Scientists Say Heck, Just Nuke a Killer Asteroid Heading for Earth

By Victor Tangermann

Getty / Futurism

Plenty of asteroids can survive their fiery plunge through the Earth’s atmosphere. If they’re big enough, they can prove incredibly destructive, like the 60-foot Chelyabinsk meteor that exploded over the southern Ural region in Russia in 2013, releasing a blast equivalent to 30 times the energy of the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima.

And in case an even larger space rock were to ever threaten humanity, we’d have to get creative to keep it from colliding with our planet. Crashing a spacecraft into it like a pool ball to redirect its path — just like NASA did with its proof of concept Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission in 2022 — may not always be on the table, given the many uncertainties involved.

In a new paper published in the journal Nature Communications, an international team of researchers — including scientists from CERN and the University of Oxford — revisited the idea of blowing up an incoming asteroid with a nuclear warhead.

There are intuitive concerns. What if the asteroid shattered, turning a cosmic sniper shot into a shotgun blast of debris raining down over our planet?

But the team used CERN’s Super Proton Synchrotron (SPS) to study how asteroid materials react to different levels of physical stress, including large-scale simulations of nuclear deflection, and found that the space rocks are surprisingly resilient.

“Planetary defense represents a scientific challenge,” said Karl-Georg Schlesinger, cofounder of nuclear deflection startup Outer Solar System Company (OuSoCo), which partnered with the scientists, in a statement. “The world must be able to execute a nuclear deflection mission with high confidence, yet cannot conduct a real-world test in advance.”

In an experiment, the team exposed samples of a metal-rich meteorite to 27 short but intense pulses of a proton beam at CERN’s HiRadMat facility. Afterward, the team moved the meteorite to the ISIS Neutron and Muon Source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in the UK to analyze changes to its internal structure at a microscopic level.

To their surprise, the “material became stronger, exhibiting an increase in yield strength, and displayed a self-stabilizing damping behavior,” explained OuSoCo cofounder Melanie Bochmann.

The finding could have major implications for how we approach future asteroid redirection efforts.

“Our experiments indicate that — at least for metal-rich asteroid material — a larger device than previously thought can be used without catastrophically breaking the asteroid,” Bochmann said. “This keeps open an emergency option for situations involving very large objects or very short warning times, where non-nuclear methods are insufficient and where current models might assume fragmentation would limit the usable device size.”

Fortunately, the researchers could soon have far more data to go by. Both NASA and the European Space Agency are planning to study Apophis, an enormous asteroid somewhere between 1,000 and 1,500 feet in width, which is expected to come eerily close to the Earth — closer than many geosynchronous satellites at just 20,000 miles — to Earth in April 2029.

“As a next step, we plan to study more complex and rocky asteroid materials,” the researchers said in a statement. “One example is a class of meteorites called pallasites, which consist of a metal matrix similar to the meteorite material we have already studied, with up to centimeter-sized magnesium-rich crystals embedded inside.”

The upcoming research could have fascinating implications outside of asteroid redirection as well.

“Because these objects are thought to originate from the core–mantle boundary of early planetesimals,” they added, “such experiments could also provide valuable insights into planetary formation processes.”

More on asteroids: 

• Asteroid Behaving Strangely

 

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

The largest life-form on land 400 million years ago was one that scientists can’t explain

<i>Neil Hanna via CNN Newsource</i><br/>From right

By Katie Hunt, CNN

(CNN) — Some 400 million years ago, long before dinosaurs or even trees had evolved, an enigmatic organism towered over the landscape like a prehistoric monolith.

Now, new research makes the case that the ancient life form is not a plant, animal or fungi and instead may be a completely unknown form of multicellular life.

“What we can say, based on all of those new analyses, is that it’s so different from any modern group we have,” said Corentin Loron, a palaeontologist at Edinburgh University and a co-lead author of the research, which published in the journal Science Advances last month.

First identified 160 years ago, the fossils — known as Prototaxites — measure up to 30 feet (around 9 meters) tall and have long defied easy classification.

In the 19th century, scientists initially thought Prototaxites was the rotten trunk of a conifer. Subsequent study, however, revealed it was composed of interwoven tubes, rather than the block-like cells that make up plant tissue.

Other scientists argued that it was a lichen-like mass, a symbiotic association between a fungus and algae. In recent years, some researchers thought the organism more closely resembled a fungus, in part because it didn’t appear to produce energy through photosynthesis.

The new research focused on three Prototaxites fossils unearthed in the Rhynie chert, a prehistoric land ecosystem near Aberdeen, Scotland. The Rhynie chert is home to the best-preserved examples of the earliest plants, fungi and fauna that colonized land 400 million years ago, during a period known as the early Devonian. The site was once an ancient hot spring like Yellowstone.

The exceptional preservation of the fossils embedded in the rock at the Rhynie chert allows scientists, with the right tools, to detect the chemical signatures of long-vanished molecules, known as fossilization products.

“We are able to still have signatures that inform us about the original composition of those fossils, meaning it’s not overcooked, it’s not overly transformed by the geology,” Loron explained.

A 410 million year-old Protaxities fossil, discovered in Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. - Neil Hanna

Unanswered questions

The new analysis by Loron and his colleagues suggests that the biomarkers in Prototaxites fossils were chemically distinct from those of fossilized fungi found at the site and preserved in similar conditions. Fungi fossils preserved in the chert contained compounds from the breakdown of chitin and glucan, key structural molecules in fungi. Prototaxites, however, lacked these biomarkers.

“If Prototaxites was fungi, we would have expected it to follow the same trend as the fungi because they are next to each other in the same burial conditions,” Loron said.

Other structural features — such as a complex branching pattern within dark spherical spots in the fossil that could have carried out a gas, nutrient, water, or served another exchange function — were distinct from all known fungi, whether living or extinct, the researchers noted in the study. Based on these results, it is too early to shoehorn Prototaxites into a specific category, according to the team.

Different species of Prototaxites might have varied in size, but the largest would have really towered over the landscape at a time when plants were less than 1 meter tall, said Kevin Boyce, a professor of Earth and planetary sciences at Stanford University. His work on Prototaxites fossils has shown that the ancient organisms didn’t use photosynthesis to produce energy from light like plants, but likely consumed carbon sources in the environment — just as some living fungi live off decomposing organic matter.

From right, researchers Sandy Hetherington, Corentin Loron and Laura Cooper, who led the new study, at the Museum of Scotland's National Museums Collection Centre with some Prototaxites fossils. - Neil Hanna

“People have compared it to specific fungi or algae in the past, and they were doing their best with the information they had at the time, but we now have a much better handle on the overall tree of life and Prototaxites is too old for those comparisons to be valid,” Boyce, who wasn’t involved in the study, said in an email.

“You can compare it to mushrooms, but mushrooms just aren’t that old,” he added. “That doesn’t mean Prototaxites is or isn’t a fungus (or anything else), just that its form would have evolved independently from the mushrooms and other complex multicellular examples amongst fungi that we have now.”

Marc-André Selosse, a professor at the Natural History Museum in Paris, said the authors of the new study conducted “wonderful analyses” but noted the research only examined one of 25 known species of Prototaxites. Selosse, who also didn’t take part in the work, said he thought it was still possible that the organism functioned in a lichen-like way.

“The sampling is not encompassing the diversity of Prototaxites species,” Selosse said. “So for me, it doesn’t make it as a finished story.”

Loron said there is still much that is unknown about Prototaxites. For example, it’s not clear how Prototaxites were anchored to the ground or whether the organism, which is thought to have grown slowly, was upright for its whole lifespan. His team is planning follow-up studies on fossilized tubular organisms similar to Prototaxites to further the research.

“Sometimes it’s scary to not know what something is, but it’s also scientifically exciting,” Loron said.

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://kesq.com/news/ }

Graancirkels verklaard: wetenschap en speculatie

©Getty Images

Graancirkels verklaard: wetenschap en speculatie
In de jaren tachtig en negentig doken overal ter wereld graancirkels op, wat angst en intriges over hun oorsprong veroorzaakte. Deze cryptische patronen lijken de afgelopen jaren echter verdwenen.Laten we de geschiedenis, feiten en theorieën verkennen over dit mysterieuze fenomeen dat een milieukunstvorm inspireerde. Klik door de galerij om aan de slag te gaan.

©Shutterstock

Australië
In de jaren 1960 waren er talrijke UFO-waarnemingen in Queensland, Australië. Mensen beweerden cirkels te hebben ontdekt in moerasriet en rietvelden. Eén zo'n voorval deed zich voor in 1966 toen een aanzienlijke cirkel werd gevonden in het riet van een moeras in Tully, Queensland.

©Shutterstock

Antipodees
Vergelijkbare vindplaatsen zijn gedocumenteerd in verschillende delen van Australië, zoals Tooligie Hill in South Australia in 1971 en Navarre in Victoria in september 1972.

©Shutterstock

Lange geschiedenis
De oorsprong van graancirkels gaat echter veel verder terug. In 1678 werd van een groep cirkels die in Hertfordshire waren ontdekt, gedacht dat ze het werk van de duivel waren, omdat het onmogelijk leek dat een mens ze had kunnen maken;

©Getty Images

Graancirkels
In de jaren 1980 was er een aanzienlijke toename van het aantal gerapporteerde cirkels, wat leidde tot de popularisering van de term "graancirkels".

©Shutterstock

Theorieën
Er werden verschillende verklaringen voor hun ontstaan geopperd. Sommigen geloofden dat UFO's verantwoordelijk waren, terwijl anderen een onbekende vorm van energie, mogelijk paranormaal, voorstelden als de schepper.

©Getty Images

Wiltshire
Eind jaren 1980 vestigden de media de aandacht op graancirkels in Hampshire en Wiltshire, waardoor het fenomeen populair werd.

©Shutterstock

Locatie
Verder onderzoek wees uit dat graancirkels in het Verenigd Koninkrijk niet willekeurig verspreid waren. Ze verschenen vaak in de buurt van wegen, bewoonde gebieden en oriëntatiepunten zoals de historische steencirkels van Stonehenge en Avebury.

©Getty Images

Operatie Merel
In 1990 begon een team wetenschappers, de zelfbenoemde "cerealogisten", aan een onderzoek om het mysterie rond deze formaties te ontrafelen. Ze sloegen een kamp op op een heuvel in Wiltshire, uitgerust met detectoren voor warmte, licht en geluid. Hun doel was om elk bewijs vast te leggen van een UFO of een buitenaardse entiteit die verantwoordelijk was voor het maken van de graancirkels.

©Getty Images

Resultaat
Operatie Blackbird omvatte samenwerking met de BBC en er werd in het gebied gepatrouilleerd door functionarissen van het Ministerie van Defensie. In de tweede nacht registreerde de bewakingsapparatuur knipperende oranje lichten in het aangrenzende veld. De volgende ochtend werden twee grote cirkels met parallelle lijnen ertussen ontdekt.

©Shutterstock

Bewijs
Tijdens het onderzoek van de cirkels werden een bordspel en een houten kruisbeeld ontdekt in het midden van één ervan. Onderzoeker Colin Andrews accepteerde de mogelijkheid dat de knipperende oranje lichten waarschijnlijk werden veroorzaakt door de warmtehandtekening van een hoaxer.

©Reuters

Niet grappig?
Colin Andrews informeerde de pers dat hun onderzoek was gehinderd door een grap, wat een tegenslag veroorzaakte. Hij benadrukte de ernst van hun werk en benadrukte dat de grap van korte duur was.

©Reuters

Ondermijnd
De personen achter de onderbreking van Operatie Blackbird werden niet geïdentificeerd, maar hun acties beschadigden de reputatie van de "cerealogen".

©Shutterstock

Samenzwering?
Volgens berichten hebben samenzweringstheoretici gesuggereerd dat het leger het bedrog heeft uitgevoerd om de onderzoekers minder geloofwaardig te maken.

©Shutterstock

Grappenmakers

In 1991 schokten Doug Bower en Dave Chorley de wereld toen ze beweerden dat zij degenen waren achter de graancirkels, beginnend in 1978. Ze lieten het proces zien van het creëren van een graancirkel met behulp van basisgereedschap zoals een houten plank, een touw en een baseballpet met een lus van draad om een rechte lijn aan te houden.

©Shutterstock

Verantwoordelijkheid
Bower en Chorley verklaarden naar verluidt dat ze beïnvloed waren door de gebeurtenissen in Australië in de jaren 1960. Ze namen de eer op zich voor alle graancirkels in Groot-Brittannië vóór 1987 en voor meer dan 200 graancirkels van 1978 tot 1991.

©Getty Images

Nieuwe golf
De onthulling van de cirkels van Bower en Chorley in de jaren 1990 leidde tot een toename van het aantal graancirkels. In 2009 meldde het tijdschrift Smithsonian dat deze geometrische ontwerpen in de loop der jaren groter en ingewikkelder zijn geworden. Anonieme cirkelmakers hebben met hun creaties New Age toeristen aangetrokken.

©Reuters

Wereldwijd
Volgens de publicatie zijn er sindsdien wereldwijd op verschillende locaties graancirkels waargenomen. In Zuid-Engeland, waar de meeste activiteit plaatsvindt, richten de cirkelmakers zich op koolzaad-, gerst- en tarwevelden.

©Reuters

Magnetrons
Er zijn echter sceptici die betwijfelen of graancirkels uitsluitend door mensen zijn gemaakt. Physics World onthult dat biofysici opgezwollen stengels hebben geïnterpreteerd als bewijs dat de gewassen werden blootgesteld aan microgolven toen de cirkels werden gevormd. Deze ontdekking heeft geleid tot gepatenteerde methoden om de groei van gewassen te versnellen.

©Shutterstock

Debat
Na de bekentenis van Bower en Chorley ontstond er een gepassioneerde discussie tussen degenen die geloofden dat mensen verantwoordelijk waren en degenen die beweerden dat hun bekentenis niet elke cirkel kon verklaren.

©Shutterstock

Onderzoek
Studies gepubliceerd in 1999 en 2001 vonden bewijs van straling op gewassen in graancirkelformaties, wat een raadsel is voor degenen die de cirkels toeschrijven aan door mensen gemaakte houten plankontwerpen.

©Shutterstock

Prozaïsche waarheid
Andere incidenten hebben eenvoudiger verklaringen. In 2002 maakten mensen melding van graancirkels in de buurt van Pike Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. Later werd echter bevestigd dat deze formaties in feite mesthopen waren die door een nabijgelegen boer waren weggegooid.

©Shutterstock

Uitleg?
Ook de cirkels die in de jaren 1960 in Australië werden waargenomen, zouden kunnen worden toegeschreven aan wallaby's die opium consumeerden. Volgens rapporten betraden deze buideldieren papavervelden die voor medicinale doeleinden werden gecultiveerd, consumeerden ze overmatige hoeveelheden van de gewassen en bewogen ze zich vervolgens in cirkelvormige patronen.

GERELATEERDE VIDEO'S

{ https://www.starsinsider.com/nl }

'The E.T. of Varginha': 30-year mystery of 'alien' spotted by three girls, a military 'cover-up' and a doctor only now coming forward to describe 'creature brought into his hospital'

By ELIANA SILVER, SENIOR FOREIGN NEWS REPORTER

Thirty years ago in a quiet municipality of southern Brazil, three girls came face to face with an alien-like creature that would haunt them for decades.

They described it as having a heart-shaped face, big red eyes, three horns on its forehead and a shiny brown body, crouched beside a wall in a vacant lot in the city of Varginha.

Terrified, the girls fled and told their mother they had seen the devil.

That encounter on January 20, 1996, launched the mystery of the ‘E.T. of Varginha,’ a case that remains unsolved until this day.

Now, the story is once again under the spotlight after new testimonies have come to light, including that of a doctor who claims he encountered a non-human creature in his hospital.

At the time, one of the witnesses, Liliane Silva, said: ‘It had arms and legs, like a human being, but also had three horns.’  

The girls’ account quickly spread across Brazil, becoming a national sensation and earning the nickname ‘the E.T. of Varginha.’

In the days following the sighting, local lawyer and ufologist Ubirajara Rodrigues interviewed the girls. 

A statue of the E.T. of Varginha

The girls described a creature with a heart-shaped face, big red eyes, three horns on its forehead and a shiny brown body

The alien-like creature was reportedly crouched beside a wall in a vacant lot in Varginha

After hearing their account, he told them: ‘You didn’t see a demon or an ape, you saw an extraterrestrial,’ Silva recalled years later in a documentary released to mark the anniversary.

In the weeks that followed, ufologists began collecting anonymous testimonies from people claiming to be members of the military.

They alleged that the creature had been captured alive, taken to a hospital and later transferred to the Três Corações barracks before being moved to a secret laboratory in Campinas.

One soldier claimed the being ‘barely had a nose, its eyes were very red, and its mouth was small.’ 

Residents also reported seeing a UFO flying over the area before landing.

As the story escalated, the Brazilian Army launched an official investigation.

Investigators questioned soldiers, commanders, firefighters and ufologists who had published books on the case. They also examined the movement logs of military vehicles during the relevant days.

The result was a two-volume investigation totaling 600 pages declaring the story false and blaming the media for spreading lies.

‘The military personnel cited by the press did not participate in any operation transporting any type of cargo. The media are mistaken, publicizing untrue events,’ the report stated.

The official explanation suggested the girls had misinterpreted what they saw during a violent summer storm, which included heavy rain and hail.

Investigators proposed the figure may have been Luís Antônio de Paula, known locally as Mudinho, a man with mental disabilities who walked crouched through the city. 

Investigators proposed the alien-like figure may have been Luís Antônio de Paula, a man with mental disabilities who walked crouched through the city

The three women (then girls) who allegedly saw a nonhuman being give their testimony in the Moment of Contact documentary

The witnesses have rejected that explanation ever since. ‘We had known Mudinho since we were children; he was always crouching low,’ said Valquiria Silva, ‘Without a doubt, it wasn’t him.’

Silva was speaking in a new documentary released by Globo featuring fresh testimonies, including that of neurologist Italo Venturelli, who claims he encountered a nonhuman being in a Varginha hospital in 1996.

‘It was like a child, neither green nor brown, as they said. What I saw was white, with a teardrop-shaped skull and lilac eyes. I looked at it, it looked at me, it looked out the window and back at me,’ Venturelli said.

He explained that fear of ridicule kept him silent for decades, but a serious illness that nearly killed him prompted him to speak publicly. 

‘It was completely different from a human. It was very calm, it seemed like an angel,’ he said.

Further testimony was recounted this week at a press conference in Washington organized by investigative filmmaker James Fox.

Fox directed the film 'Moment of Contact' about the Varginha incident, where he interviewed several star witnesses.

Italo Venturelli, (pictured) claims he encountered a nonhuman being in a Varginha hospital in 1996 

Carlos de Sousa, a Brazilian man who said he witnessed the crash, told a press conference he initially thought the object was a blimp 

The director presented written and video testimony from people who say they encountered a nonhuman biological entity after what they describe as a UFO crash in January 1996.

Witnesses claimed a cigar-shaped object in distress crashed into a field near Varginha.

Carlos de Sousa, a Brazilian man who said he witnessed the crash, told the conference he initially thought the object was a blimp.

He described seeing debris scattered around part of the craft and noticing a strong smell of ammonia and rotten eggs.

According to de Sousa, army vehicles arrived shortly afterward and soldiers ordered him away at gunpoint. 

He said that after leaving the scene, men in suits approached him in an unmarked car and demonstrated knowledge of his personal details before telling him he never saw anything.

Journalist Nyei Nadeia claimed he experienced a similar situation when attempting to investigate the incident.

He said he was blocked by soldiers and described hearing people running through the woods shouting ‘surround it’ and ‘it’s smooth,’ and was warned he could be arrested if he continued asking questions.

The girls mother claimed four men allegedly offered money if the family would say the girls had seen an animal or a sick person

The witnesses drew the creature they had seen crouching beside a wall in Varginha 

The mother of Liliane and Valquiria Silva also spoke via video message at the conference, saying she found a footprint in the grass with three long toes and noticed a lingering smell.

Luiza Helena de Silva described a visit from four men dressed in black who allegedly offered money if the family would say the girls had seen an animal or a sick person.

The conference also featured testimony from individuals claiming military involvement. 

One man, whose identity was concealed, said he helped transport an extraterrestrial from a hospital before handing it over to other soldiers.

A medical examiner who worked in Varginha at the time described performing an autopsy on a young soldier who died unexpectedly from what appeared to be a severe infection.

A pathologist involved said the bacterium was highly aggressive and unusual. In a written statement for the event, he claimed the bacterium does not commonly infect humans, although it is found on Earth.

Venturelli also spoke at the conference, where he expanded on his testimony. He claimed he sensed that the creature in the hospital was thankful for the care and wanted to leave.

The neurosurgeon described having the impression that the being was very intelligent, with a strong sense of understanding and compassion in its gaze.

The neurosurgeon described having the impression that the being was very intelligent

Venturelli, who claims he saw the alien-like creature, comforts another witness, Carlos de Sousa, at the conference after sharing their testimonies

Retired Colonel Fred Clausen told the conference that in his work as a fighter pilot in 1980, he encountered a UFO, but the military confiscated footage from his gun camera.

He said he believes a US cargo plane secretly flew into Brazil in January 1996 and departed with ‘unusual cargo,’ calling on anyone with knowledge of such a mission to come forward.

The Pentagon has denied any evidence linking unidentified aerial phenomena to extraterrestrial life. 

Brazilian authorities have never officially endorsed the extraterrestrial claims.

Varginha’s City Council said it has never commented on the military investigation, according to El Pais.

However, the city’s current mayor, Leonardo Ciacci, revealed in the Globo documentary that when he managed a local bakery in 1996, the hospital allegedly involved refused its daily bread delivery on the day of the incident. 

As the mystery continues, citizens of Varginha have embraced their alien story.

Once known solely for being a major coffee-producing area, the city is now a tourist attraction, with people flocking to see statues of the 'E.T. of Varginha' as well as a water tower designed as a UFO.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

From time to time, ice ages occur on Earth, during which the appearance of our planet changes significantly. During these periods, large areas of land are covered with a layer of ice that does not melt even in summer. Scientists do not know all the reasons behind this phenomenon, but they have long been aware of its mechanisms and have several good theories that could explain everything.

What causes ice ages?

Ice on Earth

One of the main features of Earth as a planet in the Solar System is that it changes its appearance significantly as it revolves around our star. In regions where winter prevails at a given moment, water turns into snow and ice, covering vast areas of the surface. This is especially noticeable in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere, as this is where the largest land masses are concentrated.

Earth is not unique in this regard, as Mars experiences the same changes, albeit on a smaller scale. There are areas of land on Earth that are permanently covered with ice regardless of the season, but this mainly applies to Antarctica, Greenland, and some high-altitude regions. However, there were times in the past when snow and ice covered a much larger area throughout the year.

We know them as the Ice Age. This term usually refers to the part of the Pleistocene epoch that began 2.53 million years ago and continues to this day. However, it is neither the only such event in the history of the Earth, nor the longest or the most extensive, but it is the best known to the general public and the best studied by scientists.

Earth during winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Source: phys.org

It is interesting to note that the idea of a period in our planet’s past when even modern Central Europe had a climate similar to that of northern Siberia today is relatively new. Even in the days of Galileo and Copernicus, no one suspected such a thing. It all began in the 17th century, when researchers turned their attention to so-called erratic boulders – large boulders found far from their parent rock, sometimes in the middle of a forest.

People already knew back then that such boulders often remain on the slopes of the Alps in spring after the ice has receded far into the mountains. But similar stones were found even deep in the valleys, where the ice did not reach in winter.

Subsequently, such rounded boulders began to be found not only in the Alps but also in Scandinavia, and the idea arose that once upon a time the whole continent was covered with ice. Later, the same conclusion was made about most of Europe in general. In the second half of the 19th century, the idea of the Ice Age as part of Earth’s past gained widespread recognition.

Erratic stone. Source: Wikipedia

What was the last ice age like?

It should be noted that the idea of the last ice age as a period when the Earth froze 2.5 million years ago and then melted almost instantly 10,000 years ago is, in principle, incorrect.

Yes, the climate did become much colder. Glaciers covered Belarus, Scandinavia, and Scotland, but further south, in the place of modern-day London and Paris, there was tundra. This meant that snow lay on the ground for most of the year, but it melted for a few summer months, and then the land was covered with cold-resistant vegetation. Where the climate was slightly wetter and warmer, there were taiga – cold coniferous forests. Roughly the same picture was observed in North America.

Further south, where the warm Mediterranean now stretches, there was a temperate climate, and beyond that were warm and even hot countries. Yes, the average temperature on the planet was significantly lower than it is now, but in tropical and equatorial zones, this effect was not very pronounced. In many regions, precipitation was significantly higher than it is today, although its distribution remained roughly the same as it is now.

Climate during the last glacial maximum. Source: Wikipedia

At the same time, the entire picture described above refers to the peaks of glaciation, which during the Quaternary period were not constant but were interrupted by interglacial periods. These periods lasted up to several tens of thousands of years, during which the climate was remarkably similar to what it is now. The ice fields retreated to the poles, and the former tundra turned into mixed forests and steppes.

In general, it is worth noting that the Quaternary glaciation has not yet come to an end. The climate that currently prevails on Earth is just another interglacial period. It is quite possible that in a few tens of thousands of years, the glaciers will begin to advance again.

Feedback system

But why is this happening, and why are scientists sure that this is not the end of the ice age, but just a break in it? The answer to this question is pretty complicated, not least because the Quaternary glaciation is not the first in Earth’s history; we know way less about the past ones, and there is no guarantee that they had the same root causes.

Europe during the last glacial maximum. Source: Wikipedia

However, scientists have a fairly good understanding of the mechanisms that control the course of such an event once it has begun. Direct and reverse feedback mechanisms begin to operate.

Water ice is a material with high heat capacity for heating and melting. No wonder it is used to cool drinks. For a cubic kilometer of ice to melt, it must absorb a huge amount of energy from the surrounding land, water, and air.

In addition, ice has a high albedo. To see this for yourself, just step outside on a sunny winter day. Therefore, even a fraction of a percent increase in the area of glaciers on our planet is enough to significantly increase the amount of solar energy reflected into space. At the same time, the part that remains in the atmosphere and hydrosphere is absorbed by the same ice.

This creates conditions for the formation of even more ice. As a result, the area of glaciers grows from year to year: slowly at first, and then faster and faster as the process of their expansion accelerates.

Isotopic composition of the atmosphere over the last 140,000 years. Source: Wikipedia

Why, then, do glaciers not cover the entire Earth, and why does the cold era eventually come to an end? Because, in addition to direct mechanisms, there is also a reverse mechanism at work. Greenhouse gases are present in the Earth’s atmosphere. The strongest of these are carbon dioxide (carbonic acid gas) and water vapor. The former is constantly replenished by volcanoes and forest fires, the latter by evaporation from the surface of the oceans.

Carbon dioxide is absorbed by plants and certain types of rock, while water vapor is converted into precipitation. In the early stages of glaciation, the amount of the former remains unchanged, while the amount of the latter actually decreases due to the overall drop in global temperatures.

But as glaciers spread, temperature fluctuations in the atmosphere decrease, winds weaken, and precipitation decreases. The cold and dry climate prevents plants from growing, and they begin to absorb less carbon dioxide. And volcanoes have no intention of ceasing their activity.

The melting of ice consumes a huge amount of energy. Source: www.livescience.com

At some point, the content of carbon dioxide, followed by water vapor, in the atmosphere begins to increase, and now they demonstrate a positive correlation. The more there is, the faster it accumulates. The albedo and heat capacity of glaciers become weaker than those of relatively warm and humid air, and they begin to melt faster than they form. Therefore, their area shrinks quite quickly, the planet’s albedo decreases, and an interglacial period begins.

These assumptions are consistent with geological data. Temperature and chemical composition of the air leave many traces in rocks and fossilized trees. It is easy to construct graphs of these traces and see how this works.

Milankovitch cycles

But what is the root cause of these changes, the impetus that causes glaciers to cross the threshold beyond which the above-described processes begin? There is no exact answer to this question, but the most plausible explanation is the observation made by Serbian astronomer Milutin Milankovitch in the 1940s.

Precession of the Earth’s orbit. Source: Wikipedia

The shape of Earth’s orbit can change over time from almost perfectly circular to slightly elliptical. This is due to the influence of other planets, which is described by complex dependencies. At the same time, the axis of rotation of our planet undergoes precession, i.e., a very slow change in its orientation and orbit, i.e., the direction in which it is tilted relative to the Sun.

As a result, over tens of thousands of years, the relative positions of the Earth’s aphelion – the farthest point in its orbit – and the moment of maximum inclination of one of the poles toward the sun change. We call the latter phenomenon the solstice, and depending on which hemisphere we are in, it can be winter or summer.

But it is not only this time that changes, but also the distance between the Earth and the Sun at the moment of aphelion. Milankovitch drew attention to how small the angle at which the sun’s rays fall on the polar regions of our planet becomes. Could it be that at some point it becomes so small that most of them are simply reflected by the atmosphere, and the amount of heat received by polar glaciers becomes minimal, creating conditions for a sharp increase in their amount?

Milankovitch compared graphs of changes in the angle of incidence of rays and temperatures on Earth over the last two million years and saw that they were extremely similar. We still do not know whether the cycles named after the Serbian scientist are only the “trigger” for glaciations or whether they control them all the time, but no one doubts that they played an important role in this process. And it is precisely the repeatability of the Milankovitch cycles that gives us confidence that the last glaciation was not actually the last.

Earth temperature fluctuations from the Mesozoic era to the present day. Source: phys.org

Past ice ages

The combination of Milankovitch cycles and the mechanisms of direct and reverse feedback between ice and the atmosphere provides a good explanation for the last ice age. However, if we look at the entire history of our planet, many more questions arise.

This is because the fluctuations that can be more or less confidently explained by them arose about 35 million years ago. And within these last millions of years, the change of eras did not always occur. Before that, for hundreds of millions of years, the Earth had a warm and stable climate.

And if all this does not seem strange enough to you, there were other ice ages before that, which were followed by equally long warm periods. And the most severe glaciation in Earth’s history, known as Snowball Earth, occurred during the Proterozoic eon. More precisely, there were two of them: the Stertian, 717–660 million years ago, and the Marionian, 650–635 million years ago.

Snowball Earth. Source: Wikipedia

Unfortunately, due to the remoteness of these events, we know nothing about any short-lived interglacial periods that may have existed within them. However, the fact that the glaciers reached the equator at that time suggests that the simple and understandable mechanisms described above did not work or did not work properly.

This is very surprising because the heat capacity and albedo of ice could not have changed during this time. Moreover, there is little convincing evidence that our planet’s orbit has also changed.

Movement of continents

There are many ideas about possible additional mechanisms of glaciation. The most convincing among them is the hypothesis that the degree of influence of Milankovitch cycles and climatic feedback mechanisms is largely determined by the location of the continents.

The Earth in the Mesozoic era. Source: Wikipedia

The fact is that continents act as heat and cold concentrators. Ice melts faster at sea than on land. Just look at Greenland and Antarctica, where most of the ice is concentrated. At the same time, the hottest deserts are located in the interior of the continental masses of Eurasia and Africa.

The continents themselves move very slowly along with the continental plates, compressing and forming bridges between them. That is, if all the land were gathered into a single mass stretching from pole to pole and blocking all ocean currents, it would be the ideal moment for the onset of an ice age. On the other hand, if there are several small continents scattered across the tropical and temperate zones of both hemispheres, and both poles and the equator remain free, ocean currents balance the climate across the planet.

Of course, these are two extreme ideal scenarios, which are extremely difficult to achieve given the chaotic movement of lithospheric plates. But the closer the actual position of the continental plates is to one or the other scenario, the greater the chance that the influence of Milankovitch cycles will or will not be felt. At least, data on the last few million years of our planet’s history can be well explained by this pattern, including the last 35 million years, during which we have had a giant refrigerator at the South Pole in the form of Antarctica.

Antarctica. Source: Wikipedia

The formation of mountains

There is another factor related to the movement of tectonic plates that may influence the likelihood of the onset of an ice age. When pieces of the lithosphere collide, it can happen relatively quietly, or it can be accompanied by the formation of massive mountain ranges. The last 65 million years, which we call the Cenozoic era, have been just such an epoch.

The fact is that when lithospheric plates collide, rocks that were previously hidden underground and had no contact with the atmosphere come to the surface. And the most chemically active components of the latter are carbon dioxide and water vapor.

That is, when active hill formation occurs, it should lead to the absorption of greenhouse gases. At least that is how it should happen in theory, but it is still unclear whether the volume of rock released from under the Earth is sufficient to significantly affect the composition of the atmosphere.

The Alpine belt is a mountain range that formed during the Cenozoic era. Source: Wikipedia

Astronomical reasons

Finally, when discussing the root causes that can trigger glaciation processes, it is impossible not to mention purely astronomical reasons. The first thing that comes to mind is the change in the Earth’s orbit over long periods of time. This idea is extremely logical and can explain everything without introducing additional entities.

The only problem is that all generally accepted models show that planetary orbits, except for a short period immediately after their formation, remained stable. Some studies suggest that the Earth’s orbit could indeed have changed more than is commonly believed under the influence of Jupiter and Saturn, but these assumptions remain unconfirmed.

However, one event that could have truly influenced glaciation is that the Sun may have been several tens of percent less bright than it is now during the first billion years of its existence. This is quite normal for stars similar to it.

Luminosity, radius, and temperature of the Sun. Source: Wikipedia

And a weak Sun is perfect for explaining why glaciation in the Proterozoic was so extensive. But it cannot be the only and exhaustive explanation for all such processes.

There are other, much more exotic assumptions about the causes of glaciation related to space. For example, the Sun encountered a shock wave from a supernova on its way, and that gas and dust somehow affected the amount of heat our planet received. However, such assumptions remain marginal.

Global warming

The onset of an ice age is caused by several very diverse factors. And here a logical question arises: how does human economic activity affect these processes? First of all, this concerns the emission of large amounts of greenhouse gases by our industry and transport.

Change in average temperature on Earth over the last 140 years. Source: Wikipedia

This fact is usually presented in a negative light. But is it possible that this process could actually delay the onset of a new ice age in the future? If so, then it should be viewed as positive.

In fact, there is no definite answer to this question. The same applies to the question of what role natural processes of transition from glaciation to interglaciation, which are not yet complete, play in global warming.

Scientists can only speculate that the increase in greenhouse gases in the atmosphere may reduce the impact of Milankovitch cycles on the climate, as was the case during warm periods. However, we will only find out about this in a few thousand years.

• Posted in Articles, Questions

RELATED VIDEOS

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

VIDEO: Eyewitness Report UFO Triangle Captured on Night Vision in Northern California

An eyewitness from Sonoma has shared raw night vision footage of a mysterious triangular object observed moving silently across the night sky. The sighting occurred on December 28, 2025, at approximately 8:04 pm while the observer was conducting routine skywatching with a PVS-14 night vision monocular.

What the Witness Was Doing

According to the witness, the recording began casually while observing Polaris, the North Star, and nearby stars to compare brightness and clarity. The footage is slightly shaky at first, consistent with handheld night vision use. However, in the final ten seconds of the clip, an unexpected object enters the frame.

That moment is when the most striking detail appears.

Description of the Object

The witness reports observing a clearly defined triangular object with the following characteristics:

• Solid triangular shape
• One dim light on each corner
• Fast and smooth movement
•  Complete absence of sound
•  High altitude appearance

The object was first seen while the observer was facing northeast and was traveling toward the northwest. No engine noise, propeller sound, or jet-like signature was detected.

Repeat Sighting Adds Weight

This was not an isolated experience. The witness states this was the second time seeing the same triangular object. The first encounter occurred earlier under similar conditions but without a camera attached to the night vision device. During this second event, the camera was connected, allowing the object to be captured on video.

That repeat observation strengthens the credibility of the report, as recurring sightings reduce the likelihood of momentary misidentification.

Raw Footage vs Processed Clips

The video accompanying this report is completely raw, with no filters or noise reduction applied. The witness explains that a shorter, processed clip was uploaded to the Enigma app, while the full video with adjusted filters for clarity was shared on YouTube. The version referenced here remains unaltered to preserve original data and visual integrity.

Night vision devices often display speckling and sensor noise, especially under low light conditions. The witness clarified that the processed versions were only adjusted to reduce these artifacts, not to alter the object itself.

Possible Explanations

The witness does not claim extraterrestrial origin but suggests the object may be advanced or experimental technology. The triangular configuration, silent operation, and steady speed are often associated in reports with classified or unknown aerial platforms.

However, no conventional aircraft, drones, or known astronomical phenomena fully match the observed behavior as described.

This sighting adds to a growing collection of night vision based UFO reports, particularly involving triangular objects. The combination of repeat observation, clear directional movement, and silent flight makes this case notable.

As always, the witness invites viewers to examine the footage themselves and reach their own conclusions.

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

Jesus' Bible prophecies that came true are finally proven in astonishing detail

• READ MORE: Odds of Jesus Christ returning before 2027 DOUBLE overnight 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Centuries before his birth, the Old Testament foretold hundreds of prophecies about Jesus, every single one fulfilled according to the New Testament.

These predictions have long raised questions among scholars and scientists about how one person could accidentally match so many specific details.

Mathematician Peter W Stoner tackled this question in his 1960 book Science Speaks, calculating the odds of a single first-century individual fulfilling just 48 of these prophecies by chance.

The result was staggering: one in 10 followed by 157 zeros, a number so vast it far exceeds the total number of electrons in the observable universe.

To make the math easier to grasp, Stoner began with eight key prophecies, including being born in Bethlehem, descending from David, and performing miracles. 

Using simple probability, multiplying the chance of each prophecy occurring randomly, he found that even fulfilling these eight by accident alone is about one in 100 million.

Extending the calculation to all 48 prophecies, the odds shrank to levels almost impossible to imagine. Stoner illustrated this with a real-world analogy, as covering the state of Texas two feet deep with silver dollars, mark one coin, and try to pick that coin blindfolded, a feat roughly as likely as one person fulfilling all eight prophecies by chance.

In 2025, researchers Will Best and Robin Lovgren from Belmont University revisited Stoner's work, confirming that even under very conservative assumptions, the probability of a single individual fulfilling these prophecies by chance is 'staggeringly low.' 

They added that this analysis 'highlights the remarkable alignment between the predicted characteristics and the historical record of Jesus' life, death, and resurrection.'

The Sermon on the Mount (PICTURED) was one of the many prophies foretold in the Old Testement

For many believers, these calculations provide compelling evidence that Jesus of Nazareth was the fulfillment of prophecy, rather than a random person who happened to match the descriptions. 

Critics note that the results depend on which prophecies are chosen and how strictly they are interpreted, but even with conservative assumptions, the odds remain extraordinarily small.

Jesus' life is said to have fulfilled dozens of these predictions, among the most striking included that he was born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14), descended from Abraham and David (Genesis 12:3; 2 Samuel 7:12–13), and conducted a miraculous ministry of healing (Isaiah 35:5–6). 

His life also matched prophecies about suffering: he was betrayed by a friend, crucified with his hands and feet pierced, and buried in a rich man's tomb (Psalm 41:9; Psalm 22:16; Isaiah 53:9). 

Even events after his death, such as the resurrection (Psalm 16:10) and ascension into heaven (Psalm 68:18), correspond to ancient predictions.

To understand the math in simple terms, Stoner estimated the probability of each prophecy occurring by chance. 

For example, being born in Bethlehem has a one in 280,000 chance, being betrayed for 30 pieces of silver has about one in 100,000, and the money being returned for another purchase is also about one in 100,000.

He then used compound probability, multiplying the likelihood of each independent event. 

Jesus dying on the cross was also a prophecy in the Old Testament 

For instance, if one prophecy has a one in 10 chance and another a one in 100 chance, the odds of both happening by accident are one in 1,000. 

Applying this to the eight key prophecies produces a number so tiny it is nearly impossible to imagine. 

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

•  I'm a Harvard physicist. Science was my only god until I read the Bible... then three clues led me to heaven 

Extending it to all 48 prophecies, Stoner adjusted for the relative difficulty of each prediction and found the probability to be one followed by 157 zeros, smaller than the number of electrons in the universe. 

Even counting billions per second, it would take far longer than the age of the universe to reach that number.

Best and Lovgren focused specifically on eight prophecies drawn from Isaiah 53, a chapter long seen by many Christians as describing the coming Messiah centuries before Jesus. 

These include being 'high and lifted up' (Isaiah 52:13), 'marred beyond human semblance' (Isaiah 52:14), coming from a humble background (Isaiah 53:2), being despised and rejected (Isaiah 53:3), and being crucified (Isaiah 53:5). 

Some are extremely unlikely to occur by chance, such as crucifixion, about one in a million, and remaining silent at trial, one in 10,000.

When the odds of all eight are multiplied, the probability of a single person fulfilling them by accident is effectively zero. 

Best and Lovgren echo Stoner's logic, saying that multiplying the probabilities shows numbers so tiny that they challenge ordinary understanding, drawing attention from scientists and statisticians even outside religious circles.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

Top-secret US Air Force jets spotted near Area 51 amid Trump's UFO disclosure claims

• MORE: Declassified CIA document reveals Area 51's TRUE purpose

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

Flight tracking data has revealed that multiple top-secret Air Force jets have been sent to the highly classified Area 51 in the Nevada desert Friday morning.

The planes are part of the US military’s Janet fleet, which transports contractor employees, officials from the Department of War, and military personnel to secure facilities containing classified information and technology at the massive complex.

According to multiple flight-tracking websites, one aircraft designated Janet 31 departed Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas at 5.55am PT (8.55am ET) and was last descending into the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), which houses Area 51.

Another flight, this one labeled Janet 43, took off from Harry Reid International 32 minutes later and was last seen heading for a landing area closer to Area 51. 

The infamous base has been tied to extraterrestrial lore for decades, with UFO researchers and conspiracy theorists claiming that secret government projects have been conducted at Area 51 since the 1950s. 

The flights come just days after US Congressman Eric Burlison claimed he has received permission from the White House to visit secret facilities tied to unconfirmed reports of extraterrestrials and non-human craft Congress has been investigating. 

The flights were also spotted after Trump Administration insiders allegedly claimed that full disclosure on UFOs and alien life could come from the president by July 2026.

Despite the growing speculation and daily flights to the top secret facility, the US government and the Pentagon have maintained that physical evidence of UFOs and extraterrestrial has never been found.

Flight-tracking websites captured two flights heading towards Area 51 Friday morning. The first, designated Janet 31, took off from Las Vegas at 8.55am ET

The Janet, designed by Boeing, is a white jet with a single red strip from front to back. The fleet flies contractor employees and military personnel to secure bases housing classified material

Designed by Boeing, Janet jets have a distinctive look, with an all-white body and a single red stripe running from the nose to the tail.

They operate from a dedicated terminal and parking area in Las Vegas, as the remote facility does not support commuting by vehicle.

According to Flight Aware, this was the flight straight day Janet 31 has flown into the airspace over NTTR, with tracking data revealing the plane appeared to land at the nearby Tonopah Test Range, often referred to as Area 52.

Meanwhile, Janet 43 has been seen flying four times this week, appearing to land at a different runway near NTTF, in Nevada's Lincoln County.

A third Janet was captured leaving the Tonopah Test Range Airport at Area 52 just after 11am ET on a course back to Harry Reid International.

The flights from Las Vegas typically take only 15 to 30 minutes, with military personnel regularly traveling the top secret complex to allegedly test and develop highly classified aircraft and weapons systems.

David Crete, a former Air Force Sergeant who was stationed at NTTF, previously told Daily Mail that the F-117A Nighthawk, America's first stealth bomber, was developed and tested at the base.

However, government whistleblowers and UFO researchers have both claimed to have seen and photographed unidentified objects flying over Area 51 for decades, many which don't look like normal aircraft or behavior like human-made technology.

Area 51, an area of more than 2.9 million acres, is located at the Nevada Test and Training Range. Area 52, which has its own airport runway, sits roughly 70 miles from Area 51

Anders Otteson, a Youtuber and explorer, captured video of a triangle-shaped aircraft flying over Area 51's restricted airspace

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

•  Trump insiders say he has a bombshell UFO speech ready - this is when he'll finally reveal the truth 

Area 51, officially referred to as the Groom Lake test facility or 'the Ranch,' was established in April 1955 when scouts spotted the area while flying over the Mojave Desert.

Declassified CIA documents have revealed that the secret facility used to test the U-2 spy plane, which was crucial for intelligence gathering against the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

However, the more than 400-page report, which was officially unsealed in 2013, never mentioned what the base was used for after 1974.

Meanwhile, the secret Janet fleet started operations in 1972.

In 1989, famous UFO whistleblower Bob Lazar claimed in a televised interview that he worked at a secret site near Groom Lake known as 'S-4,' and that his job was to study alien technology and spacecraft recovered by the military.

Although the claims have become part of UFO and Area 51 lore, parts of Lazar's story, including his education and employee history, have never been confirmed with any physical records that back up his story.

In a January interview, Burlison claimed the Trump White House has directed the Pentagon to allow the Missouri congressman to visit Area 51 and other key facilities whistleblower evidence has tied to crashed UFOs, bodies, and other recovered tech.

Burlison did not detail when these visits would start taking place or if he would be brought their using the Janet fleet. 

 

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

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

The Trump Administration has given the green light to reveal the secret UFO facilities to one of the leading voices in Congress calling for full disclosure of alien life.

US Congressman Eric Burlison of Missouri revealed that he has requested and been granted access to secure locations, such as Area 51, which have decades-old ties to UFOs and secret government projects. 

Speaking on the ALN Podcast, Burlison added that the request to President Trump and his staff included visiting US military bases and facilities where evidence suggests unidentified craft, materials, bodies, or archives allegedly exist.

Burlison is a member of the congressional oversight committee involved in the ongoing investigation into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), commonly known as UFOs.

Although the US government and the Pentagon have officially denied that there has been any physical evidence of UFOs or alien life ever recovered, Congress has heard from multiple whistleblowers claiming secret programs have covered up the truth.

In fact, Burlison has previously claimed President Trump has been 'fully briefed' on the existence of aliens, UFOs recovered by the military since the 1940s, and alien-human hybrids allegedly living on Earth today. 

Now, as Trump insiders have allegedly leaked that the White House is planning to reveal what America knows about extraterrestrials by July, the UAP committee may soon have the physical proof of non-human intelligence in their hands.

The congressman revealed: 'The White House has told the DoD to make it happen. The extent to which they've been involved is literally just saying to the Department of Defense that "we're backing his request. Do what you can to make it happen."'

Area 51 (Pictured) has been tied to UFO encounters and advanced military aircraft since the 1950s

US Congressman Eric Burlison (Pictured) has claimed that he has received approval from the White House to visit classified US facilities allegedly tied to evidence of alien life

Over the years, multiple US military sites have been linked to non-human craft, including facilities, anonymous sources have said, that were housing crashed spaceships and experimental aircraft constructed using reverse-engineered alien technology.

These include Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, the Atlantic Undersea Testing and Evaluation Center (AUTEC) in the Bahamas, and the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), home to Area 5

'There is reportedly an object that is not in this country that is so large it cannot be moved, that they've built an entire building around it,' Burlison said during the January 30 podcast.

The congressman noted that this facility outside the US was classified so he was unable to reveal its exact location, but it was on his list of places he had requested to visit as part of the committee's investigation. 

'It's going to involve a lot to make that happen, but that may be the final destination.'

Burlison said during the interview that he started as a UFO skeptic but was convinced these phenomena were real after listening to whistleblower David Grusch's public interview shortly after entering Congress in early 2023.

The Missouri Republican reached out to Grusch, connected him to the House Oversight Committee, and helped facilitate the string of public hearings that have revealed shocking evidence of alien encounters from respected military officials.

Most of the current evidence has taken the form of images and videos of alleged non-human craft captured by both civilians and military personnel. Many have been leaked to the public after being classified by the Pentagon for years.

President Trump (Pictured) expressed skepticism that reports of UFOs were real during a June 2024 interview but has allegedly granted access to secret bases tied to such claims

The November 2025 documentary 'The Age of Disclosure' alleged that there's been an 80-year cover-up on UFOs and alien technology

Burlison himself revealed never-before-seen video of a US military drone striking an orb-shaped UFO with a Hellfire missile during a September 2025 UAP hearing.

The shocking footage from October 30, 2024 revealed that the unidentified craft not only survived the missile strike, but continued to fly away at extreme speed as the 100-pound, air-to-ground precision weapon simply bounced off the UFO's hull.

The congressman added that access to government records on UAP has been intentionally made difficult to obtain and convoluted to research, with some agencies allegedly failing to report their data properly to Congress.

'We created government, and it's not the right of any government to withhold from you and I the truth about reality,' Burlison declared.

READ MORE

EXCLUSIVE

• Trump insiders told me the president has a bombshell speech revealing DECADES of UFO secrets ready to go... here's when he will finally tell the world the truth

No government has the right to withhold from you and I that we might be alone or not alone in the universe. That is not their right. That is not classified. That's a truth that humanity deserves to know.'

Burlison has previously claimed to have 'a lead' on new UFO whistleblowers. However, he said during the new interview that it's been difficult to convince potential witnesses to risk losing their government clearances in retaliation, comparing these individuals to 'guinea pigs' in terms of how the Pentagon would respond.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

Shocking video of a UFO appearing to escape from a US military drone at impossible speed has been obtained from the Pentagon. 

Jeremy Corbell, investigative journalist, documentary filmmaker, and co-host of the WEAPONIZED Podcast, revealed the recording on Tuesday, which allegedly shows a mushroom-shaped craft flying over Syria's Suwayda province in 2021.

In what could be compared to a scene in a science-fiction movie, the drone's camera watched as the object appeared to either be hovering or flying at normal speed before accelerating to near-light speed and vanishing from view.

According to Corbell and WEAPONIZED co-host George Knapp, the video was taken by an MQ-9 Reaper drone and obtained from a source in the intelligence community and the Pentagon.

It's the latest evidence of non-human craft, the investigative journalists said have been leaked from the Department of War's 'vault' containing military footage of UAP, which stands for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena and is the new term for UFOs.

Officially, the Pentagon has stated there has never been any physical proof collected that would confirm the existence of UFOs or extraterrestrial beings.

However, the newly obtained video appeared to capture a clear example of what Corbell and Knapp called 'observable' behavior among non-human craft. In this case, that was instantaneous acceleration.

Once the Air Force drone's camera locks onto the UFO, the recording shows the object seemingly knowing it had been targeted as it begins to maneuver erratically to break the lock before instantly speeding off to the right of the camera.

US military drone footage appeared to capture a UFO moments before it escaped at incredible speed over Syria in 2021

The recording was made by a MQ-9 Reaper drone (Pictured) controlled by the US Air Force

In their breakdown of the drone footage, Corbell, Knapp, and guest analyst Marik von Rennenkampff watched as the incident was slowed down to just five percent speed to view what the naked eye couldn't catch in real time.

Even in extremely slow replays, the mushroom-shaped craft appears to warp away, stretching across the screen before completely disappeari I ng from the drone's camera.

Rennenkampff, a journalist who specializes in UAP and national security issues, noted this wasn't a mistake by the camera shaking and losing sight of the UFO, as all of the background objects could be seen staying in the same positions they were in before the craft accelerated. 

'The operator rapidly moves the camera to the right. You can see the whole background, everything, the entire scene shifts from right to left,' Rennenkampff explained.

'We don't see that when that object shoots off to the right.' 

The investigators added that military personnel have described other craft appearing to instantly speed away at impossible speeds, calling the maneuver 'inhuman.'

'It breaks our ideas of physics that something can do that,' Corbell added in the February 3 podcast episode.

The WEAPONIZED Podcast hosts emphasized the authenticity of the video, noting that it came straight from military archives that labeled it as a genuine UAP, and added that the camera used advanced technology that accumulates more data than a standard camera or an everyday person's smartphone.

The drone managed to record the moment when the object suddenly disappears, appearing as a faint white streak as it moved to the right

Rennenkampff pointed out that the object flying near the border of Syria and Jordan was also not a drone, revealing that even in an infrared camera, the shape of a man-made drone and the exhaust from its engine would be clearly visible. 

'That most certainly does not look like any kind of conventional aircraft um, that that I can think of,' the journalist said.

READ MORE 

• Pilot told 'good luck with the aliens' after reporting a silver canister-shaped object during live ATC broadcast

The lack of any exhaust or heat trails as the UFO blasted off out of range was yet another 'observable' UFO researchers look for - known as hypersonic velocities without signatures. 

It essentially means an object was seen moving at speeds exceeding Mach 5 (3,800 mph) with no sonic booms, heat trails, visible exhaust, or other typical signs of high-speed travel.

The other observables include UFOs instantaneously becoming invisible, also known as cloaking; UFOs moving from space or the sky to the ocean seamlessly, known as trans-medium travel; and UFOs displaying anti-gravity technology as they hover above the ground.

Rennenkampff pushed back on the thought that the object may an advanced aircraft from an American adversary such as China, saying that if China had such a weapon, they would be able to attack anywhere in the world without warning. 

'If China has this kind of technology, we're all screwed. I'll just be out be honest with you. We're totally screwed. You can just drop a nuke anywhere in the world instantaneously,' he warned.

'And beyond that, what would China be doing flying ultra-advanced technology over the Syrian desert? They have there's absolutely no reason for them to be doing that.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

At the center of our Milky Way galaxy, there may not be a supermassive black hole, but rather a huge cluster of mysterious dark matter that exerts the same gravitational pull. This is according to the results of a study published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.

Mystery of Sagittarius A*

At the center of our galaxy is a compact radio source known as Sagittarius A*. Its mass is 4.3 million times greater than that of the Sun, and it is surrounded by a group of stars (known as S-stars) that move at tremendous speeds of several thousand kilometers per second.

Image of the shadow of Sagittarius A*. Source: EHT Collaboration

According to most researchers, Sagittarius A* is a supermassive black hole. In 2022, the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) collaboration even managed to obtain an image of its shadow, consistent with theoretical predictions.

However, not everyone agrees with this interpretation. An international group of researchers has put forward an alternative idea, according to which Sagittarius A* is actually a cluster of dark matter — a mysterious substance that does not participate in electromagnetic interactions and manifests its existence through gravitational effects on other bodies.

Alternative hypothesis

According to a new hypothesis, Sagittarius A* consists of a certain type of light subatomic particles called fermions. It has a superdense compact core surrounded by an extensive diffuse halo, which together act as a single entity.

Artistic representation of the Milky Way, with a dark matter core at its center instead of a black hole. Source: Valentina Crespi et al.

According to scientists, the inner core of dark matter is so compact and massive that it can mimic the gravitational pull of a black hole and explain the orbits of S-stars, as well as the orbits of dust-enveloped objects known as G-sources, which also exist nearby. 

The data from the Gaia mission, which mapped the rotation curve of the outer halo of the Milky Way, showing how stars and gas rotate away from the center, are particularly important for this hypothesis. A slowdown in the rotation curve of our galaxy, known as Keplerian decline, has been observed, which, according to researchers, can be explained by an external halo of dark matter combined with the Milky Way’s disk and bulge, which consist of ordinary matter.

“This is the first time a dark matter model has successfully bridged these vastly different scales and various object orbits, including modern rotation curve and central stars data,” said study co-author Dr. Carlos Argüelles of the La Plata Institute of Astrophysics.

“We are not just replacing the black hole with a dark object; we are proposing that the supermassive central object and the galaxy’s dark matter halo are two manifestations of the same, continuous substance.”

Shadow of Sagittarius A*

It is important to note that the fermion model of dark matter has already undergone rigorous testing. Previous research has shown that a dense core of dark matter would strongly bend light, creating a central darkness surrounded by a bright ring. This way, its image will match the famous image of the shadow of Sagittarius A* obtained by the EHT.

Location of Sagittarius A* in the sky. S7 Source: ESO/José Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org), EHT Collaboration

The researchers also statistically compared their fermionic dark matter model with the traditional black hole model. They found that although current data on internal stars does not yet allow these two scenarios to be clearly distinguished, the dark matter model provides a unified framework that explains both the center of the galaxy (central stars and shadow) and the galaxy as a whole.

According to the authors, more accurate data obtained using instruments such as the GRAVITY interferometer on the Very Large Telescope in Chile, as well as the search for the unique signature of photon rings — a key feature of black holes that is absent in the dark matter core scenario — will be crucial for testing the predictions of their model.

• According to Royal Astronomical Society

• Posted in News, Science

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/news-en/science-en/ }

The idea of having children in space sounds like something out of science fiction. However, scientists argue that the issue of protecting the reproductive health of astronauts is not futuristic, but a pressing reality, without which it is impossible to seriously talk about long-term missions to the Moon or Mars, or even further into the Solar System.

The future of humanity depends on protecting the reproductive system from the harmful effects of space. Illustration generated by Copilot AI

The human body evolved on Earth, so the space environment is hostile to our biology. The two biggest threats are cosmic radiation and microgravity. Radiation can damage the DNA of reproductive cells and increase the risk of cancer, while the absence of gravity disrupts hormonal balance and affects embryo development.

Added to this are toxic dust from other planets, limited resources, stress factors, and disruption of circadian rhythms. In the long term, this poses a risk of cumulative damage to the reproductive system and even epigenetic changes that could affect the health of future generations.

What do we know, and what is unknown?

Scientists currently have too little data to draw definitive conclusions. Only limited animal studies exist. Information from astronauts who have been on long missions is insufficient. It is unknown how exactly prolonged stays outside Earth affect male fertility and female reproductive health.

That is why a group of experts led by clinical embryologist Giles Palmer is calling for a comprehensive research program to be launched immediately. “It is very important to prepare for fertility risks as interest in lunar missions and Mars exploration grows,” explains the scientist.

Towards a secure future

Future research should focus on understanding the impact of space factors on each stage of the reproductive process. This will enable the development of effective protective measures, ranging from special radiation shields to fertility preservation methods and medical countermeasures. 

Advanced reproductive technologies, particularly those utilizing artificial intelligence and automation adapted for use in space, will play a key role.

It’s time to act now

Science does not plan to send pregnant women into space for experiments. Research will be conducted on Earth under simulated conditions. However, it is already necessary to establish international ethical principles to regulate this area. The priorities should be informed consent, transparency, gender equality, and absolute protection of the health of future generations. This is not only a matter of science, but also of responsibility for the future of humanity beyond our planet.

Reproduction in space remains a distant prospect, but planning has to start today. Overcoming reproductive challenges is no less important for colonizing the solar system than developing powerful rockets or life support systems. The future of space civilization depends on how we now move to protect what is most precious — human life in all its potential for continuation.

We previously reported on the dangers of sex in space.

• According to space.com

• Posted in News, Science

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/news-en/science-en/ }

A rare type of deep underground earthquake occurring in the Earth’s mantle, which can trigger dangerous surface quakes, has finally been isolated and mapped by Stanford researchers.

The earthquakes in question, known as continental mantle quakes, occur in the mantle layer between the crust and the planet’s molten iron core. A recent study, published in Science, and its accompanying mapping of these regions within the Earth, provide important new insights for scientists studying the complex triggers of earthquakes that can devastate human infrastructure.

A Continental Mantle Earthquake Map

The team’s global map of continental-mantle earthquakes reveals that such events tend to cluster regionally. Two of the main hot spots for their activity exist beneath the Himalayas and the Bering Strait, which runs south of the Arctic Circle between Asia and North America.

Providing researchers with new insights into the crust-mantle boundary and the upper mantle’s role in earthquake events, the new data offers scientists a better understanding of the transport of volcanic magma that drives tectonic movements closer to the surface.

“Until this study, we haven’t had a clear global perspective on how many continental mantle earthquakes are really happening and where,” said lead author Shiqi (Axel) Wang, a former PhD student in the lab of geophysics professor Simon Klemperer at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. “With this new dataset, we can start to probe at the various ways these rare mantle earthquakes initiate.”

While earthquakes that occur at shallower depths are typically associated with more direct impacts on our surface environment, the new research suggests that understanding the effects of deeper continental-mantle earthquakes could provide new insights into Earth science and increase our understanding of how surface quakes occur.

“Although we know the broad strokes that earthquakes generally happen where stress releases at fault lines, why a given earthquake happens where it does and the main mechanisms behind it are not well grasped,” added Klemperer, senior study author. “Mantle earthquakes offer a novel way to explore earthquake origins and the internal structure of Earth beyond ordinary crustal earthquakes.”

For the first time, researchers have mapped continental mantle earthquakes.

Credit: Axel Wang

Our Layered Earth

The mantle and the crust are very different environments. While the crust is relatively cold and brittle, the mantle is warm and soft, extending down for 1,800 miles. The two layers meet in a boundary area called the Mohorovičić discontinuity, or “the Moho.” Researchers debated for decades whether the vicious nature of the mantle would even allow seismic activity.

Typical continental earthquakes occur well above the Moho, only reaching depths of 6 to 18 miles. Subduction zones are outliers, however, whose dense oceanic plates can sometimes push quakes to depths of hundreds of miles. Occasional sensor data suggests that some quakes may run even deeper, perhaps 50 miles below the Moho, and occur not in subduction zones, but under continental land masses.

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

One of Earth’s deepest secrets has come to light in new University of Liverpool research that identifies how two vast, hot rock structures in the planet’s mantle produce unusual magnetic activity, shaping the planet over hundreds of millions of years.

What lies in the deepest regions beneath the Earth’s surface is fairly well understood, although humans have only directly observed it at a depth of 12 kilometers. Now, researchers have uncovered new evidence about the magnetic influence of two unusual structures where the Earth’s mantle touches the core, as revealed in a recent paper published in Nature Geoscience.

A Mysterious Boundary

A lack of direct access to Earth’s interior leaves room for uncertainty, as well as new discoveries. One such discovery was made recently when University of Liverpool researchers identified two continent-sized rock structures about 2,900 kilometers below Earth’s surface, located beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, that influence the planet’s magnetic field. These ultra-hot regions affect the planet’s molten outer core, altering how the magnetic field is generated locally.

According to the new study from the DEEP (Determining Earth Evolution using Palaeomagnetism) research group in the University of Liverpool’s School of Environmental Sciences, working with researchers from the University of Leeds, the rock forming these structures remains solid despite being superheated and is surrounded by a ring of cooler rock that stretches between the poles.

Investigating the Mantle

Similar to how a wind turbine generates electricity, the flow of liquid iron in Earth’s outer core produces the planet’s magnetic field. Inside Earth, the mantle acts as a cold sink for the geodynamo, creating cooler pockets. Although the mantle is relatively uniform seismically, researchers expect significant lateral variations in heat distribution, which could influence how the iron core flows. The DEEP team sought to use paleomagnetic data to better understand this region—a challenging task.

Previous work in this area assumed uniformity or examined relatively short time scales. In this study, the team combined magnetic data with a mathematical model of the geodynamo to investigate its activity over the last 265 million years. Collecting measurements of these magnetic fields and running simulations of the processes that generate them posed major technical challenges.

From the models, the team reconstructed 265 million years of magnetic field activity. The complexity and duration of these simulations pushed the limits of the supercomputers available to the researchers.

Mantle Structures Discovered

The simulations revealed an irregular upper boundary of the outer core. The immense rock structures capped the molten hot spots. Intriguingly, some areas of the magnetic field proved more volatile than others, either changing significantly or remaining relatively stable for hundreds of millions of years.

“These findings suggest that there are strong temperature contrasts in the rocky mantle just above the core and that, beneath the hotter regions, the liquid iron in the core may stagnate rather than participate in the vigorous flow seen beneath the cooler regions,” said lead author Andy Biggin, Professor of Geomagnetism at the University of Liverpool. “Gaining such insights into the deep Earth on very long timescales strengthens the case for using records of the ancient magnetic field to understand both the dynamic evolution of the deep Earth and its more stable properties.”

“These findings also have important implications for questions surrounding ancient continental configurations—such as the formation and breakup of Pangaea—and may help resolve long-standing uncertainties in ancient climate, palaeobiology, and the formation of natural resources,” Biggin added. 

Overall, the team’s work challenges the assumption that the Earth’s magnetic field behaves like a stable bar magnet over long periods. From this new conceptual starting point, the team hopes that going forward, their findings will help the ancient processes that forged our modern planet come into clearer view.

• The paper, “Mantle Heterogeneity Influenced Earth’s Ancient Magnetic Field,” appeared in Nature Geoscience on February 3, 2026.
• Ryan Whalen covers science and technology for The Debrief. He holds an MA in History and a Master of Library and Information Science with a certificate in Data Science. He can be contacted at ryan@thedebrief.org, and follow him on Twitter @mdntwvlf.

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

Terrifying race to build planet-killing arsenals begins as decades-old safeguard vanishes overnight

• MORE: Terrifying Pentagon report sparks WWIII fears

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

The last remaining nuclear weapons treaty between the US and Russia has expired, unleashing the threat of a 'runaway arms race.' 

At midnight on Thursday, the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), signed by both superpowers in 2010, ended as no agreement on an extension was reached, allowing the US and Russia to now build up their nuclear stockpiles without restriction.

Russia has already blamed the US for walking away from the treaty, with Russian politician Alexei Zhuravlev issuing a chilling warning about his nation's ability to single-handedly cause a nuclear apocalypse.

Zhuravlev, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma Defense Committee, said: 'Russia currently possesses weapons capable of wiping out any country, or even completely destroying the entire planet.'

The New START treaty had limited both sides to no more than 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads each, while also allowing mutual inspections and data sharing for transparency.

A limit was also set on the number of long-range delivery systems the US and Russia could have, restricting each nation to 700 active platforms capable of carrying nuclear warheads, including missiles, submarines, and bombers.

Now that New START has expired, both countries are free to build up and deploy more of these weapons without any binding limits or required verification.

Daniel Holz, a member of the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists, warned that the world has never been closer to Doomsday than it is today, fearing that the end of New START will trigger 'a runaway nuclear arms race' involving multiple countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (Left) and US President Donald Trump (Right) allowed the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty to expire on Thursday

A worker prepares the B61-13, a nuclear 'gravity bomb' being produced by the US that is 24 times more powerful than the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan in 1945

Zhuravlev claimed that Russia was willing to extend New START for another year, but the Trump Administration has demanded that any nuclear arms treaty include restrictions on the country with the third-largest nuclear stockpile - China.

'Moscow is playing the role of peacemaker,' Zhuravlev told Russian online news outlet news.ru.

'Washington, however, has often linked this issue to the inclusion of Beijing, which is rapidly nipping at everyone's heels, in the agreement.'

The politician said that China, a close ally of Russia, 'flatly refuses' to be part of any nuclear treaty, as tensions between the communist nation, the US, and America's allies in Asia remain high.

The first New START treaty was signed in 1991 and cut the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads.

START II in 1993 aimed to significantly reduce strategic nuclear weapons, banning multiple warheads (MIRVs) on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and eliminating Russian SS-18 missiles.

However, it never fully entered into force due to Russian delays related to the US withdrawal from the Anti-Ballistic Missile (ABM) Treaty, and Russia formally repudiated it in 2002, with later agreements like New START eventually taking its place.

New START was the only treaty that effectively held the US and Russia accountable for reducing their arsenals.

Researchers with the Federation of American Scientists claimed that both the US and Russia exceeded the limits of the New START treaty before its expiration on February 5, 2026

Moscow and Washington, both focused on the war in Ukraine, have not conducted formal talks on a successor to New START.

A new report by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), a nonprofit global policy think tank, found the US and Russia still possess 86 percent of the world's total inventory of nuclear weapons.

Overall, researchers estimated that nine countries possessed 12,321  nuclear warheads as of this year, with Russia having the world's largest military stockpile of more than 4,300 weapons of mass destruction.

The US followed closely behind with 3,700 warheads in the current military stockpile, a number that includes both active weapons on long-range delivery systems and inactive bombs kept in storage.

China, the UK, France, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea are the other seven nations believed to have an active stockpile of nuclear bombs.

In terms of the weapons ready for launch in a nuclear war, scientists with FAS claimed that both countries had already violated the New START limit of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads at the start of 2026.

Their report alleged that Russia had 1,718 nuclear warheads deployed worldwide while the US had 1,670.

'The exact number of nuclear weapons in each country's possession is a closely held national secret, so the estimates presented here come with significant uncertainty,' FAS said in a statement.

FAS added that the Biden Administration and the Russian government both elected to stop publicly sharing data about their deployed strategic warheads and launchers in 2023, despite it being mandated by the New START Treaty.

President Trump has insisted that a replacement to the New START treaty must include new restrictions on China, which is believed to have 600 nuclear warheads

China currently has approximately 600 warheads in its arsenal, with a recent warning from the Pentagon stating that the country was arming dozens of long-range nuclear missiles.

President Trump said in January that a replacement for New START will need to curb China's rapid and unchecked expansion of nuclear arms.

'If it expires, it expires,' the president told the New York Times. 'We'll do a better agreement.'

Dr Jim Walsh, Senior Research Associate at MIT's Security Studies Program, warned that the treaty's expiration won't immediately unravel nuclear restraint, but it could trigger a chain reaction with far-reaching consequences.

'There'll be a turn of events a month from now, a year from now, five years from now,' Walsh told the Daily Mail. 'Things always happen in international affairs. There'll be a war, there'll be a crisis.'

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

Milky Way may NOT have a supermassive black hole at its centre: Scientists claim our galaxy may be run by an enormous clump of mysterious dark matter

• READ MORE: NASA reveals one of the most detailed maps of dark matter yet

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

The Milky may not have a supermassive black hole at its centre, scientists claim. 

Until now, it has been widely believed that our galaxy contains both a supermassive black hole at its core and a diffuse 'halo' of dark matter.

The enormous gravity of a black hole would explain the orbits of so–called S–stars, which spin around the core at speeds of a few thousand kilometres per second.

Meanwhile, the gentle tug from the cloud of dark matter is said to explain why our galaxy's rotation doesn't slow down dramatically towards the outer rim.

Now, scientists from the Institute of Astrophysics La Plata have put forward an alternative theory. 

They suggest our galaxy might actually rotate around an enormous clump of mysterious dark matter.

Dark matter is the invisible substance that can't be seen by our telescopes but is estimated to make up over a quarter of the universe.

According to the experts, a super–dense clump of dark matter would explain both the violent dance of stars near the galactic core and our galaxy's gentle rotation.

There might be black hole at the centre of our galaxy, but rather an enormous clump of mysterious dark matter (artistic impression), according to scientists 

The conventional theory is a supermassive black hole named Sagittarius A* (artist's impression) at the centre of the Milky Way is responsible for the galaxies rotation, but scientists now say dark matter could produce the same effects

Study co–author Dr Carlos Argüelles, of the Institute of Astrophysics La Plata, says: 'We are not just replacing the black hole with a dark object; we are proposing that the supermassive central object and the galaxy's dark matter halo are two manifestations of the same, continuous substance.'

The key to this surprising suggestion lies in a very specific form of dark matter composed of particles called fermions, which are extremely light subatomic particles

In theory, these particles could form a super–dense, compact core, surrounded by a diffuse halo that would act as a single, unified entity.

The dense core would explain the fast movement of the S–stars, while the outer halo could explain the broader movements of the galaxy on the grandest scale.

'This is the first time a dark matter model has successfully bridged these vastly different scales and various object orbits,' says Dr Argüelles.

Crucially, this theory can also explain one of the most important observations we have of the Milky Way's inner core.

In 2022, scientists from the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration used an Earth–spanning network of telescopes to take the first image of the galactic core.

What they observed was a bright halo of light surrounding something dark, which was believed to be the black hole Sagittarius A*.

The researchers say that their theory is compatible with the image of the galactic centre which is believed to show the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*

Any theory that suggests there is something other than a black hole at the centre of the galaxy needs to explain how this picture might have come about.

Luckily, a recent study conducted by Dr Argüelles and another group of collaborators found that the light generated by matter swirling around a dense clump of dark matter produces an image strikingly like the Event Horizon Telescope image.

Lead author Valentina Crespi, a PhD student at the Institute of Astrophysics La Plata, says: 'Our model not only explains the orbits of stars and the galaxy's rotation but is also consistent with the famous 'black hole shadow' image.

'The dense dark matter core can mimic the shadow because it bends light so strongly, creating a central darkness surrounded by a bright ring.'

According to the researchers, our current observations of stars surrounding the galactic core are equally compatible with the black hole and fermion dark matter models.

However, they argue that the dark matter theory is preferable because it explains the structure and behaviour of the Milky Way with a single unified object.

In the future, more precise observations will be necessary to determine with certainty what lies at the heart of the galaxy.

For example, extremely sensitive instruments might be able to detect the signature of 'photon rings' – a tell–tale sign of black holes that would be absent in the dark matter scenario.

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

Origins of Egypt's Great Pyramid upended as new clues point to lost civilization from 20,000 years ago 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

For more than a century, Egyptologists have dated the Great Pyramid to around 2580 BC, about 4,600 years ago.

A controversial new study now claims the monument could be tens of thousands of years older.

Italian engineer Alberto Donini from the University of Bologna said erosion patterns at the pyramid's base suggest it may have been built between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago, far earlier than the conventional timeline.

Donini's Relative Erosion Method (REM) estimated the pyramid's age by comparing how much erosion occurred on stones exposed since construction with nearby stones whose exposure time is known.

By measuring the difference in wear, he calculated how long the older stones have been exposed, producing dates that far exceed traditional estimates.

The study, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, examined twelve points around the pyramid's base.  Some measurements suggested tens of thousands of years of erosion, with the average pointing to roughly 25,000 years.

Donini also proposed that Pharaoh Khufu may have renovated the pyramid rather than built it, potentially revising assumptions about its original authorship.

If the dates proposed by Donini are accurate, the Great Pyramid could predate not only the reign of Khufu but also the rise of any known advanced civilizations, raising fundamental questions about human history and architectural knowledge in the distant past. 

Archaeologist have long dated the Great Pyramid to about 4,600 years old. But an engineer has proposed the iconic structure is much older

The Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest of the three pyramids on the Giza Plateau, was built by Pharaoh Khufu during Egypt's Fourth Dynasty. 

It sits alongside the Pyramid of Khafre, the Pyramid of Menkaure and the Great Sphinx, all shrouded in mystery due to their precise alignment, unusual construction methods, and debated purpose. 

The new study measured erosion at twelve points around the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu. 

At each point, Donini compared limestone surfaces that had been exposed since the pyramid's construction with adjacent surfaces that were only exposed after the outer casing blocks were removed about 675 years ago. 

He measured the volume of eroded material on both surfaces and calculated a ratio, which allowed him to estimate how long the older stones had been exposed.

Each point produced a different age, ranging from about 5,700 to over 54,000 years.

However, the average suggested a 68 percent probability that the pyramid was built between roughly 11,000 and 39,000 years ago, with an overall average of about 24,900 years.

Donini emphasized that REM does not provide a precise construction date, but rather an estimate of the structure's age range with an associated probability. 

The new stmeasured erosion at twelve points around the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu

Italian engineer Alberto Donini from the University of Bologna said erosion patterns at the pyramid's base suggest it may have been built between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago, far earlier than the conventional timeline

'Although the resulting date ranges are wide, the conclusions indicate a low probability for the official archaeological dating of 2,560 BC,' he said.

The study challenges long-held assumptions about ancient Egypt and has ignited debate among archaeologists, historians and engineers. 

Some scholars have pointed out that evidence for the pyramid’s construction has always relied heavily on textual sources, like the later inscriptions found inside the monument, which may not reflect the original building period.

Donini’s approach differs from traditional archaeological dating, which often relies on historical records, carbon dating of organic material, or stylistic comparisons with other monuments. 

Donini's Relative Erosion Method (REM) estimated the pyramid's age by comparing how much erosion occurred on stones exposed since construction with nearby stones whose exposure time is known

By focusing on the physical erosion of the stone itself, REM offers a method that is independent of historical accounts, providing an entirely new perspective on the pyramid’s age.

The study also acknowledges that many factors, including climate variation, acid rain, foot traffic, and partial burial under sand, introduce uncertainty into the calculations. Despite these variables, the consistent results across twelve measurement points strengthen the claim that the pyramid’s base has endured tens of thousands of years of exposure.

Whether the findings will overturn centuries of Egyptological consensus remains to be seen, but the research has already reopened one of archaeology’s most enduring mysteries.

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

EXCLUSIVE - Mysterious symbols spanning the globe hint at a lost civilization 38,000 years ago

• READ MORE: Origins of Egypt's Great Pyramid upended as new clues point to lost civilization from 20,000 years ago 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

For centuries, mainstream archaeologists have dismissed the idea that an advanced civilization existed long before modern times.

Now, an independent researcher claims he has uncovered 'paradigm-shifting evidence of a lost civilization' that hid a sophisticated code through geometry, symbolism, and monument design across the globe to preserve its knowledge ahead of catastrophic events.

Matthew LaCroix told Daily Mail the discovery, sparked by a recent find in Egypt, links symbols across continents and dates back 38,000 to 40,000 years.

According to LaCroix, this civilization tracked cosmic cycles, anticipated global disasters, and embedded teachings about human origins, the structure of the universe, and divine existence into monuments and sacred sites.

His investigation began after identifying recurring giant T-shapes, three-level indents, and step pyramids carved into ancient stones worldwide.

'These specific symbols that are built in different size proportions, and the symbols are found in ancient stones around the world, are not supposed to exist; no cultures are supposed to have any cross-platform,' LaCroix explained.

The symbols appear in locations ranging from Turkey's Van region to South America and Cambodia.

According to LaCroix, the origin of this global system lies in eastern Turkey's Lake Van region at a site known as Ionis. 

He described it as the earliest source of the civilization's symbols, architecture, and teachings, dating it to around 40,000 years old. He argues it preserves the original blueprint later carried to places such as Giza and Tiwanaku.

The investigation began after finding recurring giant T-shapes (pictured), three-level indents and step pyramids carved into ancient stones worldwide, patterns he said should not exist across unrelated cultures, suggesting a shared origin rather than independent development.

The symbols appear in locations ranging from Turkey's Van region to South America and Cambodia

Recurring motifs, giant T-shapes, step pyramids, inverted pyramids, lions, and sacred geometry, appear at Ionis in their most concentrated form before repeating at distant sites worldwide, LaCroix added.

Nearby, the site of Kefkalesi provides one of the clearest examples of these symbols in stone.

The four-foot-by-four-foot basalt carving, known as the Kefkalesi relief, contains complex iconography that mirrors the symbols found at Ionis, Giza, and South American sites.

'This relief became one of the most important artifacts for my research,' LaCroix explained. 'It connects Egypt back to this region and lets us back-engineer the global pattern.'

He pointed out repeating motifs: 'Here are the T-shapes, repeating over and over. Here's your step pyramid with three doors and the lion right here. These same elements appear repeatedly across sites worldwide.'

Regarding the lion, he added, 'The lion is a guardian, and its placement helps explain the structure of the code.'

LaCroix said the relief solidified his interpretation of the symbols and accelerated his analysis of similar structures at the Sphinx Temple in Egypt.

Mainstream archaeologists, however, date known Lake Van sites to the Urartian period thousands of years ago and say there is no evidence supporting a pre-Ice Age global civilization, and no peer-reviewed research currently supports LaCroix’s proposed dating.

Another nearby site, Kefkalesi, provides one of the clearest examples of these recurring symbols in stone. Circled are step pyramids. The top is pointing to an inverted pyramid, and the center is highlighting a T

+8

View gallery

The image, which shows the Sphinx Temple located in front of the statue and closed to the public, revealed what he believes is an inverted step pyramid embedded in the structure

His breakthrough moment came in November 2025, when he re-examined a framed photograph of Egypt's Sphinx Temple he had owned for eight years.

The image, which shows the Sphinx Temple in front of the statue and closed to the public, revealed what he believes is an inverted step pyramid embedded in the structure.

'There, in front of me. It was like I had never seen it before. There was the inverted step pyramid, but the right side had been broken off,' he said.

That realization prompted LaCroix to analyze the entire Giza Plateau, where he identified repeated appearances of inverted step pyramids and giant T-shapes in the Sphinx Temple, Valley Temple and the mortuary temples of Khafre and Menkaure.

Some researchers have suggested the Sphinx was originally carved as a lion before later being reworked with the face of a pharaoh, though the theory is not accepted among mainstream archaeologists.

Using astronomical precession, a slow wobble in Earth's axis, and the Sphinx's proposed alignment with the constellation Leo, LaCroix narrowed the construction date to either around 12,000 years ago, near the end of the last Ice Age, or 38,000 years ago, one full precessional cycle earlier.

He dismissed the younger date, citing theories of catastrophic flooding that would have destroyed surface structures, and instead placed the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, and Valley Temple at roughly 38,000 years old.

Matthew LaCroix (right) told Daily Mail the discovery, sparked by a recent find in Egypt, links symbols across continents and dates back as far as 38,000 to 40,000 years ago. Pictured is a T-shaped symbol at the center of the stone slab

LaCroix said the same architectural layout also appears in South America at Tiwanaku and Puma Punku.

'The temple layout of the Acapana Pyramid, which is in Tiwanaku, is the exact same shape as the stone in those designs themselves, as the temple layout,' he explained.

LiDAR scans of Puma Punku revealed a massive T-shaped design, which LaCroix says reinforces his theory of a shared architectural template. 

'So, Fumapunku and Tiwanaku are like a mirror of Egypt in South America,' he said.

He also identified step pyramid designs inside the mortuary temples of Khafre and Menkaure (left)

The patterns he said should not exist across unrelated cultures, suggesting a shared origin rather than independent development

He also suggested that the lost civilization's messages were to tell humanity about the universe. The left symbolized the underworld, the center for reality andthe  right signified the spiritual world

At the center of LaCroix's interpretation is what he calls a cosmogram, an ancient geometric model representing the structure of the universe.

According to LaCroix, symbols such as three-level step pyramids, inverted pyramids, and T-shapes encode layered realities: the non-physical underworld, the physical realm, and the celestial realms.

'The left door represents the realm of reality called the underworld, or non-physical realm of reality,' he explained. 'Its counter, on the opposite, is the right door, which is the celestial realms of reality, where the angels are.'

The central vertical axis of the T symbol represents the 'middle door' that balances the system, a concept often referred to in ancient cosmology as the axis mundi, or central point connecting all realms.

'They're showing us how all of reality works, and how it all balances,' LaCroix said.

He tied this framework to preserved Egyptian traditions, particularly Hermeticism, an ancient spiritual and philosophical system attributed to Hermes Trismegistus that emphasizes humanity's connection to the cosmos, the divine, and hidden knowledge.

LaCroix believes the ancient code was deliberately hidden to preserve knowledge humanity later inverted.

Speaking philosophically, he added: 'Guess what, spoiler alert, we're doing everything basically the inverse opposite of what we're supposed to,' he warned.

He said the evidence suggests humans were once understood as divine and interconnected with all existence.

'We have ancient proof that shows that we're a divine being that's connected to the all, and a part of everything... we're supposed to be living in harmony with the Earth and the universe,' LaCroix said.

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