stone by hands, if he wanted to enter Shu’s chamber. So he tried - and the block moved (due to the low-friction rollers)!

The next thing he saw was glowing and burning charcoal (or dried camel dung) in the next three to four meters (the floor is depressed here, and the air channels in the chamber conveniently ventilated out most of the smoke). Fire… how could he pass this fire without getting grave skin burns? Furthermore, a grill blocked his way, and a much larger stone block was coming down as he lifted the entrance door.

Lifting the door stone all the way up revealed that the descending stone was a stone basin, covering the first half of the burning path. The basin contained water.

Having stood in water in Tefnut’s chamber he would now rely on her help to extinguish (control) the fire in a narrow path. Having wet feet would also help him to a safe passage.

Just the grill remained. Either it had gone up automatically when he lowered the basin, or better, a dangling rope gave him the final opportunity to demonstrate decision and will to enter Shu’s chamber.

Maragioglio & Rinaldi, tav.4, detail. (Author provided)

In line with later initiation symbolism the sarcophagus in Shu’s chamber implies that the initiate now had to symbolically die by entering the sarcophagus and well, maybe die “the small dead”- go to sleep, or in another way open his mind to the afterlife : he was spoken to by heavenly voices, coming from somewhere (above the ceiling)! This was probably the reason for the narrow-dug tunnel leading from high over the Gallery landing into the lowest of the so-called weight-relieving chambers above the King’s chamber.

This finished his task – now he was reborn, having been dead, having been spoken to by gods.
Having realized that the elements and their chambers were steps in the pyramid’s stairway to heaven - he was now initiated.

And we are too, having understood and refurnished the Antechamber.

• Top image: Khufu pyramid from the northeast view.
• Source: dynamofoto/Adobe Stock

By Niels Bjerre Jorgensen

{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

21-03-2023 om 21:30 geschreven door peter  

Unidentified Phenomenon Flies Over Italy: Possible UFO Sighting or Something Else?

In 2021, a video of strange lights in a triangular formation floating in the air above the horizon went viral on social media. Shot from a train in Italy, the footage shows three orange orbs glowing in the sky. Some viewers linked this light pattern to a typical triangular UFO, making claims that this was an alien spacecraft.

However, science writer Mick West disagrees, saying that the lights appear to move independently and gradually drift down, which is consistent with military flares. Despite the different opinions, experts cannot provide a conclusive explanation for the phenomenon.

The classic saucer-shaped UFOs of the 1950s and ’60s have become passé, and today, more and more sightings feature bright orbs, cylindrical objects, and even triangles. While this latest sighting remains a mystery, it adds to the growing list of unusual and unexplained phenomena in our skies.

If you’re intrigued by UFO sightings and want to know more about this phenomenon, stay tuned for the latest updates and research. Who knows what we might discover next?

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

21-03-2023 om 18:09 geschreven door peter  

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