Space babies could be off the cards! Human sperm may get LOST in zero gravity, study claims

• READ MORE: Sexual abstinence is BAD for men, study reveals 

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

Having babies in space might be more difficult than first thought – as researchers have discovered sperm can get lost in zero gravity.

The idea of reproduction beyond the bounds of Earth has become a hot topic, with some saying it must become a 'top priority' to preserve the future of mankind.

However, a new study has identified a major hurdle that people will face while trying to conceive in space.

Sperm are negatively impacted by a lack of gravity, which plays havoc with their directional skills, according to researchers from Adelaide University.

Microgravity is disorienting, even for sperm cells. 

Credit: nopparit via Getty Images

'This is the first time we have been able to show that gravity is an important factor in sperm's ability to navigate through a channel like the reproductive tract,' senior author Dr Nicole McPherson said.

'We observed a significant reduction in the number of sperm that were able to successfully find their way through the chamber maze in microgravity conditions compared to normal gravity.

'This was experienced right across all models, despite no changes to the way sperm physically move. 

'This indicates that their loss of direction was not due to a change in motility but other elements.'

Researchers have found the navigational abilities of sperm are negatively impacted by a lack of gravity

Sperm in microgravity 'got lost' significantly more often than usual – and it could have important implications for future human reproduction on other planets 

For their study the researchers took sperm samples from humans, mice and pigs and put them through a machine that simulates zero gravity.

The sperm then travelled through a maze designed to mimic the female reproductive tract – and 'got lost' significantly more often than usual.

Using simulation models, they observed up to a 30 per cent reduction in the number of eggs that were successfully fertilised by the sperm.

Overall, fertilisation rates were reduced during four–to–six hours of exposure to microgravity.

Prolonged exposure appeared to be even more detrimental, resulting in development delays.

In some cases, it reduced the number of crucial cells that go on to form the foetus in the earliest stages of embryo formation.

'These insights show how complex reproductive success in space is and the critical need for more research across all early stages of development,' Dr McPherson said.

In good news, however, the team found that the addition of the sex hormone progesterone helped more human sperm overcome the negative effects of microgravity on navigation.

Exposure to zero gravity also appeared to modify the number of foetal cells within the embryo. The left image shows the cells in normal gravity, compared to in microgravity (right)

'We believe this is because progesterone is also released from the egg and can help guide sperm to the site of fertilisation, but this warrants further exploration as a potential solution,' Dr McPherson said.

The study, published in the journal Communications Biology, is the first to assess sperm's ability to navigate through a reproductive channel under these controlled conditions.

'As we progress toward becoming a spacefaring or multi–planetary species, understanding how microgravity affects the earliest stages of reproduction is critical,' co–author Professor John Culton said.

The researchers now want to investigate how varying gravitational environments and proposed artificial gravity systems impact sperm navigation and early embryo development.

A key question is whether gravity–related changes in development occur gradually as gravitational force decreases.

Or, it could be that there is a very low threshold, resulting in an 'all or nothing' response.

Understanding this distinction is essential for planning future human reproduction in extraterrestrial environments, including moon and Mars settlements, and for designing artificial gravity systems that support healthy development.

'In our most recent study, many healthy embryos were still able to form even when fertilised under these conditions,' Dr McPherson said. 'This gives us hope that reproducing in space may one day be possible.'

Reproduction in space is not as easy as in Hollywood movies such as 1979 Bond film Moonraker make out 

The study reads: 'Space exploration continues to inspire scientific advancement, with a renewed focus on long–term missions and planetary settlements.

'NASA's ARTEMIS program aims to return humans to the Moon by 2029, while SpaceX anticipates its first crewed Mars missions by 2030.

'As humanity moves toward permanent off–Earth habitation, understanding how extraterrestrial conditions affect reproduction is essential for crew health and the sustainability of life beyond Earth.'

Last year, researchers from Kyoto University showed that mouse egg and sperm cells could survive in space and go on to produce healthy offspring.

Meanwhile, Dutch Biotech startup Spaceborn United have launched the first miniature lab for in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and embryo processes into orbit.

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

26-03-2026 om 21:47 geschreven door peter  

Would you trust a robot around your family?

With humanoids now able to complete mundane chores such as folding the laundry, loading the dishwasher, and even boiling the kettle, you might be tempted to bring one into your home. 

However, a recent spate of incidents could sway your decision. 

This week, a humanoid hit the headlines after slapping a child across the face during an out-of-control dance show in China. 

Over in California, a bot went berserk at a restaurant, with desperate staff filmed trying to drag it away from customers. 

Meanwhile, a humanoid was even detained by police in China after terrifying an elderly woman. 

'With sales of humanoid robots set to skyrocket over the next decade, the public will increasingly be at risk from these kinds of incidents,' said Carl Strathearn and Emilia Sobolewska, robotics experts at Edinburgh Napier University, in a recent article for The Conversation. 

'In our view as robotics researchers, governments have put very little thought into the risks.' 

 

What should have been a family-friendly dance performance ended in disaster, after a young boy was slapped across the face by a roguerobot

Tesla robot leaves a 'trail of blood' after attacking an engineer in Texas

A Tesla engineer was attacked by a robot during a brutal and bloody malfunction at the company's Giga Texas factory near Austin.

Two witnesses watched in horror as their fellow employee was attacked by the machine, which is designed to grab and move freshly cast aluminum car parts. 

The robot had pinned the man, who was programming software for two disabled Tesla robots nearby. 

It then sank its metal claws into the worker's back and arm, leaving a 'trail of blood' along the factory surface.

The incident – which left the victim with an 'open wound' on his left hand – was revealed in a 2021 injury report filed to Travis County and federal regulators.

Robot goes berserk at a restaurant in California 

Customers at the Haidilao hotpot restaurant in San Jose, California, were enjoying their meals when a humanoid started showing off some moves.

Some of the robot's moves include putting its hands on its hips and stamping its legs and waving its arms in the air. A total of three employees were forced to intervene, grabbing the robot by the scruff of its neck

While performing a dance routine, involving waving its arms and shaking its hips, the robot suddenly slammed its hands down on a table.

This sent chopsticks and bright yellow sauce flying into the air, while staff raced over to try and turn it off.

The humanoid continued to dance throughout the altercation – which saw three employees wrestle with the robot and try to drag it away by the scruff of its neck.

Humanoid slaps a boy across the face in China

Dancing Robot Slaps a Kid: Shocking Bot Mishap in China | What Went Wrong?

What should have been a family-friendly dance performance ended in disaster, after a young boy was slapped across the face by a rogue robot.

Shocking footage from a show in Shaanxi province in China on March 21 showed a Unitree robot spinning around the stage. 

It veered towards the crowd as it performed sweeping arm movements in time to the music. 

As the bot got closer, a young boy could be seen drawing his arms in, in the hopes of avoiding its flailing metal limbs. 

What should have been a lovely family event turned sour, after a humanoid robot appeared to attack the crowd at the Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, northeast China, last year 

Unfortunately, his attempts proved futile, as the robot caught the boy fully in the face during a pirouette.

Robot attacks the crowd at the Spring Festival Gala in China

What should have been a lovely family event turned sour, after a humanoid robot appeared to attack the crowd at the Spring Festival Gala in Tianjin, northeast China, last year.

Footage showed the robot, adorned with a bright jacket, appearing to lunge at a group of people behind a barricade.

Its erratic movements forced the festival's security to drag it back from the crowd, over fears it may harm someone. 

The event organisers reportedly described the incident as a 'simple robot failure'.

They added that the robot had passed previous safety tests, and that additional measures would be put in place to make sure this wouldn't happen again. 

Robot attacks its handler during testing 

The robot – seemingly of its own accord – raised its arms in the air and brought them down again, repeating the motion with increasing speed and violence

How can we make robots safer?

1. Increase owner requirements

Ban people from controlling robots under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when they are otherwise distracted such as using their phones. 

2. Improve design

Safe designs would consider everything from reducing cavities where fingers could get caught, to waterproofing internal components.

3. Train operators 

There appears to be a major skills gap in operator training, and robotics companies will need to prioritise this to ensure operators can control machines efficiently and safely.

4. Educate the public

If people understand to what extent walking robots are owner-operated or remote-operated, it will change their expectations about what the robot might do, and make everyone safer as a result. 

In May 2025, a humanoid robot attacked its handler while trying to break free from restraints in a scene viewers branded 'dystopian'.

In CCTV footage from a factory in China, the black robot could be seen attached to a miniature crane before it suddenly began swinging its arms back and forth.

As it flew into a rage and lashed out, a man sitting behind a nearby computer began ducking while another man standing behind the robot backed away.

The robot – seemingly of its own accord – raised its arms in the air and brought them down again, repeating the motion with increasing speed and violence.

It then began walking forward as it thrashed around in an apparent bid to break free.

The men could both be seen flinching and cowering while raising their arms to shield their face as they moved out of its path.

The computer monitor toppled tp the floor and other items were knocked over from the desk as the men attempted to flee from the out-of-control robot.

Eventually, one of the men pulled the crane from behind in a bid to stop the spree of destruction.

Robot detained by police after terrifying an elderly woman in China 

In what sounds like a scene from a science-fiction thriller, a humanoid robot was 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.

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

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.

What can we do to make robots safer?

Dr Strathearn and Dr Sobolewska have pinpointed four urgent step to make robots safer.

Firstly, they say we should increase owner requirements.

Here in the UK, there are currently no government guidelines for robots controlled by owners – meaning you could take one just about anywhere.

'As a starting point, we could ban people from controlling robots under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or when they are otherwise distracted such as using their phones,' the researchers suggest.

'Their use could also be restricted in risky environments such as confined spaces with lots of members of the public, places with fire or chemical hazards, and the roofs of buildings.'

Read More

• Robot dance show ends in DISASTER: Watch the moment a young boy is slapped by a humanoid 

And the actual design of the humanoids themselves could also be approved, according to the pair.

'Robots that looks sleek and can dance and flip are fun to watch, but how safe are the audiences?' they asked.

'Safe designs would consider everything from reducing cavities where fingers could get caught, to waterproofing internal components.'

Next, operators of remote-controlled robots could have better training.

The researchers explained: 'Clearly there will be dangers with robots using AI features, but remote–operated models could be even more dangerous.

'Mistakes could result from users’ lack of real-world training and experience in real-life situations.'

Finally, the researchers say that educating the public is crucial.

They concluded: 'If people understand to what extent walking robots are owner-operated or remote-operated, it will change their expectations about what the robot might do, and make everyone safer as a result.'

Videoresultaten

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

26-03-2026 om 21:09 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious Deep Space X-Rays Have Puzzled Astronomers for Half a Century

According to a statement announcing the discovery, y Cassiopeia, which was first discovered in 1866, is classified as a Be-type star. Described as “fast-rotating massive stars that regularly eject matter,” Be stars have a disc around them formed by this ejecta, which astronomers can spot at interstellar distances due to characteristic emissions in their optical spectrum.

In 1976, observations of these emissions yielded contradictory results, leading to a mystery that persisted until the University of Liège-led discovery. Specifically, y Can seemed to emit X-rays with a luminosity approximately 40 times greater than that of comparable massive stars, with plasma heated to over 100 million degrees and unusually rapid variability.

Since then, twenty additional objects with similar, mysteriously confounding data have been observed, resulting in the formation of an entirely new subclass of stars called ‘y Cas analogues.’ Over half of these unusual objects were spotted by astronomers at the University of Liège.

According to Yaël Nazé, an astronomer at ULiège, astronomers have proposed several possible explanations for the mysterious X-ray emissions.

“One of them involved local magnetic reconnection between the surface of the Be star and its disc,” the researcher explained. “Others suggested X-rays to be linked to a companion, whether a star stripped of its outer layers, a neutron star, or an accreting white dwarf.”

Although ULiège had already ruled out the first two types of companions due to contradictions between observations and theoretical predictions, their data left open the possibility of white dwarf stars and magnetic interactions. However, they cautioned, “no observation allowed to choose between them.”

Solving Mystery ‘Opens Up New Avenues of Research for the Years to Come’

To solve the longstanding mystery, the researchers conducted a new observation campaign focused on y Cas using the microcalorimeter Resolve instrument. Launched aboard the Japanese XRISM space telescope, Resolve is noted for providing spectra with “unrivaled precision.”

Because the target system has a full orbital period of 203 Earth days, the team conducted observations in December 2024, February, and June 2025. Nazé said those observations revealed that the signatures of the high-temperature plasma change velocity between the three observations, following the orbital motion of the white dwarf rather than that of the Be star,” the researcher continues.

“This shift was measured with high statistical reliability,” the scientists explained. “It is, in fact, the first direct evidence that the ultra-hot plasma responsible for the X-rays is associated with the compact companion, and not with the Be star itself.”

A further analysis of the Resolve data revealed that the spectral signatures were of moderate width, on the order of 200 km/s. The team said this measurement “effectively rules out the case of a non-magnetic white dwarf.” That’s because a white dwarf accretion occurs rapidly in the inner regions of that category of star’s disc, which produces very broad signatures.

Instead, the team determined that the best explanation for the mysterious X-rays is y Cas is magnetic, where “the disc is then truncated, and the magnetic field channels the accreting material towards its poles.” If confirmed by future observations, this would mean that y Cas and the twenty other stellar objects in its analogue subclass are Be + white dwarf binary systems where the objects share an orbit. The researchers said these objects have been predicted for a long time but were “never clearly identified” before now.

When discussing the implications of their findings, Nazé said that astronomers and astrophysicists will likely have to revise binary stellar evolution models, “particularly regarding the efficiency of mass transfer between components,” which would make it consistent with several other recent independent studies.

Understanding the evolution of binary systems is crucial for comprehending, for example, gravitational waves, as it is indeed massive binaries that emit them at the end of their lives,” the researcher explained. “Solving this mystery, therefore, opens up new avenues of research for the years to come!”

The study “Orbital motion detected in γ Cas Fe K emission lines” was published in Astronomy and Astrophysics.

• Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

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

26-03-2026 om 18:16 geschreven door peter  

Triangle UFO Formation Spooted During Thunderstorm Over Doha – March 25, 2026

On the evening of March 25, 2026, at approximately 7:00 PM, a striking and unusual aerial phenomenon was reportedly observed over Doha, Qatar. Witnesses described seeing three glowing orbs appearing in the sky during an active thunderstorm, raising questions and sparking interest among both locals and online observers.

What Was Seen?

According to available footage and eyewitness descriptions, the objects appeared as bright, spherical lights, hovering or moving slowly against the backdrop of storm clouds. The timing of the sighting is particularly noteworthy, as it occurred during a thunderstorm with lightning activity, which adds complexity to interpreting the event.

The three orbs were seen:

• Maintaining a loose formation
• Emitting steady light (not flickering like lightning)
• Moving in a controlled manner rather than randomly

This behavior led some observers to rule out simple explanations such as lightning flashes or reflections.

Possible Explanations

While the sighting is intriguing, there are several plausible explanations that should be considered before jumping to conclusions:

1. Ball Lightning (Rare Atmospheric Phenomenon)
Ball lightning is a poorly understood but documented phenomenon where glowing spheres appear during thunderstorms. However, it is typically:

• Short-lived (seconds, not extended duration)
• Unpredictable in movement
  Seeing three at once would be extremely rare, but not impossible.

2. Electrical Discharge Effects
Strong storms can produce unusual electrical effects in the atmosphere, including plasma-like glows or ionized air pockets. These could potentially appear as floating orbs under the right conditions.

3. Drones or Artificial Objects
Another possibility is that the lights were drones equipped with LEDs, though flying drones during a thunderstorm would be risky and unlikely unless professionally operated.

4. Reflection or Camera Artifact
Sometimes, bright lights interacting with rain, lenses, or lightning can create visual illusions, especially in video recordings.

Why This Case Stands Out

What makes this sighting particularly interesting is the combination of three separate orbs and storm conditions. Most natural explanations struggle to fully account for:

• Multiple synchronized objects
• Sustained visibility
• Controlled movement

These factors are why the footage has gained attention and is being discussed in UFO communities.

UFO or Misidentified Phenomenon?

At this stage, there is no evidence to confirm extraterrestrial involvement, and the term UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) simply means the objects have not yet been identified.

Events like this highlight how:

• Natural atmospheric phenomena can still surprise us
• Advanced technology (like drones) can mimic unusual sightings
• Context (like storms) can make normal objects appear extraordinary

The March 25, 2026 sighting over Doha remains unexplained but not necessarily unexplainable. Whether it was a rare natural occurrence, human-made objects, or something else entirely, it serves as a reminder that the sky still holds mysteries that challenge both science and perception.

If additional footage or expert analysis emerges, this case may eventually move from “unidentified” to understood. Until then, it remains an intriguing example of a modern UFO sighting.

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

26-03-2026 om 18:00 geschreven door peter  

Story by Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

The sun rises over Kennedy Space Center and NASA’s Space Launch System vehicle Artemis II March 24, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

© Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY

NASA continues to work toward an April launch for its critical Artemis 2 lunar mission to send four astronauts around the moon.

The impending liftoff, which could take place as early as April 1, would come after the U.S. space agency recently reached two critical milestones: rolling the towering Space Launch System rocket designed for NASA's moon missions back out to the Florida launch pad; and sending the crew of four Artemis 2 astronauts back into isolation to avoid contracting any illnesses before the mission.

Now, all signs seems to suggest that in a matter of days, three Americans and one Canadian could embark on the United States' first human moon mission in more than 50 years. The second under NASA's multibillion-dollar Artemis program, Artemis 2 will set the stage for a future moon landing by sending the crew on a 10-day trip around the moon.

Here's everything to know about the potential Artemis 2 launch dates and times.

When is the Artemis 2 rocket launch date?

NASA's Artemis 2 moon mission could get off the ground sometime in April from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The long-awaited mission was originally slated for February before a series of delays prompted by hydrogen fuel leaks and, more recently, helium flow issues on NASA's towering 322-foot Space Launch System rocket. Now, the rocket, topped with the Orion crew capsule where the astronauts will ride, is vertical once again on Launch Pad 39B after repairs were made inside NASA's Vehicle Assembly Building.

©Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY
The Space Launch System rocket Artemis II begins its journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39B March 19, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY
The Space Launch System rocket Artemis II begins its journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39B March 20, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY
The Space Launch System rocket Artemis II begins its journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39B March 20, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY
The Space Launch System rocket Artemis II begins its journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Pad 39B March 20, 2026. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

When are the Artemis 2 launch windows? What NASA says

NASA is maintaining a calendar with possible upcoming Artemis 2 launch windows. The times were selected based on the shifting positions of the moon and Earth, which dictates when the Space Launch System rocket, topped with the Orion capsule, can safely lift off and still complete complex mission objectives.

Below is a look at possible dates and times when the Artemis 2 mission could launch. Note that the time marks the beginning of a two-hour launch window.

• Wednesday, April 1: 6:24 p.m. ET
• Thursday, April 2: 7:22 p.m. ET
• Friday, April 3: 8 p.m. ET
• Saturday, April 4: 8:53 p.m. ET
• Sunday, April 5: 9:40 p.m. ET
• Monday, April 6: 10:36 p.m. ET
• Thursday, April 30: 6:06 p.m. ET

Who is the crew of Artemis 2? Astronauts enter quarantine

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
The crew of Artemis II (from left) Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman leave crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch talks with spectators as the crew leaves crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY

The astronauts of Artemis II (from left) Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch leave crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©NASA/Kim Shiflett
Artemis 2 crew members, shown Aug. 8, 2023 inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, walk toward their Orion crew module.

The crew of Artemis 2 – NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, and the Canadian Space Agency's Jeremy Hansen – entered quarantine March 18, at the Johnson Space Center in Houston.

All NASA astronauts are required to go through a quarantine period ahead of a crewed spaceflight in order to avoid exposure to any illnesses that, if contracted, would jeopardize the mission. Astronauts typically quarantine for at least 14 days before the earliest possible launch.

For the next two weeks, the Artemis 2 astronauts will continue training and preparing for the mission, including conducting simulations, reviewing flight procedures, exercising and getting medical checkouts, according to NASA. About five days before liftoff, the four crew members will fly to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, where they will continue to quarantine.

What is Artemis 2? Mission to set stage for moon landing

Established during President Donald Trump's first term, NASA's Artemis lunar program is the space agency's ambitious campaign to return American astronauts to the surface of the moon for the first time since the Apollo era came to an end in 1972.

Hitching a ride atop NASA's Space Launch System rocket, the Artemis 2 astronauts are due to pilot an Orion capsule on a 10-day trip around the moon. While no moon landing is in store for the mission, the crew will test systems and hardware for future expeditions to the surface while traveling up to 6,000 miles beyond the far side of the moon – the farthest humans have ever ventured in space.

While NASA tested its spacecraft during the Artemis 1 mission in 2022, Artemis 2 will be the first time that the SLS rocket and the Orion capsule will fly with humans aboard.

A moon landing is now due to take place as early as 2028 during a mission known as Artemis 4. Prior to that mission, Artemis 3 astronauts aboard the Orion capsule are due to meet and dock in 2027 in Earth orbit with at least one of the commercial lunar landers being developed by Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin.

Ultimately, NASA aims to establish a permanent lunar base near the moon's south pole to facilitate exploration and, eventually, the first human expeditions to Mars.

• Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
• This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When is Artemis 2 lifting off? Launch date window, times, what to know

{ USA TODAY }

26-03-2026 om 17:49 geschreven door peter  

Mysterieuze nieuwe ontdekking op de exoplaneet L98-59d

©The Daily DigestAfbeelding: NASA

Verschillende samenstelling
Nieuwe studies van de exoplaneet L98-59d, uitgevoerd met de James Webb-ruimtetelescoop, suggereren dat de samenstelling van het oppervlak uniek is en verschilt van alle andere tot nu toe bekende oppervlakken.

©The Daily Digest

Gesmolten magma
De recentste rapporten na de waarnemingen wijzen erop dat de exoplaneet geen oceanen met water bevat, zoals aanvankelijk werd gedacht. Het lijkt erop dat de gehele exoplaneet uit gesmolten magma bestaat.

©The Daily Digest

Net als melasse
Dit zegt dr. Harrison Nicholls, een astrofysicus aan de Universiteit van Oxford, in een interview met The Guardian. De expert stelt dat L98-59d stroperig aanvoelt en dat de kern ervan waarschijnlijk ook gesmolten is.

©The Daily Digest

Gesmolten toestand
"De hele planeet bevindt zich in een papperige, gesmolten toestand", merkt de astrofysicus van de Universiteit van Oxford op.

©The Daily Digest

Niet in staat om leven te ondersteunen
Het bestaan van enige vorm van leven op deze exoplaneet is daarom uitgesloten, aangezien astronomen L98-59d hebben geïdentificeerd als een planeet die bestaat uit gesmolten lava. "Als er buitenaardse wezens zouden bestaan die op lava zouden kunnen leven, zou dat ongelooflijk zijn", merkt Nicholls op in The Guardian, "maar ik denk niet dat het waarschijnlijk is dat het bewoonbaar is".

©The Daily Digest

Extreem hoge temperaturen
We hebben het over een exoplaneet die oppervlaktetemperaturen van 1900 °C zou bereiken.

©The Daily Digest

De geur van rotte eieren
Volgens experts zouden enorme golven magma over de oceanen spoelen, en de atmosfeer, rijk aan waterstofsulfide, zou een aanhoudende geur van rotte eieren over de hele planeet verspreiden.

©The Daily Digest

Vergeleken met Io
Een exoplaneet, L98-59d, die volgens de laatste onderzoeken nog vijandiger zou zijn dan Io, de maan van Jupiter, die talloze vulkanen heeft die zijn ontstaan door de extreme hitte van de getijden.

©The Daily Digest

Nog extremer
"Deze nieuwe studie", zegt dr. Jo Barstow, planetoloog aan de Open University en deelnemer aan de observatie van L98-59d met de James Webb-telescoop, "suggereert dat (deze exoplaneet) mogelijk nog extremer is dan Io".

©The Daily Digest

Dat klopt, L98-59d
De exoplaneet L98-59d is ongeveer 1,6 keer zo groot als de aarde en draait om een kleine rode ster op 35 lichtjaar afstand.

©The Daily Digest

Eerste indrukken
Toen het werd gevonden, dachten experts dat het leven zou kunnen bevatten, omdat ze schatten dat er zich binnenin een diepe oceaan van vloeibaar water bevond.

©The Daily Digest

Het was geen water
De recentste studies hebben echter aangetoond dat het niet om water gaat, maar om magma en temperaturen die onverenigbaar zijn met het leven van welk soort dan ook.

©The Daily Digest

Een vraag die nog onbeantwoord is
Deze nieuwe ontdekking heeft de wetenschappelijke gemeenschap verrast, die nu overweegt om ontdekte exoplaneten te classificeren op basis van de vraag of ze al dan niet bewoonbaar zijn.

©The Daily Digest

Onjuiste gegevens
Het was daarom heel gebruikelijk om op basis van deze gegevens, waarvan nu bekend is dat ze onjuist waren, te concluderen dat een nieuwe planeet leven zou kunnen bevatten.

©The Daily Digest

Na de aankomst van de James Webb-telescoop
Dankzij de James Webb-ruimtetelescoop beschikken we nu echter over een instrument dat krachtig genoeg is om het sterlicht te meten dat door de atmosfeer van de planeet wordt gefilterd, aldus The Guardian.

©The Daily Digest

Nauwkeuriger
Op deze manier kunnen de soorten gassen die op de planeet aanwezig zijn worden vastgesteld, en kan nauwkeuriger worden bevestigd of de plaatsen bewoonbaar of onbewoonbaar zijn.

GERELATEERDE VIDEO'S

{ The Daily Digest }

26-03-2026 om 16:18 geschreven door peter  

Mars is hiding a clutch of ruby-like crystals in its rocks, observations from the Perseverance rover suggest, and astronomers say other precious minerals, like sapphires, could exist across the Red Planet, too.

An international team of researchers presented the findings, based on observations from spring 2025, March 16 at the 57th Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Texas. These findings are currently under peer review and will appear in the journal Geophysical Research Letters.

The story begins a short time ago on a planet not too far away, when a roving robot the size of a compact car climbed the side of a 4 billion-year-old impact crater and began exploring its rim. On that ancient and stony rim, NASA's Perseverance rover found a curious scattering of pale-colored "float rocks" — out-of-place rocks that must have been transported there by impacts, geological activity or hydrological processes.

As scientists often do when faced with a curious specimen, they blasted it with a laser — specifically, the green laser from the Perseverance rover's SuperCam, situated atop its mast. This laser excites minerals, causing them to emit light at specific wavelengths. And because every element and compound emits certain wavelengths of light, this reveals a sample's chemical composition.

The analysis showed that three of the laser-blasted float rocks exhibited clear signatures of the mineral corundum, with inclusions of the element chromium — crystals that match the chemical description of rubies. However, because the crystals are too small to be seen by Perseverance's imager, and their exact chemical composition is uncertain, the researchers aren't sure whether they have truly found Martian rubies or perhaps some other type of corundum.

"The different types of corundum are based on the chemistry," study co-author Valerie Payré, a planetary geologist at the University of Iowa, told Live Science via email. "Although corundum is Al2O3, there are minor elements like chromium, titanium, and iron that can be present."

"These elements will provide the color to the mineral, and the name of it," Payré added. "We cannot quantify the amount of chromium, and other elements like iron and titanium might be present too. It is thus difficult to conclude whether they are rubies or other types of corundum [like sapphires]."

The team ultimately classified the crystals as corundum and declined to guess about the variety without more chemical evidence.

Corundum is a mineral made of aluminum and oxygen. It is one of the hardest known natural substances, approaching the toughness of diamonds. Pure corundum is colorless, but microscopic impurities imbue it with brilliant hues. Iron or titanium inclusions yield brilliant blue sapphires, while chromium produces even rarer, resplendent rubies.

However, anyone holding out hope for a future Martian-gemstone-studded necklace may be disappointed. The corundum crystals found within the float rocks are tiny —‬ less than 0.2 millimeters (0.008 inches) in diameter.

Could slightly larger Martian rubies exist? "Yes, possibly," study co-author Olivier Beyssac, a senior scientist at the French National Center for Scientific Research, told Live Science via email. "Anyway corundum is pretty rare on Earth and rarely present as big crystals so one could expect the same on Mars."

Cosmic impacts?

It's also likely that the crystals formed under different conditions than those on our planet. On Earth, corundum is created through metamorphic and igneous processes, in which intense heat and pressure, facilitated by tectonic activity, transform existing rocks into potential gemstones.

But because there is no conclusive evidence for plate tectonics on Mars, the researchers suggest that the ruby-like crystals on the Red Planet may have formed through cosmic impacts.

"The impacts provide high temperatures and high pressures, which can produce corundum. Hydrothermal fluids are also generated," Payré explained. Yet the researchers must find additional samples, at their origin, to describe their formation mechanism.

"As of now, the corundum crystals were found in small pebbles that are coming from elsewhere, i.e., they are out of context. It is therefore difficult to constrain the full story," Payré said.

Rubies are far from the only spectacular stones found at Jezero crater, and further research may reveal sapphire-like stones there as well. In the past, scientists also discovered signs of other potential gemstones elsewhere on Mars, including quartz and opal — suggesting that our red planetary neighbor is a gem laboratory.

{ https://www.livescience.com/space/astronomy/planets/mars}

25-03-2026 om 23:39 geschreven door peter  

Best UK spot to see aliens revealed as experts say 2026 could be 'the year'

This year could prove to be the breakthrough moment where we finally meet aliens, experts say. And they reckon you may need to head to the coast to see them

Aliens could be spotted soon

BY Sian Hewitt

Aliens are getting braver and UFO hunters should head to Cornwall to spot them.

Hordes of sky watchers are heading to the south west to catch a glimpse of some other-worldly beings after it emerged as one of the UK's top spots to see some weird. This year could be the one where forces from other realms finally make themselves known, after official Government figures show visits of “unidentified objects” in the atmosphere are growing year on year.

A recent Freedom of Information request carried out by the Daily Star found that numbers of incident reports in our skies featuring objects that are “unidentified” or “unusual” are rocketing as the years go on - and now experts have lifted the lid on where is the best place to catch a glimpse.

Cornwall is the spot to meet aliens, experts say

The most recent stats show that there were 20 annual reports for 2023, 24 in 2024 and 19 sightings in 2025, although the true number for last year could be much higher with reports still being collated by the CAA. The CAA says these are all “Airprox or other aviation safety incident reports” that involve objects described as unidentified, unknown, uncorrelated or unusual.

Could 2026 be the year we finally meet aliens?

(Image: Getty Images)

They record these events for official records, which were released at the start of the year. And now experts say the next set of figures, due at the end of 2026 will make for interesting reading.

Paranormal expert Robert Pulme, who runs the National UFO Reporting Centre website, said: “We are getting more spots than usual this year and reports are definitely up. We have seen a 10% increase on average month by month which suggests that aliens are possibly getting a bit braver.

"The world is in a mess what with threats of World War 3, Trump going on, and things seemingly on edge around the globe, so it makes sense for the skies to be on edge too. I imagine if they are watching, they are keeping a closer eye than ever on it. It is all really unsettled, so if another form of life is looking to communicate with us, either to work with us or against us, there is no better time to make an impact and get a hold of the planet than when things are unsteady."

And he added that one spot in particular has seen the bulk of reports.

Experts say aliens could be watching the chaos of the world closely

(Image: Getty)

"Cornwall is a top hub for reports at the moment," he added. "It is a good spot for views of the skies at the best of times. It is near the sea on a few sides, and there is not a lot of pollution in the air when you compare it to other parts of the UK, so maybe the aliens are everywhere, but this is just where we can see them best.

"I have had a lot of alien watchers head to the spot in recent months to try and get a glimpse. I don't think it will be long before we catch a proper picture as proof really soon."

{ https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/ }

25-03-2026 om 23:22 geschreven door peter  

Something Dark Is Going On: US Congressman Claims Suspicious Pattern of Deaths Among Those Linked to UFO and Advanced Aerospace Technology

He said several people with links to UFO or advanced weapons information had died or gone missing over time, and that this pattern was not new.

When Benny asked if he personally knew any of them, he hinted that he might. Benny suggested that after Trump ordered UFO files declassified, some UFO experts Burchett knew either went missing or turned up dead, and Burchett confirmed that at least one did, the one “everybody was looking for.”

Burchett added that he had talked directly with President Trump about it and told him that this whole situation was like an onion: when you peeled back one layer, there was always another layer underneath.

He pointed to a specific woman involved in metallurgical work on missiles, and then to another person with advanced knowledge in aerospace, propulsion, plasma physics, fusion, and rocket technology, and said there was just “too much” happening all at once.

He then complained that agencies like NASA said they had no related files, but he himself had been briefed by them, so he felt they were not being honest. He said he was fed up, because even in a secure briefing, he was told that some information was “need to know” and that even the president only got what they decided he needed to know.

Benny compared this to the movie “Independence Day,” in which the president discovered a secret UFO program he had never been told about. Burchett said he did not think it was exactly like the movie because today, too many people would know, and it would be hard to keep something that big totally secret, though in the past it was easier. He mentioned an older man who told him about a classified incident from the 1950s that he had been ordered never to speak about, but wanted to confess before he died.

He said he did not think all of this was literally sitting in Area 51, because that location was too obvious. But when the host focused on the idea that bureaucrats told the president “you don’t need to know” on a need-to-know basis, Burchett agreed that part was real. He believed there were people so deeply hidden in the system that you would never truly expose them, unless “the Lord took them out,” meaning only death would remove them from power.

Multiple members of Congress are warning that the disappearance of an Air Force general, known as the UFO “gatekeeper,” could be a national security issue. Investigative journalist Ross Coulthart thinks retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland might have been the victim of foul play after he went missing on February 27.

He told NewsNation that people should seriously consider whether someone may have stepped in to “take the general out of the picture,” because McCasland carried very sensitive U.S. military intelligence in his head, especially about particle beam technology and UFO-related matters.

Rep. Tim Burchett warns of a worrying “pattern ” in which U.S. scientists and researchers in sensitive fields are dying or disappearing, and believes this warrants national attention. One of the cases he is worried about is retired Air Force Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland, who went missing in New Mexico on February 27, had deep experience in particle beam technology and high-level Air Force research.

Republican Representative Eric Burlison says missing retired Maj. Gen. William Neil McCasland “has a lot of information” about UFOs and UAPs, and it is “really disturbing” for someone like that to disappear.

According to a New York Post article, McCasland was informed about some of the most secretive US technology in his capacity as leader of Wright Patterson Air Force Base, vice commander of the Space and Missile Systems Center, and director of Space Acquisition at the Pentagon, sources told The Post.

“During his time, he was one of the key gatekeepers for the UFO topic for the Air Force,” a source with knowledge told The Post. “He knew a lot, and he participated.”

McCasland’s disappearance is now also linked with the vanishing of 60-year-old rocket scientist and materials expert Monica Reza (also known professionally as Monica Jacinto) in June 2025. (Source)

She was hiking with a colleague on the Mount Waterman Trail in the Angeles National Forest near Los Angeles. According to reports, she was about 30 feet behind the man she was hiking with, smiling and waving on a normal day, when he turned around again, and she was suddenly gone.

Rescue teams, volunteers, and authorities searched for days on this popular trail using many resources, but never found her body or any clear trace of what happened.

Reza worked for Aerojet Rocketdyne, a major aerospace company funded by NASA and the Air Force Research Laboratory. In the 1990s,s she developed and patented a special nickel-based superalloy that could survive very harsh oxygen-rich environments without adding much weight, which was important for rocket engines. Her work helped create the AR1 engine, planned to replace Russian RD-180 engines on United Launch Alliance rockets.

Because both McCasland and Reza were involved in cutting-edge rocket technology and both are tied, directly or indirectly, to UFO discussions, and because they both disappeared while hiking within less than a year of each other with no bodies found, many people online are now trying to link the two cases and build conspiracy theories.

US Congressman Eric Burlison was warned by someone with Special Forces and Intel Community experience that he may be killed for pursuing the truth about UFOs. (Source)

In a livestream hosted by Leslie Kean, Rep. Burlison described an incident that occurred while he was investigating the UFO/UAP issue and trying to track down certain people connected to it. He said that someone who had served in special forces and worked in the intelligence community looked at a list of names Burlison was interested in.

According to Burlison, this person told him he needed to remove two specific names from his list and never speak about those individuals again. The person warned him that they were dangerous and said that “they would have no problem having you killed” if he continued pursuing them.

Read also:

• This Man Says NASA Asked for Help After Astronauts Encountered Orbs Containing 125-Foot Winged Angelic Beings That Smiled at Them
• The Strange Story of Kyle Andrew Odom, the Ex-Marine Who Claimed Earth Is Secretly Ruled by Martians
• This Man Claims There Are Multiple Bases on the Moon – Including a Massive Ancient Ark – and People Living There Who Look Like Indians from Ancient India, Flying Egg-Shaped Crafts

Burlison has refused to say publicly who gave him this warning, but he explained that the incident made him realize there might be very dark “bad actors” involved in the secrecy surrounding the UAP topic.

Nuno Loureiro, a MIT scientist, was tragically killed in his home, who figured out key ways plasmas act wildly, like getting turbulent or snapping magnetic fields, which explains solar flares and improves fusion reactors.

Nuno Loureiro was a professor of nuclear science and engineering and of physics at MIT. He died at the age of 47, after having spent about 10 years at MIT since joining the faculty in 2016. His research focused on understanding how plasmas behave, especially in fusion reactors and in extreme astrophysical environments.

Plasma is described as a very hot state of matter that fuels fusion reactions, and his work on turbulence, magnetized plasma dynamics, magnetic field amplification, and confinement and transport in fusion plasmas helped guide the design of fusion devices that might one day provide clean, almost unlimited energy. His theories also helped explain astronomical events such as solar flares and contributed to understanding magnetic fields in the universe.

{ https://howandwhys.com/ }

25-03-2026 om 22:50 geschreven door peter  

Alien Structure Found On Mars Near NASA Rover! Proof Of An 1 Foot Tall Intelligent Species, UFO Sightings Daily

Date of discovery: March 25, 2026

Location of discovery: Mars

Source photo: 

• https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/curiosity-takes-a-last-look-at-sulfur-stones/

 

Now sure...you see a hole in a very thin walled rock, but the truth about it goes much deeper than that. You see its a doorway into a hand built structure, like an adobe walled building, but not like houses you see on Earth, because this is Mars and they have to make due with the materials at hand, and soft clay like material is much easier to use to make walls, ceilings, rooms, doorways, etc. It's not like they have the option to use wood from trees, because I don't see any trees. They had one choice and they built these small structures, which falls into the area of the tiny 12 inch statues that me and many other UFO researchers have found in NASA photos. The proof is right there in the NASA archives. 

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

25-03-2026 om 22:36 geschreven door peter  

UFOs Heading Home, Branford, Connecticut March 2025, UFO UAP Paranormal Alien Sighting Breaking News 

Date of sighting : March 25, 2026 

Location of sighting: Branford, Connecticut, USA

Source: Email report to scwaring @yahoo.com 

 

This report was sent into me today at UFO Sightings Daily and the persons security cam caught a fleet of UFOs heading home late at night. The footage at first looks to be a single craft but in reality its three or more. One of the craft seen in the screenshot is clearly a disk shaped craft, but these aliens are smart and know if they flare up the disks they will of course be mistaken for meteors. Its an old trick, but its been effective for aliens for thousands of years...until today. This video is 100% proof that UFOs exist. 

 

Keep those reports rolling in please!

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

25-03-2026 om 22:29 geschreven door peter  

Fireball sightings across the United States—and around the world have surged dramatically since the beginning of March, a period with no known major meteor streams. In several cases, fragments have reportedly crashed through rooftops in places like Germany, Ohio, and Texas, often accompanied by powerful sonic booms.  

According to a commenter on Godlike Productions who reviewed recent data, as many as 7,663 fireballs have been recorded in just the past 30 days, compared to a total of only 297 between 2016 and 2025. 

Early on, NASA suggested that some of these objects might be debris from Comet 31/ATLAS. However, that claim appears to have been walked back. Around the same time, NASA also shut down its public Near-Earth Object (NEO) comet tracking interface, raising further questions. 

Despite the speculation, NASA maintains that there is nothing unusual happening. 

According to Spaceweather: “Spring is fireball season,” explains Bill Cooke of NASA’s Meteoroid Environment Office. “For reasons we don’t fully understand, the rate of bright meteors increases by as much as 30% in the weeks around the vernal equinox.” He adds that this pattern has been observed for more than 30 years, and that meteorite debris that actually reach the ground, also become more frequent during this time, which contradict the verified data of the commenter on Godlike Productions; 7,663 fireballs have been recorded in just the past 30 days, compared to a total of only 297 between 2016 and 2025. 

Interestingly, not all recent events share the same origin. The fireballs observed over Texas and Ohio, for example, followed completely different trajectories, indicating they did not come from a single source. 

If any of these meteorites were truly interstellar, such as potential fragments from 31/ATLAS, it would explain NASA's interest in recovering them. Such could, in theory, contain the building blocks of life, or even more complex organic signatures, though that remains speculative.

For now, the surge of fireballs continues across the globe with more reports of fireball sightings coming in, worldwide and although the official explanations point to a routine seasonal uptick, the numbers tell a different story. This isn’t just a typical “spring fireball season”, something unusual appears to be happening in space. 

In the video below, Stefan Burns takes a closer look at the recent spike in sightings and examines whether these meteorites could be linked to 31/ATLAS or not.

RELATED

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

25-03-2026 om 22:15 geschreven door peter  

The Boeing F-47: Everything We Know About America's Sixth-Generation Fighter

On March 21, 2025, President Trump announced that Boeing had won the contract to build the United States Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance fighter, designated the F-47. It was the first time a new American air superiority fighter had been awarded since the F-22 Raptor over three decades earlier. The announcement ended a competition that had been running since at least 2015, survived a near-cancellation, and produced classified experimental aircraft that flew for years before the public ever heard about them.

This article covers what is publicly known about the F-47 as of early 2026, drawn from official Air Force statements, congressional budget documents, and credible defense reporting. Much about the aircraft remains classified, and where information is uncertain, that uncertainty is noted.

How NGAD Got to the F-47

The program traces back to a 2014 Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency study called the Air Dominance Initiative. According to Aviation Week, that study concluded a single aircraft would not be enough for future air superiority. The future required a "family of systems" centered on a crewed fighter but supported by networked drones, advanced sensors, and new weapons.

In 2015, DARPA began funding full-scale X-plane demonstrators under a classified program worth roughly one billion dollars. Boeing and Lockheed Martin each built and flew experimental aircraft. Boeing's demonstrator first flew in 2019; Lockheed's followed in 2022, as confirmed by Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin after the contract award.

The public first learned about these demonstrators in September 2020, when Air Force acquisition executive Will Roper told reporters that a full-scale NGAD flight demonstrator had "broken records." He provided almost no details, but the disclosure signaled the program was far more mature than anyone outside the Pentagon had realized.

The Budget Crisis and Redesign

By 2024, NGAD was in trouble. Then-Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall paused the program, telling Defense News that the Air Force "just didn't have enough money" to afford both the sixth-generation fighter and its other modernization priorities. Estimates at the time placed the per-unit cost near $300 million, roughly three times the cost of an F-35.

Kendall ordered a cost reduction study. Options reportedly included a smaller airframe, fewer engines, reduced range, and offloading some capabilities to unmanned platforms. The study concluded that NGAD remained necessary but needed to be redesigned for affordability. That redesign shaped the final competition.

Why Boeing Won

The selection surprised much of the defense world. Lockheed Martin had built every Western stealth fighter in production: the F-22 and the F-35. Boeing had not built a new fighter since the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet entered service in 1999.

According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the Air Force selected Boeing based on "best overall value." Several factors appear to have contributed.

• Digital maturity: Boeing reportedly built a comprehensive digital twin of the F-47 before the prototype existed, allowing engineers to analyze radar signature, maintainability, and manufacturing processes entirely in software.
• X-plane heritage: Boeing's DARPA-funded demonstrator had been flying since 2019, giving the company years of real flight data to refine its design before the formal competition began.
• Industrial base diversification: As the Washington Post noted at the time, awarding the F-47 to Boeing "diversifies the production of U.S. military jets," reducing the Pentagon's dependence on a single stealth fighter manufacturer.

The contract is worth at least $20 billion for engineering and manufacturing development, according to Breaking Defense, with potential lifetime production orders valued in the hundreds of billions. Northrop Grumman, the only other company that might have competed, dropped out in 2023.

What We Know About the Aircraft

The F-47 is classified. The Air Force released a single artist rendering alongside the March 2025 announcement, but no photographs of the actual aircraft have been made public. The Air Force has, however, disclosed a handful of specific performance parameters through official statements and budget documents.

• Range and Speed

In May 2025, General Allvin confirmed that the F-47 will have a combat radius exceeding 1,000 nautical miles and a top speed above Mach 2, as reported by The War Zone. The combat radius is nearly double the F-22's estimated 590-nautical-mile range and substantially greater than the F-35A's roughly 600 nautical miles.

That range reflects the geography of a potential Pacific conflict. A fighter with 1,000-plus nautical miles of combat radius can reach contested areas around Taiwan or the South China Sea from bases in Guam or Japan without tanker support, or at least with tankers positioned much farther from threat zones. The F-22, by contrast, requires extensive tanker support for Pacific operations, and those tankers are themselves vulnerable to long-range Chinese missiles.

• Stealth

The Air Force has described the F-47 as featuring "all-aspect, broadband low-observability," meaning reduced radar and infrared signatures from every angle and across multiple radar frequency bands. Some defense analysts have described the F-47's stealth shaping as "bomber-like," according to the National Security Journal, suggesting a design that prioritizes signature reduction over traditional fighter agility.

• Propulsion

The F-47 is expected to use a next-generation adaptive cycle engine from the NGAP program. Both General Electric (XA102) and Pratt & Whitney (XA103) are building prototypes, according to congressional budget documents. These "three-stream" engines can switch between high-thrust combat mode and high-efficiency cruise mode, promising roughly 30 percent more range and double the cooling capacity compared to current engines.

The cooling capacity is not a minor detail. Sixth-generation fighters generate enormous heat from their sensors, computers, and electronic warfare systems. Managing that heat without degrading performance or creating a detectable infrared signature is a defining engineering challenge of this generation. Budget documents released in July 2025 revealed the NGAP program has slipped more than two years due to supply chain challenges, per Breaking Defense.

• Sensors, AI, and Weapons

Specific sensor details are classified, but the F-47 is expected to carry a significantly more capable suite than any existing fighter. It will fuse electro-optical, infrared, synthetic aperture radar, and signals intelligence data into a single tactical picture, an evolution of the sensor fusion architecture pioneered on the F-35.

AI is central to the design. The aircraft will use edge computing for predictive threat modeling, processing sensor data and recommending tactical decisions faster than a human pilot could manage alone. This capability becomes essential when the F-47 operates as a command node for multiple autonomous wingmen.

No weapons loadout has been officially confirmed. Based on current Air Force procurement programs, analysts expect the F-47 to carry the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile (replacing the AIM-120 AMRAAM), the AIM-174B for long-range engagements, and potentially the AGM-158D JASSM-XR cruise missile for strike missions. All weapons would be carried internally to preserve stealth.

Collaborative Combat Aircraft: The Drone Wingmen

The F-47 is not designed to fight alone. It will operate with Collaborative Combat Aircraft, autonomous drones that fly alongside the crewed fighter as "loyal wingmen." The Air Force envisions each F-47 controlling two or more CCAs that handle sensor coverage, weapons delivery, electronic warfare, or decoy missions.

Two CCA designs are in development. According to Air & Space Forces Magazine, the General Atomics YFQ-42A completed its first flight in August 2025, and the Anduril YFQ-44A (called "Fury") followed on October 31, 2025, flying semi-autonomously. Both are fighter-sized unmanned combat aircraft with internal weapons bays.

The Department of Defense has allocated $8.9 billion between 2025 and 2029 for CCA development, according to budget documents. The Air Force plans to buy more than 1,000 CCAs, roughly two for each F-47 and each F-35A in the fleet.

A flight of four F-47s with eight CCAs creates a twelve-platform formation sharing sensor data and distributing weapons. The CCAs can be sent into the most dangerous threat environments first, absorbing risk that would otherwise fall on crewed aircraft. If a CCA is lost, the cost is measured in dollars, not in pilots. The concept also builds on the broader shift toward autonomous systems that has accelerated from drone warfare lessons in Ukraine and other recent conflicts.

The Cost Problem

Estimated unit costs near $300 million make the F-47 one of the most expensive fighters ever built, roughly three times the cost of an F-35, according to multiple congressional analyses. The Air Force plans to buy approximately 185 aircraft, a fleet size that invites comparison to the F-22, which was capped at 187.

The pattern is familiar. The F-22 was originally planned for 750 aircraft before being cut to 187. The B-2 Spirit was designed for 132 bombers before being cut to 21. Some analysts have warned of a "math death spiral," per 19FortyFive, where rising costs lead to reduced orders, which further increase per-unit costs.

Congressional reaction has been mixed. The FY2025 NDAA cut $30.9 million from the NGAD budget, and the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended redirecting $557.1 million toward the CCA program, as reported by The Aviationist. But the One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed in July 2025 provided $400 million specifically to accelerate F-47 production.

The Air Force's counterargument: if each F-47 operates with two affordable CCAs, the cost per combat-relevant platform drops considerably. One F-47 with two CCAs might cost the same as two or three F-35s while providing more capability. Whether that math holds will determine the program's long-term viability.

The Name: P-47 Thunderbolt and the 47th President

Air Force officials said the "47" honors the P-47 Thunderbolt, one of the most produced American fighters of World War II. The P-47 was a massive, rugged aircraft that excelled at both air combat and ground attack across every theater. After the Air Force became an independent service in 1947, the Thunderbolt was redesignated the F-47, making the modern designation a direct echo of that lineage.

The number also coincides with the founding year of the Air Force as an independent service in 1947, and with the number of the sitting president. Some defense outlets have reported that internal Air Force emails obtained through FOIA requests suggest the historical justification may have been developed after the designation was selected rather than before it, though the Air Force has not commented on this claim.

The Global Sixth-Generation Race

The F-47 does not exist in isolation. At least four other sixth-generation programs are underway, and the competitive dynamics between them are shaping force structure decisions across multiple continents.

{ https://militarymachine.com/ }

25-03-2026 om 22:07 geschreven door peter  

NASA Astronaut's Bizarre Space Station Photo Reveals Orbiting Potato Experiment

The Earthly Explanation

Despite its otherworldly appearance, the object had a remarkably ordinary explanation. Astronaut Pettit clarified that the mysterious entity was, in fact, a potato—specifically an early purple potato he had brought to the ISS for personal agricultural experiments. Dubbed 'Spudnik-1,' the potato was part of Pettit's off-duty space gardening activities, anchored in an improvised grow light terrarium using a spot of hook Velcro.

In his detailed explanation on X, Pettit emphasized the scientific rationale behind choosing potatoes for space cultivation. 'Potatoes are one of the most efficient plants based on edible nutrition to total plant mass, including roots,' he stated. The astronaut noted that potatoes' significance for future space exploration had been recognized in Andy Weir's book and subsequent film The Martian, prompting him to begin practical research aboard the ISS now.

The purple roots disgusted many online

(Picture: SWNS)

Space Versus Earth Cultivation

When questioned by a fan about how space-grown potatoes compare to their terrestrial counterparts, Pettit provided fascinating insights into microgravity agriculture. He explained that in the absence of gravity, the potato's roots grew in all directions rather than following their typical downward pattern. Additionally, he observed that all plants he has cultivated in space, including this potato, have demonstrated significantly slower growth rates compared to Earth-based cultivation.

Broader Context of Space Agriculture

This potato experiment represents just one facet of ongoing agricultural research aboard the International Space Station. To date, astronauts have successfully cultivated a diverse array of fruits, vegetables, and even flowers in the unique microgravity environment. NASA has articulated ambitious plans for expanding space agriculture, with teams at Kennedy Space Center envisioning future cultivation of tomatoes, peppers, berries, certain beans, and other antioxidant-rich foods.

These agricultural endeavors serve multiple purposes beyond nutritional supplementation. NASA has highlighted that antioxidant-rich foods could provide crew members with additional protection against space radiation—a significant concern for long-duration missions. The research aligns with broader preparations for future lunar and Martian exploration, where sustainable food production will be essential for crew survival and mission success.

Some online thought the potato roots looked like an alien

(Picture: SWNS)

The International Space Station: A Research Platform

The International Space Station serves as a $100 billion science and engineering laboratory orbiting approximately 250 miles above Earth. Continuously occupied since November 2000, the ISS has hosted 244 individuals from 19 countries, including eight private citizens. Research conducted aboard the station leverages unique conditions such as microgravity and specialized atmospheric composition to advance fields including human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy, and meteorology.

NASA allocates approximately $3 billion annually to the ISS program, with additional funding provided by international partners including the European Space Agency, Russian space agency, Japanese space agency JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency. As the station approaches potential structural limitations beyond 2025, various nations and private entities are planning successor orbital platforms and lunar orbiting stations to continue advancing space research and exploration.

 { https://britbrief.co.uk/ }

25-03-2026 om 21:39 geschreven door peter  

NASA astronaut shares a photo of a bizarre tentacled object growing on the International Space Station – as disturbed fans quip 'kill it with fire!'

• READ MORE: NASA plans to build a $20 billion base on the MOON by 2033

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

A NASA astronaut has shared a photo of a bizarre tentacled object growing on the International Space Station (ISS). 

Don Pettit snapped the photo during Expedition 72, which took place from 23 September 2024 until 18 April 2025. 

The unusual object almost looks like an egg, with black tentacles erupting from the base.

Responding to the astronaut on X (formerly Twitter), one user said: 'Kill it with fire!!!'

Another wrote: 'Bro I genuinely thought this was some kind of egg hatching.'

And one joked: 'Looks like a mimic hatching out of an egg,' in reference to the 2017 film, Prey. 

While the object undeniably looks strange, there's actually a rather mundane explanation – it's a potato. 

'Spudnik–1, an orbiting potato on @Space_Station!' Mr Pettit explained. 

A NASA astronaut has shared a photo of a bizarre tentacled object growing on the International Space Station (ISS)

On X, Mr Pettit explained how the potato ended up on the ISS. 

'I flew potatoes on Expedition 72 for my space garden, an activity I did in my off–duty time,' he said. 

'This is an early purple potato, complete with spot of hook Velcro to anchor it in my improvised grow light terrarium.'

'Potatoes are one of the most efficient plants based on edible nutrition to total plant mass (including roots). 

'Recognized by Andy Weir in his book/movie "The Martian," potatoes will have a place in future exploration of space. 

'So I thought it good to get started now!'

In response to the photo, one fan asked Mr Pettit how it compared to growing potatoes on Earth. 

The astronaut responded: 'The roots would grow in all directions absent gravity, and all plants I have ever grown in space have grown far slower than they would have on Earth.'

The unusual object almost looks like an egg, with black tentacles erupting from the base

Don Pettit snapped the photo during Expedition 72, which took place from 23 September 2024 until 18 April 2025

His post has garnered huge interest, with almost 100,000 views at the time of writing. 

'someone needs to figure out a zero–g fryer asap,' one X user joked. 

Another added: 'Nice Velcro docking adaptor!'

Read More

• NASA wants to build a $20billion base on the MOON - here's what it will look like 

And one quipped: 'I hope you brought actual fertiliser this time,' in reference to The Martian, in which the lead character is forced to grow potatoes in his own waste. 

To date, astronauts have grown a huge range of fruits, vegetables, and even flowers on the ISS. 

'Our team at Kennedy Space Center envisions planting more produce in the future, such as tomatoes and peppers,' NASA explained. 

'Foods like berries, certain beans and other antioxidant–rich foods would have the added benefit of providing some space radiation protection for crew members who eat them.'

EXPLAINED: THE $100 BILLION INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION SITS 250 MILES ABOVE THE EARTH

The International Space Station (ISS) is a $100 billion (£80 billion) science and engineering laboratory that orbits 250 miles (400 km) above Earth.

It has been permanently staffed by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts since November 2000. 

Crews have come mainly from the US and Russia, but the Japanese space agency JAXA and European space agency ESA have also sent astronauts. 

The International Space Station has been continuously occupied for more than 20 years and has been expended with multiple new modules added and upgrades to systems 

Research conducted aboard the ISS often requires one or more of the unusual conditions present in low Earth orbit, such as low-gravity or oxygen.

ISS studies have investigated human research, space medicine, life sciences, physical sciences, astronomy and meteorology.

The US space agency, NASA, spends about $3 billion (£2.4 billion) a year on the space station program, with the remaining funding coming from international partners, including Europe, Russia and Japan.

So far 244 individuals from 19 countries have visited the station, and among them eight private citizens who spent up to $50 million for their visit.

There is an ongoing debate about the future of the station beyond 2025, when it is thought some of the original structure will reach 'end of life'.

Russia, a major partner in the station, plans to launch its own orbital platform around then, with Axiom Space, a private firm, planning to send its own modules for purely commercial use to the station at the same time. 

NASA, ESA, JAXA and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) are working together to build a space station in orbit around the moon, and Russia and China are working on a similar project, that would also include a base on the surface. 

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

25-03-2026 om 21:17 geschreven door peter  

NASA reveals plans to build a $20billion base on the MOON by 2033 – here's what it will look like

• READ MORE: Scientists are about to LAND on an asteroid as it skims past Earth 

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

NASA has revealed plans to build a $20billion (£14.9billion) permanent base on the moon.

New chief Jared Isaacman, who joined the agency in December, has announced a 'focus shift', prioritising a lunar habitat that allows for 'long–duration human presence'.

He said NASA will spend the next seven years constructing the station at the moon's south pole over dozens of missions.

Artist impressions of the base feature futuristic rovers, communication devices, solar panels, habitat modules and launch pads on the moon's surface.

The station will represent the next step towards 'achieving the near–impossible', he said, and will 'ensure American leadership in space'.

'There will be an evolutionary path to building humanity's first permanent surface outpost beyond Earth, and we will take the world along with us,' Mr Isaacman told a conference at NASA headquarters in Washington.

'This time the goal is not flags and footprints,' he added.

'This time the goal is to stay.'

Artist impressions of the moon base feature futuristic rovers, communication devices, solar panels, habitat modules and launch pads on the lunar surface

Building the moon base will take place over three phases, NASA said.

The first involves a shift from infrequent missions to a 'repeatable' approach that increases the tempo of lunar activity.

Phase two will see a move towards semi–habitable infrastructure involving rovers and other forms of transportation.

Finally, for phase three, NASA 'will deliver heavier infrastructure needed for a continuous human foothold on the moon'.

This will include multi–purpose habitats created by the Italian Space Agency and lunar utility vehicles from the Canadian Space Agency.

The 'habitation module' will be three metres wide and six metres long (10 feet by 20 feet) with a mass of around 15 tonnes.

It will have wheels, allowing it to be easily moved across the moon's surface. It is also completely self–sufficient, providing power and heat for inhabitants.

The module has currently been designed to be able to support two astronauts for between seven and 30 days – or a larger crew for short periods in case of an emergency.

The Italian Space Agency's habitation module will safely host astronauts during their missions, support surface operations, enable scientific research experiments both with and without the presence of a human crew, and have the capability to move on the surface (artist's impression)

A concept image of a pressurised rover on the surface of the Moon. The rover will boast robotics, cameras, sensors and scientific instruments, acting as a 'mobile laboratory' for exploration activities

Solar array systems will help power exploration of the Moon. Pictured: An illustration of the device, which can deploy up to 32 feet high

Where will the astronauts live?

Visitors to the moon would be stationed in a 'habitation module' currently being built by the Italian Space Agency 

They are three metres wide and six metres long with a mass of 15 tonnes

Five main substations control the inner atmosphere, temperature and humidity, with an in–built water and waste management system 

The module will have wheels, allowing it to be easily moved across the moon's surface.

It is also completely self–sufficient, providing power and heat

The module has currently been designed to be able to support two astronauts for between seven and 30 days – or a larger crew for short periods in case of an emergency

NASA said its moon base plans also include a pressurised rover, which has been designed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

This is a mobile habitat that can allow astronauts to explore much further than current moonwalks allow, supporting two crew members as it traverses across the lunar surface.

The rover will boast robotics, cameras, sensors and scientific instruments, acting as a 'mobile laboratory' for exploration activities.

'The objective is clear: build the foundation for an enduring lunar base and take the next step towards Mars,' Mr Isaacman wrote on X.

In a nod to the race against China to build a permanent base on the moon, Mr Isaacman said: 'The clock is running in this great‑power competition, and success or failure will be measured in months, not years.'

He added that 'building a base will seem pale in comparison to what we will be capable of accomplishing in the years ahead'.

NASA has also announced that in order to focus on the moon base project, it would be suspending plans to create Lunar Gateway – its lunar orbital space station.

'The agency intends to pause Gateway in its current form and shift focus to infrastructure that enables sustained surface operations,' Mr Isaacman said.

NASA said lunar utility vehicles from the Canadian Space Agency (pictured) will also be needed

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who joined the agency last year, said focus needs to 'shift' towards establishing a permanent base on the moon

The Gateway orbital lunar station was meant to serve both as a point of transfer for astronauts headed to the Moon as well as a platform for research.

The suspension of the initiative isn't entirely surprising – some had criticised it as financially wasteful or a distraction from other lunar ambitions.

Read More

• Scientists discover 45 Earth-like planets that could have the perfect conditions for ALIENS - including four that are just 40 light-years away 

Putting it on hold will allow for the redirection of efforts and resources towards the construction of the base near the strategic south lunar pole, Mr Isaacman explained, which was already a goal.

Last month, NASA said it was reshuffling its Artemis programme that has suffered multiple delays in recent years, as it aims to ensure Americans can return to the Moon's surface by 2028.

That goal remains unchanged, but the US space agency is shifting its flight lineup to include a test mission before an eventual lunar landing to improve launch 'muscle memory'.

That strategic revision came amid repeated delays to the Artemis 2 mission, which was originally due to take off as early as February, but is now targeting early April. It is meant to see the first flyby of the Moon in more than half a century.

Artemis II: Key facts

Launch date: NASA initially identified three possible launch windows for Artemis II: From February 6 to February 11, from March 6 to March 11, and from April 1 to April 6. The space agency is now targeting the April window. 

Mission objective: To complete a lunar flyby, passing the 'dark side' of the moon and test systems for a future lunar landing.

Total distance to travel: 620,000 miles (one million km)

Mission duration: 10 days 

Estimated total cost: $44billion (£32.5billion)

- NASA Space Launch System rocket: $23.8billion (£17.6billion)

- Orion deep–space spacecraft: $20.4billion (£15billion)

Crew: 

- Commander Reid Wiseman

- Pilot Victor Glover

- Mission Specialist Christina Koch

- Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen

Mission Stages:

1. Launch from Kennedy Space Centre Launch Pad 39B

2. Manoeuvre in orbit to raise the perigee using the Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

3. Burn to raise apogee using the Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

4. Detach from Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and perform translunar injection

5. Fly to the moon over four days

6. Complete lunar flyby at a maximum altitude of 5,523 miles (8,889 km) above the moon's surface

7. Return to Earth over four days

8. Separate the crew module from the European Service Module and the crew module adapter

9. Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean  

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

25-03-2026 om 18:57 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious 'ruins' off Louisiana coast spark theories of 12,000-year-old lost city

• READ MORE: Roman artifact discovered in Americas shatters New World history as we know it 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

An amateur archaeologist claims to have uncovered the ruins of an ancient city that once thrived off the coast of Louisiana roughly 12,000 years ago.

Retired architect George Gelé said he has found clues that 'hundreds of buildings' are buried beneath the waters near the Chandeleur Islands, a chain of uninhabited barrier islands about 50 miles east of New Orleans in the Gulf of America.

For nearly five decades, he has captured underwater sonar images that he believes reveal the remnants of major structures, including what he describes as a 280-foot-tall pyramid rising from the seafloor.

Gelé claimed the pyramid emits a surge of electromagnetic energy that has caused boat compasses to spin wildly as vessels passed overhead. 

Dubbed the city of Crescentis, Gelé told local station WWL-TV that the submerged formations, located roughly 30 feet below the water and buried beneath an additional 100 feet of sediment, appear to be 'geographically related to the Great Pyramid of Giza' in Egypt.

While his findings have not been published in peer-reviewed scientific journals, Gelé argued the site may date back to the end of the last Ice Age, when rising seas about 11,700 years ago submerged vast coastal landscapes.

The foundation of his theory rests on mysterious granite mounds discovered beneath Chandeleur Sound, a material not naturally found in Louisiana, which he believes were deliberately transported and assembled.

'Somebody floated a billion stones down the Mississippi River and assembled them outside what would later become New Orleans,' Gelé said, after more than five decades studying the site.

Retired architect George Gelé said he has found clues that 'hundreds of buildings' are buried beneath the waters off the coast of Louisiana 

He claims the city was located near the Chandeleur Islands, a chain of uninhabited barrier islands about 50 miles east of New Orleans in the Gulf of America

Gelé has personally funded and conducted more than 40 underwater research expeditions in the area since 1974.

While he officially revealed his discoveries to the world in March 2022, his interview on WWL-TV has resurfaced.

During the interview, local shrimper Ricky Robin, who took Gelé to the site multiple times, claimed that the compass on his boat spun completely around near the area where the tip of the pyramids was suspected.

'Everything will go out on your boat. All your electronics like you were in the Bermuda Triangle,' said Robin. 

He added that other local fishermen have shared stories about catching strange, square rocks in their nets.

'I thought right away it was pieces of the pyramid because it was right around where that compass spun,' Robin said. 

While the idea of a lost city is captivating, several scientists have offered more conventional explanations for the mysterious underwater mounds.

Gelé himself explored alternative explanations for the granite masses during a 2014 presentation, including the possibility that the stones came from a construction dump or debris left behind by multiple shipwrecks.

For nearly five decades, he has captured underwater sonar images that he believes reveal the remnants of major structures. He has also collected granite pieces that he believes once formed the now underwater city

However, he noted that construction debris only appears on the top surface of the mounds, and granite blocks are expensive construction materials, and would not be discarded so easily. 

A separate study conducted by Texas A&M University in the late 1980s also concluded that the underwater granite likely originated from shipwreck activity, or from piles of ballast stones discarded from vessels, WWL-TV reported.

Historians believe the stones may have been dumped from Spanish or French ships to lighten their loads as they approached shallow waters on routes leading to New Orleans.

Local newspaper The Advocate later examined the mystery in 2011, speaking with LSU archaeology professor Rob Mann, who offered another explanation for the unusual formations.

He suggested the granite could be remnants of an effort to build an artificial reef in the 1940s, created by dumping construction materials into the water.

'I think simply searching underwater at this point won't give us any more answers,' Mann told the newspaper.

Gelé has personally funded and conducted more than 40 underwater research expeditions in the area since 1974. Pictured are granite pieces he pulled from the waterse

'When the historical archive work is done, looking at records and newspapers, that's when we will know what it is.'

The publication also interviewed the state's archaeologist at the time, who agreed that the formations appeared to be the result of large barge loads of stone being dumped at the site.

'But why and why there?' he said. 'Those are questions that need to be answered.'

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

25-03-2026 om 18:34 geschreven door peter  

Story by Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY

The Apollo 8 crew leaves the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) during the Apollo 8 prelaunch countdown.

© Provided by NASA

Nearly 60 years ago, three Americans made history as the first humans to ever break free of Earth's orbit on their way toward the moon.

And when they passed behind the moon to the side Earth never sees, Apollo 8 astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell (who died in August) and William Anders became the first humans in space to lose sight of their home world.

Now, similar to the Apollo 8 mission of 1968, NASA is preparing to send a new crew of astronauts on a relatively short voyage circling Earth's only natural satellite. And like their predecessors, the Artemis 2 crew members may not have the honor of making a lunar landing, but will instead pave the way for future astronauts to step foot on the lunar surface.

Here's a look at how NASA's upcoming Artemis 2 moon mission compares to the iconic Apollo 8.

When is the Artemis 2 rocket launch date?

NASA is targeting April 1 for a launch of the Artemis 2 lunar mission from NASA's Kennedy Space Center along the Atlantic Coast near Cape Canaveral, Florida.

A crew of four astronauts will hitch a ride to orbit on an Orion capsule. Built by Lockheed Martin, the Orion vehicle will be perched atop NASA's 322-foot Space Launch System rocket, built by Boeing and Northrop Grumman.

Artemis II: NASA set to launch moon mission | FOX 10 Phoenix

While no moon landing is in store for the astronauts, the mission will serve a vital role in testing the systems and hardware on the spacecraft needed for future expeditions to the lunar surface.

Apollo 8 was 1st to send astronauts around the moon and back

The impending mission will not only represent NASA's first human moon mission since the Apollo era ended in 1972, but the first since that era really began with a similar mission in 1968.

Lifting off Dec. 21, 1968, from the Kennedy Space Center, the Apollo 8 mission sent three NASA astronauts on a six-day trip orbiting the moon before making a landing Dec. 27 in the Pacific Ocean.

As a prelude to a lunar landing, the flight was an important step in testing the flight trajectory and operations before astronauts stepped foot on the moon's surface.

The mission also made history in many ways.

The crew became the first humans to orbit the moon and the first to see the Earth rising on the lunar horizon in an event known as an Earthrise. Apollo 8 was also the first crewed launch for NASA's iconic Saturn V rocket, which at 363 feet tall remains to this day of the largest rockets ever made.

©Provided by NASA

The Apollo 8 crew is seen inside the gondola during centrifuge training Nov. 1, 1968. Left to right are astronauts William A. Anders, lunar module pilot, James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; and Frank Borman, commander.

©Provided by NASA

The Apollo 8 Crew included James Lovell, Command Module (CM) pilot; William Anders, Lunar Module (LM) pilot; and Frank Borman, commander. The first crewed Apollo mission launched Dec. 21, 1968 aboard the Saturn V rocket, with the crew returning Dec. 27 safely to Earth.

©Provided by NASA
Astronauts William A. Anders, James A. Lovell Jr., and Frank Borman, (left to right) are Oct. 28 1968 seen inside Apollo Boilerplate 1102A during water egress training

©Provided by NASA

Recovery activities of the Apollo 8 Crew and Command Module (CM)-103 Spacecraft inspection onboard the USS Yorktown

©Provided by NASA
The Apollo 8 mission captured this photos of the moon Dec. 22, 1968.

©Provided by NASA
NASA's towering Saturn V spacecraft launches Dec. 21, 1968 on its first crewed mission, Apollo 8, from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

©Provided by NASA
he Apollo 8 crew leaves the Kennedy Space Center's (KSC) Manned Spacecraft Operations Building (MSOB) during the Apollo 8 prelaunch countdown.

©Provided by NASA

The Apollo 8 crew stands in front of the Apollo space vehicle as it leaves the Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building on its way to Launch Complex 39A. The Saturn V stack and its mobile launch tower are atop a huge crawler-transporter. The Apollo 8 crew consisted of (left to right) astronauts Frank Borman, commander; James A. Lovell Jr., command module pilot; and William A. Anders, lunar module pilot.

©Provided by NASA
The 363-foot-high Apollo Saturn V space vehicle dwarfs the Apollo 8 Astronauts Frank Borman, James Lovell, and William Anders as it's rolled out Oct. 9, 1968 to the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

©Provided by NASA
The crew of the Apollo 8 lunar orbit mission, astronauts William A. Anders, James A. Lovell Jr. and Frank Borman, are pictured Nov. 1, 1968 suited up for centrifuge training.

Who were the Apollo 8 astronauts?

Apollo 8 was composed of a crew of three NASA astronauts, all of whom have since died:

• Frank Borman, commander of the mission who had previously flown on the Gemini 7 space orbital rendezvous mission with Gemini 6.
• Jim Lovell, pilot of the command module who would also later command the infamous Apollo 13 mission.
• William A. Anders, lunar module pilot.

Artemis 2 to go even further from Earth than Apollo mission

The crew of Artemis 2 are set to become the first humans to see parts of the far side of the moon that not even the Apollo 8 astronauts witnessed.

Traveling in the Orion capsule, the astronauts will venture up to 6,000 miles beyond the far side of the moon – the farthest humans have ever ventured in space, according to NASA. As a result, the astronauts will see the entire disk of the moon, including areas near the north and south poles.

The planned trajectory for the four-day return journey will use Earth's gravity to  naturally pull Orion back home after flying by the moon, negating the need for propulsion or much fuel.

Who is the crew of Artemis 2?

©Brooke Edwards

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman stands with the Artemis II crew during an SLS rollout press briefing.

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY

The crew of Artemis II (from left: Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen, Mission Specialist Christina Koch, Pilot Victor Glover and Commander Reid Wiseman) answer questions at a press conference as their Space Launch System rocket is transported to Pad 39B January 17, 2026. Artemis II is tentatively scheduled to launch on a mission to th Moon in early February. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman answers questions during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center, FL January 17, 2026. The Artemis II crew is tentatively scheduled to launch in early February. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
Artemis II Pilot Victor Glover answers questions during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center, FL January 17, 2026. The Artemis II crew is tentatively scheduled to launch in early February. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
Artemis II Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen answers questions during a press conference at Kennedy Space Center, FL January 17, 2026. The Artemis II crew is tentatively scheduled to launch in early February. Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©NASA/Robert Markowitz
The Artemis II crew poses in front of an Orion simulator Jan. 23, 2026 at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

©Provided by NASA
Four astronauts will venture around the Moon on Artemis II, the first crewed mission on NASA's path to establishing a long-term presence at the Moon for science and exploration through Artemis. The 10-day flight will help confirm systems and hardware needed for early human lunar exploration missions.

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
The crew of Artemis II (from left) Jeremy Hansen, Christina Koch, Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman leave crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch talks with spectators as the crew leaves crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©Craig Bailey/FLORIDA TODAY
The astronauts of Artemis II (from left) Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch leave crew quarters December 20, 2025 during their pre-launch rehearsal. Craig Bailey, FLORIDA TODAY via USA TODAY NETWORK

©NASA/Kim Shiflett
Artemis 2 crew members, shown Aug. 8, 2023 inside the Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, walk toward their Orion crew module.

Here's a look at the four-member crew of Artemis 2:

• NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, a Baltimore native and the mission's commander who last flew to space in 2014 on a Russian Soyuz rocket to the International Space Station.
• NASA astronaut Victor Glover, the pilot from Pomona, California, who flew to space in 2020 on a SpaceX mission to the space station.
• NASA astronaut Christina Koch, a mission specialist from Grand Rapids, Michigan, who holds several space agency records and who flew in 2019 on a Soyuz ISS mission.
• Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, another mission specialist who will fly to space for the first time.

Koch and Glover represent the first woman and first African American, respectively, assigned to a NASA lunar mission. Additionally, Hansen is set to become the first Canadian to fly close to the moon, according to Reuters.

Both Apollo 8, Artemis 2 missions to precede a moon landing

Like Apollo 8 before it, Artemis 2 is meant to precede a moon landing attempt in the years ahead.

In the case of Apollo 8, two more missions came before astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first humans to step foot on the moon in July 1969 during Apollo 11. That included Apollo 9 in March 1969 – during which two astronauts piloted a lunar module in Earth orbit – and Apollo 10 later in May, which was another moon-orbiting mission.

NASA had originally planned for a moon landing mission to follow Artemis 2 before leaders at the space agency announced an overhaul to the program at the end of February.

Before a moon landing is now attempted during Artemis 4 in 2028, astronauts in the Orion capsule are due to meet and dock in Earth orbit with at least one of the lunar landers being developed by Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin and Elon Musk's SpaceX. That new mission, targeted for 2027, is known as Artemis 3.

• Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@usatodayco.com
• This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Artemis 2 is most similar to Apollo 8. What the missions had in common

{ USA TODAY }

 

25-03-2026 om 18:20 geschreven door peter  

Theorieën over wat er gebeurt na onze dood

©Getty Images

Theorieën over wat er gebeurt na onze dood
De angst voor de dood heeft vaak te maken met het onbekende. Wat gebeurt er na onze dood? Gaan we naar de hemel, reïncarneren we of resetten we ons in een simulatie? Hindoeïstische, Rastafariaanse of boeddhistische theorieën proberen allemaal uit te leggen wat er daarna komt. Om de verschillende theorieën over de dood te verkennen, zijn hier 30 filosofieën over het hiernamaals!

©Shutterstock

De simulatie theorie
Heb je ooit het gevoel dat alles in ons leven al vaststaat? Wat als zelfs de dood volgens een vooraf geschreven script verloopt? Volgens de simulatietheorie zijn onze levens gewoon cijfers in een videogame van een hogere entiteit. Iets wat lijkt op het concept van de filmreeks 'The Matrix'.

©Shutterstock

De boeddhistische theorie
Boeddhisten omarmen het concept van reïncarnatie na de dood. Na de dood kan iemand opnieuw geboren worden in verschillende rijken, zoals die van goden, halfgoden, mensen, dieren of geesten.

©Shutterstock

De parallelle universumtheorie
Het idee van parallelle universums is in talloze sciencefictionfilms en stripboeken afgebeeld, wat de vraag oproept hoe aannemelijk het is. Volgens deze theorie gaat ons bestaan door na de dood, maar dan in een ander deel van ruimte en tijd binnen hetzelfde universum dat we eerder bewoonden.

©Shutterstock

De theorie van het nooit eindigende leven
De theorie van het nooit eindigende leven is zeker een van de meest unieke op de lijst. Volgens deze theorie, wanneer je sterft, word je meteen opnieuw geboren in je eigen leven, zonder enige herinnering aan het leven dat je net had geleefd.

©Shutterstock

De nietsheidstheorie
Wat als na de dood alles in totale duisternis vervalt en je gewoon ophoudt te bestaan? Niet bepaald een geruststellende gedachte.

©Shutterstock

De Rastafari-theorie
Rastafari geloven dat het leven eeuwig is. Alleen degenen die deugdzaamheid afwijzen, sterven echt. Daarom worden begrafenissen in hun cultuur eigenlijk niet gevierd.

©Shutterstock

De Azteekse theorie
In het geloofssysteem van de oude Azteken waren er drie aparte paden voor het hiernamaals: de zon, Mictlan en Tlalocan. Het hiernamaals dat iemand ervoer, hing af van de omstandigheden van de dood. Gewone soldaten en vrouwen die tijdens de bevalling stierven, zouden veranderen in kolibries die het pad van de zon volgden. Degenen die door minder eervolle oorzaken stierven, belandden in Mictlan. En mensen die door verdrinking omkwamen, gingen naar Tlalocan.

©Shutterstock

Plato's theorie
Plato was ervan overtuigd dat onze kennis beperkt is door de fysieke wereld. Hij vond dat we na de dood op een meer vervullende reis gaan, waar onze ziel haar ware bestaan kan ontdekken. Volgens zijn theorie biedt de dood dus een kans om dat te verkennen.

©Shutterstock

De onzekere theorie
Ons begrip van de dood is beperkt tot de fenomenen die het fysieke lichaam ervaart. De dubbelzinnige theorie erkent deze harde waarheid, maar laat ruimte voor discussie over de overige aspecten.

©Shutterstock

De mormoonse theorie
De Kerk van de Heiligen der Laatste Dagen gelooft dat overledene Mormonen die goed en rechtschapen zijn, goden worden. Daarentegen worden ongelovigen in het hiernamaals veroordeeld.

©Shutterstock

De Egyptische farao-theorie
Mummificatie was cruciaal voor de oude Egyptische farao's, omdat zij geloofden dat de dood niet permanent was en zij hun lichamen wilden behouden voor het hiernamaals.

©Shutterstock

De droomtheorie
Wat als alles maar een droom was? De droomtheorie beweert dat wanneer we sterven, we gewoon wakker worden uit een ontzettend verwarrende, levendige en lange droom. Knijp eens in jezelf.

©Shutterstock

De paranormale theorie
Dit concept vormt doorgaans de basis van vele horrorfilms. Voorstanders van het bovennatuurlijke beweren dat onze zielen na de dood op aarde blijven hangen. Daarnaast wordt vaak aangenomen dat communicatie met deze geesten op verschillende manieren mogelijk is.

©Shutterstock

De bevroren hoofdtheorie
Er zijn mensen die geloven dat ze hun behoud voor de toekomst kunnen garanderen door na hun overlijden cryonisch bewaard te worden. Zo stellen ze zich een bestaansvorm voor die extreem koud is, maar toch potentieel levend kan blijven.

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De egocentrische theorie
Als je denkt dat alles om jou draait, dan is de egocentrische theorie over de dood misschien wel iets voor jou. Volgens deze theorie begint het universum wanneer jij geboren wordt en stopt het op het moment dat jij sterft.

©Getty Images

De 'Stranger Things'-theorie
Als je de populaire Netflix-serie Stranger Things kent, dan ben je waarschijnlijk bekend met het concept van de Upside Down. De serie suggereert dat er een alternatieve dimensie bestaat binnen ons universum, waar mensen vast kunnen komen te zitten in een soort tussenwereld tussen leven en dood.

©Getty Images

De hindoeïstische theorie
Het hindoeïsme gelooft ook in reïncarnatie, waarbij iemands toekomstige status of vorm in het volgende leven wordt bepaald door hun daden in het huidige leven.

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De solipsistische theorie
Bestaat er iets buiten onze eigen gedachten dat echt is? Het concept van solipsisme geldt zowel voor het leven als de dood. De enige onbetwistbare realiteit is wat een individu waarneemt en ervaart. Hierdoor is het mogelijk dat, wanneer een individu sterft, alles om hen heen ook ophoudt te bestaan.

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De excretietheorie
Volgens de excretietheorie stelt het universum een gigantisch brein binnen een menselijk lichaam voor, en zijn individuen vergelijkbaar met cellen. Net zoals een cel wordt verwijderd wanneer deze afsterft in een menselijk lichaam, zouden mensen uiteindelijk een soortgelijk lot kunnen ondergaan.

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De nihilistische theorie
Het nihilisme stelt dat alle waarden betekenisloos en zonder fundament zijn. Vanuit een echt nihilistisch perspectief op de dood en het hiernamaals betekent dit dat er helemaal niets is na de dood, omdat het leven zelf al leegte bevat.

©NL Beeld

De ''Beetlejuice'-theorie
De populaire komediefilm Beetlejuice uit 1988 van Tim Burton vertelt het verhaal van een overleden stel dat hun oude huis en de nieuwe bewoners achtervolgt. Om te ontsnappen aan deze tussenwereld, moeten ze de hulp inroepen van een onconventionele exorcist. Zie jij het hiernamaals als iets dat lijkt op deze eigenzinnige film?

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De christelijke theorie
Volgens het christelijk geloof bestaan zowel de hemel als de hel. Degenen die een deugdzaam en eerlijk leven leiden, worden beloond met toegang tot het paradijselijke rijk van de hemel. Daarentegen zijn degenen die zich schuldig maken aan zonden en morele misstappen voorbestemd voor de hel.

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De meerdere werelden-theorie
De veelwerelden-theorie stelt dat onze dood alleen plaatsvindt binnen dit ene, bestaande universum. Daarbuiten wachten talloze alternatieve universums op onze overgang.

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De pessimistische theorie
Misschien is deze discussie zinloos, omdat we eigenlijk al dood zijn? Dat is in ieder geval wat de pessimistische theorie veronderstelt.

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De illusietheorie
Volgens de illusietheorie is de wereld vooral een product van onze geest en geen concrete realiteit, wat suggereert dat alles in feite een illusie is. Vanuit dit perspectief is de dood een door mensen bedacht concept, en zelfs nadat we fysiek ophouden te bestaan, blijft een essentie van ons bestaan voortbestaan.

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De kosmische theorie
Volgens de kosmische theorie is ons bewustzijn verbonden met het universum in plaats van met ons individuele lichaam. Wanneer we sterven, herenigt ons bewustzijn zich met de kosmos.

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De niveautheorie
Volgens de niveautheorie gaan mensen na de dood over naar een nieuwe fase van bestaan, wat suggereert dat mens-zijn slechts het begin is binnen het grotere geheel.

©NL Beeld

De 'The Good Place'-theorie
De populaire tv-serie The Good Place introduceert een fascinerend concept van het hiernamaals. Het verhaal draait om personages die, door een speling van het lot, in de hemel belanden, liefkozend The Good Place genoemd. Met eindeloze hoeveelheden frozen yogurt, gepersonaliseerde woningen en de kans om je zielsverwant te ontmoeten, doet deze idyllische versie van het hiernamaals kijkers verlangen naar een wereld waarin dit echt zou kunnen bestaan.

©Shutterstock

De boomhypothese
Heb je ooit gehoord van het concept van de Levensboom? Sommige mensen omarmen dit idee door ervoor te kiezen hun stoffelijke resten te laten begraven in een boomcapsule. Op deze manier worden hun lichamen teruggegeven aan de aarde, met de overtuiging dat ze in een volgend bestaan kunnen transformeren tot een bloeiende boom.

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25-03-2026 om 15:51 geschreven door peter  

Israel's Stonehenge No Longer Alone: Dozens of Stone Circles Discovered

Gary Manners

A recent archaeological investigation has offered a substantive reassessment of Rujm el-Hiri, a large protohistoric stone complex in the Golan Heights frequently characterized as the "Israeli Stonehenge." Rather than interpreting the site as a unique and isolated monument, a new study proposes that it constitutes the most elaborate expression of a broader regional tradition of circular stone-built architecture, and that dozens of similar structures have been hiding in plain sight for decades.

Published in PLOS One, the research conducted by Michal Birkenfeld, Olga Khabarova, Lev V. Eppelbaum, and Uri Berger documents over 30 large circular basalt structures within a 25-kilometer radius of Rujm el-Hiri, including 28 previously unrecorded examples. The authors attribute the prior absence of these features in the archaeological record primarily to methodological constraints associated with conventional ground-based survey techniques. Employing an integrated methodological framework, combining high-resolution satellite imagery, artificial intelligence, geophysical modeling, and spatial analysis, the study identifies a consistent architectural typology across the region.

Orthophoto of Khirbet Bteha.

(Created by A. Kleiner/PLoS ONE)

Methodological Advancements Reveal Hidden Structures

The newly discovered structures are characterized by substantial outer walls constructed from basalt fieldstones, typically arranged in concentric configurations and, in many cases, interconnected by radial or orthogonal internal divisions. These recurring design elements indicate a shared constructional logic and suggest a coherent cultural or technological tradition during the protohistoric period.

Rujm el-Hiri itself, first identified in 1968 through aerial reconnaissance, comprises a central cairn encircled by multiple concentric stone rings, with an overall diameter exceeding 150 meters and containing roughly 40,000 tons of stone.

Its function has long been debated, with hypotheses ranging from funerary and ceremonial uses to defensive or astronomical purposes. However, the lack of definitive stratified material and associated settlement evidence has historically limited interpretative certainty. The present study challenges the longstanding assumption of the site's isolation by demonstrating the existence of a dense and previously under-recognized distribution of analogous structures across the basalt plateaus of the Golan Heights and adjacent regions.

"Gilgal Refaim is, of course, a very well-known site, and it was always considered to be a very unique site in the area," said lead researcher Michal Birkenfeld. "Most [of the sites we discovered] were not as elaborate and were of different sizes and levels of preservation, but they still have the same type of logic," he added.

• What's Special About Golan Heights? These 5 Fabulous Recent Archaeological Discoveries For a Start!
• Rare Rock Art in Mysterious Dolmen Discovered in the Golan

Aerial photo of Rujm el-Hiri, view to east.

(Photograph by Y. Shmidov and A. Wiegmann/PLoS ONE)

AI and Satellite Imagery Uncover the Past

Analysis of multi-temporal satellite datasets spanning from 2004 to 2024 enabled the identification of these features, many of which remain poorly preserved, partially dismantled, or obscured by subsequent land-use activities. Researchers processed archives from multiple satellite platforms, including Google Earth Pro and CNES/Airbus and applied AI techniques to reduce interference from shadows and seasonal vegetation, enabling the identification of features that had remained invisible in conventional surveys. The newly identified circles range from approximately 50 to 250 feet in diameter, and while smaller and more degraded than Rujm el-Hiri, they share the same fundamental architectural logic.

• Wheel of Giants: Prehistoric Rujm el-Hiri Puzzles Archaeologists
• Israel's Stonehenge Is Not an Astronomical Observatory, Researchers Say

Aerial views of the four ‘simple’ circles. (Aerial imagery provided by the survey of Israel (MAPI)- used with permission. 

(Created by M. Birkenfeld and U. Berger/PLoS ONE)

The clusters highlight repeated occupation or a long-standing use of particular locations. There is a non-random variation of structures found in spaces where most are located on gently sloping terrain or on high plateau sites, and those near seasonal water sources. The common proximity of such monuments with dolmens, tumuli, and field-wall networks tells that these were part of a large cultural landscape and may have played different roles in ritual, territory, and socio-economic affairs. Intriguingly, similar-looking sites have also been noted farther afield in Galilee and Lebanon, suggesting the tradition may have extended well beyond the immediate Golan region.

Reassessing Astronomical Alignments

The study further revisits long-standing hypotheses concerning astronomical alignments at the site. Emerging geophysical and palaeomagnetic evidence indicates that the region has experienced gradual yet measurable tectonic rotation over millennial timescales. As a result, the current orientation of architectural elements is unlikely to reflect their original spatial configuration, introducing significant uncertainty into earlier claims of deliberate celestial alignment and necessitating a more cautious interpretative approach. A previous 2025 study co-authored by Birkenfeld had already weakened the astronomical observatory theory, calculating an average rotational movement of 8 to 15 millimeters per year - meaning the stones have likely shifted several meters from their original positions.

A central contribution of the research lies in its methodological advancement, particularly in demonstrating the analytical potential of remote sensing for archaeological prospection. Through the integration of multi-temporal, high-resolution satellite imagery, the study successfully identifies subtle and degraded features that have remained undetected in traditional ground surveys. This approach not only substantially expands the regional archaeological dataset but also prompts a critical reassessment of existing interpretative models shaped by incomplete or biased observational records. "If this is not a unique structure, I find more leverage in the idea that this was an area to get together," Birkenfeld said.

The authors argue that Rujm el-Hiri should no longer be interpreted as an anomalous or isolated construction, but rather as a key locus within a broader, previously under-recognized architectural tradition in the protohistoric southern Levant. Within this framework, large circular stone structures are understood as integral components of a complex cultural landscape, likely embedded in the social organization, economic strategies, and symbolic practices of agro-pastoral communities during the Chalcolithic and Early Bronze Age periods. Further research is required to establish a more robust chronological framework and to clarify the functional diversity of these monuments, but the study marks a substantive conceptual shift in how scholars understand protohistoric landscape use and spatial organization.

• Top image: Aerial view of the ancient Rujm el-Hiri megalithic monument in the Golan Heights.
• Source: Zeev Stein / CC BY 2.5

By Gary Manners

 { https://www.ancient-origins.net/news-history-archaeology }

24-03-2026 om 23:55 geschreven door peter