The purpose of this blog is the creation of an open, international, independent and free forum, where every UFO-researcher can publish the results of his/her research. The languagues, used for this blog, are Dutch, English and French.You can find the articles of a collegue by selecting his category. Each author stays resposable for the continue of his articles. As blogmaster I have the right to refuse an addition or an article, when it attacks other collegues or UFO-groupes.
Druk op onderstaande knop om te reageren in mijn forum
Zoeken in blog
Deze blog is opgedragen aan mijn overleden echtgenote Lucienne.
In 2012 verloor ze haar moedige strijd tegen kanker!
In 2011 startte ik deze blog, omdat ik niet mocht stoppen met mijn UFO-onderzoek.
BEDANKT!!!
Een interessant adres?
UFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE ALLERLAATSTE NIEUWTJES
UFO's of UAP'S in België en de rest van de wereld In België had je vooral BUFON of het Belgisch UFO-Netwerk, dat zich met UFO's bezighoudt. BEZOEK DUS ZEKER VOOR ALLE OBJECTIEVE INFORMATIE , enkel nog beschikbaar via Facebook en deze blog.
Verder heb je ook het Belgisch-Ufo-meldpunt en Caelestia, die prachtig, doch ZEER kritisch werk leveren, ja soms zelfs héél sceptisch...
Voor Nederland kan je de mooie site www.ufowijzer.nl bezoeken van Paul Harmans. Een mooie site met veel informatie en artikels.
MUFON of het Mutual UFO Network Inc is een Amerikaanse UFO-vereniging met afdelingen in alle USA-staten en diverse landen.
MUFON's mission is the analytical and scientific investigation of the UFO- Phenomenon for the benefit of humanity...
Je kan ook hun site bekijken onder www.mufon.com.
Ze geven een maandelijks tijdschrift uit, namelijk The MUFON UFO-Journal.
Since 02/01/2020 is Pieter ex-president (=voorzitter) of BUFON, but also ex-National Director MUFON / Flanders and the Netherlands. We work together with the French MUFON Reseau MUFON/EUROP.
ER IS EEN NIEUWE GROEPERING DIE ZICH BUFON NOEMT, MAAR DIE HEBBEN NIETS MET ONZE GROEP TE MAKEN. DEZE COLLEGA'S GEBRUIKEN DE NAAM BUFON VOOR HUN SITE... Ik wens hen veel succes met de verdere uitbouw van hun groep. Zij kunnen de naam BUFON wel geregistreerd hebben, maar het rijke verleden van BUFON kunnen ze niet wegnemen...
30-09-2023
'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb Space Telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen
'Einstein ring' snapped by James Webb Space Telescope is most distant gravitationally lensed object ever seen
The James Webb Space Telescope has taken a stunning image of a perfectly formed Einstein ring, which is also the most distant gravitationally lensed object ever detected.
In the field of one of JWST's largest-area surveys, COSMOS-Web, an Einstein ring was discovered around a compact, distant galaxy. It turns out to be the most distant gravitational lens ever discovered by a few billion light-years.
(Image credit: P. van Dokkum et al., Nature Astronomy accepted, 2023)
Photos snapped by the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have revealed the farthest-ever example of an "Einstein ring." The record-breaking halo of warped light, which is a whopping 21 billion light-years away, is unusually perfect and surrounds a mysteriously dense galaxy.
An Einstein ring is an extremely rare type of gravitationally lensed object that was first predicted by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity. Gravitational lensing occurs when the immense gravity of a massive foreground object, such as a galaxy cluster or a black hole, warps space-time around itself; light emitted by more distant objects, such as galaxies or supernovas, that passes through this warped space-time also appears curved and warped from our perspective on Earth.
This effect also magnifies the light of the object being lensed, similar to how a magnifying glass works, allowing astronomers to study distant objects in greater detail than is normally possible. Most gravitationally lensed objects form arcs or partial rings that surround the foreground object. But a true Einstein ring forms a complete circle around the closer entity, which is possible only when the distant object, foreground object and observer are perfectly aligned.
In a new study uploaded Sept. 14 to the preprint server arXiv and accepted for publication in the journal Nature Astronomy, researchers discovered the new eerily circular Einstein ring, named JWST-ER1, within the COSMOS-Web survey, a detailed map of more than 500,000 galaxies captured during a 200-hour continuous JWST observation.
JWST-ER1 has two parts: JWST-ER1g, the compact galaxy that acts as the lensing object in the foreground; and JWST-ER1r, the light from a more distant galaxy that forms the luminous ring. JWST-ER1g is located around 17 billion light-years from Earth, while JWST-ER1r is another 4 billion light-years farther away. Until now, the farthest detected lensing object was around 14.7 billion light-years away, according to BigThink.com. (While the age of the universe itself is estimated to be about 13.7 billion years, the universe's constant expansion means that light from the oldest objects must travel much farther than this to reach our telescopes).
Thanks to the complete ring of JWST-ER1, researchers calculated the mass of the lensing galaxy by seeing how much it had warped space-time around itself. This revealed that the galaxy has a mass equivalent to around 650 billion suns, which makes it unusually dense for its size. Some of this extra mass can be explained by dark matter, the mysterious, invisible matter that makes up around 85% of all matter in the universe. But even then, it is unlikely that there are enough stars to account for the rest of the galaxy's heft based on the researchers' calculations.
"Additional mass is needed to explain the lensing results," but it is not exactly clear what this mass is, the researchers wrote in the paper.
Other, similarly old and equally dense galaxies have been detected before, which suggests there is something common about these ancient star factories that makes them so massive. One explanation is that these galaxies harbor much more dark matter than expected, while another theory suggests that they may have more small-mass stars lurking within them than younger galaxies do. But more work is needed to find out.
This is not the first true Einstein ring spotted by JWST. In September 2022, a Reddit user discovered a perfectly circular ring of light from the galaxy JO418, located around 12 billion light-years from Earth, lensed around a closer galaxy.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
David Grusch, a former 14-year high-ranking intelligence officer, is one of the three whistleblowers who testified before Congress on July 26, 2023, in the historical UAP hearings. After two months, Grusch appeared in a lengthy interview with Jesse Michels, where he discussed his claims broadly and also disclosed some more information related to his claims.
His testimony highlights that the US government has been concealing evidence of UFOs and indications of non-human intelligence. He declined to provide this information publicly but claimed to have shared it with the intelligence committees and the Inspector General and suggested discussing it in a closed environment.
Grusch has the support of many individuals in authority who believe he is an authentic person. In this June 2023 edition of the Debrief, authors Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal mention Karl E. Nell, a retired Army Colonel and aerospace executive who worked with David Grusch and characterized Grusch as “beyond reproach.” Nell speaks highly of Grusch’s integrity and credibility in his role as the Army’s liaison for the UAP Task Force from 2021 to 2022. (Click here to read the full article)
In the recent interview with Jesse Michels, Grusch discussed a range of topics, including the severe penalties faced by the leakers of classified UFO information, the existence of “nonhuman intelligence” pilots operating UFOs, and the initial reasons for concealing UFO information, which included concerns about societal shock and adversarial nations like Russia.
Grusch also highlighted the connection between the Manhattan Project and laws related to UFO secrecy, as well as the existence of a classified project related to UFOs separate from Project Blue Book. He suggested that the technology of these “nonhuman intelligence” entities may be highly advanced but evolved asymmetrically compared to humans, emphasizing their interest in nuclear technology. Luis Elizondo hinted that US Military had created an environment to attract UFOs so that they could study them. (Click here to read the full article)
Grusch cites a previous statement made by Lue Elizondo, a former Pentagon UFO official, regarding the “Galactic Zoo hypothesis.” This hypothesis suggests that extraterrestrials are observing us, possibly explaining the nature of these beings. It is evident that Grusch takes care to directly reference Elizondo’s prior interview, where he mentioned that these extraterrestrials are intentionally designed to have a humanoid appearance for interaction with humans.
David Fravor is another UFO whistleblower who testified along with Grusch before Congress. He discussed an encounter where he and his team were informed by a controller that unidentified flying objects (UFOs) had been observed for over two weeks descending rapidly from over 80,000 feet to 20,000 feet, hovering for extended periods, and then quickly ascending again. Michels and Grusch engage in a conversation about the mysterious nature of these objects, with Michels suggesting that they seem to exhibit awareness and play a sort of cat-and-mouse game with observers.
Grusch said, “Yeah, I know. I’ve had some folks I talked to that had their own kind of up-close kind of sightings. They said that they got that vibe too, you know? Who knows if that’s psychosomatic or sure or what, but they did get a vibe like that too… I’ve had a very smart guy who was like, ‘Well, did Darwin care to fully conceal himself when he studied the finches?’ And it’s like, they observe. They don’t really care, right? And they don’t really care to interact, but they’re just here to observe.”
The discussion touches on the idea that these UFOs might be studying or observing human activity, similar to anthropologists studying a tribe, and explores analogies like the “gorilla in the cage” and the possibility of these objects having an interest in nuclear power.
Big Think writes, “The Zoo Hypothesis, proposed by the MIT radio astronomer John A. Ball in 1973, says that aliens may be avoiding contact with us on purpose, so as not to interfere with our evolution and the development of our societies. The human civilization could be essentially living in a ‘zoo’ or a space wildlife sanctuary, where others populating the cosmos dare not go. By staying clear of us, they avoid interplanetary contamination.
The hypothesis makes the most sense in a crowded universe, if there are many civilizations which set up rules by which they govern their coexistence. Of course, if there are many extraterrestrial players, it is also doubtful that one of them wouldn’t have somehow contacted us, even if by accident. Maybe that’s what the Earth’s alien hunters are picking up on – random, unsanctioned interactions.”
In 2016, Josh Hrala told ScienceAlert that while the zoo hypothesis does assume that aliens exist, perhaps the reason why they are not interacting with us is because they do not want to have any influence on our society and just want to keep observing us from far away. This makes sense as Grusch insinuates in the interview that the initial reasoning for hiding the information was the ontological shock it would cause in society due to society’s religiousness at the time, along with concealing the information from adversaries like Russia.
Why do they crash?
In the interview, Grusch suggested that UFO crashes may have been intentionally seeded to test humanity’s development in relation to being exposed to this technology. Astronomer Jacques Vallee thinks UFO crashes are not accidental events, but rather intentional occurrences that serve a specific purpose for the mysterious visitors.
Anomalien.com writes, “Vallee begins by pointing out that the evidence for UFO crashes is very weak and often contradictory. He argues that most of the alleged crash sites have never been properly investigated or verified by independent experts, and that many of the witnesses and whistleblowers who claim to have seen or handled alien bodies or debris are unreliable or have ulterior motives.”
He also mentions that the UFOs and the materials they are made of do not follow the normal rules of science and engineering. He thinks this is because the UFOs are intentionally confusing us, making us see things that do not make sense on purpose.
Vallee said, “There is plenty of data – and it should be analyzed further. But I do not think it’s going to be a propeller from a flying saucer. I think it is going to be things that would be interesting if you could find a pattern to the material. I’m skeptical about stories of crashed saucers; I have an open mind about it, but I’ve heard those stories for so many years and they never really amount to anything tangible. Also, I am skeptical for another reason: We build technologies now that are extremely reliable where there is the need. How often does your hard disk crash? I mean, if you keep your computer for 15 years, eventually the hard disk is going to crash. But you don’t expect that to happen. If you were going to build a technology that takes you across interstellar space, it would have to be extremely reliable.” (Source)
According to Vallee, the UFOs do not want to interact with us directly. Instead, they want to create a mysterious situation that makes us question what is real and what is not. He believes that these UFO events are like a big test for humanity. They want to see how we react – whether we get curious, scared, amazed, doubtful, or obsessed. Vallee thinks that how we react to these UFOs could change how we evolve and what our future looks like.
The discussion also touched on the possibility of UFOs being our descendants from the future, military sensory systems detecting UFOs more frequently due to advanced technology, and Grusch’s perspective shaped by being on the Autism spectrum.
According to Vallee, the UFOs do not want to interact with us directly. Instead, they want to create a mysterious situation that makes us question what is real and what is not. He believes that these UFO events are like a big test for humanity. They want to see how we react – whether we get curious, scared, amazed, doubtful, or obsessed. Vallee thinks that how we react to these UFOs could change how we evolve and what our future looks like.
The discussion also touched on the possibility of UFOs being our descendants from the future, military sensory systems detecting UFOs more frequently due to advanced technology, and Grusch’s perspective shaped by being on the Autism spectrum.
Additionally, Grusch’s background as a veteran and his involvement in drafting the National Defense Authorization Act of 2023, which includes provisions for reporting UFOs, were noted as relevant to his insights.
Moreover, any discovered UFO technology will be revealed to the public through a “Controlled Disclosure Campaign” plan, according to the US Defence Authorisation Act 2024, which is set to go before President Biden towards the end of the year.
Former US intelligence official David Grusch has set a benchmark for numerous anonymous whistleblowers to step forward and reveal the truth concealed by the government for a minimum of 90 years. Grusch claimed that the US government has proof of alien life and spacecraft from another species. He mentions a significant number of these spacecraft, some of which have landed while others have crashed.
Now, at least 30 other whistleblowers secretly confirm “Non-Human Biologics” & “Retrieval Programs.” Journalist Michael Shellenberger writes that “they are working for the federal government or government contractors have given testimony, or a ‘protected disclosure,’ to the Office of the Intelligence Community Inspector General (IC IG), the Defense Department Inspector General (DOD IG), or to Congress over the last several months, according to multiple sources interviewed by Public.” (Source)
In this interview with veteran Melbourne talkback radio host Neil Mitchell, investigative journalist Ross Coulthart shared some background information about UFOs and what is going on within the US Congress related to the phenomena. Coulthart, who has extensively researched and written about this subject, emphasized that the question of whether we are alone in the universe is, in his view, “the biggest story ever.”
“I personally think there’s an extremely high probability that we are not alone as an intelligent species in this universe, and I also think from the sources that I speak to, there is a preponderance of evidence to suggest, at least prima facie, that we should assume that we are being visited by a non-human intelligence,” Coulthart said.
In the interview, Coulthart shared his encounter with an individual named Nat Kobitz, who had been a Director of Science Technology Development for the U.S. Navy. Kobitz, who later died of cancer, disclosed the existence of non-human intelligence and multiple crash retrievals to Coulthart. This conversation served as a catalyst for Coulthart’s deep dive into the subject. Through Kobitz, Coulthart was introduced to individuals with direct knowledge and involvement in what he refers to as “the program.” These connections led him to more sources, and as a journalist, he reached his conclusion based on a preponderance of evidence.
Ross Coulthart acknowledged that the reasons for the cover-up are multifaceted, suggesting that the initial secrecy in the 1950s stemmed from concerns that the religious world would be deeply disturbed by the notion of encountering an advanced non-human intelligence.
Coulthart says, “I think the real reason that’s at the heart of this is knowing, as I do from the sources that I’ve spoken to, that the United States definitely has recovered technology. I think that there is a Cold War battle underway for the attempt to try to replicate that technology, to reverse engineer it. This has been going on since at least the end of World War II, incredibly. And it hasn’t been very successful, but the Americans are aware that the Russians have got similar technology, and so have the Chinese.”
Mitchell questioned Coulthart about the evidence he had personally seen or whether he was relying solely on second-hand reports. Coulthart replied, “This is why I’m not a hundred percent… I try and talk a little bit legalistically. I don’t believe that we’re Beyond Reasonable Doubt yet. I think on the balance of probabilities, yes, I do think that we have what are called biologics. I do think that they have recovered biological material and bodies, and I’ve actually spoken to people who’ve told me that they’ve seen bodies.”
Coulthart acknowledged that he had not personally witnessed UFOs or bodies but had formed his opinion based on the accounts of numerous individuals who had provided evidence over the course of several years. These individuals, some of whom have testified under oath, have described encounters with entities that fit the classic description of “Grays/Greys.”
“Most of the descriptions that I’ve heard concur with the classic gray shape: the large head, enormous eyes, very little if any nose, barely discernible slit of a mouth, no ears—essentially, the classic three-foot to four-foot-high gray.”
Coulthart speculated about the possibility of the UFO truth becoming public knowledge in the near future, suggesting that within 12 to 18 months, the world might have a clearer understanding of the mysterious phenomenon of UAPs and UFOs. “I think that the world will probably know publicly within, I suspect, 12 to 18 months,” he said.
Coulthart also discussed the issue of secrecy in Washington, highlighting that there are thousands of special access programs in which sensitive information is protected and does not leak to the public. He mentioned that even though notable investigative journalists have uncovered significant secrets, there are many that remain hidden from the public eye.
Coulthart said, “David Grusch laughed when I said that term because I asked him the same question, and I said, ‘You know, you guys can’t keep a secret in Washington, for God’s sake, the place leaks.’ And he laughed because he was briefed into 2,000-plus special access programs, most of which he says have never leaked secrets that are integral to U.S. national security programs that are still protected.”
When asked about the most impressive revelation from his interview with David Grush, Coulthart pointed to Grusch’s admission that there have been multiple retrievals of non-human craft and entities, which he refers to as “biologics” or non-human intelligence beings. Coulthart underscored the fact that Grusch, although not having personally seen these beings or craft, played a pivotal role in bringing individuals with direct knowledge to testify before the Senate Select Committee for Intelligence and the House Permanent Select Committee for Intelligence, two of the most influential committees in the United States government.
Coulthart highlighted the growing momentum within Congress to reveal the truth about these phenomena, driven by a pro-disclosure movement within the defense community. He noted that some senior figures, including generals and admirals, believe it is time for the public to be informed. However, he also pointed out the anti-transparency faction, which, at present, appears to be in the majority. This faction is concerned about the potential impact on national security and foreign relations, particularly with the rising tensions with China.
Coulthart discussed the possibility of alien disclosure within the next 12 to 18 months, suggesting that there might be an acknowledgment of non-human intelligence engaging with Earth. He mentioned efforts to secure interviews with senior officials who could make such an admission. However, he also pointed out that there is a pushback against full disclosure, partly due to concerns about the current political climate, including questions about Joe Biden’s capacity to lead and uncertainty about how a potential future President, like Donald Trump, might handle such sensitive information.
Ross Coulthart: “So, I wouldn’t be surprised if what we saw was a compromise where there was the beginning of an admission that, ‘Oh gosh, yes, we think there may indeed be life behind this, some kind of intelligence, but we need to do more work.’ I think we might see that kind of qualified revelation, but it’s still a remote possibility. It’s equally possible that this all might be put back in a box and covered up for another 50 years.”
Coulthart also touched upon the potential corporate implications of disclosure, particularly regarding companies like Lockheed Martin, which might have been involved in concealing non-human technology. He mentioned legislation proposed by Chuck Schumer that could assert eminent domain over any non-human technology and biologic bodies, essentially confiscating these assets and raising concerns about how publicly traded companies would handle such a situation.
Alien/UAP disclosure soon?
The US Senate has passed an amendment that would force government agencies to hand over any records on UFOs within 300 days and would mandate the disclosure of those records to the public unless there is a compelling reason to keep them classified. However, the new legislation explains that the president can postpone disclosure of certain records if disclosure poses a national security risk. The legislation requires postponed records to be reviewed periodically to see if it is safe to declassify them. (Source)
“After the Review Board has made a formal determination concerning public disclosure or postponement, the President will have the sole ability to overturn or concur such determination. At the latest, each UAP record must be publicly disclosed in full and made available in the Collection no later than 25 years after the law is enacted, unless the President certifies that continued postponement is necessary because of a direct harm to national security.”
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:ALIEN LIFE, UFO- CRASHES, ABDUCTIONS, MEN IN BLACK, ed ( FR. , NL; E )
The horrors of Plum Island: Hybrids, human experiments, killer insects
The horrors of Plum Island: Hybrids, human experiments, killer insects
In July 2008, the carcass of an animal washed up on the beach at Montauk Point Long Island. Local beachcombers are used to seeing dead animals. Seagulls, fish, crabs, even the occasional whale. But they had never seen anything like this.
Animal experts were brought in to identify it. They were stumped. It looked like part dog, part reptile and part rodent - with the beak of a bird. This animal, whatever it was, became known as the Montauk Monster.
But then another animal washed up on the beach. Again, it couldn't be identified. And then another animal. And then two more.
In January 2010 a human body was found on Plum Island by a local security guard. It was described as a six foot tall black male with no obvious signs of trauma but there were a few strange details about this man. One is that his fingers were described as abnormally large, some news agencies reported that his hands seemed mutated but the scariest detail off all, his skull had five holes drilled into it, indicating invasive brain surgery or experimentation.
But where did all these creatures come from?
There could be only one answer. Plum Island.
Plum Island is just a few miles from where these creatures were found.
Less than two miles off the coast of Long Island and about 85 miles from New York City is a small island owned by the US Government and unidentified on most Maps and it's only accessible by ferry or helicopter, boats that wander too close are quickly chased away by armed military personnel
The island is home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center a federal research facility that officially studies livestock related diseases specifically foot mouth disease and African swine fever.
This center is the only lab in the U.S. authorized to work with live fmd samples and if these samples escape the island it could devastate the country's food supply in a matter of weeks.
For years rumors and stories circulated that the Animal Disease Center at Plum Island was a top-secret government facility that created bioweapons, engineered animal hybrids and conducting genetic experiments on animals and possibly on people.
After the bodies of strange creatures began washing up on beaches around the Long Island, it could mean only one thing, the rumors about Plum Island were true.
But the Island's true history is much darker, check out the video of The Why Files below....
UFO Sightings and the Alaskan Enigma: The Mysterious Ketchikan Connection
UFO Sightings and the Alaskan Enigma: The Mysterious Ketchikan Connection
From the iconic Roswell incident to the notorious Area 51, UFO sightings have always stirred a mix of intrigue, skepticism, and fear. While these stories generally dominate southwestern deserts, there’s an often-overlooked hotspot for UFO activity that might surprise many: the picturesque town of Ketchikan, Alaska. But what is it about this serene town that’s turning it into the new capital for UFO sightings?
The Ketchikan Chronicles
Situated far southeast of the enigmatic Alaska Triangle, Ketchikan is embraced by mountainous forests and the deep, mysterious waters of Alaska’s inside passage. However, the town’s allure goes beyond its natural beauty. Over the years, Ketchikan has become synonymous with inexplicable UFO sightings. From radiant orbs hovering over the ocean to lights performing outlandish maneuvers in the night sky, the town has seen it all.
Local artist and wilderness guide, Terry Piles, recounts an unforgettable New Year’s Eve in 2012 when he observed not one, but two glowing objects descending from the sky. To him, they resembled cauldrons of molten metal, accompanied by an eerie silence. He’s not alone in his experiences. Many Ketchikan residents have their own stories to share, making UFO sightings almost a part of the local culture.
Secret Military Operations: Coincidence or Connection?
It’s not just the UFO sightings that have piqued interest. Southeast Alaska, and Ketchikan, in particular, has had a long-standing military presence, most of which is veiled in secrecy. The waters off Ketchikan, though hundreds of miles away from the closest U.S. naval subbase in Washington state, often see nuclear subs traversing the waves. This led to the eventual public acknowledgment of the CFAC, Southeast Alaska Acoustic Measurement Facility, a secret submarine testing site.
While the official line is that CFAC is primarily for acoustical testing of submarines, many believe there’s more beneath the surface. Could there be a correlation between these secretive submarine activities and the frequent UFO sightings in the region?
Eric Hecker, a UFO researcher and former Navy weapons technician, believes so. From his experience, military establishments often have hidden agendas. The Ketchikan phenomena make many wonder if the military might be engaging in reverse engineering, possibly analyzing alien technology salvaged from the deep.
VIDEO:
UFO Footage Filmed in Ketchikan Proves High UFO Activity In the Area | The Alaska Triangle
The combination of frequent UFO sightings, secret military operations, and the mysterious allure of Ketchikan creates a tantalizing puzzle. Whether it’s the breathtaking beauty of the Alaskan landscapes or the possibility of witnessing extraterrestrial activity, Ketchikan is surely on the map for UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
As UFO sightings become more mainstream and research continues, one can only hope that the answers to the Ketchikan mystery will soon be unveiled. For now, the skies (and waters) of Ketchikan remain a fascinating conundrum, beckoning all those eager to unravel its secrets.
In 2025, if all goes according to plan, NASA will launch the first-ever nuclear fission-powered rocket into space.
The Demonstration Rocket for Agile Cislunar Operations (DRACO) won’t go very far. It will only reach an orbit above Earth, the distance of most satellites. But if DRACO is successful, its successors could set out for Mars or the outer solar system. Nuclear fission can reach Mars or the outer solar system far more quickly and efficiently than today’s rockets. In fact, nuclear fission might be the only way humans ever make it to the Red Planet.
“The final goal is to get to Mars,” Fatima Ebrahimi, a physicist at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, tells Inverse. “You really need nuclear for that.”
REVIVING A HALF-CENTURY-OLD DREAM
Most of today’s rockets are chemical rockets, generating immense energy from chemical reactions. If you’ve ever seen a chemical rocket launch, you know how spectacular it can be. “Chemical rockets have the advantage of producing large thrust — they are very powerful,” Ebrahimi says. “But they cannot go very far.”
If we want to get to Mars with today’s chemical rockets, we have to take advantage of narrow windows when our planets’ orbits align, which come just once every 26 months. To reach the outer solar system with those same rockets, we usually have to undertake an even more complicated path, dipping closer to the Sun and harnessing the gravity of a planet like Venus to pick up sufficient speed. It’s also quite time-consuming. To reach Jupiter in the early 2030s, for example, we would need to launch today.
Enter nuclear energy.
“The final goal is to get to Mars ... You really need nuclear for that.”
If the phrase “nuclear rockets” sounds old fashioned, you aren’t wrong. Nuclear rockets were an invention of the 20th century, not the 21st. But in staking a nuclear-powered future, the American space program is reviving a dream that is over half a century old.
Engineers have been tinkering with nuclear rockets since the dawn of the Space Age. In the 1950s, when nuclear energy was new and exciting, the U.S. Air Force and Atomic Energy Commission teamed up to develop Project Rover, a prototype nuclear engine that could power a missile.
Then came NASA, which took over the program, ditched the missiles, and transformed the tests into a dedicated program to get a nuclear engine into space: Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA). In the sands of a nuclear test site in Nevada, NERVA fine-tuned a sequence of test-fired engines. At least on the ground, the tests were successful.
T United States wasn’t alone in taking nuclear rockets for a spin. In 1965, the Soviet Union began crafting its own prototype nuclear rocket and kept up the research for decades. Well into the 1980s, Soviet engineers conducted full-scale trials of an engine they called RD-0410 at the Semipalatinsk nuclear testing ground in northeast Kazakhstan. Nevertheless, RD-0410 never fully took flight.
As you might imagine, those grand designs never came to pass. After Apollo 11 did its job, pressures from the Nixon administration and budget cuts shifted NASA’s focus to near-Earth projects like Skylab and the Space Shuttle.
Even though NERVA had political support and over $1 billion of investment, the project didn’t have a place in this new NASA era and was mothballed in 1973 before ever entering space. But even as budget cuts doomed Project NERVA to fade away into the desert — and even as nuclear power, in general, gained a fallout-stained reputation thanks to Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the simultaneous rise of an anti-nuclear movement — the idea of nuclear rockets never truly disappeared.
THE RETURN OF THE NUCLEAR ROCKET
For the pyrotechnic-minded, the words “nuclear rocket” might conjure images of something like Project Orion: a craft that would push itself along by triggering nuclear detonations behind it. In reality, nuclear propulsion is a little more mundane (and, certainly, more compliant with international bans on nuclear explosions in outer space).
The nuclear rockets that engineers propose — to be more specific, what they call a nuclear thermal rocket (NTR) — replace chemical reactions with a fission reactor.
NTR designs vary, but most are built around two key components: the reactor itself and a superheated fluid, typically liquid hydrogen. A turbopump pipes the hydrogen through the reactor, which superheats the liquid into searing gas. In turn, the gas escapes out an attached nozzle, creating thrust. The hotter the rocket can heat the fuel, the more thrust it can produce.
To the untrained eye, an NTR engine wouldn’t look obviously different from a chemical rocket. Even from the rocket builder’s eye, many of an NTR engine’s components — the valves, the nozzles, the hydrogen that must be kept at cryogenic temperatures — have places aboard a chemical rocket.
Where nuclear rockets shine instead is in their efficiency, what rocket scientists call specific impulse. In other words, how much an engine can boost its spacecraft with the same amount of fuel. NTR engines have two to three times more specific impulses than their chemical counterparts. Once outside Earth’s gravity, nuclear-powered craft can travel far more quickly than chemical craft.
Again, if we wanted to reach Mars using the best chemical rockets we have available, it would be very difficult, with available launch times of just once every 26 months. NTR engines promise to drastically slash those times. Because they can accelerate spacecraft to higher speeds, they open up far more opportunities for flights to other planets that don’t require complex gravitational dances.
“It gives me the ability to abort my mission and return home — not all the time, but for a much longer part of my mission,” Kurt Polzin, chief engineer for space nuclear propulsion at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, tells Inverse.
NTR proponents like Polzin believe that isn’t the only reason a nuclear-powered mission will be fundamentally safer than one with today’s rockets. A shorter journey means astronauts can carry fewer supplies, and their bodies won’t absorb as much ionizing radiation en route.
“If we can improve crew safety, I think we would consider that what we’ve done has been very successful,” Polzin says.
GETTING OUT OF EARTH’S ORBIT AND ONTO THE MOON
In the 1980s and 1990s, nuclear rockets gathered dust, and most scientists overlooked them. Nuclear rocket designs became the province of secretive U.S. military projects like the Strategic Defense Initiative (the so-called “Star Wars”) Project Timber Wind, which tried to return the technology to its destructive missile roots.
But by the 2010s, a new generation of researchers had taken hold, and NASA’s priorities again began to shift away from Earth orbit. NASA engineers once more dared to dream up plans for nuclear-powered Mars missions.
Within a few short years, it also became clear that the Artemis Program — NASA’s ambitious push to establish a permanent base on the Moon, which could serve as a stopover for human missions to Mars — was actually going to happen. Funding began to follow. In 2019, the U.S. Congress allocated more than $100 million to NTR research.
Dale Thomas, a propulsion engineer at the University of Alabama in Huntsville whose research focuses on NTR engines, thinks there’s one big, Earth-bound factor contributing to the sudden rise in interest in nuclear power. “[Climate change] has caused people to rethink their position on nuclear power in general as a non-greenhouse gas emitting technology,” Thomas tells Inverse. He says shifts in attitudes, which resulted in new nuclear power plants and delays of plans to close old ones, extend to space travel as well.
Thomas, for his part, hopes that studying how to build better NTR engines — building reactors that can stand up to the intense pressures and temperatures of a reactor — can translate into building better reactors down on Earth.
The largest challenge, Thomas says, is “convincing NASA mission planners that they can count on nuclear thermal propulsion in their mission designs.”
That is one goal of DRACO, the mission that plans to launch the first nuclear-powered rocket, picking up where NERVA left off half a century ago.
DRACO will launch atop a standard chemical rocket, partly because chemical rockets are currently more powerful and partly to minimize the risk of a nuclear accident. That rocket will take DRACO up to a relatively high orbit above Earth — somewhere between 435 and 1,240 miles (700 and 2,000 kilometers) — where engineers will take DRACO’s nuclear drive through preliminary tests in a space environment.
“We’ve never done this before ... we’re going to learn how to do it … we’re going to take that and pay it forward to the next system.”
DRACO inherits NERVA’s legacy and research results, but there are a few differences between the two. For one, where NERVA used weapons-grade uranium, which is over 90 percent uranium-235, DRACO uses what is called high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which is more like 10 to 20 percent uranium-235. This brings DRACO closer to the uranium that’s used in the civilian nuclear power sector. While HALEU does generate less power, acquiring a license to play with it in the U.S. is far easier and far cheaper than getting permission for the higher-grade stuff.
Additionally, part of the reason DRACO’s builders are so eager to test it in space is that, with NERVA’s facilities long abandoned, the original testing grounds are no longer usable. In that sense, it’s already getting off the ground far more quickly than NERVA ever could.
“I just hope that the mission is successful as planned,” Thomas says. “That is, a successful flight demonstration of a nuclear-thermal-propulsion-powered spacecraft.”
DRACO is a prototype. Much of the test’s value will be in letting NASA’s engineers gain practical knowledge: practicing getting DRACO into space in the first place, understanding the quirks of an NTR engine in operation, and creating flight checklists for a type of engine they have never flown.
“We’ve never done this before,” Polzin says. “We’re going to learn how to do it … we’re going to take that and pay it forward to the next system.”
There is still a great deal of work to be done. For instance, Polzin says that engineers need to push NTR engines to even higher temperatures than DRACO. But Polzin firmly believes that “next system” — or the one after it, or so on — will be what finally pushes astronauts to Mars.
NTR may be just the beginning of a growing category of what some scientists and engineers call “advanced propulsion” — or propulsion that doesn’t rely on standard chemical reactions.
Probes to destinations near Earth rely on electric ion propulsion, which uses electric current to accelerate xenon or krypton ions out of a thruster to push it forward. In fact, future craft may generate that current with nuclear fission. More hypothetically, engineers have proposed craft that very literally sail through the solar system with solar sails, which would catch the sun’s light as an oceanic ship’s sails catch the winds. Meanwhile, Princeton’s Ebrahimi is one of a handful of scientists working on engines powered by a different sort of nuclear physics: fusion.
There is no reason we have to only power spacecraft with one type of engine. The future of space travel might be all of these options existing in tandem, each one specialized for a specific purpose.
A fraction of red quasars have been shown to be young active galaxies smothered in cosmic dust.
A dusty quasar is seen as red and radio loud from Earth.
(Image credit: ESO/L. Calçada)
Red quasars filled with cosmic dust produce stronger radio emissions than their bluer, dust-free counterparts — and these phenomena, scientists say, could represent a generation of younger active galaxies with supermassive black holes that only recently switched into overdrive.
"There are still many unanswered questions surrounding red quasars, such as whether black hole winds or radio jets are ultimately responsible for this enhanced radio emission," Victoria Fawcett, lead author of a new study on this finding and an astronomer at Newcastle University in the United Kingdom, said in a statement.
However, Fawcett believes we're getting close to the brink of fully understanding the nature of these incredible marvels.
A quasar is the powerful central region of an active galaxy, and is driven by a supermassive black hole that is being fed huge amounts of matter. That matter forms a disk of gas around the black hole, known as an accretion disk, that reaches millions of degrees and releases fierce radiation winds. Meanwhile, magnetically collimated jets launch outwards from the disk.
Quasars are so bright that they vastly outshine the collective starlight of their host galaxies and can therefore be seen across the universe.
Most quasars appear blue, a hue caused by optical and ultraviolet emissions from the hot accretion disk. However, a fraction appears red instead. To reach their conclusions about those red quasars, Fawcett and fellow researchers sampled approximately 35,000 quasars observed by DESI, the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument on the Mayall Telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona.
Of this collection, Fawcett’s group found 3,038 to be red quasars. Cross-referencing with radio astronomy data from the LOFAR (Low Frequency Array) Two-meter Sky Survey (LoTSS), they confirmed that most of these red ones are also emitting strongly in radio waves.
The redness comes from the presence of dust, which absorbs shorter, bluer wavelengths but allows longer, redder wavelengths to pass. The red quasars must therefore be smothered in cosmic dust, formed of tiny grains just microns in size.
"It was really exciting to see the amazing quality of the DESI data and to discover thousands of these previously rare red quasars," Fawcett said. "I think this is the strongest evidence so far that red quasars are a key element in how galaxies evolve."
The red quasars seem to be radiating more strongly in radio waves than the blue quasars because of interactions between outflows of radiation pouring from a quasar and the surrounding curtains of dust. As the outflows slam into the dust, they excite molecules within the dust to prompt the emission of radio waves. Over time, the outflows, driven by the energy of a supermassive black hole hungrily feeding on vast amounts of matter, will blow the dusty cloak away to leave a naked blue quasar with much weaker radio emission. Fawcett calls this the 'blow-out' phase.
Therefore, when astronomers see a red quasar, they are seeing a younger quasar than if they were to see a blue one.
The realization that red quasars represent a younger type of quasar could prove to be an important missing piece in our understanding of how galaxies develop and evolve over time. It’s believed that most galaxies, at one time or another, undergo a quasar phase, and that there is an observed relationship between the mass of the supermassive black hole at the heart of a quasar and the mass of the galactic bulge belonging to the quasar's host galaxy. In other words, quasar activity seems to help grow the mass of a galaxy.
The origin of quasar dust may be a by-product of this. Cosmic dust is produced by stars when they die, either as explosive supernovas or in more sedate fashion by putting off their outer layers to form a planetary nebula. Either way, the presence of dust in a quasar suggests that it has undergone a starburst – an intense period of rapid star formation, with many of those stars having already expired. Starbursts are commonly found in active galaxies, particularly those that have endured a galactic merger that has forced massive molecular clouds to crash into one another and instigate the star formation process.
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Drone Records UFOs Behind Las Vegas, Nevada 9-21-2023, Video, UFO Sighting News.
Drone Records UFOs Behind Las Vegas, Nevada 9-21-2023, Video, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting: 9-21-2023
Location of sighting: Las Vegas Mountains, Nevada USA
Source: MUFON
Guys, this is the legendary Tall White ships seen behind Nellis AFB in Las Vegas hills. The US military gave the Tall Whites some land at the old firing range, between Nellis AFB and Area S4. All the land between belongs to the US military and is off limits. If you have never heard of the Tall Whites, search Charles Hall interview or see this video at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPGvfDanq2M&t=2s
Eyewitness states:
3 Very bright orbs flying over the Nevada mountains. Flew in a linear path. Perfectly aligned then disappeared.
UFO Over Boston, MA Causes Power line surge! 9-22-2023, UFO Sighting News.
UFO Over Boston, MA Causes Power line surge! 9-22-2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting:9-22-2023
Location of sighting: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Source: Email report
Caught by a door cam, this UFO was so powerful it caused a power surge in the telephone pole power cables. Watch and see a glowing line race back and forth over the lines. UFOs do that, UFOs can shut down cars, watches, lights and even cause surges in energy on power lines as you see in this video. This power surge is 100% proof that an alien craft was nearby.
UAPs or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena have long been a topic of intrigue, speculation, and skepticism. Whether it’s the elusive Area 51tales, the intriguing reports from military pilots, or the alleged sightings from ordinary citizens, the mystery behind these phenomena persists. This article dives deep into the world of UAPs, examining credible sources, documented experiences, and the burning questions they leave in their wake.
The Puzzling World of UAPs:
While Hollywood might have you believe that every unidentified object in the sky is an alien spacecraft, the truth is far more nuanced. UAPs encompass a range of anomalies – from optical illusions and atmospheric conditions to high-tech drones or potentially otherworldly entities.
Recent data collection efforts have revealed something fascinating. Contrary to popular belief, the US Department of Defense (DoD) hasn’t filtered out fast or slow-moving objects in their radar data, providing a more comprehensive view of what’s really out there.
Radar Filters & Unveiling Truths:
One notable revelation concerns the DoD’s radar systems. While focused primarily on detecting conventional aircraft and missiles, there’s an acknowledgment of ‘filters’ set on these radars. The implication? Decades of data might have omitted these UAPs. Speculations run wild. Could they be technological assets from rivals like Russia dating back to the Cold War? Or perhaps advancements of US technology, strategically hidden?
The potential of this technology, if real, is astonishing. UAPs have been reported to perform maneuvers that defy our current understanding of physics and aeronautics. Instant acceleration, sharp turns at unbelievable speeds, and hovering still in the air have all been documented.
Whistleblowers & the Controversies:
Bob Lazar stands out as a significant, albeit controversial, figure in UAP discourse. He claimed to have worked in Area 51, revealing secrets about reverse engineering alien tech. Though skeptics question the authenticity of his claims, the sheer amount of detailed information he provided remains thought-provoking.
It’s not just Lazar. Commander David Grosch came forward, risking his reputation, driven by a “sense of duty” to share his experiences. This bravery shines a light on the seriousness with which some insiders view these phenomena.
VIDEO:
The realm of UAPs remains clouded in mystery. Are they secret advanced technology? Evidences of extraterrestrial life? Or perhaps a mixture of many explanations? While we might not have definitive answers, one thing is clear – our sky holds more mysteries than we once believed.
UFO testimony via military recounts 'nonhuman' pilots and 'superior tech'
Three former military members appeared for a congressional hearing on the national security threats from "unidentified anomalous phenomena."
SCOTT L. HALL, USA TODAY
The chance that extraterrestrials hailing from deep within the incomprehensibly vast regions of outer space have discovered and visited planet Earth may be infinitesimal.
But it's not zero.
Witnesses have for decades comes forward to share their alleged encounters with strange flying objects and even otherworldly beings themselves, only to often be ridiculed and dismissed. The specter of flying saucers and little green men has long been a topic relegated to the realm of pop culture at best, and hokum at worst.
Now, witnesses once made to feel like crackpots are sharing what they believe are sightings of UFOs in "Encounters," a docuseries premiering Wednesday on Netflix. Across four episodes, the series will rely on firsthand accounts to explore the evidence (or lack thereof) that we may not be alone in the universe.
"Encounters" will premier Wednesday on Netflix. The four-part docuseries explores four different mass UFO sightings in different parts of the world.
NETFLIX
"Most people would say the question is, like, 'Are we alone,'" one person says in the trailer, released earlier in September. "I think the question is, 'Who are we?'"
Directed by Yon Motskin, each episode of the series produced by Stephen Spielberg's Amblin Television, Boardwalk Pictures and Vice Studios explores a separate report of a mass sighting in a different part of the world.
The James Webb Space Telescope, the most powerful to be placed in orbit, has revealed the clearest image to date of the early universe.
Billed in Netflix press materials as a "detective story," "Encounters" relies on both firsthand accounts and also the testimony of various scientists and military officials to delve into reports of suspected extraterrestrial phenomena. The four episodes feature accounts of strange lights in the sky in 2008 over small-town Texas; Cold War-era submersible crafts lurking near a coastal Welsh village; a non-human intelligence reportedly interfering in 2011 with the operations of a nuclear power plant in Japan; and an alien encounter in 1994 experienced by schoolchildren in Zimbabwe.
"UFOs, UAP's, non-human intelligence, whatever we might call it — I didn’t before but now I think it exists," Motskin told Netflix. "It could be non-human intelligence from far away, or from the past or future, or even us from the future. But I believe ‘the phenomenon’, as it’s called, has been around for a long time."
A witness reviews footage in Netflix's "Encounters" from the Department of Defense depicting an unidentified object in the sky observed by a Navy pilot. TheU.S. government now refers to UFOs as UAP, short for unidentified anomalous phenomena.Show less
The claim of the crash retrieval program came from former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer David Grusch, who testified before a House Oversight subcommittee that his country has been aware of “non-human” activity since the 1930s. Though he was constrained in presenting hard evidence about alleged classified programs, Grusch claimed to have been informed that the Pentagon has been able to obtain and study not only interstellar crafts, but the bodies of extraterrestrial pilots themselves.
The Pentagon has repeatedly denied that such a program exists.
Since then, the Pentagon's office to investigate UFOs unveiled a website where the public can access declassified information about reported sightings and soon make reports of their own.
NASA scientists and other astrophysicists acknowledge the phenomena of objects sighted in skies flying in ways believed to be beyond the capabilities of known human technology, but also caution that otherworldly explanations for UFOs aren't likely even in the absence of a natural one.
UFO sightings have been a topic of intrigue, speculation, and debate for decades. With numerous eyewitness accounts and growing public interest, the mystery deepens as new sightings emerge. Especially when these encounters involve not just the skies but the vastness of our oceans. Let’s dive into some of the most riveting naval encounters that will make you rethink everything you know about UFO sightings.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the National UFO Reporting Center’s database recorded several incidents involving the US Navy. These weren’t your usual skyward-looking sightings; these were encounters from the depths, involving massive naval vessels and mysterious unidentified submerged objects, or USOs.
One captivating account from 1965 speaks of a witness aboard the USS Albany in the Azores Islands. This individual detailed an event where three unidentified objects, maintaining a triangular formation, trailed the fleet for hours. Attempts to approach these objects with jets resulted in them swiftly disappearing from radar screens.
Fast forward to 1977 in the Bermuda Triangle, a locale already rife with mysteries. Crew aboard the USS Glover reported seeing bright orange objects descend from the sky, only to perform acrobatic maneuvers above their ship. But what was truly astounding was that during this event, the ship lost all power. Once the objects vanished, power mysteriously returned.
These aren’t isolated events. Time and again, naval crews across the world have reported unexplained phenomena that defy logic and our understanding of physics. Such incidents not only raise questions about what we’re seeing but also about the extent to which authorities are willing to suppress information.
VIDEO:
5 Concealed Navy UFO Encounters | The Richard Dolan Show
It’s vital to approach UFO sightings with an open yet analytical mind. While some might be explainable phenomena, others challenge our understanding of the world around us. Are they proof of otherworldly civilizations, or are they top-secret experiments? One thing is certain: with every new sighting, our desire to decode the mysteries of the universe only grows stronger.
De James Webb Ruimtetelescoop heeft het adembenemende beeld van een uitgestrekt sterrenveld met een sterrenstelsel en een bolvormige sterrenhoop in de schijnwerpers gezet.
In de afbeelding is het onregelmatige sterrenstelsel NGC 6822 te zien, dankzij de Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) gemonteerd op de James Webb, een telescoop die gezamenlijk wordt geëxploiteerd door NASA, ESA en CSA.
Met het infraroodbeeld is het ook mogelijk om de talrijke sterren in dit dichtbevolkte veld te observeren. De helderste sterren verschijnen in lichtblauw en cyaan, terwijl de zwakkere sterren zich tonen in warmere kleuren.
Bovendien bevindt zich links van het midden een heldere blauwe ‘bol’ die opvalt als een bolvormige sterrenhoop.
Several years ago I began researching the phenomenon of ball lightning since it comes up so frequently in discussions of the UFO phenomenon. (Or unidentified anomalous phenomena, UAP, as the U.S. government insists we say these days.) In recent months I have gone back to investigate some of the more current research material and reports available on this topic and I'll provide some updates on both the historical and newer information that has become available here.
It's worth noting that "ball-shaped" UFOs (as ball lightning is typically described) are among the most common sightings reported. This is no longer just an anecdotal assumption. The Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) website confirms this in a recently published morphology chart. They even provide a verified and still unidentified video of one of them filmed by a drone over the Middle East. Those "orbs" are frequently described as being silver or metallic in appearance, but recently advanced theories suggest that in some cases, particularly at night, they might exhibit some sort of field around their surface, giving them the appearance of fire or even electrical "lightning."
People have been reporting sightings of such objects for quite some time. Rather than being a recent phenomenon, something fitting the description of ball lightning was first reported in the 12th century, written by Benedictine monk Gervase of Christ Church Cathedral Priory, Canterbury in 1195. Suggesting that the phenomenon has an affinity for religious institutions (or just that churches had most of the people who were literate back then), ball lightning reportedly struck the church of St. Pancras in Widecombe-on-the-Moor, England during a severe thunderstorm in 1638. Church records indicate that the fireball came through a window, knocked the minister off of his feet, and singed his clothing. While it melted metal around him, it left the wood of the church untouched. The event was considered to be potentially miraculous.
Ball lightning isn't only seen over land. Ships at sea have reported similar sightings and even alarming damage for centuries. In 1726, while sailing along the Gulf Coast off of Florida, the sloop Catherine and Maryreported being struck by a ball of fire from the sky that "blew the mast into a thousand pieces." One witness wrote that three men were struck down with one of them being killed. Similarly, in 1809, ship's records from the HMS Warren Hastings told of three fireballs striking the ship, killing two of the crew. Thunderstorms and rough seas were reported in both cases.
During my initial investigation, I sought out some sort of scientifically verifiable, plausible explanation for such a phenomenon that wouldn't involve UFOs or anything paranormal. And many scientists have engaged in similar pursuits dating back to at least the 1940s. Since it is described as "lightning," I interviewed one of the chief meteorologists for NBC News. Could this actually be lightning as we currently understand it? He pointed me to the current description of ball lightning offered by the American Meteorological Society. They are willing to admit that ball lightening is "considered controversial due to the lack of unambiguous physical evidence" and the exact mechanisms for how it might take place are "unknown." He further confessed that "Not a lot is known about it.”
That comment speaks volumes because we actually do know quite a bit about lightning and electricity in general after centuries of study. NOAA can mostly accurately predict which storms are more or less likely to produce lightning within a window of a few hours. We know that "balls of electricity" will not "float" through a glass window if there is any less resistive path because glass is such an amazing insulator. The reason that "ball lightning" is unverifiable is that it doesn't act like lightning or other typical electronic activity.
That's not to say that scientific investigations into the phenomenon haven't continued. I reviewed a more recent, peer-reviewed paper from M. Sanduloviciu and E. Lozneanu of the Department of Plasma Physics at the University of Ias in Romania, titled, "Ball lightning as a self-organization Phenomenon."
In a laboratory, they were able to reproduce the effect impressively and they included many photographs and explanatory charts. But they almost all require very controlled conditions and the introduction of an electrical anode. Happening in nature, they described it as a "sudden injection of matter and energy in a well-located hot plasma generated by a lightning stroke."
This ties back nicely to my original findings, indicating that so-called ball lightning is typically associated with fireballs that are observed immediately following a lightning strike on the ground in an area where combustible materials are located. You can see a video of such an event here. Commercially created fireballs are also common. But they all share certain properties in common. They are the obvious combustion of fuels and they typically are very short in duration and they travel in predictable ways, generally upward. They do not zoom around and track over the wings of fighter jets like the foo fighters of yore.
So are we any closer to knowing if ball lightning is "real" today? If we are assuming that the phrase means that people are seeing balls of light doing remarkable things in the skies, there is plenty of evidence to indicate that it certainly is. But it's a phrase of convenience. Is it actually "lightning" as we currently understand that meteorological phenomenon? Almost certainly not. That's not how electricity works. But there's something going on and plenty of evidence continues to accumulate.
Reports are piling up to this day. The Weather Channel saw fit to publish a video of one example from 2013. CBS News in Sacramento California published a highly intriguing video in 2021. Some other relatively recent reports include one from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where a witness reported a green ball of light hovering outside of his house for approximately ten seconds, whereupon it exploded. The power to his house was knocked out until the next morning. A second from Jordan, New York involved a glowing red ball seen inside a person's house that hovered in the air for more than three minutes.
Those last two are related because they are part of a collection of sightings being assembled by a team at New Mexico Tech University labs. They set up a site specifically for people to report ball lightinng sightings a few years ago and they have many examples. Their goal is to take a scientific approach, matching witness testimony to meteorological data from the time and location reported, seeking patterns. They hope to identify the conditions most likely to spawn ball lightning, hopefully increasing the chances of capturing it on film in the future.
So what are these flaming balls? Personally, I think they look very much like UFOs, but that simply means that we haven't yet identified precisely what they are or where they come from. But all of the data thus far suggests that they really aren't "lightning" and we have a very solid understanding of how that natural phenomenon operates.
The Mysterious Hybrid Creatures Depicted on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser: A Genetic Experiment of the Gods?
The Mysterious Hybrid Creatures Depicted on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser: A Genetic Experiment of the Gods?
Bibhu Dev Misra
The Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III is one of the most intriguing artifacts of the Neo-Assyrian Empire. Discovered by Sir Austen Henry Layard in 1846, it is one of only two complete Neo-Assyrian obelisks yet discovered. This perfectly preserved monument commemorates 31 years of King Shalmaneser III’s reign, who ruled from 858–824 BCE. It was erected as a public monument in 825 BCE, in the central square of Nimrud (biblical Calah, or ancient Kalhu), located in modern-day Iraq. After its discovery, the object was transferred to the British Museum where it still resides.
The four-sided obelisk is made of black limestone, and stands just under 2 meters (6 ½ feet) tall. It has five vertically arranged panels on each side, adding up to a total of 20 panels. They depict five different subdued kings, bringing tribute and prostrating before King Shalmaneser. The tributes from each subdued king occupies four panels around the monument and is described by a cuneiform script above them.
The really intriguing elements of this obelisk can be seen on the third panel from the top, which depicts the tributes brought by an unnamed ruler of “Musri”. Earlier, historians used to think that Musri was a kingdom in northern Iraq, but now that it is accepted that it was a Neo-Assyrian term for Egypt, phonetically similar to the Hebrew “Mizraim”, Classical Arabic “Misr” and Egyptian Arabic “Masr”. So, what did this subdued king of Egypt (not necessarily the pharaoh), bring as tribute to Shalmaneser III, sometime around the 9th century BCE? Human-animal hybrid beings, which are depicted alongside other easily recognizable animals! The hybrids are smaller than humans, and are held in chains like pets.
This panel shows a pair of human-animal hybrid beings, held by chains. Both the creatures have human-like head and arms, but their hind limbs are like that of an animal, and they also have a tail. The creatures appear to be capable of standing or walking on their hind limbs. One might think that they look like a miniature version of a sphinx, which, of course, is a startling thought, for haven’t we been told that the sphinx is a “mythological” creature?
This panel shows three human-animal hybrids, of which two are held by ropes. These hybrids seem to be quite comfortable walking on their hind legs, and are very human-like except for their long tail. One of the hybrids is perched on the shoulder of a man, which indicates that they have a friendly attitude towards humans and can be trained. They resemble the satyrs of Greek art, and the vanaras of Indian legends, which, once again makes us wonder how so-called mythical beings could have been offered as a tribute by a king of Egypt in the 9th century BCE.
It is important to remember that the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III was a royal monument which was meant for the express purpose of recording the various tributes that King Shalmaneser had received during his reign. It was probably executed by the royal scribes, working hand-in-hand with the highly skilled royal sculptors. This was not the place where the sculptor could indulge in flights of fancy, and employ religious symbols and metaphorical devices. Nor could a sculptor afford to attach a tail to a prisoner, simply because he had a personal dislike for that person. The Neo-Assyrian kings were not known for their sense of humour, and any deviation or practical joke would have been severely dealt with.
What I am trying to get at is that, if a royal monument shows human-animal hybrid beings being received as tribute, then it is very likely that they were. And it is only because such creatures do not exist today that we find this thought so incredible.
In fact, there is documented evidence that bizarre, human-animal hybrid beings existed in some parts of the world till the late first millennium BCE. One of the interesting accounts was written by a Greek physician called Ctesias, who served as a doctor at the court of the king Artaxerxes II of Persia. He wrote a book called Indica, which was based on various stories brought to the Persian court by visitors and travelers from India and other parts of the world. Pliny, the Elder, quoting Ctesias, writes that,
“Ctesias informs us, that among these same Ethiopians, there is an animal found, which he calls the mantichora; it has a triple row of teeth, which fit into each other like those of a comb, the face and ears of a man, and azure eyes, is of the colour of blood, has the body of the lion, and a tail ending in a sting, like that of the scorpion. Its voice resembles the union of the sound of the flute and the trumpet; it is of excessive swiftness, and is particularly fond of human flesh.”[1]
Ctesias also wrote of similar hybrid animals being found in the mountainous regions of India. Pliny quoting Ctesias in Natural History, writes that,
“There are also satyrs in the mountains in the east of India...this is an extremely swift animal, sometimes going on all fours and sometimes standing upright as they run, like human beings; because of their speed only the old ones or the sick are caught.”[2]
The satyr in the above description, could, of course, refer to the Mande Burung, which is the counterpart of the Yeti that lives in the mountains of eastern India, in the state of Meghalaya. What it most certainly does not describe is the “monkey”, which is an animal that everyone in India is familiar with, and unlikely to evoke any interest.
The accounts of Ctesias indicate that human-animal hybrids, like those depicted on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III, may have existed in Ethiopia and India around the 5th century BCE, and therefore, could have been given as a tribute by a king of Egypt in the 9th century BCE.
Another interesting incident was recorded by the Greek historian Plutarch in the 2nd century CE. Plutarch wrote in the Life of Sulla that the soldiers of the Roman general Sulla had captured a satyr sleeping during a military campaign in Greece in 89 BCE.[3] Sulla’s men brought the satyr to him and he attempted to interrogate it, but it spoke in an unintelligible sound, which was a cross between the neighing of a horse and the bleating of a goat.
It appears from accounts such as these that, satyrs may not be imaginary creatures, as is commonly believed, but could have been hybrid beings that lived till the beginning of the Christian era and became extinct soon afterwards, as the environmental conditions continued to change. Millions of animals have become extinct over time, so why not sphinxes and satyrs? Or, perhaps, they did not become extinct, but retreated inside mountain caves and subterranean grottoes, where they are simply biding their time until conditions become favorable for their emergence?
The question is, if these creatures actually lived in the past, how did they evolve? We know that human DNA is not compatible with that of animals, which means we can pretty much rule out any involvement of humans in this matter. What do the ancient texts and traditions have to say about it?
When it comes to the sphinx, there is not much to go on, especially with respect to their origin. We know that the sphinx was always regarded as a protector or guardian of a sacred sanctuary, and was generally depicted in pairs on either side of the entrance to a temple, palace or tomb. This custom was consistently followed across the world, wherever sphinxes are depicted in art and architecture - in Egypt, Greece, Mesopotamia, India and South-east Asia.
With regards to their appearance, there are slight differences between cultures. In Greece, the sphinx was generally female, and had a pair of wings. In Mesopotamia, the sphinx was called lamassu. It combined the characteristics of a man and a bull, and was typically depicted with wings. Colossal statues of the lamassu were placed in pairs at the entrances of the royal palaces and cities. Interestingly, on many cylinder seals, the lamassu was depicted in an upright, standing position, adoring the stylized “sacred tree”, which indicates that they played an important role in the religious life of the people.
Neo-Assyrian Cylinder Seal from c. 9th - 7th century BCE, depicting a pair of bearded bull-men, standing on either side of a sacred tree, with the winged disk of Ashur hovering above it. Source: Met museum, Public Domain.
In India, the sphinx was called purusha-mriga or kimpurusha. It used to be depicted standing on four legs at the entrances of temples, as well as in an upright position on two limbs in front of a Shiva-linga. The Shiva-linga, which is a stone pillar symbolizing the god Shiva, is the axis-mundi of the world, and is conceptually equivalent to the “sacred tree” depicted on the Mesopotamian seals. It is apparent that the sphinx, in an upright standing posture, looks quite similar to the hybrid creatures depicted on the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III.
Unfortunately, there are very few stories associated with the sphinx, because of which we don’t know anything about it origins or parentage. In case of the satyrs, however, a lot more information is available, which hints at a genetic experiment carried out by the gods, sometime prior to 7000 BCE, in order to produce these strange, hybrid creatures.
In Greek art, the satyrs were shown with the ears and tails of a horse, but their face was like that of humans, and they sported long beards. In fact, apart from their ears and tail, everything about the satyrs is completely human-like. They walked upright like humans, played the aulos (double flute), lyre and other musical instruments, drank wine, and danced around merrily in the entourage of Dionysus, along with the maenads i.e. dancing nymphs. I have no doubt that if a satyr were to cover his ears with long, flowing hair, and dress up in a formal suit, he would be unrecognizable in any modern-day orchestra. Who knows, they might already be lingering amongst us!
A satyr playing the aulos to entertain Dionysus, c.480 BCE. Credit: Jean Pierre Dalbéra, CC BY 2.0.
Pan was the leader of the satyrs in the Dionysian retinue, and he was the general of Dionysus’s army during his military expeditions. He had precocious musical talent, being the inventor of the “pan flute”. An Orphic Hymn to Pan states: “Only at evening, as he (Pan) returns from the chase, he sounds his note, playing sweet and low on his pipes of reed: not even she could excel him in melody —that bird who in flower-laden spring pouring forth her lament utters honey-voiced song amid the leaves.”[4] Interestingly, Pan was regarded as a demigod, being the son of Hermes, and he was worshipped in caves and grottoes as the god of the wilderness, pastures, groves, flocks, music and fertility.
The satyrs of Greek art correspond to the vanaras of Indian legends, who accompanied Rama on his military campaigns. The vanaras had monkey-like faces covered with beard, hairy bodies, and a long tail. But they walked upright like human beings, and were similar to humans in their speech and customs. The most powerful of the vanaras was Hanuman. Like Pan, he was a demigod, being the son of the wind-god Pavan, and was therefore known as “Pavan-putra Hanuman.” Hanuman was also musically gifted, being a sitar player par-excellence, and one of the four styles of Indian (Hindustani) classical music is named after him.
Hanuman, with raised right hand, and holding a branch in his left hand. Ramachandra Temple, Hampi. Credit: G41rn8, CC BY-SA 4.0.
When the noted scholar and philologist, Sir William Jones, came to Calcutta, India, in 1783, as a Supreme Court judge, he immediately noticed the stark correlations between Dionysus and Rama, and wrote an article elaborating on these connections. A number of Greek historians had written that Dionysus had been born on a mountain of India named Meros, which was located close to the city called Nysa, from where his name Dionysus (God of Nysa) had originated.
It appears that Rama and his retinue of vanaras had gone westwards, propagating a mystery religion in which god-communion was achieved through ritual ecstasy. This is not surprising, considering that Rama was a great devotee of the god Shiva, and many elements of the Dionysian rites – such as the long processions, consumption of intoxicants, ritual dances, the use of serpents and phallic cult objects – are still practiced by the devotees of Shiva.
After the conquests of Alexander, the Greek and Roman historians - Pliny, Solinus and Arrian - wrote about Indian customs and culture. Their writings indicate that the Indians counted their kings from 6776 BCE, starting with a ruler whom they identified with the Greek Dionysus or Roman Bacchus. Since we can be quite certain that Dionysus or Bacchus is indeed Rama, it means that the satyrs or vanaras were roaming the world since that remote period.
This brings us to the big question: how did this strange race of vanaras originate? As per the Ramayana, the gods, sages and other celestial beings mated with the animals of the forests to create powerful progenies who would be able to assist Rama in his fight against the rakshasas i.e. giants. For instance,
“When Brahma addressed them thus, those gods agreed to his order and accordingly started to parent sons in the semblance of monkeys.”[5] “Thus the gods have procreated many thousands of such valorous and guise changing monkeys who with their immeasurable strength and bravery are manifest for the elimination of the decahedral demon Ravana.”[6]
So, the gods were involved in the creation of the race of vanaras. As to who these gods were, I shall not speculate here, other than to say that the accounts of most native cultures portray them as “humanoid” beings of great power who came to the earth in very ancient times, the most likely place of their origin being the Pleiades star cluster. But did the gods actually procreate with the forest animals for the purpose of creating the vanaras or did they use advanced genetic manipulation techniques? Probably the latter, for that is the method that the gods had adopted for the creation of human beings, as per the Mesopotamian epic of creation, the Enuma Elish.
The Enuma Elish relates that the gods lived on the earth in the beginning, and toiled hard to make the rivers, lakes, mountains and other features of the ecosystem, so that our planet could become habitable. After Marduk slayed Tiamat, the monstrous serpent of the oceans, he wanted to create man, so that man could take over the labors of the gods and the gods could rest. Enki (or Ea), the Lord of Underworld, then created man from the blood of Qingu, who was one of the underworld divinities who had instigated Tiamat to rebel against the gods. These are the exact lines from the Enuma Elish:
27 The Igigi, the great gods, answered him (Marduk), 28 That is, Lugaldimmerankia, the counsellor of the gods, the lord, 29 "Qingu is the one who instigated warfare, 30 Who made Tiamat rebel and set battle in motion." 31 They bound him, holding him before Ea (Enki), 32 They inflicted the penalty on him and severed his blood-vessels. 33 From his blood he (Ea) created mankind, 34 On whom he imposed the service of the gods, and set the gods free.[7]
Although the text doesn’t say so explicitly, it is quite likely that Enki extracted Qingu’s DNA from his blood and re-engineered it to create human beings. In which case, a similar process may have been followed for the creation of the vanaras, satyrs, sphinxes and many other kinds of magical, hybrid beings that are depicted in ancient art and architecture.
We are prone to regard these hybrid beings of ancient art as mythical or imaginary creatures since we don’t see them around today, but it is quite possible that the DNA of these hybrid beings degraded over time due to the accumulation of harmful genetic mutations, and as a result they slowly became extinct, or retreated to some hidden location. However, as the Black Obelisk of Shalmaneser III shows, some of these hybrid creatures were still around in the 9th century BCE. They had shrunk in size by then, and were caught by humans and possibly trained as pets. However, their numbers would have substantially reduced by that time, to the extent that they became rare or exotic animals, and were offered as tribute to kings.
References
[1] Pliny the Elder, The Natural History 8.30, https://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Plin.+Nat.+8.30#note1 [2] Pliny the Elder, The Natural History 7.2.6, https://topostext.org/work/148 [3] Hansen 2017, pp. 167–168. [4] Hymn 19 to Pan, ed. Hugh G. Evelyn-White. [5] Valmiki Ramayana 1.17.8 [6] Valmiki Ramayana 1.17.17 [7] Enuma Elish, Tablet VI, lines 33-34, https://www.worldhistory.org/article/225/enuma-elish---the-babylonian-epic-of-creation---fu/
MIB or Aliens Walk Up To Door, Knock, California, RingCam, Sept 20, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
MIB or Aliens Walk Up To Door, Knock, California, RingCam, Sept 20, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Location of sighting:City Unknown,
Date of sighting: Sept 20, 2023 at 10:45 AM.
Source: MUFON
Now this just in. A ultra rare encounter recorded by an unbiased ringcam. Two alien visitors, dressed like MIB and a dark sphere hovering behind them over the yard. That screams out alien visitation, since most MIB are aliens themselves, it appears the aliens ether look like humans or took human form to keep the home occupant relaxed. They were probably there to chat with the person gather data and scan the occupants of the home. Aliens often do this to humans who have been tagged with trackers...where the aliens come back every few years to record the scientific data, scan and sometimes examine and operate on a person before returning them to their home. Wow, my mind is melting over this video. So rare, so amazing, how will the public react?
Scott C. Waring - Taiwan
Eyewitness states:
My mother has a ring door bell. And she witnesses two guys she has never seen before knocking on the door. She texts her children and asks of we knew them. We do not. Then I noticed something unusual in the back ground. AN floating or flying object.
This UFO video was just released a few days ago, the website itself just went up a few days ago. Most people never heard of it, and I'm sure thats the way they want it, but I have to share it, have to show you the truth. It's real, its there, its being tracked for 30 full minutes! It's undeniable proof that alien craft are crossing US boarders under the eyes of the US gov infrared cameras.
Mysterious Square-Shaped UFO Stuns Boat Driver at Lake Monroe, Indiana 23-Sep-2023
Mysterious Square-Shaped UFO Stuns Boat Driver at Lake Monroe, Indiana 23-Sep-2023
On the calm waters of Lake Monroe, Indiana, an unsuspecting boater had an experience that would leave even the most hardened skeptics scratching their heads. The date? September 23, 2023. As the sun began its descent, the clear skies were punctuated by an anomaly that defies traditional explanation – a square-shaped UFO.
The witness, navigating his boat on the Cutright side of Lake Monroe, initially mistook the object for an airplane banner. But in an unexpected twist, there was no plane in sight. Instead, a silent, hovering square shape dominated the horizon, moving with inexplicable speed and agility.
Without a sound, the object darted southward, only to disappear and re-emerge further in the same direction. As if defying the very laws of physics, it zipped back north, repeating its mysterious path. But the grand finale was yet to come. As the observer made his way through the causeway, this enigmatic UFO executed a rapid ascend northward, taking a 25-degree incline, and vanished into the abyss of the sky.
WithUFO sightingsbecoming increasingly mainstream, this incident at Lake Monroe stands out not only because of its unique shape but also its baffling movements. Was it an advanced drone? A secretive military project? Or perhaps something not of this world? Only time will tell. But for now, Lake Monroe joins the growing list of global UFO hotspots.
This is not the the website that was released to the public last month called the AARO, this is the US boarder patrol UAP site they just made and they released a dozen videos silently on the site. The videos contain unknown craft that have been recorded by the US military planes or US drones. This one shows a square craft that suddenly has a single large wing and then the wing vanishes. Also the UAP drops some flat rectangle object at the 1:45 mark in my video. Yes it could be a drug drone dropping of drugs, but if US Boarder patrol calls it a UFO who am I to argue with them. If this was a drone, the wing would not vanish for most of the video, very odd, no craft can cloak from infrared video, but it happens. Also, why does the US gov release videos that have no date, no exact location? Why keep the public in the dark here?
Secret underground alien base hold the answers to the vanishing of 20,000 people in the Alaska Triangle?
Secret underground alien base hold the answers to the vanishing of 20,000 people in the Alaska Triangle?
The Alaska Triangle, a remote and sparsely populated area, located between Juneau, Anchorage, and Barrow, is known for its disproportionately high number of unsolved missing person cases, surpassing any other place on Earth. Over the past half-century, more than 20,000 individuals have mysteriously vanished without a trace leaving a haunting question mark hanging over the Alaskan wilderness.
Adding to the intrigue are the reports of mysterious UFO sightings, Bigfoot encounters and other paranormal activity making the Alaska Triangle a hotspot of unexplained phenomena.
Some theorists believe that the Alaska Triangle conceals a electromagnetic anomaly, such as a vortex, which may have an affect on the physical realm. This magnetic mystery has given rise to speculation linking these phenomena to the vanishing acts of so many people.
The discovery of three secret extraterrestrial underground bases by a Defense Intelligence Agency analyst years ago could possibly be an answer to the many reports of unidentified objects flying through the skies without making any noise.
One such a base is purportedly located beneath Alaska's Mount Hayes, the highest peak in the state's eastern range. Its remote and inaccessible location raises questions about whether such an extraterrestrial underground base might be connected to the many UFO sightings and other strange occurrences including the inexplicable vanishing of so many people that have persisted in the area for decades.
Among the most haunting mysteries is the loss of 44 military personnel aboard a Douglas C-54 Skymaster en route from Alaska to Montana. Despite one of the most extensive joint search and rescue missions ever conducted by Canadian and American authorities, not a trace of the aircraft has ever been recovered.
Yet, another mystery is the disappearance of Congressman Hale Boggs in 1972. His aircraft inexplicably vanished from radar while traversing the Triangle's airspace. Despite extensive search and rescue efforts, neither wreckage nor survivors were ever found.
With all the unexplained events and strange sightings happened over the years, it raises a tantalizing question: Could there be a connection to extraterrestrials entities harboring a secret underground base beneath Alaska's Mount Hayes and could these entities hold the answers to the disappearances of over 20,000 individuals, who have vanished without a trace, along with the two aircraft and their passengers and crew?
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Over mijzelf
Ik ben Pieter, en gebruik soms ook wel de schuilnaam Peter2011.
Ik ben een man en woon in Linter (België) en mijn beroep is Ik ben op rust..
Ik ben geboren op 18/10/1950 en ben nu dus 74 jaar jong.
Mijn hobby's zijn: Ufologie en andere esoterische onderwerpen.
Op deze blog vind je onder artikels, werk van mezelf. Mijn dank gaat ook naar André, Ingrid, Oliver, Paul, Vincent, Georges Filer en MUFON voor de bijdragen voor de verschillende categorieën...
Veel leesplezier en geef je mening over deze blog.