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Martijn Peters

Dat er drones waargenomen zijn in ons luchtruim, daar twijfelt niemand meer aan. Maar of dat ook betekent dat elke melding er effectief een is? Dat is een andere zaak. Hoe herken je dan zo’n drone en welke andere zaken kan je ‘s nachts nog spotten?

DRONES

Schaalmodel van de Boeing X-48B, een experimenteel vliegtuig ontwikkeld door Boeing en NASA, Rogers Dry Lake, NASA Dryden.

Een Amerikaanse MQ-9 Reaper in Afghanistan

Illustratiebeeld van een weerballon.  © Getty Images

Illustratiebeeld - verlichting op hoge gebouwen en kranen.  © Getty Images

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EXCLUSIVE - Top fighter pilot breaks 45-year silence to reveal bombshell UFO encounter with '50ft triangular craft' at nuclear base

By JOSH BOSWELL, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and CHRIS SHARP

A former Top Gun pilot has come forward as a new witness linked to a 1980 UFO incident dubbed 'the British Roswell'.

Decorated US fighter pilot Dan Isbell, 69, broke a 45-year silence to reveal his encounter with a 50ft triangular craft surrounded by multicolored 'plasma' light near a nuclear base he was stationed at in England on December 26, 1980.

The incident is significant as it occurred on the same day that US Air Force personnel at another English nuclear base, RAF Woodbridge, in Suffolk, saw a similar craft descending into neighboring Rendlesham Forest – then got so close they could touch the metallic object.

The Rendlesham UFO incident was captured on audio tape by a senior officer, written up in reports released three years later, and became the UK's most famous out-of-this-world encounter.

Isbell's sighting adds to the theory by UFO researchers that the strange objects were targeting military bases housing nuclear weapons, a pattern which has been highlighted in reports by the Department of Defense's UFO-monitoring office.

That night in 1980, Isbell was a 24-year-old first lieutenant working Christmas shifts as a pilot of nuclear-capable fighter jets at RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire, while his superiors with families took time off.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, he said that around 10pm on December 26, he was driving his imported red Corvette along a country road between the airbase and the US servicemen's accommodation when he saw something he couldn't explain.

'In my rear view mirror I saw some unusual multicolored lights traveling very rapidly, just over the trees to the side of the road,' he said. 'As it zipped past me, it just stopped instantaneously.'

US fighter pilot Dan Isbell spoke publicly for the first time about his encounter with a massive UFO while he was stationed at RAF Upper Heyford in Oxfordshire in 1980 

Isbell, pictured sitting in a flight-test-modified F-16A at the Hill Aerospace Museum in 2018, was a 24-year-old first lieutenant working a shift on the nuclear base when he witnessed the rare event 

Isbell said he pulled over and watched what appeared to be a silent, floating, 50ft craft.

'It was triangular, but it had sort of a curved nose. Around the bottom, there were multi-colored changing lights, almost like a plasma,' he said.

'We were very well trained before we were declared mission-qualified, on how to identify every type of aircraft and helicopter that belonged to NATO or the Soviet Union. It was quite clear this was not conventional.'

Isbell said he started to make his way across a golf course on the side of the road towards the object, getting within 150ft.

'As I walked toward it, it began to slowly descend down,' he said.

'But then I began to realize that the stigma of a UFO sighting was death to a pilot's career. So I quickly reversed course.

'I hurried back to my car and went home. I didn't tell anyone for 45 years,' Isbell added.

In the early hours of the same day, about 110 miles away on the east English coast in Suffolk, American officers at another USAF base holding nuclear weapons saw a similar object.

The former fighter pilot shared an FBI Forensic Artist Drawing of his UFO encounters in 1980 

At the time of the supposed UFO sighting, Isbell was working at night at the RAF Upper Heyford (pictured) a former Royal Air Force and US Air Force base in Oxfordshire, England 

Isbell is pictured during his time as 514th Flight Test Squadron Commander between June 1994 to June 1997

After seeing a strange light descend into Rendlesham Forest, two USAF security patrolmen were sent to investigate.

According to a memo written by deputy base commander Lt. Col. Charles Halt, they saw an apparent nine-foot craft, 'metallic in appearance and triangular in shape', which 'illuminated the entire forest with a white light'.

'The object itself had a pulsing red light on top and a bank(s) of blue lights underneath,' said Halt's memo, released under the Freedom of Information Act in 1983.

'The object was hovering or on legs. As the patrolmen approached the object, it maneuvered through the trees and disappeared. At this time the animals on a nearby farm went into a frenzy.'

Two days later, while investigating marks on the trees and ground believed to be left by the craft, Halt himself witnessed strange lights and recorded his reaction on an audio tape, which was also released to researchers in 1984.

Skeptical researchers, including Ian Ridpath, say the marks on trees were foresters' axe cuts, indentations in the ground were animal burrows, and the lights were from a nearby lighthouse.

But one of the patrolmen sent out on December 26, Sgt. Jim Penniston, claims he saw the craft up close, and even sketched it in a notepad a few days later.

In 2015 the other patrolman, Airman First Class John Burroughs, received medical disability benefits for alleged radiation poisoning linked to the event, with the help of Senator John McCain, after a yearslong battle with the Pentagon which had strangely classified his medical records. 

Isbell's encounter would've occurred on the same day that US Air Force personnel at another base 110 miles away at RAF Woodbridge on England's east coast reported seeing a similar craft descending into the nearby Rendlesham Forest – where a sculpture of the reported UFO now stands 

This photograph shows police examining the alleged landing site of another 'triangular craft' in Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk, England, the morning of the alleged sighting on December 26, 1980

Deep marks and indentations on the trees and ground at the Rendlesham Forest were believed to be left by the UFO, however, this was disputed by skeptical researchers, including Ian Ridpath, who say they were from foresters' axe cuts

Former British police detective and UFO researcher Gary Heseltine, who wrote a book on the incident and helped Isbell come forward, says the pilot's sighting the same day as the Rendlesham incident at another UK nuclear base is significant.

'Dan Isbell is as credible a witness you could ever wish for,' Heseltine, who wrote the book Non-Human: The Rendlesham Forest UFO Incidents, told the Daily Mail.

He described Isbell as 'someone with a stellar flight career' giving 'high caliber witness testimony'.

'His account offers a remarkable circumstantial link to Britain's most famous case, the Rendlesham Forest Incident that occurred in late December 1980.'

Heseltine now runs a site for UK pilots to report UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena) incidents, ukpilotsreportinguap.co.uk. 

Isbell said it was the first, but not the last, time he had a UFO encounter.

Later in the 1980s he became a test pilot at Edwards Air Force Base in southern California. One night in 1990, he drove out on his motorbike to a secluded area near the base to stargaze.

'Suddenly this large wedge-like shape started blanking out the stars above my head,' he said.

'There were no lights anywhere on it. It was absolutely solid black, but huge… Hundreds of feet across.

In a January 1981 memo of the Rendlesham Forest incident, Deputy Base Commander Lt. Col. Charles Halt documented the December 26 sighting (reported as December 27 by Halt) describing the craft as 'metallic in appearance and triangular in shape'

UFO researcher Gary Heseltine wrote a book on the Rendlesham Forest UFO incident, Non-Human, which included Isbell's account 

'I felt a little electrostatic on my skin.

'I certainly wasn't going to tell anybody about that,' he added. 'I did not hang around long enough to see the back end of it.'

Then two decades later in 2014, the now-retired pilot was in the hot tub in the back yard of his home in Silver Springs, Florida, when he said the night was lit up with a bright blue-green glow.

'It encompassed me and the hot tub,' Isbell told the Daily Mail. 'The beam came to a point above me, probably 2-300ft high.'

He said the bright light prevented him from making out the object. But then the alleged encounter got even stranger.

'The beam went out, but immediately a large sphere of plasma enveloped whatever it was,' he said.

The sphere doubled, then quadrupled in size, then vanished, he said.

'The acceleration was so fast, it just disappeared,' Isbell said.

After retiring from the Air Force, Isbell became a consultant with a security clearance, working on lasers and directed energy weapons.

He said he has decided to finally come forward with his UFO stories now, after leaving his classified role.

'I have nothing else to worry about. I have retired out of all that. They can take away my security clearance, it doesn't matter anymore,' he said

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

EXCLUSIVE - Police chopper was forced to take 'emergency evasive action' after being targeted by UFO over US air base last year, unearthed report reveals

By JOSH BOSWELL, US SENIOR NEWS REPORTER and CHRIS SHARP

A police helicopter was forced to take emergency action during a terrifying encounter with mysterious high-speed 'drones' over a US air base last year - in an incident officials would later dismiss as nothing more than a passing fighter jet. 

But newly released video and incident logs of the November 22, 2024 event now tell a very different - and far more alarming - story, the Daily Mail can exclusively reveal. 

Witness even described one of the unidentified flying objects as a 'tic-tac' - the same oblong shape reported by Navy aviators in a now infamous 2004 encounter. 

The Daily Mail obtained images taken from a National Police Air Service (NPAS) EC135 chopper of one of the unidentified craft, which was said to have 'targeted' and come close to colliding with the helicopter mid-air around RAF Lakenheath, a US military base in England.

The incident occurred amid weeks of reports of drones and unidentified objects breaching airspace over US military bases in New Jersey, the wider northeast, and overseas.

A report by a UK aviation safety board attributed the chopper's close encounter to pilots misidentifying an American F-15 fighter jet flying in the area.

But British police logs released under the Freedom of Information Act describe multiple, hi-tech drones 'targeting' and appearing to pursue the law enforcement helicopter at high speeds. 

'They were forced to take emergency evasive action in relation to a drone which came within a dangerously close proximity to them,' said an incident log from Suffolk Police, recounting a debrief of the chopper pilots. 

The UK's National Police Air Service (NPAS) helicopter (stock image) had a near miss with mysterious 'drones' seen flying over a US military base in England in November 2024 

A newly released police report reveals NPAS pilots said they were forced to 'take emergency evasive action' during the late-night encounter with the unidentified objects over RAF Lakenheath (pictured)

'They had to perform an emergency dive and described that they were pursued in the dive by two drones who matched their speed approx 165 knots and then pursued them for several minutes out of the area.

'They feel that drones have targeted them and chased them off at approx 140 knots [161mph].'

A UK military source, who has viewed the entire 30-minute video captured by the chopper's infrared camera, said there was more to the incident than a close brush with a fighter jet.

'In the 30-minute video with pilot audio, nobody mentions F-15s,' the source said. 

'They only talk about the drones. How they're basically mirroring the helicopter's movements. How fast the drones are going. That they're basically forcing them out of the area.'

The source added that the footage shows one object pursuing the craft performing maneuvers impossible for a fighter jet.

'A fixed-wing craft is caught on the video, where you can see a corkscrew move,' the insider said. 'An F-15 cannot make a small corkscrew turn like that.'

The Daily Mail obtained a short section from the chopper video showing a small object, no more than a blob on the infrared camera, slowly moving towards the top right of the screen.

A screengrab of the helicopter video obtained by the Daily Mail shows a small object, which appears as a tiny blob on the infrared camera, slowly moving towards the top right of the screen

Radar data cited in the reported issued by the UK Airprox Board, concluded that the 'drones' were actually the lights of a US Air Force F-15 Eagle jet and showed the two aircraft coming within 1,700ft of each other

The local police incident logs from November 20-22, 2024 reveal a slew of drone sightings across three bases used by the US Air Force in the English counties of Suffolk and Norfolk: RAF Feltwell, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall.

'Over past 2 nights there have been approx 20 drones flying over RAF's Mildenhall, Feltwell and Lakenheath. This has been between 1800-0000 hrs,' said a Suffolk Police log from November 21.

'They report that due to the size of said drones, the pilots could be 'miles and miles' away,' the log added, with 'they' appearing to refer to UK military police protecting the airbases.

'Mildenhall/Lakenheath/Feltwell - believed 10-15 drones have been at each one - and appear not to be "hobby drones",' the logs said.

One police report from Lakenheath said an officer had 'night vision goggles and can see 5-6 drones [near the highway] A1065 coming back over airfield'.

An 'informant' in the logs told police they saw 'multiple drones' which were 'very large and they make a lot of noise'.

The witness in the November 22 logs described what they saw around the airbase as 'large stationary things - tictacs - they are not birds.'

'The drones are well lit - they are not trying to hide themselves and they are flying very low now,' another log from November 22 said.

The UK Airprox Board, which investigates mid-air near misses, published a report concluding that the NPAS crew had misidentified an American F-15 fighter jet (stock image) flying in the area

Logs obtained by the Daily Mail show an 'informant' described what they saw around the airbase as 'large stationary things - tictacs'

'Informant opened the door of his house while on the line to me and call taker could hear one of the drones going over. It sounded like an aircraft. 

'The drones are flying over Informant's property in both directions.'

A crime report from November 21 summarizing the incidents stated that there were '10-15 drones flying around bases and potentially into the base airspace.'

'This is third occurrence this week according to MOD police and US base have stated they have had to ground aircraft due to going across flightpaths,' the report added.

The investigation was handed over to the UK Ministry of Defence Police, which has not published the findings of its probe.

The police logs were obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by researcher Rowland Hume, who shared the material with the Daily Mail.

Mike Morgan, a retired senior police detective who has also been researching the incident, told the Daily Mail he was disappointed in the lack of transparency from authorities.

'There is a whole series of question marks about what went on in November 2024. 

The reported 'tic tac' description of the unidentified craft, echoes accounts of the infamous UFO sighting by Navy aviators in 2004 (pictured) 

'I have run into repeated efforts by the authorities to avoid answering even the most basic questions, such as, how many people have been detained or how many drones seized,' Morgan said.

'What is so secret about this investigation?'

The incident was largely written off when the UK Airprox Board, the official body that investigates mid-air near misses, published a report concluding that the 'drones' seen by the NPAS crew were actually the lights of a US Air Force F-15 Eagle jet.

Radar data cited in the report showed the chopper and jet coming within 1,700ft of each other. But the report said nothing else unknown was picked up on radar.

Trained British meteorologist Stuart Onyeche, who works for a defense company and has researched the incident, told the Daily Mail that he believes the fighter jet and police chopper were both pursuing the advanced drones.

'I'm inclined to trust the initial detail and assessment of the experienced helicopter pilots that we see noted in these logs, which was that they were forced to take evasive action due to the close proximity of some kind of unmanned drone,' Onyeche said.

'It's unarguable that an F-15 was also in the vicinity as reported in the airprox, but an unanswered question is what was the F-15 being tasked to do or look for?' he added.

'Were the helicopter and F-15 in fact both converging on the unidentified 'drones'?'

Craft encroaching on airspace at US bases both home and abroad have shown signs of using advanced technology, capable of confounding anti-drone measures used by the authorities.

A joint report by the FBI, US Department of Defense and NASA obtained by the Daily Mail last year warned that their detection and signal jamming equipment had 'failed' to stop incursions by advanced drones, including at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

The base was swarmed with dozens of drones for weeks in December 2023, creating a security panic. 

The incident was kept secret until it was revealed by defense magazine The Warzone in March 2024.

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

Scientists put moss on the outside of the International Space Station for 9 months — then kept it growing back on Earth

Previous experiments have explored how plants might cope in space, but so far, they have focused on larger organisms such as bacteria or plant crops. Now, researchers have shown that samples of the moss Physcomitrium patens (P. Patens) can not only survive but thrive in space.

First, the researchers tested three cell types of P. patens from various stages in the moss's reproductive cycle. They found that sporophytes — cell structures that encase spores — showed the greatest stress tolerance when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light, freezing and heat.

Sporophyte samples were then placed outside of the ISS in a special exposure facility attached to Japan’s Kibo module, where the samples lived for around nine months in 2022. After this time, the samples were returned to Earth.

"Surprisingly, over 80% of the spores survived and many germinated normally," study lead author Tomomichi Fujita, a professor of plant biology at Hokkaido University in Japan, told Live Science in an email. From this study, Fujita and his team developed a model that suggests the moss spores could actually survive for up to 5,600 days in space, or around 15 years.

Back on Earth, the team found that most of the conditions — including the vacuum of space, microgravity and extreme temperature fluctuations — had a limited impact on the moss spores. However, samples that were exposed to light, particularly high-energy wavelengths of UV light, fared less well. Levels of pigments used by the moss for photosynthesis, such as chlorophyll a, were significantly reduced as a result of light damage, which affected later moss growth.

Even though some moss samples faced damage from the conditions of outer space, P. patens still fared much better than other plant species that have been previously tested under similar conditions. Fujita thinks the protective, spongy casing surrounding the spores may help defend against UV light and dehydration.

"This protective role may have evolved early in land plant history to help mosses colonize terrestrial habitats," he said.

While this may seem like an exercise in testing the limits of a single species, the "spores' success in space could offer a biological stepping stone for building ecosystems beyond our planet," Fujita said. In the future, he hopes to test other species and better understand how these resilient cells survive such stressful conditions.

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NASA's long–awaited images of the mysterious object zipping through our solar system confirm 3I/ATLAS is a comet – and NOT an alien spacecraft

• READ MORE: Is this how the world will end? Earth will be SWALLOWED by sun 

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

NASA has shared its long–awaited images of the mysterious object zipping through our solar system – finally confirming its true identity. 

Since it was first spotted in July, the object – dubbed 3I/ATLAS – has captivated scientists and internet users alike, even prompting Kim Kardashian to ask NASA for answers.

Many scientists maintained it was merely a comet visiting us from a different solar system. 

However, others – including a member of US Congress and a Harvard researcher – were convinced that the object was an alien spacecraft. 

Now, NASA has released photos snapped by three of its Mars spacecraft as they passed just 18 million miles away from the object. 

These pictures can finally put any speculation to rest, as they confirm the object's identity.

And unfortunately for alien hunters, the US space agency says that 3I/ATLAS is a comet.  

'We want very much to find signs of life in the universe... but 3I/ATLAS is a comet,' said Amit Kshatriya, a senior NASA official, at a press conference on Wednesday. 

NASA has shared its long–awaited images of the mysterious object zipping through our solar system – finally confirming its true identity. Pictured: a photo taken on October 2 by the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

These pictures can finally put any speculation to rest, as they confirm the object's true identity as a comet. Pictured: a photo taken on October 9 by NASA's MAVEN spacecraft

NASA's Mars spacecraft zoomed in on the comet as it passed just 18 million miles (29 million kilometers) away. 

In the first image, snapped by HiRISE, the comet looks like a fuzzy white ball. 

'Captured at a scale of roughly 19 miles (30 kilometers) per pixel, 3I/ATLAS looks like a pixelated white ball on the HiRISE imagery,' NASA explained. 

'That ball is a cloud of dust and ice called the coma, which the comet shed as it continued its trajectory past Mars.'

Further analysis of these pictures should allow NASA to estimate the size of the comet's nucleus – its central core of ice and dust. 

NASA's MAVEN spacecraft, meanwhile, snapped the comet in two unique ways using its UV camera. 

'First, IUVS took multiple images of the comet in several wavelengths, much like using various filters on a camera,' NASA explained. 

'Then it snapped high–resolution UV images to identify the hydrogen coming from 3I/ATLAS.'

Captured at a scale of roughly 19 miles (30 kilometers) per pixel, 3I/ATLAS looks like a pixelated white ball on the HiRISE imagery. That ball is a cloud of dust and ice called the coma, which the comet shed as it continued its trajectory past Mars

Down on the surface of Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover even caught a snap of the comet, using its Mastcam–Z camera

Scientists now hope to be able to study a combination of these images to identify a variety of molecules and better understand the comet's composition.

Down on the surface of Mars, NASA's Perseverance rover even caught a snap of the comet, using its Mastcam–Z camera. 

'The exposure had to be exceptionally long to detect such a faint object. Unlike telescopes that track objects as they move, Mastcam–Z is fixed in place during long exposures,' the space agency added. 

NASA has also recently shared photos of the comet taken by its STEREO observatory, and its SOHO spacecraft.  

Speaking to AFP, Thomas Puzia, an astrophysicist who led the team at the Chilean observatory that made the discovery, described the widespread discussion surrounding the comet as 'amazing'. 

However, he said: 'It's very dangerous and to a certain degree misleading to put speculations ahead of scientific process.

'The facts, all of them without exception, point to a normal object that is coming from the interstellar space to us.'

He added the comet was 'very exceptional in its nature, but it's nothing that we cannot explain with physics.'

NASA has also recently shared photos of the comet taken by its STEREO observatory, and its SOHO spacecraft

The idea that the comet could have been an alien spacecraft were driven by Harvard Professor Avi Loeb – who remains unconvinced by NASA's explanation. 

'Obviously, it could be natural,' he told AFP. 

'But I said: we have to consider the possibility that it's technological because if it is then the implications for humanity will be huge.'

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

Scorpius is the most amazing of the zodiac constellations. Although astrology divides the year into 12 almost equal parts, astronomers know that in reality the Sun is only in it for 8 days. However, it also has numerous attractions.

Constellation Scorpius

Scorpius, who dislikes the Sun

On November 22, the Sun will enter the constellation Scorpius. As is almost always the case in such situations, astrologers strongly disagree with astronomers, claiming that our star entered the constellation on October 23 and left it on November 21.

The main reason for this is the shift in the vernal equinox due to the precession of the Earth’s axis of rotation. You can read more about this in this article. In fact, there is at least one more reason why astrologers disagree with astronomers about the time the sun is in different zodiac constellations, but for most of them, it is secondary.

But not for Scorpius. We are referring to the clarification of constellation boundaries, which occurred at the beginning of the 20th century. And in the case of this constellation, they were drawn in such a way that the Sun actually crosses it only along a narrow strip through its “head” and “claws.”

The constellation Scorpius. The blue line is the ecliptic. Source: Wikipedia

As a result, of all the constellations, it is in Scorpius that the Sun actually spends the least amount of time – only 8 days. On November 29, it will leave the poisonous multi-legged celestial being and move on to its neighbor, Ophiuchus, where it will stay longer than in Scorpius, but which is not considered a zodiacal constellation.

In general, November is the worst month for observing Scorpius. The reason for this is the same as for other zodiac constellations: it rises and sets with the Sun at this time of year and hides behind the horizon at night. The best time to observe it is in May and June, when it rises above the southern horizon.

The mythical monster

There are several myths about how Scorpius appeared in the sky. But in all of them, he appears as the embodiment of evil, whose actions lead to extremely bad consequences. The most common of these myths links Scorpius with Orion.

Scorpius in May. Source: stellarium-web.org

Orion was supposedly the most outstanding of human hunters, but his thirst for prey led him astray. According to one version of the myth, he began to pursue the Pleiades and chased them for seven years until the Scorpion, sent by Gaia or Poseidon, stung him, causing him to die in terrible agony.

According to another version, Orion demanded the goddess of the hunt, Artemis, herself. But she did not reciprocate his feelings, yet he continued to pursue her until she sent a poisonous messenger to kill him. Be that as it may, Orion and Scorpius are indeed located far apart in the sky, as if the former were hiding from the latter.

Another myth says that the celestial Scorpius is actually the one that frightened the horses pulling the golden chariot of Helios, the sun god. It was driven by his inexperienced son Phaethon, and the horses carried it too close to Earth, causing a worldwide fire. To stop this, Zeus had to kill the boy and the horses with a thunderbolt, and Phaethon fell into the river Eridanus.

The myth of Phaethon. Source: globalpowerelite.com

Antares and other bright stars

Although the Sun is in Scorpius for only a short time, there are more interesting objects in it than scary myths about it. The most notable of these is Alpha Scorpii, known as Antares. Among all the stars that make up the zodiacal constellations, it is second only to Alpha Tauri, Aldebaran.

At the same time, Antares is very noticeable due to its red color. Thanks to this, it got its name “anti-Ares,” meaning the enemy of Mars. In reality, it is much farther away from us than the Red Planet and incomparably larger than it.

It is a red supergiant located 550 light-years away from us. In fact, it is a binary system. Its main component, which we can actually see, has a mass of 12.4 solar masses, but has already used up almost all of its hydrogen and swelled to a size 400 times larger than our sun. It emits 75,900 times more energy than the Sun. However, all these measurements are actually quite approximate, because the giant star pulsates, changing its radius by 19%.

Antares compared to other stars. Source: www.statesman.com

The main component of the system is orbited by its companion, which is also a fairly large star. Despite having a mass 7.2 times that of the Sun, it has not yet exhausted its thermonuclear fuel and therefore has a blue color. Its diameter is 5.2 times that of the Sun.

There is still no consensus among scientists regarding the distance between the two components and, accordingly, their orbital period. The most accurate measurements to date indicate a distance of about 220 AU and an orbital period of approximately 1,218 years.

In any case, the Antares system is very young. Its age ranges from 11.8 to 17.3 million years. After some time, the larger of the stars will finally exhaust its thermonuclear fuel and turn into a supernova, and then into a black hole. Then, after a few million years, the same fate will befall the second star.

Lambda Scorpii. Source: www.star-facts.com

The second brightest star in Scorpius is its Lambda, which is called Shaula, derived from the Arabic word for “raised tail.” It is indeed located on the tail of the celestial arthropod and has an apparent magnitude of 1.62.

In fact, it is a triple system located 570 light-years away from us. The main component is a variable star of the Beta Cephei type. Explosive processes occur inside these hot and heavy blue stars, inflating their outer shells. In the case of Shaula, the mass of the main component exceeds that of the Sun by 10.4 times, and its luminosity by 36,000 times.

Around it, at a distance of 7,500 AU, there’s a smaller blue star. It’s about twice as heavy as our Sun. And around this pair, at a distance of 17,000 AU, there’s a third star that’s eight times heavier than our Sun.

The third brightest star in Scorpius is its Theta, Sargas. It is a double system located 329 AU away from us. What the smaller component of the system is and whether it exists at all remains unclear. But here is the main object of interest.

It is a star of spectral class F, which means it is slightly hotter than the Sun. Its mass is about three times greater than that of our star, its polar radius is 26 times greater than that of the Sun, and its equatorial radius is 36 times greater. In other words, it is flattened, and there is only one explanation for this: it was once a pair of stars that merged.

Theta Scorpii. Source: www.flickr.com

Nearby stars

The closest star to us in the constellation of Scorpius is Gliese 682. It is a rather dull red dwarf located 16.3 light-years away from us. Its mass is 27% and its radius is 30% of the Sun’s. In 2016, it was reported that two planets had been discovered around it, but their existence has now been disproved.

Next is the Gliese 667 system, located 23 light-years away from us. It consists of two orange dwarfs and one red dwarf. The first two have masses of 69% and 73% of the Sun and revolve around a common center of mass in a highly elongated orbit with a semi-major axis of 12.6 AU, completing one revolution every 42 Earth years.

And around them orbits a third star – a red dwarf with a mass of 31% of the Sun’s. And it is this object that is the most interesting in the entire system. At one time, scientists reported that Gliese 667 C had as many as six planets, but now the existence of two of them is recognized.

Planet Gliese 667 Cc. Source: Wikipedia

The first is Gliese 667 Cb. With a mass of 5.6 Earths and an orbital period of 7.2 days, it is most likely a large hot super-Earth or an equally hot mini-Neptune. This world must have a powerful hydrosphere and a dense atmosphere, the boundary between which is quite arbitrary.

But the second planet, Gliese 667 Cc, is much more interesting. Its mass is 4.1 times that of Earth, and it orbits its star once every 28 Earth days. Calculations show that the star can heat it to 4.3 °C, which is slightly higher than on Earth. Most likely, Gliese 667 Cc is significantly warmer than our planet due to a powerful greenhouse effect. However, it may still be the case that the temperature on it is not high enough for life to exist. But there is another problem: like many red dwarfs, Gliese 667 C experiences powerful flares. Whether they rule out the possibility of life on the planet is still an open question.

Other interesting stars

There are plenty of other interesting objects in the constellation of Scorpius. For example, the star U Scorpii is located here. It is a repeating nova with one of the shortest periods. The flares repeat every 12 years.

Like all similar objects, U Scorpii is a binary system consisting of a normal star and a white dwarf, which orbit each other in a very close orbit around a common center of mass. Matter flows from the first component to the second, and when a large amount accumulates on the latter, a thermonuclear explosion occurs, after which the process repeats itself.

U Scorpii. Source: Wikipedia

Another interesting object is the dawn of AH Scorpii. It is barely visible in our sky, but that is only because it is 7,400 light-years away from us. In fact, it is a red supergiant, compared to which even Antares looks small. This monster is 20 times more massive than the Sun, 1,411 times larger in diameter, and 329,000 times more luminous.

Also in the constellation of Scorpius is the object Scorpius X-1, which is the second brightest object in the sky when viewed in the X-ray range. The first is the black hole Sagittarius A* in the center of the Milky Way. As for this mysterious source of radiation, in the visible range, there is a hot blue star in its place. Scientists believe that it forms a pair with a neutron star, onto which matter falls from it, serving as a source of energy for such a powerful emitter.

There is also an object called a microquasar in the constellation Scorpius. Ordinary quasars are supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies that intensively absorb matter, part of which is converted into relativistic jets emanating from their poles. This makes them visible across the entire universe.

Microquasar. Source: Wikipedia

So, something like this, only on a much smaller scale, exists right here in our galaxy. The object GRO J1655−40 is a binary system containing a stellar-mass black hole. The second component is a normal star, and it is its material that is used to form a microquasar with jets shooting out from the poles of the black hole.

Globular clusters and galaxies

In addition to all of the above, the constellation of Scorpius is rich in objects that are neither stars nor black holes. First and foremost are the Butterfly Cluster, or Messier 6, and Ptolemy’s Cluster, or Messier 7. Both belong to open clusters. The first contains about 120 stars and is located at a distance of 1,590 light-years, while the second contains about 80 stars. The distance to it is 735 light-years.

There are also two noticeable globular clusters in Scorpius: Messier 4 and Messier 80. The first is the closest object of its kind to us. It is located about 6,000 light-years away. It is a region of space with a diameter of 35 light-years, containing stars with a total mass 84,000 times greater than that of the Sun.

Messier 4. Source: Wikipedia

In addition to star clusters, Scorpius also contains several nebulae. For example, NGC 6302, or the Bug Nebula. It really does resemble an insect with its antennae spread out on either side. In reality, it is a bipolar planetary nebula formed as a result of a red giant star shedding its outer layers.

Or NGC 6334, known as the Cat’s Paw Nebula or Bear’s Paw Nebula. It is a huge cloud of interstellar hydrogen illuminated by nearby bright stars. Intense star formation processes are taking place within it.

And, of course, there are plenty of galaxies in the constellation Scorpius. One example is NGC 6000, a barred spiral galaxy. It is about 112 million light-years away, but it appears relatively bright due to its active core.

• Posted in Articles, Observations

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Scientists have reproduced the chemical composition and size of Theia. It is believed that at the beginning of the Solar System’s existence, it collided with Earth. Research shows that, like our planet, it formed not too far from the Sun.

How were Earth and Theia formed? Source: phys.org

Theia

In a study published in the journal Science, researchers led by the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research (MPS) and the University of Chicago have discovered where the planet Theia might have come from. It is believed that this small body collided with Earth only a few tens of millions of years after it was formed.

This theory was put forward to explain where the Moon came from. And in principle, it is consistent. However, to this day, no one has been able to definitively say where this mysterious body came from. Did it follow the same orbit as Earth? Or did it follow a different orbit within the inner Solar System? Could it have come from beyond Jupiter’s orbit?

The answers to these questions could be found in the isotopic composition of the Earth and the Moon. Atoms of the same element can have different weights. And they were already separated in the protoplanetary disk around the Sun. The inner parts had one set, while the outer parts had another.

Chemical analysis

Theoretically, the origin of Theia can be determined by the differences in the isotopic composition of its material from that of Earth. To this end, researchers analyzed 15 samples of Earth rocks and six more brought back from the Moon. It is believed that most of Theia’s material may remain on our moon.

Scientists were interested in the ratio of iron isotopes, as well as chromium, molybdenum, and zirconium. And they found no particular differences. It seems that Theia did not come to us from the vicinity of the Solar System, but formed somewhere nearby?

But how close? Simple isotopic analysis cannot answer this question. Scientists resorted to modeling how Earth and Theia could have formed. It turns out that the chemical composition of our planet can easily be reproduced as a combination of different types of meteorites.

However, Theia should have contained a small but noticeable impurity of unknown origin. Scientists believe that this can be explained by assuming that this body formed closer to the Sun than Earth.

According to phys.org

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Recently, scientists have confirmed the incredible resilience of living organisms to space conditions. Moss spores, which spent nine months outside the International Space Station in a vacuum and under intense radiation, were successfully grown into full-fledged plants.

Moss. Source: Tomomichi Fujita

Moss survival ability

Mosses thrive in the most extreme conditions on Earth: from the peaks of the Himalayas to the sands of Death Valley, from the Antarctic tundra to the lava fields of active volcanoes. Inspired by the resilience of moss, researchers sent moss sporophytes—reproductive structures containing spores—to the most extreme environment: space.

The results of the study, published on November 20 in the journal iScience, show that more than 80% of the spores survived for nine months outside the International Space Station (ISS) and returned to Earth while retaining their ability to reproduce. This is the first time that early terrestrial plants can survive after prolonged exposure by space elements.

“Most living organisms, including humans, cannot survive even briefly in the vacuum of space,” says lead author Tomomichi Fujita of Hokkaido University. “However, the moss spores retained their vitality after nine months of direct exposure. This provides striking evidence that the life that has evolved on Earth possesses, at the cellular level, intrinsic mechanisms to endure the conditions of space.”

Simulation of space conditions

To find out whether a plant such as moss could survive in space, Fujita’s team subjected Physcomitrium patens, a well-studied moss known as spreading earth moss, to simulated space conditions, including high levels of ultraviolet radiation and extremely high and low temperatures.

They tested three different moss structures—protenemata, or young moss; brood cells, or specialized stem cells that appear under stressful conditions; and sporophytes, or encapsulated spores—to find out which ones had the best chance of surviving in space.

Researchers found that ultraviolet radiation was the most challenging element for survival, and sporophytes were the most resilient of the three parts of moss. None of the young mosses survived under high levels of ultraviolet radiation or extreme temperatures. The brood cells had a higher survival rate, but the spores in the shell showed approximately 1,000 times greater resistance to ultraviolet radiation. The spores were also able to survive and germinate after exposure to a temperature of -196°C for more than a week, as well as after being kept at a temperature of 55°C for a month.

The team suggested that the structure surrounding the spore serves as a protective barrier, absorbing ultraviolet radiation and physically and chemically protecting the inner spore from damage. Researchers note that this is likely an evolutionary adaptation that allowed bryophytes—a group of plants that includes mosses—to transition from aquatic to terrestrial plants 500 million years ago and survive several mass extinctions since then.

“Space Travel” by moss

To test whether this adaptation could make sporophytes viable in real space conditions, the team sent spores beyond the stratosphere.

In March 2022, researchers sent hundreds of sporophytes to the ISS aboard the Cygnus NG-17 spacecraft. Upon arrival, astronauts attached the sporophyte samples to the exterior of the ISS, where they remained in open space for a total of 283 days. The moss then returned to Earth aboard SpaceX CRS-16 in January 2023 and was brought back to the lab for testing.

More than 80% of the spores survived the space journey, and all but 11% of the remaining spores were able to germinate in the laboratory. The team also checked the chlorophyll levels in the spores and found normal levels for all types, except for a 20% reduction in chlorophyll a, a compound that is particularly sensitive to changes in visible light, but this change did not appear to affect the health of the spores.

“This study demonstrates the astonishing resilience of life that originated on Earth,” says Fujita.

Mathematical model of moss survival in space

Interested in how long spores could survive in space, Fujita’s team used data from before and after the moss expedition to create a mathematical model. They estimated that spores in their shells could survive up to 5,600 days — approximately 15 years — in space. However, they emphasize that this figure is only an estimate and that a larger data set is needed for more realistic predictions of how long moss could survive in space.

Researchers hope that their work will contribute to the development of research into the potential of extraterrestrial soils to promote plant growth and inspire the use of moss to develop agricultural systems in space.

“Finally, we hope that this work will open up new horizons for building ecosystems in extraterrestrial environments such as the Moon and Mars,” says Fujita. “I hope that our research on moss will serve as a starting point.”

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, ScienceTagged

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Sinds zijn ontdekking in juli 2025 raast de interstellaire komeet 3I/ATLAS door ons zonnestelsel. Een armada van telescopen en ruimtesondes heeft de mysterieuze bezoeker vastgelegd, wat leidt tot een verrassende ontdekking over zijn samenstelling.

Het is een zeldzaam kosmisch spektakel: een bezoeker van ver buiten ons zonnestelsel. Na Oumuamua en Borisov is komeet 3I/ATLAS pas het derde bevestigde interstellaire object dat door onze kosmische achtertuin suist. Sinds wij in juli al schreven over zijn ontdekking, heeft een hele batterij aan observatoria de komeet bestudeerd. De nieuwste beelden en eerste onderzoeksgegevens schetsen een fascinerend portret van deze kosmische reiziger…

Een visuele reis langs de komeet

De eerste aanwijzing dat er iets bijzonders aan de hand was, kwam van het ATLAS-systeem in Chili op 1 juli 2025. De waarneming toonde een vaag, bewegend object dat niet in een gebonden baan om de zon bleek te draaien.

De ontdekkingsopname van 3I/ATLAS, gemaakt door het Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) in Chili op 1 juli 2025. Het zwakke, bewegende object (aangegeven met pijlen) was de eerste hint van een nieuwe interstellaire bezoeker. Foto-animatie: ATLAS/University of Hawaii/NASA

Nog geen maand later, op 21 juli, bevestigde de Hubble ruimtetelescoop de komeetachtige aard van het object. Een animatie van de waarnemingen toonde een heldere, traanvormige coma van stof en gas die van de kern afkomstig was.

Animatie van meerdere foto’s genomen door de Hubble ruimtetelescoop op 21 juli 2025, waarop de beweging en de stofcoma van 3I/ATLAS duidelijk zichtbaar zijn. De komeet bevond zich op dat moment op 446 miljoen kilometer van de Aarde. Foto-animatie: NASA, ESA, David Jewitt (UCLA); bewerking: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

De James Webb ruimtetelescoop bracht op 6 augustus de samenstelling in kaart. Een drieluik in verschillende infrarood golflengten onthulde de aanwezigheid van koolstofdioxide (CO₂) en water (H₂O) in de coma van de komeet.

Drieluik van 3I/ATLAS, vastgelegd door NIRCam van de James Webb ruimtetelescoop. De beelden tonen de totale helderheid (links), emissie van koolstofdioxide (midden) en emissie van water (rechts) op 6 augustus 2025. Foto’s: NASA/James Webb Space Telescope

Eind augustus legde de Gemini South-telescoop in Chili een prachtig overzichtsbeeld in kleur vast, waarop de coma te zien was die zich duizenden kilometers het heelal in uitstrekte.

Diepteopname van 3I/ATLAS door de Gemini South-telescoop op 27 augustus 2025. De afbeelding toont de brede coma met een lengte van ongeveer 1/120e graad aan de hemel. Foto: International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/Shadow the Scientist. Beeldbewerking: J. Miller & M. Rodriguez (International Gemini Observatory/NSF NOIRLab), T.A. Rector (University of Alaska Anchorage/NSF NOIRLab), M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)

Marssondes grijpen hun kans

Toen 3I/ATLAS op 3 oktober 2025 dicht langs Mars scheerde, veel dichter dan deze ooit bij Aarde kwam, grepen twee orbiters rond de rode planeet hun unieke kans. ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) legde vanaf zo’n 30 miljoen kilometer afstand de komeet vast als een heldere, wazige vlek. Bijna gelijktijdig deed ook China’s Tianwen 1 orbiter waarnemingen, waarbij de kern en coma duidelijk van elkaar te onderscheiden waren.

Gestapelde opnames van 3I/ATLAS (de bewegende wazige vlek), vastgelegd door de CaSSIS-camera aan boord van ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter op 3 oktober 2025, vanuit een baan om Mars. Foto/animatie: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS 3I/ATLAS gefotografeerd door de High-Resolution Imaging Camera (HiRIC) van China’s Tianwen 1 orbiter, eveneens op 3 oktober 2025, vanuit een baan rond Mars. De afstand bedroeg alhier circa 29 miljoen kilometer. Foto/animatie: CNSA

Een komeet met een kosmisch litteken

Wat kunnen we uit al deze data afleiden? Een opvallende bevinding is dat de kleur van de komeet niet mysterieus veranderde, zoals soms werd vermoed. Volgens wetenschapper Qicheng Zhang is er geen bewijs voor kleurveranderingen van de gassen in de coma. “Onze analyses tonen aan dat de coma sinds de eerste detectie van een coma nog altijd aanwezig is, substantieel bijdraagt aan de waargenomen helderheid van het object, maar kleurveranderingen of een veranderende samenstelling van de uitgestoten gassen werd niet geobserveerd”, zo stelde hij. De karakteristieke blauwgroene tint werd al in september door observatoria maar ook amateurastronomen waargenomen.

Qicheng Zhang, postdoctoraal astronoom aan de Lowell Observatory in Arizona fotografeerde ook zelf het interstellaire object met een 6-inch (152-mm) Ritchey–Chrétien reflector door dunne bewolking heen in de ochtend van 1 november vanuit Arizona, V.S. Foto: Qicheng Zhang

De meest revolutionaire inzichten komen van de eerste onderzoeksgegevens. Metingen van de James Webb ruimtetelescoop onthullen een extreem hoge verhouding koolstofdioxide ten opzichte van water. Dit unieke kenmerk wijst erop dat de buitenste laag van de komeetkern miljarden jaren lang is blootgesteld aan galactische kosmische straling. Deze intense straling heeft de oorspronkelijke materialen omgezet in een soort verweerd, aan organisch materiaal rijke korst. We kijken dus niet naar een ongerepte tijdcapsule uit een ver gelegen zonnestelsel, maar naar een object dat de littekens draagt van een lange, eenzame reis door de Melkweg.

Schematische weergave van de naar verwachting gelaagde structuur van de kern van 3I/ATLAS, waaruit het effect van galactische kosmische straling blijkt. De buitenste ~15-20 meter is verrijkt met koolstofdioxide (CO₂) en organisch materiaal, terwijl de ongerepte, oorspronkelijke samenstelling zich eronder bevindt. Afbeelding: Romain Maggiolo et al., Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy (BIRA-IASB), Science Systems and Application Inc. Hampton, Nasa Langley Research Center, Hampton, Centre for mathematical Plasma Astrophysics, Heverlee, Belgium. arXiv:2510.26308 De geplotte banen van 3I/ATLAS en ons zonnestelsel in ons sterrenstelsel (van bovenaf bezien). De baan van onze zon is weergegeven in gele stippellijn, die van de komeet in rood. Begrepen kan worden dat de komeet een excentrischer baan volgt om het centrum van de Melkweg dan ons zonnestelsel zelf. Afbeelding: M. Hopkins/Ōtautahi-Oxford team. Base map: ESA/Gaia/DPAC, Stefan Payne-Wardenaar

Slot

3I/ATLAS blijft zich, zoals gepland, haastig van ons verwijderen. De komende weken zal hij echter nog zichtbaar blijven voor telescopen, waarbij zijn reis perfect te volgen is in bijvoorbeeld NASA’s ‘Eyes on the Solar System’ app. Elke nieuwe waarneming biedt een zeldzame kans om de geschiedenis van deze kosmische zwerver verder te ontcijferen.

Animatie van de hyperbolische baan van 3I/ATLAS door ons zonnestelsel. De baan bevestigt dat het object niet door de zwaartekracht van de Zon is gebonden en ons stelsel weer zal verlaten. Afbeelding: NASA/JPL De komende weken staan nog observaties met ESA’s sonde JUICE gepland, momenteel onderweg naar Jupiter. Afbeelding: ESA/ATG Europe

Bronmateriaal

• "Rapid Brightening of 3I/ATLAS Ahead of Perihelion, Qicheng Zhang et al." - ArXiv
  
• "Comet 3I/ATLAS" - NASA
  
• "ESA’s ExoMars and Mars Express observe comet 3I/ATLAS" - ESA
  
• "天问一号成功观测到星际天体阿特拉斯 " - CNSA
  
• "Growing Tail of Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS" - NOIRLab
  
• "NASA Discovers Interstellar Comet Moving Through Solar System" - NASA
  
• "NASA’s Webb Space Telescope Observes Interstellar Comet" - NASA
  
• "Interstellar Comet 3I/ATLAS: Evidence for Galactic Cosmic Ray Processing" - ArXiv
  

Afbeelding bovenaan dit artikel: ESA/TGO/CaSSIS (ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter - 3 oktober 2025)

{ https://scientias.nl/nieuws/astronomie-ruimtevaart/ }

NASA scientists are baffled to discover a rock on Mars that 'doesn't belong there'

• READ MORE: Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin launches a NASA spacecraft to Mars

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

NASA's scientists have been baffled after discovering a mysterious rock on Mars that 'doesn't belong there'.

The Perseverance rover found the strange boulder near the rim of the 28-mile-wide (45 kilometres) Jezero crater, which experts think could have once hosted life.

The rock measures 31 inches (80 centimetres) across and initially stood out due to its 'sculpted' appearance.

Now, experts say that it likely originated from somewhere else in the solar system.

Perseverance used its SuperCam instrument to measure the rock's composition by heating a small section of the surface with a powerful laser.

This revealed that the object, which has been named Phippsaksla, has an exceptionally high iron and nickel content.

This is unusual since Perseverance has not found a single rock with such high metal content anywhere else in Jezero crater.

Dr Candice Bedford, a geologist from Purdue University and Perseverance operator, wrote in a NASA blog: 'This element combination is usually associated with iron-nickel meteorites formed in the core of large asteroids, suggesting that this rock formed elsewhere in the solar system.'

NASA scientists have spotted a mysterious rock on Mars which 'shouldn't be there' due to its unusual metallic composition and 'sculpted' appearance. This image of the rock was taken using the Perseverance rover's Mastcam-Z camera

NASA has discovered an interesting rock it's called Phippsaksla. 

(NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU)

Since landing on Mars in February 2021, Perseverance has been exploring the geology of Mars' northern Jezero crater.

This is an area of particular interest to scientists, who believe the crater may have once been filled with water, making it one of the best places to search for signs of life.

Recently, Perseverance climbed into a region known as the Vernodden, high on the crater's rim, where it spotted Phippsaksla.

Finding a meteor on Mars' cratered surface isn't unexpected, but the high metal content is much rarer.

Professor Gareth Collins, an expert on meteor impacts from Imperial College London, told the Daily Mail that Mars is hit by meteors 'all the time'.

'At some point in time, the entire Martian surface has been shaped by impacts,' he explained.

'Meteors are expected on Mars on a daily basis; we don’t know the number precisely, but there should be lots each day'.

The vast majority of the meteorites falling on Mars are rocky, while only about one in 20 are rich in iron and nickel.

The rock, which has been named Phippsaksla, measures 31 inches (80 centimetres across) and has an unusually high iron and nickel content. Experts say this means it could be a meteorite which formed elsewhere in the solar system 

These metallic meteorites are typically forged in the hearts of large asteroids, as the heavy minerals sank to the centre of heated rocks during the solar system's formation.

Phippsaksla's composition suggests that it might have had a similar origin elsewhere in the solar system, rather than forming on Mars.

Dr Gareth Dorrian, of the University of Birmingham, told the Daily Mail: 'It is quite likely this one on Mars came from the asteroid belt.

'These particular meteorites are quite resistant to chemical weathering and are more likely to survive the fiery fall through a planetary atmosphere.'

However, despite being rarer than rocky meteorites, the sheer volume of meteorites hitting Mars means that all other Mars rovers have found iron-nickel rocks.

The Curiosity rover has found many iron-nickel meteorites in the Gale crater, including a massive 39-inch (one metre) metallic meteorite dubbed 'Lebanon'.

Likewise, both the Curiosity and Spirit rovers found similar iron-nickel meteorites during their own missions.

Dr Bedford writes: 'As such, it has been somewhat unexpected that Perseverance had not seen iron-nickel meteorites within Jezero crater, particularly given its similar age to Gale crater and number of smaller impact craters suggesting that meteorites did fall on the crater floor, delta, and crater rim throughout time.'

The Mars rover Perseverance (pictured) spotted the strange rock while exploring a region known as Vernodden, high on the rim of the Jezero Crater. This is a particular area of interest, since scientists think the crater may once have been filled with water

This is not the first time rovers have found iron and nickel meteorites. In 2014, the Curiosity rover found a massive 39-inch (one metre) metallic meteorite dubbed 'Lebanon' (pictured)

This comes after Perseverance spotted an unusual 'helmet' rock in the Jezero crater, which may have been formed by volcanic activity  

Due to Phippsaksla's exotic nature, NASA's scientists say they will need more time to analyse it to confirm whether it is a meteorite.

If it is proven that the rock fell from space, then Perseverance can finally be ranked among the rovers to have investigated these rare and fascinating Martian visitors.

However, this is not the first unusual discovery that Perseverance has made on its journey through the Jezero crater.

In August, Perseverance snapped a picture of a bizarre 'helmet' on the Martian surface.

A closer look reveals it was covered from top to bottom with small bobbles, which are known by geologists as 'spherules'.

On Earth, spherules are formed by the rapid cooling of molten rock droplets during a volcanic eruption, or by the condensation of rock vaporised by a meteorite impact.

This suggests it might have been formed some time in the distant past when Mars' surface was dotted with active volcanoes.

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Overview

In the latest episode of the “UFO Lessons from Lacatski – The Doctor of Disclosure” podcast, hosts Jeremy Miller and George Keller dissect a series of revelations offered by Dr. James Lacatski, the former director of the Advanced Aerospace Weaponry and Surveillance Assessment Program (AAWSAP). AAWSAP, described by the Pentagon as the largest government‑funded investigation into unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), concluded its classified work in 2022. Lacatski’s third book, released this month, draws directly from the program’s declassified files and has reignited debate over the extent of the U.S. government’s knowledge of “retrieved” craft.

Key Revelations

Lacatski’s new manuscript claims that, during his tenure, he personally observed “government‑stashed, recovered UFOs” stored at undisclosed locations. He provides limited, non‑technical descriptions—metallic hulls with propulsion systems that defy conventional aerodynamics—and notes that these objects were examined by a coalition of DIA analysts, aerospace engineers, and select congressional staff. While he stops short of releasing visual evidence, Lacatski says the data is “sufficiently robust to merit a formal briefing to the Senate Intelligence Committee.” He also alleges that the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), inaugurated in 2023, operates primarily as a disinformation conduit rather than a genuine investigative body, a claim that contradicts official statements from the Department of Defense.

Credibility and Government Context

Dr. Lacatski’s background bolsters the weight of his assertions. A career officer with the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) and a trained rocket scientist, he oversaw AAWSAP’s analytical framework, which integrated radar, infrared, and pilot‑report data from multiple services. Former colleagues, speaking on condition of anonymity, describe him as “meticulous, skeptical, and fiercely protective of classified material.” Their testimony aligns with Lacatski’s own insistence that his disclosures are “carefully vetted to avoid jeopardizing ongoing national‑security operations.” Nevertheless, skeptics point out that his critique of AARO lacks corroborating documentation, urging caution before accepting the program’s purportedly deceptive role.

Motivation for Disclosure

When asked why he chose to go public, Lacatski cited the late Senator Harry Reid, a long‑time advocate for UAP transparency. “Senator Reid’s relentless pressure convinced me that the public’s right to know outweighs the bureaucratic impulse to bury the truth,” Lacatski told the hosts. He further explained that a series of internal briefings in early 2024, which were repeatedly postponed, prompted him to consider alternative avenues for disclosure. According to Jeremy, Lacatski indicated a willingness to share additional classified material directly with congressional oversight committees, provided proper security protocols are observed.

Public Reaction and Outlook

The episode has generated a spectrum of responses across UFO‑interest forums and mainstream media. Some commentators praise Lacatski as the “Doctor of Disclosure,” arguing that his insider status lends unprecedented credibility to claims of extraterrestrial technology. Others caution that his allegations could be part of a strategic narrative aimed at influencing defense funding or political capital. Social‑media sentiment, measured through Twitter hashtags #LacatskiLeaks and #UFOTruth, shows a near‑even split between supportive believers and critical analysts demanding hard evidence. As George noted, the conversation “has shifted from speculative to substantive,” with lawmakers now reportedly requesting a formal briefing on Lacatski’s findings.

Next Steps

While the full impact of Lacatski’s disclosures remains to be seen, the episode underscores a growing willingness among former intelligence officials to engage the public on UAP matters. The forthcoming congressional briefing, if it occurs, could set a precedent for how classified aerospace anomalies are handled in the future. Until then, the balance between transparency and national security will continue to shape the discourse, and journalists like us will keep monitoring the evolving story with a critical, evidence‑based lens.

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Overview

The interstellar visitor 3I/ATLAS—the third confirmed object of its kind—has once again captured the attention of astronomers and the public alike. First spotted in early July 2025 as it barreled toward the Sun at more than 130,000 mph, the object is thought to have originated from the distant “frontier” region of the Milky Way and could be as old as seven billion years. After passing perihelion on 29 October, 3I/ATLAS emerged from behind the Sun and, on 16 November, was photographed by amateur astrophotographer Satoru Murata with a modest 0.2‑meter telescope. The resulting image not only showcases the comet’s striking green coma and twin tails but also inadvertently “photobombs” the barred spiral galaxy NGC 4691, which appears in the top‑left corner of the frame.

The Photographic Capture

Murata’s long‑exposure shot reveals a bright green coma—a hallmark of ionized carbon monoxide and cyanogen gases fluorescing under solar ultraviolet radiation. Extending from the nucleus is a long ion tail that points directly away from the Sun, indicating the influence of the solar wind. A shorter, broader anti‑tail trails behind the comet, a feature created by excess dust particles that lag in the comet’s orbital path and become illuminated from Earth’s perspective. The image also shows smaller jets erupting from the nucleus, suggesting localized outgassing regions.

“The moment I realized the galaxy was in the frame, I knew we had something special,” Murata told Live Science. “It’s rare to have an interstellar comet and a distant galaxy share the same field of view—like a cosmic coincidence.” The photograph, posted to the astronomy community’s forums, quickly garnered over 12,000 likes and sparked discussion about the object’s unusual morphology.

Scientific Context and Anomalies

Since its discovery, 3I/ATLAS has exhibited a series of anomalous behaviors that set it apart from typical solar‑system comets. After perihelion, the comet brightened more rapidly than models predicted, prompting speculation about a volatile‑rich interior. Spectroscopic observations recorded a temporary color shift from green to a faint blue hue, hinting at changes in the composition of the coma as different ices sublimated. Moreover, the comet’s surface appears highly irradiated, with an overabundance of carbon‑bearing molecules such as C₂ and CN, which are rarely seen in such quantities in other comets.

These characteristics have led a small contingent of researchers to propose more exotic explanations, including the provocative—but widely contested—hypothesis that 3I/ATLAS could be an artificial probe or “alien spaceship.” Dr. Elena Mendoza of the Institute for Interstellar Studies remarked, “While the data are intriguing, the bulk of evidence aligns with natural cometary processes. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and we have yet to see any definitive signs of technology.” The majority of planetary scientists concur, emphasizing that the observed phenomena can be explained by thermal stresses, heterogeneous composition, and solar‑wind interactions typical of icy bodies entering the inner solar system at high speed.

Trajectory and Upcoming Close Approach

3I/ATLAS will make its closest approach to Earth on 19 December 2025, passing within roughly 0.23 AU (about 34 million kilometers). At that distance, the comet’s apparent magnitude is expected to reach +6, making it visible to the naked eye under dark skies for observers in the northern hemisphere. Astronomers worldwide are coordinating a series of observations—including high‑resolution spectroscopy, polarimetry, and radio measurements—to capture the comet’s activity as it recedes from the Sun.

The object’s hyperbolic orbit confirms its interstellar origin; calculations indicate an incoming velocity of ~30 km s⁻¹ relative to the Sun, far exceeding the escape velocity of the solar system. Its trajectory suggests it entered from a direction roughly aligned with the galactic anti‑center, supporting the hypothesis that it originated in the sparsely populated outer regions of the Milky Way.

Significance for Interstellar Research

The third confirmed interstellar visitor offers a rare laboratory for studying material that formed around another star. The multiple tails captured in Murata’s image provide clues about the distribution of volatile ices and dust, while the spectral signatures of unusual chemicals may reflect a different chemical pathway in its natal system. Comparative analysis with the first two interstellar objects—‘Oumuamua (2017) and 2I/Borisov (2019)—will help refine models of planetary system formation across the galaxy.

As Dr. Ravi Kumar, a cometary physicist at the University of Arizona, noted, “Each interstellar object is a messenger from a distant world. 3I/ATLAS, with its vivid tails and unexpected chemistry, expands our understanding of the diversity of planetary building blocks beyond our own solar system.” The upcoming observations, combined with the striking visual record of its encounter with NGC 4691, ensure that 3I/ATLAS will remain a focal point of scientific inquiry and public fascination well into the next year.

{  https://usubjects.com/  }

NASA

Mysterious interstellar object 3I/ATLAS made an astonishingly close pass of Mars last month, allowing scientific instruments in the planet’s orbit to get a tantalizing glimpse.

Yet thanks to the US federal government shutdown that ended earlier this month, NASA was forced to delay the release of images taken by the HiRISE camera attached to its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, prompting outrage from lawmakers and astronomers alike.

Fortunately, NASA finally released some of the observations during a livestream today.

One image, taken by HiRISE on October 2, shows a “fuzzy white ball,” as NASA associate administrator Amit Kshatriya described it. At the time, 3I/ATLAS was just 19 million miles away from the instrument.

“That ball is a cloud of dust and ice called the coma, which is shed by the comet,” Kshatriya said.

NASA also released images of the comet taken by the Mastcam-Z instrument attached to its Perseverance Mars rover, taken on October 4, showing the object whipping by at around 137,000 mph.

Separate ultraviolet spectrograph observations by NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft show the comet emitting hydrogen gas as it approached Mars in late September.

Before getting to the latest observations during today’s livestream, Kshatriya chose to “address the rumors right at the beginning,” publicly denouncing a prevalent theory — prominently championed by Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb in the media — that 3I/ATLAS could be an alien spacecraft that came to visit.

“This object is a comet,” Kshatriya said. “It looks and behaves like a comet, and all evidence points towards it being a comet.”

Fortunately, 3I/ATAS is expected to make its closest pass of the Earth on December 19, giving NASA spacecraft yet another chance to observe it.

More on 3I/ATLAS:

•  Harvard Scientist Suspicious About 3I/ATLAS’ Origins Fires Back at Critics

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{  https://futurism.com/category/science-energy }

While exploring this site along the rim of the Jezero Crater, Perseverance encountered an oddly shaped rock about 31 inches (80 centimeters) wide, according to NASA. Now named “Phippsaksla,” it caught the attention of Perseverance’s handlers due to its sculpted, high-standing appearance, rising sharply above the flat, fragmented rocks surrounding it.

Further investigations are required to determine the true nature of Phippsaksla, but a preliminary analysis of its composition suggests it may be a meteorite rich in iron and nickel. This type of meteorite is less commonly found on Earth but dominates the small number of meteorites that rovers have found on Mars. Still, finding one near the Jezero Crater is a first for Perseverance.

A possible sample from an ancient asteroid

Perseverance used its SuperCam instrument to reveal Phippsaksla’s composition. This tool examines rocks and soils with a camera, laser, and spectrometers to identify their chemical and mineral components.

The combination of elements Perseverance found is typically associated with iron-nickel meteorites, suggesting Phippsaksla hails from somewhere else in the solar system.

These meteorites are samples from the cores of ancient worlds. Asteroids that melted early on in their history formed iron and nickel cores as these dense elements sank to the center. Iron-nickel meteorites are fragments of those cores, freed by collisions between their parent asteroid and other celestial bodies.

Other Mars rovers have found several while exploring the Red Planet. Curiosity has identified many in the Gale Crater, including the one-foot-wide “Cacao” meteorite found in 2023. Both of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, also found iron-nickel meteorites during their missions.

A surprising first for Perseverance

It’s somewhat surprising that it took Perseverance this long to find an iron-nickel meteorite, especially considering that its primary exploration area, the Jezero Crater, is roughly the same age as the Gale Crater. What’s more, a number of smaller impact craters within Jezero suggest meteorites did impact the crater floor, delta, and rim throughout its history.

But again, additional analysis will need to confirm that Phippsaksla is actually an iron-nickel meteorite. In addition to SuperCam, Perseverance is equipped with other instruments capable of analyzing rock samples in situ, such as PIXL (Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry). This tool could provide a more refined picture of Phippsaksla’s chemistry.

Perseverance is also the first Mars rover capable of collecting and caching rock samples for a potential return to Earth, and it’s possible that it could add a chunk of Phippsaksla to its collection. NASA has tentative plans to retrieve Perseverance’s samples, but the future of the Mars Sample Return mission is currently uncertain.

Phippsaksla has certainly caught NASA’s attention, and we should learn more about this specimen as the Perseverance team continues to probe its exotic chemistry.  With no end in sight to the rover’s mission, there’s no telling what this intrepid explorer will find next.

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{ https://gizmodo.com/science }

De Mogelijke Gedeelde en Onverklaarbare Agenda van de Zwarte Oog-kinderen en de Mannen in Zwart: Een Diepgaande Analyse

Inleiding

Het fenomeen van de Zwarte Oog-kinderen en de Mannen in Zwart heeft sinds de mid-20e eeuw de verbeelding van zowel onderzoekers als het grote publiek gevangen. Beiden worden vaak als mysterieuze, onverklaarbare entiteiten beschreven die zich op ongewone wijze manifesteren, vaak in situaties die grenzen aan het bovennatuurlijke en het paranormale. Hoewel ze afzonderlijk veel aandacht krijgen, bestaat er een interessante vraag: kunnen deze verschijnselen deel uitmaken van een gedeelde, nog onbekende agenda? En zo ja, wat zou die agenda kunnen inhouden? In dit artikel stellen we een gedetailleerde analyse voor van de mogelijke verbanden en onderliggende motieven tussen deze twee fenomeenclusters, met een oog voor zowel de wetenschappelijke, culturele als esoterische dimensies.

1. De fenomeen van de Zwarte Oog-kinderen en de Mannen in Zwart: een overzicht

1.1 De Zwarte Oog-kinderen: kenmerken en verhalen

De Zwarte Oog-kinderen worden gekenmerkt door jonge kinderen met volledig zwarte ogen, zonder iris of pupil. Ze worden vaak beschreven als wezens die plotseling verschijnen op afgelegen locaties, of die contact zoeken met volwassenen, meestal in situaties van spanning of angst. Er worden weinig fysieke details gegeven; het is vooral hun oogkleur en de wijze van verschijning die hen onderscheidt.

Bekende getuigenissen komen uit heel de wereld, van de Verenigde Staten tot Europa en Azië. Veel verhalen worden gekenmerkt door gevoelens van angst, verwarring of zelfs psychische leegte bij de observatoren. Soms wordt gemeld dat na confrontaties met deze wezens, mensen last krijgen van nachtmerries, mentale verwarring of fysiek ongemak.

1.2 De Mannen in Zwart: geschiedenis en beschrijvingen

De Mannen in Zwart (Men in Black, MIB) werden voor het eerst prominent beschreven in de jaren 1950 en 1960, vooral in de context van UFO-waarnemingen en buitenaardse ontmoeting. Ze worden vaak beschreven als nette, geklede mannen in zwarte pakken, die verschijnen kort nadat er melding is gedaan van een UFO of ander onverklaarbaar fenomeen.

Ze worden geassocieerd met intimidatie, het onderdrukken van informatie en het dreigen met negatieve gevolgen voor getuigen. Sommige verhalen suggereren dat ze paranormale of bovennatuurlijke krachten bezitten, of dat ze verbonden zijn met overheidsinstanties en geheime samenzweringen.

2. Beschrijving van de fenomenen: gelijkenissen en verschillen

Hoewel de Zwarte Oogkinderen en de Mannen in Zwart uit verschillende culturele en sociale contexten lijken voort te komen, vertonen ze opvallende overeenkomsten:

• Manifestatie: Beide verschijnen plotseling en onverwacht, vaak zonder duidelijke oorzaak of waarschuwing.

• Onverklaarbaarheid: Er is geen sluitend wetenschappelijk bewijs voor hun bestaan, en ze blijven een bron van volksverhalen en folklore.

• Invloed op getuigen: Beide fenomenen worden geassocieerd met gevoelens van angst, verwarring en psychisch trauma.

Verschillen zijn onder andere:

• Fysieke verschijningsvorm: De Zwarte Oog-kinderen worden vooral visueel gekenmerkt door hun zwarte ogen, terwijl de Mannen in Zwart worden beschreven aan de hand van hun kleding en gedrag.

• Context van waarneming: Zwarte Oog-kinderen worden doorgaans gezien in privé- of huiselijke situaties, terwijl de Mannen in Zwart vaak optreden in openbare, of semi-openbare situaties rondom UFO-waarnemingen.

3. Mogelijke theorieën over de gedeelde en onverklaarbare agenda

De grote vraag blijft: kunnen deze afwijkende verschijnselen deel uitmaken van een overkoepelend, onzichtbaar beleid of doel? Hieronder worden enkele hypothesen en theorieën besproken.

3.1 De theorie van buitenaardse beïnvloeding

Een gangbare interpretatie onder UFO-onderzoekers en ufologen is dat zowel de Zwarte Oogkinderen als de Mannen in Zwart werken als agenten of vertegenwoordigers van buitenaardse wezens of geavanceerde technologieën.

• Gerelateerde doelen: Het doel zou kunnen zijn het controleren of sturen van menselijke perceptie en gedrag, bijvoorbeeld door het verzamelen van genetisch materiaal, psychische gegevens of gedragsinformatie.

• Synchronisatie door technologie: Sommige theorieën suggereren dat de verschijnselen voortkomen uit gerichte technologie die bewust wordt ingezet op mensen en plekken, mogelijk als onderdeel van een bredere afstemming tussen buitenaardse en menselijke actoren.

3.2 De interpretatie van een geheime overheidsagenda

Een andere hypothese stelt dat deze entiteiten gerelateerd zijn aan geheime programma's van overheidsinstanties, zoals de CIA, NSA of militaire programma's.

• Experimenten in perceptie en mind control: Het zou kunnen dat deze verschijnselen gerichte psychologische experimenten zijn, waarbij projecten zoals MK-Ultra en het gebruik van psychotronica een rol spelen.

• De Mens en Machine samen: Het idee dat deze wezens helpen bij het controleren of beïnvloeden van menselijke collectieve percepties, vooral in het kader van geheime wereldwijde agenda's.

3.3 Esoterische en spirituele interpretaties

Veldonderzoekers en spiritualisten suggereren dat beide fenomenen mogelijk manipulatief zijn, en dienen een spiritueel of bewustzijnsdoel.

• Bewustzijnsontwikkeling: De verschijnselen zouden bedoeld kunnen zijn om individuen te confronteren met hun innerlijke angsten en beperkingen, of om deal te maken met kosmische krachten.

• Manifestatie van archetypes: Sommige theorieën beschrijven ze als manifestaties van archetypes uit het collectieve onderbewuste, die over verschillende culturen en tijden voorkomen.

3.4 Een gedeeld, ondoorzichtig agenda: de synthese

Het is mogelijk dat de Zwarte Oogkinderen en de Mannen in Zwart onderdeel zijn van een complex, gelaagd systeem, waarbij verschillende krachten, waaronder buitenaards, overheids- en spirituele invloeden, samenwerken.

• De bedoeling: Een betere controle over menselijke perceptie, gedrag en ontwikkeling, of het verzamelen van kosmische en psychische gegevens.

• De methodiek: Verschijnen in bepaalde situaties, gebruikmakend van angst en verwarring, met als doel het verzamelen van informatie of het beïnvloeden van collectieve overtuigingen.

4. Het belang van culturele en mediatradities

Het bekijken van deze fenomenen door culturele oogpunten onthult dat ze tot een breed scala van volksverhalen, mythen en popcultuur gerekend kunnen worden.

• De rol van media: Films, boeken en internet hebben de iconografie van de Mannen in Zwart en de Zwarte Oog-kinderen verder versterkt, waardoor hun betekenis en interpretatie evolueren.

• Verhaalvorming en mythologie: Veel van de verhalen lijken archetypisch en dienen als moderne mythes over onze relatie met het onbekende en het bovennatuurlijke.

5. Kritische analyse en scepsis

Het is belangrijk om ook kritisch te kijken naar de beweegredenen en de bewijsvoering achter deze theorieën.

• Gebrek aan wetenschappelijk bewijs: Er is geen sluitend bewijs dat de verschijnselen bovennatuurlijk of buitenaards zijn, en veel verhalen kunnen worden verklaard door psychologische factoren zoals hysterie, nachtmerries, hallucinaties of psychische stoornissen.

• De rol van interpretatie en interpretatieve bias: Mensen die reeds geloven in geheime agenda’s of buitenaardse invloeden, zullen sneller de verschijnselen op die manier interpreteren.

6. Conclusie: een complexe, ondoorzichtige mozaïek?

De vraag of de Zwarte Oogkinderen en de Mannen in Zwart samen een gedeelde, onverklaarbare agenda vormen, blijft open. Wat duidelijk is, is dat beide fenomeenclusters binnen de menselijke cultuur functioneren als symbolen voor het onbegrepen, het bovennatuurlijke en het grensvlak tussen realiteit en perceptie.

Het is mogelijk dat ze daadwerkelijk een kracht of entiteit vertegenwoordigen die opereert zonder volledige transparantie, wellicht met doelen die nog in de schaduw blijven. Alternatief kunnen ze het resultaat zijn van collectieve angsten, psychologische projecties, of media- en culturele constructies.

Wat er ook van waar is, hun gezamenlijk voorkomen en de fenomenale beschrijvingen die ermee gepaard gaan, dragen bij aan een rijk tapijt van folklore en mystiek die nog altijd veel vragen oproept en wetenschap uitdaagt tot verder onderzoek.

Eindwoord

Het onderzoeken van de gedeelde en onverklaarbare agenda van de Zwarte Oogkinderen en de Mannen in Zwart duidt op een brede culturele en psychologische laag die onze behoefte onderzoekt naar betekenis in het onbekende. Of er nu werkelijk een verborgen plan bestaat, of dat deze verschijnselen eerder een reflectie zijn van collectieve angsten en archetypes, ze blijven fascinerende raadsels. Wat zeker is, is dat zij ons uitdagen na te denken over de grenzen van de menselijke kennis, perceptie en de mysterieuze krachten die mogelijk uit de ruimte, de psyche of de verborgen wereld actief zijn.

Bronnen en verdere lezing

• Bezeten van het onbekende: De geschiedenis van de Mannen in Zwart (John Keel, 1970)
• Urgente ogen: De symboliek van de Zwarte Oogkinderen (Online artikelen en forums)
• Overheidsprogramma’s en psychotronica: Geheimen van de bekende geheime diensten
• Mythologie en archetypes: Carl Jung en de collectieve onbewuste theorieën
• Theoretische frameworks over buitenaardse en paranormale fenomenen

Met deze uitgebreide analyse hopen we bij te dragen aan een beter begrip van deze intrigerende fenomenen en de vragen die zij oproepen. Het ware doel van de gedeelde en onverklaarbare agenda blijft voorlopig in het rijk der speculatie, maar het onderzoek naar hen benadrukt hoe diep onze collectieve fascinatie met het onzichtbare gaat.

{  PETER2011 }

An international team of scientists led by the Carnegie Institute has discovered chemical evidence of life in rocks dating back more than 3.3 billion years. They also found molecular traces indicating that photosynthetic organisms appeared nearly a billion years earlier than previously thought.

Rocks in which some of the oldest traces of life on Earth have been found. Source: Allen Nutman/University of Wollongong via AP

The earliest life on Earth left few molecular traces behind. The few fragile remains, such as ancient cells and bacterial mats, were destroyed by tectonic processes that led to the renewal of the Earth’s crust. All these transformations have virtually erased the biosignatures that contain crucial clues about the origin and early evolution of life.

Nevertheless, thanks to new technologies, scientists now have a chance to look into Earth’s past. An international team of researchers has suggested that the distribution of biomolecular fragments found in ancient rocks still preserves information about the biosphere, even if the original biomolecules have not been preserved. The team used high-resolution chemical analysis to break down organic and inorganic materials into molecular fragments, and then trained an artificial intelligence system to recognise the chemical ‘fingerprints’ left behind by life.

Organic matter extracted from samples of 2.5-billion-year-old rock containing fossilized microorganisms like the one in this photomicrograph still contains biomolecular fragments that may have been produced via photosynthesis.

Image credit: Andrew D. Czaja

Scientists examined more than 400 samples ranging from plants and animals to billion-year-old fossils and meteorites. The artificial intelligence model distinguished between biological and non-biological materials with over 90% accuracy and detected signs of photosynthesis in rocks at least 2.5 billion years old.

According to the team, until now, molecular traces reliably indicating life have only been found in rocks younger than 1.7 billion years old. This new method roughly doubles the time range that scientists can study using chemical biosignatures.

abstract organic structures

The black features in this rock are traces of photosynthesis dating back 2.5 billion years.

(Andrea Corpolongo/Carnegie Institution for Science)

Organic material found in 2.5-billion-year-old rock.

(Andrew D. Czaja/Carnegie Institution for Science)

The new approach could be used not only in Earth science, but also in space exploration. It could be used to analyse samples from Mars or other celestial bodies to determine whether they were once habitable.

• Provided by Phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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

Space fashion face-off! While NASA's astronauts wear spacesuits designed by Prada, European Space Agency's travellers will have to settle for... Decathlon

• READ MORE: The truth of what it's REALLY like to walk in space 

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

For decades, the USA and Europe have been battling it out in the space race.

But when it comes to high fashion, there's now a clear winner.

While NASA's spacesuits are being developed, in part, by Prada, astronauts at the European Space Agency (ESA) will have to settle for a more humble designer – Decathlon.

The high street brand, best known for selling affordable sportswear, has announced it is behind a new intra-vehicular activity (IVA) space suit prototype.

Its dark grey 'EuroSuit' is designed to be worn during 'critical' phases of a mission, such as launch and landing, and can be donned or removed without assistance in under two minutes.

It will be tested by ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot during a mission to the International Space Station (ISS) next year.

The mainstream sports shop couldn't be further from the iconic Italian fashion powerhouse behind NASA's suits.

But Decathlon says the opportunity demonstrates its ability to 'transfer its sports innovation expertise into the extreme environment of human spaceflight'.

High street store Decathlon has announced it is behind a new intra-vehicular activity (IVA) space suit prototype

Its dark grey 'EuroSuit' is designed to be worn during 'critical' phases of a mission, such as launch and landing, and can be donned or removed without assistance in under two minutes

Prada - known for its luxury handbags, accessories and footwear - has turned to designing a spacesuit to be worn on the next mission to the moon

The prototype features a range of 'groundbreaking' advancements, including a lattice-structured helmet design that allows for perfectly tailored fits.

Expanding 'bellows' at the shoulders, elbows and knees ensure maximum mobility in confined environments.

Air-tight zippers with 'ergonomic pullers' make it easy to open and close the suit, while the suit's length can be adjusted to compensate for the natural elongation of astronauts' bodies in microgravity.

The ability to don or remove the suit in under two minutes unaided is a first for IVA suits and could significantly improve response times during spacecraft emergencies.

Aboard the ISS, Ms Adenot will perform a series of test sequences including putting the suit on, manipulating small objects, using the onboard touchscreen tablet and taking the suit off.

Her feedback will fuel the development of a fully operational version of the EuroSuit, complete with key systems such as air-tight sealing, fire resistance, breathable atmosphere control, built-in communications and head-up display interfaces.

'The EuroSuit embodies our ability to push the boundaries of innovation beyond our traditional fields of expertise,' Sébastien Haquet, Head of Advanced Innovation at Decathlon, said.

'It is a remarkable opportunity to explore new applications for our textile and product design know-how in an environment as demanding as space.'

Decathlon's prototype (left) features a range of 'groundbreaking' advancements, including a lattice-structured helmet design that allows for perfectly tailored fits. Meanwhile Prada's suit (right) has been designed to accommodate both male and female astronauts with enhanced flexibility and mobility to allow them to move around for at least eight hours

Decathlon is a French retailer with stores all over the UK and is best known for its affordable sportwear (file image)

Decathlon has worked in conjunction with French national space agency CNES, start-up Spartan Space and The Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology in the design of the suit.

'In line with Europe's ambition to achieve greater autonomy in human spaceflight, CNES has decided to focus on intra-vehicular suits,' Sébastien Barde, Deputy Director for Exploration and Human Spaceflight, said.

'By relying on the exceptional expertise of our partners, we are prepared to deliver this type of suit when the time comes.

'In doing so, we are fully playing our role of supporting and guiding our industry.'

Last year, Prada announced it was teaming up with Axiom Space to advise on the design and materials for a spacesuit to be worn on the next mission to the moon.

The renowned fashion company said its team were able to assist with recommending customised materials and features for the spacesuit, as well as sewing methods that could improve its performance.

The suit, which will be worn by the next humans to walk on the surface of the moon, will be capable of withstanding extreme temperatures at the lunar south pole and the coldest temperatures in permanently-shadowed regions.

It has been designed to accommodate both male and female astronauts with enhanced flexibility and mobility to allow them to move around for at least eight hours.

ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot (far right) will test the prototype suit during a mission to the ISS next year

Features also include variable suit pressure, a carbon dioxide 'scrubbing' system, a portable life support system backpack and a bright white outer layer to reflect heat.

The entire design also includes advanced coatings on the helmet and visor to enhance the astronauts' view of their surroundings, as well as custom gloves.

READ MORE

• Now THAT'S what you call high fashion! Prada helps design a futuristic spacesuit for NASA astronauts to wear to the moon on the 2026 Artemis III mission

The suit will be used for NASA's Artemis III mission, a crewed lunar landing that will take place in September 2026 at the earliest.

It will be the first time humans have returned to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972 and will involve a week-long exploration of the lunar surface while conducting scientific studies.

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