In this new video, we see a series of images as BepiColombo speeds away from the closest planet to the sun during the 3rd Mercury flyby. The spacecraft captured these images in a span of about 50 minutes.

Video via ESA.

New images of Mercury from BepiColombo flyby

On June 20, 2023, ESA released new images of Mercury after BepiColombo spacecraft flew past the closest planet to the sun the day prior. In these images, we get to see a part of BepiColombo with cratered Mercury in the background. ESA released a trio of images as the spacecraft zoomed away during a gravity assist maneuver. It also released annotated images to point out important surface features.

Reactions from the BepiColombo team

The team involved with the BepiColombo mission were satisfied with the flyby and resulting images. Ignacio Clerigo, ESA’s BepiColombo Spacecraft Operations Manager, said:

Everything went very smoothly with the flyby, and images from the monitoring cameras taken during the close approach phase of the flyby have been transmitted to the ground. While the next Mercury flyby isn’t until September 2024, there are still challenges to tackle in the intervening time: our next long solar electric propulsion ‘thruster arc’ is planned to start early August until mid-September. In combination with the flybys, the thruster arcs are critical in helping BepiColombo brake against the enormous gravitational pull of the sun before we can enter orbit around Mercury.

One of the craters visible in the images is the newly named Manley crater. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) named this crater for Jamaican artist Edna Manley (1900–1987). David Rothery of the BepiColombo team said:

During our image planning for the flyby, we realized this large crater would be in view, but it didn’t yet have a name. It will clearly be of interest for BepiColombo scientists in the future because it has excavated dark ‘low reflectance material’ that may be remnants of Mercury’s early carbon-rich crust. In addition, the basin floor within its interior has been flooded by smooth lava, demonstrative of Mercury’s prolonged history of volcanic activity.

You can learn more about these new images here.

BepiColombo 3rd Mercury flyby June 19, 2023

BepiColombo made its third flyby of the planet Mercury on June 19, 2023. The spacecraft swept closest to Mercury at 19:34 UTC (2:34 p.m. CDT).

BepiColombo is a joint Mercury mission, launched in October 2018 by the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). For the past several years, our sun’s inner planets have been giving BepiColombo gravity assists, needed to enable the spacecraft to achieve a stable orbit around Mercury.

BepiColombo is due to enter Mercury’s orbit on December 5, 2025. In the meantime, there will be three more flybys after Monday’s close approach.

Why the gravity assists?

Why can’t BepiColombo just shoot on over to Mercury and go into orbit around it? It can’t because Mercury is so near the sun.

The flyby maneuvers will keep the craft from being pulled into the sun’s gravity well. With one Earth flyby, two Venus flybys, and six eventual Mercury flybys, the spacecraft will lose enough energy that Mercury will capture it in its orbit. That’s right, we said “lose.” We typically think of a gravity assist as a way to boost a spacecraft’s energy. But a gravity assist can either speed up or slow down a spacecraft. Or it can simply change a craft’s direction.

ESA flight dynamics expert Frank Budnik explained more about this 3rd flyby:

As BepiColombo starts feeling Mercury’s gravitational pull, it will be traveling at 3.6 km/s [2.2 mi/s] with respect to the planet. That’s just over half the speed it approached with during the previous two Mercury flybys.

And this is exactly what the point of such events is. Our spacecraft began with far too much energy because it launched from Earth and, like our planet, is orbiting the sun. To be captured by Mercury, we need to slow down, and we’re using the gravity of Earth, Venus and Mercury to do just that.

Tricky maneuvering

Even though BepiColombo’s flight to Mercury was meticulously mapped in advance, controllers will have to make corrections during the seven years it’ll take the spacecraft to get there. In May, mission control performed a course correction that otherwise would have put BepiColombo 15,000 miles (24,000 km) too far from Mercury and on the wrong side of the planet.

Santa Martinez Sanmartin, ESA’s BepiColombo mission manager, explained more about the methods used to get BepiColombo in orbit:

This is the first time scientists are using the complex solar electric propulsion method to get a spacecraft to Mercury. And it represents a big challenge during the remaining part of the cruise phase. We have already adapted our operations concept to have additional communications passes with our ground stations, enabling us to recover faster from thruster interruptions and to improve orbit determination.

And all the while this is working with communications delays of more than 10 minutes due to the time it currently takes light signals to travel between Earth and the spacecraft.

As ESA said, the most demanding part of its journey is still to come:

After this flyby, the mission will enter a very challenging part of its journey to Mercury, gradually increasing the use of solar electric propulsion through additional propulsion periods called ‘thrust arcs’ to continually brake against the enormous gravitational pull of the sun. These thrust arcs can last from a few days up to two months, with the longer arcs interrupted periodically for navigation and maneuver optimization.

This challenging journey is one of the reasons that Mercury is one of the least explored planets in our solar system.

The images from the 3rd Mercury flby

BepiColombo got as close as 146 miles (235 km) from Mercury’s surface during this flyby. However, closest approach was past the unlit portion of Mercury, so scientists didn’t capture any images until a bit later. At about 13 minutes past closest approach, when the spacecraft was 1,143 miles (1,840 km) away, it reached the illuminated part of Mercury. Then it began sending back black-and-white images, including part of the craft itself. A Mercurial selfie, if you will.

You can follow along with the #MercuryFlyby at these Twitter accounts: @esaoperations, @BepiColombo, @ESA_Bepi, @ESA_MTM and @JAXA_MMO.

Testing the instruments

The team uses these flybys as a chance to test some of the instruments. During Monday’s flyby, the magnetic, plasma and particle monitoring instruments sampled the environment. Johannes Benkhoff, project scientist, said:

Collecting data during flybys is extremely valuable for the science teams to check their instruments are functioning correctly ahead of the main mission. It also provides a novel opportunity to compare with data collected by NASA’s MESSENGER spacecraft during its 2011–2015 mission at Mercury from complementary locations around the planet not usually accessible from orbit. We are delighted to already have data published based on our previous flybys that generated new science results, which makes us even more excited to get into orbit!

Bottom line: BepiColombo had its 3rd flyby of Mercury on June 19, 2023. The spacecraft will eventually go into orbit around the closest planet to the sun. ESA released three new images of Mercury taken during the encounter.

• Via ESA

{ https://earthsky.org/ }

25-07-2024 om 16:10 geschreven door peter  

Mercury has a layer of diamond 10 miles thick, NASA spacecraft finds

• https://youtu.be/nRyTUI423kY

The same process would have also led to the formation of a carbon-rich mantle beneath the surface. The team behind these findings thinks that this mantle isn't graphene, as previously suspected, but is composed of another much more precious allotrope of carbon: diamond. 

"We calculate that, given the new estimate of the pressure at the mantle-core boundary, and knowing that Mercury is a carbon-rich planet, the carbon-bearing mineral that would form at the interface between mantle and core is diamond and not graphite," team member Olivier Namur, an associate professor at KU Leuven, told Space.com. "Our study uses geophysical data collected by the NASA MESSENGER spacecraft."

MESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging) launched in Aug. 2004 and became the first spacecraft to orbit Mercury. The mission, which ended in 2015, mapped the entire tiny world, discovering abundant water ice in shadows at the poles and gathering crucial data about Mercury's geology and magnetic field.

Related: 

• Mercury was shrinking for at least 3 billion years — and it still might be today

Under pressure!

This new study also relates to a major surprise that came a few years ago when scientists re-evaluated the distribution of mass on Mercury, discovering the mantle of this tiny planet is thicker than previously thought.

"We directly thought that this must have a huge implication for the speciation [the distribution of an element or an allotrope amongst chemical species in a system] of carbon, diamond vs graphite, on Mercury," Namur said.

The team investigated this here on Earth by using a large-volume press to replicate the pressures and temperatures that exist within the interior of Mercury. They applied incredible amounts of pressure, over seven gigapascals, to a synthetic silicate acting as a proxy for the material found in the mantle of Mercury, achieving temperatures of up to 3,950 degrees Fahrenheit (2,177 degrees Celsius).

This allowed them to study how minerals like those that would have been found in Mercury's mantle in its early existence changed under these conditions. They also used computer modeling to assess data about Mercury's interior, which gave them clues to how the diamond mantle of Mercury could have been created.

"We believe that diamond could have been formed by two processes. First is the crystallization of the magma ocean, but this process likely contributed to forming only a very thin diamond layer at the core/mantle interface," Namur explained. "Secondly, and most importantly, the crystallization of the metal core of Mercury."

Namur said that when Mercury formed around 4.5 billion years ago, the core of the planet was fully liquid, progressively crystallizing over time. The exact nature of the solid phases forming in the inner core is not currently well known, but the team believes that these phases must have been low in carbon or "carbon-poor."

"The liquid core before crystallization contained some carbon; crystallization, therefore, leads to carbon enrichment in the residual melt," he continued. "At some point, a solubility threshold is reached, meaning the liquid cannot dissolve more carbon, and diamond forms."

Diamond is a dense mineral but not as dense as metal, meaning that during this process, it would have floated to the top of the core, stopping at the boundary of Mercury's core and its mantle. This would have resulted in the formation of an around 0.62-mile (1 km) thick diamond layer that then continued to grow over time. 

The discovery highlights the differences between the birth of the closest planet to the sun when compared with the creation of the solar system's other rocky planets, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

"Mercury formed much closer to the sun, likely from a carbon-rich cloud of dust. As a consequence, Mercury contains less oxygen and more carbon than other planets, which led to the formation of a diamond layer," Namur added. "However, Earth's core also contains carbon, and diamond formation in the Earth's core has already been suggested by various researchers."

The researcher hopes that this discovery could help reveal clues to some of the other mysteries surrounding the solar system's smallest planet, including why its volcanic phase was cut short around 3.5 billion years ago.

"A major question that I have about Mercury's evolution is why the major phase of volcanism lasted only a few hundred million years, much shorter than other rocky planets. This must mean that the planet cooled down very fast," Namur said. "This is partly related to the small size of the planet, but we are now working with physicists to try to understand if a diamond layer could have contributed to very fast heat removal, therefore terminating major volcanism very early."

Namur said that the team's next step will be to investigate the thermal effect of a diamond layer at the mantle/core boundary. This study could be supported by data from a mission that will follow in the footsteps of MESSENGER.

"We are also eagerly waiting for the first data collected by BepiColombo, hopefully in 2026, to refine our understanding of Mercury's internal structure and evolution," Namur concluded.

• The team's research was published in the journal Nature Communications. 

{ https://www.space.com/ }

25-07-2024 om 15:48 geschreven door peter  

“These are rock silicates, which are some of the most common minerals in the Earth’s crust,” explains the press release announcing the new battery. “It is found in the stones you pick up on the beach or in your garden.”

WITH LITHIUM ION’S DAYS NUMBERED, SUPER BATTERY WILL LIKELY POWER THE VEHICLES OF THE FUTURE

Today, the vast majority of electric devices, including phones, computers, and cars, are powered by lithium-ion batteries. Unfortunately, lithium is a rare earth mineral and is also considered toxic. Batteries using lithium-ion energy storage have also proven to be dangerous under the right conditions. In some cases, electric cars or even commercial airlines have experienced lithium-ion batteries bursting into flames.

While consumers have somewhat tolerated these issues due to the longer drive times and relatively short device charge times lithium-ion batteries provide, industry experts often state that one way or another, the end of this class of batteries is coming sooner rather than later.

Now, DTU researchers say they may have developed and patented a commercially viable alternative that mitigates nearly all of the largest concerns regarding current technologies while also offering equally impressive drive times and shorter recharge times for electric vehicles.

TEAM SAYS SOLID STATE BATTERIES MADE FROM ROCKS OFFER COMPELLING ADVANTAGES

In developing their futuristic ‘super battery,’ the DTU team knew there was untapped potential in potassium-based silicates. The material is not only good at energy storage but also eco-friendly, inexpensive to extract, and available from material that covers 90 percent of the surface. Still, the research team says it has largely been ignored due to perceived limitations that they believe could be surmounted.

“The potential of potassium silicate as a solid-state electrolyte has been known for a long time, but in my opinion, has been ignored due to challenges with the weight and size of the potassium ions,” explained DTU researcher Mohamad Khoshkalam. “The ions are large and therefore move slower.”

When ions move slowly in a battery, it adversely affects everything from charge times and lifespan to safety. Still, Khoshkalam believed that the huge number of benefits offered by batteries essentially made from rocks were valuable enough that they could prove a nearly perfect medium for their new super battery.

This belief led to the testing of various formulas of potassium silicate-based electrolytes, with an eye on maintaining the material’s benefits while mitigating its weaknesses. According to Khoshkalam, this effort was a success.

After numerous trials, the team was able to create a superionic material of potassium silicate and a separate “process” that combined to make the ions move even faster than they do in lithium-based electrolytes. However, the researchers are keeping the exact formula a secret, although they have received a patent for it.

“The first measurement with a battery component revealed that the material has a very good conductivity as a solid-state electrolyte,” said Khoshkalam. “I cannot reveal how I developed the material, as the recipe and the method are now patented,”

TEAM ACKNOWLEDGES SOLID STATE ROCK BATTERIES ARE A HIGH-RISK TECHNOLOGY

In the DTU team’s formal announcement, they highlight previous announcements by car manufacturers that have promised to develop solid-state batteries “only to subsequently pull out.” Toyota recently announced plans for a 2027-2028 launch of a lithium-based solid-state-powered electric vehicle, but few details have been made available.

The DTU also projects what a solid-state super battery based on potassium silicate would look like, as well as the impressive performance and safety benefits it could offer.

“A single battery cell can be made as thin as a piece of cardboard, where the anode, cathode, and solid-state electrolyte are ultra-thin layers of material,” they explain. “This means that we can make more powerful batteries that take up less space. This offers benefits on the road, as you will be able to drive up to 1,000 km on a single 10-minute charge. In addition, a solid-state battery is more fireproof, as it does not contain combustible liquid.”

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/tech/ }

25-07-2024 om 15:27 geschreven door peter  

First named the “Tesla Bot” and revealed in 2021 at a Tesla AI Day event, the robot’s design has drastically changed over the last few years. Recently renamed Optimus, the humanlike robot was designed to perform dangerous work and repetitive tasks.

At 170 centimeters in height and weighing around 123 pounds, the robot’s new design is sleek compared to its appearance while in the initial prototype phase. 

Tesla’s development of Optimus is not the first time robots designed to mimic human capabilities have made news. Other automotive and robotics companies, including Honda and Boston Dynamics, have made progress in recent years in the development of robots that include those with humanoid designs. 

In 2015, DARPA hosted the Robotics Challenge, and many of the designs looked similar to the robots currently under development by Tesla. 

The event, held at the Fairplex in Pomona, California, aimed to have participants create robot systems and software teams to help humans under conditions of natural and man-made disasters. 

Team Kaist of Daejeon, Republic of Korea, won first place and the $2 million prize with their robot DRC-Hubo, while Team IHMC Robotics from Pensacola, Florida, secured second place and $1 million with their robot Running Man.

The prize for third place went to Tartan Rescue of Pittsburgh and their robot CHIMP, along with a $500,000 prize.

Musk initially speculated that Optimus would be ready for deployment in Tesla’s factories by the end of 2024. Similarly, Musk had said as early as 2019 that Tesla would have its long-awaited self-driving taxis in operation by the following year.

The company’s self-driving taxis are reportedly being unveiled later this year, although no official date has been confirmed.

• Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton and at chrissynewton.com.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/science/ }

25-07-2024 om 00:39 geschreven door peter  

However, in reduced gravity, the bubbles either take much longer to detach or don’t do so at all. This creates a buffer layer along the electrode’s length that decreases the electrolysis process’s efficiency, sometimes stalling it out entirely. Electrolysis isn’t the only fluidic process that has difficulty operating in reduced gravity environments – many ISS experiments also have trouble. This is partly due to a lack of complete understanding of how liquids operate in these environments – and that in itself is partly driven by a dearth of experimental data. 

Which is where the modeling comes in. Dr. Burke and his colleagues use a technique known as Computational Fluid Dynamics to attempt to mimic the forces the fluids will undergo in a reduced gravity environment while also understanding bubble formation.

Electrolysis on Earth is typically done with water, but why stop there? The team used their CFD to model two other liquids that might be used in electrolyzers – molten salt (MSE) and molten regolith (MRE). Molten salt is used on Earth, but less commonly than regular water, and has successfully produced oxygen. However, molten regolith electrolysis is still somewhat of a novel use case and has yet to be thoroughly tested. MOXIE, the experiment that famously created oxygen on Mars in 2021, used the carbon dioxide in Mars’ atmosphere and a solid-state electrode – neither representative of molten regolith.

Dr. Burke and his team found that, computationally, at least, MRE has the most challenging conditions in reduced gravity. It has also never been tested in any reduced gravity environment, so for now; these simulations are all engineers have to go on with if they are going to design a system.

There were a few key takeaways from the modeling, though. First, engineers should design horizontal electrodes into MRE systems, as the longer a bubble spreads across an electrode (i.e., as it goes “up” it), the longer it takes for that bubble to detach. In a horizontal configuration, the electrode has less surface area to attach to, making it more likely for the bubbles to detach and float to the surface.

Additionally, the amount of time bubbles remain attached to an electrode scales exponentially with decreasing gravity. That means bubbles on the Moon will take longer to detach than those on Mars, which will take longer than those on Earth. Consequently, electrolysis on the Moon will be less efficient than that on Mars, which will again be less efficient than that on Earth, and mission planners will need to account for these discrepancies if they plan on getting something as mission-critical as oxygen from this process. The smoothness of the electrodes also seems to matter, with rougher electrodes more likely to hold onto their bubbles and, therefore, end up less efficient.

Other engineering solutions can overcome all these challenges, such as a vibratory mechanism on the electrode to shake the bubbles loose. However, it’s a good idea to consider all the additional complications operations in a reduced gravity environment have before launching a mission. That’s why modeling is so important, but humanity will ultimately have to experimentally test these systems, perhaps on the Moon itself, if we plan to utilize its local resources to sustain our presence there.

Learn More:

• Burke et al. – Modeling electrolysis in reduced gravity: producing oxygen from in-situ resources at the moon and beyond
  
• UT – NASA Wants to Learn to Live Off the Land on the Moon
• UT – What is ISRU, and How Will it Help Human Space Exploration?
• UT – A Robotic Chemist Could Whip up the Perfect Batch of Oxygen on Mars

Lead Image:

• Graphic showing the difference in bubble accumulation in low and high gravities.
• Credit – Burke et al.

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

24-07-2024 om 23:45 geschreven door peter  

In a new article in Nature, science journalist Sarah Wild looked at how researchers are using astronomical methods to uncover deepfakes. Adejumoke Owolabi is a student at the University of Hull in the UK who studies data science and computer vision. Her Master’s Thesis focused on how light reflected in eyeballs should be consistent, though not identical, between left and right. Owolabi used a high-quality dataset of human faces from Flickr and then used an image generator to create fake faces. She then compared the two using two different astronomical measurement systems called the CAS system and the Gini index to compare the light reflected in the eyeballs and to determine which were deepfakes.

CAS stands for concentration, asymmetry, and smoothness, and astronomers have used it for decades to study and quantify the light from extragalactic stars. It’s also used to quantify the light from entire galaxies and has made its way into biology and other areas where images need to be carefully examined. Noted astrophysicist Christopher J. Conselice was a key proponent of using CAS in astronomy.

The Gini index, or Gini coefficient, is also used to study galaxies. It’s named after the Italian statistician Corrado Gini, who developed it in 1912 to measure income inequality. Astronomers use it to measure how light is spread throughout a galaxy and whether it’s uniform or concentrated. It’s a tool that helps astronomers determine a galaxy’s morphology and classification.

In her research, Owolabi successfully determined which images were fake 70% of the time.

For her article, Wild spoke with Kevin Pimbblet, director of the Centre of Excellence for Data Science, Artificial Intelligence and Modelling at the University of Hull in the UK. Pimblett presented the research at the UK Royal Astronomical Society’s National Astronomy Meeting on July 15th.

“It’s not a silver bullet, because we do have false positives and false negatives,” said Pimbblet. “But this research provides a potential method, an important way forward, perhaps to add to the battery of tests that one can apply to try to figure out if an image is real or fake.”

This is a promising development. Open democratic societies are prone to disinformation attacks from enemies without and within. Public figures are prone to similar attacks. Disturbingly, the majority of deepfakes are pornographic and can depict public figures in private and sometimes degrading situations. Anything that can help combat it and bolster civil society is a welcome tool.

But as we know from history, arms races have no endpoint. They go on and on in an escalating series of countermeasures. Look at how the USA and the USSR kept one-upping each other during their nuclear arms race as warhead sizes reached absurd levels of destructive power. So, inasmuch as this work shows promise, the purveyors of deepfakes will learn from it and improve their AI deepfake methods.

Wild also spoke to Brant Robertson in her article. Robertson is an astrophysicist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, who studies astrophysics and astronomy, including big data and machine learning. “However, if you can calculate a metric that quantifies how realistic a deepfake image may appear, you can also train the AI model to produce even better deepfakes by optimizing that metric,” he said, confirming what many can predict.

This isn’t the first time that astronomical methods have intersected with Earthly issues. When the Hubble Space Telescope was developed, it contained a powerful CCD (charge-coupled device.) That technology made its way into a digital mammography biopsy system. The system allowed doctors to take better images of breast tissue and identify suspicious tissue without a physical biopsy. Now, CCDs are at the heart of all of our digital cameras, including on our mobile phones.

Might our internet browsers one day contain a deepfake detector based on Gini and CAS? How would that work? Would hostile actors unleash attacks on those detectors and then flood our media with deepfake images in an attempt to weaken our democratic societies? It’s the nature of an arms race.

It’s also in our nature to use deception to sway events. History shows that rulers with malevolent intent can more easily deceive populations that are in the grip of powerful emotions. AI deepfakes are just the newest tool at their disposal.

We all know that AI has downsides, and deepfakes are one of them. While their legality is fuzzy, as with many new technologies, we’re starting to see efforts to combat them. The United States government acknowledges the problem, and several laws have been proposed to deal with it. The “DEEPFAKES Accountability Act” was introduced in the US House of Representatives in September 2023. The “Protecting Consumers from Deceptive AI Act” is another related proposal. Both are floundering in the sometimes murky world of subcommittees for now, but they might breach the surface and become law eventually. Other countries and the EU are wrestling with the same issue.

But in the absence of a comprehensive legal framework dealing with AI deepfakes, and even after one is established, detection is still key.

Astronomy and astrophysics could be an unlikely ally in combatting them.

{https://www.universetoday.com/ ,}

24-07-2024 om 23:31 geschreven door peter  

Curiosity’s Peregrinations

At the moment, the Curiosity rover is making its way through the Gediz Vallis. That’s a flow channel winding its way down a section of Mount Sharp (aka Aeolis Mons). That’s the central peak of Gale Crater. The rover has been heading up since 2014, charting different surface layers as it goes. Each layer was put down during a different era of Mars’s history. They could contain clues to the planet’s habitability in the past.

Fast-moving liquid water raged over the surface and carved Gediz. The floods carried a lot of rocks and sand and deposited them all along the way. Other piles of flood debris lie around the region, bearing witness to other ancient floods and landslides. “This was not a quiet period on Mars,” said Becky Williams, a scientist with the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, and the deputy principal investigator of the Mast Camera, or Mastcam on Curiosity. “There was an exciting amount of activity here. We’re looking at multiple flows down the channel, including energetic floods and boulder-rich flows.”

Understanding Sulfur’s Presence

The surface materials in Gediz contain high amounts of sulfates. Those are sulfur-bearing salts that appear as water evaporates. They are a chemical clue that water existed in the region. Judging by some parts of the surface, it also appears the water ponded at some times, in addition to the floods that scoured the landscape and then deposited debris.

Now the planetary science team has to explain how a pure form of elemental sulfur got stuck in the middle of rocks, according to project scientist Ashwin Vasavada. “Finding a field of stones made of pure sulfur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” said Vasavada. “It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting.”

Putting Sulfur in Context

Sulfur, of course, exists on Earth, which helps scientists understand its behavior and the environments where it’s found. The presence of sulfur can be a result of various geological processes. The sulfur “cycle” includes the flow of sulfur from the core to the surface through volcanism. That’s not unusual. Sulfur commonly appears around volcanic vents. Mt Ijen in Indonesia is a good example. It sports extensive elemental sulfur deposits that are mined.

The volcanic moon Io in the Jupiter system features patches of different allotropes of sulfur. They’re also volcanic in origin, spewed out along with widespread lava flows. This moon has more than 400 volcanic features, making it the most volcanically active (and sulfurous) place in the Solar System.

The pure sulfur in the Mars rock most likely came from volcanic processes. They occurred sometime in the past, but that doesn’t answer how the crystals got inside the rock it crushed. Scientists have known for years that Mars was extremely volcanically active in the past. For a long time, they also thought it was dead, or at least dormant. The planet has no plate tectonics like we see on Earth, either. However, the Mars InSight mission found evidence of some seismic activity on the planet in 2021.

In 2023, planetary scientists at the University of Arizona offered up evidence of a giant mantle plume under Elysium Planitia that drove some kinds of activity in the more recent past. Gale Crater lies in this region and could well have experienced related volcanic and seismic activity during the recent geologic past. If so, that could help explain the presence not only of pure sulfur but also the flood-related sulfates deposited on the surface.

For More Information

• NASA’s Curiosity Rover Discovers a Surprise in a Martian Rock
  
• Recent Volcanism on Mars Reveals a Planet More Active than Previously Thought
  
• Sulfur on Mars from the Atmosphere to the Core

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

24-07-2024 om 23:18 geschreven door peter  

Mystery around controversial Peru 'alien mummies' deepens after new fingerprint analysis indicates they're NOT 'HUMAN'

• READ MORE: Expert says Colombian body may be 'tiny cave-dwelling humanoid'

By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Bizarre diagonal grooves along the fingertips and toes of one of Peru's eerie and hotly debated 'alien mummies' points to a nonhuman origin for these odd remains.

Worldwide controversy has followed the small peculiar specimens since September, when veteran broadcast journalist and prolific UFO researcher Jaime Maussan first presented two alleged 'alien' corpses to Mexico's congress last year.

Now DailyMail.com has spoken to a former Colorado prosecutor and current defense attorney, who has examined one of the over half-a-dozen 'alien' specimens with the help of three independent forensic medical examiners from the United States.  

'These were not traditional human fingerprint patterns,' that attorney, Joshua McDowell, told DailyMail.com.

Above, a photo of one of the mummy's unusual fingerprints posted to social media by Jose Baizan and attributed to the Mexican Naval surgeon Dr Jose de Jesus Zalce Benitez, who has also examined the Peruvian 'alien' mummies on behalf of ufologist Jaime Maussan

In Peru last April - as part of another event hosted by Maussan - a new 'alien' specimen named Montserrat (above) was presented. This photo was taken by Colorado attorney Josh McDowell who told DailyMail.com, one mummies' 'fingerprints weren't consistent with human prints'

The use of fingerprints — or what are technically known as 'friction ridge' skin impressions — dates back as far as 300 BC in China according to the US Department of Justice's Fingerprint Sourcebook.

And criminal forensic investigators in America have long systematized the hunt for unique features ever since these patterns first came into use by US law enforcement in 1902, beginning with three broad types of fingerprint: arches, loops and whorls.

But 'María,' the so-called 'alien' mummy that McDowell and his forensic doctors examined, appeared to have fingerprints that matched no known human pattern.

'We did not see any loops or whorls on the prints of the fingers or on the toes,' McDowell, now principal at the McDowell Law Firm, told DailyMail.com.

'I'm a former prosecutor. I'm a criminal defense attorney. I've seen lots of fingerprints. And these were not classic fingerprints,' the attorney added.

'María's fingerprints weren't consistent with human prints.'

Criminal forensic investigators in America have long systematized the hunt for unique features ever since these patterns first came into use by US law enforcement in 1902, beginning with three broad types of fingerprint: arches, loops and whorls (pictured)

'We did not see any loops or whorls on the prints of the fingers or on the toes,' McDowell, now principal at the McDowell Law Firm, told DailyMail.com. Above an image of the specific, so-called 'alien' mummy in question, known as María, who was first made public in 2019

Like most of the well over half-a-dozen 'alien' mummy specimens brought to light by Jaime Maussan in the past year, María was discovered caked in diatomaceous earth: white, powdery aquatic fossils left behind by a type of plankton known as diatoms.

'Much of her body is covered in diatomaceous earth,' McDowell explained, 'however, on the fingers that were exposed, the epidermal ridges I saw appeared to be in mostly straight lines.'

McDowell and the three US medical examiners who journeyed with him to Peru to examine the bodies last April have emphasized that it would be 'extremely premature' to make any definitive statements about these mysterious mummies.

McDowell told DailyMail.com that there may yet be a terrestrial explanation for the unusually straight 'friction ridge' skin patterns on María's fingers and toes.

'It could possibly have something to do with the way her skin was preserved,' he advised. 'It's very odd.'

Read More

Girl, 15, in Peru who was 'kidnapped by gang of 7ft tall aliens' shares traumatic experience 

McDowell, previously a deputy district attorney for Colorado's Fourth Judicial District Attorney's Office, brought a city coroner from Denver as well as a forensic anthropologist from Maryland's State Medical Examiner to Peru to inspect María.

The third expert, McDowell's father Dr John McDowell, is a forensic odontologist and retired professor at the University of Colorado — who once worked to identify victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center via their dental records.

Joshua McDowell emphasized to DailyMail.com that 'no determination has been made about what the nature of the specimens is at this date,' adding that his teams' effort to identify the true nature of these 'alien' mummies is very much still active. 

'I've been to Mexico a couple times, spent a week in Peru,' the attorney said. 'Two to three hours a day, I'm dealing with something on this.'

'So far we have tomographies [CT scans] and fluoroscopy analysis,' Maussan told DailyMail.com describing the x-ray and ultrasound data on the mummies that he unveiled at West Hollywood's Mondrian Hotel at a prior March 12, 2024 press event (pictured above)

Above, two of Maussan's collaborators, documentarians Serena DC (right) and Michael Mazzola (left), pose with a new 'alien' mummy from this March - which they said has 30 percent 'unknown' DNA

This past January - after two mummies were seized by Peruvian customs - Flavio Estrada (right), a forensic archaeologist with Peru's Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Lima, said that the alien bodies are 'dolls' made of animal parts

María is one several specimens that have been dubbed 'the Nazca mummies,' after the province in southwestern Peru where these bodies were allegedly unearthed.

Most of these specimens have gained fame and infamy, in part, due to their elongated heads and their three-fingered hands which resemble decades of anecdotal accounts and UFO lore about extraterrestrial 'grey' beings.

Maussan and his colleagues have had an eventful year pushing for wider scientific interest in the apparently alien bodies, including two bitter clashes with Peru's Ministry of Culture, who have described the mummies and man-made hoaxes.

In January, Flavio Estrada, a forensic archaeologist of the Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Lima of the Public Ministry, told a press conference that two of the alien bodies seized by Peruvian customs were 'dolls.'

'The conclusion is simple,' Estrada said, 'they are dolls assembled with bones of animals from this planet, with modern synthetic glues, therefore they were not assembled during pre-Hispanic times.'

But María, like several of the other Nazca mummies, does not resemble the smaller, more doll-like specimens seized at the border or presented to Mexican congress. 

The new — albeit provisional — fingerprint analysis suggests some of the Nazca mummies are either not dolls or were constructed of more grim, unusual material.

In March 2024, Maussan published a report on the DNA of the Nazca 'tridactyl' mummies - a report that he described as having been performed by 'the top specialist in Molecular Biology and Genetics of Peru' (page one above)

Ten scientists with San Luis Gonzaga National University of Ica (UNICA), according to Maussan's statement in March, concluded 'their DNA [i.e. the Nazca mummies' DNA] contains 29 percent that does not belong to the evolutionary chain of the Earth' (page two above)

But the larger Nazca mummy specimens also have their critics.

One critic of Maussan, Latin American historian Christopher Heaney, noted that multiple regions of Latin America, including Peru, have a rich tradition of head-binding and head-shaping practices performed on infants' developing skulls.

'The Spanish, when they arrived in the 16th Century observed and commented on individuals walking around with very specifically shaped skulls,' as Heaney told DailyMail.com, 'and they recognized and saw them doing it using these bandages.'

This specific 'alien' mummy, María, was first debuted at a November 6, 2019 press event held at Peru's San Luis Gonzaga National University of Ica (UNICA) alongside three other Nazca 'tridactyls' (three-fingered bodies): 'Wawita,' 'Albert' and 'Victoria.'

Maussan, who was a party to McDowells' trip to UNICA to inspect these mummies, unveiled a new 'alien' specimen named Montserrat during the recent April 2024 trip.

Maussan has pushed for wider scientific interest in the apparently alien bodies, including a presentation before Mexico's Congress (pictured)

'Would you consider I would take the bodies to the Mexican Congress putting in danger 50 years of [my journalism] career to present fake bodies?' he asked at a press event this March 

The previous month, Maussan published a report on the Nazca 'tridactyls' DNA that he described as having been performed by 'the top specialist in Molecular Biology and Genetics of Peru.'

Ten scientists with UNICA, according to Maussan's statement that March, concluded 'their DNA [i.e. the Nazca mummies' DNA] contains 29 percent that does not belong to the evolutionary chain of the Earth.'

McDowell's US team of forensic medical examiners were more circumspect in their analysis after their trip to UNICA the following month.

'We would want actual, very definitive DNA studies done at high complexity laboratories,' the US team said at their mid-April 2024 press conference. 

'The carbon dating needs to be repeated with more sophisticated methods. Those are things that we're looking for,' they added. 'Our preliminary investigation really just led to the fact that more investigation is needed.'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

24-07-2024 om 23:02 geschreven door peter  

New film reveals most bizarre theory about UFOs yet - the 'cosmic jokers' hypothesis

• READ MORE The real reason UFOs target nuclear weapons

By ROB WAUGH FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Tucker Carlson thinks they're biblical entities. Others say they are humans from the future coming back to study us.

Now, a new film proposes an even stranger theory about UFOs. 

The Cosmic Joker investigates the idea that these entities may be 'tricksters' that deliberately shape themselves into what people want to see or into forms that people may be familiar with, director Mark Christopher Lee told DailyMail.com.

The movie concentrates on two infamous alien encounter tails: the Robert Taylor incident and the Pascagoula abduction of fishermen Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker.

The Pascagoula abduction of fishermen Charles Hickson (left) and Calvin Parker (right) and occurred in 1973

Mr Hickson and Mr Parker reported being experimented on by aliens with crab-like claws 

It asks the question: Did the aliens who made contact with the men deliberately shape shift themselves into forms reminiscent of something in their personal lives?

The film also suggests aliens might not be from space at all - and that this might be behind alleged cover-ups of UFO evidence. 

Mr Taylor was a forest worker in Scotland who described seeing a UFO resembling a naval sea mine in 1979. 

The Cosmic Joker suggests the entity deliberately take this form to resemble something Mr Taylor was familiar with from his time in the military.

In 1973 in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Mr Hickson and Mr Parker reported being experimented on by aliens with crab-like claws. 

Did alien intelligence shape itself to a form familiar to the two Deep South fishermen?

Lee told DailyMail.com: ‘What piqued my interest for this film was interviews about the Pascagoula Encounter in the US in 1973. Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson had an alleged abduction experience whilst fishing near the Pascagoula River.

‘They claimed they were taken onboard an alien craft and examined and physically handled by two aliens which had crab-like pincers. I just thought - why would the aliens have crab like pincers?’

The two men reported to the sheriff's department they had been abducted by gray-skinned aliens while fishing - with the aliens having ‘crab-like’ hands and ‘robotic’ mouths.

The men each had a puncture wound in their arm.

Hickson told The Washington Post: 'I was just getting ready to get some more bait, when I heard a kind of zipping sound. I looked up and saw a blue flashing light. Calvin turned around too.

'We saw a 30-foot-long object with a little dome on top.'

The two Pascagoula witnesses had physical injuries from the encounter

The police officers interviewing the men secretly left a tape recorder in the room with the witnesses after law enforcement left.

While they may have been hoping to catch the men drop their act and admit they made up the encounter, they only recorded them saying the experience scared them to death. 

Lee told this website: ‘The police placed a hidden tape recorder, which captured them talking about how the experience scared them out of their lives. So that begs the question: if the experience was real, what were these creatures?

'Did they actually adapt themselves to what a couple of Deep South fishermen might expect to see? Why did they see the same thing?’

In the film, Lee also speaks to UFO author Malcolm Robinson, who describes the strange encounter World War II veteran Mr Taylor had with a UFO in the Dechmont Woods in Scotland.

Lee told DailyMail.com: ‘Mr Taylor encountered and was attacked by an alien or intelligence that was similar in appearance to a naval sea mine with sharp protruding limbs coming off the sides.

'Again I thought did the intelligence, whatever it may be, take this from as it would be familiar to Robert Taylor having served in the military?’

Mr Taylor's reported sighting was investigated by police after two spiked spheres rolled at him - leaving him unconscious for 20 minutes with ripped clothing.

Director Mark Christopher Lee spoke to DailyMail.com

The war hero and churchgoer was believed by locals - and police found strange marks on the ground which could not be explained by machinery in the vicinity.

Lee said others have suggested Taylor’s encounter may have been triggered by an epileptic episode.

The idea of aliens as shape-shifting ‘tricksters’ was first proposed in a book by late author John Keel, whose work inspired the Richard Gere film The Mothman Prophecies, Lee told this website.

He said: ‘Keep was the first to really study in minute detail UFO and alien encounters. From his research he noted that there was always this mischievous trickster element in these sightings.’

Keel’s book suggests aliens may not be from other planets, or from space at all - but may instead be ‘ultra-terrestrials’ who manipulate human beliefs.

Lee added: ‘Of course if this theory is true it is probably far more disturbing than being visited by other beings from other planets. 

'Are we as humans the playthings of a far superior intelligence that lives alongside us?

‘Some modern Ufologists like Blink 182 musician Tom DeLonge believe that this intelligence has always been with us and that the US government knows this and is using the extraterrestrial hypothesis as a smokescreen to divert the public from the wilder truth.’

The Cosmic Joker is out now on Tubi TV.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

24-07-2024 om 22:42 geschreven door peter  

Chandra Marks 25 Years in Space with Collection of 25 Stunning Images

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory, the Chandra team has released a set of 25 new images of cosmic objects and phenomena.

This collection of images was released to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Chandra.

Image credit: NASA / CXC / SAO.

On July 23, 1999, the space shuttle Columbia launched into orbit carrying Chandra, which was then the heaviest payload ever carried by the shuttle.

With Commander Eileen Collins at the helm, the astronauts aboard Columbia successfully deployed Chandra into its highly elliptical orbit that takes it nearly one-third of the distance to the Moon.

“For a quarter century, Chandra has made discovery after amazing discovery,” said Dr. Pat Slane, director of the Chandra X-ray Center located at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory.

“Astronomers have used Chandra to investigate mysteries that we didn’t even know about when we were building the telescope — including exoplanets and dark energy.”

“Chandra has been a great success story for humanity and its pursuit of knowledge,” said Dr. Andrew Schnell, acting project manager of Chandra at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.

“The telescope’s incredible accomplishments are made possible by the team’s hard work and dedication.”

The new set of images is a sample of almost 25,000 observations Chandra has taken during its quarter century in space.

In 1976, Riccardo Giacconi and Harvey Tananbaum first proposed to NASA the mission that would one day become Chandra.

Eventually, Chandra was selected to become one of NASA’s Great Observatories, along with the Hubble Space Telescope and the now-retired Compton Gamma Ray Observatory and Spitzer Space Telescope, each looking at different types of light.

In 2002, Giacconi was awarded the Nobel Prize in physics for pioneering contributions to astrophysics, which have led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources, laying the foundation for the development and launch of Chandra.

Today, astronomers continue to use Chandra data in conjunction with other powerful telescopes including the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE), and many more.

“On behalf of the STS-93 crew, we are tremendously proud of the Chandra X-ray Observatory and its brilliant team that built and launched this astronomical treasure,” said Eileen Collins, commander of the space shuttle Columbia mission that launched Chandra into space in 1999.

“Chandra’s discoveries have continually astounded and impressed us over the past 25 years.”

• This article is a version of a press-release provided by NASA.
  

Top 10 Facts About Chandra

10. Chandra flies 200 times higher than Hubble - more than 1/3 of the way to the moon!

Explanation: For the planned operational orbit of Chandra, the closest approach to Earth and the most distant point from Earth will be as follows:
Altitude at Perigee (closest approach) = 10,000 km = 6,214 (statute) mile = 5,400 nautical mile
Altitude at Apogee (most distant point from Earth) = 140,000 km = 86,992 (statute) mile = 75,594
nautical mile
For reference, Mean radius of Earth = 6,371 km = 3,959 (statute) mile = 3,440 nautical mile

9. Chandra can observe X-rays from clouds of gas so vast that it takes light five million years to go from one side to the other!

Explanation: If we assume conservatively that a cluster extends out to a radius of 1 Mpc, then it has a diameter of 2 Mpc, or 6 million light years.

8. During maneuvers from one target to the next, Chandra slews more slowly than the minute hand on a clock.

Explanation: According the CXC Observatory Guide, it takes Chandra 31 minutes to slew 90 degrees. It takes the minute hand on a clock 15 minutes to slew 90 degrees.

7. At 45 feet long, Chandra is the largest satellite the shuttle has ever launched. See also: Top 10 Facts Infographic

Explanation: For comparison, the Hubble Space Telescope was just over 43 feet long.

6. If Colorado were as smooth as Chandra's mirrors, Pikes Peak would be less than one inch tall!

Explanation: Numbers:
Assume optics size = 84 cm
Assume rms low frequency figure errors are < 100a = 1e-6 cm
Assume size of Colorado= 600 km = 6 E7 cm
Then the ratio of the (rms errors)/(optics size) < 1.2 e-8
Assuming that there will be one 3 sigma peak in 1000 trials (the approx. number of measurements of the figure), then the ratio is < 3.6e-8.
Then the largest mountain (which is not Pikes Peak, but is not much taller than Pikes Peak) in Colorado would be < 2.2 cm < 1 inch.

5. Chandra's resolving power is equivalent to the ability to read a stop sign at a distance of twelve miles.

Explanation: The letters on a stop sign are 25 cm high. Assuming that we need a 5 x 5 pixel square, then the resolution element is 5 cm high, which would subtend an angle = 0.5 arcsec at a distance D = 5/2.5E-6 = 2 E6 cm = 20 km = 12 miles.

4. The electrical power required to operate the Chandra spacecraft and instruments is 2 kilowatts, about the same power as a hair dryer.

Explanation: A standard hair dryer uses 1600-1800 watts (slightly less than 2 kilowatts) on its high setting.

3. The light from some of the quasars observed by Chandra will have been traveling through space for ten billion years.

Explanation: If we take a Hubble constant of 60 km/sec-Mpc, then the Hubble time is approx 16 billion years, so for a quasar at z > 3, the look back time, depending on Omega, is greater than 10 billion years.

2. STS-93, the space mission that deployed Chandra, was the first NASA shuttle mission commanded by a woman.

Explanation: Commander Eileen Collins was the first woman to command a NASA shuttle mission.

Chandra can observe X-rays from particles up to the last second before they fall into a black hole!!!

Explanation: The last stable orbit for a Schwarzchild metric is 6GM/c^2 ~ 10^7 cm for a 10 solar mass black hole. The time to fall in from this point on is ~ 0.001-.01 seconds, depending on the details of the orbit of the infalling particle.

{ https://www.sci.news/ }

24-07-2024 om 22:24 geschreven door peter  

99-Million-Year-Old Burmese Amber Reveals Oldest Known Skink

 by Natali Anderson

Paleontologists have found the remains of a previously unknown species of lizard in a piece of mid-Cretaceous amber excavated in northern Myanmar.

Life reconstruction of Electroscincus zedi; areas of the lizard not represented in the material available are depicted as blurred.

Image credit: Stephanie Abramowicz.

The newly-discovered species was a small lizard with an estimated snout-vent length of 3 cm (1.2 inches).

Named Electroscincus zedi, it lived during the mid-Cretaceous period, approximately 99 million years ago.

It differs from all other known squamates (lizards and snakes) from the Mesozoic by the presence of imbricate, compound osteoderms arranged in a staggered pattern around the body, supporting its placement in the skink family Scincidae.

“Scincidae is a megadiverse clade of squamates, which today has attained a near cosmopolitan distribution in temperate and tropical regions worldwide,” said Dr. Juan Daza of Sam Houston State University and his colleagues.

“It is represented by more than 1,745 described living species, comprising nearly 15% of all living lizards.”

“Typical skinks have cylindrical bodies and relatively short limbs and, in over 50 skink lineages, evolutionary transitions towards limb reduction or loss have occurred.”

“Among living scincoids (Xantusiidae, Gerrhosauridae, Cordylidae, Scincidae), members of Scincidae exhibit the greatest range in body length, including some miniaturized forms having a body length of only a few centimeters to the extinct Tiliqua frangens, which may have reached half a meter or more.”

“Skinks also show great variation in the number of presacral vertebrae, ranging from 26 to 108, which, in combination with cycloid scales and compound osteoderms, may have facilitated the repeated evolution of fossorial and limbless morphotypes.”

“Most skinks are characterized by possession of smooth, cycloid scales underlain by compound osteoderms — bony plates in the dermis that are made up of several articulated osteodermites per scale.”

Electroscincus zedi, fossil in ventral (a) and dorsal (b) views; detail of the right foot (c, e) and osteoderms (d); X-ray of the whole specimen showing the skeletal remains, and several articulated and scattered osteoderms (f).

Image credit: Daza et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-66451-w.

A piece of Burmese amber (Burmite) that preserves Electroscincus zedi was found in the mid-Cretaceous outcrops in the Myitkyina district, Kachin province, northern Myanmar, approximately 100 km west of the town of Myitkyina.

The specimen includes two disconnected parts of the skink, containing the scales and mostly appendicular bones, but is clearly part of a single individual

“Currently over 100 specimens of squamates are known from Burmite,” the paleontologists said.

“In this large sample, this new fossil is the only one that preserves this osteodermal morphology which makes it diagnosable to the Scincidae, and differentiates it from all known fossil squamates from the Cretaceous.”

“The specimen is incomplete, but it does retain both postcranial skeletal elements and integumentary structures and, though less than ideal, it provides a basis for comparison with any putative scincid material that might be found in the future.”

“The specimen has a combination of compound osteoderms and overlapping cycloid scales that is limited to skinks.”

“We propose that this type of osteoderm evolved as a response to an increased overlap of scales, and to reduced stiffness of the dermal armor,” the researchers concluded.

• Their paper was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
• J.D. Daza et al. 2024. Compound osteoderms preserved in amber reveal the oldest known skink. Sci Rep 14, 15662; doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-66451-w

{ https://www.sci.news/ }

24-07-2024 om 18:47 geschreven door peter  

Curiosity Finds Pure Sulfur on Mars

Yellow crystals of elemental sulfur were revealed after NASA’s Curiosity rover happened to drive over a rock and crack it open on May 30, 2024, according to the Curiosity team.

Yellow crystals of elemental sulfur on Mars.

Image credit: NASA.

While people associate sulfur with the odor from rotten eggs, elemental sulfur is odorless.

It forms in only a narrow range of conditions that scientists haven’t associated with the history of this location.

And Curiosity found a lot of it — an entire field of bright rocks that look similar to the one the rover crushed.

“Finding a field of stones made of pure sulfur is like finding an oasis in the desert,” said Curiosity’s project scientist Dr. Ashwin Vasavada, a researcher at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

“It shouldn’t be there, so now we have to explain it. Discovering strange and unexpected things is what makes planetary exploration so exciting.”

It’s one of several discoveries Curiosity has made while off-roading within Gediz Vallis channel, a groove that winds down part of the 5-km-tall (3-mile-tall) Mount Sharp, the base of which the rover has been ascending since 2014.

Spotted from space years before the rover’s launch, the channel is one of the primary reasons the science team wanted to visit this part of Mars.

They think that the channel was carved by flows of liquid water and debris that left a ridge of boulders and sediment extending 3.2 km (2 miles) down the mountainside below the channel.

The goal has been to develop a better understanding of how this landscape changed billions of years ago, and while recent clues have helped, there’s still much to learn from the dramatic landscape.

Since Curiosity’s arrival at the channel earlier this year, scientists have studied whether ancient floodwaters or landslides built up the large mounds of debris that rise up from the channel’s floor here.

The latest clues from the rover suggest both played a role: some piles were likely left by violent flows of water and debris, while others appear to be the result of more local landslides.

hose conclusions are based on rocks found in the debris mounds: whereas stones carried by water flows become rounded like river rocks, some of the debris mounds are riddled with more angular rocks that may have been deposited by dry avalanches.

Finally, water soaked into all the material that settled here.

Chemical reactions caused by the water bleached white ‘halo’ shapes into some of the rocks.

Erosion from wind and sand has revealed these halo shapes over time.

“This was not a quiet period on Mars,” said Dr. Becky Williams, a scientist with the Planetary Science Institute in Tucson, Arizona, and the deputy principal investigator of Curiosity’s Mast Camera.

“There was an exciting amount of activity here. We’re looking at multiple flows down the channel, including energetic floods and boulder-rich flows.”

• This article is a version of a press-release provided by NASA.

{ https://www.sci.news/ }

24-07-2024 om 18:39 geschreven door peter  

“De sterkte van de polaire vortex en straalstroom bepalen in grote mate ons weer”: wat zijn de gevolgen van de stratosferische opwarming boven de Zuidpool?

Terwijl het in ons noordelijk halfrond zomer is, heerst de winter in het zuidelijk halfrond. Maar daar is op grote hoogte voorlopig weinig van te merken, want boven de Zuidpool is er een plotse opwarming in de stratosfeer. Dat verstoort de zuidelijke ‘polaire vortex’ sterk, en dat kan de komende weken en maanden weleens tot atypisch weer leiden. Maar wat is zo’n stratosferische opwarming precies? Wat doet dit met het weer? En gaan wij hier ook de gevolgen van merken? Klimatoloog Samuel Helsen legt uit.

Martijn Peters 

De seizoenen in het noordelijk en zuidelijk halfrond verlopen tegengesteld. Bij ons is het nu zomer, aan de andere kant van de evenaar zitten ze midden in de winterperiode. Net als in het noordelijk halfrond bouwt er zich tijdens de herfst- en winterperiode een stevig lagedrukgebied op boven de Zuidpool. Deze omvangrijke depressie kennen we als de polaire vortex of ‘poolwervel’.

Normaal is de polaire vortex erg actief tijdens de wintermaanden, maar op dit moment is die grondig verstoord door een plotse opwarming in de stratosfeer. Dat is de laag die zich in onze atmosfeer bevindt boven de troposfeer (waar het weer zich afspeelt), tussen zo’n 12 en 50 kilometer hoogte. Zo’n opwarming doet zich wel eens vaker voor in het noordelijk halfrond, maar voor de zuidpoolregio is zo’n opwarming eerder uitzonderlijk.

In de afgelopen tientallen jaren kwam dit slechts enkele keren voor. Maar zo’n gebeurtenis gaat niet zomaar onopgemerkt voorbij. De gevolgen van zo’n stratosferische opwarming kunnen groot zijn, met zelfs een impact over de hele wereld.

Hoe ontstaat de polaire vortex?

Het omvangrijke lagedrukgebied over de pool die de polaire vortex vormt, ontstaat doorgaans tussen de herfst- en winterperiode. In die periode koelt het poolgebied geleidelijk aan af, doordat de zon steeds lager komt te staan en de poolgebieden daardoor minder energie ontvangen van de zon. De dagen worden dan snel korter en de nachten steeds langer. Door de ligging van de pool ten opzichte van de zon is dit temperatuureffect er veel groter dan bijvoorbeeld rond de evenaar.

De exacte ligging van de straal­stroom bepaalt of we met hoge- of lagedrukge­bie­den te maken krijgen

Klimatoloog Samuel Helsen

Door de sterkere afkoeling nabij de poolregio in de herfst en vooral de winter, ontstaat er een sterk contrast in temperatuur tussen pool en evenaar. Dit contrast doet de luchtdruk op grote hoogte boven de polen dalen, waardoor er zich een omvangrijk lagedrukgebied vormt. Hierdoor ontstaat ook een band met sterke windsnelheden die waaien rondom het lagedrukgebied. Op die manier krijg je een circulatiepatroon met sterke winden rondom de poolregio, en dat is de polaire vortex of poolwervel.

De poolwervel vormt zich niet enkel op grote hoogte. Er is in vele gevallen ook een koppeling met de lagere luchtlagen. Het gedeelte in de stratosfeer – zo’n 15 tot 50 kilometer hoog– is de polaire vortex. Er is ook nog een band met hoge windsnelheden wat lager, op zo’n 10 tot 12 kilometer hoogte aan de top van de troposfeer, waarin ons weer zich afspeelt. Die kennen we als de straalstroom. De exacte ligging van deze luchtrivier bepaalt of we met hoge- of lagedrukgebieden te maken krijgen.

De polaire vortex in de stratosfeer op grote hoogte is meestal sterk ontwikkeld en circulair met sterke winden. De troposferische poolwervel (en de straalstroom) vertoont doorgaans een meer grillig patroon met vaker kronkelende bewegingen, doordat er meer invloed is van het reliëf en de variaties in stromingen die daardoor ontstaan. De sterkte van zowel de polaire vortex als de straalstroom bepalen in grote mate ons weer. Deze verstoring door het reliëf is groter in het noordelijk dan in het zuidelijk halfrond.

Wat is een plotse stratosferische opwarming precies en wat doet dit met de poolwervel?

Een zwakke poolwervel verstoort de luchtstromingen. Zo’n verzwakking van de polaire vortex kan gebeuren wanneer de temperatuur in de stratosfeer boven de polen plots toeneemt. Binnen de weerkunde wordt zo’n plotse opwarming benoemd als een ‘Sudden Stratospheric Warming’ (SSW), letterlijk vertaald een plotse stratosferische opwarming. Zo’n opwarming kan zich op eender welk moment voordoen en ontstaat zeer abrupt.

De opwarming vindt meestal zijn oorsprong via een koppeling met wat er zich in de lagere luchtlagen afspeelt, als er bijvoorbeeld opeens zeer warme lucht wordt aangevoerd naar de poolregio’s. De opwarming boven de pool doet de luchtdruk er plots stijgen, waardoor het lagedrukgebied verstoord raakt en er zelfs een hogedrukgebied kan ontstaan. Soms wordt de polaire wervel dan ook opgesplitst in twee delen, doordat het hogedrukgebied de poolwervel uit elkaar duwt. Ook de luchtstroming kan dan plots omkeren, waardoor de wind opeens 180 graden omdraait.

Een zwakkere poolwervel kan in sommige gevallen ook de luchtcirculatie in de lagere luchtlagen beïnvloeden. Zo kan er een koppeling ontstaan tussen de stratosferische polaire vortex en de straalstroom. De plotse opwarming van de stratosferische poolwervel kan er dan voor zorgen dat de straalstroom verzwakt en grotere kronkelbewegingen kan gaan maken. Deze koppeling tussen beide weersystemen kan enkele weken duren. Hoe die koppeling precies ontstaat en wat de wisselwerking is tussen beiden, daar is de wetenschap nog niet geheel uit.

Hoe groter de kronkels, hoe groter ook de tempera­tuur­con­tras­ten tussen noord en zuid kunnen worden

Klimatoloog Samuel Helsen

Als door een verzwakking van de polaire wervel een de straalstroom verzwakt, ontstaan er makkelijk ‘ruggen’ en ‘troggen’ in de luchtcirculatie. Een rug is een uitstulping van de straalstroom richting de pool. Daaronder bouwt zich een hogedrukgebied op. Een trog is dan weer een uitstulping van de luchtstroming richting de evenaar. Daarin bouwt zich een lagedrukgebied op. Hoe groter de kronkels, hoe groter ook de temperatuurcontrasten tussen noord en zuid kunnen worden. Bij een zwakke poolwervel vindt de ijskoude poollucht makkelijk zijn weg naar de lagere breedtegraden. Bij een sterke vortex blijft de koude lucht gevangen boven de poolregio.

Snelle opwarming boven de Zuidpool

Op dit moment is er een snelle opwarming boven de Zuidpool. Een warme golf met daaronder een hogedrukgebied probeert op te rukken richting Zuidpool, waardoor de Polaire vortex langs de noordelijke zijde een indeuking vertoont. De weerkaarten die de stratosferische vortex weergeven, tonen duidelijk een anomalie van hogedruk aan de noordelijke flank van het lagedrukgebied boven de Zuidpool. Ook de temperaturen nabij dit hogedrukgebied zijn momenteel abnormaal hoog, met een afwijking tot zelfs 60°C boven de gemiddelde waarde voor deze tijd.

De weerkaarten voor de komende dagen laten zien dat het hogedrukgebied aan de noordzijde van de zuidelijke polaire vortex gaat uitbreiden. Op die manier zou de polaire vortex boven de Zuidpool in afzonderlijke delen kunnen splitsen, waarbij twee hogedrukcellen steeds meer druk uitoefenen op het lagedrukgebied.

Bovendien verwacht men dat er een sterke koppeling ontstaat tussen de stratosferische opwarming en de troposfeer met ook daar meer invloed van hogedruk boven de Zuidpool. Doordat de hogedruk zich zal ontwikkelen boven de Zuidpool, zal de lagedruk zich meer ontwikkelen in de richting van Zuid-Amerika en Zuid-Australië. Er zou in deze regio’s dan weleens meer neerslag dan gemiddeld kunnen vallen, en in de koudere gebieden ook meer sneeuw. Er wordt verwacht dat rond eind juli/begin augustus de opwarming in de stratosfeer intact zou blijven, maar dat de invloed ervan wel stilaan zou verzwakken.

Klimatoloog Samuel Helsen

Is er ook een impact van de opwarming op het weer bij ons?

De circulatiepatronen tussen het zuidelijk en noordelijk halfrond vertonen een connectie. Die ontstaat door de ‘Brewer-Dobson’ circulatie. De lucht boven de evenaarsgebieden vertoont een stijgende beweging die zich tot zeer hoog in de atmosfeer doorzet. Naarmate deze stroming zich naar lagere breedtegraden begeeft, zakt die uiteindelijk weer uit naar lagere hoogtes, waardoor er heel wat energie wordt getransporteerd. Onderweg wordt er ook veel energie uitgewisseld, zodat een onrechtstreekse connectie ontstaat tussen de fenomenen in het noordelijk en zuidelijk halfrond.

De uitwisselingen in energie zijn meetbaar via de concentraties van elektronen. Bij de plotse stratosferische opwarming boven de Zuidpool in 2019 mat men boven Amerika 40 tot 80 procent meer elektronen dan gemiddeld en was die concentratie beduidend lager boven Europa. Dit bracht merkbare en meetbare veranderingen teweeg in de geo-magnetische activiteit in de atmosfeer. In de daaropvolgende winter van 2019-2020 zorgde dit voor een kouder weertype over grote delen van Amerika.

Die studies bevestigen de vermoedelijke connectie tussen het zuidelijk en het noordelijk halfrond en laat uitschijnen dat de stratosferische opwarming wel degelijk een effect kan hebben op het weer aan de andere kant van de wereld. Gezien het effect van de elektronen op Europa zou dus ook de luchtcirculatie boven Europa op dezelfde manier beïnvloed kunnen worden. Maar het exacte effect op het weerpatroon blijft nog onzeker.

Lees ook:

• Klimaatverandering maakt dagen langer, blijkt uit nieuwe wetenschappelijke studie (+)

• Is het weer nu stormachtiger dan vroeger? Nieuwe studie brengt stormactiviteit in kaart (+)

• ‘Poolwervel’ keert terug boven Noordpool: wat is dit? Wat zijn de gevolgen? En komt er een strenge winter? Expert legt uit (+)

{ https://www.hln.be/ }

24-07-2024 om 18:31 geschreven door peter  

Kunstmatige intelligentie is "grappiger" dan mensen: de resultaten van een merkwaardig onderzoek

Door Janine

Freepik

ChatGPT en mensen: grappen met elkaar vergeleken

Het gebruik van kunstmatige intelligentie heeft in de maatschappij nogal wat twijfels opgeroepen, te beginnen met de vrees dat het veel banen zal vervangen die nu door mensen worden uitgevoerd. Dit is zeker geen aantrekkelijk vooruitzicht, ook al heeft AI aan de andere kant veel wetenschappelijke disciplines in staat gesteld hun horizon te verbreden en de onderzoekstijd te verkorten.

Er is echter iets waarin het ons al voorbijgestreefd lijkt te zijn: volgens een onderzoek is Chat GPT leuker dan wij. Het team van de University of Southern California vergeleek de reactie van mensen op grappen verteld door AI en mensen. Het resultaat? Ongeveer 70 procent van de deelnemers aan de test vond de door ChatGPT gegenereerde moppen grappiger dan die van hun soortgenoten. En de anderen?

De creatieve en grappige kant van AI

Freepik

Vijfentwintig procent vond de door mensen geschreven moppen grappiger, terwijl de overige vijf procent geen duidelijke voorkeur had: zowel AI als mensen zijn op dezelfde manier “komisch”. Drew Gorenz, een promovendus in de psychologie en een van de auteurs van het onderzoek, legde uit dat de creatieve kant van kunstmatige intelligentie nog onontdekt en onduidelijk is, in tegenstelling tot de analytische capaciteiten.

Gorenz, die veel van humor houdt, vroeg zich af wat het verschil was tussen de comiciteit  van ChatGPT en die van mensen, geïntrigeerd door het verborgen potentieel van de chatbot. Aan de andere kant hebben taalmodellen geen emoties en kennen ze niet het plezier dat een goed gemaakte grap kan opleveren, maar “gebruiken ze vooral patroonherkenning. De resultaten vertellen ons veel interessante dingen over de productie van humor: misschien hoeven we de emoties die we ervaren bij een goede grap niet te voelen om een goede grap te vertellen”. Met andere woorden, juist het feit dat we emoties voelen - in tegenstelling tot kunstmatige intelligentie - zou ons vermogen om grappig te zijn benadelen. Of, in ieder geval, om dat nog meer te zijn.

AI zou ook de entertainmentindustrie kunnen ontwrichten

Freepik

Tijdens het onderzoek vroeg het team zowel mensen als ChatGPT om moppen te schrijven, waaronder het maken van grappige acroniemen, het opvullen van gaten tussen woorden om grappige zinnen te genereren en het komisch beschrijven van een onaangename situatie. Een tweede groep van tweehonderd mensen evalueerde vervolgens wat er door zowel kunstmatige intelligentie als mensen werd geproduceerd. “In beide onderzoeken beoordeelden menselijke deelnemers de komische aard van door mensen en AI geproduceerde reacties zonder zich bewust te zijn van de bron ervan”, aldus de auteurs van het onderzoek.

Vervolgens observeerden de onderzoekers de reactie op satirische teksten geproduceerd door het taalleermodel en professionele komieken: in dit geval waren de scores gelijk. Uiteindelijk zijn deze resultaten volgens Gorenz een duidelijke indicatie dat AI een revolutionaire rol zou kunnen spelen op het gebied van entertainment: kortom, als je zin hebt om even lekker te lachen, zal ChatGPT je niet teleurstellen.

{ https://www.curioctopus.nl/ }

24-07-2024 om 18:02 geschreven door peter  

NASA's Curiosity rover ontdekt iets dat nog nooit eerder op Mars is gezien, verborgen in een rots

Door Janine

Jet Propulsion Laboratory / NASA/JPL-Caltech - Wikimedia commons - Public domain

Nooit eerder geziene gele kristallen van pure zwavel op Mars

NASA/JPL-CALTECH/MSSS

De verrassing van de wetenschappers, zoals NASA aankondigde, was onbeschrijflijk: sulfaten, zouten die zwavel bevatten, komen veel voor in het gebied van de krater Gale waar Curiosity zich momenteel bevindt, maar het gesteente dat de rover vond heeft een andere bijzonderheid: “Waar eerdere waarnemingen betrekking hadden op zwavelhoudende mineralen, oftewel een mix van zwavel en andere materialen, is het gesteente dat Curiosity onlangs heeft gevonden samengesteld uit elementaire, oftewel pure zwavel”, verklaarde de Amerikaanse ruimtevaartorganisatie.

In tegenstelling tot de zwavel waar wij aan denken, ruikt elementaire zwavel echter niet naar “rotte eieren”. Het is gewoon reukloos. Maar dit lijkt niet de enige rots te zijn die zuivere zwavel bevat op de rode planeet: de rover identificeerde een veld met zeer vergelijkbare, lichtgekleurde rotsblokken, waarin andere gele kristallen te vinden waren.

Ashwin Vasavada van het Jet Propulsion Laboratory, een wetenschapper van het project Curiosity, zei: "Het vinden van een veld met rotsen bestaande uit pure zwavel is als het vinden van een oase in de woestijn. Het zou er niet moeten zijn, dus nu moeten we het verklaren." Andrew Good, woordvoerder van JPL, voegde eraan toe dat "er geen reden is om pure zwavel te verwachten in deze specifieke regio, dus we zijn behoorlijk verrast."

Curiosity, op een missie om de geschiedenis van water op Mars te bestuderen

Hoewel Curiosity in alle opzichten een bewegend laboratorium is dat kan boren en graven, zijn de gele kristallen te klein om ze te kunnen onderzoeken. Wetenschappers zijn echter van plan uit te zoeken waarom en hoe ze zijn gevormd. Good brengt een hypothese naar voren: "Een idee zou kunnen zijn dat zoiets als warmwaterbronnen deze zwavel hebben gevormd,  maar we hebben geen bewijs gezien dat wijst op hun aanwezigheid in dit gebied.

Om meer te weten te komen, zullen we moeten wachten tot onderzoekers de elementen kunnen onderzoeken die zijn verzameld door de zeswielige rover, die twaalf jaar geleden landde op Mount Sharp, de gigantische berg in het midden van de krater Gale. Onlangs richtte Curiosity zich op het Gediz Vallis kanaal, waar mogelijk ooit een rivier was. De missie van de rover is juist om de geschiedenis van het water op Mars te ontdekken en daarmee ook bewijs voor mogelijk microbieel leven in het verleden.

INFO PETER2011

{ https://www.curioctopus.nl/ }

24-07-2024 om 17:26 geschreven door peter  

Analyze of a possible REAL UFO caught on camera in Costa Rica

With today's technology, including CGI, Artificial Intelligence, and other similar programs, it is not difficult to create fake UFO videos. It is currently a challenge to distinguish a fake UFO video from a real one. 

Additionally, you also need to ask yourself whether a observed UFO is a craft made by certain organizations here on Earth or if it is a real alien UFO. 

So far, the most reliable recordings of UFO sightings come from the time before the advent of Artificial Intelligence. 

The following recording is a UFO sighting from 2007. Marvin Badilla, a carpenter from Acosta, Costa Rica, filmed an extraordinary video of a metallic, disc-shaped object hovering momentarily before flipping vertically and departing. 

Captured on a Motorola Razr, this footage has fascinated both enthusiasts and experts for years. 

In the video below, we delve into a detailed analysis of this compelling UFO sighting, compare the original and enhanced footage, and listen to expert opinions on its authenticity.

  

{ https://ufosightingshotspot.blogspot.com/ }

24-07-2024 om 17:04 geschreven door peter  

Evidence of Alien Life May Lie on the Surface of Europa and Enceladus, A New Study Reveals

Chemicals that hint at the presence of life, like amino acids, aren't destroyed by cosmic radiation nearly as quickly as we thought, and that's good news.

BY KIONA SMITH

 

All About Space Magazine/Future/Getty Images

According to recent experiments at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, evidence of alien life could be preserved on the surface of Enceladus, and just a few inches below the surface of Europa, despite the heavy bombardment of radiation that scours the surface of both moons.

Planetary scientist Alexander Pavlov, of NASA Goddard, and his colleagues published their work in the journal Astrobiology.

SIMULATING AN IRRADIATED ICY WASTELAND

In their lab at Goddard, Pavlov and his colleagues mixed up several simulated versions of the slush — laden with organic matter — that ends up smeared and spattered across the ice atop Enceladus and Europa’s oceans, all chilled to -321 degrees Fahrenheit. Then they bombarded the chilly cocktails with gamma radiation, to simulate the radiation that constantly blasts the surfaces of Enceladus and Europa. And it turns out that most of the evidence of life survived higher doses of radiation than the researchers had expected.

High-energy radiation can trigger chains of chemical reactions, which eventually break down the molecules associated with life including DNA, amino acids, and proteins, among others. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins (which are the building blocks of pretty much everything that makes life actually work). Some amino acids can form through chemical reactions that have nothing to do with life, but others are what scientists call biosignatures: If you see these particular chemicals, especially if you see them along with other biosignatures, they probably came from a living cell at some point.

Pavlov and his colleagues wanted to know how long it would take the harsh radiation to break amino acids down into something useless to astrobiologists — a molecule that wouldn’t clearly point back to alien life as its source. They also wanted to know how deep future missions would have to drill into the ice to find signs of life, if they exist at all.

That’s something astrobiologists, planetary scientists, and mission planners have been trying to figure out for both Europa and Enceladus. Some studies suggest that the tremendous geysers of Enceladus could blast whole microbes out into space, where a passing spacecraft could just scoop them up. At the other end of the spectrum, some researchers predict that landers might have to drill all way through Europa’s ice to the ocean beneath.

But thanks to cryovolcanism — a phenomenon that happens in very cold places like Europa and Enceladus, where water or partially-frozen slush behaves like magma here on Earth, so it either oozes out of cracks in the ice or erupts in geysers — there’s organic material splattered across the moon’s frozen surface. The only question is whether it’s too damaged by radiation to actually reveal anything about whether there’s life beneath the ice.

The answer, it turns out, is probably good news for future missions.

RIGHT THERE ON THE SURFACE

Once Pavlov and his colleagues had calculated how quickly their amino acids broke down under different radiation doses, they combined that with everything we know about how much radiation hits different regions of Europa and Enceladus, along with how old the ice is in those regions. That information let the researchers predict where future missions would stand the best chance of finding evidence of life — and how deep they would need to drill.

On Europa, future missions should find intact, recognizable amino acids about eight inches beneath the surface, especially in the high latitudes near the north and south poles of the moon. And on Enceladus, future missions will just need to scrape away the top fraction of an inch of ice to find usable samples.

That could make it much easier for eventual landers — which could reach Europa sometime in the 2040s, if NASA’s planned Europa Clipper mission finds anything interesting when it arrives in orbit around Europa in a few years — to get samples that might (or, alas, might not) contain evidence of alien life swimming in the dark water beneath the icy crust.

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

24-07-2024 om 16:53 geschreven door peter  

 

©Faithzodiac / Illustration

Are We Not Alone? Seven Stars Cloaked by Enigmatic Dyson Spheres
Recent research has sparked excitement in the scientific community with claims that at least seven stars in the Milky Way might be encircled by advanced alien technology known as Dyson spheres. Although these claims are not definitive proof of extraterrestrial civilizations, they present a tantalizing possibility that has captured the imaginations of astronomers and enthusiasts alike.

Dyson spheres, as initially theorized by physicist Freeman Dyson in 1960, are hypothetical structures that could be built by technologically advanced civilizations. They would encompass a star or black hole to harness its energy output. The concept ranges from a complete spherical shell to more feasible ring-like structures.

©LoveEmployee on Wikipedia Commons

What Is a Dyson Sphere?
The Dyson sphere is a theoretical construct designed to capture the energy output of a star. Freeman Dyson suggested that a highly advanced civilization might build such a structure to maximize energy collection for their needs. The idea includes both solid spheres and more practical designs like rings or swarms of solar collectors.

While the most extreme version would fully enclose a star, other variants might include extensive networks of mirrors or collectors orbiting the star. This diversity of designs reflects the immense range of possibilities for harnessing stellar energy.

©European Space Agency

Identifying Potential Dyson Spheres
Using data from the Gaia satellite, which maps the positions and movements of over a billion stars, researchers have identified seven stars showing unusual infrared emissions. These emissions might suggest the presence of large-scale energy-harvesting structures. The data were analyzed to filter out natural explanations for these anomalies.

The Gaia mission's comprehensive survey provided the basis for this analysis, allowing scientists to focus on stars exhibiting abnormal energy signatures. Although these findings are preliminary, they represent a significant step in the search for extraterrestrial megastructures.

©European Space Agency

Challenges in Proving Dyson Spheres
Despite the intriguing evidence, scientists face significant challenges in proving the existence of Dyson spheres. The primary hurdle is distinguishing between potential megastructures and natural astrophysical phenomena that could cause similar emissions. Further observations and more refined data are required to validate these claims.

The potential for false positives remains high, and researchers must carefully differentiate between these and genuine technological artifacts. As detection methods improve, the ability to confirm or refute the presence of Dyson spheres will advance accordingly.

©John Beale using Ai Perchance

Theoretical Implications
If Dyson spheres were confirmed, they would have profound implications for our understanding of advanced civilizations. They could indicate that extraterrestrial societies have reached a stage of technological development far beyond our current capabilities. This discovery would dramatically alter our perspective on the search for extraterrestrial life.

The presence of such structures would suggest that advanced civilizations are not only possible but may also be more common than previously thought. This could lead to new theories about the distribution and nature of intelligent life in the universe.

©John Beale using Ai Perchance

The Search for Extraterrestrial Life
The quest to find extraterrestrial life often includes searching for signs of advanced technology. Dyson spheres represent a theoretical benchmark for detecting such technologies. Their existence would support the idea that advanced civilizations might utilize methods of energy collection similar to our own, but on a much grander scale.

Researchers use a variety of methods to search for extraterrestrial life, including monitoring for unusual emissions or unexplained phenomena. The idea of Dyson spheres offers a tangible target in this search, providing a clear criterion for identifying advanced civilizations.

©Wikimedia Commons (GFDL)

Technological Feasibility
Constructing a Dyson sphere remains far beyond our current technological capabilities. The scale of such a project would require resources and engineering advancements that are not yet feasible. However, the concept stimulates discussions about the future of space technology and what might be achievable with continued progress.

While we may not be able to build Dyson spheres today, the concept drives innovation and research in space technology. It challenges engineers and scientists to think beyond current limitations and consider what might be possible in the distant future.

©Freeman Dyson via Jacob Appelbaum/ Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED)

The Concept of the Mythological Dyson Sphere
The Dyson sphere concept has been a part of science fiction and theoretical discussions since the 1960s. Its origins in Freeman Dyson's work have inspired numerous scientific and popular culture explorations of advanced civilizations and their potential technologies.

Over the decades, the idea of Dyson spheres has evolved, influencing our understanding of what might be possible in the realm of space technology. This historical context provides insight into the ongoing fascination with megastructures and their role in science and fiction.

©Mikhail Nilov on Pexels

Future Research Directions
Future research will focus on refining detection methods and analyzing new data to verify or refute the presence of Dyson spheres. Advancements in observational technology and data analysis will be crucial in this ongoing quest.

Scientists will continue to use advanced telescopes and computational models to improve our understanding of potential Dyson sphere candidates. This research is essential for determining whether these theoretical structures could actually exist.

©Lucas Pezeta from Pexels

Public Interest and Media Coverage
The concept of Dyson spheres has captivated the public and media, often being featured in articles, documentaries, and science fiction. This widespread interest helps to promote scientific literacy and curiosity about advanced technologies and extraterrestrial life.

The fascination with Dyson spheres reflects a broader interest in space exploration and the search for alien life. It encourages discussions about our place in the universe and the potential for discovering advanced civilizations.

©Soltan Gahramanow from Pexels

Implications for Space Exploration
Discovering a Dyson sphere would have significant implications for space exploration. It would indicate that advanced civilizations have developed technologies that could potentially be studied or even replicated, advancing our own technological capabilities.

Understanding such megastructures could provide insights into the future of human space exploration and the technologies that might be developed. It would also shape future missions and research priorities in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

©Jakub Novacek from Pexels

The Elusiveness that Lingers
The possibility of Dyson spheres in our galaxy continues to intrigue scientists and the public alike. While definitive proof remains elusive, ongoing research and advancements in technology may one day confirm or refute their existence.

The search for Dyson spheres is not just about finding alien technology but also about pushing the boundaries of our understanding and capabilities. It represents a critical intersection of science fiction and scientific inquiry, inspiring continued exploration and discovery.

{ https://www.msn.com/en-us/channel/topic/Science/ }

24-07-2024 om 16:19 geschreven door peter  

Unveiling the Secrets: Lue Elizondo’s Explosive Book Leak on UFOs

The world of UFO research and disclosure has been set abuzz with the recent unauthorized leak of the first four chapters of Lue Elizondo’s highly anticipated book. The leak, which appeared on Google Books on July 22nd, has been confirmed by sources close to Elizondo as an accidental release by the publisher. Despite the premature exposure, the content has sparked significant discussion and interest within the community.

A Bold Stance Against Government Secrecy

Elizondo’s book, based on the leaked chapters, appears to take a bold and confrontational stance against long-standing government secrecy surrounding UFO phenomena. The tone is one of defiance, as Elizondo reveals intricate details about the cover-up of UFO information by the U.S. government. He delves into the involvement of various industries, including aerospace, and discusses the infamous Wilson-Davis memo. His narrative is interpreted by many as a figurative “middle finger” to governmental bodies that have kept the truth from the public for decades.

Personal Insights and Early Life

The leaked chapters also offer a glimpse into Elizondo’s personal life and the experiences that shaped his perspective. He provides intimate details about his childhood and the challenges he faced, painting a picture of a man deeply committed to uncovering the truth. This personal narrative adds depth to his professional journey, showcasing the evolution of his beliefs and motivations.

The Roswell Revelation

One of the most compelling aspects of the leak is Elizondo’s discussion of the Roswell incident. He unequivocally states that the 1947 crash did indeed involve non-human entities. According to Elizondo, four deceased non-human bodies were recovered from the crash site. This confirmation adds a new layer of credibility to the longstanding Roswell mystery and emphasizes the extent of government secrecy.

Elizondo discusses the limited briefing of elected officials, highlighting that many are kept in the dark due to the perceived temporary nature of their positions. This systemic secrecy has led to a situation where even high-ranking officials and scientists are often unaware of the true extent of UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena) activities.

Encounters in Northeastern Brazil

Chapter 2 of Elizondo’s book, titled “Callaris,” focuses on bizarre encounters reported by residents of the small island of Callaris in Brazil during the mid-1970s. These encounters often resulted in injuries and, in some cases, death. Elizondo describes various types of unidentified craft and their interactions with the local population. The detailed accounts suggest a targeted and intentional engagement by non-human intelligence, raising questions about their motives and intentions.

The descriptions of beings involved in these encounters—ranging from tall, pale humanoids to smaller entities with disproportionately large heads—mirror many global reports of UFO sightings. This consistency across different cultures and geographies adds weight to the argument that these phenomena are not merely figments of imagination or mass hysteria.

Remote Viewing and Human Potential

Elizondo also touches on the controversial topic of remote viewing, a practice he was introduced to during his time with the Stargate program. He argues for the scientific exploration of remote viewing and other psychic phenomena, challenging the skepticism often associated with these topics. Elizondo criticizes religious and scientific dogma that dismisses these abilities as mere superstition, suggesting that they represent untapped human potential.

He recounts his experiences and the opposition faced by the Stargate program, including accusations of dealing with the occult. Elizondo’s perspective is that these abilities are part of the natural construct of the universe and should be studied scientifically rather than scorned.

The Call for Disclosure

Throughout the leaked chapters, Elizondo makes a compelling case for greater transparency and public disclosure regarding UFOs and non-human intelligence. He emphasizes the need for a whole-of-government approach, increased funding, and the involvement of the brightest minds to understand and address these phenomena. Elizondo argues that the secrecy surrounding UFOs is not only a disservice to the scientific community but also to the public, who deserve to know the truth about humanity’s place in the universe.

VIDEO:

• Lue Elizondo Book Leak EXPOSED – Detailed Breakdown & Insights

• https://youtu.be/dHAfMPc4KwM

The unauthorized leak of the first four chapters of Lue Elizondo’s book has provided a tantalizing glimpse into a narrative that is both personal and revelatory. Elizondo’s courageous stance and detailed accounts promise a significant contribution to the ongoing discourse on UFOs and government transparency. As the full release of the book approaches, it is expected to further ignite discussions and possibly inspire more whistleblowers and officials to come forward. For those eager to explore these mysteries, Elizondo’s book is shaping up to be an essential read.

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

24-07-2024 om 15:32 geschreven door peter  

AI Focused UFO over Phoenix, Arizona, July 2020, They Are Watching! UFO Sighting News.

Here is a sighting from 2020 and wow does ai sharpen it. Not only  that, I take the ai version and have it sharpen it a second time. What I saw was just like I imagined alien drones would look like close up and personal. AI allows us to see the truth, but the real question is...are we ready for the truth?

Scott C. Waring 

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

23-07-2024 om 23:51 geschreven door peter