Why Are Pyramids Everywhere? A Global Pattern or Universal Logic?

Pyramids have captivated human imagination for centuries, appearing in a broad spectrum of cultures across every continent—Egypt, Mesoamerica, Mesopotamia, Africa, Asia, and regions where direct contact between civilizations seems unlikely. Their widespread occurrence prompts profound questions about their origins, functions, and possible underlying principles. Are these structures coincidental, products of convergent evolution driven by similar practical needs, or do they hint at a deeper, perhaps lost, global connection? This comprehensive analysis aims to explore the phenomenon of pyramids worldwide, examining their origins, cultural significance, and the potential universal architectural logic that underpins their recurrence.

Why are pyramids everywhere? In the Egyptian desert, the pyramids stand still under a shifting sky. Their limestone blocks, weathered and pale, still hold their lines after more than four thousand years. The shape is deliberate: wide at the base, narrowing as it climbs, ending in a point that once caught the sun.

Half a world away, the jungle presses against broken stone. In Guatemala, temple steps rise above the trees, stacked high by Maya masons who built for ceremony, not burial. Their pyramids were climbed, not sealed. The shape is familiar, but the meaning was different.

The most well-known of these is the tomb of Qin Shi Huang, which remains sealed beneath a massive earthen pyramid surrounded by a buried army of terracotta soldiers.

These structures have no shared blueprint. Their builders never met, never traded, never wrote of one another. They spoke different languages and worshipped different gods. Still, the shape repeats. From the Andes to the Nile, from the Sahara to the Yangtze, the pyramid keeps showing up, always rising, always reaching.

The Ubiquity of Pyramids: A Global Phenomenon

Architectural forms resembling pyramids have been discovered on every inhabited continent, underscoring their status as a truly global phenomenon. The Egyptian pyramids, especially the Great Pyramid of Giza, dating back to approximately 2580–2560 BCE, are among the most iconic symbols of ancient architecture. Meanwhile, civilizations in Mesoamerica, including the Maya and Aztecs, constructed step pyramids such as El Castillo at Chichen Itza and the Templo Mayor, serving religious and ceremonial purposes. In Africa, the Nubian pyramids of Sudan, built between circa 800 BCE and 1500 CE, feature steep-sided structures that differ from their Egyptian counterparts but share the pyramidal form. Southeast Asia boasts structures like Borobudur in Indonesia, a massive stepped pyramid that functions as a Buddhist pilgrimage site, while the ancient Mesopotamians built ziggurats—terraced platforms with pyramidal outlines serving as temples. Even in China, the mausoleum of Emperor Jing of Han exhibits pyramidal features.

This extensive distribution raises critical questions: Is this mere coincidence, or does it reflect some universal principle or shared human instinct? The widespread nature of pyramids across cultures and epochs suggests an underlying pattern that warrants scientific and cultural inquiry.

The shape that touches the sky

The pyramid is not just a symbol. It’s a shape grounded in physics and built from the simplest logic of weight and balance. A wide base. Sloping sides. As the structure rises, it narrows. That design doesn’t happen by accident. When you stack stone or mudbrick and let gravity do the rest, the most reliable shape you get is a pyramid. The weight holds itself together. It pushes down, not out. And because of that, pyramids can stand for thousands of years without columns or internal framing. They’re not easy to build, but we are told and reassured by mainstream experts that they don’t require complex tools, just labor, patience, and a plan.

In Egypt, the earliest pyramid-like structures are believed to have begun as mastabas: rectangular tombs with flat tops and sloped sides. Around 2600 BCE, that changed. Djoser, a king of Egypt’s Third Dynasty, commissioned his architect, Imhotep, to stack mastabas into tiers. That experiment became the Step Pyramid at Saqqara, the first pyramid in Egypt. Later builders and architects are believed to have refined the idea, smoothing the angles and expanding the scale. By the time of Khufu, the shape had reached its peak: the Great Pyramid at Giza, aligned almost perfectly to the cardinal points, built from more than two million blocks of stone.

Some of those blocks are still difficult to explain. The core limestone came from quarries nearby, but the smooth outer casing, now mostly gone, came from Tura, across the river. The granite beams above the King’s Chamber, some weighing more than 50 tons, were transported from Aswan, over 800 kilometers to the south. No records explain how they were moved. Ramps are the leading theory, but no ramp system found so far fully accounts for the scale, precision, and elevation involved. For all the study and excavation, the logistics behind the Great Pyramid remain one of archaeology’s most persistent puzzles. And one of my favorite mysteries about the pyramids.

In Central America, the pyramid took on a different role. The Maya, Aztec, and earlier cultures like the Olmec built stepped pyramids not as tombs but as stages. These were sites of ceremony, processions, and offerings to the gods. Temples sat at the top. Staircases ran down the middle. Unlike the sealed pyramids of Egypt, these were designed to be climbed. Many were built over earlier structures, layer by layer, as each new ruler added their mark to the past. One of the largest pyramids on Earth is located in North America, in the city of Puebla. It is called the Great Pyramid of Cholula.

Back to Africa and Egypt. To the south of Egypt, in what is now Sudan, the Nubian pyramids rose after Egypt’s golden age had faded. The Kingdom of Kush built hundreds of small, narrow pyramids in the desert near Meroë and Napata. They were sharper in angle, often just 6 to 30 meters tall, but their purpose was similar, to honor and bury kings, queens, and elites. They reflected Egypt’s influence, but with distinct local style.

In China, the shape appears again. The burial mound of Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor to unite China, was built in the 3rd century BCE and shaped like a low, flat pyramid. It’s still sealed. Remote sensing suggests a vast complex beneath the soil, rivers of mercury, miniature palaces, walls — but the tomb itself remains untouched. Other imperial mausoleums in the region follow the same form: wide at the base, rising to a flat point, then covered in earth and left to blend into the hills.

A rare view of the summit of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Coincidence or Convergent Evolution?

The question of whether pyramids are the result of coincidence or convergent evolution is central to understanding their ubiquity. Coincidence implies that different cultures independently arrived at similar architectural solutions due to common needs or constraints. Convergent evolution in architecture suggests that similar forms develop independently in response to analogous environmental factors, societal functions, or symbolic needs.

Several factors strongly support the idea of convergent evolution:

• Practicality and Structural Stability: Pyramids are inherently stable structures. Their broad bases and tapering apex facilitate weight distribution and resistance to environmental stressors such as earthquakes and erosion. This stability makes them ideal for tombs, religious temples, or ceremonial platforms—functions that require durability.

• Resource Availability: The materials used for pyramid construction—stone, mud brick—were accessible in numerous regions. For example, limestone in Egypt, volcanic stone in Mesoamerica, and mud bricks in Mesopotamia were locally abundant, enabling the independent development of pyramid structures.

• Symbolic Significance: The pyramid shape often symbolizes a connection between earth and the divine, with the apex representing the heavens or spiritual ascent. Such symbolism appears to be universally appealing, possibly rooted in innate human cognition or shared spiritual concepts.

• Functional Utility: Pyramids serve similar societal functions across cultures—marking tombs, serving as temples, or acting as territorial symbols. Their monumental nature elevates their societal importance, which may naturally lead to the adoption of similar forms.

The convergence of these factors suggests that the recurrence of pyramids can largely be explained by convergent evolution driven by shared environmental constraints, resource availability, and symbolic universals rather than direct contact or shared origins across civilizations.

Independent invention or shared idea?

As much as some would like to believe otherwise, there’s no evidence that ancient Egypt and the civilizations of the Americas ever made contact. The oceans were too wide, the timelines too far apart. They didn’t share a language, trade goods, or leave behind anything that connects them. And yet, both built pyramids. Large, angular, enduring. The resemblance has confused and intrigued scholars for over a century. It still does. But most experts agree: it’s coincidence.

Archaeologists call it convergent design. The pyramid solves practical problems. If you’re stacking stone or mudbrick and want the structure to last, gravity does most of the planning for you. Build up, and the shape naturally tapers. It’s stable. It’s strong. And if the base is wide enough, it will stand for a very long time. Just look at the pyramids in Egypt.

The pyramid is what happens when you stack stone long enough, said one archaeologist when I was living in Mexico (Yup, I lived there for over 15 years). He argued that it is the most efficient way to build tall without needing much engineering.

That’s true in theory maybe. The shape is efficient. But in practice, building a pyramid wasn’t easy. It took organization, manpower, and long-term planning. Moving heavy stone, lifting it into place, and keeping the structure aligned over dozens of vertical meters demanded far more than instinct. So we have to remember that these weren’t casual constructions. Some pyramids, like for example Cholula, took several generations to build.

And also, practicality wasn’t the only reason pyramids were built, either. In many places, height carried symbolic weight. Mountains were often seen as sacred, places where gods lived or where the living could reach toward the sky. By building upward, people recreated that connection. A pyramid placed the dead, the divine, or the ceremonial high above the ground. That elevation wasn’t just by chance or just because a king back in the day wanted something pointy.

The shape also served power. A pyramid stands out. It can be seen from far away. It doesn’t need decoration to feel important. It can be built over time, layer by layer, each generation adding to the one before (just like cholula). It doesn’t crack or lean, well at least not if it was built right. For rulers who wanted to mark the land, or be remembered long after they were gone, it was a shape that worked.

Cultural and Religious Significance

Despite their similar forms, pyramids often have distinct cultural meanings. Egyptian pyramids are primarily designed as royal tombs, facilitating the pharaoh’s journey to the afterlife. Mesoamerican pyramids, such as those at Chichen Itza, served as temples for religious rituals and sacrifices. Ziggurats in Mesopotamia functioned as terraced platforms dedicated to gods, reflecting a different religious worldview. In Nubia, the pyramids served as tombs for kings and queens, emphasizing their role in funerary practices. In Asia, structures like Borobudur symbolize spiritual enlightenment and the journey toward nirvana. While the architectural form remains similar—a stepped or smooth-sided pyramid—their purposes are deeply embedded in specific cultural, religious, and societal contexts.

This diversity underscores an important point: although the shape of pyramids appears across cultures, their symbolic meanings are often context-dependent. Nonetheless, the recurring use of a pyramid shape in sacred and funerary architecture suggests a shared human tendency to use monumental forms to mark significance, transcendence, and the divine. This universality in symbolic gesture might be rooted in innate cognitive patterns, such as the human tendency to recognize and emulate hierarchical, ascending forms as expressions of spiritual or societal hierarchy.

The Universal Architectural Logic Given the widespread occurrence and similar structural features, it is worth exploring whether there exists a universal architectural logic underlying pyramid construction. Several scientific and geometrical principles support this idea:

Geometric Efficiency and Structural Stability: The pyramid’s shape distributes weight evenly downward, minimizing stress on the structure and enabling it to reach impressive heights without complex support systems. The broad base provides stability, while the tapering apex reduces material use and enhances strength.

Material Optimization: The pyramid form allows builders to use locally available materials efficiently, stacking stones or bricks in a way that maximizes the strength-to-weight ratio. This principle of material efficiency is consistent with engineering practices observed across various civilizations.

Environmental Adaptation: Pyramids are well-suited to diverse climates and geographies. Their shape offers resistance to weathering and erosion, and their thermal properties—such as the ability to maintain stable internal temperatures—are advantageous in hot, dry environments.

Symbolic Geometry: The pyramid’s shape can be associated with fundamental geometric principles, such as the concept of the monumental triangle, which is aesthetically and symbolically powerful. The pyramid’s form can be linked to the idea of a mountain—a universal symbol of stability, permanence, and spiritual ascent.

Cognitive and Cultural Universals Research in cognitive science and anthropology suggests that humans have innate tendencies toward certain geometric forms and symbolic representations. For instance, studies indicate that humans across cultures tend to attribute sacredness to pyramidal shapes, possibly because they resemble natural features like mountains or celestial bodies. The universality of such forms could be rooted in shared neurocognitive mechanisms, such as pattern recognition, hierarchical structuring, and the human tendency to associate upward movement with spiritual elevation.

Moreover, the pyramid’s form facilitates ritualistic functions. Its geometric simplicity and visual prominence make it an effective focal point for collective ceremonies and social cohesion. This aligns with theories of cognitive archetypes—universal symbols embedded in the human psyche, as proposed by Carl Jung and others—where certain shapes and motifs recur across different cultures because they resonate with deep-seated psychological patterns.

A pattern across continents

Each region built its own kind of pyramid, shaped by the materials they had, the way their societies worked, and what they believed. In Egypt, mainstream experts maintain that the pyramids were tombs (I kind of disagree). In Mesoamerica, they were said to have been used as temples. In China, they sealed emperors underground. In Sudan, they marked the graves of royalty. The designs varied, but the basic form stayed the same, wide at the base, rising to a point.

In Egypt, pyramid construction reached its height during the Old Kingdom. As political power and resources declined, it is believed that the building slowed and eventually stopped. In Mesoamerica, the tradition lasted much longer. The Maya were still building pyramids into the 15th century, often adding new layers on top of older ones. In Sudan, the Napatan and Meroitic kingdoms revived the form long after Egypt had moved on. Their pyramids were smaller and steeper, but just as symbolic.

The Chinese pyramids are harder to spot. Most are covered in earth and blend into the landscape. The largest belongs to Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China. His tomb has never been opened, but surveys suggest there’s a vast underground complex beneath it, palaces, walls, and rivers made of mercury.

Why the pyramid worked

If you asked me to reply logically, I would probably say that a pyramid holds its own weight. That’s the simplest reason it shows up in so many ancient cultures. The wider the base, the more weight it can carry above. When people were building with stone, without mortar or steel, this mattered. You could stack layer after layer, and the shape would stay intact. It didn’t need columns or supports. It stayed up because of the way it was built.
The question remains, however, how some of the supermassive stones were transported in ancient Egyp, and stacked to the height the stones were stacked. But then again…The structure wasn’t the only reason. Height made a difference. A pyramid could rise above everything around it. In open landscapes, it became a fixed point on the horizon. For rulers, that visibility meant power. It gave their cities a center. It reminded people who was buried there, or who held the land.

In many places, height also carried spiritual meaning. Mountains were seen as sacred. They stood between the world of people and the world of gods. By building upward, ancient cultures brought that idea into daily life. A pyramid wasn’t a mountain, but it borrowed the shape. It gave form to beliefs that were otherwise invisible.

There are other ideas, too. Some people believe that different pyramid-building cultures inherited the design from a lost civilization. Others say there was contact between continents long before recorded history. A few suggest more unusual explanations. Archaeologists don’t accept these theories, because they aren’t supported by evidence. But their persistence shows how much mystery the pyramid still holds. For something made of stone, it remains hard to pin down.

The Role of Contact and Cultural Diffusion in the Development of Pyramid Structures: A Comparative and Scientific Perspective

The emergence of pyramid-shaped structures across different ancient civilizations has long intrigued scholars, prompting debates about whether these architectural feats resulted from independent innovation (convergent evolution) or through intercultural contact facilitating the dissemination of ideas. While convergent evolution offers a compelling explanation—highlighting how similar environmental and societal pressures can lead to analogous architectures—consideration of trade routes, technological exchange, and archaeological evidence suggests that cultural diffusion may have played a significant role in some instances.

Historical trade networks such as the Silk Road, which connected East Asia with Central Asia and the Middle East, and maritime routes in the Indian Ocean, facilitated not only the exchange of goods but also the transmission of technological knowledge and architectural concepts. For example, the spread of Buddhist stupas across Asia and Southeast Asia demonstrates how religious and cultural ideas traveled along these networks, potentially influencing local architectural styles, including pyramid-like structures. Maritime exploration and trade might have similarly enabled the transfer of construction techniques, stone-working methods, and symbolic motifs associated with pyramids, thereby fostering their adoption or adaptation in distant regions.

Nevertheless, the considerable temporal and geographic disparities among pyramid-building civilizations suggest that many of these structures arose independently rather than through direct influence. The Egyptian pyramids, notably the Pyramid of Khufu at Giza, date to the 26th century BCE, significantly predating Mesoamerican pyramids such as the Pyramid of Kukulcán at Chichen Itza, which was constructed around the 12th century CE. Furthermore, Chinese and Southeast Asian civilizations developed their own pyramid-like edifices—such as the Chinese burial mounds (tombs) from the Han Dynasty and the stepped pyramids of Southeast Asia—without definitive archaeological evidence linking these structures to external influences. These patterns support the hypothesis that environmental factors, societal organization, religious beliefs, and technological capabilities independently led to the emergence of pyramids across different regions.

One of the most curious ancient Egyptian megastructures – the Bent Pyramid.

Credit: Yann Arthus-Bertrand

Modern archaeological and engineering studies have shed light on the complexity of pyramid construction and the advanced knowledge systems employed. For instance, the Great Pyramid of Giza exemplifies precise astronomical alignment, with its sides oriented almost perfectly along the cardinal points, indicating sophisticated understanding of geometry and celestial phenomena. Analysis of the core and casing stones reveals advanced quarrying and transportation techniques, reflecting complex logistical organization. Similarly, in Mesoamerica, the construction of pyramids involved specific astronomical alignments and ritual significance, emphasizing the role of cultural symbolism alongside engineering prowess.

Contemporary scientific methods, such as radiocarbon dating, remote sensing, and material analysis, continue to refine our understanding of these structures' origins and development. These techniques often reveal independent timelines and technological innovations, reinforcing the notion of independent evolution. Moreover, digital reconstructions and structural analyses demonstrate how different civilizations tackled common architectural challenges—such as stability, durability, and symbolic representation—using locally available materials and indigenous engineering techniques.

In conclusion, while intercultural contact and trade networks undoubtedly facilitated the exchange of ideas and techniques, the independent emergence of pyramid structures in diverse civilizations appears to be primarily driven by convergent evolution—where similar environmental and societal pressures fostered analogous architectural solutions. The integration of archaeological evidence, scientific analyses, and historical context underscores the multifaceted nature of pyramid development, highlighting humanity’s universal tendencies to seek monumental expression of cultural, religious, and societal values through similar architectural forms across different regions and epochs.

CONCLUSION

The widespread presence of pyramids across various cultures and regions suggests a fascinating phenomenon: are pyramids a manifestation of a global pattern or do they emerge from a universal logic rooted in human psychology and environmental factors? To understand this, it is essential to consider both the cultural significance and the structural advantages of pyramids.

Historically, pyramids appear independently in diverse civilizations, from ancient Egypt and Mesoamerica to Mesopotamia and China. This parallel development indicates that pyramids are not simply cultural exports but rather a recurring solution to comparable societal needs and environmental challenges. The pyramid's shape symbolizes stability and durability—an enduring monument that withstands the test of time. Its broad base provides a sturdy foundation, while the tapering apex signifies ascent and spiritual elevation, often reflecting religious or cosmological beliefs.

From a practical perspective, the pyramid's geometric structure offers remarkable stability, making it suitable for monumental construction. Its inclined sides effectively distribute weight, reducing the risk of collapse, which was crucial in ancient engineering. Additionally, pyramids served as tombs or sacred sites, emphasizing their role as physical embodiments of spiritual beliefs and social hierarchy. Their prominent visibility also reinforced political power and religious authority, serving as symbols of divine legitimacy.

Culturally, the universal human tendency to seek immortality and to honor the dead may underpin the pyramid form. Many pyramids functioned as elaborate tombs or spiritual gateways, connecting the earthly realm with the divine. This shared human inclination to create enduring monuments to the dead and to express cosmological ideas suggests a universal logic rooted in human psychology.

Furthermore, environmental factors influenced pyramid design. In regions with abundant stone resources, such as Egypt and Central America, the material dictated the construction style. The pyramid's form was adaptable to local conditions, reinforcing the idea that its prevalence is driven by both cultural symbolism and practical considerations.

In conclusion, the widespread occurrence of pyramids across civilizations reflects a blend of universal human aspirations, psychological needs, and environmental influences. While cultural nuances shape specific interpretations, the underlying logic—stability, spirituality, and social cohesion—appears to be a common thread. This pattern underscores the universality of human creativity and the shared quest to leave a lasting legacy, making pyramids a compelling symbol of our collective history and aspirations

{ peter2011 }

13-08-2025 om 17:42 geschreven door peter  

Scientists have created a specialized AI assistant that will help in the study of Earth and other planets. It is capable of receiving data from geophysical instruments and using it to construct graphs and make assumptions. At the same time, requests can be made to it in normal human language.

AI for scientists

The new generation of AI has long sparked debate about whether it can really help people acquire new knowledge, or whether it is simply capable of stringing letters together to form words. But it seems that researchers at the University of Hawaii at Manoa have the answer to this question.

They created the Intelligent Data Exploring Assistant (IDEA) software platform, which combines the functionality of large language models such as ChatGPT with the capabilities of specialized neural networks designed to analyze large scientific data sets. 

Based on IDEA, it is possible to create a variety of assistant instruments capable of understanding questions in plain language, analyzing queries based on data sets from various measuring devices, and generating graphs and assumptions that will provide scientifically agreed answers to scientists’ questions.

Earth and beyond

First and foremost, the platform is designed for studying Earth as a planet. Based on IDEA, scientists were able to create a prototype of the Station Explorer Assistant (SEA) and applied it to analyze data from tide gauges — instruments that measure sea level with high accuracy. Usually, special programs need to be written to process data from them, but the new AI has already demonstrated its ability to provide answers without this.

Researchers say that it is not perfect, still makes mistakes, and its work needs to be carefully monitored. But it still makes the work of scientists much easier. And this applies not only to oceanographic data.

Although SEA focuses on sea level data, the basic structure of IDEA is designed to work across a wide range of geological scientific disciplines. In one example from the study, researchers applied IDEA to atmospheric data from Mars — an area they had never worked with before — and were surprised at how easily the assistant adapted to the new dataset with only a change in instructions and data sources.

Although SEA is still a prototype, it is available online for scientists or university students to test and try out. Developers are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the IDEA framework on GitHub and experiment with adapting it to their own data or using other large language modeling services.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Tech

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

13-08-2025 om 15:55 geschreven door peter  

Scientists are pondering the nature of 300 mysterious objects that the James Webb Space Telescope has spotted in the depths of space. Most likely, these are incredibly bright young galaxies, but this assumption still needs to be verified.

Mysterious objects in James Webb’s images

Scientists from the University of Missouri are discussing whether the bright objects recorded in large numbers by the James Webb Space Telescope could be distant but bright galaxies, or something else.

In the first few years of operation, the new space observatory saw many more objects than any telescope. This led to a problem with sorting all the objects it discovered. Initially, 300 of them simply could not be classified.

“These mysterious objects are candidate galaxies in the early universe, meaning they could be very early galaxies,” said Haojing Yan, a professor of astronomy at the College of Arts and Sciences at Mizzou and co-author of the study. “If even a few of these objects turn out to be what we think they are, our discovery could challenge current ideas about how galaxies formed in the early universe—the period when the first stars and galaxies began to take shape.”

But identifying objects in space does not happen instantly. This requires a careful, step-by-step process to confirm their nature, combining advanced technology, detailed analysis, and several space detective investigations.

Step 1: Identifying the first clues

Mizzou’s researchers used two powerful infrared cameras on the JWST: the Near Infrared Camera and the Mid-Infrared Instrument. Both devices are specially designed to detect light from the most distant corners of space, which is key to studying the early Universe.

Why infrared? Because the farther away an object is, the longer its light travels to reach us. As light from these early galaxies travels through space, it stretches into longer wavelengths — shifting from visible light to infrared. This stretching is called redshift, and it helps us determine how far away these galaxies are. The higher the redshift, the farther the galaxy is from Earth, and the closer it is to the beginning of the Universe.

Step 2: “ The dropout”

To identify each of the 300 candidates for early galaxies, researchers at Mizzou used a well-known method called the “dropout” technique.

This method detects galaxies with high redshifts by examining objects that appear in redder wavelengths but disappear in bluer ones — a sign that their light has traveled vast distances and time. This phenomenon is an indicator of the “Lyman Break” — a spectral feature caused by the absorption of ultraviolet light by neutral hydrogen. As the redshift increases, this signal shifts toward redder wavelengths.

Step 3: Estimating the details

Once the “dropout” technique identifies each of the galaxy candidates, the next step is to check whether they could be at very high redshifts, Yan said. 

“Ideally this would be done using spectroscopy, a technique that spreads light across different wavelengths to identify signatures that would allow an accurate redshift determination,” he said.

However, when complete spectroscopic data are not available, researchers can use a technique called spectral energy distribution fitting. This method provided Sun and Yan with a basis for evaluating the redshifts of their candidate galaxies, as well as other properties such as age and mass.

In the past, scientists commonly believed that these extremely bright objects were not early galaxies, but rather something that mimicked them. However, based on their achievements, Sun and Yan believe that these objects deserve closer attention and should not be dismissed so quickly.

Step 4: Final answer

The final test will use spectroscopy — the gold standard — to confirm the team’s findings. 

Spectroscopy separates light into different wavelengths, just as a prism separates light into a rainbow of colors. Scientists use this technique to detect the unique fingerprint of a galaxy, which can tell them how old the galaxy is, its formation and composition.

“One of our objects is already confirmed by spectroscopy to be an early galaxy,” Sun said. “But this object alone is not enough. We will need to make additional confirmations to say for certain whether current theories are being challenged.”

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

13-08-2025 om 15:43 geschreven door peter  

Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy have obtained a detailed image of an object resembling the Eye of Sauron from “The Lord of the Rings.” The shot helped reveal its long-held secret.

The object captured in the photo is known as PKS 1424+240. It is located billions of light years from Earth and is a blazar — a galaxy with a supermassive black hole at its center that actively absorbs matter. The jet it produces is directed toward us, which makes it appear much brighter than usual.

PKS 1424+240 has long puzzled astronomers. It stands out as the brightest of the known blazars emitting neutrinos, and is also a source of very high-energy gamma rays. However, strangely enough, its radio jet moves slowly, which contradicts models according to which only very fast jets can be the source of such powerful radiation.

Now, thanks to 15 years of super-precise radio astronomical observations using the VLBA radio telescope, researchers have been able to create a detailed image of this jet with unprecedented resolution. It showed an almost perfect toroidal magnetic field with a jet directed straight at us.

Since the jet is directed almost exactly toward Earth, its high-energy radiation is significantly amplified by the effects of special relativity. This alignment results in a brightness increase of 30 times or more. At the same time, the jet appears to move slowly due to projection effects — a classic optical illusion. 

This geometry allowed scientists to look directly into the heart of the blazar jet — an extremely rare opportunity. Polarized radio signals helped the team map the structure of the jet’s magnetic field, revealing its probable spiral or toroidal shape. This structure plays a key role in launching and collimating the plasma flow and may be necessary for accelerating particles to extreme energies. 

According to scientists, solving this mystery confirms that active galactic nuclei with supermassive black holes are not only powerful accelerators of electrons, but also protons — sources of the observed high-energy neutrinos.

This discovery is a triumph for the MOJAVE program, under which VLBA has been monitoring relativistic jets in active galaxies for decades. Scientists use very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) technology, which connects radio telescopes around the world to form a virtual telescope the size of the Earth. This provides the highest resolution available in astronomy, allowing us to study the smallest details of distant cosmic jets.

• Earlier, we reported on how astronomers found one of the largest known black holes, whose mass is 36 billion times greater than that of the sun.
• According to Phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

13-08-2025 om 15:34 geschreven door peter  

“Never Get Into a War With the Greys”: Whitley Strieber’s Cautionary Encounter

Whitley Strieber, well-known for his decades of writings and testimony on alleged alien contact, has shared many strange and often unsettling experiences. In a conversation featured in DEBRIEFED Episode 36, Strieber recounted a brief but remarkable meeting with a mysterious figure he identified as a “Nordic.”

This encounter was notable not only because the being appeared distinctly non-human, but also for a warning he gave — a statement that continues to echo in UFO discussions:

“Never get into a war with the Greys, because they’ll never let you win, and they will never let you stop fighting.”

Who Are the “Greys”?

In UFO lore, the Greys are among the most frequently reported alien types. Typically described as small, humanoid beings with large heads and dark eyes, they are often linked to abduction accounts and alleged medical or technological experiments. Some reports describe “tall Greys” or “tall whites” as mature versions of the smaller beings.

Strieber says his own experiences involve different forms of Greys, along with human-looking individuals and other entities — but the warning from the Nordic suggested a far more complex and possibly dangerous relationship between humans and these beings.

The Nordic Encounter

Strieber recalls meeting the Nordic under circumstances involving individuals connected to the U.S. Department of Defense. The man appeared around 6’7” tall, with blond hair and green eyes, looking more human than many Nordic descriptions in UFO literature. He introduced himself by saying, “I am not of you.”

Afterward, a defense contact explained to Strieber that this being was what they called a “Nordic.” When asked where such beings might originate, the reply was telling: “In that direction, we believe” — referring to the Pleiades star cluster.

Why the Warning Matters

The Nordic’s message about never engaging in war with the Greys suggests that such a conflict would be unwinnable and perpetual. This implies either an overwhelming technological superiority or a style of warfare so persistent and unconventional that humans could not hope to end it on their own terms.

Strieber noted that when he hears of modern military encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), he remembers this warning and wonders if today’s decision-makers are unaware of the potential consequences.

Broader Implications

The conversation also touched on the possibility of government or shadow-government programs working alongside extraterrestrials — whether Nordics, Greys, or other types. Strieber referenced discussions with the U.S. Senate Select Intelligence Committee in the past, and the idea of “black budget” projects funding secret facilities unknown even to official Pentagon records.

If such covert collaborations exist, they may already involve managing relationships — peaceful or otherwise — with non-human intelligences.

Whether one interprets Strieber’s account as literal truth, allegory, or speculative fiction, the cautionary phrase “Never get into a war with the Greys” is a stark reminder of how little humanity might understand about potential alien civilizations. If contact ever becomes public and undeniable, history could show that the greatest danger was not in making first contact — but in how we chose to respond afterward.

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

13-08-2025 om 15:15 geschreven door peter  

A mysterious black cube has joined the chilling list of objects spotted hovering over the US during last year's drone invasion. 

Newly released government reports have revealed five incidents near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio that have never been disclosed since the swarms of UFOs were seen along the East Coast in late 2024.

Along with several sightings of unidentified drones around the secretive Air Force base in December 2024, federal officials now say a 'black cube'-shaped craft was spotted by a nearby airplane less than 80 miles from Wright-Patterson.

Witnesses of the strange object sent their claims to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on December 19, describing how the cube was flying within 500 feet of the plane, which was soaring 16,000 feet above the ground.

This would make it incredibly unlikely to be a commercial drone, since those types of devices fly only a few hundred feet above the ground.

The FAA recorded this event in their 'SKYWATCH dataset,' which tracks drone sightings near airports or in restricted airspace.

However, when the FAA originally published this sighting in their publicly visible reports, they didn't include any mention of the object being a black cube.

Thanks to a recent Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, it was revealed that this sighting and the other drone incidents near Wright-Patterson led to a major security response, including temporarily closing off military airspace.

Newly released documents from the FAA reveal that military personnel in Ohio spotted a 'black cube' flying near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in December 2024 (Artist rendering)

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio has been linked to UFO activity since the 1940s and 5 new incidents have just been revealed

The new documents were released roughly nine months after the first drone swarms were spotted over the East Coast in November 2024.

Hundreds of sightings were made near military bases, residential neighborhoods, and even President Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, sparking fears of foreign adversaries spying on American citizens.

After promising answers about the origin of these large, slow-moving objects once he took office, Trump said on January 28 the mysterious swarms were 'not the enemy' and had been authorized to conduct 'research.'

However, the new documents revealed that federal officials still don't believe what's being told to the public. 

The recently released reports showed that both air traffic controllers and the FAA were contacted by officials at Wright-Patterson, but both agencies told the Air Force there were 'no authorized aircraft operating in WPAFB airspace' in December 2024.

Just days before the black cube was spotted near Wright-Patterson, four other incidents involving unknown aircraft were reported.

On December 17, three reports were made, revealing how military personnel spotted multiple objects on the base's radar just after 12:40am ET.

Base personnel, who assumed the objects were more drones, never saw the intruders with their own eyes but alerted local police to search.

The statements come months after the first drones appeared in November, soaring above military bases and Trump's golf course in Bedminster, sparking fears of foreign threats watching American citizens

Multiple drones swarmed over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (pictured) between December 13 and December 19, 2024

Less than 20 minutes later, the situation exploded, with radar screens at Wright-Patterson detecting between seven and 17 UFOs moving within 40 miles of the base's airfield.

This time, Wright-Patterson security guards were able to visually confirm that the objects were drones swarming around the base. The Air Force tracked the unmanned drones, but no other action was taken.

More than 12 hours later, an aircraft heading in for a landing at Wright-Patterson spotted a silver object just five miles from the base.

Records released from SKYWATCH noted that the crew believed this craft was a drone and recorded it flying at about 3,200 feet above the ground, much lower than the cube.

Just three days earlier, air traffic controllers had spotted what they believed was another drone over several sensitive locations at Wright-Patterson on December 14, forcing the base's commander to close the facility until the intruder flew off.

Newly released video by the military revealed unknown drones swarming over Wright-Patterson in December 2024

The cube spotted by a airplane less than 500 feet away was reportedly flying at around 16,000 feet, far higher than a normal commercial drone (Stock Image)

The FOIA request by The Black Vault, a website dedicated to sharing declassified government documents, has thrown Wright-Patterson back into the spotlight, as UFO conspiracy theorists have been focused on this facility for decades.

In July 2025, the US military was compelled to release never-before-seen video of two additional incidents over Wright-Patterson on December 13 and December 16, 2024.

Guards at the base recorded several craft flying slowly around the facility, including a group of 'four quad-copter drones with red and green lights in a tight diamond formation.'

After guards shone their car spotlight on them, they reported that the swarm 'gained altitude and flew away at a rapid speed.'

In another chilling incident, another officer spotted an unknown aircraft descending towards the base, getting within 500 feet of landing before it suddenly ascended and vanished into thin air.

UFO researchers and government whistleblowers have said on multiple occasions that the Ohio Air Force base has a direct tie to the 1947 UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico.

During a congressional hearing in May, Dr Eric Davis, a physicist who has been a consultant for the Pentagon's UFO program since 2007, revealed that debris from the Roswell incident was allegedly flown to Wright-Patterson after the crash.

The base was also the headquarters for Project Blue Book, the Air Force's official UFO investigation program from 1947 to 1969.

It investigated 12,618 sightings, with 701 remaining 'unidentified,' according to declassified records in the National Archives.

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13-08-2025 om 00:43 geschreven door peter  

Bombshell new investigation into Pennsylvania's Roswell as mystery of UFO crash deepens

By JAMES CIRRONE, US NEWS REPORTER

An eyewitness to the supposed crash-landing of a UFO in a small Pennsylvania town nearly 60 years ago now claims investigators have made new, startling discoveries about the incident. 

On December 9, 1965, people in seven US states and Canada reported seeing a giant fiery object lighting up the night sky.

Ronnie Strubel, 82, lived in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at the time and described it as a 'fireball with a red rooster tail behind it'.

Contrary to more recent reports where witnesses claim UFOs they saw were unnaturally quick, Strubel told Daily Mail the object he saw was moving about as fast as a commercial airplane.

Then, he said, it came down in a wooded area in the unincorporated town of Kecksburg, which lies in Westmoreland County.

'It only took like 15 or 20 minutes for us to get out to the site, and the military was already there,' he said. 

But in the decades since, this strange event likely seen by thousands of people has largely been erased from the collective memory.

That is, until the History Channel aired a documentary on the subject earlier this month, where a mix of experts used modern technology to uncover what may have happened all those years ago in Kecksburg.

Many locals who claim to have seen the UFO pass over Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, say it looked like an acorn (Pictured: A model of the UFO is seen displayed in town)

Pictured: The History Channel team, alongside first-hand UFO witnesses Bill Weaver (second from right) and Ronnie Strubel (right), stand in the woods near the supposed crash site

Kecksburg is a small, unincorporated town in Westmoreland County. The nearest big city is Pittsburgh

The 42-minute long episode, titled 'Pennsylvania's Roswell', was part of reality TV series Beyond Skinwalker Ranch, a show that focuses on sites around the country where there has been supposed paranormal activity.

Strubel and another local, Bill Weaver, were featured in the episode. During a shot near the crash site, Strubel told the same story, but Weaver added some more context about the government response.

'The police and the military, they were all over the place. And there were guys out there in dark suits. They were the ones that seemed to be in charge,' Weaver said.

'While we were standing there watching what was going on, the state police and the military came up to us and they told us, "If you don't move, we're going to confiscate your car." And I figured I better move,' he added.

Hosts Andy Bustamante, an ex-CIA officer, and Paul Beban, an award-winning journalist, unpacked much of the lore surrounding the UFO sighting and crash.

This included the persisting claim from longtime residents that the object they saw was shaped like an acorn.

An acorn-like model of the alleged UFO has been sitting outside the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Station since the 1990, when it was created as a prop for the NBC show 'Unsolved Mysteries.'

They also discussed many of the explanations that were thrown out by the federal government in the days, months and years after the incident.

Pictured: The very first Greensburg Tribune-Review article on the Kecksburg UFO incident, dated December 10, 1965

Pictured: The History Channel team did a LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scan of the ground near where the UFO was thought to have crashed. Technologist Pete Kelsey claimed that this blue area was abnormally flat compared to the rest of the surrounding topography

The team then returned to that exact spot with handheld spectrum analyzers to measure the radio waves. The reading on the left was taken from the flat area discovered by the LiDAR, while the reading on the right was taken just 20 feet away

Very early reports quoted astronomers claiming it was merely a meteor, but this didn't hold much credibility because of the unprecedented military presence documented by witnesses and local media.

NASA still maintains that it was likely a meteor, but also acknowledges speculation that it could have been Soviet satellite.

Beban said the strangest thing about the case was that it got plenty of media attention at the time before it 'faded from view' under 'a cloak of secrecy'.

Bustamante and Beban turned to the expertise of technologist Pete Kelsey in hopes that he would be able to uncover the exact site of the UFO crash.

Kelsey used LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) imaging from a drone and slam scanner to get a topographic map of the ground, which would reveal possible impact points.

Later, the team gathered to look at the results of the scan and found what Kelsey called a patch of 'man-made earth work'.

'It's level against this otherwise very steep slope. Straight lines, right angles. Those kinds of things do not occur in nature,' he said.

They then returned to that exact spot with handheld spectrum analyzers to measure the radio waves.

Strubel revealed the findings at this past weekend's 20th annual Kecksburg UFO Festival, an event he founded with permission from the fire department in 2005

Pictured: An alien themed parade at the 2013 Kecksburg UFO Festival

The alleged crash site had a vastly different radio signature than a spot just 20 feet away, which had a flat frequency.

'This doesn't make any sense. How is there a radio signal in one place that doesn't exist just a few feet away? That's not how radio energy works,' Bustamante said. 

'We're getting even more evidence that suggests that there really was something strange that happened on this spot, in this ravine, in Kecksburg,' he added. 'We might have actually found the real crash site.'

Strubel revealed these findings at this past weekend's 20th annual Kecksburg UFO Festival, an event he founded with permission from the fire department in 2005. 

Strubel himself is a 50-year veteran of the Kecksburg Volunteer Fire Department, once serving as chief.

The three-day festival routinely attracts thousands of visitors from all over the United States and the world as a whole, he told Daily Mail.

'We've had people from Japan, from Germany, from England with this little town event that we have,' he said.

The first two days of the festival were not solely dedicated to the extraterrestrial, with attendees enjoying a cornhole competition, a parade, fireworks and even a hotdog eating contest.

A visitor enjoying a previous Kecksburg UFO Festival in 2012

'Years ago, we used to have a street fair, and that went to the wayside. And this was our idea for some kind of event to draw a little bit of money into the community. So we started the UFO Fest,' Strubel said. 

It remains unclear what truly happened in Kecksburg six decades ago, but the mythos surrounding the UFO crash is clearly buoying the area to this day.

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13-08-2025 om 00:32 geschreven door peter  

Chilling new clue interstellar object is of intelligent design... as scientists warn 'it could save or destroy us'

• READ MORE: Mysterious interstellar object is caught on camera 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

The scientific community is embroiled in a heated debate over the origin of a mysterious interstellar object that entered our solar system last month.

While NASA initially identified the object, named 3I/ATLAS, as a comet after spotting what appeared to be a tail, Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb publicly challenged that conclusion on Thursday. 

Speaking to CNN, Loeb revealed that the object's unusual brightness suggests it is 'not a common thing.' 

'The brightness of the object implies a diameter of 12 miles, and there is not enough rocky material in interstellar space to deliver such a giant object per decade,' he said.

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope captured images of the object on July 21, revealing a glowing area at its front, something never before observed in a comet. 

'Usually, for comets, you see a tail trailing behind the object,' said Loeb. 'Here, the glow is actually in front of it. We've never seen such a thing. A comet doesn't glow in front.'

Loeb has also raised the possibility that the object may not be natural at all. 

'It may come to save us or destroy us,' the professor said. 'We'd better be ready for both options and check whether all interstellar objects are rocks.' 

The Hubble Space Telescope image of 3I/ATLAS shows a faint glow spreading out in front of the object as it moves toward the sun

The interstellar object is believed to be a comet, but Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb contends it could be an alien craft

Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, told Live Science that Loeb's theory is 'nonsense on stilts,' calling it 'an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object.'

However, Loeb said his analysis remains rooted in observational data.

He told CNN that another clue that the object is not natural is its 'very finely tuned' trajectory.

'It lies in the plane of the orbits of the planets around the sun to within five degrees,' Loeb explained.

According to him, the odds of that alignment happening by chance are one in 500. Even more striking, he says, is how closely the object passes Jupiter, Mars, and Venus, a pattern with odds of 1 in 20,000 if the arrival time were randomized. 

'It will arrive closest to the sun when the Earth is on the opposite side. We won't be able to observe it. But that's the perfect time for it to maneuver.' 

By 'maneuver,' Loeb refers to his theory that the object might use its solar flyby in October as a stealthy approach window, if it is, in fact, an alien probe.  

Among his more provocative theories, Loeb wrote on his blog that 3I/ATLAS could be an alien mothership releasing small probes to intercept Earth.

Telescopes have been tracking the course of 3I/ATLAS as it travels through our solar system in 2025 and 2026

Images of 3I/ATLAS taken on July 4 and July 29, 2025, show no sign of a comet tail. The arrows in the images indicate the directions of the sun, north, east and the way the object is moving through space

'The more likely scenario from an engineering perspective involves a mothership that releases mini-probes which perform a reverse Oberth maneuver to slow down at perihelion and intercept Earth,' Loeb wrote.

This type of maneuver uses the sun's gravitational pull at the object's closest approach to adjust the trajectory efficiently, allowing it to reach Earth without large amounts of fuel.

'So, we just need to watch it. I'm not saying it's an alien technology, I'm just saying it doesn't look like a very common thing,' Loeb told CNN.

'Why should we assume that we are the only ones in our cosmic neighborhood? We should just check by looking at the data.'

While NASA reported observing a tail, Loeb and his team recently determined that no such thing exists. 

'There were claims of a tail,' he said, 'but since 3I/ATLAS is accelerating and its current size is not much larger than the angular resolution of Earth-based telescopes, it is not easy to avoid fictitious elongation of the image as a result of the object's motion.' 

He also questioned the object's unusual lack of gas emissions and its precise, retrograde trajectory, which aligns suspiciously well with the inner solar system.

Loeb has developed what he calls the 'Loeb Scale', a ranking system to evaluate the likelihood that an object is artificial, and gave 3I/ATLAS a six out of ten.

That suggests it is more likely than not to be engineered, though he emphasized that this score may change as more data becomes available.

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12-08-2025 om 23:50 geschreven door peter  

An ancient underwater city beneath Turkey's Lake Van could potentially reveal secrets that challenge the origins of Noah's Ark. 

The sprawling ruins lie 85 feet below the surface near the town of Gevaş, just 150 miles from Mount Ararat, the mountain traditionally believed to be the final resting place of the biblical boat.

Geological evidence suggests that the ruins were submerged 12,000 to 14,500 years ago, when a Mount Nemrut eruption blocked the Mirat River, and caused massive flooding during the Younger Dryas, a period of extreme climate upheaval. 

While mainstream scholars dismiss the theory, many independent researchers believe this disaster wiped out an advanced civilization, one so ancient that it may have inspired the earliest versions of the Great Flood story. 

'As far as I'm aware, any civilizations in the last 6,000 years did not have the technological means to create the type of stonework we're seeing here,' said independent researcher Matt LaCroix, who spoke about the discovery on the Matt Beall Limitless podcast. 

LaCroix and an international dive team are preparing to explore the site in September using advanced imaging tools to map the ruins, which he believes could help rewrite humanity's timeline.

The underwater complex spans more than half a mile, featuring a stone fortress flanked by circular temples with precisely carved masonry.

There is also a capstone engraved with a six-spoked 'Flower of Life' symbol, an ancient motif also found at sacred sites in Peru and Bolivia. 

The underwater city features a giant fortress and circular temples. The megastructures are located 85 85 feet below the surface of Lake Van

Divers found stunning circular temples on the lakebed 

Discovered in 1997 by Turkish underwater filmmaker Tossen Salin while studying Lake Van's unusual micro-invertebrates, the ruins have remained largely unknown to the public. 

While archaeologists confirm the structures exist, many attribute them to the Urartian period around 3,000 years ago, or even to the medieval era. But they have admitted that the site has yet to be fully studied or definitively dated. 

LaCroix, however, said in a July episode of the podcast that geological data told a different story.

He explained how soil sampling and analysis of Mount Nemrut show clear evidence of a massive eruption around 12,000 years ago.

As a result, Lake Van's water level rose dramatically, over 100 feet, according to some estimates. 

Because stone cannot be carbon-dated, researchers hope to find organic material, such as sediment layers or artifacts, which could confirm the age of the ruins. 

But collecting such evidence underwater poses major challenges. 

The site’s sophisticated stonework, with tightly interlocking blocks, angular joints, and no visible binding agents, appears to rival the engineering seen in megalithic sites like Sacsayhuamán in Peru. 

An independent researcher believes that this city could rewrite the biblical story of Moses, making it thousands of years older than was is believed. The lake sits just 150 miles from Mount Ararat (pictured), believed to be the site of Noah's Ark

Because stone cannot be carbon-dated, researchers hope to find organic material, such as sediment layers or artifacts, which could confirm the age of the ruins

Discovered in 1997 by Turkish underwater filmmaker Tossen Salin while studying Lake Van's unusual micro-invertebrates, the ruins have remained largely unknown to the public

'You can see that the temple has been significantly damaged, said LaCroix.

'All the stones on the top have broken off except those at the edges. The site resembles Peruvian masonry, with precisely angled stones forming triangular joints, and only the front appears flat. It's beautiful and would have been perfectly carved.' 

He believes the shared architectural features, symbolic motifs, and astronomical alignments across sites in Turkey, South America and Asia suggest the existence of a long-lost global civilization.

Scholars have long acknowledged that the biblical flood story likely evolved from earlier Mesopotamian texts. 

Ancient cuneiform tablets from Sumerian, Akkadian, and Babylonian cultures, such as the Epic of Gilgamesh, the Atrahasis, and the Eridu Genesis, describe a massive flood sent to destroy early civilization, and a chosen man who builds a vessel to save life on Earth.

In these tales, the survivor is called Ziusudra or Utnapishtim, names predating Noah by thousands of years.

Excavation logs from Shuruppak, Iraq, believed to be the home of this early flood survivor, show a distinct flood layer above ancient Sumerian ruins. 

These records, uncovered at the Penn Museum, provide physical evidence of a catastrophic event similar to those described in the ancient texts.

The ruins were discovered in 1997 by Turkish underwater filmmaker Tossen Salin while studying Lake Van's unusual micro-invertebrates

Even the Babylonian Map of the World, the oldest known map, marks the Ararat region near Lake Van as a place of ancient significance, possibly linked to tales of a lone survivor who emerged after a global deluge.

LaCroix argues that the biblical version is not being dismissed but rather reframed in its historical and cultural context.

He told Beall to picture a thriving civilization along Lake Van, building temples and structures on stable, elevated ground they believed would last forever.

The lake’s water level was stable for millennia, until the eruption of Mount Nemrut changed everything. 

'It’s not that Lake Van would have had to have been 85 feet lower,' said LaCroix.

'It would have had to have been more like 100 feet lower or more, because these ruins are at 85 feet deep. So, what could account for a lake rising over 100 feet?'

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12-08-2025 om 23:37 geschreven door peter  

UFO whistleblower reveals the FOUR types of aliens the US government knows about

• READ MORE: Harvard scientist warns mysterious interstellar object could be 'hostile' alien craft set to visit Earth in just months

By STACY LIBERATORE, U.S. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

A recent Capitol Hill hearing has reignited debate over Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs) and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. 

In a May UAP briefing, physicist Dr Eric Davis, known for his work on top-secret Pentagon projects, stunned listeners by referencing alleged alien species, 'Grays, Nordics, Insectoids, and Reptilians,' as potential operators of unidentified craft. 

Davis described these entities as humanoid, approximately human-sized, and possibly linked to classified reverse-engineering programs.

Missouri Representative Eric Burlison, a member of the House Oversight Committee and UAP caucus, prompted the discussion, revealing on The Endless Void with Kristin Fisher that he had heard these same four classifications in private briefings.

'I've heard those four classifications discussed in meetings in this office by others,' Burlison said. 

'But what I wasn't expecting was for him to say it. I wasn't expecting Eric Davis, you know, respected scientists, to say that.'

Burlison, a self-described skeptic, admitted uncertainty about Davis's sources, noting the physicist's comments may stem from firsthand knowledge or secondhand reports. 

'If true, this would be a paradigm-shifting moment,' Burlison said. 'But if it is true, the government has no right to keep such a secret from the public it serves.' 

A respected scientists told Congress that there are four alien species piloting craft in our skies, including Nordics that have human-like features

Dr Eric Davis (left) described these entities as humanoid, approximately human-sized, and possibly linked to classified reverse-engineering programs. Missouri Representative Eric Burlison prompted the question about the different alien species 

The concept of Grays as a popular alien archetype took hold in the mid-1960s, largely due to the famous Betty and Barney Hill abduction case. 

The couple described being taken by small humanoids with smooth gray skin, large black almond-shaped eyes, and lacking typical human features like noses or ears.

Nordics are described as tall, slender beings resembling Scandinavian humans, with blonde hair, blue eyes, and fair skin. 

Often linked to the Pleiades star cluster, these entities are said to possess advanced technology and peaceful intentions, featuring prominently in 1950s contactee and UFO lore.

Insectoids, meanwhile, have been part of alien mythology since at least the early 1900s, with roots tracing back to Georges Méliès' 1902 film 'A Trip to the Moon.' 

These beings exhibit insect-like traits such as multiple limbs, exoskeletons, mandibles, and sometimes antennae.

The reptilian theory, claiming shape-shifting reptilian aliens secretly control Earth, surged in popularity through conspiracy theorist David Icke in the late 20th century. 

Interestingly, similar half-human, half-serpent figures appear in ancient South and Southeast Asian myths, such as the Nāga.

Another is Grays, described as small humanoids with smooth gray skin, large black almond-shaped eyes, and lacking typical human features like noses or ears

Betty (left) and Barney Hill (right) were the first Americans who claimed they were abducted by Grays in September 1961

While Davis named each of these in May, Burlison leaned toward a more earthly explanation, suggesting UAPs are likely advanced human-made technologies, perhaps experimental projects by private contractors.

'With all of the advancements that we've made, the fact that we discovered the Higgs Boson particle, all of the discoveries in quantum physics, and that nobody has figured out a way to create some form of advanced propulsion,' he remarked. 

However, Burlison expressed frustration at the thought of such technology existing, recalling how he sat delayed on a tarmac for three hours due to weather, joking, 'If we have advanced propulsion, I'm going to be really angry.' 

Critics have dismissed the hearings as veering into the absurd, with references to 'reptilians' and 'insectoids' sounding more like science fiction than serious inquiry.

Insectoids, meanwhile, have been part of alien mythology since at least the early 1900s, with roots tracing back to Georges Méliès' 1902 film 'A Trip to the Moon.' These beings exhibit insect-like traits such as multiple limbs, exoskeletons, mandibles, and sometimes antennae

Davis named each of these under oath in May as the beings invading Earth's skies. Pictured is a shot from the 'Go Fast' video that was released in 

'Some will think we're nuts,' Burlison acknowledged, aware of the skepticism his comments invite.

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•  Chilling theory emerges about suspicious activity in space... as Harvard expert warns we will tear ourselves apart: 'Time to worry' 

Yet he defended the investigation, emphasizing that taxpayer money funds Pentagon, intelligence, and energy department programs studying UAPs.

'I owe it to the American people to get to the bottom of this,' he said.

Burlison believes the public could handle the truth if aliens were confirmed.

'Most would just read the headline and move on,' he predicted, noting humanity's tendency to normalize even the most extraordinary revelations.

However, he insisted that any such discoveries should not be hidden.

'The government belongs to the people, not the other way around,' Burlison stressed. 'Keeping such monumental secrets would betray the trust of the public.'

While remaining cautious about extraterrestrial claims, Burlison plans to press Dr Davis for clarification on whether his startling remarks come from direct knowledge or secondary reports.

The reptilian theory, claiming shape-shifting reptilian aliens secretly control Earth, surged in popularity through conspiracy theorist David Icke in the late 20th century

Burlison believes the public could handle the truth if aliens were confirmed. 

'Some will read the headline and go about their day,' he predicted, citing human behavior's tendency to normalize even earth-shattering news. 

However, he stressed that any such revelation should not be kept secret.

'I believe that this government belongs to the people. It's not that the people don't belong to the government,' he said, arguing that withholding paradigm-shifting discoveries would betray public trust.

The lack of concrete evidence, coupled with Davis's ambiguous sources, keeps the debate speculative. Burlison plans to follow up with Davis to clarify whether his claims stem from direct observation or research assignments analyzing reported phenomena.

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12-08-2025 om 23:24 geschreven door peter  

Atlantis: Een Vergelijkende Studie tussen Wetenschap en Mystiek over het Bestaan en de Verwoesting

Inleiding

De legende van Atlantis heeft door de eeuwen heen velen gefascineerd. Het is een verhaal dat balanceert tussen historische werkelijkheid en mythische verbeelding. Terwijl sommigen geloven dat Atlantis ooit echt heeft bestaan, beschouwen anderen het als een mythe of een allegorie. In deze studie wordt een uitgebreide vergelijking gemaakt tussen de wetenschappelijke benadering en de mystieke interpretaties omtrent het bestaan en de ondergang van Atlantis. Hierbij wordt ingegaan op de oorsprong van de legende, de bewijsvoering, wetenschappelijke theorieën, mystieke overtuigingen en de onderliggende wereldbeelden die deze perspectieven bepalen.

Oorsprong van de Legende

De eerste vermelding van Atlantis komt uit de Griekse filosoof Plato, rond 360 v.Chr.. In zijn dialogen "Timaeus" en "Critias" beschrijft hij Atlantis als een machtige en geavanceerde beschaving die zich ongeveer 9.000 jaar vóór zijn tijd zou hebben gevestigd, op een continent dat zich voor de Straat van Gibraltar uitstrekte. Volgens Plato zou Atlantis door haar arrogantie en immoraliteit door de goden zijn gestraft en onder water zijn verdwenen in een enkele dag en nacht van catastrofale aardbevingen en overstromingen.

Na Plato werd Atlantis al snel een symbool voor een verloren paradijs, een superriet die zowel de menselijke ambitie als de val symboliseert. Door de eeuwen heen zijn vele andere bronnen, zoals de werken van latere schrijvers en ontdekkingsreizigers, toegevoegd aan de mythologie rond Atlantis.

Wetenschappelijke benadering: De zoektocht naar bewijs

De wetenschappelijke wereld benadert de legende van Atlantis vooral als een mythe of een allegorie. Er is geen concreet archeologisch bewijs dat Atlantis ooit heeft bestaan als een grote beschaving, laat staan dat het zich op de door Plato genoemde locatie bevond. Onderzoekers en archeologen hebben verschillende theorieën ontwikkeld over de mogelijke realiteit van Atlantis.

Een van de meest gangbare theorieën is dat Plato de legende heeft gebaseerd op herinneringen aan een oude, mogelijk ondergang van een geavanceerde beschaving, zoals die op Kreta tijdens de Minoïsche periode (ca. 1450 v.Chr.). De Minoïsche beschaving was zeer ontwikkeld, met indrukwekkende paleizen zoals dat van Knossos, uitgebreide handel en kunst. Na een verwoestende aardbeving en tsunami werd deze beschaving mogelijk in de vergetelheid geraakt, en de verhalen werden mythologische verhalen.

Daarnaast worden er speculaties gedaan over onderwaterlocaties zoals de Canarische Eilanden, de Azoren, of de gebieden rond de Middellandse Zee en de Zwarte Zee. Sommige onderzoekers wijzen op onderwaterstructuren en anomalieën die mogelijk resten van oude menselijke bewoning kunnen zijn. Toch ontbreekt het aan sluitend bewijs dat wijst op een grote, geavanceerde beschaving zoals door Plato beschreven.

Moderne technologieën zoals onderwaterarcheologie, sonar en satellietbeelden worden ingezet om mogelijke locaties te onderzoeken, maar tot nu toe zijn geen overtuigende bewijzen gevonden die Atlantis bevestigen als een historische plek.

Wetenschappelijke verklaringen voor de mythe

De meeste wetenschappers geloven dat Atlantis een fictieve constructie is, bedoeld als een moreel en politiek verhaal dat door Plato werd gebruikt om bepaalde ideeën over deugd en immoraliteit te illustreren. Plato was een filosoof die vaak allegorieën en metaforen gebruikte om abstracte ideeën te verduidelijken.

Bovendien wordt gesuggereerd dat de verhalen over Atlantis mogelijk geïnspireerd zijn door herinneringen aan aardbevingen en natuurlijke rampen die in de regio’s rond de Middellandse Zee en de Zwarte Zee plaatsvonden. Deze rampen zouden de herinnering aan een ondergang hebben geïnspireerd die vervolgens werd versterkt en uitgewerkt in mythologische verhalen.

Een andere verklaring is dat Atlantis dient als een archetype van een verloren gewaande utopische beschaving, vergelijkbaar met het Paradijs of andere mythische plaatsen die de menselijke verbeelding blijven prikkelen. In deze context vertegenwoordigt Atlantis een universeel verlangen naar een ideale samenleving die ooit bestond en verloren is gegaan.

Mystieke en esoterische interpretaties

In tegenstelling tot de wetenschappelijke benadering, nemen mystici, esoterici en spirituele denkers Atlantis vaak serieus als een werkelijk vermeende historische locatie met een diepere symbolische betekenis. Zij beschouwen Atlantis niet enkel als een mythe, maar als een realiteit die ooit heeft bestaan en mogelijk nog altijd in spirituele of energetische vormen voortleeft. Volgens deze denkers vertegenwoordigt Atlantis een hoogontwikkelde beschaving die haar kennis, technologie en spirituele inzichten verloren heeft door catastrofale gebeurtenissen. Deze interpretaties worden vaak ondersteund door oude teksten, alchemistische geschriften en occulte tradities, die suggereren dat Atlantis een plek was waar wetenschap en spiritualiteit hand in hand gingen.

Verschillende mystieke stromingen verbinden Atlantis met universele energievelden en kosmische kennis. Zo stellen sommige esoterische tradities dat de bewoners van Atlantis beschikten over geavanceerde technologische en spirituele vaardigheden, waaronder helende energieën en contact met hogere dimensies. Volgens deze zienswijze zijn de ondergang en het verdwijnen van Atlantis niet enkel een fysiek gebeuren, maar ook een spirituele gebeurtenis die de menselijke evolutie beïnvloedt. Sommige theorieën suggereren dat de kennis en energieën van Atlantis nog altijd in de wereld aanwezig zijn, verborgen onder lagen van tijd en ruimte, wachtend op heropleving.

Wetenschappelijke en archeologische benaderingen

In tegenstelling tot de mystieke interpretaties proberen archeologen en historici de legende van Atlantis te benaderen vanuit een empirisch perspectief. Tot op heden is er geen sluitend archeologisch bewijs gevonden dat het bestaan van een geavanceerde beschaving zoals Atlantis bevestigt. De bekendste verwijzing naar Atlantis komt uit de werken van de Griekse filosoof Plato, die in zijn dialogen "Timaeus" en "Critias" Atlantis beschrijft als een machtige en technologisch ontwikkeld rijk dat ongeveer 9.000 jaar voor zijn tijd onderging door een catastrofale gebeurtenis. Hoewel Plato zelf waarschijnlijk een allegorie bedoelde, hebben latere onderzoekers geprobeerd deze verhalen te interpreteren als historische realiteit.

Wetenschappelijke studies richten zich op mogelijke geografische locaties die met de legende overeenkomen, zoals de ondergang van de Minoïsche beschaving op Kreta of de ondergang van de Thera-uitbarsting. Sommige theorieën suggereren dat de mythe is gebaseerd op herinneringen aan deze gebeurtenissen, maar er is geen bewijs dat wijst op een grote, wereldwijde beschaving zoals beschreven door Plato. Bovendien ontbreken archeologische vondsten die de aanwezigheid van een dergelijk rijk bevestigen. De meeste wetenschappers beschouwen Atlantis dan ook als een mythisch of symbolisch construct dat dient als een metafoor voor een verloren gewaande utopie.

Vergelijking tussen wetenschap en mystiek

De tegenstelling tussen wetenschappelijke en mystieke interpretaties van Atlantis weerspiegelt bredere discussies over de aard van kennis en waarheid. Wetenschap baseert zich op empirisch bewijs, herhaalbare experimenten en kritische analyse. Hierdoor blijft de wetenschappelijke consensus dat Atlantis een mythisch of symbolisch verhaal is, zonder bewijs dat het ooit als een fysieke beschaving heeft bestaan.

Aan de andere kant bieden mystieke en esoterische perspectieven een meer symbolische en spirituele benadering. Zij zien Atlantis als een archetype van menselijke idealen, verloren kennis of een hogere beschaving die in een andere dimensie of tijdlijn voortleeft. Deze interpretaties spreken vooral mensen aan die geloven in de mogelijkheid van spirituele evolutie en het bestaan van verborgen kennis buiten de grenzen van de empirische wetenschap.

BESLUIT

De studie "Atlantis: Comparing Science and Mysticism Regarding Its Existence and Destruction" biedt een uitgebreide analyse van de verschillende perspectieven op het bestaan en de ondergang van de mythische beschaving Atlantis. Door een gedegen literatuuronderzoek en vergelijkende analyse tussen wetenschappelijke en mystieke bronnen, wordt duidelijk dat de opvattingen over Atlantis sterk uiteenlopen, afhankelijk van de benadering.

Aan de ene kant stelt de wetenschap dat Atlantis waarschijnlijk een mythisch of symbolisch concept is, voortkomend uit oude verhalen zoals die van Plato. Wetenschappers wijzen op het gebrek aan archeologische bewijzen en de inconsistente geografische beschrijvingen, waardoor de meeste onderzoekers concluderen dat Atlantis eerder een allegorie was dan een fysieke plaats. Daarnaast benadrukken zij dat de verhalen over de ondergang van Atlantis mogelijk geïnspireerd zijn door natuurlijke rampen zoals vulkanische uitbarstingen en aardbevingen, die in de regio plaatsvonden.

Aan de andere kant wordt in mystieke kringen Atlantis vaak beschouwd als een echte, geavanceerde beschaving die ooit op aarde heeft bestaan en verbonden was met hogere kennis en spirituele kracht. Deze opvattingen worden ondersteund door oude teksten, kristal- en energie-therapieën, en spirituele ervaringen die de aanwezigheid van een verloren wereld suggereren. Voor deze groep is Atlantis niet alleen een historische plek, maar ook een symbool van menselijke evolutie en bewustzijn.

De studie benadrukt dat beide perspectieven waardevol zijn, maar dat ze gebaseerd zijn op verschillende methodologieën en wereldbeelden. Wetenschap richt zich op bewijs en empirische gegevens, terwijl mystiek meer vertrouwt op intuïtie en spirituele ervaringen. Het is belangrijk om deze benaderingen te erkennen als complementair in de zoektocht naar de waarheid over Atlantis.

In conclusie toont de studie aan dat de mythe van Atlantis een krachtig symbool blijft voor zowel menselijke verbeelding als zoektocht naar kennis. Hoewel er geen sluitend bewijs is voor het bestaan of de ondergang van de beschaving, biedt het onderwerp een rijke voedingsbodem voor zowel wetenschappelijke als spirituele verkenningen. Het verbinden van deze perspectieven kan leiden tot een dieper begrip van onze geschiedenis, cultuur en spirituele evolutie.

Referenties:

• Plato, Timaeus en Critias
• Freke, R. & Gandy, P. (2000). The Jesus Mysteries.
• Edgar Cayce-archieven
• Van der Waerden, B. L. (1975). Ancient Science and Its Cultural Significance.

 { PETER2011 }

12-08-2025 om 22:07 geschreven door peter  

LiDAR Study Shows Maya Population May Have Topped 16 Million

New research led by Tulane University archaeologists reveals that the ancient Maya civilization was far more populous than previously thought — supporting as many as 16 million people across parts of modern-day Guatemala, southern Mexico and western Belize.

The research, published this month in the  Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, reveals one of the most comprehensive regional-scale analysis to date of Maya settlement patterns using lidar (light detection and ranging) technology.

The findings significantly revise population estimates and models of ancient Maya settlement in the Central Maya Lowlands, revealing a far more complex, integrated and populous civilization than previously understood.

"We now have hard evidence that Maya society was highly structured across both cities and rural areas and far more advanced in resource and social organization than previously understood."

• Unlocking the Secrets of Maya Healing
• Remembering the Future: How Ancient Maya Agronomists Changed the Modern World

Largest previously unknown ceremonial center discovered with NASA's GLIHT lidar data in Campeche, Mexico.

(Graphic by Francisco Estrada-Belli/Science Direct)

Surprising Findings

"The ancient Maya never fail to amaze me," said lead author Francisco Estrada-Belli, a research professor in Tulane’s Middle American Research Institute and manager of its GIS (Geographic Information System) lab.

"We expected a modest increase in population estimates from our 2018 lidar analysis, but seeing a 45% jump was truly surprising. This new data confirms just how densely populated and socially organized the Maya Lowlands were at their peak.”

Using advanced analytical methods and reprocessed lidar data, researchers estimate that between 9.5 million and 16 million people inhabited the region during the Late Classic period (600–900 AD), across a 95,000-square-kilometer area encompassing the rainforest lowlands.

These new estimates confirm that the Classic Maya Lowlands were not only densely inhabited but also highly structured, with consistent patterns of urban and rural organization across an immense region, Estrada-Belli said.

“We’re confident these lidar-based findings give us the clearest picture yet of ancient Maya settlement patterns," Estrada-Belli said. "We now have hard evidence that Maya society was highly structured across both cities and rural areas and far more advanced in resource and social organization than previously understood."

The team combined data from multiple publicly available and private lidar surveys, including reanalyzed environmental lidar collected by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, with newer archaeological mapping efforts in southern Campeche and Quintana Roo, Mexico.

• Maya King's Tomb: First Ruler of Caracol Discovered, Belize
• Sacred Maya Blue Traced to Remote Yucatan Mine in New Study

Ancient Maya city of Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico.

(Public Domain)

Researchers identified a single, consistent model of urban and rural organization, with residential and agricultural features clustered around elite-controlled plaza groups. Extensive agricultural infrastructure, especially in the densely populated north, points to elite management of food production and distribution across both cities and rural areas.

Nearly all structures were located within three miles (5 km) of a large or medium-sized plaza group, indicating widespread access to civic-ceremonial centers and challenging past assumptions about isolated rural settlements.

This study shifts understanding of the Classic Maya from fragmented city-states and scattered hamlets to a deeply interconnected civilization, supported by a carefully structured system of governance, agriculture and commerce.

The findings also highlight the power of airborne lidar as a tool for archaeological discovery in dense tropical environments, where traditional field surveys are often hindered by dense vegetation and inaccessibility.

"We are very grateful to the Hitz Foundation for funding the MARI-GIS lab and making this research possible,” said Marcello Canuto, a study co-author and director of the Middle American Research Institute.

• Estrada-Belli, F., Canuto, M. A., Šprajc, I., & Fernandez-Diaz, J. C. (2025). New regional-scale Classic Maya population density estimates and settlement distribution models through airborne lidar scanning.  Journal of Archaeological Science, Reports, 66(105288), 105288. doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105288

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{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/history-archaeology }

12-08-2025 om 21:25 geschreven door peter  

How Telescope Noise Could Help Us Monitor Climate Change

By Evan Gough 

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

12-08-2025 om 21:00 geschreven door peter  

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{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

12-08-2025 om 20:53 geschreven door peter  

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12-08-2025 om 20:37 geschreven door peter  

Using the MeerKAT radio telescope, an international team of astronomers has discovered a new fast radio burst, designated FRB 20240304B. It became the most distant such event found to date.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are intense bursts of radio waves that last only a few milliseconds and release energy equivalent to that emitted by the Sun over several days. To date, the physical nature of this mysterious phenomenon remains unknown, but astronomers are considering various explanations, ranging from radiation from young magnetars in supernova remnants to cosmic strings.

The vast majority of FRBs are located in the local Universe and have redshifts below 0.5, while their distribution at higher redshifts is still poorly understood. This is why astronomers are particularly interested in searching for distant FRBs, as they can provide important clues about the formation of galaxies when the Universe was several billion years old. 

A group of astronomers from the University of Sydney in Australia reported the discovery of such a distant burst. It was designated FRB 20240304B. Its redshift is approximately 2.148, which corresponds to only 3 billion years after the Big Bang.

FRB 20240304B was identified on March 4, 2024, by the Transient User Supplied Equipment (TUSE) instrument installed on the MeerKAT radio telescope. Subsequently, the James Webb Observatory managed to determine the position of its source. It is located in a small, lumpy, star-forming galaxy. Its stellar mass is about 10 million solar masses, its star formation rate is 0.2 solar masses per year, and its metallicity is 10–20% of the Sun’s metallicity.

Overall, the results confirm that FRB 20240304B is the most distant FRB detected to date. So far, this is the first radio burst from the cosmic noon epoch — a period in the history of the Universe (about 10–11 billion years ago) when star formation was at its peak. 

• Earlier, we reported on a radio burst from a dead galaxy that surprised astronomers.
• According to Phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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{ https://universemagazine.com/en/news-en/ }

12-08-2025 om 20:25 geschreven door peter  

Scientists have proposed using the Vera Rubin Observatory or the Subaru telescope to search for additional targets for the Lucy mission. If successful, the mission will gain a completely new object for study and will be able to more accurately determine the differences between the two groups of Trojan asteroids.

The Lucy spacecraft was launched in 2021. Its main mission is to study Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids. This is the name given to two populations of objects located at the Lagrange points L4 and L5 of the Jupiter-Sun system. Point L4 is located in the plane of the gas giant’s orbit 60° “ahead” of it in the direction of orbital motion, while point L5 is located 60° “behind” it. 

The cloud at point L4 is the main objective of the Lucy mission: four of the five planned visits to the Trojan asteroids are set to take place between 2027 and 2028. After that, Lucy will return to Earth and use its gravity to head to the point L5. The mission plan includes a visit to the double asteroid Patroclus located there in 2033. 

The asteroids that Lucy is scheduled to visit are only a small fraction of the total number of objects located in these regions. A team of American researchers, including scientists from NASA, wondered whether it would be possible to increase the mission’s value and find additional targets for Lucy. In an article published on the arXiv preprint website, they claim that this is entirely feasible. At the end of 2026, Jupiter’s Trojan asteroids will be in opposition to Earth. According to scientists’ estimates, in just one night of observation, powerful telescopes such as Subaru or Vera Rubin will be able to find several potential candidates for Lucy’s visit at the L5 point, with a diameter of about 700 meters. If they conduct observations over several nights, they will be able to find smaller asteroids with diameters of around 500 meters.

Next, the scientists assessed the possibility of performing a maneuver that would direct the spacecraft toward a new target. According to their estimates, this is entirely feasible, and Lucy should have sufficient fuel reserves.

To implement this plan, the mission team will need to secure observation time on a sufficiently large telescope at the end of 2026. If this does not happen, it is unlikely that an additional asteroid will be found for Lucy to visit. Due to the heavy workload of large observatories, it is currently unclear whether this plan will be feasible.

• According to Phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

12-08-2025 om 20:15 geschreven door peter  

At the dawn of the Solar System, collisions involving planets and giant asteroids were a common occurrence. It is believed that such an impact led to the formation of the Moon. It is also sometimes used to explain the dichotomy of the two hemispheres of Mars. But what about Venus?

Venus differs significantly from Earth and Mars in both its lack of moons and its slow retrograde rotation around its axis. Scientists have long suspected that these features could be explained by the effects of a giant impact. Researchers from the University of Zurich decided to test this assumption. They used advanced computer simulations called smoothed particle hydrodynamics to model what would have happened if Venus had been hit by massive objects early in its formation. These simulations allow us to track the behavior of materials during extreme collisions, making them ideal for studying planetary impacts.

The team simulated Venus as it probably was after its initial formation: a differentiated planet with an iron core comprising 30% of its mass and a mantle of forsterite comprising the remaining 70%. They then simulated collisions with objects ranging in mass from 0.01 to 0.1 times the mass of Earth.

The simulations examined various collision scenarios: speeds ranging from 10 to 15 km/s, different impact geometries (from head-on to oblique), different initial thermal profiles, and different rotation speeds of Venus. By conducting these digital experiments, researchers were able to analyze how such events could affect Venus’ rotation periods after the collision and the formation of the debris disk.

The results of the study show that a wide range of collision scenarios are compatible with Venus’ current rotation speed and direction. These include head-on collisions with non-rotating Venus and oblique collisions with rotating Venus by bodies the size of Mars.

However, the most important thing they discovered was that collisions corresponding to Venus’ current rotation speed usually result in the formation of very small debris disks that remain within the synchronous orbit. This means that their material then falls back onto the planet, preventing the formation of permanent moons. As a result, scientists came to the final conclusion that a giant collision could be compatible with both Venus’ unusual rotation and the absence of moons.

• Earlier, we reported on how giant “pancakes” were baked on the surface of Venus over thousands of years.
• According to Phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

12-08-2025 om 17:29 geschreven door peter  

The Artemis II mission crew has begun several days of training on the Orion spacecraft. Next year, they will travel to the Moon aboard it.

The Artemis II mission is scheduled to fly in April 2026. As part of this mission, launched using an SLS rocket, the Orion spacecraft will fly around the Moon on a free return trajectory and then return to Earth. Its crew consists of four people: NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch, as well as Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

As part of preparations for the upcoming flight, on July 31, crew members put on their spacesuits and boarded Orion to practice and test some of the conditions they may encounter during the mission. 

Once in Orion, accomplished several actions that will be performed on launch day, including checking communications and the airtightness of the spacesuits. For the first time, astronauts were connected to the spacecraft and its communication and life support systems.

During the tests, several possible scenarios that could arise during flight were simulated. In some of them, the crew had to deal with potential problems such as leaks and failure of the air regeneration system fan, which is necessary for supplying oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the cabin.

The tests have given astronauts the opportunity to train on the actual equipment they will use during the mission, enabling them and their support teams to familiarize themselves with it in configurations very close to those they will encounter in flight. This also allowed for verification of the compatibility of equipment and systems with flight dispatch procedures, enabling them to make final adjustments prior to launch.

The crew also practiced performing actions they would likely perform during the flight. In particular, the astronauts practiced removing and stowing the foot pans from the pilot and commander seats, which will give them more space in the cabin after launch. They also gained access to storage lockers and familiarized themselves with cameras, related cables and mounts, environmental control and life support equipment.

• Earlier, we reported on NASA’s plans to build a nuclear reactor on the Moon.
• According to NASA

• Posted in News, Tech

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12-08-2025 om 17:17 geschreven door peter  

Video! UFOs Seen Leaving Earth, Bad Sign Of Things To Come! Witnessed By 2 Pilots, Over Minas Gerais, Brazil Aug 5, 2025, UAP UFO Sighting News

Date of sighting: Aug 5, 2025

Location of sighting: Guapé, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Source: NUFORC

 

Of all the nightmare scenarios that might happen in the future, this is a sign of the end of times. When fleets of UFOs are seen exiting the earths atmosphere all together...abandoning Earth, then you know there is a huge safety concern on the horizon. It's the same as when long ago, sailors on wooden ships see rats jumping overboard, the rats knew that the ships was going to sink. Of course, aliens don't see time like we do. They have infinite life spans if they avoid accidents, so these could be the first groups to leave, meaning the big event they fear is still weeks or months away. 

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily

 

Eyewitness states: 

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

11-08-2025 om 23:01 geschreven door peter