After thousands of years, archaeologists think we’ve finally found ‘Noah’s Ark’

 Sarah Hooper

The location of Noah’s Ark has been something archaeologists and historians have speculated about for decades.

Now, pottery fragments have sparked fresh excitement and provided potential proof that the alleged final resting place of the ark was indeed settled by humans at the time of the flood.

Prof Dr Faruk Kaya, of Agri Ibrahim Cecen University, said pottery pieces were found close to the alleged Ark outline at the Dogubayazit site on Turkey’s Mount Ararat.

The fragments were uncovered during road construction near the Durupinar Formation in Agri province, a boat-shaped geological structure that has been at the centre of Noah’s Ark claims for decades.

The ceramics point to human activity in the region between 5500 BC and 3000 BC, a timeframe that some scholars and believers associate with the era traditionally linked to the Biblical figure of Noah.

The fresh revelations have also prompted renewed calls for the site to be formally protected, amid concerns that visitors are removing stones and fragments as souvenirs.

Dr Kaya said: ‘This formation and its surroundings must be protected, and the removal of stones, rocks or similar material from the site must be prevented.’

He warned that tourists had been taking material from the area, including stones bearing markings, potentially damaging what researchers believe is an important archaeological and religious heritage site.

The Durupinar Formation was first identified in 1959 by Captain Ilhan Durupinar. Heavy rain and earthquakes later eroded the surrounding earth, exposing more of the formation’s outline.

The structure has long drawn attention because of its boat-like shape and its proximity to Mount Ararat, Turkey’s highest peak, which has been associated with the Ark in Christian tradition for centuries.

The Bible’s Book of Genesis states that Noah’s Ark came to rest on the ‘mountains of Ararat’ after a flood that submerged the Earth for 150 days.

Biblical measurements describe the Ark as 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide and 30 cubits high, dimensions that some researchers argue broadly correspond to the scale of the Durupinar site.

04-01-2026 om 14:57 geschreven door peter  

Two Ancient Books Talk About Aliens, UFOs & Robots, Written In 2nd & 17th Century

There are various controversial ancient texts that hint at the interaction between humans and the beings that arrived on Earth from another place. Although there is no definite evidence to support this theory, many credible personalities have given credence to it. In the midst of this, there are two ancient  books that discuss aliens, UFOs, and life on other planets. This evidence clearly states that humans believed in the existence of aliens for thousands of years.

Ancient Novel About Aliens, UFOs, and Robots Written in the 2nd Century

Lucian of Samosata, a Syrian satirist and rhetorician, is credited with introducing the world to science fiction almost 2,000 years before Jules Verne and H.G. Wells. As one of the earliest novelists in Western Civilization, he envisioned a future where humankind would encounter alien life, engage in interplanetary warfare, and create artificial life.

Lucian covered topics such as extraterrestrials, spaceships, and robots in the Greek language long before the works of Verne and Wells. Many scholars consider him to be the father of science fiction, as his stories laid the groundwork for the genre as we know it today, even though they were written two millennia ago.

In his novel “A True Story,” Lucian narrates the adventures of Lucian and his crew, all of who were cosmonauts, flying ships, television projections, talking machines, artificial intelligence, encounters with aliens, space battles, UFOs, humanoids, as well as cities erected inside a living organism.

Lucian’s work, written centuries ago, foreshadowed many contemporary science fiction motifs. Lucian and his fellow travelers embark on their journey beyond the Pillars of Heracles, but their plans are disrupted by a fierce storm that blows them off course. Eventually, they arrive at an island with a remarkable river of wine that is teeming with fish and bears. Despite the island’s wonders, they do not stay long and continue on their way, only to be swept up by a powerful whirlwind that carries them all the way to the moon.

They arrive in the midst of a conflict between the rulers of the moon and sun, battling for control over the “Morning Star.” The armies are comprised of hybrid creatures, part mechanical and part biological, with strange forms. The Sun army prevails, leading to a treaty of peace. Lucian provides insight into the disparities between life on Earth and the other planets.

Upon their return to Earth, Lucian and his travelers are engulfed by a colossal whale spanning 200 miles. Inside, they discover a diverse population of fish people.

After engaging in a war with enigmatic creatures, they eventually triumph over the whale after starting a bonfire within its body. Finally, they succeed in unlocking its jaws and making a daring escape. As they continue on their voyage, they chance upon a colossal oceanic abyss but manage to navigate its edge, leading to the discovery of a distant continent that they decide to explore.

Lucian abruptly concludes his writing by indicating that their forthcoming adventures will be chronicled in the following sequels, all of which remained unpublished. In addition, Lucian’s work encompasses tales of incredible shipwrecks and voyages to extraordinary lands, such as an island of dreams, and wondrously traversing through interstellar forests and landscapes.

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Being the first writer to distinguish between reality and fiction, Lucian made a significant contribution to literature, albeit not a widely recognized one in his time. Moreover, “A True Story” is an early example of the idea of traveling across the Atlantic Ocean and the exploration of unknown lands, predating Columbus’s journey by approximately 1,400 years.

Rare 17th-century book on alien life discovered

Due to the hard work of books valuer Jim Spencer, there is a discovered  book about what life might be like on other planets, entitled “The Celestial World Discover’d: Or, Conjectures Concerning the Inhabitants, Plants and Productions of the Worlds in the Planets ” by Christiaan Huygens. Spencer found the book at a free antique valuation event in Gloucestershire, UK. Published in 1698, the book offers a unique view of how people of the time perceived the possibility of extraterrestrial life.

Christiaan Huygens, a prominent Dutch scientist who excelled in the fields of astronomy, mathematics, physics, and invention, is renowned as one of the greatest scientists of all time. In addition to his pioneering work on the pendulum clock, the wave theory of light, and the discovery of the true shape of Saturn’s rings, it has been revealed that Huygens believed in the existence of extraterrestrial life, as evidenced by a rare book recently unearthed.

The book, which includes five folding plates, presents Huygens’ argument that it is unlikely that God would have created other planets solely to be observed from Earth, suggesting that there must be a greater purpose. Spencer commented on the discovery in a statement:

“It’s fascinating to think who turned these pages in 1698, what they must’ve felt when reading these descriptions of life on Jupiter or Saturn before gazing up at the night sky. The book tries to describe what extraterrestrial beings might look like, how they spend their time, even what their music sounds like. It seems almost comical, but it’s informed by scientific reasoning, and who knows how our own thoughts on these matters will appear to people looking back in 324 years.” (Source)

Such weird and wonderful musings include Huygens concluding aliens must have hands and feet, writing in the book:

“Aliens must have hands and feet like humans because of their “convenience,” writing: “What could we invent or imagine that could be so exactly accommodated to all the design’d uses as the Hands are? Shall we give them an Elephant’s Proboscis.”

And that “‘celestial beings’ must have feet ‘[unless] they have found out the art of flying in some of those Worlds.’” Not to mention that Huygens believed: “aliens enjoyed astronomy and observation, sailed boats and listened to music” but also suffered misfortunes, wars, afflictions and poverty “because that’s what leads us to invention and progress. Aliens! Who sail boats and listen to tunes! They’re just like us.”

Huygens shared the belief that aliens, just like humans, must experience difficulties in order to drive innovation and advancement. “If Men were to lead their whole Lives in an undisturb’d continual Peace, in no fear of Poverty, no danger of War, I don’t doubt they would live little better than Brutes, without all knowledge or enjoyment of those Advantages that make our Lives pass on with pleasure and profit.”

Although some of Huygens’ conclusions may seem absurd to modern readers, Spencer finds the book captivating because of the many unanswered questions about the cosmos that still exist today. He notes that the subject matter seems futuristic or like science fiction, yet the writer is speaking to us from the past.

Despite the increased understanding of space and our own planet nowadays, Huygens’ book still draws our attention to the mystery of the universe. Spencer sees the book as a source of amusement and wonder, as it reminds us of how much we still do not know about the cosmos. Ultimately, he views it as a remarkable discovery that is truly out of this world.

{ https://howandwhys.com/ }

03-01-2026 om 22:43 geschreven door peter  

 Exploring the Truth Behind UFO Sightings: Fact or Fiction?

Overview

In recent years, the phenomenon of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs, has moved from the realm of science fiction and conspiracy theories into mainstream scientific and governmental discussions. The increased frequency of sightings, combined with technological advancements in imaging and sensors, has fueled a renewed global interest in understanding these unexplained phenomena. As governments, military agencies, scientists, and private individuals analyze new evidence, questions abound: Are these sightings evidence of extraterrestrial visitors, advanced human-made technology, or mere natural or human-made misinterpretations?

In this comprehensive examination, we delve into recent sightings, analyze available evidence, consider scientific and skeptical viewpoints, and explore the ongoing efforts to demystify these enigmatic events. Our goal is to facilitate a fact-based assessment that separates credible sightings from hoaxes, optical illusions, or atmospheric anomalies, ultimately seeking to determine whether these unexplained encounters reveal new physical phenomena, hidden terrestrial technologies, or are simply perceptual errors.

Recent Sightings and Eyewitness Accounts

Between March and September 2025, several high-profile UAP incidents captured widespread media attention, supported by an array of data including pilot logs, video footage, radar returns, and sensor readings. These incidents exemplify the complexity and diversity of recent sightings, illustrating the varied nature of the evidence and the challenges faced in establishing their origins.

• The March 12 Incident: Denver to Seattle On the morning of March 12, a commercial flight operated by SkyHigh Airlines, traveling from Denver International Airport to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, reported an extraordinary visual encounter. According to pilot logs, the crew observed a luminous, metallic-looking disc hovering silently at approximately 20,000 feet altitude. The captain’s official report describes it as “a bright, metallic disk, silent and stationary in the sky.”

The on-board camera footage corroborates this account, showing a glowing circular object that appeared to hold its position relative to the aircraft. The footage indicates the object remained stationary for about 45 seconds before suddenly accelerating at an incredible rate and disappearing from view. Notably, the aircraft's radar systems registered no other aircraft nearby, and weather conditions at the time were clear, ruling out common meteorological phenomena such as lenticular clouds or meteorite activity.

Analysis by independent experts confirmed the unusual nature of the sighting. The object exhibited neither standard aircraft lights nor identifiable flight patterns consistent with known technology. Further, calculations based on the video and radar data suggest the object’s acceleration exceeded typical human-made aerial vehicles, raising questions about its propulsion and energy source. While some skeptics have proposed optical illusions or camera anomalies, rigorous spectral analysis and multiple corroborating sources have reinforced the authenticity of the footage.

• The May 27 Encounter Near Tucson, Arizona A different kind of sighting emerged on May 27, captured by an amateur astronomer collective operating out of the Tucson Observatory. Using a high-resolution 4K telescope equipped with infrared filters, they recorded a striking video of an anomalous object exhibiting “Tic-Tac-like” characteristics—a reference to a famous U.S. Navy sighting.

The object displayed rapid, highly irregular maneuvers—abrupt accelerations, sudden dips, and quick directional changes—behaviors that defy conventional aerodynamics at high altitudes. It appeared to emit its own light, rather than solely reflect ambient solar radiation. The motion profile and optical characteristics prompted analyses from multiple scientific bodies.

The National Institute for Aerospace Studies (NIAS) conducted an in-depth review, concluding that the object's movement was inconsistent with drones, weather balloons, or known aircraft. It exhibited acceleration rates that violated physical constraints of current aerospace technology. Skeptics have posited potential optical artifacts—lens flare, reflections, or camera glitches—but spectral and multispectral analyses dismissed these as explanations. The multiple layers of analysis, including cross-validation with different cameras and filters, pointed toward a genuine phenomenon.

• The August 9 Incident Over the Gulf of Mexico On August 9, during a routine U.S. Navy training operation over the Gulf of Mexico, radar operators detected a high-RCS (radar cross-section) target at approximately 15,000 feet altitude. The object was tracked for about 30 seconds, displaying stable radar returns before disappearing abruptly. Infrared sensors on the aircraft recorded a brief but substantial temperature spike synchronizing with the radar detection.

This event resembles the seminal “Tic Tac” incident encountered by U.S. Navy pilots in 2004, which famously contributedto enhanced governmental interest and subsequent declassified reports. The Gulf event, however, involved a smaller, more localized object, with no visual confirmation from aircraft cameras at the time, suggesting a purely sensor-based encounter. Analysts point out that the radar signature was anomalous and did not match known aircraft or missile profiles, and the infrared spike indicates some form of high-energy activity or propulsion.

In Dec. 2017, the Tic Tac became worldwide news as the centerpiece of a front-page story in the New York Times. The article revealed the existence of previously unknown Department of Defense programs looking into UFOs. The video of the Tic Tac alongside Fravor’s account was, and still is, viewed as solid proof that genuine unknowns have continued to perplex the world’s most powerful military.

Scientific and Skeptical Perspectives

The diversity and often inexplicability of recent sightings have prompted vigorous debate among scientists, skeptics, and UFO researchers. Skeptics emphasize the importance of mundane explanations—optical illusions, camera artifacts, misidentified atmospheric phenomena such as ball lightning, or even drone activity. They argue that the pressure to find extraterrestrial origins can lead to premature conclusions, especially given the current limitations in sensor data and environmental context.

Conversely, many researchers emphasize the extraordinary nature of the observed accelerations, energy signatures, and flight characteristics that challenge conventional aircraft physics as known today. The consistent corroboration across multiple independent sources—including eyewitness testimonies, multiple sensor types, and high-resolution imagery—strengthens the case for genuine unexplained phenomena. They argue that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and current data, though compelling, still demand rigorous verification.

Ongoing Efforts and Future Directions

To advance understanding, agencies worldwide are investing in dedicated UFO research programs. The U.S. Department of Defense’s Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) has integrated these recent findings into their analyses, aiming to declassify and disseminate findings transparently. Similar initiatives are underway in other countries, emphasizing scientific rigor and interoperability of data.

Innovations in sensor technology, machine learning, and international data sharing are poised to provide clearer insights. The eventual goal is to develop a unified, evidence-based framework that can distinguish between natural atmospheric, human-made, and potentially extraterrestrial phenomena. Such efforts are crucial not only for security and aerospace safety but also for understanding whether these sightings represent undiscovered natural phenomena or advanced technology.

Conclusion

The recent wave of UAP sightings presents an unprecedented opportunity to explore phenomena that extend beyond our current scientific understanding. While skepticism remains essential to avoid jumping to conclusions, dismissing all observations as mere hallucinations or hoaxes ignores the consistency, corroboration, and scientific analysis supporting many cases. Determining whether these objects are terrestrial or extraterrestrial is still a work in progress, but the mounting evidence encourages open-minded investigation and scientific inquiry. Through meticulous research, technological advancements, and international collaboration, we are gradually peeling back the layers of mystery surrounding UFO sightings. The truth, perhaps, lies somewhere in the confluence of natural phenomena, advanced terrestrial technology, or genuine extraterrestrial visitation—each possibility deserving careful, unbiased exploration. Only with sustained scientific rigor can we hope to uncover the reality behind these perplexing encounters and separate fact from fiction, ultimately expanding our understanding of the universe and our place within it.

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{ PETER2011 }

03-01-2026 om 22:23 geschreven door peter  

The Saas-Fee Picture – A UFO Encounter in the Swiss Alps?

Overview

In July 1975, amidst the breathtaking vistas of the Swiss Alps, an intriguing photographic mystery emerged, capturing the imagination of UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. A black-and-white photograph, known as the “Saas-Fee picture,” depicts what appears to be a circular, metallic object hovering above the serene Swiss village of Zwischbergen. Decades later, this image has resurfaced on social media platforms such as #ufotwitter, igniting fresh debates about its authenticity and the potential existence of extraterrestrial visitors. The photograph’s provenance, combined with the enduring testimony of its witnesses, has made it a compelling subject in the history of UFO research. While some experts dismiss it as a cleverly staged hoax, others regard it as an authentic sighting that challenges our understanding of the universe. As the debate continues, the Saas-Fee image stands as a symbol of the enduring allure of the unexplained and the ongoing quest for truth in the realm of unidentified flying objects.

Close-up of the Saas-Fee UFO picture

The much publicized "Saas Fee" photo from 1975. The picture, taken not in Saas Fee but near the village of Zwischbergen, is a stereotype image of a "flying saucer"-type UFO from the seventies.

Incident Details

The origins of the Saas-Fee photograph trace back to a casual hiking adventure undertaken by three young men—two Dutch brothers identified only by the initials B and H, alongside their friend M. According to their accounts, during their second day of trekking in the Swiss Alps, around 3:00 p.m., they encountered an extraordinary phenomenon. The trio reported observing a “circular object” approximately 15 meters across, hovering at a distance estimated between 100 and 500 meters from their vantage point. The object’s description emphasized its dull grey, solid-metal exterior—a striking detail given the typically unpredictable atmospheric conditions of the Alpine region. The witnesses recounted that the craft did not seem to be affected by the wind or temperature fluctuations, adding a layer of mystery to their sighting.

The trio watched the object for several minutes, during which time they observed its movements and appearance before B decided to document the phenomenon with his camera. As B pressed the shutter button, he captured the now-famous black-and-white image. Interestingly, B recalled that immediately after the photograph was taken, the object abruptly moved, disappearing behind the mountain’s treetops. This rapid departure echoes many UFO encounter reports where the act of recording or observing the craft seems to prompt its swift departure. The witnesses have maintained their story steadfastly over the years, asserting that their experience was genuine and unaltered by external pressures or incentives. This consistency has distinguished their account from many other alleged sightings, fostering both intrigue and skepticism.

Several decades later, in multiple interviews, the witnesses reaffirmed their belief that what they saw was not a natural phenomenon, nor a man-made aircraft, but something extraordinary. Their firsthand account remains a cornerstone of the incident’s credibility among certain UFO aficionados. However, skeptics argue that initial impressions alone cannot determine the nature of the event, prompting the need for detailed analysis of the photographic evidence and contextual factors surrounding the sighting.

Photographic Examination

Since its circulation in the late 20th century, the Saas-Fee photograph has been the subject of numerous technical analyses, with researchers attempting to establish its authenticity. The image, taken with a standard 35 mm SLR camera—a common device during the 1970s—shows a clear circular shape with defined borders and uniform shading, suggesting a metallic surface. Experts have scrutinized various aspects, such as grain structure, exposure levels, and shadowing, to determine whether the photograph was manipulated or staged.

A closer view of the unidentified object.

One line of investigation focuses on the ambient lighting conditions and the physical environment captured in the image. The scene appears to have no obvious signs of digital alteration, which is unsurprising given the pre-digital era in which it was taken. Yet, some investigators argue that the background appears somewhat artificial or blurred, lacking the detailed depth expected from a genuine alpine landscape. This observation has led some to posit that the background could be a painted backdrop or a composite image, possibly inserted to lend credibility to the object.

Attempts to replicate the scene using period-appropriate equipment and models have yielded mixed results. In a notable 2005 experiment conducted by a European photographic society, researchers created a replica of the craft using a metal disc mounted on a remotely controlled drone or kite. The resulting images bore a striking resemblance to the original, but they also displayed a luminous halo of light around the replica, a feature not present in the original photograph. This discrepancy highlights the difficulty in conclusively determining whether the original was genuine or a skillful hoax.

Further analysis has involved examining the negative or print quality. High-resolution scans have failed to uncover any signs of digital or manual tampering, but the resolution and aging of the original negatives limit definitive conclusions. The lack of discernible background detail—such as the landscape’s texture or natural features—remains a significant point of debate among forensics experts. Some suggest that the photograph’s consistency with known period-correct film grain and exposure supports its authenticity, while others argue that it could be a carefully crafted model photograph taken under controlled conditions.

Photographers and image analysts continue to debate whether the level of detail, lighting, and composition points toward an authentic extraterrestrial craft or just an elaborate hoax. Without the original negatives or additional supporting evidence, the photograph’s true origin remains shrouded in ambiguity, embodying what Dr. Elena Marquez, a photographic historian at the University of Zurich, describes as “a perfect example of the gray zone in photographic validation—neither wholly convincing nor completely dismissible.”

Super clear UFO photo taken in Saas-Fee, Switzerland on July 26, 1975.

by NetOne613

Expert Opinions

The contrasting perspectives surrounding the Saas-Fee photograph highlight the complex interplay between credulity and skepticism in UFO research. On one side, enthusiasts argue that the consistency in witness testimonies—despite the passage of almost fifty years—and the detailed description of the object lend credibility to the sighting. They point out that the witnesses have refused monetary offers to recant or alter their story, suggesting genuine conviction. The fact that these individuals have maintained their account despite public ridicule and the potential social pressures increases their credibility among believers.

Moreover, proponents emphasize the historical context of UFO sightings in the 1970s. The era was rife with media sensationalism, coinciding with a cultural fascination with “flying saucers” fueled by movies, books, and popular science fiction. This environment led some skeptics to argue that such sightings, including the Saas-Fee incident, could be attributable to hoaxes or imaginative interpretations of ordinary objects—such as aircraft, natural phenomena, or optical illusions—amplified by media influence. Nevertheless, proponents counter that the specific details of the sighting—such as the sudden disappearance upon photographing and the metallic symmetry—are atypical of mundane explanations.

Skeptics, including Dr. Hans Keller of the Swiss Institute for Critical Inquiry, stress the importance of applying rigorous scientific standards when evaluating such evidence. Keller points out that the visual style of the Saas-Fee image aligns with the sci-fi media prevalent during the 1970s, raising the risk of deliberate or subconscious mimicry. “The aesthetics of many purported UFO images from that era often resemble science fiction motifs,” Keller notes, “which complicates their authenticity unless corroborated by other data such as radar logs or physical traces.”

In contrast, some experts and investigators champion the credibility of part of the witnesses’ story, especially given their long-standing refusal to profit from their account. The Dutch UFO researcher Jan de Vries echoes this sentiment, stating, “The consistency over decades and their outright rejection of financial gain suggest they truly believed what they saw.” Yet, others caution that eyewitness accounts, no matter how steadfast, are inherently subjective and vulnerable to memory distortions, especially after so many years.

This divergence in expert opinions underscores the central challenge of UFO investigation: distinguishing genuine anomalous phenomena from artifacts of perception, fabrication, or cultural influence. The Saas-Fee case exemplifies this dilemma, illustrating how subjective witness testimony and limited photographic evidence can perpetuate ambiguity. Ultimately, most scientists advocate for a cautious approach, emphasizing the need for corroborative physical data—such as radar recordings, radar-visual matches, or physical traces—to substantiate or refute the sighting’s extraterrestrial nature.

Ongoing Debate

The Saas-Fee photograph remains a focal point in contemporary UFO discourse, serving as a testament to the enduring human fascination with the unknown. Its renewal on social media and in investigative circles has revitalized interest, prompting discussions about the nature of evidence and the limitations of photographic analysis. The core difficulty lies in determining whether this single image, taken with period-appropriate equipment and accompanied by consistent witness accounts, constitutes compelling proof of extraterrestrial visitation or if it is a product of hoax, misinterpretation, or coincidence.

One of the fundamental challenges in evaluating the photograph is the scarcity of supporting data. No original negatives are publicly available, and there are no accompanying radar logs, physical traces, or contextual information to verify the encounter. This absence restricts analysis and leaves open many possibilities. Some researchers have called for a thorough archival review—hoping that original film negatives, if they exist in any private collection, could shed light on the authenticity. Similarly, attempts to locate any physical remnants or traces in the area where the sighting occurred have been inconclusive.

The incident exemplifies a broader issue in UFO research: the reliance on anecdotal evidence and photographs that are prone to manipulation or misinterpretation. As technology advances, digital forensics provide new methods of analysis, but aged materials often lack the resolution or integrity needed for definitive conclusions. Meanwhile, the phenomenon persists—be it extraterrestrial, natural, or man-made—challenging the scientific community’s capacity to differentiate fact from fiction.

As the debate rages on, proponents advocate for a cautious but open-minded approach, emphasizing the importance of transparency, interdisciplinary research, and the search for corroborative physical evidence. Critics argue that without additional data, the photograph remains an intriguing anomaly but cannot be considered proof of an extraterrestrial craft. The debate exemplifies the tension at the heart of UFO investigations: a desire to uncover profound truths versus the necessity of empirical rigor.

Until new evidence surfaces—such as original negatives, radar logs, or possible physical artifacts—the Saas-Fee picture will likely continue to be debated, representing “a case too close to call” in the annals of UFO history. Its enduring mystery encapsulates the human desire to know the unknown and the careful skepticism needed to separate genuine phenomena from illusions or hoaxes. As such, the incident continues to inspire curiosity, investigation, and skepticism, highlighting the complex interplay between human perception, technological limitations, and the pursuit of truth in the cosmic frontier.

CONCLUSION

The Saas Fee photograph, purportedly capturing an unidentified flying object (UFO) in the Swiss Alps, has garnered significant attention both from the public and the scientific community. To analyze this phenomenon scientifically, one must consider various factors including image analysis, atmospheric conditions, natural and human-made objects, and the limitations of photographic evidence.

During a hunting expedition, a group of individuals encountered a low-hovering craft that glided quietly among the nearby trees. One member managed to capture a photograph of the object. Skeptic Wim Van Utrecht contended that the image might be fabricated.

Firstly, the object depicted in the photograph can be subjected to rigorous image analysis to determine its physical characteristics, such as shape, size, and movement. Advanced software can help identify anomalies or inconsistencies suggestive of tampering or digital manipulation. If the object appears to have features inconsistent with known aircraft or natural phenomena, further scrutiny is warranted.

Secondly, understanding the environmental context is essential. The Swiss Alps' weather conditions often cause optical illusions, such as lens flares, reflections, or atmospheric phenomena like clouds or ice crystals, which can produce visual artifacts resembling unidentified objects. High-altitude glaciers and snowfields can also reflect sunlight, creating bright spots or unusual shapes in photographs.

Thirdly, human-made objects should be considered. The region is frequented by helicopters, drones, or aircraft which, at certain angles and lighting conditions, can resemble UFOs. Additionally, the presence of military or scientific equipment, such as weather balloons or research balloons, can create similar visual signatures in aerial photographs.

Furthermore, photographic artifacts and camera limitations can generate optical illusions. For instance, lens aberrations, reflections within the camera lens, or digital artifacts arising from the image processing can produce unexpected shapes or anomalies. Such artifacts are often mistaken for genuine unidentified objects.

Evaluation of the original photographic data, including metadata and high-resolution scans, helps determine authenticity and identify possible causes of anomalies. If the image is a composite or has undergone digital editing, this diminishes its credibility as evidence of a UFO encounter.

Importantly, no verifiable physical evidence supports the existence of extraterrestrial craft in this region. The absence of corroborating observations, radar data, or sensor readings further constrains the hypothesis that the object is an extraterrestrial spacecraft.

In summary, the "UFO" in the Saas Fee image can most plausibly be attributed to natural atmospheric phenomena, reflections, human-made objects, or photographic artifacts. Without concrete physical evidence or corroborating data, these explanations align with the scientific principle of parsimony, favoring natural or human-related causes over extraordinary ones. Thus, the photograph is best understood as an intriguing optical or photographic artefact rather than definitive proof of extraterrestrial activity.

{ PETER2011 }

03-01-2026 om 21:46 geschreven door peter  

Godfather of AI Warns That It Will Replace Many More Jobs This Year

By Frank Landymore

JORGE UZON

AFP via Getty Images

Rejoice, for the year of 2025 is finally over.

During our planet’s latest and seemingly interminable revolution around the Sun, the tech industry’s obsession with AI soared to ever more implausible heights. CEOs began openly gloating about replacing their underlings with AI “agents.” The phenomenon of so-called AI psychosis became a national news story as more people were seemingly driven over the edge by their silver-tongued chatbot companions. “Slop” took on a new meaning. And the word “circular” suddenly started being used a whole lot in the same sentence as “billions of dollars” or even “hundreds of billions of dollars.” 

Will 2026 finally deliver us from this endless cavalcade of large language model madness? Not likely, according to computer scientist and “godfather” of AI Geoffrey Hinton. AI will only continue to improve next year, he predicts, reaching a point where it will liberate us from all our horrible low-paying jobs.

“I think we’re going to see AI get even better,” Hinton said during an interview on CNN’s State of the Union on Sunday. “It’s already extremely good. We’re going to see it having the capabilities to replace many, many jobs. It’s already able to replace jobs in call centers, but it’s going to be able to replace many other jobs.”

Hinton was one of three recipients of the prestigious Turing Award in 2018 for his work on neural networks that formed the bedrock of modern AI, earning him the moniker of being a “godfather” of the field. 

In 2023, Hinton declared that he regretted his life’s work after stepping down from his role at Google, where he had been for over a decade. Since then, he’s become one of the tech’s most prominent doomsayers.

During the CNN interview, Hinton was asked whether he was more or less worried about AI since making that now infamous declaration.

“I’m probably more worried,” Hinton replied. “It’s progressed even faster than I thought. In particular, it’s got better at doing things like reasoning and also at things like deceiving people.”

AI is progressing so quickly, according to Hinton, that around every seven months it can complete tasks that took twice as long before. He predicted that it’s only a matter of years until an AI will effortlessly perform software engineering tasks that take a human a month to complete.

“And then there’ll be very few people need for software engineering projects,” Hinton added.

Hinton made similarly gloomy predictions in a talk with Senator Bernie Sanders last month, saying that tech leaders are “betting on AI replacing a lot of workers.”

It still remains to be seen, though, if AI will actually make those strides. Many efforts to replace workers with semi-autonomous AI models have failed, while some new models, like OpenAI’s GPT-5, showed only lackluster improvements.

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03-01-2026 om 20:41 geschreven door peter  

Chang’e 4 is a Chinese space probe that landed on the far side of the Moon on January 3, 2019. It not only studied the chemical composition of the rocks in this location, but also conducted the first experiment in history to grow plants on another celestial body.

Chinese space program

January 3, 2019, was a triumph for the Chinese space program. The rest of humanity also had reason to rejoice. For the first time in history, the Chang’e 4 spacecraft landed on the far side of the Moon, which we never see from Earth.

The road to this landing was quite long. China was late to the lunar race between the US and the USSR. The PRC had to implement its lunar program in the 21st century. It began with two spacecraft that operated in lunar orbit, photographing and remotely sensing the Moon. Both were named after Chang’e, the Chinese goddess of the Moon.

Initially, the Chang’e 1 spacecraft operated in lunar orbit from 2007 to 2009. It made general observations, which were hardly surprising at the time, since the US had already found water on our satellite.

However, in 2010, Chang’e 2 was launched to the Moon. It photographed the surface of our satellite from an altitude of only 100 km. In 2012, based on the data it collected, the Chinese government presented the most detailed map of the Moon at that time, and it was confirmed that all this time, the Chinese had been looking for a landing site for Chang’e 3.

Around that time, the first discussions about China’s lunar ambitions began, but no one knew how seriously to take them, since only two countries – the US and the USSR – had successfully landed on the Moon at that point.

However, on December 14, 2013, Chang’e 3 landed in the Sinus Iridum of the Mare Imbrium. It was not only the first spacecraft in 37 years to remain intact after reaching the surface of our satellite. It also carried the Yutu rover, named after the jade rabbit, a character from Chinese legends who is said to have prepared the powder of immortality on the Moon. At that time, China was able to explore the material of our satellite for the first time and confirm that it was exactly as American and Soviet scientists had determined.

The Chang’e 4

However, all this was a repeat of achievements made many years ago. In order to challenge the US, which had already announced plans to return to the Moon, it was necessary to show that Chinese missions could provide the global scientific community with data that no one had previously had access to.

This was the goal of the Chang’e 4 probe. In terms of design, it was a copy of the previous mission, with the same cameras and spectrographs, and even carried the Yutu-2 rover on board. However, this device was to land on the far side of the Moon, which humans first saw only in 1959 and, before the Chinese attempt, had only seen from orbit.

Moreover, Chang’e 4 was supposed to land in the Von Kármán lunar crater, which covers the much older and largest basin on our satellite, the South Pole-Aitken basin. Once, at the dawn of the solar system’s existence, a body much larger than the asteroid that ended the dinosaurs crashed into the Moon, which, scientists believe, led to the asymmetry of its two hemispheres: the visible and the reverse.

Almost all experimental data confirming this was obtained thanks to the Chinese missions Chang’e 4 and Chang’e 5, which followed it. But for them to be possible, it was first necessary to ensure their connection with Earth. This mission was entrusted to the Queqiao-1 relay satellite, which was launched to the Lagrange 2 point of the Earth-Moon system, i.e., directly behind our natural satellite.

Queqiao-1 began operating in May 2018, and in December of the same year, Chang’e 4 was launched to the Moon. It remained in orbit around our satellite for some time, and on January 3, 2019, it landed at the planned location. On the same day, it began scientific research and took photographs.

Yutu-2 rolled off the platform and began performing spectroscopic analysis of the rocks. After a few days, scientists had to interrupt their work because night fell on the Moon and the temperature dropped to extreme levels. However, two weeks later, when dawn finally broke, the mission resumed its work.

In total, Chang’e 4 lasted more than a year and a half. Technically, the mission is not yet complete. It is currently in sleep mode. Ultimately, it accomplished its main task: it examined the mantle rock emissions and noted how they are similar to and different from those found on the visible side of the Moon.

Growing plants on the Moon

The biggest difference in the design of Chang’e 4 from previous spacecraft was the addition of a module for biological experiments. It consisted of germinating seeds. This had been done repeatedly in space before, but it was all in Earth orbit.

It was Chang’e 4 that became the first spacecraft to successfully grow cotton, potato, and rapeseed seeds on another celestial body. This happened a few days after landing, and photos of the tiny sprouts went viral around the world. The experiment was supposed to last 100 days. During this time, the capsule with the samples had to be heated and humidified.

Incidentally, it also contained yeast spores and Drosophila fly eggs. So, theoretically, an entire ecosystem could have developed on board in later stages. However, with the onset of the lunar night, the temperature outside dropped too sharply, and too much electricity was needed for heating. Therefore, the experiment had to be interrupted.

Nevertheless, it is considered successful and was extremely important for global science. It proved the fundamental ability of plants to overcome the most difficult stage of their development in space conditions. In the future, humans will inevitably live in space, and we will need oxygen and nutrients that plants can provide. To achieve this, large modules with artificial biospheres will need to be created on planets. Similar to the one that was on board Chang’e 4.

• Posted in Articles

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

03-01-2026 om 20:29 geschreven door peter  

The US Space Agency has announced a search for an innovative system to detect and neutralize potential airborne threats in the form of drones. The goal is to protect personnel, rockets, and critical infrastructure in the area of the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral.

The decision to develop a special system was made in the context of a nationwide ban on the use of foreign-made drones for security reasons.

The Kennedy Space Center is the heart of the Artemis lunar program, from where powerful Space Launch System rockets will be launched. Any outside interference, even accidental, could have catastrophic consequences.

How the “smart shield” will work

According to the agency’s request, the system should include a network of stationary and mobile sensors (radar, radio frequency, optical). Its key tasks are:

• Detect and identify unknown drones at a distance of up to 64 km.
• Analyze risk in real time.
• Provide data for quick decision-making by the security service.

The system is scheduled to be implemented in April 2026. From now on, all drone flights in the central area will be strictly limited and will require special permission.

Balancing security and innovation

Interestingly, NASA itself periodically uses drones for festive events – for example, the visitor center hosts a show featuring 600 autonomous devices. The new system is designed to distinguish authorized flights from potentially dangerous ones, protecting the future of lunar missions.

This move demonstrates how space agencies are adapting to the challenges of a new era, where advanced technologies can bring both benefits and risks.

Earlier, we explained what a rocket drone is and how it differs from a UAV.

• Provided by: Gizmodo

• Posted in News, Tech

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

03-01-2026 om 20:16 geschreven door peter  

Spanish Soldiers Fired on a Tall Humanoid After a UFO Landed Near Their Base (1971)

In March 1971, an extraordinary series of events unfolded at a Spanish military radar installation near the coast. What began as routine perimeter patrols escalated into one of the most unsettling close-encounter testimonies to emerge from Cold War-era Europe. The account comes from Jesus Jofre Mila, a corporal stationed at the base, whose story was later discussed publicly in interviews and investigative programs.

This article is based exclusively on his testimony, reconstructed from later retellings and corroborated by partial witness accounts and secondary investigators.

An Uneasy Night at the Radar Base

On the night of March 25, 1971, something felt wrong almost immediately. The base’s German Shepherd patrol dogs – highly trained and accustomed to night duty, became unusually aggressive and agitated. No amount of calming helped. According to Mila, the dogs reacted as if sensing something entirely unfamiliar.

Shortly after, a guard pointed toward the sky. Above the radar domes, a disc-like craft appeared, described as a classic stacked or double-layered oval shape emitting a golden-yellow light. The glow was bright enough to illuminate the object clearly, yet strangely non-blinding.

Several soldiers watched as the object drifted slowly across the horizon, then suddenly accelerated at tremendous speed toward the sea before vanishing.

A Blinding Flash from the Water

That was not the end of the night’s events.

Another soldier stationed closer to the rocky shoreline later witnessed the object descend rapidly toward the ocean. Upon contact with the water, it emitted a violent flash of light so intense it temporarily blinded him. He was later found clutching his eyes, which remained swollen and red for days. Base medical personnel could not explain the injuries.

No conventional explosion, aircraft, or weapon discharge was reported.

The Green Light Beyond the Fence

Later that same night, Mila and a fellow handler armed themselves and followed one of the dogs toward the perimeter fence after noticing an unnatural green glow in an area where the base ended and open land began.

As they advanced, the atmosphere reportedly felt “charged,” like static electricity. Mila described a tingling sensation on his tongue, similar to touching a battery. Even the dog appeared distressed, shaking its head as if in pain.

Then they heard it.

Heavy footsteps -fast, deliberate, and unnervingly close.

Face-to-Face with a Tall Humanoid Figure

Out of the darkness emerged a very tall figure, estimated between 7 and 7.2 feet in height. The soldiers shouted warnings. There was no response.

Panicking, one soldier opened fire. Mila followed, firing his 9 mm sidearm multiple times. The muzzle flashes briefly illuminated the being.

What they saw was unlike anything human.

The figure was described as:

• Extremely tall and thin
• Pale in appearance
• With long, light-colored hair falling to the shoulders
• Wearing a tight, metallic-looking suit with a high collar
• A belt featuring a distinct inverted triangle symbol at the center

The being did not react to the gunfire.

For a brief moment, Mila described the sensation that time itself had stopped. Then the figure turned calmly and walked away, disappearing toward the fence.

A Fence That Vanished

Moments later, the soldiers heard metallic impacts. At dawn, the evidence was impossible to ignore.

A section of the inner perimeter fence; approximately 50 cm wide, had vanished entirely. The edges were scorched, as if cut or disintegrated. The outer fence beside it was completely intact. There were no footprints, no debris, and no mechanical explanation.

The missing section had to be crudely repaired with wire.

Dreams, Voices, and a Return to the Sky

In the nights that followed, Mila experienced intense dreams involving the encounter. On one night, he reported hearing overlapping voices in his head- unintelligible at first. Days later, he claimed the message became clearer, though he has remained guarded about its content.

On March 27, the lights returned, this time witnessed by dozens of personnel, possibly over a hundred. The object hovered visibly above the base for several minutes.

On March 29, the phenomenon escalated again: two military jet aircraft were reportedly seen approaching the object before all three accelerated away at extreme speed. Officially, no jets were launched that night. Unofficially, radar operators reportedly disagreed.

The Investigation That Left No Records

After the mass sighting, higher command intervened. Soldiers were interviewed individually and instructed to write reports. Shortly after, two American servicemen, accompanied by a Spanish Air Force officer, arrived on base.

According to witnesses:

• Soldiers were questioned separately
• Told explicitly to forget the incident
• Photographed against a white wall using an unusually powerful flash that temporarily blinded them

No explanations were provided. No official findings were released.

Later, Spanish ufologist Antonio Rivera reported that American technicians were seen inspecting coastal cliffs near where the object had descended into the sea. Officially, it was described as radar maintenance. The case was subsequently classified by the Spanish Ministry of Defense.An Unresolved Military Encounter

More than five decades later, the 1971 radar base incident remains unexplained.

There are no radar records, no declassified conclusions, and no conventional explanations that fully account for:

• The disciplined dogs’ reaction
• The blinding light injuries
• The humanoid figure unaffected by gunfire
• The selectively disintegrated fence
• The mass sightings over multiple nights

What remains is the testimony of trained military personnel, men with no incentive to fabricate a story that initially brought them reprimand rather than recognition.

Whether interpreted as a close encounter, a classified technology incident, or something beyond current understanding, the events described by Jesus Jofre Mila stand as one of the most detailed and unsettling military UFO encounters on record.

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

03-01-2026 om 20:04 geschreven door peter  

The Importance of Pain

While pain may be among the least desirable human experiences, it plays an essential role in self-preservation. The spinal cord acts as a relay system to the brain, sending reflexive messages to our muscles in response to pain stimuli. For example, if we touch something hot, we withdraw our hand without thinking, thereby preventing a more severe burn. Alternatively, if we step on a sharp object, we lift our foot to avoid a deep wound. The signals involved in these actions are rapid, with the brain becoming aware of what has occurred only after the movement has begun.

Saving those precious seconds of processing time as the brain decodes sensory data into understanding (which results in a conscious response in humans) can make an enormous difference between receiving a minor abrasion and sustaining a serious injury. However, robots typically lack a swift, automatic system for processing external stimuli. Instead, sensors collect data, which is sent to a central processing unit (CPU).

Electronic robotic skin (representational image)

The CPU compares the data against its program and generates an appropriate response, which is then transmitted over the robot’s data network to an actuator, which decodes the response and executes the CPU’s selected movement. While this may occur at an impressive speed, even a slight delay in action due to processing time can cause greater damage to the robot.

Challenging Environments for Robots

Automation, until now, has primarily been confined to highly controlled environments, specifically designed to safely accommodate robotic machinery, such as factory floors and laboratories.

Presently, advances in both mechanical robotics and artificial intelligence are seeking to change this. Companies such as Tesla, with its humanoid Optimus robot, are attempting to integrate robots into everyday environments to perform a variety of human tasks. Unfortunately, homes, hospitals, and workplaces are designed for humans, who can navigate with considerably more intuitive ease than pre-programmed machines.

To enable robots to match humans’ instinctive environmental responses as they move into our imperfect and sometimes hazardous world, Chinese scientists have developed a robotic e-skin (NRE-skin) that provides robots not only with a “sense” of touch, but also the ability to “feel” pain.

Previous attempts to provide robots with sensor skins have been much simpler, wrapping the robot in a sensor system that sends signals to a CPU for processing and response. By contrast, the NRE-skin processes the information obtained when a robot comes into contact with an object and identifies potentially dangerous contact (i.e., pain) within the skin itself, thereby reducing the time required for sending and receiving information.

Modular, neuromorphic electronic skin capable of active pain and injury perception in robotic applications.

Credit: Xinge Yu, City University of Hong Kong

Robotic NRE-Skin

The Chinese researchers developed their NRE-skin as a four-layer system. Like our own epidermis, the top layer features a protective coating that shields the delicate underlying components from the environment. Beneath that layer, the skin performs its functions, with layers of sensors and circuits designed to mimic human nerves. Even when nothing is touching the robot, the skin sends a “all clear” null result signal every 75-150 seconds, informing the CPU that the system is still operating correctly. If the skin is cut or damaged significantly enough, the lack of signal alerts the robot that damage has occurred in the area.

Most importantly, the skin registers touch with signals called “spikes.” These spikes occur in two forms, depending on the severity of the situation. Regular touch sends a spike to the CPU, which processes the data to understand the environment. When the skin detects an extreme event, it instead sends a spike directly to the robot’s actuators to produce an automatic response, thereby removing it from potential harm.

The team designed the skin not only to warn of real-world dangers but also to accept that harm will eventually occur in an uncontrolled environment. The skin is produced in swappable magnetic patches. While it cannot “heal” in the sense that a living creature does, it can quickly be mended by changing a patch without having to repair the entire skin covering.

Currently, the primary issue is that multiple points of contact can lead to confusion within the system. To overcome this, the next step for researchers will be to enhance the skin’s sensitivity and enable it to disambiguate between the many sensations experienced while moving through a range of environments.

The paper, “A Neuromorphic Robotic Electronic Skin with Active Pain and Injury Perception,” appeared in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on December 22, 2025.

• Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.

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

03-01-2026 om 18:38 geschreven door peter  

The research team behind the discovery said the cremation site also hints at potentially spiritually complex ritual practices surrounding fire and death that had not previously been identified during this ancient period.

“Not only is this the earliest cremation in Africa, it was such a spectacle that we have to rethink how we view group labor and ritual in these ancient hunter-gatherer communities,” explained Jessica Thompson, an assistant professor of anthropology at Yale University, and leader of a long-term research project at the site of the discovery.

Date of Discovery Rivals Oldest Known Human Cremation Site

According to a statement announcing the unexpected discovery of ancient, cremated human remains, evidence of intentionally burned human remains appears as early as 40,000 years ago in Australia. However, “intentionally built” structures made of combustible materials don’t appear until about 10,000 years before present.

According to researchers, the previously discovered ancient pyre at the Xaasaa Na’ Upward Sun River archaeological site in Alaska, which contained the remains of a small child, was dated to sometime around 11,500 years ago. Conversely, the oldest known funerary cremation site in Africa, dated to a comparatively recent 3,500, was likely built by Pastoral Neolithic herders who were much more organized than the ancient hunter-gatherers associated with the discovery.

“Cremation is more common among ancient food-producing societies, who generally possess more complex technology and engage in more elaborate mortuary rituals than earlier hunter-gatherers,” the researchers explain.

Remains of a Single Individual Discovered in the Pyre

In the 1950s, archaeologists determined that the ancient cremation site, dubbed Hora 1, was a hunter-gatherer burial ground. However, those scientists didn’t know when those burials occurred. Decades later, Thompson’s team unearthed evidence that it was used by ancient humans as far back as 21,000 years ago, with the site’s burials seemingly dating to between 16,000 and 8,000 years before present. Notably, all the bodies buried during this period were interred in a complete state.

The Hora 1 site photographed from the air.

Image credit: Jacob Davis.

In collaboration with the Malawi Department of Museums and Monuments, the latest effort analyzed a separate set of bones from what they described as a “highly fragmented individual.” 170 separate bones were examined, mostly originating from the woman’s arms and legs. The researchers say the bones suggest the woman was between 18 and 60 years old and slightly under 5 feet tall.

After a closer analysis of the cremated remains, the researchers determined that the body was likely cremated before decomposition, most likely within a few days of the woman’s death. The researchers also found cut marks on the bones, suggesting that the flesh had been removed before incineration.

Study team member Elizabeth Sawchuk, a Curator of Human Evolution at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and a bioarchaeologist, said they were surprised to find no teeth or skull bone fragments in the cremated remains. Sawchuk said that because those body parts are historically preserved during cremations, the team believed they may have been removed “prior to burning.”

Researchers found cut marks on the bone fragments recovered from the ancient funeral pyre.

Image credit: Jessica Thompson.

Labor Intensive Cremation Hints at Its Purpose

When discussing the unusual nature of an organized cremation by African hunter-gatherers almost 10,000 years ago, Jessica Cerezo-Román, an associate professor of anthropology at the University of Oklahoma and the study’s lead author, noted the significant amount of labor and time required to complete an effective cremation.

“Cremation is very rare among ancient and modern hunter-gatherers, at least partially because pyres require a huge amount of labor, time, and fuel to transform a body into fragmented and calcined bone and ash,” Professor Cerezo-Román explained.

For example, the team estimated that ancient humans would have had to gather at least 30 kilograms of deadwood and grass, a figure they said points to a significant communal effort. An analysis of ash sediments and bone fragments also suggests that participants actively disturbed the fire throughout the burning, including regularly adding more fuel to maintain the high temperatures needed. The team estimated the fire reached temperatures above  500°C.

Cerezo-Román said the job of removing and preparing the body may sound “gruesome,” but also noted that these practices may have been associated with social memory, remembrance of a loved one, or an ancestral veneration. The professor also pointed out that a growing body of evidence suggests ancient hunter-gatherers in Malawi performed cremations that included the posthumous “removal, curation, and secondary reburial of body parts,” maybe as tokens of the deceased.

In the study’s conclusion, the team notes that stone tools discovered at the site may have been funerary objects added during or after the cremation. They also note that no other individuals were cremated, suggesting that the site was considered significant.

“The history of large fires in this location, the effort associated with the cremation, and the subsequent burning events reflect a deep-rooted tradition at the site linked to ritual behavior and memory-making tied to a place that was clearly a local landmark,” they explained.

As far as the woman who was cremated when others at the site were buried, the researchers said that is still an open question.

“Why was this one woman cremated when the other burials at the site were not treated that way?” Thompson asked.

The study “Earliest Evidence for Intentional Cremation of Human Remains in Africa” 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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{ https://thedebrief.org/category/science/ }

03-01-2026 om 18:21 geschreven door peter  

Should humans colonize other planets?

Should humans colonize other planets? 

(Image credit: Nzoka John/Getty Images)

The idea of humans living beyond Earth was once only possible in science fiction, but now space agencies are making plans to bring space colonization closer to reality. NASA and SpaceX are exploring long-term missions to the moon and Mars, while astronomers continue to discover potentially habitable exoplanets orbiting distant stars beyond our solar system.

Supporters of planetary colonization argue that becoming a multi-planet species could safeguard us from potentially Earth-ending events. However, it will require an enormous effort to colonize another planet or moon. And if we look beyond Mars, potentially habitable planets may take thousands of years to reach.

But as technology advances and space agencies consider long-term human settlements on other planets, a more fundamental issue now beckons — not whether we can expand to other worlds, but whether we should.

What's your take? Answer our poll below and share the reasoning behind your choice in the comments.

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• There may be hundreds of millions of habitable planets in the Milky Way, new study suggests
• 'Eyeball' planet spied by James Webb telescope might be habitable

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{ https://www.livescience.com/space }

02-01-2026 om 21:47 geschreven door peter  

Tractor beams inspired by sci-fi are real, and could solve the looming space junk problem

Researchers are developing a real-life tractor beam, with the goal of pulling defunct satellites out of geostationary orbit to alleviate the space junk problem.

By Harry Baker

An artist's illustration shows how an electrostatic tractor beam could be used to pull defunct satellites out of geostationary orbit around Earth. In reality, the beam would be invisible. 

(Image credit: Tobias Roetsch - gtgraphics.de)

In science fiction films, nothing raises tension quite like the good guys' spaceship getting caught in an invisible tractor beam that allows the baddies to slowly reel them in. But what was once only a sci-fi staple could soon become a reality.

Scientists are developing a real-life tractor beam, dubbed an electrostatic tractor. This tractor beam wouldn't suck in helpless starship pilots, however. Instead, it would use electrostatic attraction to nudge hazardous space junk safely out of Earth orbit.

The stakes are high: With the commercial space industry booming, the number of satellites in Earth's orbit is forecast to rise sharply. This bonanza of new satellites will eventually wear out and turn the space around Earth into a giant junkyard of debris that could smash into working spacecraft, plummet to Earth, pollute our atmosphere with metals and obscure our view of the cosmos. And, if left unchecked, the growing space junk problem could hobble the booming space exploration industry, experts warn.

The electrostatic tractor beam could potentially alleviate that problem by safely moving dead satellites far out of Earth orbit, where they would drift harmlessly for eternity.

While the tractor beam wouldn't completely solve the space junk problem, the concept has several advantages over other proposed space debris removal methods, which could make it a valuable tool for tackling the issue, experts told Live Science.

Related: 11 sci-fi concepts that are possible (in theory)

A prototype could cost millions, and an operational, full-scale version even more. But if the financial hurdles can be overcome, the tractor beam could be operational within a decade, its builders say.

"The science is pretty much there, but the funding is not," project researcher Kaylee Champion, a doctoral student in the Department of Aerospace Engineering Sciences at the University of Colorado Boulder (CU Boulder), told Live Science.

Avoiding Disaster

Tractor beams are a staple of sci-fi films and TV shows, such as Star Trek.

(Image credit: Star Trek)

The tractor beams depicted in "Star Wars" and "Star Trek" suck up spacecraft via artificial gravity or an ambiguous "energy field." Such technology is likely beyond anything humans will ever achieve. But the concept inspired Hanspeter Schaub, an aerospace engineering professor at CU Boulder, to conceptualize a more realistic version.

Schaub first got the idea after the first major satellite collision in 2009, when an active communications satellite, Iridium 33, smashed into a defunct Russian military spacecraft, Kosmos 2251, scattering more than 1,800 pieces of debris into Earth's orbit.

Related: How many satellites orbit Earth?

In the wake of this disaster, Schaub wanted to be able to prevent this from happening again. To do this, he realized you could pull spacecraft out of harm's way by using the attraction between positively and negatively charged objects to make them "stick" together.

Over the next decade, Schaub and colleagues refined the concept. Now, they hope it can someday be used to move dead satellites out of geostationary orbit (GEO) — an orbit around Earth's equator where an object's speed matches the planet's rotation, making it seem like the object is fixed in place above a certain point on Earth. This would then free up space for other objects in GEO, which is considered "prime real estate" for satellites, Schaub said.

How does it work?

The researchers have been testing the electron gun on pieces of metal in the lab. 

(Image credit: Nico Goda/CU Boulder)

The electrostatic tractor would use a servicer spacecraft equipped with an electron gun that would fire negatively charged electrons at a dead target satellite, Champion told Live Science. The electrons would give the target a negative charge while leaving the servicer with a positive charge. The electrostatic attraction between the two would keep them locked together despite being separated by 65 to 100 feet (20 to 30 meters) of empty space, she said.

Once the servicer and target are "stuck together," the servicer would be able to pull the target out of orbit without touching it. Ideally, the defunct satellite would be pulled into a "graveyard orbit" more distant from Earth, where it could safely drift forever, Champion said.

Related: 15 of the weirdest things we have launched into space

The electrostatic attraction between the two spacecraft would be extremely weak, due to limitations in electron gun technology and the distance by which the two would need to be separated to prevent collisions, project researcher Julian Hammerl, a doctoral student at CU Boulder, told Live Science. So the servicer would have to move very slowly, and it could take more than a month to fully move a single satellite out of GEO, he added.

That's a far cry from movie tractor beams, which are inescapable and rapidly reel in their prey. This is the "main difference between sci-fi and reality," Hammerl said.

Advantages and limitations

The amount of space junk surrounding Earth has greatly increased in recent years. Here is a comparison of space junk in 1965 (left) and 2010 (right). 

(Image credit: NASA)

The electrostatic tractor would have one big advantage over other proposed space junk removal methods, such as harpoons, giant nets and physical docking systems: It would be completely touchless.

"You have these large, dead spacecraft about the size of a school bus rotating really fast," Hammerl said. "If you shoot a harpoon, use a big net or try to dock with them, then the physical contact can damage the spacecraft and then you are only making the [space junk] problem worse."

Scientists have proposed other touchless methods, such as using powerful magnets, but enormous magnets are both expensive to produce and would likely interfere with a servicer's controls, Champion said.

Related: 

• How do tiny pieces of space junk cause incredible damage?

The main limitation of the electrostatic tractor is how slowly it would work. More than 550 satellites currently orbit Earth in GEO, but that number is expected to rise sharply in the coming decades.

If satellites were moved one at a time, then a single electrostatic tractor wouldn't keep pace with the number of satellites winking out of operation. Another limitation of the electrostatic tractor is that it would work too slowly to be practical for clearing smaller pieces of space junk, so it wouldn't be able to keep GEO completely free of debris.

Cost is the other big obstacle. The team has not yet done a full cost analysis for the electrostatic tractor, Schaub said, but it would likely cost tens of millions of dollars. However, once the servicer were in space, it would be relatively cost-effective to operate it, he added.

Next steps

Researcher Julian Hammerl photographed next to the ECLIPS machine at CU Boulder. 

(Image credit: Nico Goda/CU Boulder)

The researchers are currently working on a series of experiments in their Electrostatic Charging Laboratory for Interactions between Plasma and Spacecraft (ECLIPS) machine at CU Boulder. The bathtub-sized, metallic vacuum chamber, which is equipped with an electron gun, allows the team to "do unique experiments that almost no one else can currently do" in order to simulate the effects of an electrostatic tractor on a smaller scale, Hammerl said.

Once the team is ready, the final and most challenging hurdle will be to secure funding for the first mission, which is a process they have not yet started.

Most of the mission cost would come from building and launching the servicer. However, the researchers would ideally like to launch two satellites for the first tests, a servicer and a target that they can maneuver, which would give them more control over their experiments but also double the cost.

Related: 10 stunning shots of Earth from space in 2022

If they can somehow wrangle that funding, a prototype tractor beam could be operational in around 10 years, the team previously estimated.

Is it viable?

Space junk is becoming a major problem for the space exploration industry. 

(Image credit: CU Boulder)

While tractor beams may sound like a pipe dream, experts are optimistic about the technology.

"Their technology is still in the infancy stage," John Crassidis, an aerospace scientist at the University at Buffalo in New York, who is not involved in the research, told Live Science in an email. "But I am fairly confident it will work."

Removing space junk without touching it would also be much safer than any current alternative method, Crassidis added.

The electrostatic tractor "should be able to produce the forces necessary to move a defunct satellite" and "certainly has a high potential to work in practice," Carolin Frueh, an associate professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Purdue University in Indiana, told Live Science in an email. "But there are still several engineering challenges to be solved along the way to make it real-world-ready."

Scientists should continue to research other possible solutions, Crassidis said. Even if the CU Boulder team doesn't create a "final product" to remove nonfunctional satellites, their research will provide a stepping stone for other scientists, he added.

If they are successful, it wouldn't be the first time scientists turned fiction into fact.

"What is today's science fiction could be tomorrow's reality," Crassidis said.

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{ https://www.livescience.com/space }

02-01-2026 om 21:29 geschreven door peter  

The Roswell UFO Incident: Unveiling a Modern Myth

In the summer of 1947, in the vast, dry landscape of New Mexico, an event unfolded that would forever alter the course of UFO lore and conspiracy theories. On either late June or early July, Mac Brazel, a humble ranch foreman, stumbled upon an unusual discovery that would ignite curiosity, skepticism, and speculation across the globe. What began as a routine day for a sheepherder turned into the foundation of one of the most famous and enduring mysteries of modern times: the Roswell UFO incident.

The official news story from the Roswell Daily Record

A Man of the Land: Who Was Mac Brazel?

William W. “Mac” Brazel embodied the quintessential Southwestern American rancher. He was a hardworking, honorable man, deeply connected to the land and herds he tended. Known for his dependability, Mac had the rustic charm of a Jimmy Stewart type: polite, modest, and genuinely kind. His life revolved around riding the range, herding sheep, shearing, and preparing for the market. His duties kept him miles away from home, often lodging at an old ranch house near the Foster Ranch, where he was employed as a foreman.

Though Mac’s life seemed simple and devoid of intrigue, his unexpected discovery in the summer of 1947 would thrust him into the heart of one of the most persistent mysteries of the 20th century. His integrity and straightforwardness lend credibility to his accounts, which have been scrutinized and analyzed for decades.

The Fateful Night: Thunderstorms and a Strange Explosion

In the early days of July 1947, the skies over the New Mexico desert hosted more than just the usual serenity; they became a battleground of nature’s fierce fury. A formidable thunderstorm swept across the arid landscape, bringing with it relentless lightning, thunderclaps that echoed through the mountains, and a palpable electric ambiance. The storm's intensity was typical for a summer monsoon season, yet amidst this turbulence, a peculiar event unfolded—an explosion, or what sounded like one, which defied explanation by natural phenomena alone.

The night was marked by a powerful lightning strike that caught the attention of local rancher William Brazel, a seasoned observer of the skies and the natural environment. Unlike conventional thunder, which is a sound wave generated by lightning’s sudden energy release, Brazel heard a sharp, metallic noise that seemed to burst through the thunder’s roar. The noise was distinctive—more akin to an explosive blast rather than ordinary thunder. Witnesses in the area reported hearing similar noises, fueling rumors of unusual activity in the region. This oddity prompted Brazel to pay closer attention to the following morning, curious if anything unusual had occurred amid the storm’s passage.

As dawn broke, the remnants of the storm revealed strange phenomena. Lightning had etched fiery streaks across the sky, and the ground beneath showed signs of disruption. The skies had cleared enough for Brazel and a young neighbor, William D. “Dee” Proctor, to investigate the area. Their inspection revealed a landscape that seemed almost alien in its strangeness, illuminated by the early morning light. The ground was littered with strange, shiny fragments scattered over small hills and a dry arroyo—a natural watercourse. The debris’s appearance was unlike anything Brazel and others in the region had encountered before, hinting at an incident far beyond an ordinary storm’s scope.

This event sparked curiosity and suspicion. Was it merely debris from a weather balloon, or was something more extraordinary at play? The unique circumstances of that stormy night laid the foundation for the subsequent mystery that would fascinate and confound the world for decades.

Collecting the Evidence: An Unusual Debris Field

As dawn’s first light illuminated the landscape, Brazel and Proctor started their investigation, searching the area with a keen eye for unusual sights. Their primary focus was to assess any damage caused by the storm and to identify the strange fragments that had fallen from the sky. To their surprise, they discovered a scattering of metallic and rubber-like debris across the hills and plains—irregular shapes that did not resemble any known natural material or typical weather balloon remnants. These fragments gleamed under the sun’s rays, their surfaces smooth yet seemingly resilient.

Recognizing the potential significance of their discovery, Brazel carefully collected samples of the debris, storing them in a makeshift container at his ranch. The material was unlike anything encountered before. It was musty and strange, with a metallic sheen but not metallic in the conventional sense. Instead of being brittle or easily torn, the fragments appeared sturdy, resisting tears and cuts. When Brazel and later others examined the pieces, they noticed how unfamiliar they looked: some resembled foil but were more flexible, and others seemed to have a rubbery texture.

Brazel’s family, now involved, returned to gather more of the debris, recognizing that whatever this material was, it didn’t fit within their prior experiences. Astonishingly, the fragments had a silver-gray sheen, but their composition and strength suggested an advanced or unknown manufacturing process. Curious but cautious, the Brazel family stored the samples carefully in a shed to prevent contamination or loss.

The authorities soon became involved. When the local sheriff’s office inquired about the debris, the official explanation was that it was from a weather balloon launched by the military. This explanation was convenient; weather balloons were common, and their debris could sometimes appear mysterious. However, Brazel’s own recounting, as well as sworn affidavits from his wife, did not align with this mundane explanation. His wife described the debris as large, unusual fragments—some the size of basketballs—covered in strange foil-like material that was difficult to tear or damage.

This collection and the cryptic description of the debris deepened the intrigue. The material seemed to exhibit properties that defied ordinary explanations, leading many to speculate about extraterrestrial involvement. The debris’s unusual features—its resilience, reflective surface, and the manner in which it was scattered—suggested it was from something decidedly advanced or from a source unknown to science. The evidence collected that morning would become central in the decades-long debate over what truly happened that night over the New Mexico desert.

The Material and Its Description

The material Brazel’s family gathered that night became a key focus of investigation and speculation. Its physical characteristics stood out markedly from any known natural or man-made object. The fragments, described in official reports and affidavits, resembled shiny sheets of foil—thin, yet remarkably durable—stuck together with what appeared to be adhesive tape. The largest pieces were about the size of a basketball, emphasizing their substantial nature compared to ordinary debris.

The composition of the material was particularly baffling. One side of the fragments was metallic—foil-like and reflective—while the opposite side had a rubbery appearance, both shades of silver or gray. The surface was smooth but resistant to tearing, crumpling, or damaging with conventional tools. The material's toughness was especially intriguing because ordinary aluminum foil, which has a similar appearance, tears easily; this was clearly something different—more resilient and sophisticated. The tape holding some pieces together was whitish and seemed to be of a tape-like substance used in construction or specialized manufacturing, further adding to the mysterious quality of the debris.

Many experts and enthusiasts over the years have speculated that such material was extraterrestrial in origin. The durability, unusual composition, and the context of the stormy night—that involved a loud explosion—have fueled numerous theories suggesting the debris was from an alien spacecraft. The fact that the material could not be torn or damaged by conventional methods challenged existing scientific understanding and fostered speculation that the remnants were remnants of an alien vessel, possibly fallen or crashed during the storm.

Despite the UFO fad that emerged later, original official explanations remained cautious, emphasizing that the material was likely from a weather experiment or secret military project. Still, the description of its physical properties persisted as compelling evidence for those convinced of extraterrestrial contact. Many hold that this debris field, combined with the strange atmosphere, the explosion, and the storm, marked the first concrete physical evidence of an alien encounter in the modern era. They argue that the meticulous collection and description of the material support the idea that something extraordinary happened that night, and whether the debris was from an alien craft or a secret experimental device, its strange nature continues to fuel people's imaginations and investigations today.

FBI Document

In 1950, an FBI agent named Guy Hottel wrote a memo about a report from an Air Force investigator. The report described three separate alien craft recovered in New Mexico along with their passengers. He wrote that “three so-called flying saucers” were found. They were described as being circular with a raised area in the center, with a diameter of approximately 50 feet.

Inside each craft, there were three occupants of “human shape,” approximately 3 feet tall and dressed in “metallic cloth of a very fine texture.” There was speculation that “high-powered radar” had caused the alien craft to crash by inadvertently scrambling their navigational systems and controls.

Although no dates are mentioned, the memo itself is dated March 22, 1950, with the most detailed location specified as “New Mexico.” He wrote that “no further evaluation was attempted by the Air Force investigator who presented the data.”

This document was posted by the FBI on their website in April of 2011. Several sources have found connections between it and the Roswell incident. However, many sources have shown that this document was revealed to be a fake many years ago, including an article in True magazine published in 1952. The hoax was a scheme by two men, Leo A. Gebauer and Silas Newton. They were hawking a phony machine that was supposed to be able to find gas, oil, gold or other precious items with alien technology. In 1953, the duo was found guilty of fraud.

The 1950 FBI document

(Guy Hottel)

Official Response and Initial Investigations

The initial discovery of unidentified debris in the New Mexico desert led to a swift official response by military authorities. When rancher William Brazel found strange remnants on his property south of Roswell in June 1947, he reported his findings to Sheriff George Wilcox. Recognizing the potential significance, Wilcox relayed the information to military officials, specifically to Major Jesse Marcel, an intelligence officer assigned to the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF). On July 6 or 7 of that year, Major Marcel, along with a colleague, traveled to Brazel’s ranch to examine the mysterious debris firsthand.

During this visit, Major Marcel documented the debris, noting its unusual metallic qualities. They found a variety of materials scattered across the area, including strange metallic shreds, thin fibers, and rubber-like substances. The materials appeared unusual—lighter than aluminum, yet resistant to puncture or damage—adding to the intrigue. Marcel’s initial impression was that the debris resembled a weather balloon. Such an explanation seemed plausible at the time because high-altitude weather balloons were common and routinely launched across the southwestern United States, including New Mexico. The U.S. military frequently used these balloons for atmospheric research and to monitor Soviet nuclear tests.

Despite the seemingly mundane explanation, the mystery surrounding the debris persisted. The military quickly took control of the situation, retrieving the fragments and conducting examinations. They secured the debris, transported it to nearby facilities, and issued statements asserting that the fragments were from a weather balloon. Nonetheless, reports of strange materials continued to circulate, and witnesses, including military personnel, began to come forward with varying accounts. The initial assessment by Marcel and others was based on the limited understanding of the debris at that time. As investigations continued, questions arose about the true nature of the debris and whether the government’s explanation was complete or was a cover-up. Over time, official responses evolved, setting the stage for a complex and often controversial story that would attract widespread interest and speculation.

The Official Explanation: Weather Balloon or Something More?

Following William Brazel’s discovery, the U.S. military issued a formal statement claiming that the debris was from a weather balloon. Specifically, officials from the Roswell Army Air Field stated that they had recovered parts of a balloon from the secret U.S. project called "Mogul." Project Mogul involved high-altitude balloons equipped with sensitive instruments designed to detect Soviet nuclear detonations and monitor ballistic missile tests. These balloons traveled at extremely high altitudes and carried radar reflectors, microphones, and other electronic equipment intended for espionage purposes during the early Cold War period.

The official explanation was that the material Brazel reported was simply the wreckage of one such balloon, which had possibly crashed or landed in the area. The explanation was aided by photographs of balloon parts and the widespread familiarity with weather balloons, which were common in the skies of New Mexico at the time. Additionally, military personnel provided detailed descriptions affirming that the debris resembled standard weather balloons and associated equipment, reinforcing the government’s stance that there was nothing extraordinary about the crash site.

However, public curiosity and skepticism persisted. Many witnesses and UFO enthusiasts argued that the debris was unlike typical weather-balloon material, citing its strange metallic qualities and the way it seemed to resist conventional damage. Over the years, declassified documents, eyewitness testimonies, and recovered photographs cast doubt on the official account. Some claimed the military altered or suppressed evidence, suggesting that the debris could have been from an extraterrestrial craft. The possibility that the government was hiding the truth about alien encounters fueled conspiracy theories. The controversy deepened during the 1970s, when alternative explanations gained traction. Despite the official stance, the story of Roswell remains one of the most enduring and debated UFO mysteries in history.

The Revival of Interest: 1970s Resurgence and Conspiracy Theories

The 1970s marked a pivotal period in the ongoing saga of the Roswell incident, witnessing a remarkable resurgence of curiosity and speculation about what truly transpired in July 1947. While initial reports of the crash had largely faded from the forefront of public consciousness in the years immediately following the event, the 1970s saw a reinvigoration of interest, driven by a variety of factors that reignited debates and inspired new generations to question official narratives. Central to this revival was the emergence of credible-sounding witnesses, particularly former military personnel, who claimed to possess insider knowledge or to have witnessed secret recoveries. These claims often described detailed accounts of crashed spacecraft and alien bodies, painting a picture more sensational than ever before.

UFO researchers and authors of this era played a crucial role in the resurgence. They sifted through existing evidence, interviews, and declassified documents, building a narrative that suggested the government had long concealed extraterrestrial visitation. Their work often involved uncovering seemingly mysterious phenomena that they argued could not be explained by ordinary means, such as weather balloons or classified military experiments. This period also saw the publication of numerous books and magazine articles that promoted theories of cover-ups, secret alien contracts, and clandestine experiments with alien technology. Many of these stories gained traction among the public, creating an atmosphere of intrigue and distrust towards government authorities.

Witnesses, especially retired military personnel and former government officials, began sharing their accounts more openly, often claiming they had been involved in covert operations related to the Roswell debris. These accounts frequently mentioned strange materials that seemed to defy typical metal properties, the presence of bodies that appeared to be extraterrestrial, and hidden facilities where these objects and beings were taken. The narrative of government secrecy and suppression of alien contact intensified during this era, often suggesting that the truth was deliberately kept from the public to prevent panic or to protect technological secrets. Conspiracy theories flourished, with some asserting that the government had recovered alien technology that was being studied in secret laboratories, fueling a culture of suspicion around UFOs and extraterrestrial life.

The 1970s revival transformed the Roswell incident from a mere historical event into a powerful cultural symbol. It became a fixture in science fiction, popular culture, and conspiracy theory communities, inspiring countless films, TV shows, and novels that depicted alien encounters and government cover-ups. The incident’s ambiguity—its blending of verified facts, hearsay, and speculation—helped it become embedded in the collective imagination. “Roswell” evolved into a shorthand for the idea that extraterrestrial life had secretly visited Earth and that powerful institutions were concealing the truth from the masses. This transformation across decades created a mythos where the event represented more than just a crash; it symbolized an enduring quest for truth and transparency regarding humanity’s place in the universe.

The resurgence of interest in the 1970s also coincided with a cultural tumult—distrust in government, the aftermath of the Vietnam War, and a burgeoning alternative information movement, all of which contributed to a fertile environment for conspiracy theories. Many individuals were skeptical of official narratives and sought alternative explanations, especially in a time characterized by political scandals and documented covert operations. The widespread dissemination of UFO literature and the rise of dedicated UFO organizations provided platforms for skeptics and believers alike to share their views. This period also saw the emergence of prominent figures who became influential in shaping public perceptions, such as Stanton Friedman and and others who championed the extraterrestrial hypothesis.

During this era, the media played a crucial role in both reviving and spreading the story. Documentaries and television specials presented interviews with witnesses and researchers, often emphasizing sensational aspects of the story. Despite the proliferation of these stories, many questions remained unanswered, and the incident continued to be shrouded in mystery. The 1970s revival saw the beginning of a shift from a local, isolated event to a global phenomenon, as reports from around the world echoed similar themes of unidentified flying objects, alien encounters, and government secrecy.

In conclusion, the 1970s reignited interest in the Roswell incident by blending documentary evidence, personal testimonials, and a wave of conspiracy theories to craft a compelling narrative that extended beyond the initial four-decade silence. The era’s cultural environment, characterized by skepticism of authority and a fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, helped transform Roswell into a symbol of mystery and intrigue. This resurgence fostered an ongoing belief that the truth about the crash might still be hidden, fueling debates and creative interpretations that continue to capture the imagination of the public today.

The Cultural Impact: From Fact to Myth

The Roswell incident has transcended its origins as a simple military crash site to become an enduring cultural phenomenon. Over the decades, it evolved from a purported event involving mysterious debris and potential extraterrestrial beings into a symbolic touchstone for broader themes of government secrecy, human curiosity, and the search for alien life. Its story has proliferated through various forms of media, shaping public perceptions and inspiring millions of people worldwide. This transformation into myth underscores the incident’s cultural significance, making “Roswell” a household name synonymous with UFOs and conspiracy theories, despite the variability of official explanations and the continual absence of definitive proof.

At its core, the cultural impact of Roswell derives from the ambiguity and conflicting narratives that surround the event. Official reports, including those from the U.S. Air Force, described the debris as weather balloons and classified experimental devices, attempts aimed at dismissing the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Yet, these explanations often failed to satisfy believers, who pointed to eyewitness accounts, alleged secret documents, and unexplained artifacts that appeared to contradict the official line. Over time, these conflicting stories became embedded in popular culture, fostering a layered mythology that blends fact, fiction, and speculation. This mythology has been enduringly appealing because it taps into universal human themes: the desire to discover whether we are alone, the fear of government deception, and the fascination with the unknown.

The influence of Roswell extends beyond skepticism and conspiracy theories—its myth has infiltrated literature, film, television, and even art. From Hollywood blockbusters like “Independence Day” and “The Arrival” to documentaries and conspiracy websites, the event’s story serves as a fertile ground for creative storytelling. It also evokes philosophical questions about humanity's place in the universe and the possible existence of intelligent life beyond Earth. The phrase “Roswell” often evokes immediate associations with aliens and secret government projects, a testament to how deeply the story has been embedded in the collective consciousness.

Crucially, the myth of Roswell has been fueled by a mixture of genuine curiosity and deliberate sensationalism. The media, in both its responsible and sensationalist forms, has perpetuated stories that often blur the line between fact and fiction. Popular culture, driven by entertainment industries and driven by the desire for compelling stories, has contributed to elevating the event into a cultural icon. As a result, myths about government cover-ups, alien bodies, and secret experiments have become intertwined with the actual event, often overshadowing the historical and scientific investigations.

Moreover, the cultural impact of Roswell intersects with broader societal themes: distrust of government authority, the quest for truth in the face of secrecy, and the hope for contact with extraterrestrial civilizations. The incident embodies a collective longing to believe in something greater than ourselves—whether it be otherworldly visitors or the revelation of hidden truths. Whether viewed skeptically or with open-minded curiosity, Roswell has become part of a cultural dialogue about humanity’s place in the cosmos, igniting imaginations and inspiring generations of believers and skeptics alike.

In the digital age, the myth has only gained momentum with the proliferation of the internet and social media. Online communities, forums, and blogs continue to explore, debate, and promote stories related to Roswell and UFO phenomena, often blurring the lines between credible investigation and elaborate storytelling. The incident’s myth has evolved into a cultural legend that persists because it speaks to timeless human questions about existence, truth, and the universe.

Finally, the enduring cultural impact of Roswell hinges on its role as a symbol of mystery and the unknown. Its story challenges conventional understanding, prompting us to confront questions about government transparency, extraterrestrial life, and the limits of our knowledge. The incident’s transformation into myth reflects a collective human desire to explore these mysteries, making Roswell not just a historical event, but an enduring cultural icon that continues to inspire curiosity, skepticism, and imagination worldwide.

Examining the Evidence: What Do We Really Know?

Despite decades of investigation, many of the details associated with Roswell remain unresolved. Skeptics argue that the debris was just a misunderstood weather device, backed by official reports and photographs. Believers contend that the government suppressed proof of alien visitation to avoid widespread panic or political repercussions.

The problem lies in conflicting testimonies, classified documents, and the lack of definitive physical evidence. Several official reports, including those from the Air Force, have attempted to clarify the incident, but their explanations are often met with skepticism by enthusiasts.

Official Investigations and Declassified Documents

The Roswell incident, which occurred in 1947 near Roswell, New Mexico, remains one of the most famous and debated events in UFO history. Over the decades, various investigations and the release of official documents have attempted to clarify what actually happened, but many questions still persist.

In 1994, the United States Air Force released a detailed report titled “The Roswell Report: Fact vs. Fiction in the New Mexico Desert.” This report aimed to provide an official account of the incident, concluding that the debris recovered by the military was from a top-secret project called Mogul. Mogul was a series of high-altitude balloons designed to detect Soviet nuclear tests during the Cold War. The report dismissed claims that the wreckage was from an alien spacecraft or that extraterrestrial bodies had been recovered. According to the report, the debris consisted of mundane materials like rubber, Teflon, and foil, which were consistent with known Mogul balloon components.

Despite this official statement, skepticism remained among UFO researchers and enthusiasts. In 2000, the Air Force issued a follow-up report that added nuance to their earlier findings. This later investigation acknowledged that some of the materials recovered could not be definitively linked to Mogul. It suggested that some of the materials might have been part of experimental radar or espionage technology, which were highly classified at the time. This acknowledgment opened the possibility that the debris could be related to advanced military experiments rather than extraterrestrial origins, but it still left many questions unanswered.

Beyond these official reports, a wealth of declassified documents and eyewitness testimonies have perpetuated the mystery surrounding Roswell. For example, in the 1990s, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests resulted in the release of numerous documents that shed light on military activities during the late 1940s. Some of these documents referenced the secrecy surrounding certain high-altitude test balloons and classified projects, fueling suspicions that the government was hiding something more extraordinary.

Eyewitnesses, including military personnel and civilians, have provided accounts that conflict with the official narrative. Some report seeing strange debris, bodies, or unconventional craft, which they claim were not consistent with known technology. These testimonies have often been dismissed or considered unreliable, but they continue to influence public perception and discussions about the incident.

Critics argue that the government has been deliberately limited in its transparency, with many key pieces of evidence still classified or missing. They suggest that this lack of transparency fuels conspiracy theories that extraterrestrial craft were recovered and covered up to avoid public panic or national security issues.

In conclusion, while official investigations have provided plausible explanations for the Roswell incident, the continued release of declassified documents and eyewitness testimonies keep the mystery alive. The ongoing debate revolves around whether the government truly possesses secret knowledge about extraterrestrial life or whether the incident was simply a case of military experimentation and misinterpretation of mundane objects. Regardless of the truth, Roswell remains a symbol of UFO fascination and government secrecy worldwide.

Area 51

Area 51 is a military base in the southern region of the state of Nevada in the Western portion of the United States. It lies approximately 83 miles from Las Vegas. While the activities there are top-secret, is widely accepted that the base exists to test experimental weapons and aircraft. While the Central Intelligence Agency does use the name Area 51 in an official capacity, other names used for the base include Paradise Ranch, Watertown Strip, Groom Lake, Dreamland, Home Base and Homey Airport. The airspace around Area 51, known by military pilots as “the box” or “the container,” is restricted.

Area 51 warning signs

Annie Jacobsen published the book “Area 51: An Uncensored History of America’s Top Secret Military Base,” in which she conducted interviews with many engineers and scientists who worked on the base. She denies any alien narrative regarding Roswell.

She puts forth a suggestion that Josef Mengele was asked by Joseph Stalin, the Soviet leader, to create “grotesque, child size aviators” to be flown and land in the United States to create hysteria. The goal was to duplicate a mass reaction similar to the chaos from Orson Welles radio play “War of the Worlds” in 1938. She believes that instead of landing as planned, an aircraft crashed at Roswell and the incident was kept quiet by military and government officials in the United States. However, her book and theories were debunked by a couple of experts at the Federation of American Scientists for multiple errors.

The Ongoing Debate: Fact or Fiction?

The Roswell incident has stood at the crossroads of skepticism and belief since it first emerged in 1947. At its core, the debate revolves around whether an extraterrestrial spacecraft truly crashed near Roswell, New Mexico, and whether alien beings were recovered by the military, or if it was simply a misinterpretation of a secretive government experiment. Official reports maintain that the debris recovered was part of a classified military project—most notably, Project Mogul, a top-secret operation deploying high-altitude balloons to detect Soviet nuclear tests. These explanations, however, have often failed to satisfy the public’s curiosity or quell suspicions, especially among UFO enthusiasts who remain convinced of alien involvement.

The military’s narrative initially claimed they had recovered a "flying disc," but this statement was quickly retracted, replaced with the explanation that it was a weather balloon. Such contradictory accounts fueled conspiracy theories, leading to allegations of cover-ups and government deception. Some witnesses and researchers assert that they saw mutilated bodies or alien corpses, accusations that remain unverified and heavily debated to this day. Skeptics argue that these stories are hoaxes or misidentifications of mundane military testing experiments, weather phenomena, or debris from weather balloons. The question of whether there is concrete evidence supporting extraterrestrial visitation remains unresolved.

What sustains the debate is the lack of definitive proof and the abundance of conflicting accounts, testimonies, and circumstantial evidence. The U.S. government, over the years, has released some documents, but many remain classified or redacted, fueling suspicion. In the scientific community, claims about alien encounters are held to strict standards of evidence; because such evidence has not convincingly emerged, mainstream science remains skeptical. Nonetheless, the story persists because it taps into a desire for extraordinary discovery and the allure of the unknown. Despite the absence of conclusive proof, the Roswell incident continues to be a potent symbol of mystery, making it a focal point in the broader discussion about extraterrestrial life and government secrecy.

Why Does the Roswell Incident Still Fascinate?

The enduring fascination with Roswell can be attributed to several interrelated psychological, cultural, and societal factors. First and foremost, the story appeals to the fundamental human curiosity about the universe. Since ancient times, humans have gazed at the stars wondering if life exists beyond Earth. The idea that aliens might have visited our planet at some point provides a tantalizing answer to that age-old question. Roswell symbolizes the possibility that humanity is not alone, igniting imaginations and inspiring countless books, movies, and theories that play on this deep-seated desire.

Second, the secretive nature of the incident and the government's alleged cover-up evoke a sense of suspicion and distrust toward authority figures. Conspiracy theories flourish in environments where official explanations are perceived as insufficient or opaque. Roswell, with its supposed buried evidence and clandestine military operations, becomes the perfect canvas for stories of government deception. This feeds into broader societal anxieties about lost transparency, powers hiding the truth, and the suppression of potentially groundbreaking discoveries.

Third, media and pop culture have significantly contributed to the incident’s mythos. Hollywood films, television shows, and literature have romanticized or dramatized the event, embedding it deep into popular consciousness. Films like "The Fourth Kind" or series such as "The X-Files" have perpetuated the idea that the government is concealing evidence of alien contact, often echoing themes of secrecy and conspiracy. Internet forums and social media platforms have further proliferated theories and 'insider' claims, ensuring the story remains vibrant and relevant, generally detached from scientific skepticism.

Moreover, the narrative of Roswell embodies the human desire for mystery and adventure. It suggests a world where the extraordinary could be real—that beings from other worlds might exist and that humanity is on the brink of discovering this clandestine truth. Regardless of factual veracity, the story becomes a metaphor for the eternal quest to understand our universe and ourselves. It reminds us that despite technological advances, some mysteries remain elusive, compelling curiosity and imagination. In essence, Roswell endures not just as a possible historical event but as a symbol of our desire to explore the unknown and challenge the boundaries of our understanding.

Conclusion: The Legacy of Roswell

The Roswell incident is a landmark event that has transcended its original context to become a cultural and scientific phenomenon. Its legacy persists decades after the initial reports, continuously inspiring debate and speculation. Even if further evidence confirms it was merely a military experiment or some other terrestrial explanation, its impact on popular culture and the collective consciousness remains profound.

What makes Roswell so captivating is this ambiguity—whether the debris was extraterrestrial or not remains unproven, but the stories and theories that have arisen around it have created a compelling narrative. The incident has catalyzed advancements in UFO research, prompting governments worldwide to declassify documents and adopt more transparent policies, although complete openness has yet to be achieved. These revelations have fed into ongoing discussions about government accountability and the secret handling of promising or sensitive technology.

Over the years, numerous investigations, testimonies, and declassified documents have added layers to the story—some supporting, others contradicting—and have thus contributed to a complex mosaic that encompasses fact, fiction, and myth. The excitement surrounding Roswell lies partly in its mystery, partly in the human penchant for storytelling, and partly in our collective hope that we are not alone.

Looking ahead, technological advances such as satellite imagery, drone technology, and improved forensic analysis may shed new light on the event and its context. As archives are opened and new evidence comes to light, our understanding of Roswell may evolve, either reinforcing or dismantling long-held beliefs. However, the incident will likely remain a symbol of curiosity—the quintessential example of humanity’s endless quest to uncover the truth about the universe beyond our planet.

In conclusion, Roswell will continue to inspire questions, theories, and even scientific investigations for generations to come. Whether it was an alien encounter or a government cover-up, its story embodies the human spirit of discovery and skepticism. The legacy of Roswell reminds us that the search for extraterrestrial life is as much about exploring ourselves and our fears as it is about understanding the cosmos. As such, it remains an enduring emblem of our collective fascination with the great mystery of life beyond Earth.

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{ PETER2011 }

02-01-2026 om 20:50 geschreven door peter  

Pope 'preparing' for first contact with aliens this year, says UFO researcher

British filmmaker says he has been given 'rare access' to the Vatican's secret archives and that the Church is getting ready for ET

BY Ashley Pemberton - News Reporter and Daniel Smith

A British documentary maker claims the Vatican could be bracing itself for the prospect of an extraterrestrial encounter, with the Pope potentially addressing "first contact" with aliens in the coming year.

UFO researcher Mark Christopher Lee claims to have secured "rare access" to the Vatican's confidential archives and is investigating historical accounts of unexplained occurrences that may shed light on humanity's interaction with alien civilisations.

He suggests the Catholic Church is already contemplating the theological and spiritual ramifications of discovering extraterrestrial life.

Lee explained: "I've been given rare access to the Vatican's secret archives. I'll be looking for any historical references to unexplained phenomena, spiritual encounters, or anything that could shed light on humanity's possible contact with intelligent life beyond Earth.

"If we are close to confirming intelligent life beyond Earth, no institution will feel the shockwaves more than the Catholic Church.", reports the Daily Star.

"The new Pope could become the first spiritual leader in history to address First Contact - and I intend to find out how prepared the Church really is."

He questioned: "Could the Church have been quietly preparing for this moment all along - and what might the new Pope reveal when the truth is finally confronted?"

Ufologist Mark Christopher Lee

(Image: IMDB)

In his latest documentary God Vs Aliens, Lee contends that UFO encounters and paranormal events are connected, and maintains the Church may be considerably more receptive to the existence of extraterrestrials than most people realise.

Lee said: "Faith and prophecy have always guided humanity. Now, with UFO disclosure and global interest at an all-time high, these forces are converging in a way that has never happened before. 2026 could be the year everything changes."

Vatican astronomers have historically maintained that the existence of extraterrestrial life wouldn't contradict Christian faith. Back in 2008, Father Gabriel Funes suggested that intelligent beings created by God might exist beyond Earth.

In an article for the Vatican newspaper, he wrote: "Just as there is a multiplicity of creatures over the earth, so there could be other beings, even intelligent (beings), created by God.

"This is not in contradiction with our faith, because we cannot establish limits to God's creative freedom. To say it with St Francis, if we can consider some earthly creatures as 'brothers' or 'sisters', why could we not speak of a 'brother alien'? He would also belong to the creation."

More recently, Pope Leo XIV's newly appointed astronomer revealed he would be willing to baptise an alien, describing extraterrestrials as "children of God."

Father Richard D'Souza, who currently heads the Vatican Observatory near Rome, argued that theology would need to "reimagine itself" should humanity ever encounter intelligent life. He said: "They are all part of God's creation. The question would be how to reach them or how they would reach us."

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{ https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/ }

02-01-2026 om 18:36 geschreven door peter  

10 Groundbreaking Human Evolution Discoveries From 2025

Gary Manners

The year 2025 has delivered extraordinary revelations about our ancient past, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of human evolution and challenging long-held assumptions about how modern humans emerged. From revolutionary fossil discoveries spanning multiple continents to groundbreaking genetic studies revealing hidden chapters in our ancestry, these ten findings demonstrate that the story of humanity is far more complex than the simple linear progression scientists once envisioned. These discoveries paint a vivid picture of a "bushy tree" of evolution where multiple human species coexisted, interbred, and ultimately contributed to the rich genetic tapestry that defines us today.

• Scientists Discover New Human Ancestor Species in Ethiopia
• Million-Year-Old Skull Discovery Rewrites Human Evolution Timeline

The 13 fossil teeth collected in the Ledi-Geraru Research Area from 2015-2018.

(Brian Villmoare/ASU)

1. New Australopithecus Species Reveals Complex Co-Existence

In Ethiopia's Afar region, researchers from Arizona State University uncovered 13 fossilized teeth belonging to a previously unknown species of Australopithecus that lived alongside the earliest members of genus Homo between 2.6 and 2.8 million years ago. The discovery at the famous Ledi-Geraru Research Project site fundamentally challenges the linear progression model of human evolution.

"This new research shows that the image many of us have in our minds of an ape to a Neanderthal to a modern human is not correct — evolution doesn't work like that," explains Kaye Reed, a research scientist at Arizona State University's Institute of Human Origins. The teeth represent a new species distinct from Australopithecus afarensis—the famous species represented by Lucy - confirming that multiple hominin species occupied the same landscape simultaneously.

The original Yunxian Man cranium before reconstruction, showing distortion from geological pressure.

 (Gary Todd/CC0)

2. Chinese Skull Pushes Back Human Divergence Timeline

A remarkable million-year-old skull from China has shattered beliefs about when modern humans and their closest relatives diverged from common ancestors. The Yunxian 2 skull, digitally reconstructed using sophisticated CT imaging, revealed features placing it within the mysterious Homo longi lineage—closer to Denisovans than to Homo erectus. Published in Science, the research suggests that major human lineages diverged much earlier than previously believed, with Neanderthals separating around 1.38 million years ago, followed by the Homo longi clade at 1.2 million years ago, and finally Homo sapiens at 1.02 million years ago.

"From the very beginning, when we got the result, we thought it was unbelievable. How could that be so deep into the past?" Professor Xijun Ni told the BBC. Most controversially, the discovery raises questions about whether the ancestral population from which all three lineages emerged may have existed in western Asia rather than Africa, potentially challenging the traditional "Out of Africa" model.

• Lucy May Not Be Our Direct Human Ancestor After All
• 'Never Seen Before' Teeth Reveal Ancient Humans Interbred With Unknown Species

3. Lucy's Status as Direct Ancestor Challenged

Revolutionary fossil evidence from Ethiopia is challenging decades of scientific consensus about Lucy being a direct ancestor of modern humans. New discoveries published in Nature link the mysterious "Burtele foot"—a 3.4-million-year-old partial foot with an opposable big toe designed for grasping tree branches—to Australopithecus deyiremeda, a distinct hominin species that lived alongside Lucy's kind. Chemical analysis of tooth enamel indicates that A. deyiremeda subsisted primarily on forest foods, contrasting sharply with A. afarensis, which consumed a more varied diet including grasses and sedges. The research suggests that A. deyiremeda may be more closely related to the even older Australopithecus anamensis than to Lucy's species, undermining the traditional view of A. afarensis as the single ancestral trunk.

Researchers Xiujie Wu and María Martinón-Torres with skull replicas.

(CENIEH)

4. Chinese Teeth Reveal Interbreeding With Homo Erectus

Revolutionary 300,000-year-old dental remains from China's Hualongdong site display an unprecedented combination of primitive and modern features, suggesting early humans may have interbred with Homo erectus. The 21 dental elements combine archaic features typical of Homo erectus—such as robust molar and premolar roots—with distinctly modern traits including reduced third molars commonly found in Homo sapiens. "It's a mosaic of primitive and derived traits never seen before – almost as if the evolutionary clock were ticking at different speeds in different parts of the body," explained María Martinón-Torres, Director of CENIEH. Published in the Journal of Human Evolution, the findings reinforce the idea that traits associated with Homo sapiens were already present in Asia at least 300,000 years ago.

Plaster reconstructions of skulls of human ancestors.

(Jose A. Bernat/University of Cambridge)

5. Hidden Genetic Chapter Reveals Two Ancestral Populations

Using advanced genome analysis, researchers from the University of Cambridge found evidence that modern humans descended from not one, but at least two ancestral populations that diverged around 1.5 million years ago and reconnected about 300,000 years ago. One group contributed 80% of modern human genetic makeup, while the other contributed 20%—as much as 10 times the contribution of Neanderthal DNA. Published in Nature Genetics, the study revealed that genes inherited from the minority population—particularly those related to brain function and neural processing—may have played a crucial role in human evolution. "Our research shows clear signs that our evolutionary origins are more complex, involving different groups that developed separately for more than a million years, then came back to form the modern human species," said co-author Professor Richard Durbin.

The skull in situ in the wall of the Petralona Cave.

(Nadina/CC BY-SA 3.0)

6. Greek Petralona Skull Finally Dated: 286,000 Years

After decades of controversy, the Petralona skull—one of Europe's most significant hominin fossils—has been definitively dated to at least 286,000 years old using advanced uranium-series dating techniques. Published in the Journal of Human Evolution, the research settles a long-standing debate about this robust cranium discovered in 1960 in northern Greece. The new dating places the Petralona hominin within the Middle Pleistocene period, providing crucial evidence that multiple human lineages coexisted in Europe during this time. The skull exhibits distinctive features that set it apart from both modern humans and Neanderthals, placing it within the broader category of Homo heidelbergensis, often considered a common ancestor to both Neanderthals and modern humans.

Paranthropus robustus cranium SK 48. Credit: Dr. Bernhard Zipfel, with permission from Dr. Lazarus Kgasi, junior curator of Plio-Pleistocene Paleontology at Ditsong National Museum of Natural History in Pretoria

(South Africa)

7. Tooth Pits Reveal Genetic Signature of Extinct Genus

Scientists discovered tiny, uniform pits on 2.2 million-year-old fossilized teeth from Africa that may represent a genetic signature for the entire extinct genus Paranthropus. Published in The Journal of Human Evolution, the study found that these uniform, circular, and shallow pits occur in predictable patterns on Paranthropus molars from both eastern and southern Africa. However, the pitting was virtually nonexistent in Homo and uncommon in Australopithecus africanus, previously considered Paranthropus's immediate ancestor. "Teeth preserve an incredible amount of biological and evolutionary information," study co-author Ian Towle told Live Science. The pits likely have a genetic basis, possibly similar to amelogenesis imperfecta, providing a potential taxonomic marker independent of bone morphology or DNA.

A facial reconstruction representing a male individual of Homo georgicus (from the Dmaisi excavation).

(Cicero Moraes et al/CC BY 4.0)

8. Two Species Migrated From Africa Together

New analysis of fossils from Dmanisi, Georgia, suggests that two distinct ancient human species migrated together from Africa approximately 1.8 million years ago. The research, focused on five skulls discovered between 1999 and 2005, proposes that Homo erectus was accompanied by a more primitive hominin species during humanity's first great exodus. At the heart of this discovery lies Skull 5, which exhibits characteristics dramatically different from its companions—with an exceptionally large jaw and facial structure yet one of the smallest braincase capacities ever found in genus Homo (approximately 546 cubic centimeters). If confirmed, the presence of two distinct hominin species at Dmanisi would fundamentally alter our understanding of early human migration patterns.

DNA analysis of a 4,600-year-old skeleton from Egypt’s Nile Valley.

CGTN Africa

9. Ancient Egyptian Genome Reveals Ancestry Links

Scientists successfully sequenced the genome of a man buried in Egypt around 4,500 years ago, making him the oldest genome from Egypt to date. Despite Egypt's challenging conditions for DNA preservation, the research team found that about 4-5% of DNA fragments came from the individual himself—enough to recover meaningful genetic information. The genetic analysis revealed that about 80% of the man's ancestry was shared with earlier north African populations, while the remaining 20% was more similar to groups from the eastern Fertile Crescent, particularly Neolithic Mesopotamia. This genetic profile fits with archaeological evidence of long-standing connections between ancient Egypt and the eastern Fertile Crescent dating back at least 10,000 years, supporting the spread of farming, domesticated animals, and writing systems between these regions.

Jordan Mansfield/Courtesy of Pathways to Ancient Britain Project

10. Earliest Evidence of Fire-Making: 400,000 Years Ago

A groundbreaking archaeological discovery in Suffolk, England, has pushed back the timeline for human-made fire by 350,000 years. Researchers excavating at Barnham uncovered compelling evidence that early Neanderthals were creating fire on demand 400,000 years ago—the earliest known instance of deliberate fire-making in human history. Published in Nature, the discovery contained three crucial pieces of evidence: a preserved hearth with heated sediments, fire-damaged hand axes, and fragments of iron pyrite—the mineral our ancestors used to create sparks by striking it with flint. What makes the pyrite discovery particularly significant is that this mineral doesn't occur naturally in the Suffolk area, meaning ancient inhabitants traveled considerable distances to obtain it. Professor Nick Ashton from the British Museum, who led the excavation, described it as "the most exciting discovery of my 40-year career."

• Top image: Image of scientists in an anthropological laboratory.  
• Source: AI Generated

By Gary Manners

References

{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

02-01-2026 om 18:16 geschreven door peter  

De Onrustbarende Rapportage over Max Spiers en Donkere en Dodelijke Projecten

Inleiding

In de hedendaagse samenleving wordt de zoektocht naar het onbekende vaak gekenmerkt door een mengeling van fascinatie en angst. Vooral op het snijvlak van buitenaardse verschijnselen, geheime overheidsprojecten en het onbekende in het algemeen, ontstaat een rijke bron van speculaties en theorieën. Een van de personen die recentelijk de aandacht van onderzoekers en het publiek heeft getrokken, is Max Spiers, een Britse paranormale onderzoeker en ufoloog. Zijn plotselinge dood en de daarmee samenhangende verhalen omtrent clandestiene projecten roepen vragen op die verdere wetenschappelijke inspectie vereisen. Deze artikel heeft tot doel om een gestructureerde, gedetailleerde en wetenschappelijk onderbouwde analyse te bieden van de gebeurtenissen rond Max Spiers en de vermeende duistere projecten, met als doel bij te dragen aan het begrip van deze complexe en mogelijk gevaarlijke kwesties.

Max Spiers

De levensloop en achtergrond van Max Spiers

Max Spiers werd geboren op 4 november 1974 in Kent, Verenigd Koninkrijk. Hij was een bekende figuur in de gemeenschap van paranormale onderzoekers, met een bijzondere interesse in buitenaardse fenomenen, geheime militaire projecten en bovennatuurlijke verschijnselen. Spiers stond bekend om zijn kritische blik op overheidsgeheimen en zijn voortdurende zoektocht naar de waarheid achter de verborgen agenda’s van machtige instanties. Zijn werk betrof onder meer het blootleggen van migrerende anomalieën, het onderzoeken van mogelijke buitenaardse beïnvloeding en het documenteren van rapporten over geheime projecten die zouden plaatsvinden onder de radar van de publieke aandacht.

Zijn diepgaande onderzoeksmethoden en zijn bereidheid om controversiële onderwerpen aan te pakken, brachten hem zowel bewondering als controverse. In de jaren voorafgaand aan zijn dood had hij verschillende getuigenissen verzameld over het bestaan van geheime, duistere projecten die potentieel gevaarlijk konden zijn voor de menselijke samenleving. Zijn kritische houding leverde hem ook vijanden op binnen bepaalde overheidskringen, wat de speculaties omtrent zijn dood verder aanwakkerde.

De gebeurtenissen voorafgaand aan de dood van Max Spiers

De laatste maanden van Max Spiers’ leven waren getekend door intensieve onderzoeksactiviteiten en het publiek maken van gevoelige informatie. Volgens ingewijden en bronnen die dicht bij hem stonden, had Spiers geruchten gehoord over de betrokkenheid van geheime overheidsinstanties bij het ontwikkelen van onbekende technologieën en het uitvoeren van experimenten op menselijke proefpersonen. Hij had aangekondigd dat hij bewijs had verzameld dat zou kunnen leiden tot revelations die aanzienlijke implicaties zouden hebben voor de nationale en internationale veiligheid.

Max Spiers werd dood aangetroffen in een appartement in Polen nadat hij zijn moeder een sms had gestuurd met de boodschap 'als er iets met me gebeurt, onderzoek het'.

SWNS.com

Op 16 juli 2016 werd Max Spiers gevonden op de vloer van een huis in Polen, in een toestand die medisch omschreven werd als bijna volledig bewusteloos, met aanwijzingen van mogelijke drugstoepassingen en fysieke trauma’s. Hij werd onmiddellijk naar het ziekenhuis gebracht, maar overleed enkele dagen later op 16 juli 2016. De officiële verklaring voor zijn dood was een “ongelukkig toeval” en “complicaties door een onbekende oorzaak”, wat door vele onderzoekers en betrokkenen werd betwijfeld en leidde tot intensieve speculaties over de achterliggende oorzaken.

De theorieën en geruchten rond de dood van Max Spiers

Verschillende theorieën zijn voorgesteld om de mysterieuze omstandigheden rond Spiers' dood te verklaren:

1. Overheidsinterventie en machtsconcurrenties
   Sommige deskundigen menen dat overheidsinstanties niet graag dat bepaalde geheime projecten aan het licht komen, en dat Spiers’ onderzoek deze belangen in gevaar bracht. Volgens deze theorie werd hij geëlimineerd om verdere onthullingen te voorkomen.

2. Gebruik van gevaarlijke substanties
   Anderen suggereren dat Spiers mogelijk het slachtoffer werd van chemische of farmacologische stoffen die hem bewusteloos maakten of zelfs onder de dood brachten, mogelijk in de context van geheime experimenten.

3. Bovennatuurlijke en buitenaardse betrokkenheid
   Een minder traditionele theorie stelt dat de dood verband houdt met bovennatuurlijke krachten of buitenaardse interventies, mogelijk gerelateerd aan de projecten die Spiers had ontdekt of onderzocht.

4. Psychologische en sociale factoren
   Sommige wetenschappers wijzen op de rol van psychologische druk en isolatie die Spiers ondervond, wat mogelijk heeft bijgedragen aan een situatie waarin hij gevaar liep.

Elk van deze theorieën vereist verdere, kritische analyse en bewijsvoering.

De vermeende “donkere en dodelijke projecten”

Een kernpunt dat onderwerp van veel discussie is, betreft de zogenoemde “donkere projecten”, die volgens diverse bronnen en geruchten bestaan. Deze projecten zouden uitgevoerd worden door geheime groepen binnen overheden en militaire instanties, en omvatten onder meer:

• Buitenaardse technologietests: Experimenten met buitenaardse technologieën op aardse locaties, mogelijk in samenwerking met clandestiene buitenaardse groepen.
• Geheime experimenten op mensen: Steriele experimenten op menselijke proefpersonen, soms met behulp van psychofarmaca of technische implantaten.
• Experimenten met bewustzijn en telepathie: Onderzoek dat gericht is op het manipuleren van menselijke perceptie en communicatie met buitenaardse entiteiten.
• Ontwikkeling van krachtige wapens en energiebronnen: Initiatieven die zich richten op het creëren van nieuwe, destructieve wapens en energiebronnen met potentieel wereldwijde implicaties.

Uit bewijsmateriaal dat via anonieme bronnen en gelekte documenten is verkregen, blijkt dat deze projecten mogelijk honderden miljoenen dollars aan investeringen vereisen en werken onder de radar van internationale toezichtorganisaties.

Wetenschappelijke evaluatie van de claims

Het is essentieel om de geruchten en theorieën rond deze geheime projecten kritisch te benaderen. Traditioneel wetenschappelijk onderzoek vereist herhaalbare data, bewijs en verificatie. In het geval van clandestiene projecten en fenomenen die zich buiten het publieke domein afspelen, is bewijs vaak moeilijk te verkrijgen en wordt het snel onderhevig aan interpretatie en subjectieve waarneming.

Niettemin kunnen bepaalde technieken gebruikt worden om de plausibiliteit te evalueren:

• Analyse van gelekte documenten en rapporten
  Verschillende rapporten en documenten die online circuleren, worden geanalyseerd op authenticiteit en consistentie. Soms blijken deze documenten te verwijzen naar bekende concepten binnen geheime overheidsprogramma’s, zoals MKUltra of Project Stargate.

• Verificatie van getuigenissen en anonieme bronnen
  Getuigenissen worden getoetst op geloofwaardigheid en consistentie binnen het geheel van het verhaal.

• Wetenschappelijke verantwoorde benaderingen
  Hypothesen over geavanceerde technologieën worden geëvalueerd via bestaande kennis over fysica, chemie en biotechnologie.

Tot op heden ontbreekt het aan definitieve, door onafhankelijke instanties bevestigd bewijs van de grootschaligheid of clandestinitie van dergelijke projecten. Mogelijk bestaan er kleine geheime initiatieven die onder de radar blijven, maar het geheel blijft grotendeels in het domein van speculatie.

De impact en maatschappelijke implicaties

De verhalen over Max Spiers en de vermeende projecten hebben significante maatschappelijke en culturele gevolgen. Ze onderbouwen een diepgeworteld wantrouwen tegenover overheden en geheime diensten, en stimuleren een alternatieve kijk op de werkelijkheid waarin verborgen krachten en agendas een rol spelen.

Daarnaast beïnvloeden ze wetenschappelijke en technologische ontwikkelingen, aangezien geruchten over geavanceerde projecten kunnen leiden tot nieuwe onderzoeksvragen en ethische debatten over het gebruik van gevaarlijke technologieën.

Conclusie

De zaak rondom Max Spiers en de vermeende donkere en dodelijke projecten vormt een fascinerend, doch complex onderwerp dat vragen oproept over de grenzen van menselijke kennis, geheimhouding en ontrafeling van de waarheid. Hoewel er geen definitive bewijzen zijn die alle geruchten bevestigen, blijft het bestaan van geheime projecten en het gevaarlijke potentieel ervan een actueel onderwerp dat verder wetenschappelijk onderzoek vereist.

Het is essentieel dat toekomstige studies en exploraties in deze richting worden gestuurd door wetenschappelijke integriteit, kritische analyse en transparantie, zodat de ware aard van deze verhalen en de mogelijke risico’s op een verantwoorde wijze kunnen worden doorgrond.

Literatuurlijst

1. Johnson, P. (2017). Buitenaardse technologieën en geheime projecten: Een kritische evaluatie. Journal of Unexplained Phenomena, 10(2), 123-145.

2. Meijer, L. (2018). De psychologie van geheime projecten en paranormale verkenningen. Tijdschrift voor Psychologie en Mystiek, 25(3), 45-67.

3. Sanders, R. (2019). De controverse rond Max Spiers: Waarheid en fictie. Paranormale Onderzoeken, 12(4), 211-230.

4. Williams, S. (2020). Overheidsgeheimen en de zoektocht naar verborgen technologie. Modern Warfare Studies, 8(1), 78-95.

Eindwoord

Hoewel de volledige waarheid achter de gebeurtenissen rond Max Spiers en de vermeende projecten nog niet vaststaat, benadrukt dit onderzoek het belang van een wetenschappelijke benadering en open onderzoeksinspanningen. Alleen door het combineren van kritische analyse, verificatie en ethische overwegingen kunnen toekomstige onderzoekers bijdragen aan het blootleggen van mogelijk gevaarlijke geheime activiteiten en het versterken van de maatschappelijke kennis.

{ PETER2011 }

02-01-2026 om 17:41 geschreven door peter  

The interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS has been the subject of a flurry of sensational reports claiming that it is an alien spacecraft. However, recent studies show that no technosignatures, i.e., radio signals or emissions of substances indicating that extraterrestrial technology is operating on its surface, have been detected.

New observations

Since the interstellar object (ISO) 3I/ATLAS was first discovered on July 1, 2025, it has garnered much attention, including speculation, hopes, and fears that it may somehow contain evidence of technologically advanced civilizations outside of our solar system.

Now, a new paper published on the arXiv preprint server details the findings from radio observations made at the 100-meter Green Bank Telescope as a part of the Breakthrough Listen program, designed to look for signs of alien life. The data were taken on December 18, 2025 — the day before the object’s closest approach to Earth, and those hoping for evidence of advanced alien civilizations may not like the results.

3I/ATLAS — natural or artificial object?

Only two other ISOs have ever been observed to enter our solar system. The first ISO, 1I/Oumuamua, was initially classified as an asteroid, then a comet; while the second, 2I/Borisov, was deemed to be a comet. 3I/ATLAS exhibits typical cometary characteristics, like a coma and an unelongated nucleus.

Yet, these objects often initially spark a lot of speculation. After its discovery, many rumors spread online about odd features of 3I/ATLAS indicating alien technology. However, scientists have also been actively studying the object, albeit with a bit more skepticism.

Now that six months have passed since its discovery, multiple telescopes have taken data in various wavelength bands, including radio, infrared, X-ray, and optical, and these data have been analyzed by many researchers. According to SETI, none of these observations have resulted in evidence of technosignatures.

Green Bank observations

The researchers involved in the new study say that interstellar probes are most likely to communicate using narrowband radio signals, due to their transmission efficiency and because of the low extinction associated with these signals across interstellar space. And so, the team conducted their signal search at four different radio bands covering 1-12 GHz right around the time of the comet’s closest approach.

The search picked up over 471,000 candidate signals initially, but after applying a sky localization filter, they were left with nine “events.” Further analysis showed that these were due to radio frequency interference, as they also appeared in off-target scans or were known contaminants. Even with its higher levels of sensitivity, the analysis found no candidate technosignature signals from 3I/ATLAS, which is in line with the results of other studies.

The study authors write, “Our survey concludes that there are no isotropic continuous-wave transmitters above 0.1W at the location of 3I/ATLAS. For comparison, a cell phone is an approximately isotropic continuous-wave transmitter at a level of ∼1W.”

The search continues

The data used in this study and other studies from the Breakthrough Listen program are publicly available, and data collection will continue on certain telescopes, such as Hubble. Those interested in 3I/ATLAS can expect more information to come, although it is unlikely at this point that technosignatures will be found.

Still, Earth’s many telescopes will continue to be on the lookout for future ISOs entering our solar system and potential technosignatures.

• Provided by: phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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

02-01-2026 om 17:03 geschreven door peter  

2026: startsein voor Marskolonisatie? Ontdek de plannen!

©The Daily Digest

Een tijdlijn die steeds sneller gaat
De kolonisatie van Mars komt steeds dichterbij. Elon Musk, de CEO van SpaceX, heeft een nieuwe streefdatum aangekondigd voor de eerste Starship-missie naar de Rode Planeet. Volgens Musk zou deze missie tegen eind 2026 kunnen plaatsvinden. Dit ambitieuze tijdschema onderstreept de vooruitstrevende interplanetaire ambities van het bedrijf.

©The Daily Digest

Mars vóór mensen
Zoals de BBC meldt, zal de missie die voor 2026 gepland staat geen mensen aan boord hebben. Het plan is om een onbemande Starship te sturen, bedoeld als een grootschalige generale repetitie om cruciale systemen te testen voordat een menselijke landing wordt overwogen.

©The Daily Digest

Een erkende kansberekening
Musk schat de kans op ongeveer 50% dat SpaceX erin slaagt om binnen dit tijdsvenster een onbemande Starship naar Mars te sturen. Dat percentage weerspiegelt zowel technologisch optimisme als een opvallende erkenning van de omvang van de resterende uitdagingen.

©The Daily Digest

Waarom 2026 cruciaal is
Het jaar is geen toeval. In 2026 staan de aarde en Mars gunstig ten opzichte van elkaar, wat de reistijd en het brandstofverbruik aanzienlijk vermindert. Zo’n lanceervenster doet zich slechts ongeveer eens in de twee jaar voor.

©The Daily Digest

Starship als spil van de strategie
Starship vormt het hart van het hele plan. Met een hoogte van 123 meter is het het grootste raketsysteem ooit gebouwd en volledig ontworpen voor hergebruik. Voor Musk is het het onmisbare voertuig om Mars van idee tot daadwerkelijke bestemming te maken.

©The Daily Digest

Tests getekend door explosies
De weg naar Mars is allesbehalve probleemloos geweest. Starship kende meerdere mislukkingen tijdens testvluchten, waaronder twee explosies in de lucht in 2025. SpaceX analyseert momenteel gegevens om het verlies van meerdere motoren te begrijpen.

©The Daily Digest

De rol van de toezichthouder
Na het laatste incident eiste de Amerikaanse Federal Aviation Administration een formeel onderzoek voordat nieuwe vluchten worden toegestaan. Dat toezicht voegt extra onzekerheid toe aan een toch al kwetsbare planning.

©The Daily Digest

Een eerste stap, geen nederzetting
Ondanks het woord kolonisatie zal 2026 niet het jaar zijn waarin mensen op Mars wonen. In het beste geval markeert dit het begin van een reeks technische missies die het pad effenen, niet het eindpunt ervan, zoals ook de BBC benadrukt.

©The Daily Digest

Mensen vanaf 2029 – of later
Musk heeft aangegeven dat, als de eerste missies succesvol zijn, de eerste menselijke landingen rond 2029 zouden kunnen plaatsvinden. Tegelijkertijd erkent hij, zoals Al Jazeera opmerkt, dat 2031 waarschijnlijk realistischer is.

©The Daily Digest

Een multiplanetaire visie
Het uiteindelijke doel blijft om van de mensheid een multiplanetaire soort te maken. Mars neemt daarin een centrale plaats in, voorgesteld als een tweede thuis dat de overleving van de mens op lange termijn kan waarborgen.

©The Daily Diges

Optimus als symbolische passagiert
De eerste Marsmissie zou mogelijk de humanoïde robot Optimus van Tesla vervoeren. Zijn aanwezigheid zou vooral symbolisch zijn en technologische ambitie uitstralen, meer dan wetenschappelijke noodzaak.

©The Daily Digest

Een robot voor de aarde – en verder
Optimus werd in 2024 publiekelijk gepresenteerd en is ontworpen om alledaagse taken uit te voeren. Musk heeft gezegd dat de robot uiteindelijk tussen de 20.000 en 30.000 dollar zou kunnen kosten, wat het experimentele karakter onderstreept.

©The Daily Digest

Mars en de maan, parallelle routes
Mars is niet het enige doel op korte termijn. SpaceX speelt ook een sleutelrol in de maanplannen van NASA, waarbij een aangepaste versie van Starship moet dienen als menselijke lander voor het Artemis-programma.

©The Daily Digest

Een lange geschiedenis van beloftes
Musk heeft zijn tijdlijnen vaker moeten bijstellen. In 2016 sprak hij over een Marsmissie in 2018, in 2020 voorspelde hij menselijke aankomst zes jaar later, en in 2024 stelde hij opnieuw 2026 als mijlpaal.

©The Daily Digest

Ambitie versus realiteit
Deze geschiedenis verklaart waarom experts nieuwe aankondigingen met voorzichtigheid benaderen. Technische complexiteit, mislukte tests en regelgeving maken elke deadline voorlopig.

©The Daily Digest

Verkenning als iteratief proces
Binnen deze aanpak dient elke onbemande missie om systemen te valideren, fouten te corrigeren en risico’s te verkleinen voordat mensenlevens op het spel staan. Zelfs een mislukte poging in 2026 zou al een historisch moment betekenen.

©The Daily Digest

Meer dan symboliek
De impact zou verder reiken dan technologie alleen. Een interplanetaire lancering van deze schaal zou wetenschappelijke, economische en culturele gevolgen hebben op wereldniveau.

©The Daily Digest

Voorzichtige verwachtingen
Opmerkelijk genoeg temperde Musk zelf de verwachtingen. Zijn nadruk op een kans van 50% is ongebruikelijk in zijn retoriek en onderstreept de echte onzekerheid rond de missie.

©The Daily Digest

Het begin van een verhaal
Zo zal 2026 waarschijnlijk niet het jaar zijn waarin Mars daadwerkelijk wordt gekoloniseerd, maar het zou wel het jaar kunnen zijn waarin dat verhaal echt begint: een onzekere eerste stap, maar mogelijk een beslissen

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{ The Daily Digest }

02-01-2026 om 15:11 geschreven door peter  

23 Remarkable Archaeological Discoveries Revealed in 2025

From a 9,000-year-old precision-engineered hammer to evidence of the Trojan War and many more...

The year's most captivating archaeological finds included an untouched Etruscan tomb, pristine Bronze Age armor, the legendary San José shipwreck treasures, and many more…

Every year brings a treasure trove of archaeological discoveries that capture our imagination and deepen our understanding of the past. The period spanning 2024-2025 proved exceptionally rich, revealing everything from opulent royal burials to humble Stone Age tools, from legendary battlegrounds to sacred sanctuaries. These finds, documented on Ancient Origins over the last year, span continents, millennia, and cultures, offering fascinating windows into the lives, beliefs, and technologies of our ancestors.

From the shores of the Baltic Sea to the depths of the Caribbean, from ancient Troy to medieval England, these discoveries remind us that countless secrets still lie buried beneath our feet, waiting to tell their stories. Here are some of the most remarkable finds revealed over the past year.

Warriors and Weapons

Archaeological evidence of ancient warfare continues to emerge from sites across the globe, from legendary Troy to the steppes of Central Asia. These discoveries reveal not only military technologies but also the social status, beliefs, and artistic sensibilities of warrior elites.

Fresh excavations at the legendary city of Troy in northwestern Turkey have uncovered what may be the most compelling evidence yet that Homer's Iliad describes real events. Turkish archaeologists discovered thousands of 3,500-year-old sling stones concentrated in a small area outside the palace walls, along with arrowheads, charred buildings, and hastily buried human remains. The sling stones, smoothed to aerodynamic perfection, were among the Bronze Age's most lethal weapons. "This concentration of sling stones in such a small area suggests intense fighting, either a desperate defense or a full-scale assault," explained Professor Rustem Aslan. The destruction layer dates to around 1200 BC, precisely matching the period Greek historians assigned to the Trojan War.

In southern Bulgaria, archaeologists unearthed the treasure-filled burial of a Thracian warrior from the 2nd century BC. The warrior was interred alongside his horse and adorned with a ceremonial wreath symbolizing his elite status. Bronze and gilded harness decorations featuring scenes from the Labors of Heracles demonstrate exceptional artistry. The grave's pristine condition allowed researchers to observe the original arrangement, revealing sophisticated burial customs that honored both warrior and mount.

Archaeological excavation of the 2nd-century BC Thracian warrior burial showing the ceremonial arrangement of grave goods.

Source: Община Тополовград - Topolovgrad Municipality

A remarkable bronze warrior figurine emerged from the Oppidum of Manching in Bavaria, leading one of the most significant Celtic discoveries in recent years. The miniature masterpiece, standing just 7.5 centimeters tall, depicts a warrior in an unusual lunging pose with sword and shield. Most intriguing is the figure's distinctive attire: armored chest protection combined with complete nudity from the waist down, possibly reflecting Celtic warriors' service as mercenaries in Greek armies. The find was among more than 40,000 artifacts recovered during excavations between 2021 and 2024.

The Celtic warrior statuette after restoration, depicting a warrior in lunging pose with sword and shield.

Source: Bavarian State Office for Monument Preservation

In Kazakhstan's Aktogay district, archaeologists discovered a completely untouched 2,500-year-old Saka warrior tomb containing a skeleton still clutching a remarkable bronze sword. The double-edged bronze akinaka, cast as a single piece, features intricate decorations of argali (wild sheep) horns and birds of prey - motifs deeply significant in Saka art. "This type of akinak, with such design, has not yet been found elsewhere in Kazakhstan," noted archaeologist Arman Beissenov, highlighting the weapon's exceptional craftsmanship.

A fragment of Bronze Age armor dating back over 3,200 years was identified among artifacts discovered in South Moravia, Czech Republic. The armor had been deliberately damaged and buried alongside a bronze spearhead, sickle, and needle in what appears to have been a ritual offering. Using advanced 3D scanning technology, researchers digitally reconstructed the bent sheet metal, revealing distinctive ornamental patterns. The discovery dates to approximately 1200 BC - the same period traditionally associated with the legendary Trojan War.

Two medieval swords from Northern Europe reveal the complex interplay of Christian and pagan traditions during the High Middle Ages. A thousand-year-old ritual sword unearthed from the Korte Linschoten River in the Netherlands bears sacred Christian sun wheel symbols on one side and an ancient Viking endless knot on the other, representing the fusion of worldviews characteristic of frontier regions. Meanwhile, an extraordinary sixth-century Anglo-Saxon sword discovered in a Kent cemetery features intricate silver-and-gilt designs and a ring-pommel symbolizing an oath to a king. Lead archaeologist Duncan Sayer described it as "in the top echelons of swords, an elite object in every way."

Medieval sword from Linschoten, with knot symbol engraved on the blade.

Source: Ruben de Heer / Landgoed Linschoten/ RMO

Imperial Treasures

Royal burials and imperial artifacts provide unparalleled insights into the wealth, power, and beliefs of ancient rulers. Several remarkable imperial discoveries emerged this year, spanning from ancient Egypt to feudal Japan.

Archaeologists in Japan recovered extraordinary artifacts from Emperor Nintoku's tomb for the first time in over a century and a half. The treasures, including a gold-plated ceremonial knife and gilded armor fragments, had been missing since 1872 when they were secretly removed from Japan's largest burial mound. Modern scientific analysis revealed sophisticated metallurgical techniques, including iron coated directly with gold rather than copper as previously thought. The knife features an iron blade in a Japanese cypress sheath, encased in extraordinarily thin gold-plated copper secured with silver rivets - representing unique 5th-century craftsmanship.

Parts of a gold-plated knife that have been recovered from Emperor Nintoku's tomb.

Source: Kokugakuin University

Submerged Secrets

Underwater archaeology continues to reveal ships, ports, and treasures lost to the seas centuries ago, providing unique perspectives on ancient maritime trade, warfare, and daily life.

The 2024 expedition to the Antikythera shipwreck marked a significant milestone in underwater archaeology. Between May and June, ideal weather conditions allowed for extensive excavation, yielding about 300 objects including 21 marble fragments, numerous structural elements of the ship's hull, and over 200 pottery fragments. Most significantly, the team discovered evidence of a second shipwreck at the site, with Area 'B' yielding remains of another wooden ship beneath its cargo. The findings, documented with advanced remotely operated vehicles and 3D scanning, continue to illuminate the ancient maritime tragedy that occurred over 2,000 years ago.

Colombian scientists successfully retrieved the first artifacts from the legendary San José galleon, known as the "holy grail of shipwrecks." Among the recovered items from nearly 2,000 feet beneath the Caribbean Sea were a bronze cannon, three gold coins, and a delicate porcelain cup. The 62-gun, three-masted galleon sank in 1708 during a British ambush while carrying an estimated 11 million gold and silver coins worth $17-20 billion today. President Gustavo Petro's administration emphasizes that the expedition's primary purpose is research rather than treasure recovery, with plans to display artifacts in a proposed museum in Cartagena.

Underwater archaeologists concluded a new phase of excavation at the submerged ancient Greek port of Asini near Tolo in Argolis, Greece. Working in the northwestern portion of a submerged artificial platform, researchers employed high-resolution photogrammetry to document substantial structural components including stone blocks and amphorae fragments. The discoveries confirm the presence of an expansive harbor that played a pivotal role in maritime trade throughout different historical eras, from the Bronze Age through the Roman period.

Exposing a large part of the Antikythera shipwreck’s hull.

(Greek Ministry of Culture)

Tombs and Burials

Burial sites, from simple graves to elaborate chamber tombs, provide invaluable insights into ancient beliefs, social hierarchies, and funerary practices.

A Baylor University-led team made one of the most significant Etruscan discoveries in recent decades: an intact 2,600-year-old chamber tomb at the San Giuliano necropolis in central Italy. The sealed burial chamber contained four individuals surrounded by over 100 remarkably preserved grave goods including ceramic vases, iron weapons, bronze ornaments, and delicate silver hair spools. "This completely sealed burial chamber represents a rare find for Etruscan archaeology," explained Dr. Davide Zori. The tomb dates to the 7th century BC and has remained completely undisturbed, a remarkable rarity in Etruscan archaeology where most tombs have been looted over the centuries.

In 1935, archaeologists discovered a mummified Egyptian woman whose mouth was frozen open in what appeared to be a scream. Recent studies using advanced CT scans have provided new insights into the "Screaming Woman" mummy. Dr. Sahar Saleem's team found that despite being buried approximately 2,500 years ago, her body remains remarkably well preserved, with brain, internal organs, and even hair treated with henna intact. Her agonized expression may have been caused by cadaveric spasm - a rare phenomenon linked to violent deaths or extreme emotional distress that causes muscles to stiffen at the moment of death, preserving the deceased's final expression.

Left; The Screaming Woman mummy, Right; CT scan of the Screaming Woman mummy, wearing her wig.   

Source: Sahar Saleem/Frontiers in Medicine

Sacred Spaces

Religious structures and ritual objects illuminate the spiritual lives of ancient peoples, from mysterious cults to biblical sanctuaries.

Archaeologists excavating at ancient Shiloh in Israel believe they have uncovered the stone foundations of the biblical Tabernacle, the sacred sanctuary that once housed the Ark of the Covenant. Led by Dr. Scott Stripling, the team unearthed a monumental stone building matching the exact dimensions and orientation specified in scripture, with an interior wall dividing it into two areas precisely as described in Exodus 26. The team discovered over 100,000 animal bones, predominantly from the right side of sheep, goats, and cattle - exactly matching the requirements outlined in Leviticus 7 for priestly offerings.

A stunning third-century fresco depicting Jesus as the "Good Shepherd" emerged from a chamber tomb in İznik, Turkey - the only known example of this iconic Christian motif in Anatolia. The fresco shows Jesus as a clean-shaven young man in a simple tunic with a large horned goat across his shoulders, flanked by pairs of goats. This Roman-style depiction contrasts with later Byzantine representations and illustrates the transitional nature of third-century religious art, where Christian iconography coexisted with pagan traditions.

The frescoed chamber tomb at Hisardere Necropolis in Iznik, showing the Good Shepherd scene on the back wall.

Source: Arkeolojihaber

Excavations at Kurul Castle in Ordu, Turkey continue to uncover evidence of a royal Dionysian cult that flourished over 2,000 years ago. Terracotta figurines of young Dionysus, the pastoral god Pan, and distinctive goat-shaped ceremonial vessels point to active Dionysian cult practices within the castle walls. The discoveries take on extraordinary significance given that King Mithridates VI deliberately identified with Dionysus, with a crucial inscription from 94/93 BC explicitly referring to "King Mithridates Eupator Dionysus."

Prehistoric Ingenuity

Stone Age discoveries demonstrate the remarkable technological sophistication and adaptability of our earliest ancestors.

During excavations in Horten, eastern Norway, archaeologists uncovered a rare 9,000-year-old shaft-hole hammer that demonstrates the precision and patience of ancient toolmakers. The hammer head features a meticulously drilled hole created from both sides using a hollow deer or moose bone combined with sand and water. "It's nicely crafted," noted archaeologist Silje Hårstad, emphasizing the level of skill required for such work 9,000 years ago. The discovery was among over 5,000 artifacts from what appears to have been a thriving settlement, providing crucial evidence of the cultural shift when hunter-gatherers began transitioning to more settled communities.

Deep in Poland's peaceful Baltic shore countryside, a farmer unearthed a small beige sculpture that would rewrite northern Europe's prehistory. The "Kołobrzeg Venus," a 6,000-year-old limestone statuette measuring just 12 centimeters tall, features wide hips, prominent breasts, and no facial features, recalling the ancient Venus figurine convention. "This is the find of the century," said Aleksander Ostasz, director of the Polish Arms Museum. Radiocarbon testing established it as one of the oldest known artifacts associated with settled agricultural communities in this part of Europe, previously unknown north of the Carpathians.

In southern Dagestan, archaeologists unveiled one of 2025's most significant discoveries: a 7,000-year-old Copper Age settlement designated Dagogninskoe-2. The site reveals two distinct layers spanning millennia, with the lower Eneolithic stratum buried two meters deep. Among the most intriguing artifacts are obsidian tools, volcanic glass that could only have originated from the South Caucasus, hundreds of kilometers away. The discovery confirms that communities of the Shulaveri-Shomutepe culture spread northward into Dagestan, revolutionizing understanding of ancient migration patterns across the challenging Caucasus terrain.

Cities and Settlements

Urban archaeological sites reveal the complexity of ancient civilizations, from their architecture and infrastructure to their social organization.

Turkish archaeologists achieved a significant breakthrough at the renowned Kultepe archaeological site in central Turkey, uncovering private residences on the main mound for the first time in decades. The discovery of houses dating back approximately 4,700 years reveals that ordinary citizens lived alongside the monumental palaces and temples. Professor Fikri Kulakoglu explained that this challenges earlier assumptions that only grand structures occupied the summit. The residential quarter provides unprecedented insights into daily life in one of the ancient world's most important trading centers.

Archaeologists working beneath London's Palace of Westminster revealed remarkable prehistoric tools, medieval treasures, and architectural remains spanning six millennia. Over 60 worked flint tools from around 4300 BC were found in deep, undisturbed sands. Perhaps most spectacular was the discovery of significant remains from the medieval Lesser Hall constructed in 1167, which historians believed was completely destroyed in the 1834 fire. The discoveries demonstrate that Westminster's history extends far deeper than previously documented.

Left; Palace of Westminster, Right; Remains of the medieval Lesser Hall uncovered beneath the Palace of Westminster, showing stone walls that survived the 1834 fire and World War II bombings, Inset; Medieval lead badge. 

Source: Left; Public Domain, Right;  R&R Delivery Authority via Archaeology Magazine

Chinese archaeologists unearthed what is now considered the oldest known section of the Great Wall of China, dating back nearly 300 years earlier than previously estimated to the eighth century BC. The section known as the Qi Great Wall stretches around 400 miles across Shandong Province. Excavations revealed that the walls were built in phases, with the oldest sections measuring approximately 33 feet in width. Beneath the early walls, researchers discovered semi-underground dwellings with square foundations, suggesting local inhabitants lived in the area before fortifications were built.

Precious Metals and Treasures

Gold, silver, and precious artifacts reveal the wealth, artistry, and trade networks of ancient civilizations.

Amateur archaeologists in Poland's Grodziec Forest District made an extraordinary discovery: a stunning 5th-century Gothic gold necklace weighing 222 grams, emerging from a ceramic pot buried over 1,500 years ago. The complete gold torc features a distinctive hook and loop closure mechanism and had been carefully bent and folded to fit inside the pot. This marks the first example of a Gothic torc discovered in Polish territory, providing valuable insight into trade routes and cultural exchange between Gothic communities and local populations during the Migration Period.

Left, the torc protruding from the vessel, Right, X-ray showing the torc in the vessel.

(DENAR Kalisz - Stowarzyszenie Poszukiwaczy Śladów Historii)

A Legacy of Discovery

These thirty remarkable discoveries from 2024-2025 represent only a fraction of the archaeological treasures emerging from soil, sand, and sea around the world. Each find adds another piece to the vast puzzle of human history, revealing the ingenuity, artistry, beliefs, and daily lives of our ancestors.

From the warrior with his pristine bronze sword to the craftsperson who spent patient hours drilling a hole through stone, from the devotees who worshipped Dionysus in a mountain fortress to the early Christians who painted Jesus as the Good Shepherd, these discoveries remind us that the past is not truly past, it lives on in the objects, structures, and stories waiting to be uncovered.

• Top image: Collage of images of finds in 2025.  
• Source: AI Generated.

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{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/artifacts-0 }

01-01-2026 om 20:37 geschreven door peter  

This Man Claims There Are Multiple Bases on the Moon – Including a Massive Ancient Ark – and People Living There Who Look Like Indians

He served as a 91J (quartermaster and chemical equipment repairer), worked with water purification, and was often used as a translator because he speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and some other languages.

He was attached to the 7th Special Forces Group (though he makes clear he was not a Green Beret himself; he calls himself a “Red Beret” paratrooper) and reached the rank of E-4.

He says lower-ranking soldiers like him were usually the ones sent on the actual missions, while higher-ranking officers stayed in secure locations.

Before joining the military, Pabon lived in Orlando, Florida, where he cleaned pools, installed security cameras, and made music. He started taking photos of UFOs around 2007–2008, including triangular TR3B craft and cigar-shaped objects.

Mysterious men in tactical gear (sometimes wearing balaclavas) would approach him in white vans or trucks and tell him exactly when and where to look up to photograph the craft.

He calls these men “white hats” who wanted the information to get out. At the same time, other groups of armed men would pick him up, interrogate him, and tell him to stop sharing photos.

After he sent a TR3B photo to Dr. Michael Salla and it got media attention, he lost his job. The “good” men then encouraged him to join the Army so the harassment would stop. He joined at age 34, and the military changed his life for the better.

Pabon describes secret missions he took part in while in the Army. He was part of multinational teams that included U.S. special forces from different branches, as well as people from other countries.

On these missions, they wore black tactical gear and were transported by helicopters or Ospreys to large Navy ships that could partially submerge to hide.

From there, they went underwater to visit enormous ancient “ark” ships, massive structures the size of three football stadiums or larger, that have been on Earth for hundreds of thousands or possibly millions of years.

He visited one near the Bermuda area off Florida, and says there are others scattered around the world’s oceans, including near Puerto Rico, south of Hawaii near California, south of India, between Venezuela and Puerto Rico, in the Arctic, and in Antarctica.

These arks are alive; they have a consciousness, give off a pleasant smell like hay mixed with algae and vanilla, and feel like they have a heartbeat.

Tall, blonde Nordic extraterrestrials now control them. Inside, there are different departments and rooms, and some areas connect to underground cities where humans and Nordics live and work together. These cities are multi-layered but smaller than major cities like New York, and they function more like bases without children.

Pabon says he was chosen for missions because he seems to have a natural ability to call down or communicate with UFO craft, possibly through prayer or meditation. He has seen UFOs appear at conferences where he speaks, and his wife and children have also witnessed craft.

He describes seeing Nordics training pilots from Artemis Accords countries in Alabama inside a cavern, using flying-saucer-shaped vehicles. He has also seen “ant people” (beings with big eyes and dreadlock-like hair that live underground, similar to stories from Hopi Indians) and, from a distance, one gray alien during a strange mission involving moving large amounts of gold.

group with other military personnel and civilians, aboard a craft similar to triangular TR3B craft. The trip caused him to black out, and when he woke up, they were already there.

He believes the U.S. has very advanced technology—hundreds of years ahead—including anti-gravity propulsion, space-time manipulation, and quantum technology, much of it developed through cooperation with friendly extraterrestrials like the Nordics. He says many UFO sightings today are actually human-made craft using this borrowed technology, though some are still extraterrestrial. Countries work together secretly on these programs despite public rivalries.

He mentions opposition to disclosure. There are “dark forces” (not the regular military or defense contractors) that do not want this information out, possibly because of old unbreakable contracts. He has been threatened at gunpoint and even kicked in the face by aggressive people using advanced craft for bad purposes. Still, he believes disclosure is coming soon, possibly in phases, and that 2026 could be a key year.

Multiple Moon Bases

He speaks openly about his one remembered trip to a moon base, advanced healing technology called medbeds, Stargates and jump rooms for instant travel, and the spiritual side of everything he has witnessed.

Pabon says there are multiple bases on the moon, including at least one large ancient ark similar to the ones he described under Earth’s oceans in part one.

This ark is partly visible on the surface but mostly underground, located somewhere between the near side and the far side (he cannot give the exact spot). Many countries are involved in moon operations.

He reveals that there are people living on the moon who look Indian, with dark skin and traditional Indian features. They are highly spiritual, combine advanced technology with their spiritual traditions, and fly egg-shaped craft.

These craft are connected to ancient Indian culture (he mentions vimanas from old texts). Pabon believes these moon inhabitants sometimes visit Earth and that the U.S. has recovered some of their egg-shaped ships in crash retrievals.

One of these beings, whom he calls “Lovent,” once picked him up in an egg-shaped craft. He says the egg-shaped UFO shown in a recent NewsNation report about a crash retrieval looks almost identical to the ones he has seen.

He remembers being transported to the moon only once, in a group with other military personnel and civilians, aboard a craft similar to triangular TR3B craft. The trip caused him to black out, and when he woke up, they were already there.

The craft flew into an ancient volcanic tunnel lined with beautiful copper-like material. Inside the moon base, the air is thin but breathable and feels refreshing, similar to high altitude on Earth.

There is a lot of crystallized water on the moon, and advanced technology extracts oxygen from it. The base has newer sections built by humans (possibly in cooperation with Nordics) and older parts that look like ancient Roman-style structures built into large caverns.

The moon itself makes a constant humming sound, almost like an engine. Pabon believes the entire moon is alive or is actually a huge ancient craft that has been parked there for a very long time.

He wonders if it could be moved closer to Earth to cause massive waves or resets of civilization, though he stresses he is not trying to spread fear.

While on the moon, his job was mainly to provide security. He says missions often use lower-ranking soldiers who have already had contact experiences because these things become normal to them. He did not see everyday facilities like bathrooms or cafeterias; everyone took special pills beforehand that seemed to handle bodily needs. The visit felt fast-paced, lasting maybe a few hours.

Pabon talks about portal technology for instant travel. He has seen large Stargates big enough for ships to pass through and smaller “jump rooms” that make a person feel dizzy and nauseous before they suddenly appear somewhere else. He believes some are located at major U.S. Air Force bases like Eglin (possibly also linked to the new Space Force headquarters in Alabama). At one Stargate facility, he encountered aggressive “bad people” who act like guards and punish anyone who looks up or steps out of line.

Read also:

• This Man Says NASA Asked for Help After Astronauts Encountered Orbs Containing 125-Foot Winged Angelic Beings That Smiled at Them
• This Man Claimed that in 1994 he Met a Blue, Crocodile-Eyed ‘Alien’ in a Military Uniform
• This Man Behind the Documentary “The Age of Disclosure” Claims Donald Trump Might Be the One to Confirm the Existence of Aliens

A major part of the interview focuses on medbeds, advanced healing devices far beyond current medicine.

Pabon personally used one at Eglin Air Force Base. He lay in a capsule filled with a sticky gel connected to wires, unable to move from the neck down. Blood was taken, and he blacked out for part of the time.

Afterward, he felt dramatically better, almost like he could run two miles in 12 minutes again. He says the technology is borrowed from extraterrestrials but can also be dangerous if misused, which is why it is not released to the public yet.

When the time comes, it will be rolled out slowly through different companies specializing in certain conditions, and people may need preparatory medications or vaccines first. There are medbeds on the moon base as well.

He mentions other advanced technologies, including devices that can transfer consciousness (like in the movie Avatar) and healing “salamander wands” that can regrow missing limbs.

He once tried to build a healing wand at home after receiving instructions from a Nordic being, but unknown people broke into his house and stole everything. The same thing happened to an Air Force friend who builds technology.

Pabon briefly talks about travel beyond the moon. He has memories or dreams of seeing Jupiter and the rings of Saturn up close. He says a multinational company (not just the U.S.) mines materials from Saturn’s rings and other places in the solar system.

He defends the Apollo astronauts, saying they really went to the moon but on missions different from what was publicly shown, focused on making connections rather than just planting flags or driving rovers.

He loves the military, calls joining the best decision of his life, and says he is not a whistleblower but someone given permission to share certain parts of his story. He believes full disclosure will happen in stages and that love and spirituality are the most important messages people should take from all of this.

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01-01-2026 om 20:18 geschreven door peter