As a result of not hearing back, I decided to establish the Galileo Project, in collaboration with Dr. Frank Laukien two months later. This scientific research project followed the narrative of my original White Paper and is supported by private donations to my research fund at Harvard University.

The first time I learned about the outcome of my exchange with Dr. Zurbuchen was through a press conference held a year later, on June 9, 2022. I became aware of the pending announcement thanks to an email from the Galileo Project member, Dr. Alan Stern, who wrote, “I can’t imagine you aren’t aware of this, but just in case …” Contrary to Alan’s expectation, I did not know in advance about NASA’s press conference, so I immediately notified the rest of the Galileo Project community, which by now contains more than a hundred members.

In the press release, NASA announced a new independent study on UAP from a scientific perspective. The study will focus on identifying available data, how best to collect future data, and how NASA can use that data to move the scientific understanding of UAP forward. The study is not part of the Department of Defense’s  Airborne Object Identification and Management Synchronization Group, and is expected to take about nine months to complete. It will secure the counsel of experts in the scientific, aeronautics, and data analytics communities to focus on how best to collect new data and improve observations of UAP.

I was delighted to see that some of the statements made at the press conference and the resulting news reports, echoed my writings. For example, the Guardian noted that, “We have to approach all these questions with a sense of humility,” a statement which echoes the theme of my book “Extraterrestrial”.

Or, as Oscar Wilde noted, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”

Overall, this outcome is gratifying and represents a “win-win” development. The Galileo Project is now likely to receive a boost to its funding from wealthy individuals and foundations with which I am in close contact. But most importantly, the Project’s scientific mission narrative is now echoed within the government.

It does not matter who tells the truth as long as it is being told. As I mentioned to the Jerusalem Post on the morning of NASA’s press release, “It is wonderful that NASA and scientists will be engaged in unraveling the nature of UAP … It is a fishing expedition and we will end up with a mixed bag of natural and human-made objects. But even if we have high-quality data on just a single object that demonstrates something else, such as an extraterrestrial technological origin, it would represent the most important discovery in human history.”

A day later, I received an email from the leadership team of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, explaining that I was not selected to serve on this study because it represents a non-advocate review that will be conducted in accordance with the principles of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA). In other words, my role in leading the Galileo Projectwould constitute an apparent conflict of interest.

Being true to the words of my White Paper after not getting a response from NASA, led me to establish a new scientific Project on UAP, but it now blocks me from contributing directly to NASA’s planning exercise on exactly the same research frontier. Perhaps it is a blessing in disguise, since the Galileo Project has currently no strings attached to the government. In the future, the Project will be able to apply to any relevant funds as they become available.

In gratitude for NASA’s explanatory email, I mentioned that I will be delighted to provide any input that could help NASA’s study, because it shares the intellectual DNA of the Galileo Project. Government agencies and academia should be working together towards the collection of new evidence-based knowledge on UAP.

It is possible that by the time NASA’s study completes its nine-month pregnancy and delivers its independent “baby”, the Galileo Project will discover evidence that will change the charter of NASA’s report.  The Galileo Project is currently assembling its first telescope system on the roof of the Harvard College Observatory, planning an expedition to retrieve fragments from the first interstellar meteor, studying satellite data on UAP from above, and designing a space mission to rendezvous with the next anomalous (`Oumuamua-like) interstellar object.

Before NASA’s announcement, it was common practice among scientists to ridicule the scientific study of UAP. The ridicule was surprisingly strong and public within the traditional SETI community, with one exception – Seth Shostak who joined the Galileo Project after publishing a brave supportive article in Scientific American.

Open mindedness applies also to scientific research. We should explore the unknown by seeking evidence agnostically and not assuming what we might find. Gladly, we now know that both the Galileo Project and NASA agree on following this principle.

• Avi Loeb is the head of the Galileo Project, founding director of Harvard University’s – Black Hole Initiative, director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the former chair of the astronomy department at Harvard University (2011-2020). He chairs the advisory board for the Breakthrough Starshot project, and is a former member of the President’s Council of Advisors onScience and Technology and a former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. He is the bestselling author of “Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth” and a co-author of the textbook “Life in the Cosmos”, both published in 2021.

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

18-03-2026 om 21:44 geschreven door peter  

Decades of Debate

First identified in 2002, the Silverpit structure displays several features that are characteristic of impact craters, including a circular outline, a central peak, and concentric fault rings. Despite these clues, some scientists argued that the formation could have resulted from natural geological activity, such as the movement of underground salt deposits or volcanic forces, leaving the true origin of the crater unclear.

In 2009, a group of geologists reviewed the evidence and concluded that the crater was unlikely to have formed from an asteroid impact. The latest research not only challenges but also overturns that earlier conclusion.

Evidence Hidden Beneath the Seafloor

A team led by Dr. Uisdean Nicholson at Heriot-Watt University used high-resolution seismic imaging alongside detailed analysis of rock samples collected from beneath the seabed. The seismic data revealed the crater’s internal structure with a level of detail previously unattainable. Meanwhile, rock samples obtained from an oil well offered crucial evidence to resolve the question of the crater’s origin.

“We were exceptionally lucky to find these — a real ‘needle-in-a-haystack’ effort,” Nicholson said. “These prove the impact crater hypothesis beyond doubt.”

The samples contained shocked quartz and feldspar, minerals that only form under the intense pressures produced by asteroid impacts. These minerals confirm that a high-energy collision created Silverpit Crater.

A Violent Impact

The evidence shows that an asteroid about 160 meters wide hit the seabed between 43 and 46 million years ago. The team’s models suggest the asteroid came from the west at a low angle, creating a huge plume of rock and water.

Within minutes, the plume collapsed back into the ocean, producing a tsunami that reached heights of over 100 meters (about 330 feet). The impact released vast amounts of energy, sending waves across the surrounding region and reshaping the seafloor.

A Rare Preserved Impact Crater

Impact craters are rare on Earth because erosion and plate movements slowly erase them. Around 200 confirmed impact craters have been found on land, but only a few dozen have been found beneath the ocean.

Silverpit is notable as a well-preserved hypervelocity impact crater, offering a rare opportunity to study how such events shape the planet’s subsurface structure.

Professor Gareth Collins of Imperial College London, who contributed to the study’s modeling work, said the new evidence represents a decisive breakthrough. “It is very rewarding to have finally found the silver bullet,” Collins said.

Understanding Earth’s Impact History

This research settles a long-standing scientific debate and offers new insight into the forces that have shaped Earth’s history. The findings will help scientists understand how asteroid impacts influence planetary surfaces on Earth and elsewhere in the solar system.

“We can use these findings to understand how asteroid impacts shaped our planet throughout history, as well as predict what could happen should we have an asteroid collision in the future,” said Nicholson.

• Austin Burgess is a writer and researcher with a background in sales, marketing, and data analytics. He holds a Master of Business Administration, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, and a Data Analytics certification. His work combines analytical training with a focus on emerging science, aerospace, and astronomical research.

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

18-03-2026 om 21:22 geschreven door peter  

Athena Dawson

A retired U.S. Air Force veteran claimed he encountered UFOs that disabled multiple nuclear missiles while he served in the military during the Cold War.

Robert Salas claimed that an unknown entity subdued the military's ability to control 10 Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missiles equipped with nuclear warheads at Malmstrom Air Force Base in 1967.

The 85-year-old former launch officer shared the harrowing story on the "Danny Jones Podcast" on Sunday.

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Salas manned the monitoring and launch of nuclear missiles, "if given the order," during the tense Cold War era.

He recalled his alleged alien encounter, which occurred around 10 p.m. on March 24, 1967. Salas was underground with his partner when panicked guards called from above about a mysterious, unidentified aircraft.

"The main guard calls down, says, 'Sir, we've been seeing some strange lights in the sky, flying directly overhead,'" Salas said.

He added that guards insisted the aircraft wasn't a Soviet one because of its odd lights. It flew through the sky before abruptly stopping over the underground ICBMs.

Salas initially dismissed the guards, thinking it was a prank, but five minutes later, the guard called back, screaming into the phone.

"He's yelling. He's babbling. He's frightened," Salas recalled.

After he calmed down, the guard told Salas that he and his men had their weapons aimed at the craft floating above the base's front gate, which was emitting a "pulsating reddish light."'

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Salas said the panicked guard asked what to do next, and he told him, "Do whatever you have to do."

Salas recalled that the guard said one of his men was injured before hanging up.

The octogenarian then recalled how the missiles had been shut down by the mysterious alien entities. As he went to wake up his sleeping partner, a loud horn at the controls suddenly began to blare.

The alarm signaled that an issue had emerged with the missiles, and Salas said when they looked at the board, "one of them went from green to red."

No ability to launch," Salas said. "Then, very quickly thereafter, bing bing bing bing, all 10 of them went down. They all went red."

They jumped up and ran through their checklist, then realized two launch facilities miles away were showing that "someone or something" may have breached the fenced missile area.

Salas said that he reacted immediately, sending guards to the missile silos. He said they were "scared to death" after encountering the floating lights hovering over the launch areas nearly a mile away.

"They were scared to death," he said. "They didn't want to go any further. They were so frightened of these things."

Salas said he later heard the guard was injured from either hurting his hand while clearing his jammed rifle or cutting it on barbed wire during the spooky alien encounter.

He also learned that the guards had apparently seen the odd craft in the area mere days before the encounter. It was described as being able to fly in reverse, complete 90-degree turns, and fly in dead silence.

Salas said that, despite an investigation, it was never determined what shut down the warheads, even with systems designed to prevent jamming.

"They had no idea how this signal could have been injected into each of the missiles," he said. "The cabling system that we had was triply shielded against electromagnetic interference from the outside."

Salas said that he's convinced the extraterrestrial visitors traveled to Earth to stop a nuclear war from unfolding.

Salas's alleged alien encounter stayed a decades-long secret as Air Force investigators forced him and his commander to sign strict gag orders, warned that they could face prison time if they ever spoke about it.

He ultimately went public decades later after reading about a similar incident in a UFO book, concluding that the information had already been disclosed.

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{ https://www.aol.com/ }

18-03-2026 om 21:01 geschreven door peter  

Story by Garrett Steele

©ALot.com

Otherworldly UFO Destinations For the Alien-Obsessed
Are we truly alone in the universe? Some people assert that we've already made contact! Here are some of the best places to learn more about both real and fictional UFOs.

©ALot.com
(image via Flickr)

10. McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is a great place to begin for several reasons. For starters, photos of the UFO that appeared over McMinnville are considered some of the most compelling, clear evidence of UFOs ever captured. Secondly, they have an annual UFO festival. There’s plenty of goofiness happening, but there are also serious discussions. The latest festival featured several witnesses and investigators of the Phoenix Lights, one of the most well-documented and widely-seen UFO events in history.

©ALot.com

(image via Instagram)

9. Aurora, Texas
The story of UFOs in America doesn’t start with Roswell. It actually goes back much farther than that. In 1896, residents of Aurora, Texas, started seeing a cigar-shaped object floating in the sky. In 1897, the alleged craft collided with a windmill. According to local legend, the pilot—assumed to be from another planet—was buried in the town graveyard. While the gravestone that used to mark its plot is gone, there’s still a historical telling the story.

©ALot.com

(image via Flickr)

8. The Smithsonian Institution
Washington, D.C.
The Smithsonian has fascinating scientific and historical artifacts, but it also has a great deal of science fiction on display. Margaret Weitekamp is the Curator for Social and Cultural Dimensions of Spaceflight, which means that it’s her job to put together a collection of all the ways space travel has captured our imaginations. That’s not the only place to see UFOs at the Smithsonian, though. The Institute’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture holds a reconstructed incarnation of Parliament’s P-Funk Mothership, one of the most iconic stage props in history, and certainly the funkiest starship in the galaxy.

©ALot.com

(image via Flickr)

7. Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Maybe the objects flying out of Kennedy are more known than unknown, but it’s still a cool place to be. This is an exciting time for spaceflight—SpaceX just launched a rocket that successfully landed on a boat at sea. Being able to reuse rockets instead of just crashing them makes space exploration much more affordable. They’re not the only private company helping advance spaceflight, just one of the many getting in on the action here at Kennedy and Cape Canaveral.

©ALot.com

6. Devils Tower
Crook County, Wyoming
Devils Tower is an enormous igneous intrusion in Wyoming. Most people probably know it from Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, where Richard Dreyfuss and several others found themselves obsessed with the unique shape of the mountain, eventually flocking to the site just in time for UFOs to land. The movie turned the monument into a sci-fi icon, one that’s been parodied by everyone from “Weird Al” Yankovic to The Simpsons to even The X-Files.

©ALot.com

(image via Flickr)

5. Vasquez Rocks
Los Angeles County, California
Vasquez Rocks is one of those places more associated with fictional aliens than any real or alleged encounter. Still, it’s so iconic that it deserves a mention—as soon as you see this structure, it’s immediately familiar, even if you can’t place it. That’s because it’s been a filming location for over 50 films and countless TV shows. Captain Kirk famously fought that rubber-suited lizard monster here. But the rocks have also appeared in the likes of Roswell, Alien Nation, Battlestar Galactica, Buffy, and much more.

©ALot.com
(image via Flickr)

4. The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array
Socorro County, New Mexico
The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array is (you guessed it) a very large array of radio telescopes, trained at the Socorro County skies. The antennas here are so huge that they’re repositioned via a system of trains. They’ve helped us learn more about black holes, quarks, quasars, and even the gasses at the center of our galaxy. They’re not actually used to seek out UFOs, but they’re almost better.

©ALot.com
(image via Flickr)

3. The SETI Institute
Mountain View, California
Not all of the conversation around aliens has to do with little green men. SETI—the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence—has been exploring the universe for signs of life since it began operations in 1985. They use a telescope array (not the Very Large Array; a different one) to search for signs of technology, and a cross-disciplinary team of scientists explores forms of life that might exist but haven’t occurred to us.

©ALot.com

(image via Flickr)

2. Area 51
Lincoln County, Nevada
Let’s get one thing clear—do NOT attempt to actually enter Area 51. Whether it has anything to do with UFOs or not, this is a very real military base, about which nearly everything is classified. Its proximity to Roswell has led people to cite it as the parking spot for the Roswell UFO. It's probably no surprise, then, that most of the kitschy tourist items around here are centered around the alien theme.

©ALot.com

(image via Flickr)

1. Roswell, New Mexico
In 1947, one of two things occurred during the “Roswell Incident:" either (1) part of a weather balloon fell onto a rancher’s property or (2) a UFO crashed that incited an immediate government cover-up. That second theory is certainly not harmed by the fact that there is a top-secret air force base not too terribly far away. At a minimum, kitschy UFO imagery has seeped into just about every part of the town, and it makes for a good time.

 

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{ https://www.alot.com }

18-03-2026 om 20:45 geschreven door peter  

Residents across multiple states were startled on Tuesday as a loud boom, believed to be a meteor crashing into Earth, echoed across the region. 

Witnesses in Pittsburgh reported seeing what appeared to be a burning object streaking through the sky, describing it as 'a rocket or something like a meteor.'

One local wrote online: '911 calls in the city. I have relatives who heard the boom from Hinckley, Ohio, all the way to Sandusky.'

Totally reminded me of the sonic booms produced by the fighter-jet test pilots in the early 1960s,' another person shared.

The National Weather Service (NWS) later said the fiery object was likely a meteor entering Earth's atmosphere.

The meteor was spotted by space satellites around 9am ET and seen by human eyes about one hour later. 

As of January 2026, the Meteoritical Bulletin Database has recorded 1,270 officially confirmed 'observed falls,' meteorites that were seen falling to Earth and later recovered. 

Scientists estimate around 17,000 meteorites strike the planet each year, but most land in oceans or remote areas, meaning only about 1.8 percent of meteorites have actually been witnessed. 

Witnesses in Pittsburgh reported seeing what appeared to be a burning object streaking through the sky, describing it as 'a rocket or something like a meteor.' 

Residents across Ohio and Pennsylvania were startled Tuesday morning as a loud boom echoed across the region

Officials from the NWS Cleveland stated that the meteor likely burned up or disintegrated high in the atmosphere, approximately 25 miles up over the Northeast Ohio/Lake Erie region. 

Some officials speculated that if any fragments survived, they could have landed in Lake Erie. 

There have been no reports of injuries or property damage caused by the landing.  

The 'explosion' reported across the region was a sonic boom created by the meteor shooting through the atmosphere at speeds over 25,000 mph. 

Residents across the region flooded social media with reports of a powerful blast, with many describing a thunderous noise that shook homes and echoed for miles. 

Some said it sounded like multiple explosions or rolling vibrations, while others reported spotting a glowing fireball and a bright streak tearing across the sky. 

One Cleveland resident posted on X: 'Loud boom in Cleveland today. They are saying a meteor! The house shook; it was scary.'

'Heard and felt here on the west side of Cleveland. One loud boom followed immediately by a smaller or 'echo' boom,' another local shared.

The 'explosion' reported across the region was a sonic boom created by the meteor shooting through the atmosphere at speeds over 25,000 mph

The meteor was spotted by space satellites around 9am ET and seen by human eyes about one hour later

'Didn't quite shake the house; it more like reverberated through it. Thought it was a truck or something until my Sister messaged me that she heard it too.'

Meteoroids are small rocky objects that travel through space, ranging in size from tiny dust particles to fragments as large as small asteroids. 

When one of these objects enters Earth's atmosphere at high speed, it burns up due to intense friction, creating a bright streak of light known as a meteor, often called a 'shooting star.' 

If any part of the object survives its fiery descent and reaches the ground, it is then classified as a meteorite. 

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

18-03-2026 om 19:55 geschreven door peter  

Impressions (No Spoilers)

The film Hail Mary leaves a very positive impression overall. If someone likes science fiction, they might really enjoy this movie. This is exactly the kind of film that not only shows beautiful images of space but also keeps you on the edge of your seat for almost the entire runtime. The plot constantly throws in new twists, and the characters’ decisions keep you hooked on the story.

Ryan’s acting deserves special mention. Everything is portrayed very naturally: the characters feel like real people, not just vehicles for the plot. This makes it easier to believe both the story itself and the characters’ emotional reactions. Another important plus is the attention to detail. It was particularly pleasing that the film accurately depicts one of the basic principles of space: there is no sound in outer space. For a sci-fi film, this might seem like a minor detail, but it is precisely these details that greatly enhance the film’s believability.

Hail Mary is a fantastic film that works on several levels: as a suspenseful adventure, as a story of survival, and as a film that strives to respect scientific logic. That’s exactly why the film resonates not only emotionally but also intellectually.

It is also interesting to compare it to the film U Are the Universe. One gets the sense that these films resonate with each other in some ways: both use space not merely as a backdrop, but as a realm of solitude, connection, hope, and human vulnerability. But while U Are the Universe is a more intimate, lyrical, and existential story, Hail Mary is a larger-scale, technically sophisticated, and plot-driven science fiction film. And there is an interesting point here: if the creators of U Are the Universe had delayed the film’s release just a little longer, and it had come out after Hail Mary, some viewers would surely have accused them of plagiarism. In reality, that would have been unfair: the Ukrainian film had already been released earlier as an independent work. And even Andy Weir’s book Hail Mary was not published until 2021.

Technical Analysis with Spoilers

From an engineering perspective, the film is particularly interesting because it invites analysis rather than just watching. And for the most part, this is a plus: if, after watching it, there is a desire to discuss fuel, the atmosphere, materials, and manufacturing technologies, then the science fiction has done its job.

The first – and perhaps the most controversial – point concerns the logistics of the protagonist’s return journey. This is the film’s weakest point. Even with full tanks – roughly two million liters of astrofuel – the return trip would take about four years, so questions about the mission’s supplies arise at this stage. Based on the plot’s logic, there was enough food for about two years, and after subsequent events, the available fuel supply is further reduced by two sections. As a result, the return mission begins to look less like an engineering-driven scenario devised by the protagonist and more like a very optimistic hope for a miracle. This does not ruin the film entirely, but it is here that the tension between the drama and the real-world logistics of interstellar flight is felt most acutely.

The second point of contention is taumeba and xenonite. Conceptually, this is a very striking idea, but it raises the most questions precisely from the perspective of the world’s internal physics. If xenonite is presented as a reliable structural and airtight material, then taumeba’s ability to pass through it requires a very serious explanation. It is not enough here to say that this is unusual biology; there needs to be a clear mechanism that explains exactly how it happens, under what conditions, and due to which properties of the material and the organism. That is why this particular plot point raises the most scientific doubts for me. It works as a dramatic twist, but as a hard sci-fi premise, it looks noticeably weaker than many of the film’s other ideas.

That said, the atmosphere on the ship and the final dome actually struck as quite plausible. Here, the film, on the contrary, enters the realm of logical engineering solutions. When it comes to a pressurized environment for humans, the basic principles are quite clear: controlling pressure, gas composition, temperature, humidity, removing carbon dioxide, and maintaining a safe environment. In this sense, the dome in the finale can be seen as a development of the same ideas used in space life support systems (e.g., the ISS), only adapted to a different technological platform. Therefore, this aspect should be defended rather than criticized.

The idea of highly advanced 3D printing on an alien spacecraft struck as particularly compelling. The way tunnels, structures, and various objects are formed is an extremely advanced form of 3D printing or programmable manufacturing. And this is precisely one of those ideas that, in science fiction, does not seem like magic but rather a logical progression of real-world technologies. If a civilization is capable of building complex structures directly within the required environment, with high precision, using readily available materials, and tailored to a specific task, then this seems very realistic for a highly advanced engineering culture.

The same applies to the translator. The film presents him not as a magic button, but as the result of a gradual search for patterns, the comparison of signals, learning, and the development of a common language. It is precisely this approach that makes the idea convincing. This is no longer a fairy-tale “universal understanding of aliens,” but an engineering problem of communication that is solved step by step. And within the realm of science fiction, it makes perfect sense.

Ultimately, what makes Hail Mary great for me is that it can be viewed in two different ways. The first is simply a powerful, intense, and emotional science fiction film. The second is a film that invites technical analysis. And even its controversial moments are not so much a drawback as a reason for discussion. Because the most interesting sci-fi films are not the ones that leave no questions, but the ones that make viewers want to debate trajectories, materials, atmosphere, biology, and technology.

What differences and nuances did you notice? Let’s discuss them in the comments.

• Posted in Articles, Movies & Series, Tech

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

17-03-2026 om 23:45 geschreven door peter  

The Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) at Johns Hopkins University has officially begun assembling one of the most unusual spacecraft in the history of space exploration. The Dragonfly unmanned helicopter, whose design resembles the legendary ornithopters from Frank Herbert’s Dune universe, is preparing for a mission to Titan.

Although it is not the barren Arakis, Saturn’s largest moon will greet the explorer with vast expanses of sand dunes. And while the chances of encountering a sandworm there are practically nonexistent, the scientific potential of this mission is truly impressive.

Drone Lab

Dragonfly isn’t just a drone. It’s a fully-fledged autonomous robot about the size of a small car. Unlike rovers, which take years to cover just a few dozen kilometers, the flying probe will be able to “hop” vast distances, exploring various regions of Titan in a single flight.

Once it reaches the moon’s surface in 2034, the spacecraft will conduct a comprehensive analysis, ranging from studying the composition of the atmosphere to taking seismic measurements. The chemical composition of the surface is of particular interest. Beneath Titan’s thick layer of ice lies a global ocean of salty water, making this world one of the most promising places to search for extraterrestrial life. 

A slow and cold world

Titan is truly an amazing place. It is the only moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere. The air there is four times denser than Earth’s, and gravity is seven times weaker. This creates some amazing conditions: if you were there in the rain, the methane droplets would fall extremely slowly, as if in slow motion.

However, waiting for such a downpour is no easy task, since centuries can pass between precipitation events on Titan. Such a stable, albeit cold, chemical environment is the ideal place for the formation of organic compounds. Scientists consider Titan to be “Earth in the freezer”—it looks just like our planet before the first living organisms appeared on it.

A costly mission

Exploring Titan is no cheap project. The total cost of the mission is estimated at $3 billion. Previous attempts to peer beneath the moon’s thick, foggy veil have been extremely limited: in 2005, the Huygens probe lasted only a few hours on the surface due to a lack of power. 

Since Dragonfly is designed for long-term operation, solar power is not an option — there is too little light penetrating Titan’s thick haze. Therefore, Dragonfly will be powered by nuclear energy. The spacecraft will be equipped with a multi-mission radioisotope thermoelectric generator (MMRTG). Fuel rods containing plutonium will generate heat, which will be converted into electricity to power electronics, servos, and scientific instruments. This technology has already proven itself on the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers.

Beginning of the journey

The mission is scheduled to be launched in 2028 using a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. After launch, the spacecraft will spend six long years traveling through the Solar System. When Dragonfly finally spreads its rotors over the lakes and rivers of liquid ethane in 2034, humanity will get its clearest view of this mysterious world yet.

In the meantime, engineers continue to assemble this nuclear-powered ornithopter, keeping in mind the golden rule for travelers across the dunes: “The spice must flow,” and science must move forward.

We previously reported that the Dragonfly underwent a critical design review prior to the start of the assembly phase.

• According to jalopnik.com

• Posted in News, Tech

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17-03-2026 om 22:39 geschreven door peter  

Terrifying study predicts exactly how many people will DIE by 2050 if we don’t take urgent action to curb climate change

• READ MORE: The ominous sign the Gulf Stream is nearing COLLAPSE

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

A terrifying study has predicted exactly how many people will die by 2050 if we don't take urgent action to curb climate change. 

Researchers from the Catholic University of Argentina set out to understand how rising temperatures will affect physical activity – and as a result, premature deaths. 

The team analysed data from 156 countries between 2000 and 2022, and used it to predict what the coming decades will look like.

Worryingly, their findings suggest that by 2050, each additional month with an average temperature above 27.8°C will increase physical inactivity by 1.5 per cent globally. 

This translates to a predicted 470,000 to 700,000 additional premature deaths every year – and up to $3.68 billion in productivity losses.

Based on the findings, the researchers are calling for urgent action. 

'Rising temperatures are projected to increase the prevalence of physical inactivity, translating into additional premature deaths and productivity losses, especially in tropical regions,' they said. 

'Prioritising heat–adaptive urban design, subsidised climate–controlled exercise facilities, and targeted heat–risk communication is essential to mitigate these emerging health and economic burdens, in addition to ambitious emissions reductions.'

The team analysed data from 156 countries between 2000 and 2022, and used it to predict what the coming decades will look like

Climate change is making the world hotter, with the last three years confirmed to be the hottest on record. 

As a result, exercising in many parts of the world is becoming more difficult. 

Writing in their study, published in The Lancet Global Health, the researchers, led by Christian García–Witulski, explained: 'Heat exposure imposes physiological constraints through elevated cardiovascular strain and heightened perceived exertion, creating substantial barriers to outdoor physical activity.'

To understand how rising temperatures might impact the ability to exercise, the team analysed data from 156 countries from 2000 to 2022. 

Their results paint a bleak picture of what's to come – particularly in low– and middle–income countries. 

By 2050, each additional month with an average temperature above 27.8°C will increase physical inactivity by 1.5 per cent globally, and by 1.85 per cent in low– and middle–income countries, but with no clear impact in high–income countries.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest increase in inactivity will be in hotter regions, according to the researchers. 

This includes Central America, the Caribbean, Eastern Sub–Saharan Africa, and Equitorial Southeast Asia – where inactivity could increase by as much as four per cent per  month spent above 27.8°C.

Unsurprisingly, the biggest increase in inactivity will be in hotter regions, according to the researchers

'The implications for global health are immediate,' the researchers wrote. 

'Without stronger mitigation, rising temperatures alone could undermine – or even reverse – a substantial share of WHO's target of cutting global physical inactivity by 15% by 2030, while simultaneously slowing economic growth through heatrelated drops in worker productivity.' 

The researchers also provide several ideas for measures that could be taken to ease the impact of rising temperatures.

Heat–risk messages could be integrated into exercise guidelines, they suggest, while money could be funneled towards cooler exercise facilities. 

'Treating physical activity as a climate–sensitive necessity – rather than a discretionary lifestyle choice – will be essential to prevent a heat–driven sedentary transition and its accompanying surge in cardiometabolic diseases and economic losses,' they concluded. 

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

17-03-2026 om 22:14 geschreven door peter  

A former US Air Force missile launch officer has detailed the terrifying moments when UFOs allegedly shut down America's nuclear weapons without firing a shot.

Robert Salas, now 85, claimed that 20 of the military's Minuteman I intercontinental ballistic missiles were disabled by an unknown force which was able to break through all of the shielding at Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base in 1967.

On March 16 and 24 of that year, Salas said guards at the base reported seeing strange, fast-moving lights in the sky that could stop and hover instantly, and emitted a bright red glow right before the US ICBMs hidden underground went offline.

Salas, who was one of two officers inside the underground launch control capsule during the Cold War, added that the guards calling for help were convinced the craft were not Soviet airplanes launching an attack.

The Air Force veteran told the Danny Jones Podcast he is convinced intelligent non-human civilizations visited Earth and attempted to prevent World War III from causing a nuclear holocaust. 

Salas claimed: 'It's another civilization out there that is visiting us and are concerned about us destroying this planet through nuclear war, for many reasons, probably some we don't even understand.'

The former nuclear missile officer added that an investigation led by aerospace company Boeing could not determine what shut down the warheads because US missile complexes were specifically built to keep out jamming signals like this.

'They had no idea how this signal could have been injected into each of the missiles. The cabling system that we had was triply shielded against electromagnetic interference from the outside,' Salas explained.

US Air Force ICBM launch officer Robert Salas (Pictured) has testified before Congress about the UFO that disabled 10 warheads at Malmstrom Air Force Base in March 1967  

Pictured: Malmstrom Airforce Base, home to 10 nuclear warheads which went offline after a strange craft approached the base and the missile silos

According to Salas, the first UFO sighting took place on March 16, 1967, when 10 ICBMs were simultaneously disabled without warning by the mystery swarm of UFOs. 

Eight days later, Salas said the encounter started when the topside security guard called down to him in the underground launch control room around 10pm MT to report multiple strange lights flying in the sky over the nuclear weapons base.

The guards claimed these lights could reverse direction, make sharp 90-degree turns and were completely silent, making no engine noises.

After dismissing the guard's story, Salas would soon receive another frantic call from security saying a pulsating reddish light was being emitted from the UFO hovering right above the front gate of Malmstrom AFB.

After ordering security to prevent the UFO from entering the missile complex, guards reported seeing the same or similar lights hovering right above two of the missile silos about a mile away from the control room. 

'All of a sudden, we get a large horn go off and we know what that means. That means that there's an issue with one of the missiles. Look at the board and sure enough, one of them went from green to red. No go. No launch, no ability to launch,' Salas told Jones during the March 13 episode.

'Very quickly thereafter, bing, bing, bing, bing, all 10 of them went down. They all went red.'

Salas revealed that incursion lights had also gone off, meaning something or someone had entered the fenced area where the missiles were kept.

A guard closing the gate to entrance of the control center of the missile base at Malmstrom, Montana, where the ballistic missile 'Minuteman' were kept, in December 1962

READ MORE

• America’s nuclear sites secretly invaded by thousands of UFOs, new report reveals

When he called on the guards to investigate the missile silos, they reported that the UFO had flown off just as they arrived.

Following his encounter, Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFOSI) personnel ordered Salas and his commander to sign strict non-disclosure agreements threatening prison time if they ever discussed the event.

However, the veteran officer went public decades later after reading about a similar incident in a publicly available UFO book and deciding the information had already been leaked.

The Boeing engineers tasked with investigating the missile complex concluded that an external electromagnetic signal had somehow disrupted the guidance and control systems of the missiles, specifically affecting a device called the logic coupler in each one.

Despite discovering the likely cause, Boeing also noted it was impossible for any normal device or test to affect all 10 missiles at once because each missile was independently housed in a silo designed to block electromagnetic interference.

Officially, the Pentagon has maintained for decades that there is no proof UFOs or extraterrestrial beings exist and have visited Earth.

However, President Trump has ordered Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to release all government files related to the search for these unidentified craft so the public can examine the evidence for themselves.

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

17-03-2026 om 22:02 geschreven door peter  

Humanity receives mysterious 'mega-laser' signal from unknown source in deep space

• READ MORE: NASA astronaut says humanity is 'living a lie' after spending 178 days in space 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Humanity has received a mysterious signal, described as a 'mega-laser' beam, from a violently merging galaxy more than 8 billion light-years away.

The signal, deemed the most distant hydroxyl megamaser ever detected, was intercepted by the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa, which features 64 antennas.

A hydroxyl megamaser is a giant natural laser in space. When galaxies full of gas collide, molecules called hydroxyl smash together and release very strong radio waves. 

These waves behave like a laser, but instead of visible light, they produce radio signals that astronomers can detect with telescopes.

Because these signals are extremely bright, they can be seen from very far across the universe. 

In this case, the object is so powerful that scientists said it may actually be a 'gigamaser,' which is even stronger than a megamaser. 

The system, called HATLAS J142935.3–002836, is so far away that we are seeing it as it looked more than 8 billion years ago, when the universe was less than half its current age. 

Dr Thato Manamela, SARAO-funded postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pretoria and lead author of the new study, said: 'This system is truly extraordinary. We are seeing the radio equivalent of a laser halfway across the universe.' 

Humanity has received a mysterious signal, described as a 'mega-laser' beam, from a violently merging galaxy more than 8 billion light-years away 

Manamela added that as the radio waves traveled toward Earth, they were also strengthened by a separate galaxy positioned directly along the line of sight. 

'This galaxy acts as a lens, the way a water droplet on a window pane would, because its mass curves the local space-time,' he said.

'So we have a radio laser passing through a cosmic telescope before being detected by the powerful MeerKAT radio telescope – all together enabling a wonderfully serendipitous discovery.' 

The radio signal contained four separate components, meaning it is coming from multiple regions within the galaxy system. 

At least two of these areas appear to be strongly magnified by gravitational lensing, which makes the signal more than ten times brighter than it would normally appear. 

In this case, a massive foreground galaxy sits between Earth and the distant system. 

Its gravity bends space-time and acts like a cosmic magnifying glass, boosting the brightness of the radio emission. 

This amplification allowed the signal to be detected by the MeerKAT radio telescope even though the source is over 8 billion light-years away. 

Pictured is the galaxy system where astronomers said is the source of the signal

The signal, deemed the most distant hydroxyl megamaser ever detected, was intercepted using the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa (PICTURED), which consists of 64 antennas

Read More

• Truth about NASA's 'missing' moon tapes revealed after 57 years 

Normally, signals from objects this far away are too weak for telescopes to detect. 

But the powerful radio signal coming from HATLAS J142935.3–002836 was boosted by a rare effect called gravitational lensing, a phenomenon predicted by Albert Einstein.

Gravitational lensing happens when a massive object, such as a galaxy, sits between Earth and a distant source. 

Its strong gravity bends space-time, which changes the path of the light or radio waves traveling through it. 

This makes the distant signal appear brighter and magnified, allowing telescopes like the MeerKAT radio telescope to detect it even from billions of light-years away.

From Earth, this effect can sometimes create a ring-shaped halo of light around the foreground object, called an Einstein ring, named after the famed physicist. 

The same effect also magnifies the distant source, in this case a radio or microwave signal, making it much easier for astronomers to study objects that would normally be too faint to detect. 

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

17-03-2026 om 21:48 geschreven door peter  

Story by Arezki Amiri

A thin, stubbornly bright line showed up in data from the MeerKAT radio telescope that did not fit the usual rules of distance. The feature sat in a familiar part of the radio spectrum, but it was coming from so far away that signals like it typically fade into the background. Instead of smearing out, it stayed sharp enough to measure. That was the first hint that something was amplifying it.

The source already had a survey name that sounded more like a serial number than a destination: HATLAS J142935.3–002836. Astronomers had seen it before as a distorted, stretched-looking galaxy system, the kind that suggests gravity has bent the view. A report from Live Science described it as a “mega-laser,” but the real curiosity was why the line stayed detectable at all.

When the team calculated the distance, the scale became clearer. The system sits at redshift z = 1.027, placing it more than 8 billion light-years away in light-travel time. That means the radio waves began their journey when the universe was much younger than it is now. The MeerKAT radio telescope was effectively catching a signal that left long before Earth existed.

The 18-Centimeter Fingerprint

The crucial clue was the wavelength: about 18 centimeters. That specific “color” of radio light is strongly associated with the hydroxyl molecule (OH), a simple pairing of oxygen and hydrogen that can exist in vast clouds of gas. Under the right conditions, hydroxyl can behave like an amplifier, strengthening radiation at a very specific frequency.

• Related video: James Webb Just Saw Something That Shouldn't Exist at Our Solar System's Boundary
  

That amplification works like a laser in principle, but at radio wavelengths. Astronomers call it a maser, short for microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation. When a maser is powerful enough to be seen in other galaxies, it becomes a hydroxyl megamaser. In this case, the team argues the signal is bright enough to push beyond that label into a proposed new tier: gigamaser.

A photo of two radio dishes pointed up at the night sky

© Daily Galaxy US

The paper, published in arXiv, describes the emission as coming from the two main hydroxyl lines near 1667 MHz and 1665 MHz, which are the standard signatures astronomers look for. What mattered most was not just the presence of those lines, but how strong they appeared at this distance. That is what set this detection apart from earlier hydroxyl surveys.

A Merger Powering the Natural Amplifier

The host system is described as a violently merging galaxy. That matters because the brightest hydroxyl megamasers are often found where galaxies collide and gas becomes dense and chaotic. Mergers can compress clouds, stir turbulence, and create thick, dusty regions where molecules pile up. Those are exactly the conditions that can “pump” hydroxyl into the right state to amplify radio emission.

“This system is truly extraordinary,” said Dr Thato Manamela of the University of Pretoria. “We are seeing the radio equivalent of a laser halfway across the universe.” The phrasing is dramatic, but the mechanism is straightforward: a merger creates dense, energized gas, and hydroxyl molecules amplify radio emission at the 18-centimeter wavelength.

Diagram showing how the megamaser was observed via gravitational lensing

© Daily Galaxy US

The researchers from the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory also point to signs of intense activity in the host. Earlier studies of the same system suggest a very high rate of star formation, consistent with a merger that is rapidly converting gas into new stars. That context helps explain why the hydroxyl signal could be so bright in the first place, even before any extra help from gravity along the line of sight.

The Foreground Galaxy Acting like a Lens

Distance alone still does not explain everything. The signal looks bright because it had help on the way to Earth. Between us and the merger sits an unrelated galaxy positioned almost perfectly along the same line of sight. Its gravity bends space-time and focuses the background emission, boosting what arrives at Earth.

This effect is called strong gravitational lensing. It does not create new light, but it redirects more of the existing light toward us, like a natural magnifying glass. That is why the same system looks distorted in images and unusually intense in radio data. In an explainer, Universe Today described the foreground galaxy as a kind of “cosmic telescope,” which matches how astronomers talk about lensing in practice.

Side by side images of the Einstein ring from the study taken by different telescopes

© Daily Galaxy US

Because lensing boosts the brightness, the team is careful about what “brightest” means. The paper emphasizes how luminous the signal appears to us, not what it would look like without the lens. The proposed gigamaser label is tied to this observed power, combining an extreme environment in the background galaxy with a fortunate alignment in the foreground.

What Meerkat Saw, and What Comes Next

The detection did not require a long campaign. The team reports confirming the signal with only a few hours of observing time, using dozens of dishes working together as the MeerKAT radio telescope array. That short integration is one reason the find is being treated as a proof of capability, not just a one-off curiosity. It shows that wide surveys could uncover more distant hydroxyl systems if the telescope looks in the right way.

The same dataset also contained an additional clue: a separate absorption feature from neutral hydrogen (H I), another common gas tracer. That matters because it suggests the system contains multiple layers of gas, not just the molecular material producing hydroxyl emission. Together, the features help build a more complete picture of what a gas-rich merger looked like at this point in cosmic history.

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{ The Daily Galaxy }

17-03-2026 om 20:44 geschreven door peter  

Story by Pranjal Nath

Artemis II: NASA now targets March 20 for SLS rocket rollout to launchpad

The rollout of the Artemis II SLS rocket from the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) to Launch Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida has been postponed, NASA announced. The 4-mile crawl of the rocket stack atop the Crawler-Transporter 2 will now take place on March 20, 2026, at the earliest, instead of March 19. "A rollout on March 20 would still preserve the possibility of launching at the beginning of the April launch window, though teams also are keeping a close eye on the weather in the coming days," the space agency added. A total of 7 launch windows are available in the month starting with April 1, with April 2 having been added to the previous list of launch opportunities.

NASA attributed the delay to an electrical harness for the flight termination system on the SLS core stage that needed replacement. While teams have addressed the situation, preparations to ready the rocket for the move are still underway. The Exploration Systems team will handle the rollout, which could potentially take up to 12 hours.

NASA's Artemis II sits in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 16, 2026, in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

(Image Source: Getty Images | Joe Raedle)

The SLS rocket stack reached the VAB on February 25, 2026, so that teams could look into the helium flow issue that had surfaced after the second wet dress rehearsal. This rollback came as a disappointment to many because of how successful the second wet dress rehearsal was deemed to be, given how the agency had managed to keep the hydrogen leak well within safety limits. Once the rocket reached the VAB, engineers traced the issue to a quick-disconnect seal through which helium flows from the ground to the rocket. 

The ICPS has two umbilicals. The lower, larger aft plate supplies liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen and has a helium quick disconnect and hazardous gas sensing.

(Image Source: NASA; Image Edited by Starlust Staff)

"Our combined engineering teams across our ground systems and SLS teams came up with a design fix," explained Exploration Ground Systems Program Manager Shawn Quinn during the press briefing held on Thursday. That design fix was implemented on a test article, and we have successfully tested it, and we have qualified it for use on Artemis II, and the modified QD is already on the upper stage." 

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman looks out as NASA's Artemis II is rolled from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on January 17, 2026.

(Cover Image Source: Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

With the Artemis program, the aim is to restore a “golden age of innovation and exploration" to reach the Moon and eventually Mars with human explorers. Beginning with the launch of this particular mission, NASA hopes to increase its launch cadence to allow itself and its partners to make steady incremental steps towards reaching its goals, as opposed to steep learning curves with fewer launches. Owing to the numerous delays since Artemis I took off in 2022, many of the aspects of the program were called into question. This led NASA to make sweeping changes to its plans, which assigned the objective of human lunar touchdown to Artemis IV, slated for 2028.

More on Starlust

• You can track Artemis II mission in real time, thanks to this new NASA platform
• All about Christina Koch, the first woman to fly around the Moon as part of Artemis II

{ Starlust }

17-03-2026 om 18:32 geschreven door peter  

Story by Amy Granger

The story of Moses is central to Jewish, Christian, and Islamic traditions.

He led the Israelites out of Egypt, received the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai, and guided a wandering nation toward the Promised Land.

Yet, one of the most enduring mysteries about Moses is the fate of his body. According to the Bible, Moses died at the age of 120 on Mount Nebo, but “no one knows his burial place” (Deuteronomy 34:6).

This unique detail has sparked centuries of speculation, debate, and legend. Unlike other key figures whose tombs became sites of veneration, Moses’ grave remained hidden.

Scholars, theologians, and historians have suggested a variety of reasons for this secrecy.

Here are five compelling explanations for why Moses’ body was never found, each reflecting religious, symbolic, and historical interpretations of his life and death.

1. God Himself Hid Moses’ Body

© Shutterstock© Shutterstock

The Bible explicitly states that God Himself buried Moses and that no one knew the location of his grave.

Many scholars suggest this was deliberate to prevent idolatry or inappropriate veneration.

In ancient times, the graves of great leaders often became pilgrimage sites or places for offerings, and hiding Moses’ burial may have prevented such practices.

• Related video: The Exodus of Moses || Strangers In A Strange Land

By keeping his body concealed, God emphasized that Moses’ authority and legacy came from divine guidance rather than physical remains.

This act may also symbolize that Moses’ mission was spiritual rather than tied to earthly power.

His leadership and teachings were meant to be followed through faith and law, not through worship of his mortal remains.

The hidden grave reinforces the idea that God’s plans transcend human control and that ultimate authority belongs to Him alone.

2. To Prevent Political Exploitation

© Shutterstock

Another possible reason Moses’ body was never found relates to political concerns. The Israelites were a nomadic people entering a complex, often hostile region.

A known burial site of such a revered leader could have become a rallying point for rebellion or power struggles.

Rival factions might have attempted to use Moses’ remains to legitimize claims to leadership or to influence the community.

By hiding the grave, God may have protected the Israelites from internal division and external threats.

The absence of a physical tomb prevented the misuse of Moses’ authority for personal gain or political manipulation.

This explanation frames the hidden burial as a strategic act that preserved social cohesion and prevented exploitation of Moses’ symbolic status.

3. To Maintain His Spiritual Legacy

© Shutterstock

Moses’ significance lies primarily in his spiritual achievements and leadership, not in his physical presence.

Hiding his body ensured that future generations would focus on his teachings and the law rather than becoming fixated on relics or physical remains.

This approach aligns with the broader biblical pattern of emphasizing faith, obedience, and divine covenant over material objects.

By removing the possibility of a shrine or tomb, God ensured that Moses’ influence would remain rooted in moral guidance, scripture, and leadership principles.

The hidden burial shifts attention from the tangible to the eternal, reinforcing the idea that spiritual legacy matters more than earthly remains.

It serves as a reminder that Moses’ authority and inspiration were intended to be transmitted through teaching, story, and obedience to God’s commands.

4. Symbolic Meaning of an Unmarked Grave

© Shutterstock

Some theologians interpret Moses’ unmarked grave as highly symbolic.

It may represent humility, the impermanence of life, or the separation between human achievement and divine destiny.

Unlike kings or heroes who sought lasting monuments, Moses’ hidden burial emphasizes that ultimate honor comes from God rather than public recognition.

It also highlights the mysterious nature of divine intervention: even the greatest leader’s end can be concealed, reminding humanity of the limits of human understanding.

This symbolism has inspired interpretations in literature, art, and religious thought, suggesting that the unknown burial place serves as a metaphor for faith, mystery, and the eternal nature of God’s plan.

By keeping his grave secret, the narrative conveys lessons about humility, trust, and the ephemeral nature of earthly life.

5. Possible Historical and Practical Reasons

© Shutterstock

From a historical perspective, some scholars suggest practical reasons for the absence of Moses’ tomb.

The Israelites were wandering in a desert environment, with limited capacity to perform elaborate burials.

Mount Nebo is steep and remote, which would have made marking or preserving a grave difficult.

Additionally, oral traditions and early record-keeping may have intentionally avoided specifying locations to protect sacred spaces from desecration.

Over time, any physical markers may have been lost due to natural erosion, human movement, or intentional concealment.

This practical explanation complements theological and symbolic interpretations, showing how environmental, cultural, and historical factors could have contributed to the enduring mystery of Moses’ unlocated burial.

It demonstrates that faith and historical circumstances often intersect to create lasting enigmas.

RELATED VIDEOS

{ Angely Numbers }

17-03-2026 om 18:17 geschreven door peter  

17-03-2026 om 00:00 geschreven door peter  

Key points

• Many people think intelligent extraterrestrial life likely exists but assume others are skeptical.
• Participants estimated a 67% likelihood of extraterrestrial intelligence but thought others would say 21%.
• This gap reflects pluralistic ignorance—misjudging others’ beliefs keeps people silent.

Source: AI-Generated

For decades, conversations about UFOs—now often referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP)—have occupied an unusual place in public life. Many people are curious about the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence, yet most people are cautious about discussing them with others because of stigma and fear of being judged.

New research suggests that this hesitation may reflect our psychology rather than skepticism.

Most Believe in Extraterrestrial Intelligence

A recent study by Avi Loeb at Harvard University, and colleagues, surveyed 6,060 participants recruited through the Prolific research platform, which is widely used in behavioral research [1]. The sample consisted largely of highly educated adults, many holding college or graduate degrees.

Instead of asking a simple yes-or-no question about extraterrestrial intelligence, participants were asked to estimate the probability that intelligent extraterrestrial life exists somewhere in the universe. Respondents provided numerical estimates between 0% and 100%.

When researchers averaged the responses, participants’ mean estimate was about 67%, suggesting that on average people believe intelligent extraterrestrial life is more likely than not to exist.

Another way of examining the results highlights how widespread this belief is. The researchers found that about 95% of participants gave probability estimates greater than 50%, meaning they believed it is more likely than not that intelligent extraterrestrial life exists somewhere in the universe [1].

In other words, nearly everyone in the sample leaned toward believing intelligent life beyond Earth probably exists, even if their degree of certainty varied.

The Cosmic Closet: A Massive Perception Gap

The most striking finding in the study was not simply what people believed—it was what they thoht others believed.

After reporting their own probability estimate, participants were asked to estimate the probability that people in their social circles believed intelligent extraterrestrial life exists.

The difference was dramatic. Participants’ average personal estimate was about 67%. Their estimated belief of others was about 21%.

This produced a 46-percentage-point gap between personal belief and perceived social belief [1].

In other words, many people believed intelligent extraterrestrial life was plausible but assumed others were far more skeptical.

The researchers referred to this phenomenon as the “cosmic closet.” People privately hold a belief but assume it is socially unpopular, leading them to underestimate how widely it is actually shared.

The Psychology of Pluralistic Ignorance

This pattern closely resembles a well-known concept in social psychology called pluralistic ignorance.

Pluralistic ignorance occurs when individuals privately hold a belief but mistakenly assume that most other people disagree. Because individuals want to avoid social embarrassment or reputational risk, they often remain silent about their views. That silence then reinforces the illusion that the belief is uncommon even when many people privately share it [2].

Classic research demonstrates this dynamic in areas such as college drinking norms. Students often believe their peers are more comfortable with heavy drinking than they themselves are, even though most students privately feel similar reservations. Because everyone assumes others approve of the behavior, few people challenge the perceived norm [3].

The same mechanism may help explain the “cosmic closet.” If individuals assume curiosity about extraterrestrial intelligence will be dismissed as irrational, they may keep their views to themselves even when many others privately share that curiosity.

When Perception Shapes Reality

Norm misperception can have real consequences. When people underestimate how widely a belief is shared, they may hesitate to discuss it publicly, explore it academically, or pursue it professionally.

Psychologists have observed similar dynamics in other domains. Research shows that many people underestimate how common experiences such as anxiety, depression, or loneliness actually are, which can make individuals reluctant to talk about their own struggles. Fear of being judged or stigmatized often leads people to stay silent even though many others are experiencing similar challenges [4].

Researchers have also found that people frequently overestimate how extreme the views of political opponents are, contributing to perceptions of deeper polarization than survey data actually shows [5]. When individuals believe their views differ sharply from the perceived majority, they may stay silent to avoid social conflict.

This creates a feedback loop.

When people remain silent because they believe their views are uncommon, that silence prevents others from realizing how widely the belief is actually shared. As a result, skepticism appears more widespread than it really is.

In effect, people remain quiet to conform to a social norm that may exist largely because everyone else is also remaining quiet.

Expert Opinion Barely Changed People’s Views

The researchers also tested whether revealing expert opinion would influence participants’ beliefs.

Some respondents were shown survey results indicating that many astrobiologists—scientists who study the origins and distribution of life in the universe—consider extraterrestrial life plausible.

Interestingly, this information had only a small effect on participants’ probability estimates [1]. Even after seeing expert opinions, participants’ beliefs changed very little.

This suggests that people’s beliefs about extraterrestrial intelligence may not depend strongly on expert authority. Instead, individuals may rely more on intuitive reasoning about the vastness of the universe or broader worldview assumptions when forming their judgments.

{  https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb }

16-03-2026 om 22:25 geschreven door peter  

Missing Air Force General Case Draws FBI and Online Conspiracy Theories

The disappearance of a retired Air Force general who once oversaw billions of dollars in military research has drawn federal investigators into the search and fueled a wave of online conspiracy theories about classified programs and unidentified flying objects.

Retired Maj. Gen. William “Neil” McCasland, a former commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory, has been missing since Feb. 27, when he disappeared from his home in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Local authorities are leading the investigation, but federal agencies, including the FBI, have joined the search as the case continues to attract national attention. 

While investigators have not identified a clear explanation for his disappearance, McCasland’s background overseeing some of the Air Force’s most advanced science and technology programs has made the case a magnet for speculation online.

Authorities say the investigation remains active and have urged anyone with information to contact law enforcement. 

A Career at the Center of Air Force Research

McCasland spent more than three decades in the Air Force and ultimately served as commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), one of the military’s most influential science and technology organizations.

AFRL manages research programs that shape the future of air and space power, including advanced propulsion systems, directed energy weapons, aerospace materials and satellite technologies.

At the time of his leadership, the laboratory oversaw roughly $2.2 billion in Air Force science and technology programs, along with additional externally funded research and development projects.

The role placed McCasland among the Air Force’s most senior science leaders, responsible for guiding long-term research investments and coordinating efforts across the Pentagon, universities and defense industry partners.

Programs developed through AFRL help transition experimental technologies into operational military capabilities used by service members around the world.

During McCasland’s tenure, AFRL played a central role in developing technologies that later became key components of modern U.S. military capability. The laboratory helped advance work on directed-energy weapons, advanced satellite systems, hypersonic research and next-generation sensors, while partnering with universities and defense contractors to transition experimental technologies into operational systems used by the Air Force and Space Force today.

Leaders of AFRL often interact with classified programs and emerging technologies years before they become publicly known, which helps explain why the disappearance of a former commander has drawn unusual attention online.

McCasland retired from the Air Force in 2013 after more than three decades of service. 

Federal Authorities Join the Search

Local authorities in Bernalillo County, New Mexico, are leading the investigation, but federal agencies have provided additional resources as the search expanded.

The FBI’s Albuquerque field office has joined the effort to assist with investigative support and search coordination. 

Federal agencies often provide specialized resources in missing-person cases, including forensic analysis, digital investigations and coordination across jurisdictions.

Authorities have conducted extensive search operations around Albuquerque, including neighborhood canvassing, drone flights and searches with trained K-9 teams.

Volunteers and neighbors have also assisted with the search effort, helping distribute information and examine areas near McCasland’s home where he might have traveled.

So far, investigators have not publicly identified evidence of foul play.

Timeline of the Day He Disappeared

Some of the clearest details about the day McCasland vanished have come from his wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson.

According to information she shared publicly, a repairman visited their home around mid-morning on Feb. 27. Wilkerson later left for a doctor’s appointment, and when she returned about an hour later, McCasland was gone (KRQE News, Albuquerque).

Investigators say his phone and glasses were left behind in the house, while several other items were missing, including his wallet, hiking boots and a .38-caliber revolver. 

The disappearance prompted authorities to issue a Silver Alert and launch a large search effort across the surrounding area.

Wife Pushes Back on Conspiracy Theories

As the case spread online, Wilkerson has repeatedly pushed back against speculation linking her husband’s disappearance to UFO secrets or classified military programs.

In a public Facebook post addressing the rumors, she wrote that her husband had no secret knowledge about extraterrestrial technology or materials.

“Neil does not have any special knowledge about the ET bodies and debris from the Roswell crash stored at Wright-Patt,” she wrote. (People Magazine; Newsweek)

She also said that while McCasland once had access to classified programs during his military career, he retired more than a decade ago and his knowledge would now be outdated.

“It seems quite unlikely that he was taken to extract very dated secrets from him,” she wrote.

Frustrated by the speculation, she later used humor to address the rumors circulating online.

“Though at this point with absolutely no sign of him, maybe the best hypothesis is that aliens beamed him up to the mothership,” she wrote, adding that no sightings had been reported over the nearby Sandia Mountains. 

Her comments highlight how quickly misinformation can spread online when high-profile individuals become the focus of missing-person cases.

Why Conspiracy Theories Are Spreading

Much of the speculation surrounding McCasland’s disappearance stems from his past role overseeing advanced Air Force research programs.

One of the most widely circulated theories online suggests his disappearance could somehow be tied to classified UFO or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) programs. The speculation has been amplified by McCasland’s brief involvement with a company connected to former Blink-182 musician Tom DeLonge that explored public discussion of UAPs. 

Other theories circulating on social media suggest that McCasland may have had knowledge of secret aerospace or weapons programs that made him a target.

There is currently no evidence supporting those claims, and investigators have not indicated that his former work is connected to his disappearance.

Experts say speculation around national security programs is common whenever high-profile military figures are involved in unexplained events.

The combination of McCasland’s rank, his leadership role in the Air Force’s primary research laboratory and the secrecy that often surrounds advanced defense technology has created a perfect environment for online rumors.

The Search Continues

For now, investigators say their focus remains on locating McCasland and determining what happened after he left his home in late February.

Authorities continue to ask the public to report any information that might assist the investigation.

The disappearance of a retired senior military leader is rare, and for many who once worked alongside him in the defense science community, the unanswered questions surrounding the case remain troubling.

Until authorities uncover new information, the search for McCasland continues, along with the hope that the mystery surrounding his disappearance will soon be resolved.

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{ https://www.military.com/daily-news }

16-03-2026 om 22:08 geschreven door peter  

In what sounds like a scene from a science fiction thriller, a humanoid robot has been arrested by police after terrifying an elderly woman in China. 

According to local authorities, the 70–year–old woman was startled by the robot when she suddenly noticed it standing behind her. 

A viral clip shows the woman yelling and waving her bag at the diminutive bot, which repeatedly raises its arms in the air.

Footage then shows two police officers escorting the Unitree G1 down the road, with one leading the robot by its shoulder. 

Police told reporters that the woman had stopped to check her phone when the robot halted behind her, waiting for her to clear the path.

The elderly pedestrian was then 'frightened' to discover that the robot was silently following her down the road.

Following the incident, the woman told police that she was feeling unwell and was taken to hospital for a check–up and treatment. 

After doctors confirmed there was no physical altercation between her and the robot, the unnamed woman said that she wouldn't be filing a complaint against the bot's operator.  

A bizarre video shows the moment a humanoid robot is arrested by police after terrifying an elderly woman in China

The altercation occurred at 21:00 local time outside a residential complex in Macau, China. 

In the video, according to a translation by the Macau Post, the woman can be seen yelling: 'You're making my heart race!

'You've got plenty to do, so what's the point of messing around with this? Are you freaking crazy?'  

While the robot was not officially arrested, police did remove it from the scene and returned it to its operator, a man in his 50s, who was reminded to exercise caution.

However, on social media, the short clip of a robot being escorted away by police has sparked a wave of memes, as commenters joke that this is the 'first robot arrest in history'.

On X, one commenter joked: 'Looks like the robot needs a lawyer or some basic rights.'

'We are rapidly approaching a new wacky timeline,' added another.

One asked: 'Did the robot have a mugshot? Did the robot go to court?'

A viral clip shows the woman yelling and waving her bag at a Unitree G1 robot, which repeatedly raises its arms in the air

Unitree G1: Key Specs

• Height: 4.3ft (132cm)
• Price: $16,000/£12,000 
• Weight: 35kg
• Arm span: 1.4ft 
• Speed: 2m/s (5mph) 
• Power supply: Lithium battery 
• Manual controller: Yes 

While one chimed in: 'This is exactly how the matrix started.'

However, others were far less sympathetic, blaming the elderly woman for overreacting to the robot's presence.

One commenter coldly wrote: 'Clearly the woman is the problem, not the robot.'

'Lock that woman up for impeding a robotic lifeform,' another added.

Authorities revealed that the robot belonged to a nearby education centre, which had been using the Unitree G1 robot as part of a promotion.

Towin Mak, a spokesperson for the education centre, told local broadcaster Teledifusão de Macau (TDM) that the robot was leaving the area when it encountered the elderly woman.

Mr Mak added that it was being guided by a mix of autonomous programming and remote supervision at the time. 

The robot's operator has apologised for causing distress. 

Following the incident, the 70–year–old woman told police that she was feeling unwell and was taken to hospital for a check–up and treatment. She later decided to bring a complaint against the robot's operator 

While this may be the first time that the police have had to bring a robot into custody, police forces are already making robots part of their approach to fighting crime. 

Professor Ivan Sun, from the University of Delaware, previously predicted that robotic police officers would be patrolling our streets in just five years.

Read More

•  Real-life Robocop! Robot police officers will patrol the streets by 2031, expert predicts 

These real–life robocops will be able to detect, pursue and apprehend suspects – likely working alongside human supervisors.

Meanwhile, countries like China and Singapore have begun trialling robotic police robots, with varying degrees of success.

For example, the Xavier robot in Singapore patrols public spaces to detect 'undesirable social behaviours' such as smoking before relaying the information to human officers.

While in China, AI–powered robots such as the AnBot have been integrated into security systems to conduct surveillance, verify identities and patrol transport hubs. In the UAE, robots have been used in more service–oriented roles such as greeting tourists or providing multilingual assistance during large events.

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

16-03-2026 om 21:38 geschreven door peter  

Trump’s UFO release could include videos, photos of non-human craft proving we aren’t alone: source

The federal government holds shocking evidence of UFOs which proves we are not alone — including satellite imagery of out-of-this world craft that look like nothing “we have built,” an expert with knowledge of the documents told The Post.

The government’s trove of UFO docs is massive and includes stunning photos and videos, according to Christopher Mellon, the former deputy assistant secretary of defense intelligence during the Clinton and Bush administrations.

Publicly disclosing the information would take UFO discourse “to another level,” he added.

Under President Trump’s order two weeks ago, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth will direct the release of “files related to” aliens, UFOs, and “all other information connected to” the “highly complex” subject matter, the president wrote on Truth Social.

While the announcement spurred federal agencies, including the White House and the Pentagon, to scramble, there has been no official word on what will be released and when.

The most compelling piece of data, Mellon claimed, are clear satellite photos of craft in space above the Earth that are obviously not manmade.

“We have satellite imagery of craft that sure don’t look like anything that we have built or constructed,” Mellon said.

Those same convincing images of craft engaging in “actions that are difficult to explain” were referenced by ex-director of national intelligence and current CIA director John Ratcliffe in a 2021 Fox News interview.

In 2017, Mellon played a key role in the release of three now famous US military radar images of Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon, or UAPs, referred to as the “Tic Tac,” “GOFAST,” and “Gimbal” — and he said there are more just like those on government hard drives.

Chris Mellon, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Intelligence, told The Post the government has many videos and photos of UFOs which have yet to be released to the public.

News Nation

The government now prefers the term “UAP,” or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, to “UFO.”

“There’s a significant number of videos from the same sources that were judged unclassified in 2018 — gun cameras on F18s, [Forward Looking Infrared Radar] videos — that have been withheld from the public,” he said. 

“I know there are because I’ve seen some of them,” said Mellon, adding, “And there’s no rational reason that I can think of why those videos are being withheld.”

Though some provocative images should be included in the release, Mellon said he has no expectation for files that confirm the existence of, or contact with, alien civilizations.

The Department of War, the Department of National Intelligence, the National Security Agency, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Energy, and the National Nuclear Security Administration all have UFO files that would be relevant to the Trump-ordered release, Mellon said.

Releasing classified and sensitive materials is an “unnatural act” for intelligence agencies, he said.

“I have a feeling bureaucracy is going to react slowly and I don’t think they’re gonna put the best stuff out quickly, if they do at all,” he said. “Congressional vigilance is needed to ensure a thorough and effective process.”

Sen. Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), senior member of the Senate Armed Service Committee, who introduced the UAP Disclosure Act with Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2023, is hoping for a broad release that ensures US military secrets are preserved.

Rounds hopes for “as much disclosure as we can get with regard to just being honest to the American people about what we see that we either don’t know about or that we’re learning about.

“And I just want to make sure that whatever we put out, we do not impact our own national security capabilities.”

• Additional reporting by Geoff Earle

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{ https://nypost.com/us-news/ }

16-03-2026 om 21:06 geschreven door peter  

Story by ²

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

A Fast-Moving Mystery in Space: NASA Tracks Object Traveling at 1 Million Miles Per Hour
Astronomers working with NASA data have identified an unusual object speeding through space at roughly 1 million miles per hour, a velocity so extreme that it could eventually escape the Milky Way entirely. The object, labeled CWISE J124909.08+362116.0, was spotted through a citizen-science project that analyzes telescope data for moving objects. Scientists say the discovery is remarkable not only because of its incredible speed but also because the object’s nature is still being studied, raising questions about how it was launched across the galaxy so quickly.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

A Discovery Made by Citizen Scientists
The object was first detected by volunteers participating in NASA’s Backyard Worlds: Planet 9 citizen-science program. Participants examine images from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer telescope, searching for objects that move across the sky over time. Careful analysis of the data revealed the mysterious object traveling unusually fast compared with typical stars or planets.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

Meet CWISE J1249
Scientists identified the object as CWISE J124909.08+362116.0, often shortened to CWISE J1249. It appears to be a very small and faint celestial body that does not fit neatly into common categories. Researchers say it may be a low-mass star or a brown dwarf, a type of object that sits somewhere between a planet and a star.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

Traveling at a Mind-Bending Speed
The object’s speed is estimated at around 1 million miles per hour, far faster than most stars orbiting within the Milky Way. At this velocity, scientists believe it is traveling fast enough to escape the gravitational pull of the galaxy. Hypervelocity objects like this are extremely rare and often require powerful cosmic events to reach such speeds.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

A Possible Runaway Star
One explanation is that CWISE J1249 could be a runaway star, meaning it was violently ejected from its original location. This can happen when stars interact gravitationally with other massive objects or when a companion star explodes in a supernova. These events can fling a star across the galaxy at extraordinary speeds.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

Another Theory Involves Black Holes
Another possible explanation is that the object had a close encounter with a black hole system. If two black holes are orbiting each other, their powerful gravity can act like a slingshot. A nearby star that passes too close may be accelerated dramatically and thrown outward at extreme velocity.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

Why Scientists Are Studying Its Chemistry
Researchers are now examining the object’s chemical composition to determine where it originated. By studying the light emitted from the object, astronomers can identify elements in its atmosphere. These clues may reveal whether the object was launched by a supernova explosion or originated from a dense star cluster.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

What Makes the Object So Unusual
Hypervelocity objects are extremely rare because most stars remain gravitationally bound to the Milky Way. For an object to break free, it must reach extraordinary speeds that overcome the galaxy’s gravitational pull. Scientists say CWISE J1249 appears to be traveling fast enough to eventually leave the Milky Way and wander into intergalactic space.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

A Reminder of How Dynamic the Galaxy Is
Discoveries like this highlight how dynamic and sometimes violent our galaxy can be. Stars, planets, and other objects are constantly moving and interacting through gravity. Occasionally, those interactions produce dramatic events capable of launching objects across vast cosmic distances.

©Source: Commons Wikimedia

Powerful Forces Reshaping The Milky Way
The mysterious object racing through space at nearly 1 million miles per hour is giving astronomers a rare glimpse into the powerful forces shaping the Milky Way. While scientists are still determining exactly what CWISE J1249 is and how it gained such incredible speed, the discovery demonstrates how much remains unknown about our galaxy. Continued observations may eventually reveal the cosmic event that launched this stellar traveler on its extraordinary journey.

{ Blusher Me }

16-03-2026 om 20:30 geschreven door peter  

The government is very serious about UFOs. So why are researchers being stymied?

A photo of a UFO taken in 1957 near Holloman Air Development Center, Alamagordo, New Mexico. 

(Image credit: Bettmann/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon and other federal agencies to begin releasing government files related to UFOs and unidentified anomalous phenomena — called UAP — in February 2026, following years of pressure from Congress, military whistleblowers and the public.

Congress formally mandated UAP investigations through the National Defense Authorization Act in December 2022. The Pentagon's official UAP investigative body, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, AARO, now carries a caseload exceeding 2,000 reports dating back to 1945. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed this figure earlier this year.

The cases were submitted by military personnel, pilots and government employees describing aerial objects that could not be explained as known aircraft, drones or weather phenomena. Governments in Japan, France, Brazil and Canada also have their own formal UAP investigation programs.

Yet modern research universities remain almost entirely absent from this conversation. No major university has established a dedicated UAP research center. No federal science agency offers competitive grants for UAP inquiry. No doctoral programs train researchers in UAP methodology. The gap between what governments openly acknowledge and what universities are willing to study is, at this point, difficult to explain on purely intellectual grounds.

I have navigated this gap while conducting my own UAP research. My work developing the temporal aerospace correlation tool, a standardized framework for correlating civilian UAP sighting reports with documented rocket launch activity from Cape Canaveral, is currently under peer review at Limina: The Journal of UAP Studies.

Designing that framework meant making methodological decisions without community standards, without institutional funding and without the professional infrastructure many researchers in established fields take for granted. What is missing is not interest or data — it is the shared scaffolding that turns isolated curiosity into cumulative science.

Stigma is measurable

The most rigorous evidence for the gap between faculty interest in UAP and faculty willingness to study it comes from peer-reviewed studies by Marissa Yingling, Charlton Yingling and Bethany Bell, published in the scholarly journal Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.

Across 14 disciplines at 144 major U.S. research universities, 1,460 faculty responded to their 2023 national survey. Most surveyed believed UAP research was important. Curiosity outweighed skepticism in every discipline that was part of the study. Nearly one-fifth had personally observed something aerial they could not identify. Yet fewer than 1% had ever conducted UAP-related research.

The gap was not explained by intellectual dismissal, but it was in part explained by fear. Researchers were not primarily deterred by intellectual skepticism because they doubted the topic's merits. Instead, they feared they might lose funding, face ridicule from colleagues or find their careers quietly derailed. Faculty reported being told to "be careful."

A 2024 follow-up study found that roughly 28% said they might vote against a colleague's tenure case for conducting UAP research, even when they personally believed the topic warranted study.

Historian and philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn argued that scientific communities suppress anomalous questions not because those questions are unanswerable, but because they fall outside the boundaries the community has collectively decided are worth investigating.

Sociologist Thomas Gieryn called this suppression "boundary work," referring to the active process by which scientists police what counts as legitimate science.

For UAP researchers, the data and tools to study the phenomenon exist. What may not exist is social permission to use them without professional consequence.

Creating an academic discipline

Academic disciplines do not emerge spontaneously. They require dedicated journals, agreed-upon methods, graduate programs and professional societies.

The history of cognitive neuroscience demonstrates how disciplines emerge. Before the 1980s, researchers at the intersection of neuroscience and cognitive psychology faced resistance from both parent disciplines.

These fields achieved mainstream acceptance only after targeted funding from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, new brain-imaging tools and the gradual formation of academic programs that created career pathways for researchers. Researchers at the nexus of these fields did not wait for central questions to be resolved. They built infrastructure, and the infrastructure made progress possible.

UAP studies as a discipline is developing some of these elements, but largely outside universities. The Society for UAP Studies, a nonprofit of scholars and researchers, operates Limina as a double-blind, peer-reviewed journal and has convened international symposia drawing researchers from physics, philosophy of science and the social sciences. But a nonprofit scholarly society without tenured faculty does not constitute a discipline.

To turn UAP studies into a recognized academic field would require three things.

First, funding. The Yingling studies found that competitive research grants would do more to unlock faculty participation than any other single factor. Without grants, researchers cannot hire students to assist them, maintain instruments or sustain the multiyear projects that produce meaningful results.

Second, shared methodological standards — these would entail agreed-upon procedures for collecting, recording and evaluating UAP reports — would mean findings from one research group can be compared and built upon by others.

Third, institutions could publicly affirm that they will evaluate appropriately rigorous UAP scholarship on its scientific merits during tenure reviews. Several universities have already done this for gun violence research and psychedelic-assisted therapy studies.

These are not isolated examples. Research into near-death experiences and adverse childhood experiences followed similar trajectories, moving from being a professional liability to mainstream legitimacy after the removal of institutional barriers.

The international comparison

This gap in UAP scholarship is unique to the United States. France's GEIPAN, a dedicated investigation unit within its national space agency, has operated since 1977. It has publicly archived approximately 5,300 French UAP cases, of which about 2% to 3% remain unexplained after rigorous analysis.

In 2020, Japan formalized UAP reporting protocols for its Self-Defense Forces, the branch of the Japanese military responsible for national defense. By June 2024, more than 80 lawmakers had formed a parliamentary UAP investigation group that by May 2025 had formally proposed a dedicated UAP research office to the defense minister. Canada launched its own multiagency UAP investigation survey in 2023.

None of these actions has produced a corresponding response from American research universities. Universities provide independent, peer-reviewed analyses that government programs structurally cannot.

The University of Würzburg in Germany became the first Western university to officially recognize UAP as a legitimate object of academic research in 2022, when it formally added UAP investigation to its research canon. Researchers at  15-03-2026 om 23:58 geschreven door peter