Astronomers Just Discovered a New Dwarf Planet Beyond Neptune

Scientists think there were once many more of these dwarf planets in our Solar System, but most were destroyed or ejected when the larger planets in our Solar System moved to their current positions. But now RR245 joins the ranks of other survivors from this period – such as Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris, which have all been recognised as dwarf planets by the International Astronomical Union – amidst the tens of thousands of much smaller objects beyond Neptune.

The researchers first spotted the dwarf planet in February, when astronomer JJ Kavelaars from the National Research Council of Canada was sifting through OSSOS data recorded in September 2015.

"There it was on the screen," said Bannister, "this dot of light moving so slowly that it had to be at least twice as far as Neptune from the Sun."

The team suggests it's possible that RR245 may be one of the last large worlds detected beyond Neptune with today's telescopes, as the brightest dwarf planets have already been mapped – although the debut of the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope next decade could turn up new discoveries we haven't been able to detect so far.

"OSSOS was designed to map the orbital structure of the outer Solar System to decipher its history," said one of the researchers, Brett Gladman of the University of British Columbia in Canada. "While not designed to efficiently detect dwarf planets, we're delighted to have found one on such an interesting orbit."

But beyond helping us map the outer reaches of our Solar System, the discovery of these dwarf planets – and their unique geological composition – helps us understand more about the cosmic past in our corner of the galaxy.

"They are the closest thing to a time capsule that transports us to the birth of the Solar System," astrophysicist Pedro Lacerda from Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland, who wasn't involved with the discovery, told Ian Sample at The Guardian. "You can make an analogy with fossils, which tell us about creatures long gone."

The discovery hasn't been published yet, so we're still waiting on further details from the researchers for now, but RR245 has been formally noted by the International Astronomical Union.

{ https://www.sciencealert.com/ }

Barack Obama shared 'truth' after being asked if he knew about existence of UFOs and Aliens

He said that once he became president he wanted to know the secrets

 Joe Harker

Perhaps that's why Barack Obama was once quizzed about exactly what he knew when it came to the secrets and mysteries of alien life.

In an appearance on The Late, Late Show With James Corden, the former US president was asked about 'dem aliens' by Reggie Watts and UFOs along with any theories he might have on it.

Obama kept things close to the chest as he joked that 'when it comes to aliens there are some things I just can't tell you on air' (that's suspicious) before opening up on his own extra-terrestrial interests.

He said: "The truth is that when I came into office I asked, I was like 'all right, is there a lab somewhere we're keeping the alien specimens and spaceship?'.

"They did a little bit of research and the answer was no."

However, don't be too discouraged all of you true believers out there, because perhaps he's just lying to protect the secrets of aliens and UFOs

Obama also said 'there's footage and records of objects in the skies that we don't know exactly what they are', so as far as the official meaning of UFOs goes there are some flying objects which have remained unidentified.

He said that part about things in the sky which we can't figure out was 'true', saying 'we can't explain how they moved, their trajectory'.

The former president then joked that Watts was 'deflecting' and flipped things back on the musician by quipping that he could secretly be an alien to which Watts agreed.

Whether or not we're alone in the universe is an endless fascination for some people and the idea that we've already been visited by extra-terrestrial life which has left evidence behind is an obsession for some people.

If you really want to know what it is Barack Obama 'can't tell you on air' then perhaps you should try becoming president.

{ https://www.ladbible.com/ }

I died for six minutes and saw what happens after death... this is what I experienced

READ MORE: This is why terminally ill people seem to 'recover' before they die

By EMILY STEARN, SENIOR HEALTH REPORTER FOR MAILONLINE

A man who 'died' for six minutes as a child has detailed the haunting scenes he claims he saw in heaven.

The unidentified social media user told how they were just 15 years old when, in 2003, they suddenly collapsed in the road.

Despite feeling 'just fine all day', the boy 'broke out in a cold sweat', became breathless and suffered ventricular fibrillation — a dangerous abnormal heart rhythm and most frequent cause of sudden cardiac death. 

After paramedics arrived, the individual claimed they discovered their heart had stopped beating and it was only after 'working tirelessly to revive me' in an ambulance that their heart began working again after six minutes. 

The person claimed to have miraculously avoided any long-term damage, and said they are one of the handful of people to experience near-death experiences by temporarily 'transcending our world'. 

These phenomena, which have been a source of fascination for medics and the public alike for decades, are believed to occur when people are clinically 'dead', and extremely unlikely to survive. 

Many of those who've had such an experience claim to have seen the afterlife.

But, recalling the experience on a Reddit thread garnering more than 12,000 likes, the user said: 'During my visit, I learned things about our universe that I wish I hadn't. 

In a post shared to a social media thread, the unidentified user told how they were just 15 years old when, in 2003, they suddenly collapsed in the road 

'It began with light. Blinding, white, pervasive. It bathed me, calmed me. It was everything they tell you about. Beatific, welcoming, the stuff of spiritual experiences.

'I had the distinct feeling of ascent, like the light was lifting me skyward. I passed through several sets of gates, which my dizzied consciousness hardly registered.

'I arrived in a place without dimension, a place beyond reality. It only made sense while I occupied it.'

But they also claimed they were faced with several 'cold' and 'mocking' creature-like figures that delivered 'horrifying truths about existence'. 

They added: 'At first, because of my Christian upbringing, I believed them to be angels. 

'In my incorporeal form, I made the spiritually-equivalent gesture of opening my arms, anticipating their embrace.

'Instead, I felt myself shackled by their powers, like a collared dog. 

'Humiliation and terror came over me. These were not the ethereal beings I'd been led to believe await us.

'Six minutes in "heaven" felt like a lifetime.'

Once the minutes came to an abrupt end, they returned to their body 'on Earth'.

However, they also claimed the creature-like figures told them 'not to reveal their existence to the rest of my kind'. 

'I can't imagine anything worse than what I experienced, subsumed beneath an ineffable grief and torment.'

They added: 'For weeks, I tried to explain to anyone who would listen what I experienced. 

'Everyone told me I'd suffered a very serious and traumatic experience for a young man, that the event left scars on my psyche as well as my heart.'

The tale, posted on social media, is based on just one unverified experience. 

But Reddit users have been fascinated by the man's perspective, with the post garnering more than 400 comments from posters sharing their shock and horror.

Amber Cavanagh previously told MailOnline she was 43 when she suffered two strokes and entered the 'meeting point' of heaven.

Mrs Cavanagh, from Canada, said she could see her husband 'weeping over' her body.

Amber Cavanagh previously told MailOnline she was 43 when she suffered two strokes and entered the 'meeting point' of heaven

Mrs Cavanagh, from Canada, said she could see her husband (pictured above) 'weeping over' her body

Experiences of seeing and hearing things whilst clinically dead do have some scientific basis. 

For years studies have shown the human brain still functions normally for a very brief time after the heart stops, although it appears to have ceased activity on regular scans.

Research has also revealed that the brain can still experience sporadic bursts of activity even after an hour without oxygen, during resuscitation.

Such discoveries have led to some medics calling for an overhaul of the standard practice that rules people should be declared dead after three-to-five minutes of oxygen deprivation to the brain, as these patients could still in theory be resuscitated. 

People have previously told MailOnline of out of body experiences such as seeing bright lights at the end of a tunnel or meeting deceased relatives.

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

• These people died and came back to life...what they saw in the afterlife made them rethink everything 

Others, meanwhile, have also recalled seeing a heavenly afterlife.

While evidence on something happening in brains after clinical death is still being explored, exactly why so many people have similar experiences remains an issue of contention among experts.

Some theorise that as the brain is undergoing these changes essentially the 'brakes' come off the system and this opens our perception to incredibly lucid and vivid experiences of stored memories from our lives. 

However, this is only a theory and other experts dispute this. 

Clinical death also differs from brain death.

Brain death is when a person on an artificial life support machine no longer has any brain function, which means they will not regain consciousness.

Such patients have no chance of recovery because their body is unable to survive without artificial life support.

In the UK this means a person who has suffered brain death is legally dead.

This can be difficult to comprehend for families of the deceased as they can see their loved one's chest rise and fall with every breath from the ventilator as well as their heart continuing to beat.

Brain death can be caused by both illness and injury when blood and/or oxygen supplies are cut off to the vital organ.

The condition is different from a vegetative state where a patient's brain function remains.

RELATED VIDEOS

Rethinking Death: Exploring What Happens When We Die

Clinically Dead for 10 Mins; Why We Have Nothing to Fear (Profound NDE)

Man Dies & Learns We Have It Completely Backwards! (Powerful NDE)

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

• READ MORE: NASA makes 'emergency' decision as asteroid approaches Earth 

By WILIAM HUNTER

A terrifying new animation has revealed the projected path of the 'city-destroying' asteroid heading towards Earth. 

And it suggests that Earth isn't the only object in the firing line. 

According to Dr David Rankin, operations engineer for the University of Arizona's Catalina Sky Survey, the moon is also at risk of being hit. 

Dr Rankin calculated the route that the asteroid, 2024 YR4, is most likely to take.

His calculations indicate that 2024 YR4 currently has a 2.1 per cent, or one in 48, chance of colliding with Earth on December 22, 2032.

This is actually slightly less than previous estimates, which suggested there was a 2.3 per cent (one in 43) chance of impact.

Meanwhile, the scientist predicts there's a roughly 0.3 per cent (one in 333) chance of 2024 YR4 hitting the moon.

If the asteroid does hit Earth, the impact could release a blast of energy equivalent to 15 megatons of TNT - 100 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima during World War II.

David Rankin, operations engineer for the University of Arizona's Catalina Sky Survey, calculated the route 2024 YR4 is most likely to take (white line). Showing the precise collision course which could lead to a deadly impact 

A terrifying new simulation reveals the path of the city-killer asteroid 2024 YR4 which has a 2.1 per cent probability of colliding with Earth in 2032

(stock image)

The asteroid was first detected by the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) station in December last year.

It soon set alarm bells ringing as NASA almost doubled the probability of an impact with Earth from 1.2 per cent to 2.3 per cent.

Although that probability has now slightly decreased, 2024 YR4 is still the only large asteroid with an impact probability greater than one per cent - making it by far Earth's biggest threat.

However, Dr Rankin's calculations present a chilling new possibility that the asteroid could collide with the moon instead.

In a post on BlueSky, Dr Rankin revealed that there was a roughly 0.3 per cent chance of 2024 YR4 hitting the moon.

Without any atmosphere to slow its approach, the asteroid would slam into the lunar surface at a staggering speed of 31,000 miles per hour (50,000 kilometres per hour).

The collision would unleash an explosion 343 times the size of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima and carve out a crater up to 1.2 miles (2km) across.

Should it hit the moon, it is most likely to land in the region stretching south from the Mare Crisium, a large plain of solidified lava, to the crater Tycho.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is about the same size as the Tunguska asteroid, which caused the largest impact event in recorded history when it shot through Earth's atmosphere in 1908, flattening 830 square miles (2,150 square km) of forest (pictured)

Analysis of 2024 YR4's orbit indicates that the asteroid will most likely pass by Earth on December 22, 2032. However, new calculations suggest that it could also collide with the moon 

This could be concerning since this would place the impact on the side of the moon facing Earth, potentially exposing us to a shower of lunar shrapnel.

Thankfully, experts say that the Earth likely wouldn't be harmed by any impact which occurs on the moon.

Dr Rankin told New Scientist: 'There is the possibility this would eject some material back out that could hit the Earth, but I highly doubt it would cause any major threat.'

Unlike a large object such as 2024 YR4, these smaller pieces of debris should burn up harmlessly in the atmosphere creating nothing more than a particularly bright meteor shower.

In fact, some experts suggest that the collision between the asteroid and the moon could create a truly spectacular display.

Gareth Collins, a professor of planetary science at Imperial College London, told New Scientist: 'The impact flash of vaporised rock would be visible from Earth, even in the daytime.'

That means any keen stargazers on Earth could see the moment the asteroid detonates on the lunar surface with the naked eye.

However, it is currently seven times more likely to hit Earth rather than the moon. 

Without any atmosphere to slow it down, the asteroid would hit the moon at 31,000 miles per hour (50,000 kilometres per hour), creating an explosion bright enough to see from Earth with the naked eye 

These probabilities are likely to change in the future as scientists gather more information about the asteroid's orbit.

The current estimates for 2024 YR4's orbital path, speed, and size come from hundreds of images taken by powerful telescopes all around the world.

However, over such a short period of time, it is difficult to precisely predict where the asteroid will travel.

While astronomers hope that the probability of an impact will rapidly fall towards zero, a direct collision with Earth cannot be ruled out.  

Recently, NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) made the emergency decision to use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to take more accurate measurements.

The JWST will record the heat emitted by the asteroid using its infrared sensors which will give a more accurate estimate for its size.

A team of ESA scientists will make one observation in March when the asteroid reaches its peak brightness and another in May as it travels away from Earth.

This will be the last chance to observe 2024 YR4 before it becomes too dim to see from Earth until it returns again in 2028.

The European Space Agency has been given emergency access to the James Webb Space Telescope (pictured) to measure the asteroid's size more accurately 

Already, NASA has reached a hugely-important milestone with the DART asteroid deflection mission. In September 2022, the DART spacecraft was intentionally crashed into Dimorphos, an asteroid 6.8 million miles away. A similar method could be used to deflect asteroid 2024 YR4 before it reaches Earth 

Those observations will be critical for determining whether the world's space agencies need to take action to divert its course.

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission demonstrated how a space rock could potentially be thrown off a collision course with Earth by crashing a spacecraft into it.

Using a similar strategy to knock 2024 YR4 off its predicted orbit is one possible way that planetary defence organisations could protect Earth.  

However, with only eight years until the asteroid arrives, some scientists have cast doubt on the plan to deflect the killer asteroid.

In a post on X, Dr Robin George Andrews, a volcanologist and author based in London, points out that we 'have less than eight years to potentially deal with it'.

'You need 10 years or more to build, plan and execute an asteroid deflection mission,' he said.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

'Stranded' Starliner astronauts finally have a return date — and it's sooner than expected

Related: 

• Boeing Starliner astronauts could spend nearly 300 days stuck in space — is that a new record?

As for the stranded pair, they have made the most of their time in orbit: Williams recently broke the record for the most nonconsecutive hours of spacewalking by a female astronaut.

A long-awaited homecoming

In December 2024, NASA announced that Williams and Wilmore would return on a newly designed SpaceX Dragon capsule in late March 2025 at the earliest. But now, the astronauts and the rest of Crew-9 will come home on a previously flown Dragon capsule, the Endurance. This will allow the swap between Crew-9 and Crew-10 to happen sooner while SpaceX continues to finalize the interior and final integration of the new Dragon capsule, according to NASA.

Along with Wilmore and Williams, astronaut Nick Hague and Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will leave the ISS in March. They'll be replaced by NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Takuya Onishi, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Kirill Peskov. The precise day of the return will be determined by weather conditions near Florida, where Endurance will splash down.

{ https://www.livescience.com/space }

Uranus’s Moon Ariel is Probably Hiding a Vast Ocean

"The size of Ariel's possible ocean and its depth beneath the surface can only be estimated..."

A photograph of Ariel.

Credit: NASA.

Unlike other surface features, these chasms appear to be the only structures facilitating material movement from Ariel’s interior, making them particularly valuable for future study.

Earth-Like Geological Processes at Work?

Scientists analyzing Ariel’s terrain have found striking similarities to a geological process observed on Earth known as spreading. This occurs along volcanic ridges where the seafloor slowly separates, allowing molten material to rise and form new crust.

On Ariel, a similar process could be unfolding as warmer material from the moon’s interior forces its way up, splitting the icy surface before filling the cracks. Researchers tested this theory by digitally aligning the two sides of Ariel’s chasms as if “zipping them back up,” and found a perfect match. The presence of parallel grooves along some chasm floors further supports the idea that material has been accumulating over time through repeated geological activity.

Could a Hidden Ocean Be Driving These Changes?

Another factor influencing Ariel’s surface could be gravitational interactions between Uranus and its moons. These interactions, known as orbital resonance, create internal heating that can melt ice and sustain liquid water beneath the crust.

Recent observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) provide compelling evidence that a hidden ocean may exist beneath Ariel’s surface. If so, this ocean might be responsible for the carbon dioxide deposits seen within the moon’s deep chasms. However, current data is insufficient to determine the exact size and depth of this possible ocean.

“The size of Ariel’s possible ocean and its depth beneath the surface can only be estimated, but it may be too isolated to interact with spreading centers,” Beddingfield explains.

Despite significant advancements in planetary exploration, much about Ariel remains unknown. While the Voyager 2 spacecraft provided valuable data during its 1986 flyby, it lacked the instruments needed to map the precise distribution of ices on the moon’s surface. Future missions with more advanced sensors will be crucial in determining whether Ariel is truly home to a hidden ocean—and what that might mean for our understanding of ocean worlds beyond Earth.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

An illustration of a planet-killer asteroid.

Depositphotos.

Although further tracking will likely lower the impact probability, 2024 YR4 is a top priority for planetary defense experts.

2. Bennu

• Potential Impact Date: September 24, 2182
• Estimated Size: 490 meters
• Impact Probability: 1 in 2,700 (0.037%)
• Energy Release Upon Impact: Equivalent to 1.4 billion tons of TNT

Bennu is one of the most well-studied potentially hazardous asteroids, thanks to NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission, which returned samples in 2023.

Although the impact probability is low, a collision would be catastrophic—releasing enough energy to cause continent-wide destruction and severe climate disruptions. NASA scientists continue to monitor Bennu to determine if future deflection strategies will be necessary.

3. 1950 DA

• Potential Impact Date: March 16, 2880
• Estimated Size: 1,300 meters
• Impact Probability: 1 in 34,500 (0.0029%)
• Energy Release Upon Impact: Equivalent to 75 billion tons of TNT

1950 DA is a massive asteroid that, despite its low impact probability, remains a serious long-term threat. If it were to hit Earth, it would cause global devastation—triggering tsunamis, firestorms, and potentially a planet-wide climate crisis.

Although the impact risk is expected to decrease with further observations, planetary defense programs continue to monitor this colossal object.

4. 2023 VD3

• Potential Impact Date: November 8, 2034
• Estimated Size: 11–24 meters
• Impact Probability: 1 in 387 (0.26%)
• Energy Release Upon Impact: Comparable to the Chelyabinsk meteor event

Although 2023 VD3 is much smaller than the other asteroids on this list, its relatively high impact probability makes it a major concern. With a 1 in 387 chance of impact in 2034, it has one of the highest statistical risks currently known.

While it wouldn’t cause a global disaster, an asteroid of this size could explode in the atmosphere, producing a shockwave strong enough to damage buildings and injure thousands—similar to the Chelyabinsk event in 2013, where a 20-meter asteroid caused widespread damage.

Further observations will determine whether 2023 VD3 will safely pass Earth or require further attention.

5. 1979 XB

• Potential Impact Date: December 14, 2113
• Estimated Size: 400–900 meters
• Impact Probability: 1 in 1.8 million (0.000055%)
• Energy Release Upon Impact: Equivalent to 30 billion tons of TNT

First observed in 1979, 1979 XB is one of the largest asteroids on the risk list. Because of its size, a collision with Earth would have severe global consequences, similar to the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaurs.

However, 1979 XB is classified as a lost asteroid, meaning its exact orbit is uncertain. Scientists are working to relocate it and refine its trajectory to confirm whether it poses a real long-term risk.

Can We Stop an Asteroid Impact?

While none of these asteroids pose an imminent danger, scientists are working on planetary defense strategies to ensure Earth’s safety.

• NASA’s DART Mission – Successfully altered an asteroid’s trajectory in 2022, proving that impact deflection is possible.
• Upcoming Space Missions – Future missions will explore gravity tractors, nuclear deflection, and other techniques to steer dangerous asteroids away from Earth.
• Advanced Tracking Systems – Telescopes like ATLAS, Pan-STARRS, and the Vera C. Rubin Observatory are improving our ability to detect threats decades in advance.

The likelihood of a catastrophic asteroid impact remains low, but continuous tracking is critical for ensuring early detection and possible deflection efforts.

Among all the asteroids being monitored, 2024 YR4 is the most immediate concern due to its relatively high impact probability in 2032. While ongoing observations will likely refine its trajectory, planetary defense experts are paying close attention—ensuring that if an asteroid ever truly threatens Earth, we’ll be ready.

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{ https://curiosmos.com/ }

A Blown-Glass Structure Could House Astronauts on the Moon

Surprisingly, the lack of outside air pressure actually makes it easier to form a sphere than it would be on Earth since less pressure would be necessary to expand the sphere outwards. There are some nuances in the glass as well, with it being more like a glass lattice with embedded titanium or aluminum to make it stronger. Specific kinds of glass, such as borosilicate glass, could potentially add to the strength of the glass itself.

Most of the materials required to create such a structure could already be found on the lunar surface. Lunar regolith is full of the raw building materials required to make the structure work. Some of it has already been blasted into glass-like structures called agglutinates when micrometeoroids hit the lunar surface.

Those micrometeoroid impacts pose another risk to the glass sphere. Dr. Bermudez suggests having multiple layers of glass protecting the habitat, each with a layer of argon between them, like modern-day double-glazed windows. He suggests that spinning the outer layer might also provide some advantage, as will the spherical shape itself, as the impact force will dissipate better into the structure than it would on a flat surface.

Dr. Bermudez’s dreams don’t stop at the Moon, though. He suggests such a glass-blown structure could be useful on Mars or asteroids, where the microgravity would make it even easier to create these structures. On Mars, such a habitat might be limited to the top of Olympus Mons, where the atmosphere is thinner, and there isn’t as much wind and dust that could erode away the outer layers.

Many use cases exist for a structure like this, though many technical challenges remain. NIAC is the place for novel ideas that could potentially impact space exploration, and this one certainly fits that bill. As Dr. Bermudez works through de-risking his design, we get closer than ever to a future of aesthetically pleasing habitats on the Moon and everywhere else in the solar system.

Learn More:

• NASA / Martin Bermudez – Lunar Glass Structure (LUNGS): Enabling Construction of Monolithic Habitats in Low-Gravity
• UT – Glass Fibers in Lunar Regolith Could Help Build Structures on the Moon
• UT – Recreating the Extreme Forces of an Asteroid Impact in the Lab
• UT – Conceptual Design for a Lunar Habitat

Lead Image:

• Artist’s concept of a lunar sphere on the lunar surface.
• Credit – NASA / Martin Bermudez

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

A Lunar Map for the Best Places to Get Samples

The goal of the study is to not only create an improved geologic map of Orientale basin, but to provide a foundation for future missions to potentially obtain surface samples of the impact melt and return them to Earth for analysis. Such analyses would reveal absolute ages of the impact melt through radiometric dating since these samples have been frozen in time for potentially billions of years. These results could help scientists unravel the Earth’s impact history, as both the Earth and Moon were potentially formed around the same period.

Along with the targeted impact melt, the team successfully identified and mapped a myriad of geologic features within Orientale basin as part of the new geologic map, including smaller craters within Orientale, fractures, fault lines, calderas, crater ejecta, and mare (volcanic basalt deposits), while also constructing a top-to-bottom map of Orientale basin, also called a stratigraphic map, that shows the most recent layers on top with the oldest layers on the bottom.

Image of the most recent Orientale basin geologic map at 1:200,000-scale, which improves upon past geologic maps of the region that were 1:5,000,000-scale. The project focused on impact melt (depicted in red), which was created from the extreme heat of the high-speed impact and has been preserved for potentially billions of years. The stars represent potential landing sites for future sample return missions that scientists can analyze back on Earth to determine the absolute age of Oriental basin. (Credit: Runyon et al.)

Unlike Earth, whose surface processes like plate tectonics and multitude of weather processes have erased impacts from billions of years ago, the preserved lunar geologic record could provide incredible insight into not only Earth’s impact history, but both how and when life first emerged on our planet. This is due to Orientale basin’s crater size and age, as such a large impact on Earth billions of years ago could have postponed or reset how and when life first emerged on the Earth.

“Giant impacts – like the one that formed Orientale – can vaporize an ocean and kill any life that had already started,” said Dr. Runyon. “Some recent modeling has shown that we probably never totally sterilized Earth during these big impacts, but we don’t know for sure. At some point our oceans could have been vaporized from impacts, then recondensed and rained out repeatedly. If that happened a number of times, it’s only after the last time that life could have gotten a foothold.”

While Orientale basin is one of the most striking features on the lunar surface, more than approximately 75 percent of it is not visible from Earth due to its location at the lunar nearside and farside boundary on the western limb of the Moon as observed from the Earth. Therefore, studying the Orientale basin is only possible with spacecraft. Despite this, Orientale basin was first suggested to be an impact crater during the 1960s when scientists at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory used groundbreaking techniques to “image” the sides of the Moon not visible to Earth using telescopic images taken from the Earth.

While NASA is focused on returning astronauts to the lunar surface with its Artemis program with the goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon, returning scientific samples from Orientale basin could provide enormous scientific benefits for helping us better understand both the age of the Moon but also how and when life emerged on Earth billions of years ago.

How will the Orientale basin geologic map help us better understand the Moon’s and Earth’s history in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!

As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

PREMIUM

De asteroïde in de afbeelding is ter illustratie en geen echte representatie van de grootte van 2024 YR4 

© PN/GETTY

Kans dat asteroïde aarde raakt in 2032 is bijna verdubbeld: moeten we ons zorgen maken om 2024 YR4?

Er is een kleine kans dat in 2032 een asteroïde zal inslaan op onze planeet. Tot die conclusie kwamen astronomen recent na het bestuderen van de baan van 2024 YR4 rond de zon. Volgens nieuwe berekeningen is die kans inmiddels net niet verdubbeld. Moeten we ons zorgen maken? Waar en hoe hard kan ze inslaan? En kunnen we daar iets tegen ondernemen? HLN-wetenschapsexpert Martijn Peters stelt gerust en licht de situatie toe.

Martijn Peters

Asteroïde 2024 YR4 waargenomen door de Magdalena Ridge 2.4m telescope van het New Mexico Institute of Technology op 27 januari 2025.  © AFP

Hoe bereken je die kans?

De rode lijn bestaat uit 500 punten waarop de asteroïde de aarde zou kunnen passeren op 22 december 2032. Zo’n lijn kan links of rechts van de aarde liggen of onze planeet kruisen. Dat laatste is momenteel het geval. Dan kan je de kans van impact berekenen door de lengte te nemen van de rode lijn en te kijken hoeveel procent daarvan de breedte van de aarde is (zo’n 12.756 km). In dit geval is dat 2,1 procent.

Wetenschappers berekenen met de huidige gegevens op welke punten de asteroïde langs de aarde kan vliegen (rode lijn)  © ESA

De asteroïde 99942 Apophis haalde begin jaren 2000 even een score van 4 op de schaal van Torino. Het hoogste ooit.  © ESA

Over een oppervlakte van 2.000 vierkante kilometer lagen vrijwel alle bomen tegen de grond nadat een asteroïde in de lucht was ontploft in Tunguska.  © Universal Images Group via Getty

Volgens voorlopige berekeningen lopen wij in Europa geen gevaar.  © Daniel Bamberger

{ https://www.hln.be/weer-en-wetenschap/ }

NASA’s Webb Reveals the Ancient Surfaces of Trans-Neptunian Objects

Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) are icy bodies ranging in size from Pluto and Eris (dwarf planets with diameters of about 1,500 miles) down to tens of miles (Arrokoth) and even smaller. TNOs are on orbits comparable in size, or even much larger than, that of Neptune. The existence of TNOs was postulated by Kenneth Edgeworth, and later by Gerard Kuiper, in the 1950s; the region of space occupied by TNOs is usually referred to as the Kuiper Belt, and TNOs themselves, sometimes referred to as Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs).

The orbits of TNOs are extremely diverse but fall into groupings that reflect the outward migration of Uranus and Neptune early in the history of the formation of the solar system. As such, TNOs hold the keys to understanding that early history. However, it took NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope and its unparalleled ability to study the materials on the surfaces of TNOs to fully begin to grasp what they can tell us about our origins. Here Bryan Holler and John Stansberry from the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI) in Baltimore describe how Webb is expanding our knowledge of these objects.

Images of the trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) Pluto [left] and Arrokoth [right], the primary flyby targets of NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft in 2015 and 2019. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope is capable of obtaining observations for in-depth studies of a wide range of TNOs that both complement, and go beyond what was learned by New Horizons. (Image credits: NASA/SwRI/JHU-APL) Pluto was the first TNO discovered, in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory. It wasn’t until 1992 that the second TNO (1992 QB₁, now named Albion) was discovered, by Dave Jewitt at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Jane Luu at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Now over 5,000 TNOs have been identified. The orbits of TNOs reveal an “architecture” that records the history of how the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune evolved early in solar system history. Computer models indicate that as Uranus and Neptune migrated outward into the primordial disk of TNOs, they ejected many objects and shepherded the remaining TNOs onto the orbits we see today. These present-day orbits are classified based on their orbital distances, eccentricity (ellipticity of the orbit), and inclination (tilt with respect to the plane that the planets orbit in). Of particular interest are objects on dynamically “cold” classical orbits, with very low inclination and eccentricity. The computer models indicate that these cold-classical objects still occupy their primordial orbits, and so represent an undisturbed remnant of the original protoplanetary disk. These TNOs truly represent the pristine building blocks of the planets, and one of them, Arrokoth, was visited and studied up-close by the New Horizons spacecraft in January 2019.

Of the TNOs whose orbits were perturbed during giant-planet migration, it is difficult to trace them back to where they formed. Yet it is only by studying the composition of individual TNOs that we can hope to map out the composition of the primordial outer disk. TNOs are on very distant orbits from the Sun, and are very cold, below minus 280 degrees Fahrenheit (about minus 170 degrees  Celsius), so their surfaces could provide information about the original composition of planetesimals within the disk. Webb is the first observatory able to provide detailed compositional information about typical TNOs (with diameters less than about 500 miles, or 800 kilometers) because of its large primary mirror and highly sensitive instruments. In particular, the Near Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) has for the first time revealed TNO compositions in exquisite detail.

Spectra for the three TNO spectral classes identified for the first time using data from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. The heavy solid line in each panel is the average of over a dozen TNO spectra within each class. Prominent features in each spectrum are highlighted and/or labeled with the name of the molecule, or class of materials, responsible for absorbing at those wavelengths. Credit: Adapted from Pinilla-Alonso et al. 2024.

Webb’s NIRSpec divides light at wavelengths between about 1 and 5 microns into hundreds or thousands of individual colors. The relative brightness of those colors as a function of wavelength is a spectrum. Different materials exhibit different spectra that help identify the composition of the object observed. Because the TNOs formed in the cold, outer portions of the protoplanetary disk, it has long been expected that they would have surfaces dominated by ices of molecules that are gases or liquids at Earth’s surface, e.g. water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitrogen (N₂), and methane (CH₄), among others. Further, radiation from the Sun and outside the solar system alters the chemistry, creating new, more complex hydrocarbon (organic) molecules such as methanol (CH₃OH), acetylene (C₂H₂), and ethane (C₂H₆). Webb data has confirmed this, but in unexpected ways, and in unprecedented detail.

Within the first two years of science operations, Webb has taken high-quality spectra of over 75 TNOs and provided the first comprehensive look at what they are made of, including nearly 60 objects from the Large Cycle 1 program called “DiSCo-TNOs” (program ID #2418, PI: Noemí Pinilla-Alonso). The major result from the large dataset from the DiSCo-TNOs program is the identification of three spectral classes, which is the first evidence for distinct surface compositions, that was completely unexpected based on earlier studies. These classifications are named based on the spectral shape in the 2.5–4 micron region, with the deepest band centered at 3.0 microns generated by molecules that contain an oxygen-hydrogen bond, such as water. Bowl-type spectra are dominated by the absorption features of water ice, with some carbon dioxide ice, and indications of silicate-rich dust. Double-dip spectra have absorption features due to complex organic molecules, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide ices. Cliff spectra have even more complex organic materials and carbon dioxide than Double-dips, and also include features due to CH₃OH. Double-dip spectra indicate very abundant and pure carbon dioxide ice, as evidenced by the two reflectance peaks (never observed outside of a laboratory) bounding the 4.27 micron band. The three spectral types are also distinct in their color at the shortest visible wavelengths, with bowls being least red, double-dips intermediate, and cliffs reddest.

The DiSCo-TNOs team hypothesizes in Pinilla-Alonso et al. (2024) that these different spectral types are the result of higher temperatures closer to the Sun, and colder temperatures farther out. Specifically, the Bowl types formed closer to the Sun and were subject to higher temperatures that essentially baked off the carbon dioxide and methane. These compounds were more stable on Double-dips and Cliffs, which formed farther out. An important clue leading to that hypothesis is that all of the objects on undisturbed cold-classical orbits are Cliffs. TNOs on other orbits include objects from all three compositional types, as would be expected due to the dynamical reshuffling as Neptune migrated outward, as described above.

Looking ahead, Webb continues to carry out a robust program of TNO observations each year, with new and exciting programs selected by the community for execution. Cycle 3 will see imaging and spectroscopy of a handful of TNOs and their satellites, including the first-ever spectral observations of the “extreme” TNOs, with orbits that take them well into interstellar space. Another program aims to circle back to targets observed in the first year of science operations to get an even more detailed look at the materials that led to the formation of TNOs in the protosolar nebula. Two other programs focus on imaging and spectroscopy of TNO binary systems to better understand the origins of TNO satellites, either via giant impacts or co-formation via gravitational collapse. Who knows what new ideas and exciting discoveries the next year will bring?

  Editor’s Note: These findings have been published in Nature Astronomy.                        

Related Links:

The full list of team members for General Observers program 2418.

Unveiling New Planets Beyond Neptune: Unknown Worlds Discovered!

3 MINUTES AGO: NASA Revealed Unexpected Discovery on Neptune!

{ https://www.nasa.gov/ }

Area 51 rocked by earthquake as seismic activity around mysterious testing site ramps up

• READ MORE:  UFO swarm filmed over Area 51

By CHRIS MELORE ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

A 2.8 magnitude earthquake that rattled Las Vegas Monday hit just miles from the secretive US Air Force base Area 51.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) says the quake struck 32 miles southeast of Beatty that sits about 60 miles from the mysterious military facility.

Area 51 has become a cultural phenomenon thanks to decades of conspiracy theories connecting the base to UFOs, aliens, and experimental aircraft testing.

The announcement of a large tremor right on the base's doorstep will likely ramp up the speculation of what might be happening underground at this top secret facility - even if this was just an ordinary earthquake.

The small earthquake was detected at 2:11 a.m. PST Monday.

Although an earthquake above 2.5 in magnitude can often be felt and cause minor damage, there have not been any reports of injuries due to the quake.

Nevada is one of the most seismically active states in the country, according to the National Parks Service.

Officials say it ranks third after California and Alaska because of the state's many faults, found at the base of almost every mountain range.

The USGS reported that a 2.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nevada on February 10, roughly 50 south of the mysterious US Air Force base Area 51.

The 2.8 magnitude quake near Area 51 - and less than 80 miles from Las Vegas - wasn't even the largest seismic event in Nevada in recent months. 

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake shook northern Nevada on December 9, 2024.

It was the largest quake since May 15, 2020, when a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Monte Cristo Range.

Nevada experiences thousands of microearthquakes each year, according to Shakeout.

'Earthquakes in Western Nevada are caused by the extension that is pulling Nevada apart and wrenching created as the Sierra Nevada is pulled to the north because it is caught up in the Pacific-North America plate motion,' the site explains. 

If you're hoping to ask someone at the secretive military base about the earthquake, think again.

Area 51 is not accessible by the public and is even off-limits to regular military air traffic.

In fact, a Google map of the area where Monday's earthquake took place will show you nothing at all - no base or mention of the Air Force's presence in the Nevada desert.

Above, a satellite view of Area 51. The United States Air Force facility is a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base, within the Nevada Test and Training Range.

However, some believe the theories about Area 51 are true and say the details will soon become public.

Jim Goodall, an aviation journalist with firsthand sources who worked at the classified base, gave an interview in the mid-1990s where he discussed top-secret technologies at the site that 'would make George Lucas envious.'

'One gentleman spent 12 of his 30 years in black programs at Groom Lake [as Area 51 is also known],' Goodall explained in a recently unearthed documentary interview.

'I asked him, 'Can you really tell me what's happening out there?'' he continued.

'And he said, 'Well, there's a lot of things going on there that I won't be able to tell you until the year 2025.''

The mention of '2025' could refer to an executive order by then-President Bill Clinton, which established a 25-year timer for the 'automatic declassification' of government secrets.

Recently, secret military testing has been a hot topic throughout the US as countless people have spotted mysterious drone swarms over their neighborhoods.

In November, scores of witnesses revealed footage of eerie 'drone' UFO swarms buzzing key US military sites, including 'a big fireball in a cube' over Area 51.

The Las Vegas-area witness who reported this bizarre cube-shaped object claims to have observed similar strange aerial lights in the area 'over 100 times' since June 2020, adding that these craft always seem to head towards the top secret base. 

'I lived under a commercial flight pattern near the airport, so I'm very familiar with what airplanes and conventional aircraft look and behave like,' one observer to a September 13, 2022 case (above) stated. 'This was not conventional,' they said of the 'very bright light.'

A Google map search of the area where the February 10 earthquake took place shows a blank space where Area 51 should be.

In 2022, former President Bill Clinton told James Cordon he sent federal agents to Area 51 to find out if aliens were hiding there.

'When I was president, and I had a Chief of Staff John Podesta - he loved science fiction - he made every attempt to find out everything about Roswell. And we also sent people to Area 51, we wanted to make sure there were no aliens,' the 42nd president said.

When Cordon excitedly asked the former president who exactly he sent to the coveted area, he grabbed the late-night host's shoulder and said: 'Oh, if I told you that.'

However, Clinton ended up revealing that, while the alien hunt was a disappointment, the base was used as a research and test ground for stealth aircraft.

'I got to find out how we're going to deal with this, because [Area 51] is where we do a lot our invisibility research in terms of technology, like how do we fly airplanes that aren't pick up by radar and all that,' he said. 'So that's why they're so secretive.'

As for the current commander-in-chief, President Donald Trump noted during the 2024 campaign that he isn't really a conspiracy theorist when it comes to the famous base.

Trump said during his interview on the Joe Rogan podcast, 'I have to be honest. I have never been a believer. I have people that Area 51 or whatever it is. I think it's the number one tourist attraction in the whole country or something. Area 51 in Las Vegas.'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

Scientist gives chilling update on the 'city-destroying' asteroid heading towards Earth - and warns NASA has left it too late to deflect it

• READ MORE: Map shows what will happen if 2024 YR4 asteroid hits UK in 2032

By JONATHAN CHADWICK FOR MAILONLINE 

Being wiped out by a massive space rock that hits Earth at thousands of miles an hour may sound like a plot worthy of a Hollywood film. 

But a newly-discovered space rock, called 2024 YR4, really is heading our way. 

Only discovered at the end of last year, 2024 YR4 is somewhere between 130 to 300 ft (40 to 90 metres) in diameter – so likely bigger than the Statue of Liberty. 

Last week, scientists upgraded the risk that 2024 YR4 will hit Earth to 1-in-43 (2.3 per cent), with an impact date of December 22, 2032. 

Now, in a chilling update on X, a scientist says 'we might not be able to stop 2024 YR4' from hitting Earth, even with a deflection mission. 

Dr Robin George Andrews, a volcanologist and author based in London, points out that we 'have less than eight years to potentially deal with it'. 

'You need 10 years or more to build, plan and execute an asteroid deflection mission,' he said.

'We don't have much time.'  

Scientists currently predict that the 90-metre-wide (300 feet) asteroid 2024 YR4 has a one in 43 chance of hitting Earth in 2032. If it does it would cause widespread damage to a populated area 

Dr Robin George Andrews, a volcanologist and author based in London, says 'we might not be able to stop 2024 YR4'

NASA's Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, surely one of its greatest feats ever, demonstrated how a space rock could potentially be thrown off a collision course with Earth by crashing a spacecraft into it. 

The DART spacecraft launched from California in November 2021 and completed its 10-month journey when it hit the asteroid Dimorphos on September 26, 2022.

Dimorphos, around 560 feet in diameter, orbits a larger asteroid called Didymos, both of which are around 6.8 million miles away from our planet. 

The collision shortened Dimorphos' orbit by more than half an hour – making it an even greater success than NASA had anticipated. 

However, neither Dimorphos nor its Didymos posed any danger to Earth; instead, DART was rehearsal of what may be required if a space rock does one day threaten our planet. 

Although he acknowledged DART 'worked wonders', Dr Andrews said we 'might not be able to stop 2024 YR4' in a similar way. 

'It doesn't mean we can use kinetic impactors like it to deflect any asteroid whenever we want,' he said. 

'So much could go wrong if we try and hit it with something like DART.' 

On average, Earth is hit by a football pitch-sized rock every 5,000 years, and a civilisation-ending asteroid every one million years, according to NASA's Near-Earth Object Program

Already, NASA has reached a hugely-important milestone with the DART asteroid deflection mission. In September 2022, the DART spacecraft was intentionally crashed into Dimorphos, an asteroid 6.8 million miles away

The Dimorphos space rock is pictured here as seen by the DART spacecraft 11 seconds before impact 

What is 2024 YR4? 

2024 YR4 is a 'city killer' asteroid determined to have a low chance of impacting Earth on December 2, 2032. 

It was first spotted in late December last year by astronomers at the NASA-funded Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System station in Chile. 

Since then, this rock has become a growing matter of concern as the probability of an impact rises. 

When first spotted, NASA assigned the asteroid an impact probability of 1.2 per cent that it would hit Earth, but that has since increased to 2.3 per cent. 

Most asteroids are not solid rock but 'rubble piles' – clusters of loose boulders, stones and sand held together by the weak mutual gravity of space. 

At the moment, we don’t know the exact size of 2024 YR4, or even if it's a rubble pile asteroid too – but hitting rubble pile asteroids with a spacecraft like DART could potentially generate a cloud of debris that could head towards Earth anyway.

'Nobody wants to accidentally "disrupt" an asteroid, because those components can still head for Earth,' Dr Andrews said. 

There's also the chance that a mammoth space effort akin to DART wouldn't even sufficiently alter the asteroid's path.  

'With only a few years down the line, we could accidentally deflect it – but not enough to make it avoid the planet,' the expert added. 

'Then, it still hits Earth, just somewhere else that wasn't going to be hit.' 

He added: 'I'm not saying a kinetic impactor mission, or missions, couldn't work.

'But we don't have much time, and we don't have enough info about this rapidly fading asteroid to properly inform our planetary defense decisions yet.'

It's worth remembering that 2024 YR4 has a 1-in-43 (2.3 per cent) chance of impacting Earth on December 2032. 

Dr Andrews stressed 'the odds of an impact remain low', likening the situation to having 43 buttons in front of you and being asked to press one of them. 

'I don’t think you should be concerned,' he said in an accompanying blog post. 

'When more observations come in, it’s probable that the impact odds will plummet to a zero as the orbit of the asteroid is more precisely defined.' 

If its point of impact is in the middle of a desert, or in the ocean, it will 'harm nobody', but if it hits a town or city, it will 'destroy much of it'. 

On average, Earth is hit by a football pitch-sized rock every 5,000 years, and a civilisation-ending asteroid every one million years, according to NASA's Near-Earth Object Program. 

Last year, a NASA report found we're poorly-prepared for an asteroid collision, even if we detected the object 14 years in advance. 

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is thought to be at least the same size as the Tunguska asteroid – which had an estimated diameter of 130 feet, according to NASA. 

Tunguska caused the largest impact event in recorded history when it shot through Earth's atmosphere in 1908, flattening 830 square miles (2,150 square km) of forest. 

Many lost consciousness and at least three people passed away as a direct consequence of the Tunguska event, according to a 2019 study. 

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

Curiosity Rover Captures Stunning Martian Clouds Unlike Anything Seen Before

Introduction

The exploration of Mars has captivated humanity for decades, and the Curiosity Rover, a flagship mission of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory, has played a pivotal role in expanding our understanding of the Red Planet. Launched in 2011 and landing on Mars in August 2012, Curiosity has been equipped with a suite of scientific instruments designed to analyze the Martian environment, geology, and atmosphere. One of its most recent and intriguing discoveries involves the observation of Martian clouds, which have been described as "stunning" and "unlike anything seen before." This analysis will delve into the significance of these cloud formations, the technology behind their capture, and the broader implications for our understanding of Martian weather patterns and atmospheric processes.

The Importance of Studying Martian Clouds

Clouds are a fundamental component of any planetary atmosphere, playing a crucial role in weather systems, climate regulation, and the distribution of heat. On Earth, clouds form from water vapor, but on Mars, the situation is different. Martian clouds are primarily composed of carbon dioxide ice crystals and water ice. Studying these clouds can provide insights into the Martian climate, including temperature fluctuations, seasonal changes, and atmospheric dynamics.

Understanding Martian clouds is also vital for future human exploration. Weather conditions, including cloud formation, can significantly impact landing operations, surface activities, and the sustainability of life-support systems. By analyzing the clouds observed by the Curiosity Rover, scientists can develop more accurate models of Martian weather, thereby enhancing the safety and success of future missions.

Lee waves: Lee waves are a special type of cloud created by the wind encountering obstacles and build up on the ‘leeward‘ or downwind side. The geometries of the lee waves depend on the shape of the obstacles.

Credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin.

The Curiosity Rover's Instruments

The Curiosity Rover is equipped with a variety of scientific instruments that allow it to capture high-resolution images and analyze atmospheric components. The most relevant instruments for cloud observation include:

1. MastCam: This camera system captures high-definition images and videos of the Martian landscape and atmosphere. It operates in multiple wavelengths, enabling the examination of clouds in different light conditions.

2. ChemCam: While primarily designed for analyzing the composition of Martian rocks and soil, ChemCam can also provide data on atmospheric elements that contribute to cloud formation.

3. Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS): This instrument continuously monitors atmospheric conditions, including temperature, humidity, and wind speed, which are essential for understanding cloud formation.

4. Dust Sensors: These sensors help to measure the amount of dust in the Martian atmosphere, which can influence cloud formation and behavior.

Through these instruments, Curiosity has been able to capture unique images and data regarding cloud activity on Mars, revealing patterns and phenomena that scientists had previously only theorized.

Capturing the Clouds: A Technical Overview

The recent observations of Martian clouds by the Curiosity Rover have been made possible through a combination of advanced imaging techniques and careful mission planning.

1. Imaging Techniques: The MastCam's capability to capture images in different wavelengths allows scientists to differentiate between various atmospheric components. For instance, using infrared imaging, researchers can identify water ice clouds that are not visible in standard color photography.

2. Timing and Conditions: The Curiosity team carefully plans imaging sessions based on optimal atmospheric conditions. Clouds on Mars are often transient and may only be visible during specific times of day or under particular weather conditions. The team’s understanding of Martian seasons and atmospheric patterns enables them to capture these fleeting moments effectively.

3. Data Transmission: Once the images are captured, they are transmitted back to Earth for analysis. The data is processed and analyzed using sophisticated algorithms, allowing scientists to enhance and interpret the images for further study.

Unique Characteristics of Martian Clouds

The clouds observed by Curiosity exhibit several unique characteristics that set them apart from clouds on Earth. These include:

1. Composition: As previously mentioned, Martian clouds are primarily composed of carbon dioxide ice and water ice. This composition leads to different optical properties and behavior compared to terrestrial clouds.

2. Formation Mechanisms: The formation of clouds on Mars is influenced by its thin atmosphere, which has a surface pressure less than 1% of Earth's. This affects how clouds form and dissipate, with processes such as temperature inversions playing a significant role.

3. Color and Appearance: The images captured by Curiosity show clouds with striking colors and textures. The interaction of sunlight with Martian dust and ice crystals can create vivid displays, often with hues of pink, orange, and blue. These colors can provide clues about the altitude and composition of the clouds.

4. Seasonal Variability: Martian clouds are subject to seasonal changes, influenced by the planet's axial tilt and orbital position. Observations from Curiosity have shown that cloud patterns can vary significantly between seasons, offering insights into the Martian climate.

Arsia Mons Elongated Cloud (AMEC): This elongated cloud has formed as a result of wind encountering the Arsia Mons mountains. It forms almost every day during a specific season, from early morning until noon. 

(Image credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin/A. Cowart)

Seemingly parallel white lines are Martian clouds sculpted by gravity waves, while the splotches of brown are wind-lifted dust clouds left wafting in the air due to seasonally sharp differences in temperatures and pressures. 

(Image credit: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)

Scientific Implications of Cloud Observations

The stunning images of Martian clouds captured by Curiosity have several scientific implications:

1. Understanding Martian Climate: The presence and behavior of clouds are integral to understanding the broader climate on Mars. By studying cloud formations, scientists can gain insights into temperature variations, seasonal cycles, and atmospheric dynamics.

2. Water Cycle on Mars: Clouds are a critical component of the water cycle, even on a planet as dry as Mars. Observations of cloud patterns may help scientists piece together how water moves through the Martian atmosphere, shedding light on the planet's potential to support life.

3. Comparative Planetology: The study of Martian clouds allows for comparisons with Earth's atmospheric processes. Understanding the differences and similarities can enhance our knowledge of planetary atmospheres in general, contributing to the field of comparative planetology.

4. Future Exploration: Insights gained from cloud observations can inform the planning of future Mars missions. Understanding weather patterns and atmospheric conditions will be crucial for ensuring the safety and success of crewed missions to Mars.

Conclusion

The Curiosity Rover's recent observations of Martian clouds provide a stunning glimpse into the complexity of the Martian atmosphere. With advanced imaging techniques and a suite of scientific instruments, Curiosity has captured unique cloud formations that challenge our previous understanding of the Martian climate. These observations are not only beautiful but also scientifically significant, offering insights into the planet's weather patterns, climate variability, and potential for supporting life. As we continue to explore Mars, the data gathered by Curiosity will undoubtedly play a crucial role in shaping our understanding of this enigmatic planet and preparing for future human exploration.

References

• NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission page
• Scientific journals on planetary atmospheres and Martian geology
• Recent publications on atmospheric observations from the Curiosity Rover

{ PETER2011 }

Are We Alone, or Have Aliens Already Found Us? Scientists Reveal the Signals We’re Sending

The study found that powerful planetary radar transmissions—such as those once sent from the Arecibo Observatory—could be spotted from up to 12,000 light-years away.

For decades, astronomers have searched for signs of alien civilizations, scanning the cosmos for radio signals or other “technosignatures.” But what if the roles were reversed? If an alien civilization had technology similar to ours, would they be able to detect Earth?

A groundbreaking study led by SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) scientists flips the script—analyzing which of humanity’s own signals could be visible from space and at what distances.

Could Aliens See or Hear Us? Here’s What the Science Says

While much of SETI’s work focuses on searching for extraterrestrial signals, this study looked at the issue from an entirely new perspective:

• What Earth-based signals are detectable from space?
• How far would an alien civilization need to be to pick them up?
• Which forms of technology—radio waves, pollution, city lights—would be most visible?

The Most Detectable Technosignature: Radio Signals

Among all human-made emissions, radio signals stand out as the most easily detectable. The study found that powerful planetary radar transmissions—such as those once sent from the Arecibo Observatory—could be spotted from up to 12,000 light-years away.

While this may sound promising for extraterrestrial detection, there’s a catch: Earth’s radio footprint is shrinking. As we move toward fiber-optic communication and less radio-intensive technologies, we’re emitting fewer powerful signals into space.

Could aliens already be listening to our past transmissions? If they exist within that 12,000 light-year range, they might already know we’re here.

Can Pollution in Our Atmosphere Be Detected?

Beyond radio waves, atmospheric pollution is another possible giveaway. Scientists looked at whether alien telescopes could detect Earth’s nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) emissions, a byproduct of fossil fuel combustion and industrial activity.

The results? Detection is difficult, even with the most powerful space telescopes.

The upcoming Habitable Worlds Observatory (HWO), a next-generation telescope in development, could potentially spot NO₂ emissions—but only from a maximum of 5.7 light-years away. That’s just slightly farther than Proxima Centauri, our closest stellar neighbor.

This means that if an Earth-like planet had pollution in its atmosphere, we would need to be very close to detect it. The same applies to aliens trying to spot us.

Would City Lights or Satellites Be Visible from Space?

What about artificial light? Could the glowing cities of Earth or our thousands of satellites be visible to alien observers?

The study found that while city lights, lasers, and satellites are obvious signs of technology, they are far too faint to be detected from astronomical distances.

However, if an alien probe were lurking nearby—within 100 million kilometers of Earth (about two-thirds of the way to the Sun)—it could spot artificial lights on our planet’s surface. This raises an interesting question: If we’re looking for alien civilizations, should we also be searching for possible probes in our own solar system?

What This Means for the Search for Alien Life

This study has major implications for SETI research:

• Refining how we search – By understanding what makes Earth detectable, we can better identify similar signals from distant exoplanets.
• A shift in focus – Instead of assuming advanced civilizations, we should also look for planets with technology at our level.
• A fresh perspective on Earth’s place in the cosmos – If an alien world has pollution or radio signals, they might be just like us—wondering if someone else is out there.

Dr. Sofia Sheikh, lead author of the study, explains: “One of the most satisfying aspects of this work was getting to use SETI as a cosmic mirror: what does Earth look like to the rest of the galaxy? And how would our current impacts on our planet be perceived.”

If intelligent life exists elsewhere, should we be actively broadcasting signals to let them know we’re here? Or is that too risky?

{ https://curiosmos.com/ }

According to an update that appeared this week on NASA’s blog devoted to solar activity, The Sun Spot, engineers have been attempting to resolve a problem occurring with one of the three computers onboard the Voyager 1 probe.

Since late 1977, Voyager 1 has been carrying out its mission to study the outer Solar System and interstellar space. Presently, the distant space probe remains in communication from its position several billions of miles from Earth through NASA’s Deep Space Network.

However, an issue affecting the probe’s flight data system (FDS) is now impacting its ability to communicate with its telemetry modulation unit (TMU), one of the spacecraft’s subsystems, which is preventing it from relaying any science or engineering data back to Earth.

Voyager 1 is still receiving information NASA engineers are transmitting to it, and the probe does appear to still be attempting to execute commands, wrote Miles Hatfield from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center on December 12

Voyager 1’s FDS is primarily equipped to monitor the spacecraft’s instrumentation and retrieve data from these systems, along with the collection of engineering data that conveys the probe’s overall vitals. Periodically, this information is combined into data packages that the spacecraft’s TMU dispatches back to NASA.

Generated in binary code, these messages normally appear in a standard series of 1s and 0s. However, NASA engineers were perplexed recently when the decoded data packages Voyager 1 was sending appeared to be repetitive, as though some functions of the TMU were “stuck.”

Troubleshooting by NASA engineers revealed that the problem appears to be originating further up the chain from within the FDS, rather than the TMU itself.

Last weekend, Voyager team engineers attempted a restart of the FDS—a feat that, presumably, would be at least mildly complicated for any system that requires communication across a 15 billion-mile distance. However, current attempts to restore the FDS have remained unsuccessful, and they are expected to continue. While NASA remains optimistic that they will be able to reinstate proper communications from the spacecraft, doing so may require days or even as much as several weeks.

One of the problems the Voyager team faces, in addition to working across incredible distances to communicate with an Earthly spacecraft drifting at a solid 38,210 miles per hour on its way through interstellar space, has to do with technology that is now several decades old.

Infographic showing Voyager 1’s progress since it was launched in 1977

(Credit: NASA).

“Finding solutions to challenges the probes encounter often entails consulting original, decades-old documents written by engineers who didn’t anticipate the issues that are arising today,” Hatfield wrote this week. “As a result, it takes time for the team to understand how a new command will affect the spacecraft’s operations to avoid unintended consequences.”

Once commands are finally determined to be safe to send to Voyager 1, engineers have to wait almost a full day for the messages to reach the spacecraft. Add to that the response time for the spacecraft to send its replies, and a total of close to 45 hours are required just to determine whether any single command has successfully initiated a correct response from the spacecraft.

One of the most iconic NASA spacecraft, Voyager 1 crossed into interstellar space in 2012, and its likeness has spawned several pop cultural portrayals, which include the appearance of a fictional Voyager 6 probe enhanced by alien artificial intelligence in the 1979 film Star Trek: The Motion Picture.

• Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.

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

Dit is hoe het leven op Mars eruit zou zien!

Je hebt waarschijnlijk wel eens gehoord van Mars als het volgende grote avontuur van de mensheid. Maar hoe zou het leven op de rode planeet er werkelijk uitzien? Vergeet de clichés van sciencefictionfilms waarin iedereen chromen ruimtepakken draagt en tegen groene buitenaardse wezens vecht.

Hier zijn enkele sleutelelementen, gegeven door kunstmatige intelligentie, om je voor te stellen hoe het leven op Mars eruit zou kunnen zien:

1. Onder druk staande en luchtdichte habitats

2. Overlevingssystemen en middelen

3. Lokale voedselproductie

4. Milieu en gezondheid

5. Dagelijks leven en sociale organisatie

6. Sleuteltechnologieën

Over het geheel genomen zou het leven op Mars een combinatie van geavanceerde technologieën, fysiologische en psychologische aanpassingen en ultra-efficiënt beheer van hulpbronnen vereisen. De leefgebieden zouden heel anders zijn dan onze aardse huizen, maar wie weet? Over een paar decennia zal misschien een van onze nakomelingen dit artikel lezen vanuit een koepel op Mars.

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