NASA Scientist Proposes Theory of Alien Civilizations Throughout Milky Way

By Frank Landymore

Assuming our solar system’s newest interstellar object isn’t an alien mothership sent here to menace us, humankind still hasn’t spotted any signs of extraterrestrial life, let alone intelligence — which, given how incalculably vast the universe is, is strange. With all the potential homes for potential alien civilizations, why aren’t we seeing any evidence of them?

You’ve probably heard of the name for this conundrum: the Fermi Paradox. And you’ve probably heard of more than a few solutions to it, too.

There’s the infamous zoo hypothesis, which supposes that advanced aliens know about our planet but stay away to let us evolve naturally. 

Or maybe you subscribe to spookier ones like the vulnerable worlds hypothesis, which holds that there may be a certain type of ominous technological innovation that humankind doesn’t even know about yet which always destroys any civilization advanced enough to develop it.

Or perhaps the universe is a kind of dark forest, with plenty of alien civilizations, but all too scared to show themselves out of fear of being annihilated by an even more advanced and bloodthirsty interstellar species. 

But here comes the party pooper. In a new yet-to-be-peer-reviewed paper, NASA astrophysicist Robin Corbet proposes an outlook of “radical mundanity” that basically banishes these fun ideas back to the realm of speculative scifi. The Milky Way actually contains a modest amount of civilizations, according to this hypothesis, which was spotlighted by The Guardian — but the aliens aren’t busy tunneling wormholes or probing singularities. Instead, they’re only slightly more technologically advanced than we are, get bogged down by the same limitations when trying to look for fellow intelligent beings, and eventually give up on exploring the cosmos.

“The idea is that they’re more advanced, but not much more advanced. It’s like having an iPhone 42 rather than an iPhone 17,” Corbet, a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, told the newspaper. “This feels more possible, more natural, because it’s not proposing anything very extreme.”

This mundane view explains why we aren’t seeing any technosignatures, or evidence of alien technology from afar. The aliens just don’t have what it takes to build huge megastructures that we could see with our telescopes, like a Dyson swarm that enshrouds a star to harvest its energy.

And while they might have the technological capability to travel to other stars, perhaps even with robotic probes, it’d be a painstakingly slow and enormously expensive undertaking, just like it would be for us. And so, finding no other civilizations along the way, they decide it’s not worth the cost. Ditto for powering a huge beacon for beaming a “we’re here!” signal out into the cosmos.

“They don’t have faster-than-light, they don’t have machines based on dark energy or dark matter, or black holes,” Corbet told The Guardian. “They’re not harnessing new laws of physics.”

It’s a sobering rebuff to some of our more fantastical theories of life in the cosmos. But not everyone’s a fan. Michael Garrett, the director of the Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, told The Guardian he liked the “fresh perspective,” but not much else.

“It projects a very human-like apathy on to the rest of the cosmos,” Garrett said. “I find it hard to believe that all intelligent life would be so uniformly dull.”

In fact, his personal hypothesis, detailed in a study accepted for publication in Acta Astronautica, couldn’t be more diametrically opposed to Corbet’s.

“I lean towards a more adventurous explanation of the Fermi paradox: that other, post-biological civilisations advance so rapidly that they slip beyond our capacity to perceive them,” Garrett told The Guardian. “I hope I’m right, but I could very well be wrong. Nature always has some kind of surprise for us around the corner.”

More on space:

• Scientist Says Galaxies Shining With Radio Signals Could Indicate Numerous Advanced Civilizations

{ https://futurism.com/ }

22-01-2026 om 22:25 geschreven door peter  

Soon we will witness a truly spectacular event. For the first time since 1972, a rocket carrying four astronauts will embark on a journey to the Moon. We will explain when the Artemis II flight is scheduled to take place and how it will proceed.

Launch windows for the flight to the Moon

NASA cannot launch a mission to the Moon at any given time. The launch date is determined by orbital mechanics and the relative positions of celestial bodies, which allows the Moon’s gravity to be used to return the spacecraft with astronauts to Earth without using its main engine (this reduces the risks for the expedition).

The closest launch windows for the Artemis II flight to the Moon will be open from February 6 to 8 and February 10 to 11. If the SLS rocket cannot be launched within these time frames, the next launch windows will be open on the following dates:

• March – 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th.
• April – 1st, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 30th.

It is interesting to note that almost all of the upcoming ballistic windows suggest that Artemis II will only be launched at night. Theoretically, the mission could be launched at dawn at the end of the ballistic window on April 1. The window on April 30 provides an opportunity to launch shortly before sunset.

The exact launch date will depend not only on the technical readiness of the SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft, but also on several external factors, such as weather conditions, wind speed, and cloud cover. Solar activity will also be taken into account. The Artemis II flight will take place outside the Earth’s magnetic field. If, during the launch period, the Sun produces powerful flares or there is a high probability of them occurring, NASA will almost certainly postpone the flight.

Artemis II launch

Now let’s talk in more detail about how the Artemis II flight itself will proceed. Approximately 3.5 hours before launch, the four astronauts will board the Orion spacecraft, after which technicians will close the spacecraft hatch. The first stage engines of the SLS rocket will be activated 6 seconds before launch – at this stage, the launch can still be canceled. Once the side solid rocket boosters ignite, this will no longer be possible.

The separation of the SLS solid rocket boosters will occur at 129 seconds into the flight, when the rocket will be at an altitude of 47.5 km. Approximately one minute after that, the “tower” – a solid rocket motor installed at the top of the nose cone – will be jettisoned. It is used as an emergency rescue system: in the event of an emergency, the rocket must “pull out” the capsule with the astronauts and take it away from the SLS. The separation will occur at an altitude of 87 km, which is slightly below the Kármán line, accepted as the boundary of outer space.

At 495 seconds into the flight, the first stage will separate. At this point, Orion will still be on a suborbital trajectory. When the spacecraft reaches apogee, the upper stage of the SLS will be activated. An hour later, another altitude increase maneuver will be performed. They will bring Orion into an elongated near-Earth orbit with a perigee altitude of 185 km and an apogee altitude of 70,000 km. For comparison, the ISS is in a circular orbit at an altitude of approximately 415 km.

In orbit around Earth

Upon completion of the maneuvers, Orion will separate from the upper stage, after which the next stage of the flight will begin, lasting 23 hours. Initially, the astronauts will switch the spacecraft to manual control and perform a series of approaches to the upper stage of the SLS. These operations will provide a unique experience that cannot be gained on Earth and will yield valuable data that will be useful in planning future missions involving docking and undocking in lunar orbit.

After completing the rendezvous, the crew will return control of Orion to mission controllers and spend the remaining time checking the functionality of all spacecraft components. Key attention will be paid to the life support system. The astronauts will also test communications and navigation. Orion will briefly leave the coverage area of GPS and TDRS satellites, which will allow NASA to test the technical capabilities of its Deep Space Network.

At this stage, a payload will also be deployed – several CubeSats provided by countries that are parties to the Artemis Accords.

If the checks do not reveal any significant problems, NASA will give the green light to the next stage of the mission – the flight to the Moon. On the second day, Orion will activate its main engine and perform a maneuver that will send it towards our planet’s satellite. The spacecraft will follow a trajectory resembling a giant figure eight. As for the upper stage of the SLS, NASA will also activate its engine and direct it into the atmosphere above an uninhabited area of the Pacific Ocean to prevent it from becoming space debris.

Flight to the Moon and back

During the flight to the Moon, the spacecraft will perform three minor course corrections. Before the crew goes to sleep on the fifth day of the flight, Orion will enter the Moon’s sphere of influence, where its gravitational pull will become stronger than Earth’s gravitational pull.

The exact distance at which the Artemis II crew will fly past the Moon will depend on the launch date. In each of the possible ballistic windows, the Moon will be in a different location, and the flyby distance will vary accordingly: it can range from 6,500 to 13,000 km. This is hundreds of thousands of kilometers closer than any human has come to our planet’s satellite since 1972. At this distance, the Moon will appear to the crew to be the size of a basketball held at arm’s length.

The closest approach will occur when Orion flies over the far side of the Moon. At that moment, depending on the launch time, the crew will lose contact with Earth for 30 to 50 minutes. During this interval, the astronauts will take photographs and videos of the far side of the Moon, as well as conduct observations. At approximately this time, the Artemis II crew is expected to break the record for distance from Earth, set by Apollo 13.

The Artemis II flight path is designed so that the crew will not need to perform any maneuvers using the main engine, eliminating the risk of an accident and the possibility of them getting “stuck” near the Moon. When the spacecraft rounds the Moon and leaves its sphere of influence, Earth’s gravity will “catch” it and direct it toward our planet. As during the flight to the Moon, the crew will perform three small course corrections during this leg for more accurate guidance. The last maneuver will be performed on the 10th day of the flight, five hours before landing.

Shortly before entering the atmosphere, the astronauts will separate the Orion service module. This will expose the heat shield of the crew capsule. At its peak, it will be exposed to temperatures of up to 2,800 °C. This is about a thousand degrees higher than missions returning from the ISS. This difference is because Orion will enter the Earth’s atmosphere at a much higher second cosmic velocity. As the heated plasma completely envelops the spacecraft, NASA will lose all contact with it for several minutes.

If everything goes well, Orion will first deploy two brake parachutes, followed by three main parachutes. The capsule with four astronauts will splash down in the Pacific Ocean, after which it will be picked up by ships.

After returning

The Artemis II mission is largely a test mission. It is intended to demonstrate the reliability of Orion and its ability to support interplanetary missions. The flight will also have enormous symbolic significance. For the first time in more than half a century, humans will leave the vicinity of our planet. The Artemis II mission could help to increase the popularity of space exploration.

Artemis II will pave the way for the next mission, Artemis III, which plans to land two astronauts on the south pole of the Moon. It is currently scheduled for 2027. However, in reality, the date will almost certainly change, as many elements of the expedition are not yet ready – from the Starship HLS spacecraft to the lunar spacesuits. However, the success of Artemis II may serve as a significant stimulus to accelerate its preparation.

• Posted in Articles, Questions

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22-01-2026 om 21:23 geschreven door peter  

Hand stencil made almost 68,000 years ago is the oldest cave art ever found

Handprints reveal sharpened fingertips in the Maros region of Sulawesi, Indonesia. 

Ahdi Agus Oktaviana / Maxime Aubert / AP

The reddish hand stencils, though faded and barely visible, were found inside the Liang Metanduno limestone cave on Muna, an island off the larger eastern Indonesian island of Sulawesi. One of them was found to be at least 67,800 years old.

The team also identified animal figures inside a cave in Sulawesi, Indonesia

Maxime Aubert

Indonesian and Australian researchers said the stencils were made by blowing pigment onto a hand pressed against the rock surface, leaving an outline. Fingertips reshaped to appear more pointed suggest that the hands belonged to humans, possibly connected to the ancestors of the first Australians.

The paintings were dated by analyzing mineral crusts that had gradually formed on top of them.

The finding “is pretty extraordinary, because usually rock art is very difficult to date, and it doesn’t date back to anywhere near that old,” said Adam Brumm, a professor of archaeology at Griffith University in Brisbane and a co-author of the study published Wednesday in the journal Nature.

{ https://www.nbcnews.com/ }

22-01-2026 om 21:05 geschreven door peter  

The world's oldest cave art: Scientists discover 67,000–year–old painting of a red hand in Indonesia – and it could rewrite the origins of human creativity

• READ MORE: Evolution debate reignited after 'missing link' found

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

A painting of a red hand found in a cave in Indonesia is believed to be the world's earliest rock art. 

Discovered in a cave on the island of Sulawesi, experts think the stencil was made by our species at least 67,800 years ago. 

This is 15,000 years earlier than the previous discovery in the same region. 

While the stencil was likely based on a human hand, it was altered before being used on the cave wall. 

Its creator had deliberately narrowed the negative outlines of the fingers – creating the impression of a claw–like hand. 

According to researchers from Griffith University, the finding could rewrite the origins or human creativity. 

What's more, its discovery could advance our understanding of exactly how and when Australia – which is just south of Sulawesi – first came to settled.

'It is very likely that the people who made these paintings in Sulawesi were part of the broader population that would later spread through the region and ultimately reach Australia,' explained team lead Dr Adhi Agus Oktaviana. 

A painting of a red hand discovered in a cave in Indonesiais believed to be the world's earliest rock art

Discovered in a cave on the island of Sulawesi, experts think the stencil was made by our species at least 67,800 years ago

Beyond rewriting the origins of human creativity, the findings could also shed light on the settlement of Sahul – the supercontinent that encompassed what is now Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea – which is just south of Sulawesi

The hand stencil was found preserved in limestone caves in southeastern Sulawesi, on the satellite island of Muna. 

Using advanced uranium–series dating techniques, the team analysed microscopic mineral deposits to understand exactly when the stencil was created. 

The results revealed a minimum age of 67,800 years – making it the oldest reliably dated cave art ever discovered. 

An analysis of the stencil itself suggests it was deliberately altered to give the impression of a claw. 

However, the symbolic meaning of this remains unclear.  

'This art could symbolise the idea that humans and animals were closely connected, something we already seem to see in the very early painted art of Sulawesi, with at least one instance of a scene portraying figures that we interpret as representations of part–human, part–animal beings,' Professor Adam Brumm, co–lead author of the study said.

Alongside the hand stencil, the researchers found paintings of a much more recent origin – around 20,000 years.

This suggests the Muna cave was used for making art over an 'exceptionally long period', according to the researchers. 

The hand stencil was found preserved in limestone caves in southeastern Sulawesi, on the satellite island of Muna

Using advanced uranium–series dating techniques, the team analysed microscopic mineral deposits to understand exactly when the stencil was created. The results revealed a minimum age of 67,800 years – making it the oldest reliably dated cave art ever discovered

'It is now evident from our new phase of research that Sulawesi was home to one of the world's richest and most longstanding artistic cultures, one with origins in the earliest history of human occupation of the island at least 67,800 years ago,' said Professor Maxime Aubert, co–lead author of the study.

Beyond rewriting the origins of human creativity, the findings could also shed light on the settlement of Sahul – the supercontinent that encompassed what is now Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea – which is just south of Sulawesi. 

Until now, scientists have been divided on the timing and route for humans' arrival. 

Some have suggested they arrived at least 65,000 years ago, while others are adamant it's more like 50,000 years ago. 

Meanwhile, certain studies indicate a northern route to the New Guinea portion of this landmass via Sulawesi and the 'Spice Islands', while others have put forward a more southerly route directly to the Australian mainland via Timor or adjacent islands. 

The new cave art helps to settle both of these debates – suggesting the first Australians arrived at least 65,000 years ago via the northern route. 

'With the dating of this extremely ancient rock art in Sulawesi, we now have the oldest direct evidence for the presence of modern humans along this northern migration corridor into Sahul,' said the study's co–lead author, Professor Renaud Joannes–Boyau.

CAVE ART: WORKS DATING BACK 40,000 YEARS HAVE BEEN FOUND

The most famous cave art can be found in Spain and France, but it exists throughout the world.

The famed Upper Palaeolithic cave art of Europe dates back to around 21,000 years ago. 

In recent years scholars have recorded cave art found in Indonesia that is believed to be about 40,000 years old - predating the most popular European cave art.

 Hand stencils found in the El Castillo cave in Cantabria, Spain

Expert Shigeru Miyagawa authored a study in 2018 which examined cave art to try to shed light on how human language evolved. 

He said: 'Cave art is everywhere. Every major continent inhabited by homo sapiens has cave art.

'You find it in Europe, in the Middle East, in Asia, everywhere - just like the human language.'

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

22-01-2026 om 20:49 geschreven door peter  

The star J0705+0612 was a mystery to scientists for some time. Similar to our Sun, it suddenly dimmed. Now scientists know that the reason for this is a dust cloud containing large amounts of metal and orbiting this star.

Unexpected occultationof a star

Strong winds of evaporated metals were discovered in the enormous cloud that obscured the star’s light for nearly nine months. This discovery, made using the Gemini South telescope in Chile, part of the Gemini International Observatory, provides a rare glimpse into the chaotic and dynamic processes that still shape planetary systems long after their formation.

In September 2024, a star 3,000 light-years away suddenly became 40 times dimmer than usual and remained so until May 2025. The star J0705+0612 is similar to our Sun, so the sharp decline in its brightness caught the attention of Nadia Zakamska, a professor of astrophysics at Johns Hopkins University. “Stars like the sun don’t just stop shining for no reason,” she says, “so dramatic dimming events like this are very rare.”

Identifying the cause of dimming

Recognizing the opportunity to study this phenomenon over many months, Zakamska and her team began observations using the Gemini South telescope located on Cerro Pachón in Chile, as well as the 3.5-meter Apache Point Observatory telescope and the 6.5-meter Magellan telescope.

By combining their observations with archival data on J0705+0612, the team determined that the star was occulted, or temporarily obscured, by a huge, slow-moving cloud of gas and dust. They estimate that the cloud is about two billion kilometers from its parent star and has a diameter of about 200 million kilometers.

The data indicate that this cloud is gravitationally bound to a secondary object, which itself orbits the star at the outer limits of the planetary system. Although the nature of this object remains unknown, it is thought to be massive enough to hold the cloud together. Observations limit its mass to at least several times that of Jupiter, although it may be larger. Possibilities range from a planet to a brown dwarf to a very low-mass star.

If the mysterious object is a star, the cloud will be classified as a secondary disk — a disk of debris orbiting around the less massive member of a binary system. If the object is a planet, it will be a circumplanetary disk. In any case, direct observation of a star obscured by a disk surrounding a secondary object is an extremely rare phenomenon, with only a few known examples.

Cloud composition analysis

To study the cloud’s composition, the team used Gemini South’s most advanced instrument, the Gemini High-resolution Optical Spectrograph (GHOST). In March 2025, GHOST observed the occultation for just over two hours, breaking down the star’s light into a spectrum that revealed the chemical elements present in the intervening material.

GHOST data detected several metals — elements heavier than helium — in the cloud. More remarkably, the high precision of the spectra allowed the team to directly measure how the gas moves in three dimensions. This is the first time astronomers have measured the internal motions of gas in a rotating disk around a secondary object, such as a planet or low-mass star. The observations reveal a dynamic environment with winds of gaseous metals, including iron and calcium.

“The sensitivity of GHOST allowed us not only to detect gas in this cloud, but also to actually measure how it moves,” says Zakamska. “This is something we have never been able to do before in such a system.”

How did the dust cloud form?

Precise measurements of wind speed and direction show that the cloud is moving separately from its parent star. This, combined with the duration of the occultation, further confirms that the occulting object is a disk around a secondary object and that it is orbiting outside the parent star’s stellar system.

The source emits excess infrared radiation, usually associated with disks around young stars. However, J0705+0612 is more than two billion years old, which means that the disk is unlikely to be the remnants of debris from the early stages of planet formation in the system. So how did it form?

Astronomers suggest that it was formed after two planets collided at the outer edges of this star’s planetary system, ejecting dust, rocks, and debris that formed a massive cloud passing in front of the star.

This discovery highlights how new technologies can provide new insights into the Universe. GHOST has opened a new window for studying hidden phenomena in distant star systems, and the data obtained provide valuable clues about the long-term evolution of planetary systems and how disks around old stars may form.

Scientists say that the case of star J0705+0612 shows that even in mature planetary systems, dramatic, large-scale collisions can still occur.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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

22-01-2026 om 18:40 geschreven door peter  

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

22-01-2026 om 18:22 geschreven door peter  

The grains of sand that solve Stonehenge mystery after 5,000 years: Scientists uncover new evidence the stones were moved by humans – and not glaciers

• READ MORE: Archaeologists discover a lost ring of pits near Stonehenge

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

The 5,000–year–old mystery of Stonehenge may have finally been solved – with the help of a few tiny grains of sand.

While most scientists believe that Stonehenge's massive stones were dragged from Wales and Scotland, a rival theory proposes that the builders had a helping hand.

According to the so–called glacial transport theory, the ice that once covered ancient Britain conveniently carried the stones to the Salisbury Plain.

However, scientists have now found concrete evidence that suggests the megaliths must have been moved by humans.

Using cutting–edge mineral fingerprinting techniques, geologists from Curtin University showed that no glacial material ever reached the Salisbury Plain.

If the rocks were indeed carried by ice, they would have left behind a breadcrumb trail containing millions of microscopic mineral grains.

But when the researchers looked at Wiltshire's sand, they found that none had been moved there during the last ice age, 20,000 to 26,000 years ago.

Lead author Dr Anthony Clarke told the Daily Mail: 'Our findings make glacial transport unlikely and align with existing views that the megaliths were brought from distant sources by Neolithic people using methods like sledges, rollers, and rivers.'

Scientists looked at grains of the minerals zircon (pictured) and apatite, which act as geological clocks by trapping radioactive uranium. If glacial transport is correct, the age of these grains should match the ages of rocks in Wales 

A few tiny grains of sand may have finally solved one of Stonehenge's most enduring mysteries, as scientists find evidence that the stones were transported by people and not by glaciers 

According to the so–called glacial transport theory, the stones that make up Stonehenge were brought to the Salisbury Plain from Wales and Scotland by the movement of massive glaciers 

One of Stonehenge's most baffling features is the fact that its stones appear to originate from the most far–flung reaches of the UK.

While the large standing stones, or sarsens, come from an area just 15 miles (24 km) north of the stone circle, the smaller bluestones and the singular altar stone aren't local.

Geologists have traced the two to five–tonne bluestones back to the Preseli Hills in Wales, while the six–tonne altar stone came from a location at least 460 miles (750 km) away in northern Scotland.

This means that Neolithic people would have needed to transport specifically selected stones over hundreds of miles using nothing more than stone and wooden tools.

For some researchers, this idea seems so unlikely that the glacial transport theory seems like a more reasonable alternative.

If ice did cover the Salisbury Plain sometime in the distant past, it would have left traces that should be visible today.

Many of these big traces, like scratches on the bedrock or carved landforms, are either missing or inconclusive around Stonehenge.

But the ice would have also left behind a microscopic trace that scientists should be able to see.

If the stones were brought from their origin at Craig Rhos–y–Felin in north Pembrokeshire (pictured) by ice, these glaciers should have also carried a huge amount of sand that should be detectable in rivers today 

The dates of the zircon grains in the Salisbury Plain covered almost half the age of Earth, but almost none matched the fingerprint of rocks from the Stonehenge megaliths' origins 

What are the Stonehenge bluestones?

Dr Clarke says: 'If large ice sheets had carried bluestone from Wales or northern Britain to Stonehenge, they would also have delivered huge volumes of sand and gravel debris with very distinctive age fingerprints into the local rivers and soils.'

Importantly, this sand contains two minerals called zircon and apatite that can be used like a 'tiny geological clock'.

When zircon and apatite form, crystallising out of magma, they trap tiny amounts of radioactive uranium that decays into lead at a known rate.

By looking at the ratio of uranium to lead, scientists can work out how long ago an individual grain of sand was formed.

Since some rocks, like the Stonehenge megaliths, are made up of lots of these dateable grains, scientists can use this technique to create a geological 'fingerprint'.

'Because Britain's bedrock has very different ages from place to place, a mineral's age can indicate its source,' says Dr Clarke.

'This means that if glaciers had carried stones to Stonehenge, the rivers of Salisbury Plain, which gather zircon and apatite from across a wide area, should still contain a clear mineral fingerprint of that glacial journey.'

The researchers looked at more than 700 zircon and apatite grains, gathered from the rivers near Stonehenge.

Almost all the apatite dated back to around 65 million years ago, when tectonic activity in the Alps forced liquid through the ground and reset the uranium clock. This shows that it was there for millions of years, and had not been freshly carried to the area by ice 

Despite covering half the age of the Earth from around 2.8 billion years ago to 300 million years ago, almost none matched the fingerprint of the bluestones' source in Wales or the altar stone's source in Scotland.

The majority of the zircon grains came in a tight band from 1.7 to 1.1 billion years ago, when a blanket of loosely compacted sand called the Thanet Formation covered much of southern England.

Meanwhile, all of the apatite grains were dated to around 60 million years ago, which doesn't match any potential rock source in Britain.

This is because the same tectonic forces that built the European Alps squeezed fluids through the chalk and 'reset' the apatite's uranium clock.

Co–author Professor Chris Kirkland told the Daily Mail: 'Salisbury Plain's sediment story looks like recycling and reworking over long timescales, plus a Paleogene "shake–up" recorded in apatite, rather than a landscape built from major glacial imports.'

If ice had carried the bluestones or altar stone to England, the sand should have a clear signal from those points of origin.

'However, the material around Stonehenge doesn't,' says Professor Kirkland.

'So, we conclude Salisbury Plain remained unglaciated during the Pleistocene, making direct glacial transport of the megaliths unlikely.'

This gives strong evidence that the area around Stonehenge was never covered by glaciers, making it extremely unlikely that the rocks were carried to the area by ice rather than by people 

This gives 'strong, testable evidence' that the enormous stones were, in fact, dragged all the way to the Salisbury Plain by hand.

And that might mean we have to give a bit more credit to the ingenuity and determination of our ancient ancestors.

Professor Kirkland says: 'You could propose a coastal movement by boat for the long legs, then final overland hauling using sledges, rollers, prepared trackways, and coordinated labour, especially for the largest stones.

READ MORE

• The tooth that solves the Stonehenge mystery after 5,000 years: Scientists uncover new evidence about how the stones were transported there

'If you think about this, it supports the idea of an advanced connected society in the Neolithic.'

The Stonehenge monument standing today was the final stage of a four part building project that ended 3,500 years ago

Stonehenge is one of the most prominent prehistoric monuments in Britain. The Stonehenge that can be seen today is the final stage that was completed about 3,500 years ago. 

According to the monument's website, Stonehenge was built in four stages:   

First stage: The first version of Stonehenge was a large earthwork or Henge, comprising a ditch, bank and the Aubrey holes, all probably built around 3100 BC. 

The Aubrey  holes are round pits in the chalk, about one metre (3.3 feet) wide and deep, with steep sides and flat bottoms. 

Stonehenge (pictured) is one of the most prominent prehistoric monuments in Britain

They form a circle about 86.6 metres (284 feet) in diameter. 

Excavations revealed cremated human bones in some of the chalk filling, but the holes themselves were likely not made to be used as graves, but as part of a religious ceremony.

After this first stage, Stonehenge was abandoned and left untouched for more than 1,000 years. 

Second stage: The second and most dramatic stage of Stonehenge started around 2150 years BC, when about 82 bluestones from the Preseli mountains in south-west Wales were transported to the site. It's thought that the stones, some of which weigh four tonnes each, were dragged on rollers and sledges to the waters at Milford Haven, where they were loaded onto rafts.

They were carried on water along the south coast of Wales and up the rivers Avon and Frome, before being dragged overland again near Warminster and Wiltshire.

The final stage of the journey was mainly by water, down the river Wylye to Salisbury, then the Salisbury Avon to west Amesbury. 

The journey spanned nearly 240 miles, and once at the site, the stones were set up in the centre to form an incomplete double circle. 

During the same period, the original entrance was widened and a pair of Heel Stones were erected. The nearer part of the Avenue, connecting Stonehenge with the River Avon, was built aligned with the midsummer sunrise. 

Third stage: The third stage of Stonehenge, which took place about 2000 years BC, saw the arrival of the sarsen stones (a type of sandstone), which were larger than the bluestones.

They were likely brought from the Marlborough Downs (40 kilometres, or 25 miles, north of Stonehenge). 

The largest of the sarsen stones transported to Stonehenge weighs 50 tonnes, and transportation by water would not have been possible, so it's suspected that they were transported using sledges and ropes. 

Calculations have shown that it would have taken 500 men using leather ropes to pull one stone, with an extra 100 men needed to lay the rollers in front of the sledge.

These stones were arranged in an outer circle with a continuous run of lintels - horizontal supports. 

Inside the circle, five trilithons - structures consisting of two upright stones and a third across the top as a lintel - were placed in a horseshoe arrangement, which can still be seen today. 

Final stage: The fourth and final stage took place just after 1500 years BC, when the smaller bluestones were rearranged in the horseshoe and circle that can be seen today.

The original number of stones in the bluestone circle was probably around 60, but these have since been removed or broken up. Some remain as stumps below ground level. 

Source: Stonehenge.co.uk 

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

22-01-2026 om 17:27 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious Giants Could Be a Whole New Kind of Life That No Longer Exists

By Mike McRae

Prototaxites doesn't compare with any other life form we know of. 

(Loron et al., Science, 2025)

Ever since their discovery more than 165 years ago, massive fossilized structures left by an organism known as Prototaxites have proven impossible to categorize.

Researchers in the UK have suggested in a recently published study that there's a very good reason these oddities don't fit neatly on the tree of life – they belong to a branch all of their own, with no modern equivalent.

Some 400 million years ago, the swamps of the late Silurian period would have sprouted a mix of horsetails, ferns, and other prototype plants that look positively alien today.

Related: 

• Stunning Grand Canyon Fossils Reveal Evolution's Weird Experiments

Among them stretched 8-meter (26-foot) tall towers that defy easy identification. Wide and branchless, these organisms may have been a form of algae or ancient conifer, researchers suspect, based on what little evidence remains.

Fossils found on the shores of Gaspé Bay in Quebec, Canada, were initially considered by geologist John William Dawson to be the remains of rotting trees, leading to his naming it 'first conifer' back in the 1850s.

Though the name stuck, confusion over the fossil's classification continued until National Museum of Natural History paleontologist Francis Hueber confirmed in 2001 that Prototaxites was indeed most likely an enormous fungus.

That conclusion was backed up years later in 2017 by a subsequent analysis of a fossil fragment assumed to be from the peripheral region of a smaller Prototaxites species named P. taiti.

The 2017 study claimed to identify textures that resembled the fertile structures of today's Ascomycota fungi.

Not everybody is convinced, however, given the possibility that the distinct fragments might not have even been connected.

Related: 

• Newly Discovered Organism Could Represent a Whole New Branch in The Tree of Life

"In the books and books of anatomy written about living fungi, we never find structures like that," University of Edinburgh paleobotanist Alexander Hetherington told Erik Stokstad at Science Magazine.

Hetherington co-led a study on three different P. taiti fragments, concluding there's insufficient evidence to conclude Prototaxites is a fungus at all.

Through a review of microscopic anatomy and chemical analysis of its tubular structures, the team of researchers systematically eliminated each and every candidate group, leaving no modern organism with which it might share some kind of ancestral relationship.

Fungi? Rejected thanks to the unique way its anatomy connects.

A plant or algae? Not likely given its chemical composition.

A mix of the two, such as a lichen? Not with that anatomy.

Some bizarre animal? Cell walls say no chance.

"Based on this investigation we are unable to assign Prototaxites to any extant lineage, reinforcing its uniqueness," the researchers claim.

"We conclude that the morphology and molecular fingerprint of P. taiti is clearly distinct from that of the fungi and other organisms preserved alongside it in the [Devonian deposit], and we suggest that it is best considered a member of a previously undescribed, entirely extinct group of eukaryotes."

Related: 

• Complex Life May Be a Billion Years Older Than We Thought

What might have happened to this long-dead group of organisms is anybody's guess. Further reviews may even return the mystifying group back to its box among ancient fungi.

Without similar specimens to relate them to, Prototaxites may simply remain a fossil anomaly – a reminder that evolution is a constant experiment, one littered with far more failures than we may ever have realized.

• This research was published in Science.
• An earlier version of this article was published in March 2025 before the research was peer-reviewed.

RELATED VIDEOS

When Giant Fungi Ruled Earth: Devonian Prototaxites | Documentary for Sleep

Prototaxites: The Fossil That Still Baffles Scientists

Ancient Life Forms That Don’t Belong Anywhere on the Tree of Life

{ https://www.sciencealert.com/ }

22-01-2026 om 17:00 geschreven door peter  

Scientists have discovered an entirely new form of LIFE – and it stood at 26ft tall

• READ MORE: Bizarre creature with elongated head caught on doorbell camera

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

Scientists have discovered a new form of life, which once stood at a whopping 26ft (eight metres) tall.

Called 'prototaxites', this lifeform lived on Earth around 410 million years ago, before becoming extinct 360 million years ago. 

Until now, it was thought to be a form of fungus. 

However, a new fossil analysis by scientists from National Museums Scotland suggests that prototaxites were neither a fungus nor a plant.

Instead, experts say they belonged to an 'entirely extinct evolutionary branch of life'.

'It's really exciting to make a major step forward in the debate over prototaxites, which has been going on for around 165 years,' said Dr Sandy Hetherington, co–lead author of the study. 

'They are life, but not as we now know it, displaying anatomical and chemical characteristics distinct from fungal or plant life, and therefore belonging to an entirely extinct evolutionary branch of life.

'Even from a site as loaded with palaeontological significance as Rhynie, these are remarkable specimens and it's great to add them to the national collection in the wake of this exciting research.'

Scientists have discovered a new form of life, which once stood at a whopping 26ft (eight metres) tall (artist's impression)

A new fossil analysis by scientists from National Museums Scotland suggests that prototaxites was neither a fungus nor a plant

'It is one of the world's oldest, fossilised, terrestrial ecosystems and because of the quality of preservation and the diversity of its organisms, we can pioneer novel approaches such as machine learning on fossil molecular data.

'There is a lot of other material from the Rhynie chert already in museum collections for comparative studies, which can add important context to scientific results.'

In their new study, the researchers analysed both the chemistry and anatomy of the fossil to understand which group it fits into.

Their results back up the theory that prototaxites were an entirely different form of life, no longer found on Earth.

'As previous researchers have excluded prototaxites from other groups of large complex life, we concluded that prototaxites belonged to a separate and now entirely extinct lineage of complex life,' explained Laura Cooper, co–first author of the study. 

'Prototaxites, therefore, represents an independent experiment that life made in building large, complex organisms, which we can only know about through exceptionally preserved fossils.'

In their new study, the researchers analysed both the chemistry and anatomy of the fossil to understand which group it fits into. Their results back up the theory that prototaxites were an entirely different form of life, no longer found on Earth

The fossil was found in the Rhynie chert – a sedimentary deposit near Rhynie, Aberdeenshire

The fossil has now been added to the collections of National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh.

Dr Nick Fraser, keeper of natural sciences at National Museums Scotland, said: 'We're delighted to add these new specimens to our ever–growing natural science collections which document Scotland's extraordinary place in the story of our natural world over billions of years to the present day.

'This study shows the value of museum collections in cutting–edge research as specimens collected over time are, cared for and made available for study for direct comparison or through the use of new technologies.'

WHAT ARE THE OLDEST FUNGI EVER DISCOVERED?

For many years, fungi were grouped with, or mistaken for plants. 

Not until 1969 were they officially granted their own 'kingdom', alongside animals and plants, though their distinct characteristics had been recognised long before that.

Yeast, mildew and molds are all fungi, as are many forms of large, mushroom-looking organisms that grow in moist forest environments and absorb nutrients from dead or living organic matter. 

Unlike plants, fungi do not photosynthesise, and their cell walls are devoid of cellulose.

Geologists studying lava samples taken from a drill site in South Africa discovered fossilised gas bubbles, which contained what could be the first fossil traces (pictured) of the branch of life to which humans belong ever unearthed

Geologists studying lava samples taken from a drill site in South Africa discovered fossilised gas bubbles 800 metres (2,600 feet) underground.

In April 2017, they revealed that they are believed to contain the oldest fungi ever found.

Researchers were examining samples taken from drill-holes of rocks buried deep underground, when they found the 2.4 billion-year-old microscopic creatures. 

They are believed to be the oldest fungi ever found by around 1.2 billion years.

Earth itself is about 4.6 billion years old.

Earth itself is about 4.6 billion years old and the previous earliest examples of eukaryotes - the 'superkingdom' of life that includes plants, animals and fungi, but not bacteria - dates to 1.9 billion years ago. The fossils have slender filaments bundled together like brooms (pictured)

They could be the earliest evidence of eukaryotes - the 'superkingdom' of life that includes plants, animals and fungi, but not bacteria.

The previous earliest examples of eukaryotes - the 'superkingdom' of life that includes plants, animals and fungi, but not bacteria - dates to 1.9 billion years ago. That makes this sample 500 million years older.

It was believed that fungi first emerged on land, but the newly-found organisms lived and thrived under an ancient ocean seabed.

And the dating of the find suggests that not only did these fungus-like creatures live in a dark and cavernous world devoid of light, but they also lacked oxygen.

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

22-01-2026 om 16:36 geschreven door peter  

NASA has dropped a major hint at the medical emergency that triggered a historic evacuation of astronauts from the International Space Station.

During their first public appearance since returning to Earth, the astronauts revealed that a portable ultrasound machine was 'super handy' during the crisis.

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke, pilot for the ill–fated Crew–11 mission, said that the machine had been used when medical issues arose on January 7.

'Having a portable ultrasound machine helped us in this situation; we were able to take a look at things that we didn't have,' he explained.

While Mr Fincke did not elaborate on the medical emergency, the fact that an ultrasound was used suggests two likely reasons.

Firstly, ultrasound scans are often used to examine how astronauts' cardiac systems are functioning in low gravity. 

The other main use for ultrasound in space is to monitor astronauts' eye health. 

However, ultrasound can also be used as a general diagnostic tool in a vast number of medical cases – so it remains unclear what the medical emergency was, or how ultrasound proved useful. 

NASA astronaut Mike Fincke (pictured), pilot for the ill–fated Crew–11 mission, has shared a major hint as to why the space agency was forced to evacuate the ISS 

The members of Crew–11 were forced to return to Earth a month ahead of schedule due to an unspecified medical emergency. Left to Right: Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, and Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui

During the press conference, Mr Fincke explained that the crew had lots of experience using the ultrasound machine to track changes in the human body, so 'when we had this emergency, the ultrasound machine came in super handy'.

The Crew–11 pilot even went so far as to claim that all future spaceflights should be equipped with portable ultrasound machines. 

'Of course, we didn't have other big machines that we have here on planet Earth,' he said. 

'We do try to make sure that everybody before we fly are really, really not prone to surprises. But sometimes things happen and surprises happen, and the team was ready … preparation was super important.'

The Crew-11 astronautas splashed back to Earth last Thursday, following NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of spaceflight, and the first time that the ISS has ever been evacuated.

The medical issue was first reported on January 8, when a planned spacewalk was unexpectedly cancelled. 

Just days later, on January 10, NASA had set the timeline to bring the crew home a month ahead of schedule.   

That crew included NASA astronauts Zena Cardman, Mike Fincke, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov. 

The ISS is equipped with a modified off–the–shelf ultrasound machine called Ultrasound 2 that is primarily used for cardiac and ocular scans. Pictured: NASA astronaut Mike Fossum uses the Ultrasound 2 to scan the heart of crewmate Satoshi Furukawa

Health issues that can arise on the ISS

• Blood clots
• Bone and muscle atrophy
• Loss of vision 
• Radiation damage
• Circadian rhythm disruption
• Accelerated ageing 
• General health decline 

Prior to their departure, NASA's chief health and medical officer, Dr James Polk, said that the astronaut was 'absolutely stable' and that this was not an 'emergent evacuation'.

Dr Polk added: 'We're not immediately disembarking and getting the astronaut down, but it leaves that lingering risk and lingering question as to what that diagnosis is, and that means there is some lingering risk for that astronaut onboard.'

NASA has remained extremely reticent to discuss any of the details of the medical emergency or which member of the crew it might have affected.

However, this latest update from Mr Fincke is the first clue as to what might have happened.

Ultrasound imaging sends a beam of soundwaves into the body and records how they bounce back to a receiver.

As the sound moves at different speeds through different types of tissue, you can 'see' inside the body without using any invasive methods. 

Since 2011, the ISS has carried a modified off–the–shelf ultrasound machine called Ultrasound 2 that is used in both biomedical research and routine health checkups.

On Earth, sound has a huge array of uses, ranging from diagnosing gallbladder diseases and kidney stones to checking the health and gender of unborn babies.

One of the main uses for the ultrasound scanner is to monitor the cardiac and vascular health of astronauts, who are more at risk of conditions like blood clots, hardening arteries, and changes in blood pressure.

Pictured: NASA astronaut Kevin Ford (right) trains with the Ultrasound 2 on Earth

However, on the ISS, Ultrasound 2 is generally used for two main medical issues - cardiac and ocular problems. 

In a constant state of free–fall induced microgravity, blood tends to drift up from the astronauts' feet and collect around their head and chest.

This creates a significantly increased risk of developing blood clots that can be life–threatening if they migrate into the heart or lungs.

In 2020, a NASA astronaut developed a large clot in their internal jugular vein during spaceflight and was forced to stretch the station's dwindling supply of blood thinners to last more than 40 days until supplies could be sent. 

The other main use for ultrasound in space is to monitor astronauts' eye health.

As fluids build up in the head, they can cause swelling that triggers a collection of changes in the eye and brain called 'spaceflight–associated neuro–ocular syndrome'.

Increased pressure around the optic nerve causes swelling in the connection between the eye and the brain, and flattening of the back of the eye.

This can lead to blurred vision and long–term damage to an astronaut's vision. 

NASA also uses the ultrasound scanner for monthly ocular health checks to ensure astronauts' vision is not being damaged by the buildup of fluids in the head. Pictured: NASA astronaut Leroy Chiao performs an ultrasound examination of the eye on cosmonaut Salizhan Sharipov

Once a month, astronauts on the ISS are required to use Ultrasound 2 to perform ocular scans to keep track of this condition.

Read More

• Once bitten, twice shy? NASA astronaut who spent 9 months stuck in space dramatically RETIRES 

NASA's Zena Cardman, who commanded the crew's early return flight with SpaceX, said that the space station is set up as well as it can be for medical emergencies.

She added that NASA 'made all the right decisions' in cancelling the spacewalk, which would have been her first, and prioritising the crew's well–being. 

Likewise, Japan's Kimiya Yui said he was surprised how well all the preflight training paid off in dealing with the health concerns.

Mr Yui said: 'We can handle any kind of difficult situation. This is actually very, very good experience for the future of human spaceflight.'

The Daily Mail has contacted NASA for comment.  

EXPLAINED: THE $100 BILLION INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SITS 250 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH

The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000. 

Crews have come mainly from the US and Russia, but the Japanese space agency JAXA and European space agency ESA have also sent astronauts. 

The International Space Station has been continuously occupied for more than 20 years and has been expended with multiple new modules added and upgrades to systems 

Research conducted aboard the ISS often requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit, such as low-gravity or oxygen.

ISS studies have investigated human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology.

The US space agency, NASA, spends about $3 billion (£2.4 billion) a year on the space station program, with the remaining funding coming from international partners, including Europe, Russia and Japan.

So far 244 individuals from 19 countries have visited the station, and among them eight private citizens who spent up to $50 million for their visit.

There is an ongoing debate about the future of the station beyond 2025, when it is thought some of the original structure will reach 'end of life'.

Russia, a major partner in the station, plans to launch its own orbital platform around then, with Axiom Space, a private firm, planning to send its own modules for purely commercial use to the station at the same time. 

NASA, ESA, JAXA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are working together to build a space station in orbit around the moon, and Russia and China are working on a similar project, that would also include a base on the surface. 

LIVE: NASA's ISS change of command ceremony goes ahead early for medical evacuation

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

22-01-2026 om 15:38 geschreven door peter  

Slachtoffers van 'UFO-ontvoering' zijn echt ziek

GERELATEERDE VIDEOS'S - SCHETSEN DIE GEEN ANDER BEELD?

{ https://www.nu.nl/ }

22-01-2026 om 15:16 geschreven door peter  

An investigative journalist has claimed Australia is a 'hotbed' of UFOs after bizarre, unidentified objects were spotted hovering over military bases.

Former 60 Minutes Australia star Ross Coulthart told businessman and podcast host Mark Bouris that UFO sightings date back decades in Australia.

'I'm currently in touch with people from the RAAF Base Tindal in northern Australia, who tell me that there's been a spate of sightings of anomalous craft,' he said.

'These people are telling me that they're seeing UFOs. They're seeing anomalous objects. Nobody's been able to explain to them what they are.

'Everybody's in a complete flummox about it, but I suspect it's because the Americans have actually got nuclear weapons on Australian soil.'

Coulthart said sources inside Australia's military and intelligence community 'admit there are regularly breaches of the airspace over sensitive military facilities'.

'Recently, there was one over Richmond in Sydney. There was an object... I won't call it a drone, that sat there and hovered for over an hour and a half,' he said.

'It was recorded. It was reported to the relevant authorities, but they couldn't do anything to bring it down.

Investigative journalist Ross Coulthart (pictured) has claimed sources from an air force base in northern Australia have spotted anomalous aircraft

It comes just weeks after a group of workers have reported seeing an unidentified object in the sky near Fortescue Metals Group's Solomon mine site in Western Australia's Pilbara region

'We've allowed ourselves to become Fortress Australia for America, and we've got, I suspect, nuclear weapons on northern soil in Australia. Nobody's talking about this.

'A lot of these UFO sightings seem to cluster around nuclear and strategic assets, and that's not a coincidence.'

Coulthart said there was a history of UFO sightings in Australia that goes back decades, citing witness and former head of the Defence Department's Joint Intelligence Organisation Nuclear Branch Harry Turner. 

Mr Turner saw intelligently controlled craft hovering over secretive British nuclear weapon tests in the South Australian desert at Maralinga during the 1950s and 1960s, according to the National Archives of Australia.

'As a senior scientist in the Defence Department, Turner actually pushed for Australia to set up its own UFO Flying Squad investigative team,' Coulthart said.

'He wanted a plane on standby so that we could scramble and go and investigate UFO incidents.

'There's a wonderful one where they had an outdoor cinema, and everybody at the outdoor cinema looked up and saw a craft - a structured, metallic craft - hovering overhead, with windows, silently cruising with no visible means of propulsion.

'These are reports that sit in our National Archives.'

A mystery object baffled residents in Alexander Heights, north of Perth, in 2019

Coulthart told businessman Mark Bouris (pictured) that Australia is a 'hotbed' for UFOs

The Department of Defence Defence does not have a protocol for reporting or recording of UAP or Unidentified Flying Objects (UFO).

The comments come weeks after a group of miners shared disturbing photos of a 'UFO' in the remote region of Western Australia during an early-morning drive.

The six workers were stunned when they saw the airborne object near Fortescue Metals Group's Solomon mine site in the Pilbara region at about 5am on December 7.

The group spotted the 'UFO' while driving from their laboratory worksite to catch a bus back to camp in the Hamersley Ranges.

Last year, a bizarre object was found on fire in remote WA with no visible signs to indicate how it got there.

Police coordinated a multi-agency response after the item was found in October close to a mining site near the small town of Newman.

The large black object was similar to other known space re-entry debris, WA Police said in a statement.

A month earlier, there were reports of strange lights in the sky near Point Moore in Geraldton, 420km north of Perth.

Perth Observatory received several reports of lights across a widespread area, which a spokesperson described as 'very confusing'.

At the time, the Department of Defence said there were no military training activities in the area on the night of the sightings.

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

21-01-2026 om 22:08 geschreven door peter  

By: Katherine Neer & Nicole Antonio 

Key Takeaways

• The Chupacabra, a blood-sucking vampire beast, is a legendary creature that has sparked fear and curiosity in Latin America and the southwestern United States.
• Reports of livestock killings with telltale puncture wounds on their necks have fueled the Chupacabra myth, with sightings dating back to the 1950s and ongoing reports in South America.
• Expert findings attribute alleged Chupacabra sightings to animals with skin diseases like mange.

What lurks in the shadows, bearing red eyes and a thirst for blood? The name "Chupacabra," or "goat sucker" in English, may sound whimsical, but for many in Latin America and the southwestern United States, it's a word that evokes fear, curiosity and disbelief.

With the bloodsucking monster's mysterious origins, conflicting descriptions and the chilling consistency of its telltale attacks, the Chupacabra has transcended urban legends like that of La Llorona to become a symbol of the unknown. But is it merely a figment of the imagination, or is there something more tangible lurking behind the myth?

Contents

1. Why Is the Chupacabra Called 'Goat Sucker'?
2. Alleged Evidence of Chupacabra Attacks
3. The Location of the Alleged Beast
4. Characteristics and Origins of the Urban Legend
5. The Unfortunate Reality of Skin Disease
6. Expert Findings
7. Fact or Fiction?

1. Why Is the Chupacabra Called 'Goat Sucker'?

The name "Chupacabra" comes from two Spanish words: "chupar," which means "to suck," and "cabra," meaning "goat." So, "Chupacabra" can be literally translated as "goat sucker."

Many reports of attacks and incidents perpetrated by the Chupacabra legend involve livestock killings, including goats and slain domestic animals or wild prey with telltale puncture wounds on their necks, indicating a blood-sucking vampire beast roaming the night. This is how the famed cryptid got its namesake.

2. Alleged Evidence of Chupacabra Attacks

• Historical Chupacabra Sightings

Originally, owners of the victims thought the Chupacabra to be a half-human, half-vampire beast. Stories around the original Chupacabra began in newspapers dating back to the 1950s.

In fact, the first reported case in North America was in Arizona sometime around 1956, which means this heavy creature has been on the radar of cryptozoologists (scientists who study animals that may or may not be real) in North and South America for nearly 70 years.

This menacing entity was first introduced to the realm of mythical creatures in 1975, following the brutal killings of numerous farm animals in the small town of Moca Puerto Rico. It gained notorious prominence in the 1990s as the attacks escalated in both occurrence and magnitude and was called "el vampiro de Moca" or the 'the vampire of Moca' in english.

Many trace the tale back to a Puerto Rican woman named Madelyne Tolentino, whose description of the creature seen outside of her window in San Juan in 1995 became the basis for most other accounts of the cryptid. Some accounts detail incidents where hundreds of animals were massacred at once—including goats, chickens, ducks, and dogs—indicating the Chupacabras' voracious appetite for diverse prey.

Initial encounters with this three-foot-tall creature, characterized by its sharp teeth and fiery eyes, originated in Puerto Rico but soon proliferated to Central America and the Southern United States. It has been predominantly sighted in South America, with ongoing reports, especially in Chile, maintaining its presence in contemporary folklore.

• Recently Claimed Sightings

• 2023 - A cryptic entity has been reportedly observed in Bolivia, coinciding with instances of livestock found lifeless, seemingly drained of blood, leading to heightened concerns of a legendary demon wreaking havoc in the vicinity. The eerie drone footage, captured near Oru city, reveals a shadowy figure, wandering through a field. This enigmatic appearance aligns with the demise of multiple cows, llamas, and alpacas in the region, their unique neck injuries prompting local speculation of an attack by a Chupacabra.
• 2022 - A perplexing "object" was recorded by security cameras at the Amarillo Zoo in Texas, prompting the city to seek public assistance in identifying it. The unusual image was captured around 1:25 a.m. on May 21, within the zoo's perimeter fence. The city is left wondering whether the entity was a nocturnal individual donning an odd hat, a large coyote standing on its hind legs, or possibly a Chupacabra, leaving the identification of this mysterious figure an open question for the residents of Amarillo to resolve.
• 2019 - An individual observed a peculiar entity roaming around the west side corridor of Houston. The creature, captured on film, remains unidentified definitively, but some speculate that it bears resemblance to the legendary, though mythical, Chupacabra.
• 2014 - In 2014, a family from Ratcliffe, Texas, reported that they had trapped what they believed to be a Chupacabra in a cage.

3. The Location of the Alleged Beast

Although incidents have been reported in Arizona, Oregon, Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, Florida, and parts of Chile, Brazil and Mexico, the majority of activity has occurred in Puerto Rico. A rash of alleged attacks plagued various regions of Puerto Rico in 1995 — in Canovanas alone, several hundred livestock fatalities were attributed to the Chupacabra.

With reported sightings in various regions of Latin America and the United States, this is one well-traveled beast. The Chupacabra was at its height of notoriety in the 1990s, even surpassing such longtime favorites as Nessie (the Loch Ness monster) and Bigfoot.

4. Characteristics and Origins of the Urban Legend

Reported incidents of these sorts of monsters vary somewhat, but there are several basic characteristics that pop up over and over again. In most cases, the eyewitnesses describe a beast that is 4.5 to 5.5 feet (137 to 168 cm) tall, allegedly the size of a small bear. It was said to have an oval-shaped head bearing glowing eyes with an alien-like shape. Most descriptions claim that the creature has long, sharp spines that run from the back of its head down the spine, ending at the rump.

 

Many eyewitnesses report a strong, unpleasant, sulfur-type odor, but others say that the creature has no smell. Some say the skin is similar to a frog's — green in color with mottled specks; others claim that it has the appearance of furry lizard with scaly skin.

Although the bipedal creature generally ambles on two legs, it has been known to run on all four. Many assert kangaroo-like qualities, saying that the Chupacabra uses its strong hind legs to jump rather than walk. Others suggest a more ape-like quality to the creature's gait.

The origins of the Chupacabra are a subject of debate, as well. Some people believe that this creature is the left-behind pet of visitors from outer space — hence their uncanny resemblance to space aliens known as "grays." Both reportedly have large, oval heads with enormous eyes.

The alien theory doesn't end there, however. Others speculate an alien-animal crossbreed created by scientists at NASA, suggesting that the creatures are escaped experiments gone awry. One veterinarian in South America believes that the Chupacabra is a genetically modified vampire bat.

Whatever the case, it's interesting to witness people's reactions to phenomena like this. People are particularly interested in the Chupacabra for the same reason they are fascinated by humanoid extraterrestrials: We are drawn to the idea of human-like creatures, with human-like intelligence, because it means that we are not alone in the universe.

5. The Unfortunate Reality of Skin Disease

So far geneticists and wildlife biologists have identified all of the alleged Chupacabra carcasses as those of known animal species — mostly dogs with allergic reactions causing hair loss, and coyotes with severe cases of sarcoptic mange which gived their skin a grey scaly look and may make the remaining hair appear spikey like noted in prior sightings.

If you think you've found one, be careful as severe mange can be highly contagious. While mange is not as prevalent in humans, it has the potential to be transmitted to people and is referred to as scabies in humans. Though dead animals were reported to have been drained of blood when professionally autopsied, they were revealed to contain plenty of blood.

6. Expert Findings

If there ever was an expert in Chupacabras it would likely be Benjamin Radford who spent five years tracking down the beast and wrote a book about it called: "Tracking the Chupacabra (unmpress.com)" back in 2011. After his investigation he determined that the monster sightings were influenced by the 1995 movie "Species," and that these accounts were further fueled by unreliable eyewitness testimonies, a deficiency in forensic understanding, and collective hysteria for lost livestock.

In 2010, Barry O'Connor, a biologist from the University of Michigan, deduced that Chupacabra reports in the U.S. were likely coyotes afflicted with the Sarcoptes scabiei parasite. The symptoms of this infection—sparse fur, thickened skin, and a distinct odor—align with typical Chupacabra descriptions. O'Connor suggested that these weakened animals might attack livestock, like goats, as it's easier than pursuing wild prey like rabbits or deer. Both dogs and coyotes can sometimes kill without eating their prey, due to inexperience, injury, or challenges during the hunt. The prey might endure the initial attack but later succumb to internal injuries or shock. The characteristic two puncture marks on the prey's neck align with the canine teeth of predators, a common method used by many carnivores to seize their prey.

7. Fact or Fiction?

So according to the few experts on Chupacabras, they do not exist however it is important to note that some creatures, once deemed to be cryptids, proved to be real new species. Indiana University Bloomington for example, found a minimum of seven species, once categorized as cryptids, have since been confirmed real. These include the now-familiar Komodo dragon, giant squid, and kangaroo.

Whether the Chupacabra is a real animal or only a product of hoaxes and imagination, its effect on human beings is the same. If somebody does finally prove the existence of Chupacabras, the legend surrounding them will die out, replaced by scientific analysis. But if the creatures remain a mystery, there will always be believers.

{ https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos }

21-01-2026 om 21:51 geschreven door peter  

By: Robert Lamb & Desiree Bowie 

You glimpse a light in the night sky. It's not a star or an airplane — but something radically different. It moves with baffling speed, pulsates with radiance beyond anything you've witnessed. Three letters immediately enter your mind: U-F-O. And you likely have Hollywood to thank for this line of thinking.

These mysterious objects have played a prominent role in pop culture, captivating imaginations and fueling speculation. From classic films like "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" to TV shows like "The X-Files," UFOs have become symbols of mystery and the unknown and mainstays in literature, music and art.

We know what Hollywood has to say about these mystery objects, but what are UFOs actually doing up in the sky in real life? And is there a massive government cover-up surrounding their existence? In this article, we'll take a closer look at these airborne objects, their potential link to extraterrestrial life and popular conspiracies about them.

Contents

1. What Is a UFO?
2. The Scientific Stance on Unidentified Flying Objects
3. Fire in the Sky
4. Evaluating UFO Reports and Alien Abductions
5. Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: A New Term Emerges
6. UAPs and the Government

Most Unbelievable UFO Encounters Ever | The Proof Is Out There | History

1. What Is a UFO?

Technically, an unidentified flying object (UFO) can be anything when you get right down to it, but the term has become synonymous with spacecraft of extraterrestrial origin.

Alleged sightings became a popular topic of conversation in the mid-20th century and continue to this day. Exact descriptions of alien spacecraft vary with each telling, but witnesses and UFO enthusiasts often describe a lighted object capable of hovering silently and zigzagging in midair.

The technology for such a craft and the ability for a living passenger to survive its g-forces are well beyond humanity's modern technology. Additionally, given the massive distance between habitable star systems, such craft would have to travel at impossible speeds or with patience that staggers the imagination.

Alien Science: UFOs and UAPs Examined

2. The Scientific Stance on Unidentified Flying Objects

For decades, scientists didn't have much to say about these unidentified objects. From a scientific standpoint, there was never enough sufficient evidence in UFO records to make a case for alien visitation. Most UFO sightings depend on fallible human accounts, imperfect footage and conspiracy theory.

All of this tends to crumble under the scrutiny of the scientific method, humanity's best sieve for separating reality from fantasy.

In recent years, the field has begun to approach UFOs with a stance of curiosity and skepticism. NASA, guided by administrator Bill Nelson, now aims to play a more prominent role in this research, emphasizing the importance of scientific methodology and instruments to gather data.

This shift signifies a desire to move beyond sensationalism and tabloid speculation, toward a more rigorous scientific approach.

3. Fire in the Sky

The sky has always teemed with sights to stir the imagination: atmospheric anomalies, wildlife, optical illusions, aurora borealis, shooting stars and distant supernovae, just to name a few. Even in our scientifically informed age, countless phenomena escape our understanding.

As Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung pointed out, these sights have no intrinsic meaning, but even the earliest humans jumped at the chance to project their hopes, dreams and nightmares into the vastness of the sprawling void. They personified the sun and moon as deities and poured their belief systems into the wheeling movements of the stars. And when they glimpsed strange lights, they read them as omens.

Just as the emotional resonance of a UFO sighting falls to the observer, so too does the explanation. Humans have always experienced brushes with the unknown, and they've always fished for explanations in the waters of their cultural worldview. In the absence of science, they turned to their religious beliefs, folktales and myth.

• Religious Interpretations

Consider the UFO encounter that took place in Fatima, Portugal, in 1917. In what has subsequently been explained as everything from stratospheric dust to mass hallucination, thousands of witnesses in the predominantly Catholic town claimed to see an aerial event brought on by the Virgin Mary.

During this event, known as "the Miracle of the Sun," witnesses say the sun appeared to dance, change colors and spin.

Before the advent of Christianity, the same event would have likely been viewed through the lens of a pagan belief system. How do you think such an event would be interpreted in the entirely different world we know today?

By framing a bizarre occurrence within the context of a belief system or worldview, an individual attributes both a "what" and a "why" to the phenomenon. Such a view also helps sanction the experience and allow the individual to feel like they are both special for having experienced it and normal for sharing such experiences with others. Perform an online search for "UFO support group," and see for yourself.

4. Evaluating UFO Reports and Alien Abductions

Accounts of alien abduction often factor into UFO sightings, and this is also an area where one's worldview, belief system and culture play a vital role in framing an extraordinary experience.

Fortunately, alien abduction accounts generally provide more room for serious evaluation, typically by medical doctors or psychiatrists.

Doctors believe that sleep paralysis and waking, hypnopompic hallucinations factor into many abduction experiences. This is a kind of temporary paralysis accompanied by visual and auditory hallucinations, which are often charged by the person's sexual fantasies, belief system and pop culture.

Imagine waking in your bed, unable to move and experiencing sexual hallucinations colored by your subconscious. The exact nature of the hallucinations would likely depend, like dreams, on the nature of your belief system and cultural literacy. You might experience the visitation of an angel or ghost. Likewise, you just might experience a transcendent walk through an alien spacecraft or endure uncomfortable probing at the hands of extraterrestrials.

Consider the case of science writer and Skeptic magazine editor Michael Shermer, who himself experienced an alien abduction. Or rather, he collapsed from sleep deprivation and exhaustion following an 83-hour bike ride in a transcontinental race.

As Shermer's support team rushed over to him, the bicyclist saw them through the filter of a waking dream and perceived them as aliens from a 1960s TV series [source: Shermer].

• Other Potential Causes

Researchers may attribute abduction experiences to a host of additional causes, including schizophrenia, organic brain syndrome, bipolar disorder, delayed post-traumatic stress disorder or even food allergies.

Neuroscientist Michael Persinger points the finger to the brain's temporal lobe. Persinger believes that temporal lobe anomalies, when combined with certain cultural expectations (such as beliefs in aliens or angels) can mislabel imagined experiences as actual experiences.

Even without the aid of neurological misfiring, human memory is a complex and fallible thing. Every day, we experience something new and turn that experience into an imperfect narrative. We can convince ourselves of nearly anything — especially when it fulfills a need.

So why do humans need visiting alien spacecraft and alien encounters? Perhaps Jung put it best in a 1958 interview: "In our world, miracles do not happen anymore, and we feel that something simply must happen which will provide an answer or show the way out. So now these UFOs are appearing in the sky."

In the late 1990s, psychologists Roy F. Baumesiter and Leonard S. Newman furthered this viewpoint by arguing that abduction encounters are essentially subconscious attempts to rid oneself of self-awareness through masochistic fantasy. In lieu of mystic conviction, our minds staff these fantasies with aliens.

In addition, our cultural frame of reference continually changes. Some observers have even equated the recent decline in UFO sightings to the rise of the internet. Cultural critic Ziauddin Sardar suggests that instead of projecting our hopes and fears into space, we project them into cyberspace.

So what are UFOs really? You might not find the answer amid the stars after all, but rather in the labyrinthine chambers of the human mind.

5. Unidentified Aerial Phenomena: A New Term Emerges

Breaking news: The term "UFO" is on its way out. Well, for the U.S. government, that is.

The feds began making the shift from "unidentified flying object" to "unidentified anomalous phenomena" (UAP) in 2020 when the UAP Task Force was established to encourage pilots to report sightings without fear of stigma or career repercussions. The scientific community is actively seeking better data on UAPs to gain a deeper understanding.

NASA also gathered a panel of 16 experts to assess how data on UAPs is collected across government and private sectors. Their final report, released in September 2023, found no evidence of extraterrestrial origins for UAPs but acknowledged that a small subset of encounters defies explanation.

Government officials discuss UAPs, alien life in new documentary

6. UAPs and the Government

During a 2023 congressional hearing on UAPs, three military veterans testified about their experiences and concerns. One former Air Force intelligence officer alleged the existence of a secret government program for decades, involving the reverse engineering of recovered UFOs and the retrieval of non-human biological materials from alleged crash sites.

However, much of the discussion during the hearing focused on improving the reporting process for UAPs. The veterans called for destigmatizing UAP reporting and ensuring government program oversight. The Defense Department stated that it had not found any verifiable information supporting claims of extraterrestrial material possession or reverse engineering.

Retired Maj. David Grusch, a whistleblower who had been part of the Pentagon's UAP Task Force, claimed to know the exact locations of UAPs in U.S. possession but couldn't provide further details publicly. He stated his information came from reliable sources and shared evidence kept secret from Congress.

The hearing also featured testimony from former Navy fighter pilot Ryan Graves, who described encountering unusual aircraft off the coast of Virginia Beach, and retired Cmdr. David Fravor, who witnessed a mysterious "Tic Tac"-shaped flying object in 2004. Both emphasized the need for transparency and acknowledged the superior technology of the encountered objects.

The hearing aimed to pressure intelligence agencies for greater transparency on UAPs, citing potential national security threats. Lawmakers, witnesses and advocates called for a centralized reporting system to encourage reporting and eliminate stigma, emphasizing the importance of understanding these phenomena for both safety and scientific reasons.

• This article was updated in conjunction with AI technology, then fact-checked and edited by a HowStuffWorks editor.

Lots More Information

Related HowStuffWorks Articles

• How Aliens Work
• How Dreams Work
• How Ghosts Work
• How UFOs Work
• Is the brain hardwired for religion?
• Top 5 Unsolved Brain Mysteries
• What makes graveyards scary?

More Great Links

• The Skeptic Society and Skeptic Magazine
• The James Randi Educational Foundation

Sources

• Blackmore, Susan. "Alien abduction." New Scientist. Nov. 19, 1994. (Nov. 8, 2010)http://www.susanblackmore.co.uk/journalism/ns94.html
• Kaku, Michio. "Prof Michio Kaku on the science behind UFOs and time travel." March 20, 2008. (Sept. 30, 2010)http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/3337049/Prof-Michio-Kaku-on-the-science-behind-UFOs-and-time-travel.html
• Patry, Alain L. and Luc G. Pelletier. "Extraterrestrial Beliefs and Experiences: An Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action." The Journal of Social Psychology. 2001.
• Radin, Dean. "The Enduring Enigma of the UFO." Shift: At the Frontiers of Consciousness. 2009.
• Rayl, A. J. S. "Anatomy of an abduction." Omni. February 1995.
• Sardar, Ziauddin. "Close encounters of the fourth kind." New Statesman. Sept 3, 2007.
• Shermer, Michael. "Abducted." Scientific American. February 2005.
• Shermer, Michael. "I want to believe." Scientific American. July 2009.
• Tucker, Elizabeth. "Extraordinary sky and Weather phenomena, Motif F790." Archetypes & Motifs in Folklore & Literature: A Handbook. 2005.

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{ https://science.howstuffworks.com/space/aliens-ufos }

21-01-2026 om 21:24 geschreven door peter  

By: William Harris & Patrick J. Kiger

When we were kids, we were amazed that Superman could travel "faster than a speeding bullet." We could even picture him, chasing down a projectile fired from a weapon, his right arm outstretched, his cape rippling behind him. If he traveled at half the bullet's speed, the rate at which the bullet moved away from him would halve. If he did indeed travel faster than the bullet, he would overtake it and lead the way. Go, Superman!

In other words, Superman's aerial antics obeyed Newton's views of space and time: that the positions and motions of objects in space should all be measurable relative to an absolute, nonmoving frame of reference [source: Rynasiewicz].

In the early 1900s, scientists held firm to the Newtonian view of the world. Then a German-born mathematician and physicist by the name of Albert Einstein came along and changed everything. In 1905, Einstein published his theory of special relativity, which put forth a startling idea: There is no preferred frame of reference. Everything, even time, is relative.

Two important principles underpinned his theory. The first stated that the same laws of physics apply equally in all constantly moving frames of reference. The second said that the speed of light — about 186,000 miles per second (300,000 kilometers per second) — is constant and independent of the observer's motion or the source of light. According to Einstein, if Superman were to chase a light beam at half the speed of light, the beam would continue to move away from him at exactly the same speed [source: Stein, AMNH.org].

These concepts seem deceptively simple, but they have some mind-bending implications. One of the biggest is represented by Einstein's famous equation, E = mc², where E is energy, m is mass and c is the speed of light.

According to this equation, mass and energy are the same physical entity and can be changed into each other. Because of this equivalence, the energy an object has due to its motion will increase its mass. In other words, the faster an object moves, the greater its mass. This only becomes noticeable when an object moves really quickly. If it moves at 10 percent the speed of light, for example, its mass will only be 0.5 percent more than normal. But if it moves at 90 percent the speed of light, its mass will double [source: LBL.gov].

As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass rises precipitously. If an object tries to travel 186,000 miles per second, its mass becomes infinite, and so does the energy required to move it. For this reason, no normal object can travel as fast or faster than the speed of light.

That answers our question, but let's have a little fun and modify the question slightly.£

What If We Could Travel Faster Than Light?

Almost As Fast As the Speed of Light?

We covered the original question, but what if we tweaked it to say, "What if you traveled almost as fast as the speed of light?" In that case, you would experience some interesting effects. One famous result is something physicists call time dilation, which describes how time runs more slowly for objects moving very rapidly. If you flew on a rocket traveling 90 percent of light-speed, the passage of time for you would be halved. Your watch would advance only 10 minutes, while more than 20 minutes would pass for an Earthbound observer [source: May]

You would also experience some strange visual consequences. One such consequence is called aberration, and it refers to how your entire field of view would shrink down to a tiny, tunnel-shaped "window" out in front of your spacecraft. This happens because photons (those exceedingly tiny packets of light) — even photons behind you — appear to come in from the forward direction.

In addition, you would notice an extreme Doppler effect, which would cause light waves from stars in front of you to crowd together, making the objects appear blue. Light waves from stars behind you would spread apart and appear red. The faster you go, the more extreme this phenomenon becomes until all visible light from stars in front of the spacecraft and stars to the rear become completely shifted out of the known visible spectrum (the colors humans can see). When these stars move out of your perceptible wavelength, they simply appear to fade to black or vanish against the background.

Of course, if you want to travel faster than a speeding photon, you'll need more than the same rocket technology we've been using for decades.

In a March 2021 paper published in the journal Classical and Quantum Gravity, astrophysicist Erik Lentz of the University of Göttingen in Germany proposed the idea of rearranging space-time to create a warp bubble, inside which a spacecraft might be able to travel at faster-than-light speeds.

What Is Hyperspace? Exploring the Science Behind FTL

Speed of Light FAQ

• Is there anything faster than the speed of light?

No, there isn’t. As an object approaches the speed of light, its mass rises steeply - so much so that the object’s mass becomes infinite and so does the energy required to make it move. Since such a case remains impossible, no known object can travel as fast or faster than the speed of light.

• How fast is the speed of light in miles?

The speed of light in a vacuum is 299,792 kilometers per second, which translates to 186,282 miles per second. Hypothetically, this means that if an object could travel at the speed of light, it could go around the Earth 7.5 times in one second.

• Why is "c" the speed of light?

In Einstein's equation, the speed of light in a vacuum is represented by a lowercase “c” for "constant" or from the Latin term “celeritas”, which means "speed" to the power of two (squared).

What is the speed of light on Earth?

The speed of light can slow depending on what it’s traveling through. Light bends when it comes in contact with any matter - even dust - causing a slight decrease in speed. That said, light traveling through Earth's atmosphere moves almost as fast as the speed of light in a vacuum.

Related Articles

• Data Sent via Infrared Light Could Make WiFi Hundreds of Times Faster
• How Light Propulsion Will Work
• How Light Works

SOURCES

• American Museum of Natural History. "A Matter of Time. " Amnh.org. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://www.amnh.org/exhibitions/einstein/time/a-matter-of-time
• Brandeker, Alexis. "What would a relativistic interstellar traveler see?" Usenet Physics FAQ. May 2002. (Feb. 16, 2022J) http://www.desy.de/user/projects/Physics/Relativity/SR/Spaceship/spaceship.html
• Carl Sagan's Cosmos. "Travels in Space and Time." YouTube. Video uploaded Nov. 27, 2006 (Feb. 16, 2022 ) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t8hUaaZVJg
• Hawking, Stephen. "The Illustrated Brief History of Time. " Bantam. 1996. (Feb. 16. 2022) https://bit.ly/367UGpZ
• EurekAlert! "Breaking the warp barrier for faster-than-light travel. " Eurekalert.org. March 9, 2021. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/642756
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. "Mass, Energy, the Speed of Light – It's Not Intuitive! " Lbl.gov. 1996. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://www2.lbl.gov/MicroWorlds/teachers/massenergy.pdf
• Lemonick, Michael D. "Will We Ever Travel at the Speed of Light?" Time. Apr. 10, 2000. (Feb. 16, 2022), 2011) http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,996616,00.html
• May, Andrew. "What is time dilation? " LiveScience. Nov. 17, 2021. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://www.livescience.com/what-is-time-dilation
• NOVA Physics + Math. "Carl Sagan Ponders Time Travel." NOVA. Oct. 12, 1999. (Feb. 16, 2022) http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/Sagan-Time-Travel.html
• Ptak, Andy. "The Speed of Light in a Rocket." NASA's Imagine the Universe: Ask An Astrophysicist. Jan. 2, 1997. (Feb. 16, 2022) http://imagine.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/ask_astro/answers/970102c.html
• Rynasiewicz, Robert, "Newton's Views on Space, Time, and Motion."Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Summer 2014. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://plato.stanford.edu/cgi-bin/encyclopedia/archinfo.cgi?entry=newton-stm
• Stein, Vicky. "Einstein's Theory of Special Relativity. " Space.com. Sept. 20, 2021. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://www.space.com/36273-theory-special-relativity.html
• Van Zyl, Miezam (project editor)."Universe: The Definitive Visual Guide." Dorling Kindersley Limited. 2020. (Feb. 16, 2022) https://bit.ly/33q5Mpm.

What if We Could Travel Faster than Light Speed?

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21-01-2026 om 20:53 geschreven door peter  

The internet has once again become a battleground for science fiction. At the beginning of the year, a rumor spread rapidly online: allegedly, on August 12, 2026, Earth will completely lose its gravity for seven seconds. This, they say, will lead to mass casualties. What’s more, NASA is already spending an astronomical $89 billion of taxpayer money on the mysterious Project Anchor to combat the consequences. The conspiracy theory became so widespread that people even stopped listening to scientists who claimed that it was impossible. Therefore, the space agency was forced to intervene to calm the audience.

Official denial

A NASA representative gave a comprehensive response to fact-checkers, calling this theory complete nonsense. “The Earth will not lose its gravity because it is directly related to the planet’s mass,” the spokesperson said.

For gravity to disappear, Earth would have to suddenly lose all its mass — from its core to its atmosphere. If this were to happen, problems would begin well before the hypothetical date, and they would be much more serious long before gravity was completely lost.

Where do such myths come from?

The rumor seems to have arisen from a combination of two facts: a real astronomical phenomenon — the total solar eclipse on August 12, 2026 — and a misunderstanding of physics. The Sun and Moon actually create tidal forces, but these have a minimal effect on the Earth’s surface and are entirely predictable. These forces cannot possibly “turn off” the planet’s global gravity.

What should you really pay attention to?

So, we won’t be experiencing seven seconds of weightlessness. But a total solar eclipse is a real and exciting event. NASA emphasizes that it is important to observe it as safely as possible. You can only look at the Sun without special protective glasses for a brief moment during the total phase, when the Moon completely covers the solar disk. As soon as even the smallest edge of the Sun appears, you must immediately use eye protection.

This story is a vivid example of how confusion over basic scientific concepts can give rise to large-scale hoaxes. Gravity is a fundamental and constant property of our planet, and the main cosmic show in August is not its disappearance, but an impressive eclipse that is well worth watching.

Earlier, we reported on the top five absurd space myths that people still believe in.

• According to ladbible.com

• Posted in News, Science

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

21-01-2026 om 20:36 geschreven door peter  

Astronaut Sunita Williams is now best known to the general public as one of the two crew members of the Starliner spacecraft who, due to its malfunction, were stuck on the ISS for almost a year. In fact, she has flown into space three times, but is now ending her career as a space traveler.

Circumstances of the astronaut’s resignation

Sunita Williams is retiring. The NASA astronaut has been in the news over the past couple of years mainly because she and Barry Wilmore were stranded on the International Space Station after significant technical problems were discovered on their Starliner spacecraft.

The space agency announced the news on Tuesday, saying her resignation took effect at the end of December. Williams’ partner on the failed Boeing capsule test flight, Barry Wilmore, left NASA last summer.

Williams and Wilmore flew to the space station in 2024, becoming the first people to travel on Boeing’s Starliner crew capsule. Their mission was supposed to last only a week, but it stretched out to more than nine months due to problems with Starliner. They finally returned home in March last year on a SpaceX spacecraft.

In the next few missions, Boeing’s Starliner will transport cargo to the ISS, not people. NASA wants to make sure that all of the capsule’s engine problems and other technical issues are resolved before putting anyone on board. A test launch is planned for later this year.

Sunita Williams’ achievements in space

In fact, Williams’ resignation cannot be called a failure. After all, she is already 60 years old, and even before her career at NASA, she managed to rise to the rank of captain in the US Navy as a combat helicopter pilot. She participated in several military missions.

This was followed by 27 years at NASA and three space flights totaling 608 days. At one point, Williams held the record for the longest time spent in space by a woman. She also made 10 spacewalks totaling 60 hours and 19 minutes.

Thus, Williams’ mission on Starliner was originally intended to be the culmination of her career. New NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman called her “a trailblazer in human spaceflight.” “Congratulations on your well-deserved retirement,” he added in a statement.

In fact, it is quite possible that Sunita Williams will fly into space again. Only not as a NASA astronaut, but as an employee of some private space company. At least, that’s what happened to her colleague Peggy Whitson.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in Launches, News

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

21-01-2026 om 17:54 geschreven door peter  

Once bitten, twice shy? NASA astronaut who famously spent 9 months stuck in space dramatically RETIRES less than a year after returning to solid ground

• READ MORE: NASA's astronauts stun the world with their healthier appearance 

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

Suni Williams, a NASA astronaut who famously spent nine months stuck in space, has dramatically retired, less than one year after returning to solid ground. 

Ms Williams and fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, returned to Earth on March 19 last year, aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule which splashed down off the coast of Florida.

The pair had left Earth in June 2024, planning to undertake an eight–day test flight of the new Boeing Starliner capsule to the International Space Station (ISS).

However, after the Starliner capsule developed numerous technical issues during the flight, the astronauts were forced to wait until the next crew rotation to return to Earth.

In total, the pair spent 286 days in space – 278 days more than they had initially planned.

Despite the traumatic experience, Ms Wiliams maintains that 'space is my absolute favourite place to be'. 

'It's been an incredible honor to have served in the Astronaut Office and have had the opportunity to fly in space three times,' she said.

'The International Space Station, the people, the engineering, and the science are truly awe–inspiring and have made the next steps of exploration to the Moon and Mars possible. I hope the foundation we set has made these bold steps a little easier.'

Suni Williams, a NASAastronaut who famously spent nine months stuck in space, has dramatically retired, less than one year after returning to solid ground

The unexpectedly long visit to space appeared to take its toll on the 60–year–old. As the days rolled by, health experts and NASA insiders began to raise concerns that Ms Williams was rapidly losing weight

In total, Ms Williams spent 27 years in service, completing three missions aboard the ISS. 

'Suni Williams has been a trailblazer in human spaceflight, shaping the future of exploration through her leadership aboard the space station and paving the way for commercial missions to low Earth orbit,' said NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.

'Her work advancing science and technology has laid the foundation for Artemis missions to the Moon and advancing toward Mars, and her extraordinary achievements will continue to inspire generations to dream big and push the boundaries of what's possible. 

'Congratulations on your well–deserved retirement, and thank you for your service to NASA and our nation.' 

Ms Williams' 286–day stint on the ISS saw her total days logged in space skyrocket to 608 – second on the list of cumulative time in space by a NASA astronaut.  

However, the unexpectedly long visit to space appeared to take its toll on the 60–year–old. 

As the days rolled by, health experts and NASA insiders began to raise concerns that Ms Williams was rapidly losing weight. 

Photos showed her looking gaunt upon returning to Earth, although Ms Williams maintained that she didn't actually lose any weight.

Ms Williams and fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, returned to Earth on March 19 last year, aboard a SpaceXCrew Dragon capsule which splashed down off the coast of Florida

'I think things shift around quite a bit, you probably heard of a fluid shift,' she said.

'Folks in space you know, their heads look a little bit bigger because the fluid evens out along the body.'

Her retirement comes just months after her fellow astronaut, Butch Wilmore, announced his own retirement.  

At the time of his announcement, several users on X speculated that the exended stint in space may have sparked the retirement.

'Smart move if you stranded me in space for 9 months I would not fly for you either,' one user tweeted.

Another added: 'Well hell can you blame him.

'They were stuck in space for damn near a year. I'd never take another mission after that.'

And one wrote: 'I bet he was no longer capable of passing physical from his extended sojourn.' 

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

21-01-2026 om 17:22 geschreven door peter  

As we delve into the mysterious events surrounding extraterrestrial encounters, we find ourselves confronted with unexplained phenomena that challenge our understanding of reality. These incidents, often documented across different locations and times, present compelling evidence that something beyond our comprehension may indeed be visiting Earth.

The testimonies of ordinary people who experienced these extraordinary events share striking similarities. From hovering objects witnessed by multiple observers to personal encounters resulting in physical effects, these accounts deserve serious consideration rather than dismissal as mere imagination or misidentification of common occurrences.

Key Takeaways

• Multiple credible witnesses have reported mysterious hovering objects that defy conventional explanation.

• Physical evidence, including unexplained effects on the human body, often accompanies close encounter reports.

• Patterns emerge across different encounters suggesting organized visitation rather than random phenomena.

RELATED 

• Unexplained UFO Encounters: Bizarre Human Interactions That Defy Explanation

The Fleetwood Elementary School Encounter

In late 1959, residents of Lethbridge, Alberta witnessed an unusual phenomenon in their community. An elliptical-shaped object appeared in the sky above Fleetwood Elementary School, returning for six consecutive nights. Both children and at least one adult observed this strange aerial visitor.

The object made another appearance on November 23, 1962, at approximately 10:30 PM. Local excitement grew quickly, prompting student Miles White, his mother, and Miles's friend Mike Williams to investigate. On November 30, 1962, their curiosity was rewarded when they spotted a shining object with a bluish light hovering briefly over the school's bell tower before vanishing.

The following evening, December 1st, Miles and his mother returned to the school grounds around 9:00 PM. This time, they observed the object hovering approximately 20 feet above the schoolyard. It appeared semi-transparent or ghost-like, earning the nickname "sky ghost" from the witnesses.

Feeling bold due to the object's proximity, they threw stones at it. What happened next defied explanation: instead of the stones falling normally, they seemed to disappear into the object. Moments later, the stones were heard landing on the roof of the one-story school annex behind them—in the opposite direction from where they had been thrown.

Later that night, Miles exhibited unusual symptoms. While attending a late movie with Mike, Miles's speech became slurred and incoherent. He complained of a "buzzing" sensation in his head and fell asleep during the film.

An investigator from APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization), W.K. Allen, interviewed the witnesses. They described how the stones seemed to be "swallowed up" by something, then expelled moments later behind them, contrary to their expected trajectories. The phenomenon resembled the stones passing through some kind of portal, entering at one point and exiting at another.

The witnesses initially hesitated to share their experience publicly, fearing ridicule. Local newspapers eventually published brief accounts of the incident, preserving this remarkable case that might otherwise have been lost to history.

RELATED 

• Unexplained Military Encounters: Bizarre Paranormal Cases That Challenge Reality

The Mysterious Hovering Object of 1962

In late 1962, a peculiar phenomenon captured the attention of residents in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. An elliptical object was spotted hovering over Fleetwood Elementary School for six consecutive nights in 1959, and then mysteriously reappeared in November 1962.

Miles White, accompanied by his mother and friend Mike Williams, decided to investigate these rumors on November 30, 1962. Their curiosity was rewarded when they witnessed a shining object with a bluish light briefly hovering over the school's bell tower before disappearing.

The following evening, December 1st, Miles and his mother returned to the school at approximately 9:00 PM. This time, they observed the object hovering merely 20 feet above the schoolyard. The object appeared almost transparent, earning it the nickname "sky ghost" from witnesses.

In a bold move, Miles and his mother threw stones at the hovering object. Instead of hitting the target or falling to the ground, something extraordinary occurred. The stones were heard falling on the roof of the one-story school annex building behind them—in the opposite direction from where they had been thrown. It was as if the stones had been teleported through some kind of portal.

After the encounter, Miles exhibited unusual symptoms. While attending a late movie with Mike that night, his speech became slurred and incoherent. He even fell asleep during the film, having earlier complained about a "buzzing" sensation in his head.

APRO investigator W.K. Allen later interviewed the witnesses, who were initially reluctant to discuss their experiences for fear of ridicule. They described how the stones seemed to be "swallowed up" by the object before being expelled behind them moments later.

Similar Unexplained Incidents:

Date Location Witness Observation May 3, 1967 Shukil Expressway, PA Ruth S. Smith Disc-shaped object, gunmetal gray with darker band May 2012 Columbia, MO "Bradley" Bright light, missing wisdom tooth after encounter August 7, 1967 Caracas, Venezuela Dr. Luis Sanchez-Vega Small humanoid visitor less than 4 feet tall

The Smith incident included a peculiar physical effect—she experienced a severe toothache that disappeared seconds after the object vanished into the clouds. The craft was moving at approximately 65-70 mph at an altitude of about 150 feet when it suddenly shot upward after emitting cherry-red sparks.

"The craft was like nothing I have ever seen in the air or on the ground. I shall never forget it," Smith reported afterward.

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The Unexplained Phenomena of Stones and Portals

Strange occurrences at Fleetwood Elementary School in Lethbridge, Alberta began in 1959 when an elliptical object hovered above the building for six consecutive nights. The phenomenon returned in November 1962, attracting local attention. Miles White, his mother, and friend Mike Williams decided to investigate on November 30th, witnessing a bluish shining object briefly hovering over the school's bell tower.

The next evening, Miles and his mother returned to find the object hovering approximately 20 feet above the schoolyard. They described it as almost transparent or ghost-like. When they threw stones at the object, something extraordinary happened - the stones didn't fall normally but instead were heard landing on the school annex roof behind them, in the opposite direction they were thrown.

This peculiar incident suggests some type of portal phenomenon where the stones were "swallowed" and then expelled elsewhere, essentially teleporting the objects. Following this encounter, Miles experienced unusual symptoms including slurred speech, difficulty making sense, and what he described as a "buzzing" in his head.

Another portal-like incident occurred near Philadelphia in May 1967. Ruth S. Smith was driving on the Shukil Expressway when she spotted a disc-shaped craft following a Greyhound moving van. The gunmetal gray object had these characteristics:

• 35-40 feet in diameter

• About 20 feet thick

• Revolving top section

• Row of window-like portholes

• Thin vapor stream from an exhaust pipe

• No visible wings or fins

When Smith slowed to observe it better, the vapor changed to cherry-red sparks as the craft shot straight upward into the clouds. At that precise moment, Smith experienced an intense toothache that disappeared seconds after the object vanished.

Tooth-related phenomena appear in multiple accounts. A man identified only as Bradley reported that beings he believed were non-human apparently removed his impacted wisdom tooth following his casual wish for relief. He described experiencing missing time during a bright light encounter, only realizing the next day that his problematic tooth was completely gone.

In Venezuela, Dr. Luis Sanchez-Vega encountered a visitor under four feet tall who appeared mysteriously in his office in August 1967. Speaking perfect Spanish, the entity requested a physical examination and warned the doctor not to be alarmed by its abnormally high body temperature, explaining it was "not from Earth." Dr. Vega was certain from the being's appearance that it was not human or someone with a deformity.

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Mrs. Ruth S. Smith's Encounter on the Schuylkill Expressway

On May 3, 1967, around 6:30 a.m., Ruth S. Smith experienced an unusual encounter while driving westbound on the Schuylkill Expressway. She was approximately six miles outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, following a Greyhound moving van at about 58-60 miles per hour.

Smith noticed a disc-shaped object hovering slightly above and ahead of her car. The weather had been rainy earlier but had cleared, leaving a heavy overcast sky. The object appeared to be following the moving van ahead of her.

The craft had several distinct features:

• Color: Gunmetal gray with a darker gray band around its middle

• Shape: Disc-shaped, approximately 35-40 feet in diameter and 20 feet thick

• Movement: Top section was revolving on a central axis

• Details: Row of unlighted "porthole" windows around the darker band

• Height: Approximately 150 feet in the air

• Speed: Pacing the moving van at 65-70 miles per hour

Smith observed no wings or fins on the craft, but noticed a thin stream of vapor coming from what resembled an exhaust pipe. The object had a solid, metallic appearance. As she dropped back to get a better view, something remarkable happened.

The vapor trail suddenly changed to cherry red sparks, and the object shot straight upward into the overcast sky, vanishing from sight. At that precise moment, Smith experienced what she described as "the worst toothache she has ever had in her life." Strangely, the pain disappeared completely just seconds after the object vanished.

When interviewed by an APRO investigator, Smith explained that the pain affected the entire upper right side of her jaw. Curiously, the most intense pain centered on a spot where she had no tooth. She later expressed her profound curiosity about the craft, stating, "The craft was like nothing I have ever seen in the air or on the ground. I shall never forget it. I must know where it came from, why it was here, who or what was operating it."

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Toothache and the Vanishing UFO

Strange UFO sightings often coincide with unusual physical effects on witnesses. In one notable case from 1967, Ruth S. Smith experienced a peculiar dental phenomenon during a close encounter. While driving on the Schuylkill Expressway outside Philadelphia on May 3rd at approximately 6:30 a.m., Smith observed a metallic disc-shaped object following a Greyhound moving van.

The object exhibited several distinctive features:

• Gunmetal gray color with a darker band around its middle

• Revolving top section

• Row of window-like openings around the central band

• Approximately 35-40 feet in diameter and 20 feet thick

• Positioned about 150 feet in the air

• Moving at 65-70 mph

• Emitting a thin vapor trail

When Smith slowed her vehicle to observe the craft better, the vapor suddenly changed to bright cherry-red sparks. The object shot straight upward into the overcast sky and vanished. At that precise moment, Smith developed what she described as "the worst toothache of her life" - affecting her entire upper right jaw but concentrated where she had no tooth. Remarkably, the severe pain disappeared completely within seconds after the UFO vanished.

Another dental-related UFO incident involved a man identified only as Bradley from Columbia, Missouri. In 2012, Bradley had been suffering from an impacted wisdom tooth when he jokingly expressed a wish that the strange beings he'd previously encountered might remove it. Days later, while sitting in his backyard around 4:00 a.m., he noticed the cloudy sky suddenly clear. A bright light appeared approximately 300 feet overhead, moving away into the remaining clouds while illuminating the entire field behind his home.

The next day, Bradley discovered his problematic wisdom tooth was mysteriously gone. He believed he might have experienced missing time during the moment when "everything got brighter." While such accounts might seem implausible, researcher Preston Dennett has documented hundreds of alleged extraterrestrial healing cases in his book "UFO Healings."

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Bradley's Close Encounter and Missing Tooth

Bradley experienced a strange incident while visiting Moberly, Missouri. He encountered beings he believed were not human, resembling the typical "grey" entities with large heads and oversized eyes.

A few years later, around May 2012, Bradley found himself in Columbia, Missouri, suffering from an excruciating toothache. While discussing his previous encounter with his mother, he jokingly expressed a wish that those beings would return to remove his painful wisdom tooth.

Remarkably, a couple of days after this conversation, Bradley sat in his backyard around 4:00 AM enjoying the night air. Despite the cloudy conditions, he could see the moon above the trees. Suddenly, everything brightened significantly. Looking up, he noticed the previously overcast sky had cleared almost entirely.

A bright light caught his attention approximately 300 feet above ground, moving away from him and ascending into one of the few remaining clouds. Bradley observed the field behind his home was completely illuminated, though he couldn't identify the light source. The light in the sky receded into the clouds and disappeared, plunging the field back into darkness.

The next day, Bradley discovered his problematic wisdom tooth was gone. He had no explanation for its disappearance, as he hadn't felt it come out naturally. "When your wisdom teeth have been impacted for years, you know when one is gone," he stated. He concluded that during the moment when everything brightened, he must have lost a few minutes of time.

While the concept of advanced beings extracting someone's tooth upon request seems absurd, Preston Dennett's book "UFO Healings" documents hundreds of similar cases involving extraterrestrial healing interventions. It's possible Bradley's tooth fell out naturally or was dislodged without his awareness, and he merely attributed it to extraterrestrial involvement.

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The Curious Visit to Dr. Luis Sanchez-Vega's Office

On August 7, 1967, an extraordinary incident occurred at the medical office of Dr. Luis Sanchez-Vega, a respected general practitioner in Caracas, Venezuela. The doctor received an unexpected visitor who stood less than four feet tall.

The diminutive figure had somehow entered Dr. Sanchez-Vega's office without the doctor's knowledge. Speaking fluent Spanish, the visitor requested a physical examination and provided an unusual warning to the physician.

"Do not be surprised at my abnormally high temperature," the small being told Dr. Sanchez-Vega, explaining that he was "not from Earth." The doctor later reported that he could immediately discern that this was not simply a person with a physical deformity or condition.

Dr. Sanchez-Vega was convinced that whatever—or whoever—stood before him in his examination room was not human. The being's appearance, manner, and physical characteristics all indicated something beyond ordinary human variation.

The unexpected medical consultation represents one of many unusual encounters documented in UFO literature that received limited attention despite their remarkable nature.

{ https://www.tvi.show/ }

21-01-2026 om 17:02 geschreven door peter  

Why haven’t humans walked on the moon again?

The question is simple: why haven’t humans returned to the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972? The main reason is money. After the first Moon landing in July 1969 with Apollo 11, there were only six more missions with the same goal.

Only five of those missions actually landed on the Moon. What once looked like a steady effort to explore the Moon is now seen, in 2026, as an unfinished goal with many cancelled missions. Apollo 17 is still the last time people went to the Moon, and that is likely to stay true for a while.

The Royal Museums Greenwich website also looked into this question and came to a similar answer: cost is the main reason for no new Moon landings. As they put it, "Going to the Moon in 1969" was "extremely expensive".

At first, the Kennedy administration planned to spend about $7 billion on the Moon program. But as the same website explains, the final cost ended up being $20 billion.

Today, most governments are not willing to spend so much money on a Moon mission that, for now, would mostly just make news and be remembered in history books. In the end, money matters most, and the world’s priorities have changed.

Shift in priorities

Another reason for fewer Moon missions is a change in thinking. In the 1960s and 1970s, countries competed and showed their ambition through space exploration. Now, most goals are closer to home, and money goes to more immediate needs.

More money is now spent on military technology, while research, education, and NASA’s budget in the United States have all been cut. This has also led to fewer new images of people walking on the Moon.

The next step in exploring the Moon may involve sending robots instead of astronauts. An article in the Encyclopedia Britannica says robotic landings are being considered. Robots need fewer supplies than people, who require "water, oxygen, food, and other essentials to survive."

Also, several countries and private companies are already working on robotic Moon projects that could help future missions with people, as the same article notes.

They won't land on the moon, but...

Still, in 2026, NASA astronauts will orbit the Moon again, but they won’t land. In late December 2025, Telemundo reported on the Artemis II mission, which could launch in early February 2026 if everything goes as planned. This 10-day trip around the Moon will be "the closest approach of humans to the Moon in over half a century."

This mission will test NASA’s Launch System rocket and Orion spacecraft. Both have had major delays and gone over budget in the United States during the past decade.

{ The Daily Digest }

21-01-2026 om 16:33 geschreven door peter