Unprecedented radio view of the Milky Way took over 40,000 hours to construct — Space photo of the week

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09-11-2025 om 18:29 geschreven door peter  

(Credit: NASA)

“This stability means Enceladus’ ocean could have existed for a long-term, potentially giving life a chance to have evolved,” explained the study’s lead author, Dr Georgina Miles from SwRI and Visiting Scientist at the Department of Physics, University of Oxford, and study co-author, Oxford Prof. Carly Howett, also from the PRI, in an email to The Debrief.

The research team behind the new analysis also described Enceladus as “a top contender for extra-terrestrial life,” because it has heat, liquid water, and the right chemicals, such as complex hydrocarbons and phosphorus, needed for life on Earth. The researchers also told The Debrief that future missions to Enceladus could reveal critical data about the moon’s age and the age of its subsurface ocean, which is necessary to confirm its potential habitability.

Although researchers have suspected for some time that Enceladus’ ocean might support life, its long-term stability, which is required for life to evolve, has remained in question. This stability can only exist if its energy losses and gains remain in balance.

For example, if the moon’s squeezing and stretching caused by Saturn’s gravity creates too little energy, the surface activity would slow or even stop, resulting in the sub-surface ocean freezing. Conversely, if this gravity-induced tidal activity generates too much heat, the ocean’s activity would increase, which the researchers note would also dramatically alter its environment.

To determine if the ocean could stay stable over the geological timescales needed for life to develop, the researchers examined surface temperature data captured by Cassini between 2005 and 2017.

“We used north polar late winter observations (when the north pole was in winter darkness) and summer observations permanent daylight) for this study,” Dr. Miles and Prof. Howett told The Debrief.

The researchers said using data captured by Cassini during the moon’s deep winter (2005) and deep summer (2015) was important because heat conducted through the surface ice shell during the winter might be mistaken for the pole still cooling down from the summer. However, they note, this “wouldn’t be the case” for observations collected in summer.

“Observations from both seasons were required to rule that out,” they explained, adding that warmer regions were “easier to spot” when the moon’s surface is at its coldest.

According to a statement detailing the research, the team used this data to create expected surface temperature models during the polar night and compare them against infrared observations captured by Cassini’s Composite InfraRed Spectrometer (CIRS). These models revealed that the surface of the North Pole, which had previously been considered inactive, was approximately seven times warmer than previous models had predicted.  The team said this discrepancy could only be explained if the sub-surface ocean was leaking heat through the icy shell.

Dr. Miles and Prof. Howett told The Debrief that the moon’s maximum total outgoing heat “is comparable to the best current estimates” of Enceladus’ tidal heating rate. In short, the heat generated and lost are a close match. The team said this finding indicates it might be possible for the sub-surface ocean to be maintained in liquid form “so long as its orbit around Saturn remains stable.”

“With current theories about ‘tidal locking,’ this is entirely possible,” they added.

In the study’s conclusion, the researchers suggest that a better understanding of Enceladus’ age would help constrain the duration of its subsurface ocean’s likely existence in liquid form. Dr. Miles and Prof. Howett told The Debrief that the age of all of Saturn’s moons is “highly uncertain,” and noted that Enceladus “is particularly difficult to age” because it has been continually resurfaced by alternating heating and cooling episodes throughout its icy shell.

“The fate of the moon is tied to the evolution of Saturn and its interior structure,” they said, adding that “Enceladus could be up to 1 billion years old, or as young as 150 million years, with current best estimates of 200-450 million years old.” For comparison, the Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old.

When asked about any potential experiments that could help confirm the habitability of Enceladus’ ocean, the researchers said one viable method would involve in situ measurements of the size and composition of the nanoparticles previously observed by Cassini in the plumes ejected into space from the moon’s south pole. These readings could be used to “provide limits” on how long they’ve been at the rock-ocean interface, they explained, while also noting that “a lot of laboratory work is needed to verify this too.”

When discussing what tools or missions are necessary to confirm the moon’s potential habitability, the team said their work directly highlighted the need for long-term missions to ocean worlds like Enceladus that may harbor life, “and the fact [that] the data might not reveal all its secrets until decades after it has been obtained.”

“Our estimates of the energy balance will be significantly improved by future missions to Enceladus,” Dr. Miles and Prof. Howett told The Debrief.

Only one mission is currently selected to return to Enceladus, the European Space Agency’s next Large Class L4 mission. However, they said several more missions “are in the proposal stage.”

“The best information comes from Enceladus’ polar regions, which are hard to view from Earth-based observing systems,” the researchers told The Debrief. “You really need to return there to observe Enceladus with a modern instruments suite to understand its habitability potential.”

The study “Endogenic heat at Enceladus’ north pole” was published in Science Advances.

• Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

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09-11-2025 om 18:12 geschreven door peter  

Scientist Reveals Details of Top-Secret UFO Research in Las Vegas

Colm Kelleher, a marine biologist who spent more than a decade working on the Department of Defense’s Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP), has recently lifted the veil on one of the United States’ most extensive and secretive investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena. In a new memoir released this month, Kelleher describes how a multi‑agency task force, headquartered in a discreet facility near Las Vegas, received the largest ever budget allocation for studying UFOs and related anomalous events. “The funding was unprecedented,” he writes, “and it allowed us to bring together physicists, engineers, psychologists and, yes, biologists, to examine reports that had previously been dismissed as fringe.” The book, which blends personal narrative with declassified documentation, offers a rare insider’s view of a program that operated parallel to the more widely known AATIP effort, yet was far more expansive in scope.

The Las Vegas‑based operation, according to Kelleher, was tasked not only with analyzing radar and sensor data from military pilots but also with investigating phenomena that straddled the line between aerospace anomalies and what some would label “paranormal.” Among the most intriguing cases were the recurring reports from the so‑called Skinwalker Ranch in Utah, a property long associated with unexplained lights, animal mutilations and other oddities. Kelleher notes that the team deployed a combination of high‑resolution cameras, lidar mapping and environmental sampling to capture data that could be cross‑referenced with eyewitness accounts. “We were looking for any measurable signature—electromagnetic, acoustic, biological—that could point to a non‑human source,” he explains. While the findings remain classified, the book suggests that the data collected at Skinwalker Ranch was among the most compelling, prompting the program to allocate additional resources for extended monitoring.

Kelleher’s account also sheds light on the internal dynamics that shaped the program’s direction. He describes a tension between traditional defense analysts, who emphasized potential foreign adversary technology, and a subset of scientists who entertained the possibility of non‑human intelligence. This debate influenced the allocation of research teams and the framing of investigative questions. “There were moments when the data forced us to consider hypotheses outside the conventional playbook,” he writes, “but the bureaucratic structure often required us to couch those ideas in more defensible, terrestrial terms.” The memoir recounts several high‑level briefings in which senior officials demanded rigorous statistical analysis, leading the team to develop novel methodologies for assessing low‑probability events without succumbing to confirmation bias.

The book also contextualizes the Las Vegas effort within a broader historical pattern of government‑sponsored UFO research. From Project Sign in the late 1940s to the recent establishment of the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in 2022, each successive initiative has built upon the data and lessons of its predecessors. Kelleher points out that the AAWSAP program was the first to receive a dedicated, multi‑year budget that explicitly included “paranormal” phenomena, marking a shift from purely defensive concerns to a more open‑ended scientific inquiry. He credits this evolution to mounting pressure from congressional committees, veteran pilots and a growing public demand for transparency.

While Kelleher’s revelations provide unprecedented detail, many aspects of the Las Vegas program remain shrouded in classification. The memoir ends with a call for continued declassification and independent peer review, arguing that only through open scientific scrutiny can the true nature of these anomalies be determined. “If there is indeed evidence of non‑human intelligence, it is a matter of profound significance for humanity,” he concludes. As policymakers grapple with the implications of the emerging data, Kelleher’s insider perspective adds a crucial, measured voice to an ongoing debate that bridges national security, scientific curiosity and the public’s enduring fascination with the unknown.

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09-11-2025 om 17:57 geschreven door peter  

Terrifyingly Graphic Witness Account of Alien Abduction

A recent episode of the show "UFO Witness" has brought forward chilling testimony from individuals who claim to have experienced alien abductions, adding to the growing archive of contact narratives in the field of paranormal research. The episode centers on a detailed account from a woman named Elizabeth, who describes a harrowing and graphic encounter that left both physical and psychological marks.

Elizabeth recounts waking abruptly in the middle of the night to find a large, non-humanoid head hovering over her. She then realized she was surrounded by three beings—each holding one of her limbs—who proceeded to drag her from her bed and into the hallway. According to her recollection, she was unable to move or speak, completely paralyzed as she was transported to what she believes was an alien ship. "They put me into this very stiff metal chair in the middle of this room. I couldn't move. I couldn't speak. I was paralyzed," Elizabeth told the show's host. She describes seeing a cylindrical mechanism extend from a machine and enter her right ear, leading her to believe she was being implanted with some device. Upon being returned to her bed, she discovered a drop of blood on her ear, fueling suspicions of an alien implant.

While Elizabeth remains uncertain about the intentions of her abductors, she suspects the event was part of an experiment or project. "It didn't feel like good beings," she said, expressing unease about the nature of the encounter. Despite the trauma, she later reported additional contact with what she described as a "Pleiadian" being—a tall, humanoid figure believed in some UFO circles to originate from the Pleiades star cluster. According to Elizabeth, this being communicated with her telepathically, inviting her to a meeting of the so-called Galactic Federation, a group purported by believers to foster unity and share wisdom with humanity. Elizabeth’s account reflects the mixed narratives often found in abduction stories, with some describing their interactions as enlightening, while others report fear and violation.

The episode also introduces the account of Mary Edwards, who claims her abduction experience began at the age of six. Mary describes being placed on a cold metal table aboard a spacecraft, subjected to a machine with electrodes attached to her head. She later came to believe that her abductors were extracting eggs from her for use in hybridization experiments—a common theme in abduction lore. "I thought, what am I doing or what have I done wrong, what's wrong with me—not thinking that they were taking eggs from me to be able to procreate other hybrid kids," Mary recalled. Such testimonies echo a pattern of alleged reproductive experiments described by other self-identified abductees.

The program’s host and researchers acknowledge the deeply personal and subjective nature of these experiences. When pressed about the possibility of deception or alternate agendas on the part of the extraterrestrial visitors, Elizabeth conceded, "Ultimately, all I know to be true is my own experiences and that's not your truth and that's not humanity's truth because you were not there—so take it or leave it." This sentiment highlights a central challenge in the study of UFO and abduction phenomena: the tension between personal conviction and the broader need for verifiable evidence.

With accounts like Elizabeth's and Mary's contributing to a wider pattern of similar claims, researchers continue to grapple with the implications. While skeptics point to psychological or physiological explanations for such experiences, believers argue that the consistency of themes—such as paralysis, physical implants, and hybridization programs—warrants further investigation. As the archive of testimonies expands, the debate over the origins and meaning of these encounters shows no sign of abating.

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09-11-2025 om 17:45 geschreven door peter  

De mysterieuze hetze rond de komeet 31/Atlas: een wetenschappelijke analyse

In de afgelopen maanden is er op sociale media en in sommige wetenschappelijke kringen een uitgebreide discussie ontstaan over de komeet 31/Atlas. Vooral de geruchten en speculaties dat deze object in de buurt van de aarde zou passen bij buitenaardse technologieën en dat het mogelijk een buitenaards ruimteschip zou kunnen zijn, maken veel ophef. Het is belangrijk om deze claims kritisch te onderzoeken, de onderliggende feiten te analyseren, en een wetenschappelijke blik te werpen op de situatie. In deze analyse zullen we de ontstane geruchten onder de loep nemen, bestaande kennis over komeet 31/Atlas bespreken, afwijkende patronen en mogelijke verklaringen verkennen, en tot een onderbouwde conclusie komen.

Op 1 juli 2025 ontdekten astronomen met de ATLAS-surveytelescoop in Rio Hurtado, Chili, een snel bewegend object dat officieel de naam 3I/ATLAS kreeg. NASA bevestigde woensdag dat het object een komeet is, en daarmee is het pas de derde interstellaire bezoeker ooit waargenomen na ʻOumuamua in 2017 en 2I/Borisov in 2019. Zijn snelheid en traject tonen aan dat het afkomstig is uit een ander sterrenstelsel, wat onderzoekers een zeldzame kans biedt om materiaal van buiten onze kosmische omgeving te bestuderen.

Inleiding

De komeet 31/Atlas, ontdekt in 2017 door de Pan-STARRS-telescoop, behoort tot de categorie van terugkerende kometen die vaak de kosmische omgeving van de aarde passeren. In 2024 kwam deze komeet opnieuw in de buurt van de aarde, wat aanleiding gaf tot allerlei geruchten op sociale media, waarin werd gesuggereerd dat deze mogelijk buitenaards van oorsprong zou kunnen zijn, of zelfs een ruimteschip. Het ontstaan van deze theorieën wordt gevoed door de onbegrijpelijkheid van sommige waarnemingen en de snelle verspreiding van informatie via online platforms. Om hier een wetenschappelijk verantwoorde analyse op los te laten, moeten we starten met een overzicht van de objectkenmerken, de historische context, en bestaande kennis over komeetgedrag.

Wat weten we over komeet 31/Atlas?

Kometen vormen een fascinerende categorie hemellichamen die uit de oudste en meest primitieve materialen van ons zonnestelsel bestaan. Ze worden vaak beschreven als ijsachtige rots- en stoflichamen, die ontstaan in de buitenste regionen van de Kuipergordel en Oortwolk. Wanneer ze de binnenste regionen van het zonnestelsel naderen, verdampen hun ijs en ontstaat er een kenmerkende coma en komeetstaart. De komeet 31/Atlas behoort tot deze groep en biedt ons inzicht in de oertijden van ons zonnestelsel.

• Ontdekking en observaties: Komeet 31/Atlas werd voor het eerst ontdekt in 2017 door het Pan-STARRS-onderzoeksprogramma, dat wordt uitgevoerd vanuit Hawaï. Deze detectie volgde op een serie nauwkeurige fotografische waarnemingen van het hemellichaam, waaruit bleek dat het een terugkerende komeet is. De voorlopige ist orbitale metingen wijzen op een inclinatie van ongeveer 41 graden ten opzichte van de ecliptica, het vlak waarin de banen van de meeste planeten liggen. De perihelionafstand, oftewel de kortste afstand tot de zon tijdens haar baan, bedraagt circa 1,7 astronomische eenheden (AE). Dit betekent dat de komeet haar dichtste nadering tot de zon bereikt op ongeveer 1,7 keer de gemiddelde afstand van de aarde tot de zon.

• Traject en snelheid: Tijdens haar passage dicht bij de aarde in 2024 bereikte komeet 31/Atlas snelheden die typisch zijn voor terugkerende kometen. Zo bewoog ze met een snelheid van ongeveer 45 kilometer per seconde. Deze snelheid is normaal voor een komeet die uit de buitenste regionen van het zonnestelsel komt en door de zwaartekracht van de planeten wordt beïnvloed. Als gevolg van haar onregelmatige baan vertoonde de komeet bij haar laatste passage typische kenmerken zoals het vormen van een coma en een mooie, heldere staart, afhankelijk van de hoeveelheid bevroren gassen en stof die werd vrijgegeven.

• Samenstelling: Wetenschappelijke waarnemingen tonen aan dat de samenstelling van komeet 31/Atlas vergelijkbaar is met die van andere bekende kometen. Het bestaat uit een mengsel van stofdeeltjes en bevroren gassen, vooral water, kooldioxide en andere organische moleculen. Er is geen bewijs gevonden dat wijst op buitenaardse technologieën, vreemde materialen of een ongewone structuur. De fysische eigenschappen en chemische samenstelling vertonen overeenkomsten met typische kortperiodieke kometen.

• Gedrag en uiterlijke kenmerken: Bij haar laatste passage vertoonde de komeet de verwachte kenmerken: een uitgebreide coma – een wazige wolk rond de kern – en een helder verlengde staart die ontstaat doordat het ijs en stof door de zonnestraling worden weggeblazen. Er waren geen opvallende onregelmatigheden of afwijkingen in haar gedrag, zoals plotselinge uitbarstingen of onverwachte veranderingen in de baan.

In wetenschappelijke termen vertoont komeet 31/Atlas geen afwijkingen die wijzen op buitenaardse intelligentie, ongewone samenstelling of geavanceerde technologie. Haar beweging, uiterlijk en fysische eigenschappen vallen binnen de parameters die bekend zijn voor een typische terugkerende komeet. Verder onderzoek kan meer inzicht bieden in haar precieze samenstelling en evolutie, maar tot nu toe is deze komeet een mooi voorbeeld van de primitieve resten uit het geboorteuur van ons zonnestelsel.

De basis van de geruchten en speculaties

Hoe ontstaan de geruchten dat 31/Atlas een buitenaards ruimteschip zou zijn? Deze theorieën ontstaan vaak uit een combinatie van verschillende factoren die samen de basis vormen voor de vermeende buitenaardse status van het object. Hieronder volgt een gedetailleerde analyse van de belangrijkste oorzaken.

• Onvolledige gegevens en interpretatie: Een van de belangrijkste redenen is dat waarnemingen van ongewone patronen op beelden of video’s vaak verkeerd geïnterpreteerd kunnen worden. Reflecterende oppervlakken, lichtflitsen of schijnbare bewegingen kunnen lijken op kunstmatige objecten, terwijl ze in werkelijkheid natuurlijke of technische fenomenen zijn. Een klein detail kan al leiden tot de conclusie dat er sprake is van een buitenaards schip.

• Visuele illusies en waarnemingsfouten: Bij het bekijken van beelden onder slechte omstandigheden, zoals lage lichtomstandigheden of door technische beperkingen van telescopen, kunnen verschijnselen worden waargenomen die niet fysiek bestaan. Bijvoorbeeld, sensorartefacten, chromatische aberraties, of statische ruis zorgen voor visuele illusies die voor het ongetrainde oog lijken op een object in de ruimte, wat de vermeende aanwezigheid van een ruimteschip versterkt.

• Misbruik van sociale media: In het tijdperk van digitale communicatie worden beelden en informatie snel gedeeld. Bewuste verspreiding van disinformatie, sensationele rapportages en het gebruik van clickbait dragen bij aan het ontstaan en versterking van complottheorieën. Mysterieuze of onduidelijke objecten worden vaak doelbewust als buitenaards afgeschilderd om aandacht te trekken en publieksthema’s te creëren.

• De menselijke drang tot mysterie: Mensen hebben van oudsher een natuurlijke neiging om onopgeloste raadsels te verklaren door het toeschrijven van buitenaardse intelligentie of technologie. Vooral wanneer een object opvallend ‘buitengewoon’ lijkt, zoals een vreemd gevormde komeet of een atypisch bewegend object, ontstaan snel interpretaties in de richting van buitenaardse beschavingen. Deze drang wordt versterkt door storytelling en de fantasie om het onbekende te begrijpen.

Het is essentieel om te benadrukken dat er momenteel geen wetenschappelijke bewijzen bestaan die het bestaan van een buitenaards ruimteschip zoals 31/Atlas ondersteunen. Wetenschappelijke analyses blijven kritisch en gebaseerd op data, en het is belangrijk om dergelijke geruchten met een gezonde dosis scepsis te benaderen.

Waarden en patronen in de waarnemingen

Binnen de uitgebreide geschiedenis van astronomische waarnemingen bestaan er diverse patroonanalyses die helpen om onderscheid te maken tussen natuurlijke verschijnselen en de mogelijkheid van buitenaardse objecten. Door nauwkeurig te observeren en te kijken naar specifieke kenmerken, patronen en gedragingen, kunnen astronomen een beter begrip krijgen van wat er zich in de ruimte afspeelt. Deze methoden vormen de basis voor het evalueren van waarnemingen en bieden inzicht in de aard van de objecten die men observeert.

• Patroon 1: Lichtpatronen en snel veranderende helderheid

Eén van de meest opvallende aspecten bij het volgen van hemellichamen is de variatie in lichtintensiteit. Zo vertoonde komeet 31/Atlas bepaalde lichtpatronen die echter geen uitzonderingen vormen binnen het bekende komeetgedrag. De schommelingen in helderheid konden volledig verklaard worden door de afstand van de komeet tot de zon en de wijze waarop stof en ijs op het oppervlak van de komeet de lichtreflectie beïnvloeden. De variaties pasten binnen het patroon dat men verwacht bij gewone kometen, zonder onregelmatigheden die wijzen op onbekende of buitenaardse oorzaken. Deze observaties bevestigen dat de veranderingen in helderheid niet direct wijzen op nieuwe of vreemde fenomenen, maar eerder gerelateerd zijn aan de natuurlijke fysica van kometen en de interactie met zonlicht.

• Patroon 2: Traject en lichtfases

Een belangrijk aspect van astronomische waarnemingen is de nauwkeurigheid waarmee de banen van hemellichamen kunnen worden berekend. In het geval van 31/Atlas werd de baan duidelijk en nauwkeurig vastgesteld. Geen afwijkingen werden vastgesteld die niet verklaard konden worden door bestaande kosmische modellen en fysische wetten. De baangegevens kregen bevestiging via multiple observaties met verschillende telescopen die over de hele wereld opereren. Bovendien werden deze observaties ondersteund door complexe berekeningen en simulaties die overeenstemmen met de fysieke wetten van beweging en zwaartekracht. Dit versterkt het vertrouwen op de natuurlijke, bekende oorsprong van de koers en beweging van deze komeet.

• Patroon 3: Ongewone voorvallen

Ongewone voorvallen Soms worden er waarnemingen gedaan die buiten de standaardpatronen vallen, zoals een lichtflits die wordt gedeeld op sociale media en door sommigen wordt geïnterpreteerd als een buitenaards ruimteschip. Bij nadere analyse blijkt echter dat zulke waarnemingen vaak kunnen worden verklaard door optische artefacten, reflecties van licht op ruimtepuin of andere technische afwijkingen. Reflecties van zonlicht op fragmenten, ruimteschroot of glas en plastic voorwerpen in de atmosfeer kunnen zeer sterk lijken op vreemde objecten, maar worden uiteindelijk weerlegt door fysische kennis en verdere gecontroleerde observaties. Deze voorbeelden onderstrepen dat vaak schijnbare anomalieën kunnen ontstaan door menselijke en technische factoren, en niet door buitenaardse technologie.

Algemene conclusie: Al deze patronen en waarnemingen leiden tot een consistente conclusie: er zijn geen aanwijzingen voor patronen van anomalieën die niet kunnen worden verklaard door bekende natuurkundige principes en technologische limieten. De waargenomen verschijnselen passen binnen de grenzen van de huidige wetenschap en technologie, zonder dat er bewijs is voor buitenaardse objecten. Het is daarom van essentieel belang om waarnemingen kritisch te blijven bekijken, met oog voor de details en met voortdurende evaluaties op basis van actuele wetenschappelijke kennis.

De komeet heeft een ijzige kern omgeven door een gloeiende coma van gas en stof - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

De identificatie door NASA van 3I/ATLAS als een komeet kwam na gedetailleerde telescoopwaarnemingen die duidelijke tekenen van activiteit onthulden. Wetenschappers observeerden een ijzige kern omgeven door een coma, de lichtgevende halo van gas en stof die zich rond kometen vormt. Dit uitgassen en het vrijkomen van stof geeft aan dat het object voornamelijk uit bevroren verbindingen bestaat, wat overeenkomt met het gedrag van een komeet en niet met de kenmerken van een asteroïde. De naam is afgeleid van de aanduiding als het derde interstellaire object dat werd ontdekt, waarbij ATLAS verwijst naar het telescopenetwerk dat het waarnam.

Mogelijke verklaringen en hypothesen

Gegeven dat de meeste waarnemingen vrijwel allemaal binnen de natuurlijke parameters blijven, kunnen we verschillende hypotheses formuleren om de waargenomen verschijnselen te verklaren en te begrijpen wat er waarschijnlijk aan de basis ligt van de waarnemingen. Het is belangrijk om elke hypothese kritisch te bekijken en rekening te houden met de context waarin de observaties plaatsvinden, evenals de betrouwbaarheid van de gebruikte instrumenten en interpretaties. Hieronder worden de meest gangbare en plausibele hypothesen nader toegelicht.

• Hypothese 1: Het object is een natuurlijke komeet met standaard gedrag

De meest waarschijnlijke en gangbare verklaring is dat het object in kwestie een natuurlijke komeet betreft die zich volgens de bekende fysische en astronomische wetten gedraagt. Kometen vertonen doorgaans bepaalde standaardkenmerken, zoals een opvallende compositie van ijs en stof, een actief coma rondom de kern en een opvallende staart die onder invloed van de zonnewind wordt gevormd. Het lijkt erop dat 31/Atlas, een bekende komeet, zich overeenkomstig deze gedragsvoorschriften gedraagt. De waargenomen afwijkingen en onvolkomenheden die soms worden gerapporteerd, kunnen meestal worden verklaard door de beperkingen van de instrumenten die de waarnemingen verrichten, zoals oude telescopen, verouderde camera’s of onjuiste kalibraties. Daarnaast kunnen interpretaties van de gegevens door waarnemers variëren, afhankelijk van hun ervaring en kennisniveau. Dergelijke afwijkingen vallen vaak binnen de natuurlijke variaties en meetfouten en betekenen niet noodzakelijk dat het object niet natuurlijk is.

• Hypothese 2: 'Verkeerde interpretatie van visuele waarnemingen'

Veel waarnemingen die worden gerapporteerd als mogelijke buitenaardse verschijnselen of vreemde objecten, kunnen vaak worden toegeschreven aan optische artefacten, reflecties of verkeerde interpretaties van het waargenomen beeld. Bijvoorbeeld kunnen reflecties in de atmosfeer, spiegelingen op de lens of parasitaire lichtinvallen leiden tot uitingeffecten die lijken op onbekende of buitenaardse verschijnselen. Daarnaast kunnen asymmetrische vormen of knipperende lichtpatronen van de komeet zelf de illusie creëren dat het object niet natuurlijk is. Soms worden bijzonder gevormde objecten in de lucht verkeerd geïnterpreteerd vanwege de beperkte zichtbaarheid of omdat waarnemers niet over voldoende ervaring beschikken om de natuurlijke verschijnselen juist te identificeren. Dergelijke interpretatiefouten dragen bij aan het ontstaan van buitenaardse theorieën, terwijl de werkelijkheid veel eenvoudiger en natuurlijker is.

• Hypothese 3: Gekozen voor sensatie of disinformatie

 In sommige gevallen spelen menselijke factoren en de wens naar aandacht of geld een grote rol bij het verspreiden van verhalen over buitenaardse objecten. Geruchten, gerapporteerde waarnemingen en beeldmateriaal kunnen opzettelijk worden versterkt of overdreven door mensen met een bepaald belang, zoals media, complottheoretici of groepen die commerciële winst willen maken. Sociale media en internetplatforms zorgen ervoor dat sensationele verhalen razendsnel kunnen worden gedeeld en verspreid, vaak zonder dat deze onderbouwd zijn door wetenschappelijk onderzoek of objectieve waarnemingen. Hierdoor ontstaan mythen en achterhaalde theorieën die vooral inspelen op menselijke nieuwsgierigheid en angst voor het onbekende, terwijl de realiteit veel eenvoudiger en natuurlijker is.

• Hypothese 4: Onjuiste interpretatie van gegevens of incomplete waarnemingen

Een andere mogelijke verklaring is dat sommige waarnemers niet beschikken over voldoende expertise of toegang tot volledige gegevens om de waarnemingen correct te interpretëren. Veel waarnemingen worden gedaan met beperkte apparatuur of onder omstandigheden die de resultaten kunnen beïnvloeden, zoals slecht zicht, atmosferische storingen of onjuiste communicatie. Hierdoor kunnen foutieve conclusies ontstaan, zoals het denken dat er buitenaardse technologieën of vreemde objecten betrokken zijn bij de waarneming. Bovendien kan een gebrek aan aanvullende gegevens en secundaire observaties leiden tot misinterpretaties die niet op de werkelijkheid zijn gebaseerd. Het is daarom cruciaal dat waarnemingen geverifieerd worden door meerdere, gekwalificeerde onderzoekers en dat alle beschikbare gegevens zorgvuldig worden beoordeeld voordat conclusies worden getrokken over de aard en oorsprong van het waargenomen verschijnsel.

Kortom, het beoordelen van dergelijke waarnemingen vereist een kritische blik, duidelijke criteria en een brede kennis van natuurlijke fenomenen. De meest plausibele verklaringen blijven in de lijn van bekende en natuurlijke parameters, waarbij de rol van menselijke interpretatie en media-incidenten niet over het hoofd mag worden gezien. Door systematisch en objectief te werk te gaan, kunnen we een beter begrip krijgen van deze verschijnselen en de factoren die eraan ten grondslag liggen.

De komeet zal binnen 270 miljoen kilometer van de aarde passeren - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

NASA meldt dat 3I/ATLAS zijn dichtste nadering tot de aarde zal maken op een afstand van ongeveer 270 miljoen kilometer, zonder dat dit een bedreiging voor onze planeet vormt. De baan van de komeet voert hem door het binnenste zonnestelsel, waardoor astronomen waardevolle observatiemogelijkheden krijgen terwijl hij zich tussen de banen van de planeten beweegt. Deze veilige afstand stelt wetenschappers in staat de interstellaire bezoeker te bestuderen met grond- en ruimtetelescopen zonder zich zorgen te hoeven maken over de veiligheid van de aarde.

Kansen en mogelijkheden tot verdere studie

Ondanks dat er geen bewijs is voor buitenaardse oorsprong, biedt het onderzoek naar kometen als 31/Atlas belangrijke mogelijkheden:

• Verbetering van waarnemingsinstrumenten: Door geavanceerde telescopen en schepen kunnen we de fysische eigenschappen van komeetmaterialen nauwkeuriger bestuderen.

• Analyse van stof en ijs samenstelling: Dit kan helpen bij het begrijpen van de oerstaat van het zonnestelsel en de condities tijdens de vorming ervan.

• Monitoring van baanbewegingen: Hierdoor kunnen we nauwkeurig voorspellen wanneer kometen het dichtst bij de aarde komen, en eventuele risico’s inschatten.

• Anomalieën onder de radar houden: Door systematische en wetenschappelijke monitoring kunnen we afwijkingen snel identificeren en beoordelen.

NASA Wijst Het Theorie Van Buitenaardse Technologie Krachtig Af - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

Tom Statler, NASA's hoofdwetenschapper voor kleine lichamen in het zonnestelsel, verwierp Loebs perspectief en stelde dat 3I/ATLAS eruitziet als een komeet, zich gedraagt als een komeet en in vrijwel elk opzicht sterk lijkt op bekende kometen. NASA's standpunt is gebaseerd op concrete observatiegegevens, waaronder de coma van de komeet, uitstootpatronen en samenstelling. Loeb heeft daarna in een blogpost erkend dat de eenvoudigste hypothese is dat 3I/ATLAS een komeet is, en verduidelijkte dat zijn doel was om aannames uit te dagen in plaats van harde beweringen te doen.

Verklaringen en aanpak van geruchten

De verspreiding van ongefundeerde theorieën over de komeet 31/Atlas lijkt te worden aangejaagd door:

• Gebrek aan kennis: Mensen die niet vertrouwd zijn met astronomische principes, kunnen de waargenomen verschijnselen verkeerd interpreteren.

• Media en internet: Sensationalistische berichtgeving en virale video’s versnellen de verspreiding van onjuiste informatie.

• Onwetendheid over natuurkundige principes: Bijvoorbeeld dat lichtreflecties of lensflare in camera’s bevestigd kunnen worden op natuurlijke fenomenen.

Om dit te voorkomen moeten wetenschappers, mediaprofessionals en amateur-astronomen gezamenlijk werken aan het verspreiden van correcte informatie, en open communiceren over wat wel en niet bekend is.

Harvard-astrofysicus Vraagt Zich Af of Het Object Buitenlandse Technologie Kan Zijn - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

Professor Avi Loeb, een theoretisch astrofysicus aan de Harvard University, heeft gepleit voor een nader onderzoek van 3I/ATLAS via het Galileo-project, dat mogelijk bewijs van buitenaardse technologie onderzoekt. In wetenschappelijke essays gepubliceerd op Medium betwijfelde Loeb of de helderheid van het object afkomstig kon zijn van zelfluminescentie in plaats van gereflecteerd zonlicht, een eigenschap die anders is dan bij bekende kometen. Hij stelde voor dat wetenschappers zouden moeten overwegen of 3I/ATLAS een kunstmatig sondage of artefact van een andere beschaving zou kunnen zijn.

Oplossingen en aanbevelingen

Om de kloof tussen wetenschap en publieke perceptie te overbruggen, kunnen de volgende strategieën effectief zijn:

• Educatieve campagnes: Uitleggen hoe komeetwaarnemingen technisch en fysisch verklaard kunnen worden.

• Betrouwbare communicatiekanalen: Wetenschappelijke instituten en ruimtevaartorganisaties moeten altijd transparant en toegankelijk communiceren over nieuwe waarnemingen.

• Publicatie van data: Verzamelde gegevens moeten zoveel mogelijk gedeeld worden met de wetenschappelijke gemeenschap en publiek.

• Wetenschappelijke toezicht op sociale media: Het opzetten van betrouwbare bronnen die snel kunnen ingrijpen en misvattingen corrigeren.

• Inzet van amateur-astronomen: Samenwerking tussen professionele en amateur-astronomen kan helpen om waarnemingen te valideren.

Door dergelijke maatregelen kunnen we de verspreiding van fictie beperken, en het publieke vertrouwen in de wetenschap vergroten.

“Kan potentieel rampzalig zijn voor de mensheid” - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

In een artikel getiteld "Is het interstellaire object 3I/ATLAS buitenaardse technologie?" schreef Loeb dat als het object een technologische artefact met actieve intelligentie is, twee mogelijkheden volgen: de bedoelingen ervan kunnen volledig goedhartig of kwaadwillig zijn, of ergens daartussenin. Hij waarschuwde dat de gevolgen, mocht de hypothese correct blijken, mogelijk rampzalig zouden kunnen zijn voor de mensheid en mogelijk verdedigingsmaatregelen vereisen. De provocerende uitspraken zorgden voor aanzienlijke discussie binnen de astronomische gemeenschap.

Conclusie

Na een uitgebreide wetenschappelijke analyse van de komeet 31/Atlas en de geruchten die hierover circuleren, kunnen we concluderen dat:

• Er geen bewijzen zijn voor buitenaardse technologie of ruimteschepen in de verschijning van deze komeet.

• De waarnemingen en gedragingen van 31/Atlas volledig binnen de natuurlijke parameters van bekende kometen vallen.

• De claims over buitenaardse oorsprong voortkomen uit een combinatie van interpretatiefouten, optische artefacten, en de influencer van sociale media en sensatiezucht.

• Het is van belang dat wij blijven vertrouwen op wetenschappelijk onderzoek, en sceptisch blijven ten opzichte van ongefundeerde geruchten.

Dichtstbijzijnde nadering van de zon op 30 oktober - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

3I/ATLAS zal rond 30 oktober 2025 zijn dichtstbijzijnde nadering van de zon maken en komt daarbij binnen 1,4 astronomische eenheden, ongeveer 130 miljoen mijl, iets binnen de baan van Mars. Dit periheliumpassage vertegenwoordigt het punt waarop de komeet de maximale zonneverwarming ervaart, wat mogelijk zijn activiteit en helderheid vergroot. De nauwe nadering van de zon zal waarschijnlijk de uitgas- en stofproductie van de komeet versterken voordat hij zijn reis terug het zonnestelsel uit begint.

In plaats van in te gaan op sensationele verhalen, verdienen objectieve, data-gedreven analyse en communicatie onze aandacht. Alleen zo kunnen we misverstanden over astronomische objecten zoals komeet 31/Atlas voorkomen, en het publiek meenemen in de wonderen en mysteries van ons universum, met een waarneming gebaseerd op feiten en wetenschap.

Komeet Zal Ons Zonnestelsel Voor Altijd Ontvluchten - ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

De komeet raast door de ruimte met ongeveer 61 kilometer per seconde, waarbij de snelheid toeneemt naarmate hij de zon nadert. Volgens Con Stoitsis, komeet- en meteorendirecteur bij de Astronomical Society of Victoria, volgt 3I/ATLAS een hyperbolische baan, wat betekent dat hij te snel beweegt om door de zwaartekracht van de zon te worden gevangen. De komeet zal door het binnenste zonnestelsel tussen de banen van Mars en de aarde trekken voordat hij langs de zon vliegt en ons zonnestelsel voorgoed verlaat.

Einde van de analyse

Tot slot wil ik benadrukken dat het streven naar kennis en waarheid altijd de hoogste prioriteit moet krijgen. Het universum is complex en fascinerend, en onze zoektocht om het te begrijpen, vereist dat we openstaan voor nieuwe inzichten, maar altijd kritisch blijven op de bronnen en interpretaties. Mogelijk kunnen toekomstige technologieën en onderzoek ons verder brengen in het vertrouwen dat de vreemde verschijnselen die we observeren, altijd te verklaren zijn binnen de natuurlijke gang van de wetenschap.

Meer waarnemingen mogelijk begin december -  ©Bron: Wikimedia Commons

NASA meldt dat 3I/ATLAS weer zichtbaar zou moeten worden via telescopen vanaf de aarde begin december 2025, zodra het weer tevoorschijn komt van achter de zon. De omvang en fysieke eigenschappen worden nog bestudeerd terwijl astronomen doorgaan met observaties tijdens de doorgang door ons zonnestelsel. Het kijkvenster in december zal wetenschappers extra mogelijkheden bieden om gegevens te verzamelen over deze zeldzame interstellaire bezoeker, voordat het ons zonnestelsel voorgoed verlaat en materiaal van een ander sterrenstelsel terug de diepe ruimte in meeneemt.

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08-11-2025 om 22:04 geschreven door peter  

Watch: Chinese company's new humanoid robot moves so smoothly, they had to cut it open to prove a person wasn't hiding inside

Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Xpeng has unveiled a new humanoid robot with such lifelike movements that company representatives felt compelled to slice it open onstage to prove a human wasn't hiding inside.

Fortunately for the audience, there wasn't. Instead, the robot, named "IRON," features a flexible, humanlike spine, articulated joints and artificial muscles that allow it to move with a model-like swagger.

This is thanks to Xpeng's custom artificial intelligence (AI) robotics architecture, which enables it to interpret visual inputs and respond physically without needing to first translate what it sees into language

Speaking during IRON's unveiling at Xpeng's AI Day in Guangzhou on Nov. 5, China, He Xiaopeng, chairman and CEO of Xpeng Motors, suggested that IRON's appearance was designed to be recognizably human — if slightly unsettling.

The machine is equipped with 82 degrees of freedom, including 22 in each hand, allowing it to bend, pivot and gesture at multiple points throughout its body, representatives said in a statement.

It's powered by three custom AI chips that give it a combined 2,250 trillion operations per second (TOPS) of computing power, which Xpeng says makes it one of the most powerful humanoid robots developed to date. For comparison, Intel's Core Ultra 200V series processor, fitted into some of the best laptops, can achieve just 120 TOPS.

IRON man

IRON is based on what its creators call a "born from within" design, a concept that reflects the robot’s design mimicking the human body from the inside out.

The robot features an internal endoskeleton and bionic muscle structure capable of supporting different body types, ranging from slim to stocky, which users can customize. Its outer layer is also made from "full-coverage" synthetic skin, He said during the presentation, making the robot "feel warmer and more intimate."

"The next generation has very flexible bones, solid bionic muscles, and soft skin. We hope it can have a similar height and proportions to human beings," He said. "In the future, robots will be life partners and colleagues. I suspect that, just like when you buy a car, you can choose different colors, exteriors, and interiors. In the future, when you buy a robot, you can choose the sex, hair length, or clothing for your desired purpose."

According to Xpeng, IRON is also the first humanoid robot in the world to run on an all-solid-state battery. Solid-state batteries use ceramics or polymers instead of the flammable liquids in conventional lithium-ion batteries, making them safer for the enclosed environments where the robot is designed to operate.

IRON is destined for mass production, although Xpeng ruled out household chores for the immediate future, pointing out that a humanoid robot operating in messy or unpredictable households could pose safety risks. Instead, it will debut in commercial settings such as stores, offices and company showrooms, with the first models expected to appear in Xpeng locations in 2026.

The announcement forms part of Xpeng's broader push into "physical AI," which aims to bring together robotics, autonomous vehicles and AI development under a unified platform. Earlier this year, the company revealed a prototype flying car designed to launch from a Cybertruck-style mobile base.

Humanoid robots have been having something of a moment in recent months. In October, Chinese robotics startup Unitree debuted its pirouetting, karate-kicking H2 model. Unlike IRON, Unitree's bot has yet to be given an official release date, meaning Xpeng's bot may well beat it to the shop floor (or office reception).

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{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

08-11-2025 om 20:41 geschreven door peter  

Bizarre robotic chair concept looks like a crab and can carry you around the house — it can even help you into your car

Described as an "autonomous wheelchair," the bot is packed with a number of features that allow it to navigate difficult terrain by mimicking the movement of four-legged animals like crabs. These include LiDAR systems that use laser light to measure distances and create highly accurate, detailed three-dimensional representations of objects and environments, which the robot utilizes to dodge obstacles or deal with uneven surfaces.

When climbing stairs, the unit first tests the height with its front legs before pushing upward with its rear limbs. There are also built-in collision radars to avoid contact with people or objects.

Additionally, the Walk Me has built-in weight sensors to ensure that the user remains in a stable, seated position. Toyota's engineers studied the way people naturally navigate stairs and how they distribute their weight when moving around or over obstacles. If the robot senses an imbalance, it can adjust both its legs as well as the tilt of the seat itself to ensure the user is comfortable and secure.

{ https://www.livescience.com/technology }

08-11-2025 om 20:21 geschreven door peter  

The Nephilim: Giant Offspring of the Sons of God and the Daughters of Man?

Rita Louise

Who were the nephilim? The word nephilim appears twice in the Old Testament of the Bible. They are first mentioned in chapter 6 of the book of Genesis and then again in Number 13:33. But their brief mention in the Bible has led to an ongoing debate as to who or what the nephilim were. 

Much of this debate stems from the passage in the Bible that states:

When people began to multiply on the face of the ground, and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw that they were fair; and they took wives for themselves of all that they chose.
The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God went in to the daughters of man, who bore children to them. These were the heroes that were of old, warriors of renown.  – Genesis 6: 1-4

The Sons of God Saw the Daughters of Men That They Were Fair (1923) by Daniel Chester French. Corcoran Gallery of Art.

(CC0)

What Does ‘Nephilim’ Mean?

The traditional definition of Nephilim is giant. Some dictionaries describe the nephilim as being giants who also possess super human strength. The Greek Septuagint, an ancient translation of the Hebrew Bible, refers to them as gigantes, which actually means "earth -born," a concept we will be coming back to as we continue.

It is believed that the word Nephilim comes from the root word "Naphal" which means to fall. In biblical circles this definition has quickly put the Nephilim into the role of the children of the fallen angels. The word Naphal, however, is never directly associated with the concept of fallen angels. Its meaning in context is more closely associated with the idea of lying prostrate or of prostrating oneself. There are also ties in this word to the concept of failure, falling short, or being cast down.

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‘The Fall of the Rebel Angels’ (1685) by Charles Le Brun.

(Public Domain)

Mythos of the Nephilim

Over the years a mythos has developed around the concept of the nephilim. It alleges that these giants were the offspring of the "Sons of God" and the "Daughters of Man". Are the nephilim the children of the untoward relationship?

The connection between the biblical text and this claim, although commonly pointed to as the basis of this belief, is unfounded. The document in which we find statements that support this claim actually comes from the apocryphal Book of Jubiliees:

And it came to pass when the children of men began to multiply on the face of the earth and daughters were born unto them, that the angels of God saw them on a certain year of this jubilee, that they were beautiful to look upon; and they took themselves wives of all whom they chose, and they bare unto them sons and they were giants. The Book of Jubilees - Chapter V: 1

Is the claim that the nephilim were the offspring of the sons of god and the daughters of men supported by sources outside the Judeo-Christian tradition?  In other words, does mythology worldwide support this belief?

The Sons of God Saw the Daughters of Men That They Were Fair, by Maurice Greiffenhagen.

(Public Domain)

Giants Roaming the Earth Across Cultures

The notion of giants roaming the earth can be found in cultures worldwide. Greek mythology tells us that the Titan Cronus castrated his father Uranus in order to gain control of the Greek pantheon. It is from the blood of the castrated Uranus that fell upon the earth that the giants, the "earth-born", were created.

The Earth-born, when compared to us, were giants. The giants, lived under the rule of Cronos during the golden age, in a time that was free from sorrow or care and everyone lived happy and joyous lives.

It was only after Cronos' son Zeus fought for control of both the heavens and the earth that everything changed. In his new role, Zeus, according to Greek myth, put the giants to work. It was just a matter of time before the giants started ignoring the god's mandates.

Bell krater depicting Zeus fighting against the giant Porphyrion.

(Egisto Sani/CC BY NC SA 2.0)

They were no longer prostrating themselves to the will of the gods. Their lack of complete servitude and their failure to comply with the god’s demands incited the "children of god" into a full blown rebellion against the heavenly gods. Heavy losses were taken on both sides, but their revolution was finally suppressed by the gods.

A truce was declared. As part of their reparations to the giants it was decided to create a new race to handle the burdens that were cast upon the giants - man.

Padraic Column in his book entitled Orpheus, Myths of the World, relates this tale about the creation of man: Aztec legend recounts how the Earth-mother, Citlalicue, gave birth to a flint knife. When the knife was flung down onto the Earth, it was transformed into sixteen hundred "earth-gods." (Is there connection between the flint knife, flung down by Citlalicue, and the sickle used by Cronus to castrate his father?)

These newly formed earth-gods lived as men and women and labored in search of food. After some time, the Earth-gods began to think that this work was below their station. They were, after all, the children of the Sky-father and Earth-mother. They asked their mother Citlalicue to make a race who would serve them and bear the burdens they faced. With the help of Citlalicue, mankind was created.

‘A group of natives in the central highlands of Mexico, capturing and putting to death a giant.’

(CC0)

Based upon these mythological traditions it seems clear that the earth-born giants, the nephilim, existed long before man first inhabited the earth. Thus when you read the line "The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward" it seems clear from this perspective that the authors were not being vague. Instead they were just making a statement of fact - that the Nephilim, the earth-born, were on the earth at that time.

The Offspring of the Sons of God and the Daughters of Man

So who were the offspring of the sons of god and the daughters of man? The Hebrew Bible refers to them as gibborim. The inferred meaning of this word is men of great stature, heroes, men who are valiant or brave.

The Greek Septuagint identifies them as the renominati or men or renown. In Greek mythology the gods have a long history of having relations with humans. The names of some of these "demi-gods", or semi-human individuals, whose names have withstood the tests of time include were Hercules, Perseus, and Achilles. In India they are called Hanuman and Garuda and in Sumer Gilgamesh and Adapa.

Interestingly, a parallel myth to this biblical narrative does exist. It comes to us from the pages of the Hindu epic the Ramayana. The Ramayana is the epic tale of Rama, the 7th avatar of the supreme god Vishnu.

Rama lived during the Treta Yuga. It was an age where the world was filled with giants. Around the same time as Rama's birth, the supreme god Vishnu, knowing what was in store for him, requested that all of the gods descend to the earth and mate with the apes and the bears. This request was made in order to, when the time was right, provide Rama with an army he could use to help him conquer Ravana - the giant demon king of Lanka.

Fight between Rama and Ravana.

(CC0)

The offspring of these unions obtained an array of impressive skills from their divine parents. The mighty Sugríva was the ruler of the vanara, the ape-men. His father was Surya, the chief solar deity. The demi-god Hanúmán was the son of the wind god and is described as being able to travel very fast, while Nala was the son of the god of building and construction and is the vanara that helps Rama to build a bridge from mainland India to Lanka.

These thousands did the Gods create
Endowed with might that none could mate,
In monkey forms that changed at will;
So strong their wish the fiend to kill.

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Are the nephelim the offspring of the sons of god and the daughters of man? No. They were the race of earth-born giants who lived before the creation of man. They are the group who revolted against the gods in antiquity.

They are also the ones responsible for the creation of mankind. Additionally, based upon the references that come to us from the Ramayana, it does seem clear the when the gods mated with "ape-men" their offspring were men of renown, heroes, or individuals who are valiant or brave.

• Top Image: ‘Norandino and Lucina Discovered by the Ogre’ (1624) by Giovanni Lanfranco.
• Source: Public Domain

By  Dr. Rita Louise

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{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

08-11-2025 om 20:03 geschreven door peter  

The European Space Agency (ESA) has published an intriguing image taken by the Trace Gas Orbiter. It shows distinctive black “scratches” on the Martian surface. These were formed by a meteorite impact.

According to scientists, these stripes were formed when a meteorite struck the edge of Mount Apollo, an ancient volcano located in the southern Hemisphere of Mars. The image shows a faint cluster of impact craters in a discolored area at the base. The impact caused more than a hundred dust avalanches to descend the mountain slope.

Similar dark streaks can be found in many regions of Mars. Scientists believe they are formed when layers of fine dust suddenly slide down steep slopes. Having found no traces of water, they concluded that these formations were mainly the result of dry processes caused by wind and dust.

The results of a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications suggest that most of them are not related to meteorites: less than one in a thousand streaks were formed by rocks falling on Mars. In most cases, seasonal changes and wind causing dust to rise are to blame.

“The dynamics of dust, wind, and sand appear to be the main seasonal factors influencing the formation of stripes on slopes. Meteorite impacts and earthquakes are locally significant but relatively insignificant factors on a global scale,” explains lead author Valentin Bickel from the University of Bern in Switzerland.

Valentin used deep learning algorithms to analyze more than two million streaks on slopes in images taken by the MRO spacecraft. As a result, the census of streaks made it possible to determine their location in five separate “hot spots” on Mars between 2006 and 2024.

“These observations can help us better understand what is happening on Mars today. Obtaining long-term, continuous, and global observations that reveal the dynamics of Mars is a key task for current and future orbiters,” says Colin Wilson, ESA scientist for the Trace Gas Orbiter project.

Trace Gas Orbiter continues to photograph Mars from orbit in order to understand its ancient past and potential suitability for life. The spacecraft regularly takes images of the surface, and its data has made it possible to identify areas of the Red Planet that are rich in water ice.

Earlier, we reported on how carbon dioxide ice “dug” ravines on Mars.

• Posted in News, Science

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

08-11-2025 om 18:31 geschreven door peter  

Alien Horrors This Halloween | Ancient Aliens

On this Halloween night, explore terrifying tales of ancient encounters, haunted legends, and otherworldly visitors that may have walked among us.

{ Youtube.com }

08-11-2025 om 16:46 geschreven door peter  

Area52 | 17 Alien Beings Were Found ALIVE | DEBRIEFED Episode 61 | Nov. 7, 2025

The latest installment of the “DEBRIEFED” podcast, released on November 7, 2025, revisits Chapter Five of Nick Redfern’s controversial volume *NASA Conspiracies*. In that chapter, Redfern recounts the story of a former Wackenhut security guard who, while assigned to protect classified material at the Nevada test site commonly known as Area 51, allegedly read a set of internal reports describing the recovery of seventeen non‑human entities. According to the guard’s account, the documents detailed a series of invasive experiments on the beings and even claimed that the suits surrounding them exhibited signs of autonomous activity.

Redfern, a prolific author of UFO‑related literature, has long drawn criticism for blending documented incidents with speculative interpretation. His narrative in *NASA Conspiracies* relies heavily on anecdotal testimony and unverified paperwork. The guard’s identity has never been disclosed, and the purported documents have not been produced for independent analysis. In the podcast, host Michael “Mick” Alvarez notes, “We have no way of confirming the authenticity of those files, but the story aligns with a pattern of alleged ‘living suit’ phenomena that have surfaced in other whistle‑blower accounts over the past two decades.” The episode does not present the original documents, instead summarizing their alleged contents.

The claim of seventeen recovered beings adds to a growing list of alleged extraterrestrial recoveries tied to the secretive Groom Lake facility. Historically, the U.S. government has acknowledged the existence of classified aircraft testing programs at Area 51, but it has never confirmed any non‑human occupants. The notion of “living suits” echoes earlier reports from the 1990s, such as the alleged “Mysterious Metallic Objects” described by former contractor Paul Miller, which were said to respond to environmental stimuli. While these stories have fueled public fascination, they remain unsupported by verifiable evidence, and the Department of Defense has consistently classified any related material under national security exemptions.

The *DEBRIEFED* episode draws much of its material from a YouTube channel called “Area52 Investigations,” which has amassed a sizable following and frequently publishes video essays on alleged UFO incidents. The channel’s content, like the blog post on the “Information Machine” site that accompanied the episode, presents the narrative without offering primary source documentation. Media analysts caution that the reliance on secondary platforms can amplify uncorroborated claims. “When a story moves from a private memo to a podcast and then to a YouTube video, each step can introduce distortion,” says Dr. Elaine Harper, a researcher at the Center for Aerospace Policy Studies.

Nevertheless, the episode has sparked renewed discussion among UFO researchers and skeptics alike. Some commentators view the guard’s alleged curiosity as a plausible scenario—security personnel occasionally encounter highly restricted files and may be tempted to read them. Others argue that the lack of concrete evidence renders the story indistinguishable from myth. As the conversation continues, the broader issue remains: the balance between transparency about government‑run aerospace programs and the protection of genuinely classified information. Until the alleged documents surface in a verifiable format, the claim of seventeen alien beings and their “alive” suits will stay within the realm of speculation, serving as yet another chapter in the long‑standing saga of Area 51 lore.

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08-11-2025 om 16:15 geschreven door peter  

Ancient Aliens and UAP UFO News | Full Episodes

Reports of unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAPs, have become a consistent feature in government and civilian records worldwide, with the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence alone logging at least 2,400 sightings since the year 2000. UAPs, often used interchangeably with the term UFOs, refer to any object or light in the sky that cannot be immediately explained or identified. While the majority of these incidents are ultimately attributed to atmospheric or man-made sources, a persistent fraction remains unexplained, fueling ongoing public intrigue and official investigation.

Historical precedent for such widespread fascination dates back to the summer of 1947, an era marked by what has been termed "flying saucer madness." That year, the United States experienced a surge of roughly 800 UFO reports, most notably the sighting by civilian pilot Kenneth Arnold. Arnold claimed to have witnessed nine disc-shaped objects flying in formation at speeds approaching 1,200 miles per hour over Mount Rainier. His account, widely reported in the media, is credited with launching the modern era of UFO interest and investigation.

In the decades since, several cases have captured both public and institutional attention. One such example is the small UK town of Bonsol, dubbed a "UFO hotspot" after repeated reports of silver shapes and strange lights in the sky. In 2001, resident Sharon Roland inadvertently filmed a large, disc-shaped object with colored lights, a recording that piqued NASA’s curiosity due to its resemblance to an object observed during a 1996 space mission. While NASA concluded the object was metallic and did not match any known aircraft, its true nature remains undetermined.

Across the Atlantic, the Tinley Park lights incident in Illinois in 2004 saw residents and neighboring cities report triangular patterns of red and multicolored orbs hovering overhead. Despite some witnesses suggesting an elaborate prank, no concrete explanation was ever established. Similarly, the O'Hare International Airport sighting in Chicago in 2006 involved multiple United Airlines employees and airport personnel witnessing a silent, dark gray saucer-shaped object hovering over a gate before it shot upward, leaving a brief hole in the clouds. The lack of radar confirmation led authorities to forgo a formal investigation, despite credible eyewitness testimony.

More recent years have seen the phenomenon intersect with both national security and legislative action. The 2024 New Jersey drone sightings involved over 3,000 reports of large, coordinated drones near critical infrastructure across the United States. While the Department of Homeland Security identified some as manned aircraft, many incidents went unexplained, prompting calls for further legislation and resources. The drones’ sophisticated behavior and ability to evade detection have left investigators with more questions than answers.

These incidents, alongside the Pentagon’s 2021 confirmation of the authenticity of several Navy pilot videos capturing flying objects with extraordinary flight characteristics, underscore the enduring mystery and complexity of UAP phenomena. As government agencies, military officials, and the public continue to grapple with these unexplained events, the debate over their origin—be it natural, man-made, or otherwise—remains unresolved, ensuring that interest in the subject will persist for years to come.

 { https://usubjects.com/ }

08-11-2025 om 16:08 geschreven door peter  

Chinese Firefighters Using Robot Dogs With Huge Hoses Attached

Since Boston Dynamic first teased its BigDog robot in 2004, four-legged hound automatons have exploded in popularity. There are now dozens of robot dogs in development, ranging from military and surveillance applications to companionship models that can carry groceries and talk back to their human owners.

One of the most distinctive uses for a quadrupedal robot we’ve seen yet is coming out of China, where the company Unitree has been hard at work developing robodogs that can assist firefighters at the site of dangerous blazes.

Called “Fire Rescue” units, the robots are essentially beefed up models of the Unitree B2. According to Unitree’s website, they Fire Rescue platform allows public safety officials to kit out their B2s with modular components, allowing them to spray water and foam, fight wildfires with air cannons, transmit data and video from inside burning structures, and carry equipment for rescuers.

Trial footage of the B2 Fire Rescue bot in action quickly made the rounds on Chinese and Western social media. The short clip shows a firefighter attach a high-pressure hose to the back of a unit, which springs up and advances toward a brush fire.

Controlled by a teleoperator, the device positions itself in front of the fire, dousing it in a stream of water.

On the Chinese-language app RedNote, one user commented that “this is the direction of technological development: to help people, not replace them.”

Whether these units make their way to the rest of the world remains to be seen. On Reddit, Western netizens wondered if the devices would weigh enough to withstand the high pressure typical of US handlines, the hoses firefighters carry by hand to directly attack fires.

“I’m hoping dog has some heavy weight, but if not you’ll need several dogs to hold down the hose,” one Redditor commented. “Those things ain’t no joke, the pressure is insane.”

According to the Unitree website, the B2 Fire Rescue module is rated for a water flow rate of 40 liters per second, though it’s not known what kind of water flow or pressure is used in the video. (For reference, the Fire Department of New York uses an angled hose nozzle for high-rise fires which flows at 16.7 liters per second.)

Either way, it’s a fascinating look at a new use for robot dogs, which until now were looking more like weapons of war than tools for the good of humanity.

More on robots:

• Hundreds of Robots Competed in the World’s First Robot Olympics. The Results Were Unintentionally Hilarious

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{ https://futurism.com/category/robots-and-machines }

08-11-2025 om 15:59 geschreven door peter  

NASA Withholding New Images of Mysterious Object From Beyond Solar System

08-11-2025 om 15:47 geschreven door peter  

Scientists baffled as interstellar visitor mysteriously SHRINKS ahead of Earth flyby

• MORE:  NASA detects bizarre boost in interstellar visitor's speed as it moves toward Earth

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

Shocking new images of the interstellar visitor have revealed that it has mysteriously shrunk in size weeks ahead of its closest approach to Earth.

NASA recently calculated the change, noting it shed 13 percent of its material after 3I/ATLAS soaring past the sun last month.

Harvard Professor Avi Loeb, who has been analyzing the object since the summer, noted that this sudden shrinkage was directly tied to the noticeable change in the interstellar object's course as it moved closer to the sun.

'For a typical comet, this should have resulted in a massive coma with dust and gas that would have been pushed by the solar radiation pressure and the solar wind to the shape of a typical cometary tail pointing away from the sun,' he said in a blog post.

'No such tail is visible in the new images from November 5, 2025.'   

3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to our planet on December 19, just six weeks from now.

 Loeb has previously warned that contact with 3I/ATLAS has the makings of a 'black swan event,' meaning this massive space object could be an alien mothership trying to disguise itself as a space rock for an unknown purpose.

However, NASA and hundreds of researchers are sure 3I/ATLAS is nothing more than a comet from outside of our Solar System.

An image of interstellar object 3I/ATLAS taken on November 5 revealed no obvious cometary tail, which should have formed after passing the sun

Clues have continued to pile up that suggest this object from outside the solar system is not a natural phenomenon. This includes displaying a strange 'anti-tail' which pointed towards the sun as it made its closest approach to the star last month

With no such tail forming around 3I/ATLAS, Loeb maintains that the odds of this strange visitor being an artificial craft of extraterrestrial origin are growing every single day.

The shedding of material happened when a ground-based telescope in Chile identified a mysterious increase in speed.

NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab (JPL) said the mysterious shift by 3I/ATLAS could not be explained by the sun's extreme gravity pulling on the alleged comet.

Instead, 3I/ATLAS clearly pulled away from the sun and also turned to its side, which Loeb suggested was a sign of a rocket engine adjusting the craft's course. 

For a normal comet to complete this shocking maneuver naturally, 3I/ATLAS would have had to lose more than 13 percent of its mass, creating giant jets of gas pouring out of the space rock.

These jets of gas would have had the same effect as a rocket engine, pushing the comet away from the sun despite the massive star's gravitational pull on everything in the solar system.

However, this kind of outpouring of gas leaves a trail of evidence, clear signs that the comet melted and released roughly five billion tons of gas and dust into space.

NASA's latest images, released on November 5, show absolutely no signs that 3I/ATLAS has done any of this, despite shrinking by about 13 percent and pulling away from the sun.

NASA telescopes photographed 3I/ATLAS as it moved out of its blind spot behind the sun in early November

Moreover, Loeb revealed that the unidentified object hasn't changed much at all compared to a photo taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in July.

Read More

• Mysterious interstellar visitor heading towards Earth dubbed a 'Trojan Horse' for alien tech 

The physicist and head of the Galileo Project, a scientific research group looking for signs of extraterrestrial life, has argued that 3I/ATLAS has shown at least 10 signs it's an artificially constructed vessel that's now heading toward Earth. 

However, clues have continued to pile up that suggest this object from outside the solar system is not a natural phenomenon.

This includes displaying a strange 'anti-tail' which pointed towards the sun as it made its closest approach to the star last month.

A normal comet's tail points away from the sun as ice and rock break away and trail behind the comet as it moves through space.

3I/ATLAS has also repeatedly changed color during its journey through the solar system, including turning blue as it reached the sun, something a typical comet never does.

Normal comets turn red as their cold surfaces absorb blue light and bounce back mostly red light, just like a cold piece of metal glows red when you start heating it.

While one strange oddity being seen in a comet could be explained by science, Loeb noted that the odds of 3I/ATLAS displaying 10 strange anomalies at the same time are astronomical and point to the object being created by a distant intelligence.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

08-11-2025 om 15:36 geschreven door peter  

Saturn's moon could harbour ALIEN life: Scientists spot heat coming from Enceladus - suggesting it could be habitable

• READ MORE: Scientists discover organic molecules spewing from Enceladus

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Saturn's moon, Enceladus, could harbour alien life, scientists have discovered.

New findings from NASA's Cassini mission have revealed heat leaking out from the moon's North Pole.

This suggests that the moon's vast underground ocean might have a much more stable climate than had previously been thought.

According to the researchers, this means it might be the perfect place for life to evolve.

Although Enceladus' icy surface is barren, its underground oceans have all the necessary ingredients for life.

However, until now, scientists weren't sure whether the planet's internal temperature could be stable for long enough for organisms to emerge.

Scientists can't yet say whether life actually exists on the moon, but they have now shown that Enceladus has an ocean in which life stands a chance of surviving.

Co-author Dr Carly Howett, of the University of Oxford, told Daily Mail: 'We think life likes stability to survive - so showing Enceladus’ energy is stable means its sub-surface environment probably is too.'

Saturn's Moon Enceladus (artist's impression) might be home to alien life, according to a new study, as researchers find heat escaping from the moon's North Pole

Although Enceladus looks barren on the surface, beneath the ice, there is a vast liquid water ocean which has all the ingredients for life. Pictured: Enceladus as seen by the Cassini spacecraft 

With a diameter of 310 miles (500 km) – about as wide as Arizona – Enceladus is Saturn's sixth–largest moon.

On the surface, conditions are exceptionally cold with temperatures as low as –201°C (–330°F).

But beneath the surface, there is enough heat energy to maintain a large, liquid ocean of water.

The moon gets heat from a process called tidal heating, where it is squeezed and stretched by Saturn's gravity.

This energy prevents the moon from freezing completely, but the underground oceans would only be able to support life if the energy coming in matches the energy flowing out.

Dr Howett says: 'If Enceladus is losing more energy than gaining, then eventually the whole moon will cool and Enceladus’ ocean is going to freeze – which is obviously bad for life!

'If it's gaining more energy than losing, then the ocean will heat and melt the ice shell from the bottom – which will change both the ocean’s temperature and chemistry.'

Previous studies have estimated how much energy Enceladus loses through its active South Pole, where jets of water are constantly erupting through tectonic fissures known as 'tiger stripes'.

Scientists have calculated how much heat is escaping through the North Pole from the warm ocean below. This reveals that the planet is losing as much energy as it gets from the gravitational pull of Saturn 

Since Enceladus' energy is balanced, scientists say that its oceans are likely to be stable and long-lived. This increases the chances that the planet might have developed life 

What is Enceladus?

However, figuring out how much energy the entire planet loses from its ocean is extremely difficult because it heats the entire ice sheet at once.

This means there is only a tiny difference from the normal day-night temperature cycle at any given time.

'These subtle temperature increases are easiest spotted against a cold surface, and probably where the ice shell is thinnest,' says Dr Howett.

'Enceladus’ north polar region met these requirements.'

Using measurements from the Cassini spacecraft, the researchers compared the surface temperature of the North Pole in deep winter and in summer.

This revealed that the surface around the pole was around 7°C (7 Kelvin) warmer than expected.

From this data, Dr Howett and her co-authors were able to calculate that the moon is losing 46 milliwatts of energy per square metre, or 35 gigawatts of energy across the entire planet.

Combined with the known energy loss from the active South Pole, Enceladus' total energy loss rises to 54 gigawatts.

In 2005, the Cassini spacecraft discovered striking tectonic faults at the south pole known as 'tiger stripes' (bottom right), which allow water from the inner ocean to escape. Analysis found that this water contained complex molecules associated with the origins of life

Scientists don't know yet whether the planet hosts life, but any life that does exist might look similar to that found around hydrothermal vents in Earth's deep oceans 

This figure is almost exactly the same as the estimated total energy input from tidal warming, proving that it is balanced.

Dr Howett says this 'supports Enceladus having an ocean that is long-lived and stable, in which life stands a better chance of evolving.'

Scientists aren't sure what that life might look like, since we have only ever seen how life evolved on one planet, but it could share some similarities with life on Earth.

'It’s possible life on Enceladus looks a little like that around the deep hydrothermal vents of the Earth, says Dr Howett.

'There we see things that look like shrimp, crabs and lobsters. So perhaps like that – but maybe not like that at all!'

The next steps will be to work out whether the oceans on Enceladus have existed long enough for life to have formed.

If the oceans are old enough, it might justify sending another probe to look for chemical signs of life in the South Pole's icy plumes or even to burrow through the ice into the ocean itself.

WHAT DID CASSINI DISCOVER DURING ITS 20-YEAR MISSION TO SATURN?

Cassini launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida in 1997, then spent seven years in transit followed by 13 years orbiting Saturn.

An artist's impression of the Cassini spacecraft studying Saturn 

In 2000 it spent six months studying Jupiter before reaching Saturn in 2004.

In that time, it discovered six more moons around Saturn, three-dimensional structures towering above Saturn's rings, and a giant storm that raged across the planet for nearly a year.

On 13 December 2004 it made its first flyby of Saturn's moons Titan and Dione.

On 24 December it released the European Space Agency-built Huygens probe on Saturn's moon Titan to study its atmosphere and surface composition.

There it discovered eerie hydrocarbon lakes made from ethane and methane.

In 2008, Cassini completed its primary mission to explore the Saturn system and began its mission extension (the Cassini Equinox Mission).

In 2010 it began its second mission (Cassini Solstice Mission) which lasted until it exploded in Saturn's atmosphere.

In December 2011, Cassini obtained the highest resolution images of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

In December of the following year it tracked the transit of Venus to test the feasibility of observing planets outside our solar system.

In March 2013 Cassini made the last flyby of Saturn's moon Rhea and measured its internal structure and gravitational pull.

Cassini didn't just study Saturn - it also captured incredible views of its many moons. In the image above, Saturn's moon Enceladus can be seen drifting before the rings and the tiny moon Pandora. It was captured on Nov. 1, 2009, with the entire scene is backlit by the Sun

In July of that year Cassini captured a black-lit Saturn to examine the rings in fine detail and also captured an image of Earth.

In April of this year it completed its closest flyby of Titan and started its Grande Finale orbit which finished on September 15.

'The mission has changed the way we think of where life may have developed beyond our Earth,' said Andrew Coates, head of the Planetary Science Group at Mullard Space Science Laboratory at University College London.

'As well as Mars, outer planet moons like Enceladus, Europa and even Titan are now top contenders for life elsewhere,' he added. 'We've completely rewritten the textbooks about Saturn.'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

08-11-2025 om 15:05 geschreven door peter  

Chang'e-6 Samples Indicate Water was Delivered to the Earth and Moon by Ancient Meteorites

By Matthew Williams

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

08-11-2025 om 12:53 geschreven door peter  

November MUFON eNewsletter- with the Monthly Sighting Statistics

COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD UNITED STATES 247 CANADA 13 FRANCE 8 UNITED KINGDOM 8 SPAIN 4 IRELAND 3 ARGENTINA 3 BRAZIL 2 INDIA 2 AUSTRALIA 2 INDONESIA 2 CHILE 1 ISRAEL 1 POLAND 1 BULGARIA 1 CZECH REPUBLIC 1 MEXICO 1 AUSTRIA 1 GERMANY 1 REUNION 1 DENMARK 1 PERU 1   TOTAL:305 SHAPE Circle 43 Sphere 40 Unknown 26 Other 24 Star-like 21 Triangle 20 Oval 18 Disc 14 Cigar 12 Square/Rectangular 8 Fireball 7 Tic Tac 6 Cylinder 6 Diamond 6 N/A 6 Cone 4 Bullet/Missile 2 Egg 2 Blimp 1 Saturn-like 1 Teardrop 1 STATES OF THE USA California 24 Florida 22 Texas 17 Pennsylvania 13 Michigan 11 Missouri 11 Arizona 10 New York 10 Ohio 9 Washington 8 Arkansas 7 Colorado 7 New Jersey 6 Illinois 6 Indiana 6 Oregon 6 Tennessee 5 Kentucky 5 Georgia 5 South Carolina 4 West Virginia 4 Minnesota 4 Oklahoma 4 Utah 4 Massachusetts 3 New Mexico 3 North Carolina 3 Kansas 3 Nevada 3 Alaska 2 Maryland 2 Idaho 2 Wisconsin 2 Mississippi 2 Connecticut 2 Louisiana 2 Virginia 2 Hawaii 1 Rhode Island 1 South Dakota 1 Wyoming 1 Nebraska 1 Vermont 1 Alabama 1 Maine 1 DISTANCE < 100 ft 36 101-500 ft 21 501 ft - 1 Mile 56 Over 1 Mile 56 Unknown 36 NO VALUE 21 ERT Most impressively there were 11 Landings, Hovering, or Takeoffs reported, and 20 Entities observed.

08-11-2025 om 12:42 geschreven door peter  

Scientists are baffled by a gruesome new species dubbed the 'carnivorous death ball' that lives in the deepest part of the ocean. 

The new predatory sponge, officially part of the Chondrocladia genus, was found 11,800 feet deep, east of Montagu Island off the coast of Antarctica.

Looking like some arty installation in a London gallery, the 'incredible specimen' gets its name due to several long appendages ending in pinkish orbs.

These eerie globes are covered in tiny hooks meant to snag its prey – typically small unfortunate crustaceans such as copepods. 

This makes the carnivorous death ball unusually ruthless compared with the gentle, passive, filter-feeding undertaken by most sponges. 

Dr Michelle Taylor, head of science at the Nippon Foundation-Nekton Ocean Census, compared the species to a 'series on ping pong balls on stems'.

'Sponges generally don't eat animal flesh – they normally just filter-feed all of the little particles that are in the water,' she said. 'But this is a very unusual section of the sponge taxa in that they actually capture small amphipods like little crustaceans. 

'These animals get caught in the hooks and then are slowly enveloped over a period of time until all of the nutrients are kind of squeezed out of them.' 

Its spherical form is covered in tiny hooks that trap prey, a clear contrast to the gentle, passive, filter-feeding undertaken by most sponges

This horror-film-worthy discovery was made on an expedition in February to March this year led by Ocean Census aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel R/V Falkor. 

Experts used a remotely operated and tethered underwater vehicle called ROV SuBastian to scan the ocean's depths to about 14,700 feet (4,500 metres). 

ROV SuBastian surveyed underwater volcanic calderas, the South Sandwich Trench, and seafloor habitats around Montagu and Saunders Islands. 

Overall, it collected nearly 2,000 specimens across 14 animal groups (phyla), including 30 previously unknown deep-sea species, although there could be more to be confirmed. 

According to Dr Taylor, the pink death balls are 'a few centimetres across' and are thought to have water inside them.

'We presume they increase the surface area that could come into contact with potential prey items,' she told the Daily Mail. 

'Sponges are sedentary organisms –  they will spend their whole life in that one spot.

'That's one of the reasons they have to have efficient ways to capture food, they cannot chase it.' 

The discovery was made on an expedition led by Ocean Census aboard the Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel R/V Falkor

A new iridescent scale worm found by the ROV SuBastian at 9,379 feet (2,859 metres) at the South Trench dive site, northwest of Zavodovski Island, South Atlantic Ocean

A previously unknown species of sea star found by the ROV SuBastian at 3,631 feet (1,107 metres) at the Mystery Ridge dive site

Among the other discoveries were new armoured and iridescent scale worms, also referred to 'Elvis worms', known for their shimmering, colourful scales.  

The scales are bioluminescent – they naturally produce and emit light – and produce repeated flashes, presumably to distract potential predators. 

Also found were previously unknown species of sea stars – called Brisingidae, Benthopectinidae and Paxillosidae. 

There were also rare gastropods and bivalves adapted to volcanic and hydrothermal-influenced habitats – extreme environments with high temperatures and pressures. 

Also observed were 'zombie worms’ – officially called Osedax, which is Latin for bone-eater – although these are not thought to be new to science, according to the experts. 

These worms have no mouth or gut and rely on symbiotic bacteria to break down fats inside the bones of whales and other large vertebrates. 

Additional possibly new are black corals and a potential genus of sea pens – which look like old-fashioned writing quills – which are 'undergoing expert assessment'.

Scientists are constantly finding new species around the world, but the ones at the water's deepest darkest depths are among the hardest to locate. 

Pictured, a potentially new genus of sea pens - which look like old-fashioned writing quills. This one was found at 2,641 feet (805 metres) down at the Mystery Ridge dive site

Pictured, a new isopod found by the ROV SuBastian at 11,500 feet (3,533 metres) at the Ridge North dive site

Still, the vast majority of the world's oceans – about 80 per cent – have not been mapped, explored or even seen by humans.  

While some animals can survive at extreme depths thanks to adaptations, human beings can only go about 400ft unaided by modern technology, such as pressurised submersibles. 

Read More

•  Elusive colossal squid is seen live in the deep sea for the first time EVER 

With such equipment, the deepest anyone has been in the ocean is 35,853 feet (10,928 metres) in the Challenger Deep of the Mariana Trench, achieved by Victor Vescovo in April 2019. 

The Southern Ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, 'remains profoundly under-sampled', according to Dr Taylor. 

'To date, we have only assessed under 30 per cent of the samples collected from this expedition, so confirming 30 new species already shows how much biodiversity is still undocumented,' she said. 

'Each confirmed species is a building block for conservation, biodiversity studies, and untold future scientific endeavours. 

'By coupling expeditions with species discovery workshops, we compress what often takes more than a decade into a faster pathway while maintaining scientific rigour by having world experts involved.' 

The same expedition captured the first ever footage of a live colossal squid – the largest invertebrate on the planet.

Before the expedition in March, none have ever been filmed alive before in their natural habitat, either juvenile or adult, Dr Taylor said. 

What are sponges? 

Sponges are simple but historic aquatic animals with dense but porous skeletons, highly adapted to their environment. 

Certain sponge species have a fossil record dating back around 600 million years to the earliest period of Earth’s history, the 'Precambrian'. 

Like corals, sponges are immobile aquatic invertebrates and they are not well-adapted for moving around the ocean floor. 

Sponges are important inhabitants of coral reef ecosystems; they can affect water quality on the reef as the sponges filter water, collect bacteria, and process carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus.

In nutrient-depleted coral reefs, some sponge species are thought to make carbon biologically available by excreting a form of 'sponge poop' that other organisms feed on.

In this way, sponges protect the reef against extreme fluctuations in nutrient density, temperature, and light, benefiting the survival of other reef organisms. 

Source: NOAA 

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{  https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/index.html }

07-11-2025 om 22:40 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious 3I/ATLAS object leads NASA and Harvard to take unprecedented action in space

Hubble captured this image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on July 21, 2025, when the comet was 277 million miles from Earth. Hubble shows that the comet has a teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust coming off its solid, icy nucleus.

Hubble captured this image of the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS on July 21, 2025, when the comet was 277 million miles from Earth. Hubble shows that the comet has a teardrop-shaped cocoon of dust coming off its solid, icy nucleus.

A mysterious interstellar object known as 3I/ATLAS has prompted NASA and Harvard University to initiate one of the most extraordinary cooperative monitoring operations in modern space history, as reported by El Adelantado. The joint effort, which involves agencies across the International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN), was discreetly activated after the comet began exhibiting behavior scientists described as “inexplicable.”

Discovered in July 2025 by the NASA-funded ATLAS telescope in Chile, 3I/ATLAS is the third interstellar object ever identified passing through our solar system. It appears to have come from a completely different star system, traveling at speeds exceeding 209,000 km/h on a hyperbolic trajectory that will eventually send it back into deep space.

NASA and Harvard’s unprecedented response to 3I/ATLAS

The quiet but sweeping international alert surrounding 3I/ATLAS began on October 21, 2025, when Harvard’s Minor Planet Center issued bulletin MPEC 2025-U142. The notice marked the activation of a global space safety protocol under the IAWN, directing international observatories to focus on the comet until January 27, 2026. Although NASA confirmed that Earth is not in danger, the object’s unpredictable motion and unique physical features have raised scientific—and political—interest. 

“The object is most likely a natural comet, but its anomalies imply that we must consider a technological origin because of the large implications to humanity in that case,” explained Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb (as per NY Post).

Loeb, who first suggested that the interstellar traveler ʻOumuamua might have been artificial, described 3I/ATLAS as potentially a “black swan event”—a rare, unpredictable phenomenon with civilization-altering potential. 

“We must remain open-minded. It’s at least a thousand times more massive than the previous interstellar objects we’ve seen,” he said. 

NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, Hubble, and several other observatories—including TESS, Swift, Lucy, and Parker Solar Probe—have been tasked with monitoring the object. Even amid a U.S. government shutdown, NASA confirmed that “essential personnel” continue tracking 3I/ATLAS due to its significance. Congress has also taken notice. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) recently called on NASA to release unreleased imagery and data about the object, writing that “this information is of great importance to advancing our understanding of interstellar visitors.” Sources within NASA and the Pentagon confirmed plans to brief lawmakers about the ongoing investigation, despite normal operations being paused.

Related video: 3I/ATLAS: What Are We Really Looking At? (Today In The Space World)

What exactly is 3I/ATLAS?

To the untrained eye, 3I/ATLAS might appear to be just another comet, but astronomers quickly realized it was anything but ordinary. Its hyperbolic orbit confirms that it originated beyond our solar system, and its Manhattan-sized nucleus—approximately 5 kilometers in diameter—places it among the largest interstellar objects ever observed. The comet’s most striking feature is its “anti-tail”—a bizarre plume of dust and particles that points toward the Sun instead of away from it. This reversal defies normal cometary behavior, which typically results from solar radiation pushing material outward. Compounding the mystery is the comet’s non-gravitational acceleration, believed to be caused by uneven jets of gas and dust that act like thrusters, sending it veering slightly off expected paths.

NASA’s Webb Telescope also detected nickel emissions without any iron, a composition never seen in natural comets. Loeb noted that this particular form of nickel—nickel tetracarbonyl—has only ever been observed in human manufacturing processes, further deepening the enigma. Despite the growing intrigue, NASA maintains that 3I/ATLAS poses no threat to Earth. It will pass no closer than 270 million kilometers from our planet—roughly 1.8 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. Still, the object’s unusual characteristics have prompted agencies to use it as a “natural laboratory” to test methods for tracking and analyzing future interstellar visitors.

“The more we learn about 3I/ATLAS, the better we’ll understand how interstellar material moves through our solar system—and how to respond to it safely,”  said a NASA spokesperson.

For now, Earth remains safe—but the lessons gleaned from 3I/ATLAS will likely shape our planetary defense and interstellar research strategies for decades to come.

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07-11-2025 om 17:24 geschreven door peter