Next ice age would hit Earth in 11,000 years if it weren't for climate change, scientists say

Ice ages, or glacial periods, are extremely cold stretches of time that occur roughly every 100,000 years, covering much of the planet with enormous ice sheets for thousands of years at a time. Glacial periods are separated by warmer interglacial periods, when ice sheets retreat toward the poles. Earth is currently in an interglacial period, with the last glacial period having peaked around 20,000 years ago.

Tilt and wobble

Scientists have previously suggested that Earth's position and angle relative to the sun affect ice sheet formation. In the early 1920s, Serbian scientist Milutin Milankovitch proposed that slight changes in Earth's axial tilt and the shape of Earth's orbit could trigger massive glacial events.

Researchers have been testing Milankovitch's theory for the past 100 years. Notably, a 1976 study found geological evidence showing that two of Earth's parameters — obliquity and precession, or changes in Earth's axial tilt and how the axis wobbles around itself, respectively — play a part in the waxing and waning of ice sheets. But the precise role of either parameter has remained unclear.

Related: 

• Giant ice age landforms discovered deep beneath North Sea revealed in amazing detail

Now, Barker and his colleagues say they've finally untangled these parameters' effects.

Earth's axis is currently tilted at a 23.5-degree angle away from vertical as it rotates around the sun, affecting how much solar energy hits each of the poles, in particular. But the tilt of Earth's axis naturally gets bigger and smaller in a cycle that lasts about 41,000 years. The axis also wobbles around itself like an off-center spinning top, affecting how much solar energy reaches equatorial regions during the summer within time periods of about 21,000 years.

For the study, the researchers plotted known changes in obliquity and precession over the past 800,000 years. They also plotted the expansion and retreat of ice sheets during this period using existing data from microscopic shells, called forams, in ocean sediment cores. The relative abundance of certain types of oxygen in forams reveals how far ice sheets extended when the organisms were alive, Barker explained.

The results from combining these plots were a "fall off the chair moment," Barker said. "We found this amazing correlation [...] that says there's a direct relationship between the phasing of obliquity and precession, and then the resulting duration of how long it takes the ice sheets to decay," he said.

Put simply, ice sheet expansion from the poles toward the equator appears to be directly governed by obliquity. The retreat of ice sheets from the equator back to the poles, on the other hand, is more dependent on precession. The researchers revealed their findings in a study published Thursday (Feb. 27) in the journal Science.

The results are perhaps unsurprising, given that obliquity and precession affect how much sunlight reaches polar and equatorial regions, respectively, Barker said. "Depending on where you are on Earth, you'll find more influence from precession or obliquity," he said.

The plots were so neat that the scientists extrapolated the data and estimated when the next glacial period would occur if the climate was changing only according to natural cycles, Barker said. More research is needed to pin the timings down, but ice sheets would likely start expanding in around 10,000 to 11,000 years and reach their maximum extent within the following 80,000 to 90,000 years. They would then take another 10,000 years to retreat to the poles.

There is much debate around the timing of the next glaciation, but most experts agree that humans are disrupting these cycles through global warming. "If CO2 stays high, you won't get a new glaciation," Barker said.

That's not to say that cooking the planet is a good idea, Barker cautioned. "What we don't want is for people who want to emit more CO2 into the atmosphere to jump on this," he said.

Rather, the point of this study and future research is to build a picture of what the climate would do over the next 10,000 to 20,000 years without the impact of human activity, Barker said. The goal is then to provide a long-term estimate of humanity’s impact on the planet, he said.

{ https://www.livescience.com/ }

02-03-2025 om 23:35 geschreven door peter  

{ https://www.ancient-origins.net/ }

02-03-2025 om 22:58 geschreven door peter  

Blue Ghost Just Landed on the Moon.

Firefly.

Over the next 50 minutes, the lander gradually slowed down before firing its thrusters to precisely align with a safe, flat landing area. In the final phase, Blue Ghost autonomously selected a boulder-free landing site, safely touching down at 3:34 a.m. EST (0834 GMT).

Firefly Aerospace CEO Jason Kim summed up the moment perfectly: “Everything went according to plan—even the landing. We’ve got Moon dust on our boots!”

Private Lunar Landings Are Becoming a Reality

Just over a year ago, Odysseus, a lander built by Intuitive Machines, became the first private mission to successfully reach the Moon. Now, Blue Ghost joins the ranks, proving that commercial spaceflight is no longer just an ambition—it’s a reality.

Firefly Aerospace applied lessons learned from past missions, including Israel’s Beresheet lander, which crashed in 2019, to refine its design and improve landing precision.

What’s Next for Blue Ghost?

Powered by solar energy, the lander will conduct scientific experiments for 14 Earth days, including:

• Measuring radiation levels to support future crewed missions.
• Testing new methods for collecting and storing lunar soil and rock samples.
• Studying how Moon dust interacts with sunlight, a phenomenon first documented during Apollo 17.

One of the mission’s most anticipated events will take place on March 14, when Blue Ghost is set to capture a total solar eclipse as seen from the Moon. Just days later, on March 16, it will record the lunar sunset.

What Do We Know About the Lander’s Condition?

While the landing was a success, one small detail caught the attention of viewers—only three of the lander’s four legs confirmed full contact with the surface.

During the livestream, indicators showing the four landing legs were supposed to turn blue upon touchdown. However, only three changed color, raising questions about whether the fourth leg is fully on the ground.

At this stage, it’s unclear if this was due to a telemetry issue or if the lander is resting on uneven terrain. NASA and Firefly Aerospace are now reviewing the data to determine if this could affect the lander’s stability or science operations.

Blue Ghost Is “Upright and Stable”

Despite the minor uncertainty, Firefly Aerospace has confirmed that Blue Ghost is upright and stable.

“The Blue Ghost lunar lander softly touched down on the Moon’s surface in an upright, stable configuration on the company’s first attempt,” Firefly stated.

“As part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1, named Ghost Riders in the Sky, sets the stage for the future of cislunar exploration, becoming the first commercial company in history to achieve a fully successful Moon landing,” the statement continued.

Blue Ghost Landed Within Its 100-Meter Target

According to Ray Allensworth from Firefly Aerospace, Blue Ghost landed on the lunar surface within its designated 100-meter (330-foot) target zone.

During its final descent, the lander executed two hazard-avoidance maneuvers to steer clear of obstacles.

“Among the hazards Blue Ghost avoided were rocks and boulders,” Allensworth confirmed.

With upcoming landings planned by Resilience (ispace) and Athena (Intuitive Machines), it’s becoming clear that private companies are taking the lead in lunar exploration.

Will they be the ones to build future Moon bases? Time will tell, but the future of lunar exploration has never looked more exciting.

{ https://curiosmos.com/ }

02-03-2025 om 22:21 geschreven door peter  

The updated estimate was calculated by NASA’s Center for NEO Studies (CNEOS), the ESA’s Near-Earth Objects Coordination Centre (NEOCC), and the NEO Dynamic Site (NEODyS). The Subaru observations were conducted using the telescope’s Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC), a wide-field prime-focus camera that captured images of 2024 YR₄ as it grew dimmer. The observations have since been forwarded to the Minor Planet Center (MPC) of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). Dr. Tsuyoshi Terai of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (NAOJ), who led the observations, explained:

“Although 2024 YR₄ appeared relatively bright at the time of its discovery, it has been steadily fading as it moves away from the Earth. By late February, observations would have been extremely challenging without a large telescope. This mission was successfully accomplished thanks to the Subaru Telescope’s powerful light-gathering capability and HSC’s high imaging performance.”

Based on these latest observations, the IAWN reports that 2020 YR₄ will “pass at a distance beyond the geosynchronous satellites and possibly beyond the Moon.” They also indicate that there is no significant potential that the asteroid will impact Earth in the next century. The IAWN also states that it will continue to track 2024 YR4 through early April. At this point, it will be too faint to image and won’t be observable from Earth again until 2028.

Further Reading:

• NAOJ

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

02-03-2025 om 21:55 geschreven door peter  

By Jackie Wattles and Ashley Strickland, CNN

Earth is visible in the distance in this image captured by Blue Ghost following its lunar landing. 

Firefly Aerospace

Relive Blue Ghost’s lunar landing as it happened and follow updates on its ongoing mission.

CNN — 

An uncrewed spacecraft developed in the United States has successfully soft-landed on the moon, making Texas-based Firefly Aerospace only the second private-sector company ever to complete such a feat.

Firefly’s 6.6-foot-tall (2-meter-tall) Blue Ghost lunar lander touched down on the moon’s near side around 2:34 a.m. CT (3:34 a.m. ET) Sunday.

A parade of lunar landers developed by the private-sector have launched this year, part of a convoy of robotic spacecraft that NASA and its partner agencies hope will pave the way for astronauts to return to the moon’s surface later this decade.

Success was far from guaranteed. In February 2023, another Texas-based space company, Intuitive Machines, became the first private-sector company to soft-land a vehicle on the moon, but broadly speaking, about half of all lunar landing attempts have ended in failure.

Firefly CEO Jason Kim said that the lander was “stable and upright” after landing.

“Every single thing was clockwork, even when we landed,” Kim said. “We got some moon dust on our boots.”

Each of Blue Ghost’s four feet were equipped with sensors that were designed to immediately confirm when they had touched lunar soil. But when the spacecraft touched down, the webcast showed only three of the vehicle’s four landing legs confirmed contact.

Firefly’s Ray Allensworth, the program director for Blue Ghost, told CNN in an interview that there may be a benign explanation.

“So there’s also a good chance that the software just ignored — threw the data out — from that sensor because maybe it tripped early. I’m not 100% sure,” Allensworth said. “We’d have to go back and look at the data.”

But it is abundantly clear that Blue Ghost is sitting upright, she said. What’s more, all signs so far point to the fact that Blue Ghost touched down within its expected 330-foot (100-meter) target, Allensworth said in a news conference.

Firefly Aerospace shares the first images of the lunar surface from Blue Ghost following its successful touchdown. 

Firefly Aerospace

The lander also conducted two “hazard avoidance” maneuvers during its final descent that included boulders and rocks, indicating that Blue Ghost’s autonomous landing software worked as it needed to, she said.

The mission landed near an ancient volcanic feature called Mons Latreille, which lies on the far eastern edge of the moon’s visible face just north of the equator. Mons Latreille is located within Mare Crisium — or “Sea of Crises” in Latin — a sprawling lunar basin that stretches 340 miles (550 kilometers) wide.

The team chose the site because “it avoids large magnetic anomalies — (or interruptions) — on the lunar surface that could disrupt some of our payload measurements,” said Ryan Watkins, the program scientist for NASA’s Exploration Science Strategy and Integration Office, during a December briefing.

An ‘incredible achievement’

About 40 minutes after landing, Blue Ghost’s first image of its new home arrived on Earth, showcasing the lunar dust beneath its feet, craters and a portion of the lander as seen by one of its cameras.

“The navigation system did such a phenomenal job finding what looks like a relatively flat surface for us to land on,” said Brigette Oaks, Firefly’s vice president of engineering.

The shadow of the Blue Ghost lander can be seen on the lunar surface, with Earth visible above it. 

Firefly Aerospace

Kim said he hopes the landing inspires the next generation of kids. “You never know where you’re going to land,” he said. “We just landed on the moon. We hope that the Fireflies today inspire a whole generation. There’s space for everyone in space.”

NASA’s acting administrator Janet Petro offered her gratitude to the Firefly team and everyone who worked on the mission, highlighting their motivation and dedication.

“This incredible achievement demonstrates how NASA and American companies are leading the way in space exploration for the benefit of all,” Petro said. “We have already learned many lessons — and the technological and science demonstrations onboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost Mission 1 will improve our ability to not only discover more science, but to ensure the safety of our spacecraft instruments for future human exploration — both in the short term and long term.”

While the lander touched down during the middle of the night for North America, lunar daytime is just beginning at Blue Ghost’s landing site.

“That’s when the sun rises at our landing site in Mare Crisium, and we want to take full advantage of the entire lunar day (14 Earth days) when we have sunlight to operate our 10 payloads,” said Risa Schnautz, Firefly’s director of marketing and communications in an email to CNN.

Blue Ghost will spend the next 14 days conducting science and technology demonstrations, including collecting lunar samples, drilling into the subsurface, conducting X-ray imaging and capturing high-definition imagery.

Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander and its in-house designed "Spectre" Reaction Control System thrusters (center). 

Firefly Aerospace

Blue Ghost’s suite of science equipment

Blue Ghost comes equipped with 10 science instruments and technology demonstrations from NASA, some of which already began collecting data as the lunar lander traversed the roughly 239,000-mile (384,400-kilometer) void between Earth and the moon.

The equipment includes a device that’s testing out how GPS services might be used in orbit and on the lunar surface, a vacuum that will aim to suck up soil, and a telescope that will observe how Earth’s protective magnetic field, also known as the magnetosphere, responds to space weather.

Blue Ghost's planned landing site of Mons Latreille (inset) within Mare Crisium. 

CNN/NASA

Firefly is also expecting the spacecraft to deliver stunning images from its landing site.

Allensworth said that rather than using its high-definition cameras to stream a live broadcast of the lunar landing, Blue Ghost’s team in mission control wanted to focus the vehicle’s communications bandwidth on delivering accurate real-time data, getting information about the spacecraft’s altitude and speed.

“Even though you might have the camera capability to do live streaming, it’s not always the most practical thing to do in the moment,” Allensworth said.

During its 14 days of operations on the moon, Blue Ghost will photograph an eclipse, during which Earth will block the sun’s rays from the moon’s surface for about five hours. The vehicle is also expected to snap pictures of a phenomenon last witnessed by astronauts more than 50 years ago.

“There’s a phenomenon called the lunar horizon glow (scattered light caused by floating electrostatic particles) that only the Apollo 15 and 17 astronauts have seen with their eyes,” Kim told CNN in a previous interview. “We’re going to be able to capture that in 4K-by-4K high-definition video and share that with the rest of the world.”

An animation demonstrating some of Blue Ghost's operations on the lunar surface. 

Firefly Aerospace

Firefly’s Blue Ghost will also continue collecting data for several hours into lunar night — when brutally cold conditions thrust the landing zone near Mons Latreille into shadow and temperatures could drop to as cold as minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 173 degrees Celsius).

The fall of lunar night has typically spelled the end for lunar landers. But NASA wants Blue Ghost to go for it. The space agency even upped the value of the contract it’s paying to Firefly — from $93 million to $101 million — in part so that the company could prepare the lander to survive such frigid temperatures, Kim said.

Paving the way for humans on the moon

The Blue Ghost lander is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services, or CLPS, initiative.

The program is a concerted effort by the space agency to encourage the private sector to develop lunar landers in the hopes that their robotic exploration will pave the way for astronauts to return to the moon for the first time in 50 years under the Artemis program.

Dr. Joel Kearns, deputy associate administrator for exploration in NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, said Firefly made something that is incredibly difficult look easy.

“This is an incredibly challenging technical feat to pull off, to land anything on the surface of the moon, and what you saw today is an existence of proof that the model that NASA has been pursuing since 2018 is possible to be successful,” he said, referring to the CLPS program.

Firefly employees at a watch party in Cedar Park, Texas, celebrate as Blue Ghost successfully touches down on March 2. 

Jackie Wattles/CNN

There are 14 companies currently able to bid on CLPS contracts, which provide money to carry out lunar landings. So far, two companies — Astrobotic Technology and Intuitive Machines — have attempted missions, but only the latter has managed a soft touchdown.

Astrobotic’s first mission last year failed shortly after reaching orbit because of propulsion issues. And while Intuitive Machines’ mission was largely successful, its lander tipped over on its side, limiting the length of time it was able to operate.

Two other private-sector vehicles are currently making their own approaches to the moon. Intuitive Machines’ second lander launched Wednesday and is heading for the moon’s south pole region. And a lander built by Japan-based company Ispace, which launched alongside Blue Ghost in January, will attempt a soft landing this spring — an effort to redeem the company’s failed first attempt in 2023.

Kim told CNN he is looking forward to Firefly’s next lunar mission for NASA, which is already on the books and is slated to land a Blue Ghost vehicle on the far side of the moon. So far, only China has sent a spacecraft there.

The CEO said Firefly has exciting new technology on deck for that feat.

A separate spacecraft for that mission, called Elytra, will be put in orbit around the moon to serve as a communications relay, beaming data between the spacecraft and Earth because Blue Ghost’s antennas won’t be able to point directly home.

“That orbiter is very exciting because we could put cameras on there, we could put other sensors on there, and now we can start creating a new category of mapping out the moon,” Kim said. “And so we’re really excited about doing that, because there’s a lot of government and science and commercial entities that want that data.”

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Firefly’s Blue Ghost captures amazing moon view during lunar orbit maneuver

Watch Live: Firefly's Blue Ghost Mission 1 sending lander to the moon

{ https://edition.cnn.com/science/space }

02-03-2025 om 21:32 geschreven door peter  

Struck in the Backyard: The Foxboro UFO Paralysis Case

Introduction

The phenomenon of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) has fascinated humanity for decades. From ancient civilizations recording strange lights in the sky to modern-day sightings that fuel conspiracy theories, the allure of the unknown is potent. One of the most compelling cases in UFO lore is the Foxboro UFO paralysis case, a narrative filled with intrigue, fear, and the quest for understanding. This article delves into the details of the Foxboro incident, exploring the witnesses, the evidence, and the broader implications of such experiences on society and the psyche.

The Setting: Foxboro, Massachusetts

Foxboro, a small town located in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, is known for its suburban charm and historical significance. With a population of just over 16,000, it offers a quiet, picturesque environment, making it an unlikely backdrop for a UFO encounter. However, the events of a particular night in the 1970s would thrust this quaint town into the spotlight of ufology.

The Incident: A Night to Remember

• The Initial Sighting

On a seemingly ordinary evening in the summer of 1976, several residents of Foxboro reported seeing an unusual craft hovering in the sky. Descriptions varied, as witnesses recounted a large, disc-shaped object emitting a bright light. The object reportedly moved silently, gliding across the sky in a manner that defied conventional aviation. As the night unfolded, the excitement turned to fear as witnesses began to feel a strange sensation.

• The Experience of Paralysis

Among those who encountered the UFO was a local man named John. As he stepped into his backyard to investigate the strange light, he suddenly found himself unable to move. Describing the experience, John recounted that he felt a wave of energy wash over him, rendering him immobile. This paralysis lasted for what felt like an eternity, although it was likely only a matter of minutes. During this time, he reported a feeling of dread and an inexplicable connection to the object above.

• Multiple Witnesses

As news of John’s experience spread, more residents came forward, each with their own accounts of the night’s events. Some described similar feelings of paralysis, while others reported seeing strange figures or lights in connection with the UFO. The consistency of these accounts lent credibility to the encounters, drawing the attention of local media and UFO enthusiasts alike.

Analysis of the Evidence

• Physical Evidence

In the aftermath of the incident, investigators sought to uncover any physical evidence that could corroborate the witnesses’ accounts. Some reported unusual markings in the grass where the UFO was said to have hovered, while others noted changes in the local wildlife behavior. Birds and other animals were reportedly silent during the encounter, leading some to speculate about the possible effects of the UFO on the environment.

• Psychological Impact

The psychological effects of the incident on the witnesses were profound. Many reported feelings of anxiety, depression, and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the weeks following the encounter. The experience of paralysis, coupled with the fear of the unknown, created a lasting impact on those involved. Mental health professionals began to examine the phenomenon of UFO-related trauma, recognizing it as a legitimate area of study within psychology.

• The Role of Hypnosis

In an effort to recover lost memories and gain further insight into their experiences, several witnesses underwent hypnosis. This technique aimed to unlock repressed memories related to the encounter. While hypnosis can be a controversial method, it provided some individuals with vivid recollections of their experiences. These sessions revealed details that aligned with the accounts of others, further solidifying the narrative surrounding the Foxboro UFO case.

The Broader Context of UFO Sightings

• Historical Background

The Foxboro case is not an isolated incident. UFO sightings have been reported throughout history, with significant peaks during certain periods. The 1940s and 1950s saw a surge in sightings, coinciding with the post-World War II era when technological advancements sparked public interest in aviation and space. The Cold War added another layer of intrigue, as governments and civilians alike speculated about extraterrestrial life and advanced technologies.

• Cultural Impact

The cultural impact of UFOs is undeniable. Movies, television shows, and literature have all drawn upon the mystery of UFOs and extraterrestrial encounters. The Foxboro incident, like many others, became part of the larger narrative that shapes public perception of UFOs. As stories spread, they often take on a life of their own, blending fact and fiction in a way that captivates the imagination.

• Government Response and Disclosure

In response to the growing interest in UFOs, governments around the world have taken varying approaches to the phenomenon. In the United States, the military established programs to investigate sightings, such as Project Blue Book, which operated from 1952 to 1969. The release of previously classified documents and the recent acknowledgment of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) by the U.S. government has reignited public interest and speculation about the existence of extraterrestrial life.

The Foxboro UFO Paralysis Case: Skepticism and Criticism

• The Skeptical Perspective

While many find the Foxboro incident compelling, skeptics argue that the accounts can be explained through psychological or environmental factors. Sleep paralysis, for instance, is a phenomenon that can cause temporary immobility and hallucinations, often linked to stress or fatigue. Critics also point to the possibility of mass hysteria, where a group of individuals collectively experiences similar symptoms due to suggestion or social influence.

• The Need for Scientific Inquiry

The debate surrounding the Foxboro case highlights the importance of scientific inquiry in understanding unexplained phenomena. While anecdotal evidence can be powerful, rigorous investigation is essential to separate fact from fiction. Investigators and researchers must approach these cases with an open mind, employing scientific methods to analyze data and draw conclusions.

Implications for Society

• The Search for Truth

The Foxboro UFO paralysis case raises profound questions about the nature of reality and our place in the universe. As humanity grapples with the possibility of extraterrestrial life, the search for truth becomes paramount. This quest for understanding can lead to advancements in science, philosophy, and even spirituality.

• The Role of Community

The events in Foxboro also highlight the importance of community in processing extraordinary experiences. Witnesses came together to share their stories, supporting one another in the aftermath of the encounter. This sense of solidarity can foster resilience and healing, emphasizing the significance of human connection in the face of the unknown.

Conclusion

The Foxboro UFO paralysis case remains a captivating chapter in the annals of ufology. It serves as a reminder of the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding and the profound impact such encounters can have on individuals and communities. As we continue to explore the skies and search for answers, the legacy of the Foxboro incident will endure, inspiring future generations to question, investigate, and seek the truth about the universe we inhabit.

In the end, whether one believes in the possibility of extraterrestrial life or views these experiences through a skeptical lens, the Foxboro case illustrates the enduring human fascination with the unknown. It is a testament to our innate curiosity and the desire to uncover the mysteries that lie beyond our everyday lives.

De korte video hieronder verkent enkele van de vreemdste UFO-nabije ontmoetingen die zijn geregistreerd.

{ PETER2011}

02-03-2025 om 13:09 geschreven door peter  

The Blue Ghost lunar lander is currently 100 km above the Moon as it prepares for its descent. It is scheduled to land in Mare Crisium, on the near side of the Moon, on March 2, no earlier than 3:34 a.m. ET (08:34 UTC).

Credit: Firefly Aerospace.

Following Footsteps

Athena follows in the footsteps of Odysseus, the first lander built by Intuitive Machines, which successfully reached the Moon on February 22, 2024. Despite landing at an angle due to a last-minute navigation issue, Odysseus functioned for one week, transmitting valuable data before shutting down. It was the first American spacecraft to perform a controlled Moon landing since the Apollo era.

Now, Athena aims to land at Mons Mouton, a region near the Moon’s south pole that is of high scientific interest. This area is believed to contain water ice, a crucial resource for future lunar missions. To explore its surroundings, Athena carries:

• Two robotic rovers to analyze the surface
• A “hopping” lander designed to move across different locations
• A drill to extract samples from beneath the lunar surface

The success of these missions will not only provide new scientific insights but also lay the groundwork for sustained human exploration of the Moon, supporting upcoming Artemis missions and the long-term goal of establishing a lunar base.

With Athena, Blue Ghost, and RESILIENCE all approaching the Moon, this is one of the most active periods in lunar exploration since the Apollo program. These robotic landers will test new technologies, scout for resources, and help answer key questions about the Moon’s potential to support human life. As space agencies and private companies ramp up their efforts, one thing is clear: the next chapter of lunar exploration is already underway.

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{ https://curiosmos.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 20:54 geschreven door peter  

Yayimages

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://curiosmos.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 20:34 geschreven door peter  

NASA Thought It Was Just a Shadow—Now Scientists Say the ‘Face on Mars’ Hides a Secret Millions of Years Old

At a time when humanity was just beginning to explore the Red Planet, the Face on Mars fueled imaginations across the globe.

by Ivan Petricevic

 

The famous face of Mars. Image taken by the Viking 1 orbiter on July 25, 1976...

Image Credit: NASA/JPL.

Who doesn’t love a good mystery? Especially when that mystery is also packed with logic, science and a touch of strangeness.

In 1976, NASA’s Viking 1 Orbiter captured an image that would ignite decades of speculation, mystery, and even conspiracy theories. The photo, taken over a region of Mars known as Cydonia, revealed a peculiar landform resembling a human face. With deep-set “eyes,” a prominent “nose,” and a distinct “mouth,” the so-called Face on Mars seemed like a relic of an ancient extraterrestrial civilization. The first time I saw it I was “convinced” that there was something on Mars that we were not seeing entirely. I firmly believed that it was possible that something artificial could indeed exist on Mars. But…

NASA was quick to dismiss the idea, explaining that the eerie formation was nothing more than a trick of light and shadow. Despite this, the image spread like wildfire, and many weren’t ready to accept such a mundane explanation. Was this really just an illusion, or was there something more to the story?

The Birth of a Martian Myth

At a time when humanity was just beginning to explore the Red Planet, the Face on Mars fueled imaginations across the globe. Some saw it as undeniable proof that an intelligent civilization once inhabited Mars, leaving behind monumental structures like those of ancient Egypt. Others believed it was part of a broader cover-up by space agencies to hide the truth about extraterrestrial life.

The theories didn’t stop there. Enthusiasts pointed to nearby formations in Cydonia, claiming they resembled pyramids and city ruins, further supporting the idea of an ancient Martian civilization. For decades, these beliefs persisted, bolstered by grainy, low-resolution images that left plenty of room for speculation.

But as technology advanced, so did our understanding of Mars.

A Closer Look: Science vs. Pareidolia

Fast forward to the 21st century, and the Face on Mars underwent a major reality check. In 2006, NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter equipped with the High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera revisited Cydonia, capturing images with unprecedented clarity. The result? The face seemingly vanished.

What was once thought to be an alien monument was revealed to be a natural mesa—an elevated, flat-topped landform shaped by erosion. This geological feature, common on both Earth and Mars, was sculpted over millions of years by wind and possibly water. The original Viking image, taken at just the right angle under specific lighting conditions, had simply exaggerated the shadows, creating the illusion of facial features.

More Than Just a Face: A Window Into Mars’ Wet Past

While the Face on Mars itself turned out to be an illusion, the region where it sits remains of great scientific interest. Mars was once a much wetter world, with evidence suggesting that an ancient ocean once covered much of its northern hemisphere—including Cydonia.

Recent studies have revealed that mesas in this region contain clay minerals, indicating prolonged interactions with water. This supports the theory that Mars had a more Earth-like past, with rivers, lakes, and possibly even life. The European Space Agency’s upcoming Rosalind Franklin rover is set to explore nearby terrain, potentially unlocking further secrets about the Red Planet’s ancient climate.

Why the Face on Mars Still Matters

Even though we now understand that the Face on Mars is a simple geological formation, its story remains a fascinating chapter in space exploration history. It serves as a powerful reminder of how human perception—particularly pareidolia, our tendency to see familiar shapes in random patterns—can fuel incredible myths and mysteries.

More importantly, the region itself is far from a dead end. Scientists continue to study the Cydonia mesas, uncovering new clues about Mars’ past. The “face” might not be a relic of an ancient civilization, but what lies beneath it could still rewrite what we know about the Red Planet.

So, while the dream of a Martian city might have faded, the search for answers is far from over. Could the remnants of an ancient ocean still hold traces of past life? Future missions may finally give us an answer. And maybe, just maybe, one day we will discover something on Mars that only a few saw coming.

{ https://curiosmos.com/category/mysteries/ }

01-03-2025 om 18:47 geschreven door peter  

Since the end of the Apollo Era, scientists have studied sample return capsules re-entering Earth’s atmosphere. These studies have helped scientists develop safe and effective methods for sample-return missions and provided insight into the atmospheric entry of meteoroids and asteroids. Until now, these studies employed infrasound and seismic sensors to record the resulting geophysical signals. However, Dr. Donahue and her team saw an opportunity since the trajectory and timing of the OSIRIS-REx mission’s SRC were known in advance.

As Dr. Donahue told Universe Today via email, the reentry was a chance for them to test DAS systems with fiber optic cables to record the geophysical effects produced by the sonic boom. “DAS systems interrogating an optical fiber are still relatively rare,” she said. “Knowing ahead of time the precise trajectory gave us the scarce opportunity to situate multiple DAS interrogators near the point of highest heating and capture the sonic boom as it impacted the ground.”

The team rapidly deployed two DAS interrogators and more than 12 km (7.45 mi) of surface-draped fiber-optic cables. Their network included six collocated seismometer-infrasound sensor pairs, all spread across two sites near the town of Eureka in the Nevada Desert. As Dr. Donahue described:

“Once the team got the hang of rolling out the 4 spools of optical fiber that each weighed over 100 kgs, installing and retrieving the fiber took less time than setting up the six co-located seismic and infrasound stations. Approximately 5 km of the optical fiber was located at the local Eureka airport, along with many other teams deploying sensors such as infrasound, seismic, and GPS.  The other 7 km of fiber was located along a remote dirt road in Newark Valley.”

With the help of this network, the team obtained a stunning profile of the sonic boom as it struck the ground. The DAS interrogators recorded an impulsive arrival with an extended coda that had similar features to those recorded by the seismometers and infrasound sensors. Whereas traditional sensors only measure sonic booms at one point, Dr. Donahue said that her team’s data revealed how the boom’s wavefront transformed as it impacted the irregular terrain of the Nevada landscape.

In addition to being the first time these methods were used to record an SRC reentry, the results of this test could have significant implications when it comes to predicting potential meteor and asteroid strikes. Said Dr. Donahue:

“By having an extremely dense array of sensors, DAS has the possibility of better characterizing the trajectory and size of a meteor. The topology (e.g., hills) of the ground is known to have an influence on wavefront recorded at the surface of the earth. By having a dense line of sensors that span over the changes in the earth’s elevation, these effects could be better accounted for to produce a more accurate characterization of a meteor’s trajectory.”

Following the completion of its primary mission, the OSIRIS-REx, NASA prepped the spacecraft for the next phase of its mission. In 2029, the spacecraft – renamed the OSIRIS-APEX (Apophis Explorer) – will rendezvous with the Near-Earth Asteroid 99942 Apophis and collect another sample.

Further Reading: 

• GeoScienceWorld

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 18:26 geschreven door peter  

Top UFO Crash Retrieval Expert on CIA Alien Files & Majestic 12 - Ryan Wood (Video)

{ https://beforeitsnews.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 18:06 geschreven door peter  

"We Just Saw 50 UFO's Emerge From the Ocean and Shoot Up into the Sky" NJ Congressman - Redacted (Video)

{ https://beforeitsnews.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 17:59 geschreven door peter  

UFO Coverup: Pentagon Is Hiding Holy Grail Evidence - James Fox & Jason Sands (Video)

In this 15 January 2025 video, host Jukian Dorey welcomes back James Fox for the third time on Julian Dorey Podcast to discuss his latest Documentary, “The Program” which goes behind the Congressional hearings to leave skeptics astounded by new assertions from a growing chorus of high-level insiders who insist there is definitive proof we are not alone.

Jason Sands is a new UFO whistleblower, who has recently come forward with claims about his involvement in a 20-year black budget program and a surreal Alien encounter.

• https://youtu.be/4-2RnLj_e_8

TIMESTAMPS

00:00 – James Fox from The Phenomenon to ‘The Program’, D.C. Investigation
10:01 – James Disastrous Film Company Lawsuit, 
26:54 – Most Satisfying UFO Documentary (Devastating Setbacks)
31:21 – Pivotal UFO Interview Moments, Disclosure vs UFO Evidence
38:51 – Reads Congressional Source Document, Photographs & Evidence 
46:31 – Intel Agency Individuals & Obfuscation, Evidence Behind Jason Sands Encounter
52:03 – Telepathic Communication Residue, Devil’s Advocate & Possibly Being Lied Too
01:00:30 – Why Does Jason Sand’s Have Immunity vs Coworkers, Top Secret Information SCIF (James Fox)
01:10:45 – Special Access Programs & How Information is Controlled & Not Leaked, Black Budget Programs
01:21:21 – Hearing Craziest Stories During Black Budget Program

{ https://beforeitsnews.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 17:50 geschreven door peter  

UFO Historian Richard Dolan on the Drone Mystery and Disclosure in 2025 (Video)

In this 17 January 2025 video, WatchMjo dives back into the topic of UAPs or Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena with UFO researcher and historian Richard Dolan. Richard has over 30 years of experience studying UFOs and he joins us to talk about the ongoing drone mystery over the Northeastern seaboard of the United States. He also shares some insights into possible disclosures that could happen in 2025 as well as some of the broader implications of a non-human intelligence being revealed to the general public.

• https://youtu.be/baliOIBs4Dc

{ https://beforeitsnews.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 17:49 geschreven door peter  

01-03-2025 om 17:36 geschreven door peter  

On Earth, extremophiles belong to all three domains of life (Archaea, Bacteria, and Eukarya). They are characterized by their ability to withstand pressure, acidity, temperatures, and other conditions that would be fatal to other organisms. After Earth, Mars is considered the most habitable planet after Earth in the Solar System, hence why most of humanity’s astrobiology efforts are focused there. In addition to the low atmospheric pressure (1/100th of Earth’s at sea level), the surface is subject to extreme temperature variations and is contaminated by perchlorites and toxic metals.

Scientists speculate that if life exists on Mars today, it will likely take the form of microbes living in high-salinity briny patches beneath the surface. As Tomajoli told Universe Today via email, this makes extremophiles (like Artemia franciscana) ideal test subjects for predicting what life is like in similar planetary environments:

“The definition of life is crucial, especially when searching for traces of it on other planetary bodies (e.g., Mars), where life might not exist as we traditionally imagine it. Artemia cysts present an interesting case: in their dormant state, they cannot be classified as living but rather as potential life. Studying organisms with such characteristics helps broaden the perspective in astrobiological research.”

In particular, extremophiles present opportunities for researching species adaptation, which has become a major focus of scientific research due to anthropogenic Climate Change. Worldwide, rising carbon emissions and increasing temperatures are leading to changes in weather patterns, increased ocean acidity, drought, wildfires, and the loss of habitats. As a result, countless marine and terrestrial species are forced to adapt to conditions that are becoming more extreme.

“In the context of climate change, life conditions are shifting toward extreme boundaries, making survival more challenging for many organisms,” Tomajoli added. “Extremophiles, which thrive in Earth’s most remote environments, are valuable models for understanding metabolic adaptations. Their apparent simplicity is, in fact, an advantage, allowing them to adapt better than more complex organisms to extreme environmental constraints.”

Tomajoli and her colleagues chose Artemia franciscana for their study, a species of brine shrimp known to thrive in high-salinity environments. The eggs they produce, known as cysts, are dormant and can be stored indefinitely, making them extremely useful for aquaculture and scientific research. As Tomajoli indicated, they have also been used in previous space missions, including the Biostack experiment on the Apollo 16 and 17 missions and the ESA’s EXPOSE platform mounted on the International Space Station’s (ISS) exterior.

These experiments all tested the resilience of certain life forms and their progeny to cosmic rays. However, as Tomajoli added, no further studies have been conducted regarding the physiological adaptations of Artemia franciscana, and there is currently no scientific literature available on the topic:

“In particular, Artemia brine shrimps are considered halophiles (literally “salt-loving” organisms) and thrive in environments that can be considered Mars analogs (or laboratories for Mars studies) such as temporary lakes that undergo frequent evaporation, prompting Artemia to produce cryptobiotic cysts. Additionally, Artemia is an easily cultivable model, making it suitable for biological and astrobiological experiments. A recent article by Kayatsha et al., 2024  also showed that Artemia franciscana was among all the microinvertebrates that were tested, the more resistant one to perchlorates salts present in the regolith of simulated martian soil.”

For their experiment, Tomajoli and her colleagues placed dormant cysts in Mars-like pressure conditions. Once they hatched into nauplii, the team analyzed their aerobic and anaerobic metabolism, mitochondrial function, and oxidative stress. As indicated in their paper, brine shrimp born in Martian pressure conditions managed to adapt quite well. They further share how these results could lead to further studies to evaluate the metabolic adaptations of the cysts to longer exposure times, combinations of different Mars-like conditions, or studies of the adaptations of the nauplii in other stages of development:

“Artemia franciscana showed an exciting potential for physiological adaptations, enabling organisms to cope with the environmental challenges they encounter in space… Nauplii’s cells appear to activate responses to avoid mitochondrial dysfunction and continue their growth processes. These adaptation mechanisms highlight Artemia franciscana’s resilience and ability to thrive in hostile environmental conditions. The results reported in this study further support the potential use of Artemia franciscana for astrobiological purposes, highlighting the animals’ metabolic and redox state changes as a response to adaptation to an extreme condition mimicking the space.”

The implications of this research are far-reaching, embracing astrobiology, human space exploration, and mitigating the effects of Climate Change. Not only could it help point the way toward potential life on Mars, in the interior oceans of icy bodies, and other extreme environments. It could also inform future missions to Mars and other deep-space destinations, where astronauts will need to rely on closed-loop bioregenerative life support systems (BLSS), grow their own food, and conduct research into the effects of exposure to lower gravity, elevated radiation, and other harsh conditions.

At home, the study of extremophiles and adaptation mechanisms could provide insight into climate resilience and adaptation, consistent with the goals outlined in the Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). As they summarize in their paper:

“Understanding the mechanisms of Artemia franciscana adaptations to space-simulated conditions could provide new insights into the study of the limits of life, as well as contribute to the search for biosignatures—traces of past life on other planetary bodies. Additionally, it could offer a viable solution for the long-term survival of human space missions, helping establish self-sustaining populations in confined environments. Artemia could serve as a renewable food source for astronauts, given its richness in essential nutrients, including proteins, lipids, and vitamins.”

Tomajoli and her colleagues have also conducted simulations with a full Mars-like atmosphere for longer periods of time. The paper describing this experiment will be released soon. In the meantime, the search for life on Mars and beyond continues. Knowing it can exist out there and under what conditions will help narrow that search and encourage us to keep investigating.

Further Reading: 

• Science Direct

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

01-03-2025 om 17:29 geschreven door peter  

CCOR-1, a newly activated coronagraph onboard NOAA’s GOES-19 weather satellite, is the first of its kind in geostationary orbit. Positioned deep inside the Moon’s orbit, it offers a perspective unavailable to previous coronagraphs like those on SOHO. 

New Moons are typically dark and invisible, but NOAA's CCOR-1 coronagraph just captured one in stunning detail.

Watch sun erupt in 1st images from NOAA's groundbreaking new satellite

(Image credit: NOAA/NASA)

In the footage, the Moon appears full, an illusion caused entirely by sunlight reflecting off Earth. The brightness isn’t constant, though. As sunrise progresses over the Western Hemisphere, the increasing Earthshine becomes so intense that some frames are saturated with light. 

Credit image/source: https://spaceweather.com

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

01-03-2025 om 17:03 geschreven door peter