Dit is ons nieuw hondje Kira, een kruising van een waterhond en een Podenko. Ze is sinds 7 februari 2024 bij ons en druk bezig ons hart te veroveren. Het is een lief, aanhankelijk hondje, dat zich op een week snel aan ons heeft aangepast. Ze is heel vinnig en nieuwsgierig, een heel ander hondje dan Noleke.
This is our new dog Kira, a cross between a water dog and a Podenko. She has been with us since February 7, 2024 and is busy winning our hearts. She is a sweet, affectionate dog who quickly adapted to us within a week. She is very quick and curious, a very different dog than Noleke.
DEAR VISITOR,
MY BLOG EXISTS ALREADY 12 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS.
ON 06/04/2024 MORE THAN 1.951.050
VISITORS FROM 134 DIFFERENT NATIONS ALREADY FOUND THEIR WAY TO MY BLOG.
THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF 400GUESTS PER DAY.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG AND HOPE YOU ENJOY EACH TIME.
The purpose of this blog is the creation of an open, international, independent and free forum, where every UFO-researcher can publish the results of his/her research. The languagues, used for this blog, are Dutch, English and French.You can find the articles of a collegue by selecting his category. Each author stays resposable for the continue of his articles. As blogmaster I have the right to refuse an addition or an article, when it attacks other collegues or UFO-groupes.
Druk op onderstaande knop om te reageren in mijn forum
Zoeken in blog
Deze blog is opgedragen aan mijn overleden echtgenote Lucienne.
In 2012 verloor ze haar moedige strijd tegen kanker!
In 2011 startte ik deze blog, omdat ik niet mocht stoppen met mijn UFO-onderzoek.
BEDANKT!!!
Een interessant adres?
UFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE ALLERLAATSTE NIEUWTJES
UFO's of UAP'S in België en de rest van de wereld In België had je vooral BUFON of het Belgisch UFO-Netwerk, dat zich met UFO's bezighoudt. BEZOEK DUS ZEKER VOOR ALLE OBJECTIEVE INFORMATIE , enkel nog beschikbaar via Facebook en deze blog.
Verder heb je ook het Belgisch-Ufo-meldpunt en Caelestia, die prachtig, doch ZEER kritisch werk leveren, ja soms zelfs héél sceptisch...
Voor Nederland kan je de mooie site www.ufowijzer.nl bezoeken van Paul Harmans. Een mooie site met veel informatie en artikels.
MUFON of het Mutual UFO Network Inc is een Amerikaanse UFO-vereniging met afdelingen in alle USA-staten en diverse landen.
MUFON's mission is the analytical and scientific investigation of the UFO- Phenomenon for the benefit of humanity...
Je kan ook hun site bekijken onder www.mufon.com.
Ze geven een maandelijks tijdschrift uit, namelijk The MUFON UFO-Journal.
Since 02/01/2020 is Pieter ex-president (=voorzitter) of BUFON, but also ex-National Director MUFON / Flanders and the Netherlands. We work together with the French MUFON Reseau MUFON/EUROP.
ER IS EEN NIEUWE GROEPERING DIE ZICH BUFON NOEMT, MAAR DIE HEBBEN NIETS MET ONZE GROEP TE MAKEN. DEZE COLLEGA'S GEBRUIKEN DE NAAM BUFON VOOR HUN SITE... Ik wens hen veel succes met de verdere uitbouw van hun groep. Zij kunnen de naam BUFON wel geregistreerd hebben, maar het rijke verleden van BUFON kunnen ze niet wegnemen...
30-11-2023
A few alien structures in NASA moon photo, UFO Sighting News.
A few alien structures in NASA moon photo, UFO Sighting News.
Now I took the original photo and added contrast to it, because it was over exposed...meaning NASA added too much light to blur out the detail. They do that often, but I thought I would share with you a few of the interesting structures I found. Interesting fact about alien structures, since it is an alien culture, its rules of making structures are different from our own, therefore do not expect the expected, but instead look forward to the unexpected.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
5,500km Boomerang UAP Passes Sun On Nov 27, 2023, Video, UFO Sighting News.
5,500km Boomerang UAP Passes Sun On Nov 27, 2023, Video, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting: Nov 27, 2023, 16:46:53 Location of sighting: Earths Sun Source: Helioviewer.org
I was looking at objects near the sun on Helioviewer. It's a NASA program that is designed for the public and educators to share. I found that in a single frame of the video, there is a huge craft that measures 5,500km across from wing tip to wing tip. Yes you heard me right, it's long and it's a boomerang type UAP shape. As it passes the sun it is unphased by the suns powerful gravity, showing no sign of bending. Also, the UAP seems to be pulling the suns material toward it and creating a stream behind the UAP, much like a ship moving through the ocean and living long lines in its wake from the plankton. A similar shaped UFO was seen by thousands of residence in Phoenix, Arizona on March 13, 1997, where a huge boomerang UFO blocked out the stars in the sky for miles.
It's hard to believe that this craft was caught in only one frame, that means it was traveling faster than anything we have on Earth. I looked at the frames:
16:36:41 frame before
16:46:53 UAP here ++++
16:56:29 frame after
And I found that there was a ten minute per frame rate. This tells us that the UAP was traveling very fast, not only faster than any rocket today, but faster than any comet or meteor ever recorded. It's traveling at partial light speed, about that of 1/10. Which tells me that not only was it fast, but if object can come close to light speed, there must be those that can travel faster than light speed, which is what makes time travel possible. The speed of the object, size and shape all indicate a massive alien ship passed our sun and was in our solar system on Nov 27th, but NASA of course would never mention it, because they believe the public is not intelligent enough to ever discover or find this info in their data bases. Clearly NASA needs to catch up to my speed, because they are falling far behind.
TikTok influencer captures a UFO disappearing in a flash of light
TikTok influencer captures a UFO disappearing in a flash of light
Approximately a week ago, TikTok influencer Gkbarry found herself engrossed in promotional recordings. Amidst her busy schedule, she unintentionally captured a spherical object flying through the sky at a remarkable speed.
To her surprise, the footage not only revealed the sphere but also a substantial flash surrounding the sphere just before it vanished.
Due to the object's fast movement, it was nearly visible in the initial recording. However, upon closer inspection through zooming, both the object and its trajectory became distinctly visible as well as unveiling the flash that occurred moments before its disappearance.
The enhanced zooming, starting at the 0.35-minute mark in the video, provides a clearer view of the mysterious object and the intriguing flash that unfolded during its flight.
US Military Confirms UFO Sightings in Outer Space, Official Reports Reveal!
US Military Confirms UFO Sightings in Outer Space, Official Reports Reveal!
In the vast expanse above us, a silent drama unfolds. The United States Space Force (USSF), the newest branch of the US Armed Forces, is grappling with an unprecedented challenge — the detection of thousands of unidentified flying objects(UFOs) orbiting our planet. This celestial mystery, once the domain of science fiction, is now a stark reality that poses complex questions for our guardians of the galaxy.
Established in 2019 under the Trump administration, the USSF was tasked with a mission of cosmic proportions: to safeguard America from space-based threats. But as the USSF stares into the abyss of space, the abyss stares back with a puzzle woven in a tapestry of unknowns. These UFOs, or ‘abnormal observables’ as they are termed, are cluttering the Earth’s orbit, making the crucial job of threat identification a Herculean task.
The nature of these ‘abnormal observables’ is as varied as it is perplexing. While some could be dismissed as mundane space debris or meteoroids, others exhibit behaviors that defy conventional understanding. We’re talking about objects that challenge gravity, vanish from radars, accelerate suddenly, and achieve hypersonic speeds without the acoustic signatures like sonic booms. They also demonstrate ‘trans-medium’ travel capabilities, seamlessly transitioning between air, sea, and space — a feature that leaves even seasoned scientists in awe.
This cosmic conundrum isn’t just about identifying what is floating above us; it’s about understanding potential threats. Among these unidentified objects could be covert spy satellites launched by foreign adversaries, such as North Korea’s Malligyong-1. The USSF is also wary of the largely unmonitored ‘cislunar’ orbit — the space between the Earth and the moon, which could harbor unseen dangers.
The challenges are as vast as space itself. As of now, NASA‘s data indicates over 25,000 objects in orbit, a mix of man-made and natural entities. Distinguishing friend from foe, debris from danger, in this crowded orbital dance is no small feat. It’s a task that demands cutting-edge technology, sharp analytical minds, and a significant financial commitment. The USSF’s budget reflects this, with a substantial part dedicated to research, development, testing, and evaluation.
VIDEO:
NASA’s Spectacular CGI Journey Through Tracked Objects in Earth’s Orbit
Looking ahead, the USSF’s plans are as ambitious as they are necessary. The Oracle spacecraft, set to launch in 2026, aims to monitor the cislunar region. It’s a mission that symbolizes the USSF’s proactive approach to these unidentified phenomena — a step towards illuminating the shadows in our celestial neighborhood.
In this new age of space exploration and defense, the USSF’s journey is emblematic of humanity’s eternal quest to understand the unknown. As we gaze upwards, the mysteries of the universe continue to unfold, reminding us that we are but a small part of a vast, intricate cosmic ballet. The USSF’s endeavor is not just a mission of defense; it is a journey into the heart of this grand mystery, a testament to our unyielding spirit of exploration and discovery.
Grote zonnestorm op komst: vannacht kans op noorderlicht boven België en storingen voor gps- en communicatiesystemen
Grote zonnestorm op komst: vannacht kans op noorderlicht boven België en storingen voor gps- en communicatiesystemen
Artikel van Wim De Maeseneer
Wie het noorderlicht wil zien, moet normaal gezien naar het hoge noorden trekken. Maar uitzonderlijk kan het ook in Nederland en zelfs België zichtbaar zijn. Dat was begin deze maand al eens het geval. Maar ook komende nacht en vrijdagnacht is er opnieuw een kans.
Ruimteweerdiensten melden dat er een sterke geomagnetische storm zal woeden. Een plasmawolk van geladen deeltjes van de zon. Die zal naar verwachting deze nacht of morgenvroeg de aarde bereiken.
"Op een schaal van 0 tot 9 verwachten we een zonnestorm van maximaal 8", zegt ruimteweervrouw Petra Vanlommel van het Solar Terrestrial Centre of Excellence in Ukkel.
"Als we effectief 8 halen, dan betekent dat dat de wolk aan geladen deeltjes sterk genoeg is om noorderlicht te veroorzaken dat tot boven België te zien is. Misschien niet met het blote oog, maar zeker met een fototoestel.”
Al zijn de weersvoorspellingen voorlopig niet al te gunstig. "Het wolkendek trekt in de loop van de nacht dicht, al kunnen er lokaal wel opklaringen zijn", zegt weerman Bram Verbruggen. "Ook morgen verwachten we maar weinig opklaringen."
De zonnestorm is het gevolg van drie verschillende uitbarstingen op de zon de voorbije dagen. "Maandag zijn twee plasmawolken uitgestoten die sindsdien op weg zijn naar de aarde. Dinsdag was er nog een derde uitbarsting."
"Die derde plasmawolk gaat de twee andere inhalen en ze als het ware opeten. We noemen dat een kannibaal-plasmawolk. Het is die grote wolk die nu op ons afkomt."
"Er was trouwens nog een vrij grote zonnevlam dinsdag, waarbij ook een zonnewolk werd uitgestoten. Die wolk zal ons morgenavond bereiken. We weten momenteel nog niet hoe hevig die impact zal zijn, maar die kan de storm die woedt versterken en langer laten duren."
Welke gevolgen kunnen we verwachten?
Hoe de plasmawolk er precies uitziet, weten ruimteweerdiensten maar één uur voor de wolk "botst" met de aarde. Dan pas weten we hoe zwaar de zonnestorm zal zijn en welke impact hij zal hebben. Zeker is in elk geval dat onze dampkring zal worden verstoord.
Als de ionosfeer, het bovenste deel van de dampkring, wordt verstoord, kan dat problemen geven voor satellieten, bij radiocommunicatie over lange afstand en voor navigatiesystemen.
"Iemand die met zijn auto onderweg is en de gps gebruikt, gaat daar niets van merken. Het maakt niet echt uit of het huis waar je naartoe gaat, één meter meer naar links of rechts staat. Voor vliegtuigen bijvoorbeeld wel."
Het Solar Terrestrial Centre of Excellence stuurt bij zonnestormen daarom waarschuwingen uit naar de civiele luchtvaart over de hele wereld. "Ik ben vrijdagnacht van wacht en ik hou mijn hart vast. Waarschijnlijk zal ik de hele nacht moeten opblijven om het ruimteweer in de gaten te houden."
Waarom zo veel zonnestormen?
Het stormseizoen op de zon is duidelijk volop aan de gang. De zon is namelijk niet altijd even actief. Gemiddeld om de 11 jaar piekt haar activiteit, en zijn er veel meer stormen en uitbarstingen op de zon.
"Je kan het vergelijken met de seizoenen op aarde, alleen zijn er op de zon maar 2 seizoenen en die duren elk 5,5 jaar", zegt Vanlommel. "Maar net zoals op aarde is de ene zomer de andere niet. En is het de ene zomer al wat warmer dan de andere."
Op dit moment zijn we duidelijk op weg naar een zogenoemd zonnemaximum. Wetenschappers voorspellen dat de piek in 2024 of 2025 zal zijn. Maar volgens sommige onderzoekers zijn er aanwijzingen dat de zon actiever is dan verwacht en dat we sneller de piek gaan bereiken.
Zoals elke religieuze tekst, staat ook de Bijbel open voor interpretatie en is niet per se feitelijk accuraat. Echter blijkt dat sommige delen van de tekst volgens de wetenschap wel op waarheid berusten.
De aarde is rond Hoewel sommige samenzweringstheorieën iets anders beweren, heeft de wetenschap bevestigd dat onze planeet rond is. Dit wordt ook in de Bijbel genoemd: 'Hij troont boven de kring der aarde' (Jesaja 40:22).
En als je op zoek bent naar Bijbelse bevestiging dat de aarde in de ruimte zweeft, zoek dan niet verder dan Job 26:7. Daar staat: 'Hij spreidt de noordelijke hemel uit over lege ruimte; hij hangt de aarde boven niets.'
De waterkringloop, ook wel de hydrologische kringloop genoemd, is een bekend fenomeen. Het blijkt dat de Bijbel het meer dan eens vermeldt. Prediker 1:7 zegt: 'Alle stromen stromen in de zee, maar de zee is nooit vol. Naar de plaats waar de stromen vandaan komen, daar keren ze weer terug.'
Er bestaat een waterkringloop Amos 9:6 vermeldt het ook in één deel: 'Hij roept om de wateren van de zee en giet ze uit over het oppervlak van het land.' En dat doet Job 36:27-28 ook: 'Hij trekt de waterdruppels omhoog, die als regen naar de stromen sijpelen; de wolken gieten hun vocht neer en overvloedige regenbuien vallen op de mensheid.'
Er bestaat een waterkringloop Een ander voorbeeld is te vinden in Psalm 135:7, waar staat: 'Hij laat wolken opstijgen van de uiteinden van de aarde; hij zendt bliksem met de regen en laat de wind uit zijn voorraadschuren komen.'
De zondvloed is waarschijnlijk echt gebeurd De zondvloed en de ark van Noach is een van de meest populaire verhalen uit de Bijbel. En volgens geologisch bewijs zou de zondvloed van Noach echt kunnen hebben plaatsgevonden.
De ark zou hebben gefunctioneerd Volgens Genesis 6:13-22 waren Gods instructies aan Noach als volgt: 'De ark moet 140 meter lang, 23 meter breed en 14 meter hoog zijn.'
De ark zou hebben gefunctioneerd Het blijkt dat de wiskunde correct is. Volgens berekeningen gemaakt door natuurkundestudenten aan de Universiteit van Leicester in 2014, zou de ark daadwerkelijk drijven en solide genoeg zijn om twee paren van elke diersoort te kunnen dragen.
Er zijn talloze sterren aan de hemel Natuurlijk weten we dat het universum veel sterren heeft. En met veel bedoelen we wel een biljoen sterren per melkwegstelsel. En er wordt geschat dat er ongeveer 100 miljard sterrenstelsels in het heelal zijn!
Er zijn talloze sterren aan de hemel De Bijbel vermeldt dit in Jeremia 33:22: 'Ik zal de nakomelingen van mijn dienaar David en de Levieten die voor mij dienen zo ontelbaar als de sterren aan de hemel en zo onmetelijk als het zand aan de kust.
Sterren verschillen onderling De Bijbel vermeldt ook dat de helderheid of grootte van sterren varieert. 'De zon heeft een soort pracht, de maan heeft een andere soort pracht en de sterren weer een andere; elke ster verschilt van pracht.' (Korinthiërs 15:41).
Hemellichamen hebben niet het eeuwige leven We weten nu dat sterren en andere astronomische lichamen sterven. De wetenschap heeft dit bevestigd, maar de Bijbel vermeldt het ook.
Het universum is gemaakt van onzichtbare deeltjes Hebreeën 11:3 luidt: 'Door geloof begrijpen we dat het heelal op Gods bevel werd gevormd, zodat het zichtbare niet werd gemaakt uit het zichtbare.
Het universum is gemaakt van onzichtbare deeltjes It sounds like the Bible is talking about atoms. Protons, neutrons, and electrons on their own are invisible to the naked eye. Atoms make up pretty much everything, including us.
David zou Goliath daadwerkelijk hebben kunnen verslaan Een kleine jongen die een reus verslaat klinkt misschien onwaarschijnlijk, maar het verhaal van David en Goliath in 1 Samuël 17 verteld het net iets anders.
David zou Goliath daadwerkelijk hebben kunnen verslaan Een katapult is misschien niet het krachtigste wapen, maar de stenen uit Elah Valley waren gemaakt van bariumsulfaat, dat extreem massief is en Goliath zou daarmee gemakkelijk uitgeschakeld kunnen worden.
David zou Goliath daadwerkelijk hebben kunnen verslaan Maar er is meer. Als reus leed Goliath waarschijnlijk aan Acromegalie (overproductie van groeihormoon). Dit kan problemen met het gezichtsvermogen veroorzaken en het centrale (perifere) gezichtsvermogen kan beperkt zijn, wat handig zou zijn geweest voor David.
De zon stopte echt met schijnen Er vond namelijk een verduistering plaats. Jozua 10:12 luidt: 'Op de dag dat de Heer de Amorieten aan Israël overgaf, zei Jozua tot de Heer in het bijzijn van Israël: 'Zon, sta stil boven Gibeon, en jij, maan, over de vallei van Ajalon.''
Wezens kunnen niet leven zonder bloed De meesten van ons zijn bekend met het verhaal van Adam en Eva uit de Bijbel. Mensen hebben in feite een vrouwelijke biologische voorouder genaamd Mitochondriale Eva, die voorafgaat aan onze soort: Homo sapiens. Er is echter één ding dat ons alle levende wezens verbindt: bloed.
Wezens kunnen niet leven zonder bloed 'Want het leven van een schepsel is in het bloed, en ik heb het u gegeven om voor uzelf te verzoenen te doen op het altaar; het is het bloed dat verzoening doet voor iemands leven' (Leviticus 17:11).
Ontsmetten is echt belangrijk De pandemie heeft ons allemaal pro's gemaakt in het ontsmetten van onze handen en kleding om verspreiding van ziektekiemen te voorkomen, maar de Bijbel noemde het belang ervan al lang geleden.
De zieken moeten zich isoleren Hoewel er zich later in de geschiedenis behoorlijke quarantaines ontwikkelden, adviseerde de Bijbel al 'de getroffen persoon zeven dagen af te zonderen', en als ze niet beter zijn, 'ze nog zeven dagen te isoleren' (Leviticus 13:1-5).
Leviticus 11:28 zegt bijvoorbeeld: 'Iedereen die hun karkassen ophaalt, moet zijn kleren wassen, en ze zullen tot de avond onrein zijn. Deze dieren zijn onrein voor jullie.'
Sightings of UFOs may challenge our entire worldview, but the facts are too compelling to ignore, and they’re not going away. So, it’s time to wash off the sticky stigma and engage in serious discussion about the evidence, and its implications.
Most UFO sightings are attributable to man-made objects like experimental aircraft or satellites, innocent misidentifications of Venus and other celestial objects, or outright hoaxes. However, we now know that in a minority of cases, there appears to be something else going on: something quite extraordinary and beyond our current comprehension.
According to the U.S. Department of Defense, there are objects of unknown origin, evidently under intelligent control, which behave in ways that seem to challenge our understanding of physics. These objects don’t just “fly” without any apparent lift surfaces or means of propulsion; according to some military testimony, they would appear to be the fastest technological objects on Earth, capable of accelerating so quickly that they should create sonic booms, superheat the air around them into a glowing plasma, and instantly kill any occupants on board.
Instead, they silently maneuver with perfect agility through the atmosphere and, according to some eyewitness reports, underwater, as if basic rules of inertia and friction simply don’t apply to them.
There’s general acknowledgment that these phenomena have been documented in America since at least the late 1940s, and probably much earlier. Hence, many longtime UFO advocates, as well as those newer to the subject, are now asking why it has taken 70 years for government offices to openly regard UFOs as a subject of serious inquiry. This is a question that deserves a lengthy public discussion.
Today, serious researchers are beginning–sometimes grudgingly–to admit that UFOs (or UAPs if you prefer the rebranded version) are a valid area of study, and pockets of scientific enthusiasm are emerging. After the New York Times made the revelation of a secret Pentagon UFO study their front page story, the Department of Defense subsequently admitted that leaked UFO videos were in fact real (and that it has others it’s not showing us). Since that time, a NASA UFO research initiative headed by Princeton’s former chair of astronomy has been launched, former Harvard astronomer Avi Loeb’s Galileo Project wants to determine if the strange phenomena are extraterrestrial. The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office is now investigating UFO phenomena across all the branches of the military; the US Navy has revised its protocols to counter stigmas against UFO reporting and encourage sighting reports by pilots (like this one); and there have been briefings in the US Senate and House regarding the more than 650 sightings now being studied by AARO, marking an almost singular point of bipartisanship in a traditionally fractured Congress.
This explosion of interest and influx of expertise, credibility, and funding into UFO research will create a flow of ideas between old-hat UFO researchers and establishment newcomers to the subject. As some scientific communities shift to incorporate the nascently-legitimate subject of UFO research, they may have to accommodate elements of the other’s conceptual frameworks, methodologies, and research agendas, and this will require questioning old assumptions about what sort of evidence actually exists and how to interpret it. Likewise, it is the perfect moment for UFO-interested folks to pause and evaluate their own assumptions about the subject, many of which seem to have been in place since the very beginning of the Flying Saucer craze that in 1947 began simultaneously in bothAmericaandCanada. As career researchers and academics (like me) join the conversation, the contours of the conversation itself will inevitably shift–I think for the better.
HOW I CAME TO THE SUBJECT, AND WHAT I NOTICED AS A NEWCOMER
My own journey down the UFO rabbit hole began one day early in 2019. As I flipped through a catalog from Oxford University Press, one title, in particular, jumped out at me: American Cosmic: UFOs, Religion, Technology by Diana Walsh Pasulka, a tenured professor of religion at the University of North Carolina. What surprised me most was that the blurb in the catalog suggested the author thought that it was not merely the UFO believers that were interesting, but that the phenomenon itself was worth serious attention. I promptly ordered a copy, and once it arrived I spent the next few days absorbed in the most bizarre piece of nonfiction I’d ever read.
The UFO enthusiasts Pasulka spent the most time with–two men she dubbed “James” and “Tyler” to preserve their anonymity–were both experiencers of the phenomenon. However, they weren’t tinfoil-hat-waring obsessives; they were scientists and academics, and not long after her book was published, a prodigious Stanford biomedical scientist named Garry Nolan revealed that he was the man referred to in the text as “James”. Around the same time, members of Reddit, by perusing the Vatican archive visitors’ log for the days Pasulka and “Tyler” visited, discovered that the latter appears to have been Timothy Taylor, founder of Endius.
Screenshot from the Vatican Observatory 2017 Annual Report
(Vatican Observatory).
What I found as I slipped into the deep end of the pool of UFO research was that, first, there is no shallow end. It’s deep ends everywhere you go, and once you clear away the debris of obvious hoaxes and non-evidential sightings, every drop in the pool–that is, every case warranting sustained attention–is a little ocean with its own perplexing depths where nothing is what it at first seems to be. The important facts of each case are often so embedded in the commentaries and interpretations that have grown around them that it’s difficult to consider them separately from the belief systems of the UFO community itself.
QUESTIONING COMMON SENSE WITH RELATION TO UFOS
Like all communities defined by a belief system, over time the most important beliefs become accepted so widely that they eventually feel too obvious even to mention. It’s similar to the way we don’t ever point out that murder isn’t nice; beliefs like these are accepted so widely and deeply that they pass out of consciousness altogether to some deeper place, where they operate out of sight.
We are born into an atmosphere of these powerful but unspoken beliefs, and we adopt them not by reasoning about the evidence for or against them; rather, we simply accept them as part of the foundation of beliefs that we need in order to do any reasoning at all. If reasoning were a game of chess, these beliefs wouldn’t be pieces in the game or moves made by players: they’d be the board.
These beliefs–the ones paradoxically so obvious that they’re invisible–are what some people in my field call ideology. The word is sometimes used pejoratively, but the fact is that everyone has an ideology. Questioning a person’s foundational beliefs can be so uncomfortable that it feels like an existential threat, and we respond defensively, even violently. Likewise, if we encounter any idea that flatly contradicts our foundational beliefs, it will seem patently false and absurd.
These responses to strange new ideas are, of course, mistakes. Different people can have wildly different belief systems. And our familiarity or comfort with a belief is not evidence of its truth.
If we’re concerned with uncovering the actual truth of the world outside our skulls, it’s essential that we sometimes do the very uncomfortable work of identifying and questioning the assumptions about the world that feel most comfortable and sensible to us. It’s the only way to ensure we’re not trapped in an echo chamber, looking for a truth hidden in one of our ideological blind spots.
What I’m proposing we all do regarding our ideas about UFOs is not so much taking a new perspective or “thinking outside the box”, but thinking about the box itself, by turning our eyes away from the problem at hand, to take a look at the constraints, expectations, and assumptions we bring to the problem in the first place, to see how they might be limiting or obstructing our attempts to solve the problem we’ve set within them, and to ask how we might construct a better box. As with most good ideas, the philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche said it best, capturing my suggestion in his dictum that “Whatever wobbles, you should push.”
And this is exactly what I think the UFO community should do right now, in light of the growth of attention and collaboration regarding the topic. Shaking up the community’s ideology, and pushing at the wobbly bits will help identify areas ripe for creative thought, and will make collaboration more smooth and transparent. We may even surprise ourselves once we all lay our ideological cards on the table.
To us take a few first steps in this direction, I’ve identified four assumptions that seem to me to act as a kind of ideological orthodoxy among experiencers and researchers, and even among everyday people who maintain a quiet interest in the subject. These assumptions, I think, have their roots in our shared experience of Western culture and its worldview with relation to UFOs, from our suspicions toward governments to familiar tropes from science fiction stories to Hollywood’s speculative depictions of our intergalactic neighbors. When it comes to asking serious questions about the unknown, though, we need better foundations than these, and building those foundations starts with deconstructing our current ones.
FOUR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT UFOS WORTH PRODDING
I’ve noticed four basic assumptions prevalent among UFO researchers and enthusiasts, as well as the general public that, as a philosopher, I think deserve some prodding.
ASSUMPTION ONE: THE SUPREMACY OF ETH
The first culture-wide assumption that, as a philosopher, I think deserves a close look is the one that, at first glance, seems most sensible; this is the assumption that the most obvious explanation for real UFOs is also the best one: that they’re extraterrestrial craft, under the control of intelligent extraterrestrial beings. This idea, often called the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (or ETH for short), seems to come to mind spontaneously for nearly everyone when they think of UFOs (including me). But, after a lot of reflection, as far as I can tell, it’s not our brains’ automatic first choice because there is really strong evidence that ETH is a better explanation than any other. Rather, I think it’s our default assumption because most of us don’t think outside the possibilities presented to us in science fiction.
The consequence is that most of us aren’t even aware that the Extra-Terrestrial Hypothesis (ETH), with its either/or logic of “ if it’s not humans, then it must be ETs”, is certainly not the only plausible explanation for these phenomena. There are other views that deserve serious consideration. One possibility is that there is some natural process that occupies some unknown area of physics, and that can mimic intelligent behavior. This may sound far-fetched, but we already know of other natural phenomena thatseemto behave in inexplicably intelligent ways: unintelligentslime molds can solve mazesand can even reproduce maps of Tokyo’s railway system. Similarly, totally blind evolutionary processes produce biological objects that seem like the product of design by intelligence. Perhaps some UFOs are themselves natural phenomena that simply seem to behave with intelligence. This of course leaves the question of how they defy our understanding of physics, but it’s a start.
Another possibility is that UFOs are a special kind of mental phenomenon that can manifest in visible, external ways. Some Renaissance scientists studying the eye pointed out that it had the same structure as a projector, and reckoned that the eye might sometimes work in reverse, projecting light to create external images, rather than receiving light and turning it into mental images.
Fig 1. Oculus arteficialis from Elementa Opticae et Perspectivae by Jan-FransThysbaert, public domain. Just as a speaker is a microphone that works in reverse, the eye is a projector that works in reverse.
Fig 2. Aerial perspective, by Johann Zahn, Oculus artificialis teledioptricus sive telescopium, 1702, public domain.
We can be confident today that this particular phenomenon isn’t real, but arguably stranger phenomena are now well-established realities. From robots controlled entirely by brain waves to machines that can render our dreams in visible images, technologies are allowing the contents of our minds to have a powerful presence in the world outside our heads. None of this even mentions theories of reality that totally throw into question the distinction between the “internal” and “external” world–ideas like the Simulation Hypothesis and holographic theories of the universe.
Another alternative to the ETH put forward by one of the most credentialed and intellectually rigorous UFO investigators out there, Jacques Vallée, is that reality itself has within it some fundamental mechanism for disrupting our certainty about the world. This mechanism, he theorizes, kicks in at opportune moments to manifest weirdness that is calculated, often humorously, to mystify us into wonder or incomprehension. For Vallée, who calls his theory the “Control System Hypothesis”, reality itself may be a trickster whose purpose is to nudge our collective consciousness in ways that encourage society to develop in particular ways.
As bizarre as this idea sounds, it’s not one that Vallée brought into his research into UFOs, but rather a notion he began to formulate after decades of flying around the world, personally investigating reported encounters and interviewing experiencers. By his own account, he was initially persuaded by the ETH, but case by case, he became convinced that the details simply didn’t add up to an extraterrestrial explanation. He found that, when experiencers were allowed to describe the details of their encounters as they experienced them, rather than simply responding to standard data-collection questions about the size and shape of craft, number, and arrangement of lights, etc., these sane, intelligent experiencers who shunned publicity and sought no personal gain, recalled details that are flatly absurd. The occupants of UFOs disembark for no other apparent reason than to argue with witnesses about what the time is, or to offer bystanders pancakes. Such encounters seem intentionally surreal to Vallée as if they were constructed in order to mystify experiencers with their absurdity.
Another category of (quasi) encounters with UFOs that is rife with the absurd is the category of reported alien abductions. Abduction reports often describe beings who, despite obviously possessing ultra-sophisticated technology, inflict pseudo-medical “examinations” upon abductees using tools and methods that would be laughable for their medieval silliness if they weren’t so traumatizing for those who report these experiences.
The bizarre details of abduction encounters make them easy to dismiss out of hand, but it’s probably a mistake to ignore these reports. Pulitzer Prize-winner and then-chair of psychiatry at Harvard, John Mack, spent over a decade conducting hundreds of hours of interviews with self-identified abductees. In the end, he published collaborations with other psychiatrists, and severalrelatedbooks in which he reached three firm conclusions: 1) the people he interviewed were not crazy, 2) they were not lying, and 3) the only thing they seemed to have in common was the fact that they reported being abducted. Simply put, these sane, otherwise normal people really believed these things had happened to them.
You may, at this point, decide that we have strayed too far from respectable scientific speculation; Mack’s colleagues at Harvard suspected the same of him, and, in an attempt to oust him and formally discredit the incredible conclusions he drew, they descended upon his work with a formal investigation, the first Harvard had ever conducted upon one of its own faculty members. Their investigation alleged that Mack had committed gross professional irresponsibility by “communicat[ing], in any way whatsoever, to a person who has reported a ‘close encounter’ with an extraterrestrial life form that this experience might well have been real”. For fourteen months the team of Harvard professors pored over piles of Mack’s notes, data, and recorded interviews before they were finally forced to conclude that, despite a few methodological criticisms, there was no basis to deny the credibility of his work. Harvard subsequently declared that Mack–a man who publicly argued for the reality of abduction cases– was, and always had been, a member of Harvard’s faculty in good standing and that his scholarship was worthy of one of the greatest universities in the world.
Mack openly acknowledged that the abduction phenomenon is “some kind of psychological, spiritual experience” that is “both literally and physically happening”, and speculated that the events were “originating, perhaps, in another dimension.” He never made the surreal absurdities of abduction encounters a focal point of his study, but he left us with good reasons to believe these experiences were genuine–absurdities and all–which means the absurdity at the heart of many UFO and abduction encounters still requires an explanation. Vallée’s hypothesis seems, to a degree, like an attempt to address some of the questions raised by Mack’s research.
A totally different approach to understanding the incredible and sometimes absurd facts of the UFO phenomenon–an approach I call the “missing concepts” view–would be to consider that, if UFOs are the work of other intelligent beings, they are almost certainly the product of beings who have forms of experience, conceptual categories, and kinds of activities, and aims that would be incomprehensibly foreign to us. Our current relationship to the phenomena may then be akin to a race of intelligent, but totally blind aliens who have found and are trying to understand a human-made kaleidoscope. UFO phenomena, in other words, may be conceptually incomprehensible to us both in how they work, and what their basic purpose is. Our mental toolbox may be missing some of the essential concepts that are necessary for describing the phenomena, even at a rudimentary level, the way intelligent beings without a concept of visual experience simply can’t theorize their way to a good explanation of a kaleidoscope.
Each of these hypotheses—Vallee’s “control system”, the possibility that some are exotic but natural intelligence-mimicking phenomena, that they’re somehow of terrestrial origin, or that UFOs are currently conceptually incomprehensible–all deserve consideration alongside the ETH, and we should be trying to design many other new hypotheses too, along with empirical tests to eliminate them if they don’t fit the evidence. The standard assumption that any legitimate UFOs are extraterrestrial craft shouldn’t simply be discarded, but it should be tested alongside these other hypotheses.
ASSUMPTION TWO: THE UNITY OF THE PHENOMENA OF UFOS
The second assumption that seems to underlie nearly every conversation about UFOs is the belief that these unexplained phenomena are each individual manifestations of a single root phenomenon; that they’re all ultimately the same kind of thing and so, whatever the explanation may be, we only need one explanation. Like all assumptions, this is rarely stated, but I’ve yet to come across anyone who wants to distinguish between types of UFOs for the purpose of attributing unrelated causes to them.
When we’re trying to explain a collection of distinct phenomena spread across space and time, each with its own unique, noteworthy features, the best default assumption is that there are multiple distinct causes at play. The body of documented UFO phenomena includes glowing orbs, military encounters with craft-like objects, accounts of human and humanoid creatures, massive air battles among flying objects of wildly varying descriptions, and celestial apparitions, to name a few. This raises a serious methodological question: how do we draw the boundaries to define UFOs in the first place? How, for instance, are we to distinguish in every case between religious or mystical encounters–like the 1917 events at Fatima, Portugal–and more “normal” UFO encounters, with which they share some important features? This question becomes even more complex when we consider that experiencers can interpret the same details very differently depending on their worldview.
What is needed is for us to develop a rigorous, standardized taxonomy of the different kinds of encounters according to both empirical and subjective elements, and then to consider, for each type, which explanation fits with and explains the data best. There’s no good reason to assume, in the face of so much perplexing evidence, that there’s really only one kind of weird thing going on.
ASSUMPTION THREE: THE CONSISTENCY OF THE GOVERNMENT
Another idea joined at the hip of nearly every discussion about UFOs is the belief that The Government (usually the US) has probably already solved the mystery, and they’re playing dumb. The reasoning is clear: how could a technological superpower with a military spanning the globe not know what’s behind these phenomena, especially given the serious national security implications of strange objects in our airspace?
The heart of this suspicion is an assumption that the government–and here it’s more like The Government–is unified enough that it can harbor within itself a kind of secret society that spans its various branches and bureaus and operates effectively, and in secret. However, take a cursory glance at any major government project (and here, again, I am thinking especially of the US Government); whether it’s an interstate system, national healthcare, public education, taxation, natural disaster response, or even passing an annual budget, one will quickly conclude that our governments very often lack the unity required for accomplish even their most fundamental tasks.
This is just the nature of the beast: a large group comprising various ideologies tasked with pursuing multiple complexes and often competing goals is always at the risk of fracturing from internal stress, at which point it may be unable to accomplish even its day-to-day duties. Any system constantly fighting the tides of such internal stresses is almost certainly incapable of perpetrating a coordinated, decades-long, system-wide coverup of the most important truths humanity has ever known. If we consider that there are also thousands of dogged and competent journalists sniffing for corruption, ethically motivated insiders ready to blow the whistle, and hundreds of other governments with their own messy innards and competing interests, it is possible, at most, to believe that single incidents–maybe even massively important ones–could be concealed if they fell under the purview of a single office or bureau, but the possibility that large numbers of people across multiple, often-quarrelsome governments have cooperatively succeeded at suppressing monumental truths about our place in the universe for decades seems vanishingly small.
We would be better off avoiding attributing such awesome power and competence to our governments, and instead, adopt a more nuanced conception of governments that sees them not as unified wholes, but as loose collections of bureaus that cooperate or share information with one another when it serves their individual interests, but often operate with disregard or outright antagonism toward one another. A more accurate picture of the situation would then emerge, one in which the UFO phenomenon is a very large jigsaw puzzle of which each government likely only possesses a few pieces, which are then scattered across that government’s chain of island-like bureaus and offices, which are not particularly cooperative with each other, and so may not even acknowledge that they have any of the pieces, or that the puzzle is even real.
ASSUMPTION FOUR: THE INEVITABILITY OF DISCLOSURE
There is, however, a growing acknowledgment that the puzzle of UFOs is “real”, and this appears, at least for some within the UFO community, to confirm a long-held belief so important it verges on the prophetic: the belief that many of those in power –usually government officials– already know what is really behind these phenomena, and that a day of Disclosure is coming when the weight of the evidence and public concern about UFOs will become so great that it breaks down the wall of silence. On that day, the government will admit it has known for a long time that UFOs are real and that they’re not terrestrial in origin.
Disclosure is usually conceived as the end result of a grass-roots effort: there will come a moment when the UFO community accumulates enough of its own evidence and public demand for the truth grows strong enough. Then the veil will fall and the government will come clean to the public about what it knows and the world will simply believe because the truth will be so unambiguous that no interpretation is required to understand it.
The fourth assumption I want to interrogate concerns this supposedly-inevitable result of disclosure. The deluge of government revelations is expected by many to be a watershed moment that brings about the global realization that we are not alone in the universe and that we can no longer pretend to occupy its center. This will be a moment of enlightenment that unites humanity with a shared truth that transcends our differences. The utopian vision of disclosure is founded upon a single essential, but hidden, assumption: that there is a kind of evidence so powerful that when it is presented to any sane, reasonable person, they will be convinced and draw the same conclusion. In this case, it is the belief that there’s some kind of evidence that, upon revelation, would overwhelmingly convince the global public that we’re not alone in the universe.
There is, however, no such evidence. In fact, there never could be.
This may seem like an odd claim, and maybe you feel inclined to reply, “Look, I guarantee that if a fleet of UFOs showed up at the White House, the whole world would believe”. But this would only prove that clear evidence doesn’t compel belief the way we tend to think, because, as it turns out, sightings of UFOs have already been reported at the White House on multiple occasions. Similar cases, like the time a UFO forced Chicago’s O’Hare airport to shut down one of its terminals, led to the launch of an investigation by a civilian aviation safety organization in 2006. But events like these just didn’t seem to move the needle of public belief, perhaps because the public is committed to a version of reality that leaves little room to take seriously the hard evidence for phenomena that we don’t already have an explanation for. The result is that we shrug, assume there’s some non-weird explanation we’re missing, and go on with our business.
This is just the very nature of evidence though, regardless of whether it’s everyday people or professional scientists; evidence is neverabsolutelycompelling. Here I am importing a concept from the philosophy of science called “underdetermination.” For philosophers of science, it is a well-known adage that theories are always underdetermined by the evidence. This means that, while a set of evidence might strongly support one theory, there will always be an array of other, totally different theories that could account equally well for that same set of evidence. It follows that, no matter how concrete or well-documented the evidence may be, evidence cannot ever conclusively compel us to accept any particular theory over all of the others.
To illustrate, consider a theory that you almost certainly hold. You don’t believe minotaurs are real. That is, you deny Minotaur Theory (a belief in minotaurs, which we’ll call MT) in favor of No Minotaur Theory (NMT). Now, try to imagine some set of evidence that, if it were shown to you, would force you to abandon NMT and accept MT. You might say that, if a minotaur walked into the room you’re in right now and said “Hi. I’m a minotaur”, you’d give up NMT and accept MT. Maybe you would, but would you have to? Is there no other option? Couldn’t you hold on to NMT, and instead believe that something very serious had gone wrong in your brain? Or that you’d been the unwitting victim of a Darren Brown TV special? Or that someone had dosed your coffee with a potent hallucinogen? Or that you’ve died and gone to some very confusing hell?
As with minotaurs, so it is with UFOs, and everything else. While you might be able to specify the evidence that would convince you to conclude, say, that extraterrestrials are behind some UFO phenomena, there is simply no possible set of evidence that would persuade every rational person, regardless of their belief system, to accept the same conclusion
Those who’ve noticed the American public’s inability to agree on any consensus reality will understand: if flying saucers landed on the promenade of the United Nations headquarters, and lanky gray-skinned humanoids emerged with greetings from Venus, some people would believe what they saw at face value. But millions would also believe it was a hoax perpetrated by global super-elites, or a deep fake operation, or a demonic apparition, and any further evidence would only challenge them to elaborate, and thereby strengthen their beliefs.
It may be worth hoping that government disclosure will one day solve the mystery of UFOs for us all by making the truth clear, especially given how confused and divided we all are. Imagine a moment of reprieve from the turmoil of the world. But believing that it will actually happen is philosophically naive. There’s no topic or evidence with the power to cut through our ideological divisions, and ideological shifts, when they happen, tend to take generations. This is what will happen if solid evidence of UFOs continues to gain public attention, so the UFO community should begin now to reflect on how to frame evidence in ways that appeal to various belief systems so that the growth of public awareness brings more viewpoints and novel ideas into the community.
The UFO community faces a challenging paradox: On the one hand, it must maintain a kind of social unity in the face of skeptics who dismiss the subject out of hand, without considering the evidence. On the other, it must avoid the sort of intellectual unity that demands acceptance of a single viewpoint, and instead seek out new ideas and viewpoints to prevent stagnation and cultivate the diversity of ideas that make for a thriving intellectual ecosystem.
CONCLUSION
For my part, I hope the community flourishes. When it comes to exploring the unexplained, the danger is never that we will entertain too many ideas but too few. I think that reflecting on our assumptions and destabilizing the ideas that feel most familiar and sensible is the best way to spur the kind of broad, collaborative thinking that the community needs as we see more and more public acknowledgment that these exciting and bewildering phenomena are real. Because, whatever else they may be, they are undoubtedly an invitation to joyfully expand our openness to the unknown and to the possible.
Michael Glawson, Ph.D., is a writer, researcher, and consultant with extensive experience. He served as a professor at the University of South Carolina, Georgia State University, and the College of Charleston for over ten years. During his tenure, he taught philosophy courses on logic, technology, and science & religion, as well as ethics courses for medical students, and engineers.
Dr. Glawson hasmade scholarly contributions in philosophy of religion, philosophyof technology, pedagogy, and corporate ethics. As a teacher he co-created one of the United States’ pioneering engineering ethics curricula, which has empowered thousands of STEM students to pursue technical careers while upholding their core values. As a consultant, he developed a corporate ethics curriculum adopted by numerous government agencies and Fortune 500 companies.
Michael is a member of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies. In his leisure time he enjoys the company of his partner and his cats, and indulging in the exploration of strange, rare, and old books. You can follow him on Twitter @michaelglawson, reach out to him via email at michaelglawson[at]me[dot]com, or find his work at linktr.ee/michaelglawson.
Herbruikbare raketten van SpaceX veroorzaken nieuw soort
Herbruikbare raketten van SpaceX veroorzaken nieuw soort "noorderlicht" (en dat baart astronomen zorgen)
Artikel van Wim De Maeseneer
Een felrode, bolvormige gloed aan de nachthemel, die wel 10 minuten lang zichtbaar is met het blote oog. Het fenomeen kreeg de naam "SpaceX auroras", verwijzend naar het ruimtevaartbedrijf van Elon Musk. Want het zijn vooral die raketten die het lichtverschijnsel tegenwoordig veel vaker en beter zichtbaar maken.
Wetenschappers weten al langer dat raketten tijdelijk gaten kunnen veroorzaken in de ionosfeer, de bovenste laag van onze dampkring, op 60 tot 1.000 kilometer hoogte. Die verstoring van de ionosfeer kan een rode gloed geven, vergelijkbaar met wat er gebeurt tijdens het noorderlicht.
Sterrenkundigen van het McDonald Observatorium in Texas hebben nu ontdekt dat hetzelfde gebeurt met de raketten van SpaceX die na de lancering terugkeren naar de aarde. Met dat verschil dat de rode gloed bolvormig is en veel helderder.
"Dat komt omdat de onderste rakettrap, de booster, 90 minuten na de lancering de motoren moet ontsteken om terug te keren", zegt astrofysicus Jeff Baumgarder van de universiteit van Boston, aan spaceweather.com.
"Daarbij komt zo'n 180 liter waterdamp en koolstofdioxide vrij. Dat alles gebeurt op zo'n 300 kilometer hoogte, dicht bij het bovenste deel van de ionosfeer. En dat veroorzaakt een aanzienlijk gat (in de ionosfeer)."
Booster van een Falcon 9-raket van SpaceX landt weer op aarde (21/5/2023)
"We hebben het de eerste keer gespot in februari dit jaar en zien het sindsdien zo'n 2 tot 5 keer per maand", zegt astronoom Stephen Hummel van het McDonald Observatorium in Texas.
Bezorgdheid
Omdat SpaceX bijna elke week wel een raket lanceert, zijn Hummel en andere sterrenkundigen bezorgd. Ze vrezen dat de "SpaceX auroras" hun astronomische waarnemingen te veel zullen verstoren.
Maar er is ook ongerustheid over mogelijke storingen van het gps-signaal en de radiocommunicatie. Net zoals zonnestormen kunnen raketten de ionosfeer zodanig verstoren dat communicatie over lange afstanden, of met satellieten bijvoorbeeld, moeilijk of niet mogelijk wordt.
Na 10 tot 20 minuten sluit zo'n gat in de ionosfeer wel vanzelf weer. Verder zou het lichtverschijnsel geen enkele impact hebben op het leven op aarde.
Bij ons zal de rode gloed trouwens nooit zichtbaar zijn. De gaten vormen zich typisch boven het zuiden van de Verenigde Staten, in de buurt van het Kennedy Space Center in Florida, waar de meeste raketten van SpaceX worden gelanceerd.
There are Myterious Polygons Beneath the Surface of Mars
China’s Zhurong rover was equipped with a ground-penetrating radar system, allowing it to peer beneath Mars’s surface. Researchers have announced new results from the scans of Zhurong’s landing site in Utopia Planitia, saying they identified irregular polygonal wedges located at a depth of about 35 meters all along the robot’s journey. The objects measure from centimeters to tens of meters across. The scientists believe the buried polygons resulted from freeze-thaw cycles on Mars billions of years ago, but they could also be volcanic, from cooling lava flows.
A wireless camera took this ‘group photo’ of China’s Tianwen-1 lander and rover on Mars’ surface. Credit: Chinese Space Agency
The Zhurong rover landed on Mars on May 15, 2021, making China the second country ever to successfully land a rover on Mars. The cute rover, named after a Chinese god of fire, explored its landing site, sent back pictures — including a selfie with its lander, taken by a remote camera – studied the topography of Mars, and conducted measurements with its ground penetrating radar (GPR) instrument. Zhurong had a primary mission lifetime of three Earth months but it operated successfully for just over one Earth year before entering a planned hibernation. However, the rover has not been heard from since May of 2022.
Researchers from the Institute of Geology and Geophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences who worked with Zhurong’s data said the GPR provides an important complement to orbital radar explorations from missions such as ESA’s Mars Express and China’s own Tianwen-1 orbiter. They said in-situ GPR surveying can provide critical local details of shallow structures and composition within approximately 100-meter depths along the rover’s traverse.
a, Topographic map of Utopia Planitia, showing the landing sites of the Zhurong rover, the Viking 2 lander and the Perseverance rover. The ?4?km elevation contour is shown. Four local regions (c–f) with polygonal terrain are marked with white squares. b, The Zhurong rover traverse from Sol 11 through Sol 113 (HiRISE image: ESP_073225_2055). Green segments denote the wedges of buried polygons recognized from Fig. 2 (P1–P16). Purple segments denote the interiors of the polygons. c–f, Four representative HiRISE images of polygons in Utopia Planitia whose locations are marked in a: PSP_002202_2250 (c), PSP_006962_2215 (d), PSP_002162_2260 (e) and PSP_003177_2275 (f). Note the range of spatial scales for the sizes of the polygons. The average diameters of polygons shown in c–f are calculated in Extended Data Fig. 6. Credit for HiRISE images: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona.
Utopia Planitia is a large plain within Utopia, the largest recognized impact basin on Mars (also in the Solar System) with an estimated diameter of 3,300 km. In total, the rover traveled 1,921 meters during its lifetime.
The researchers, led by Lei Zhang, wrote in their paper published in Nature, that the rover’s radar detected sixteen polygonal wedges within about 1.2?kilometers distance, which suggests a wide distribution of similar terrain under Utopia Planitia. These detected features probably formed 3.7 – 2.9 billion years ago during the Late Hesperian–Early Amazonian epochs on Mars, “possibly with the cessation of an ancient wet environment. The palaeo-polygonal terrain, either with or without being eroded, was subsequently buried” by later geological processes.
Schematic model of the polygonal terrain formation process at the Zhurong landing site. a, The origination of thermal contraction cracking on the surface. b, The formation of cracks infilled by water ice or soil material, causing three types of polygonal terrain (ice-wedge, composite-wedge and sand-wedge polygons). c, The stabilization of the surface polygonal terrain in the Late Hesperian–Early Amazonian, possibly with the cessation of an ancient wet environment. d, The palaeo-polygonal terrain, either with or without being eroded, was subsequently buried by deposition of the covering materials in the Amazonian. The Mars surface image was acquired by the Navigation and Terrain Camera (NaTeCam). Credit: Zhang et al.
The buried polygonal terrain requires a cold environment, the researchers wrote, that might be related to water/ice freeze–thaw processes in southern Utopia Planitia on early Mars.
“The possible presence of water and ice required for the freeze–thaw process in the wedges may have come from cryogenic suction-induced moisture migration from an underground aquifer on Mars, snowfall from the air or vapor diffusion for pore ice deposition,” the paper explains.
While the new paper indicates that the most likely possible formation mechanisms would be soil contraction from wet sediments that dried, producing mud-cracks, however, contraction from cooling lava could have also produced thermal contraction cracking.
Either way, they note that a huge change in Mars’ climate was responsible for the polygon’s formation.
“The subsurface structure with the covering materials overlying the buried palaeo-polygonal terrain suggests that there was a notable palaeoclimatic transformation some time thereafter,” the researchers said.
During a recent lecture at the University of Michigan that I gave, I was asked why the arrow of cosmic time is characterized by a transition from simplicity to complexity.
I explained that the universe started simply in the form of a nearly uniform soup of elementary particles. As the Universe expanded and cooled, the denser-than-average regions reversed their expansion and collapsed by their self-gravity to make galaxies in which gas fragmented into stars, dust, and planets. The chemistry of life in liquid water on the surface of our planet, the Earth, gave rise to the most complex systems we know.
But it is possible that even more complex entities that represent our future, such as sentient systems with artificial intelligence, were already manufactured on exo-planets. Most stars formed billions of years before the Sun, and their technological clock was initiated long before ours. If their advanced technological descendants arrived in the vicinity of our planet, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory cameras or the Galileo Project could capture them on video soon.
In short, complexity arrived late in cosmic history because the Universe started simple. However, we should not assume that this progression will continue into the future.
Consider the Earth as an example. If our civilization will not be wise enough to preserve itself against existential risks such as a colossal pandemic, global nuclear war, or climate change, then Earth may return to a simpler state without the complexity associated with human technologies. In fact, this ultimate fate may not even be in our hands. Irrespective of how much we engage in preserving our habitat, we may not be able to counteract the astronomical catastrophe of the Sun boiling off all oceans on Earth within a billion years. Subsequently, the Earth’s surface will be sterilized without the complex chemistry of life as we know it. In addition, all the meticulously designed constructions in our cities will be wiped out like an ant nest after heavy rain.
The return to simplicity would extend beyond Earth to the Universe at large. Observations show that cosmic expansion had been speeding up over the past five billion years. Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity allows for an accelerating Universe if the mass density of the vacuum is bigger than half that of matter, which naturally occurs at late cosmic time as matter gets diluted by the cosmic expansion, but the vacuum remains constant. An unchanging vacuum, which constitutes the so-called “cosmological constant,” naturally produces repulsive gravity that would push galaxies away from each other at an ever-increasing speed. If the cosmic mass budget is indeed dominated by a vacuum mass density that will remain constant as the Universe ages by another factor of ten, then all galaxies outside our immediate vicinity will be pushed out of our horizon by the accelerated expansion of space.
In a paper published two decades ago, titled “The Long-Term Future of Extragalactic Astronomy,” I showed that, in fact, all galaxies beyond a redshift of z=1.8 are already outside our horizon right now. The light we will ever receive from them was emitted long ago and does not represent their current state. Any signals sent from now out of those galaxies will be lost in space and never reach us. We will never be able to have a conversation with any sentient beings in the farthest galaxies at z>10 that were imaged recently by the Webb telescope and presented by NASA to President Biden at a White House celebration on July 11, 2022,
Within a finite time, the accelerated expansion of space moves any distant galaxy away from us at a speed that exceeds the speed of light. Even light, representing the fastest speed by which material particles can propagate, is ultimately unable to bridge the inflating gap between distant galaxies and us by the accelerated cosmic expansion.
The situation is similar to observing a friend cross the event horizon of a black hole. From a distance, we would see the image of our adventurous friend heading towards the black hole, getting fainter, and eventually freezing at some final snapshot, as that friend appears to be hovering just above the horizon. The frozen image will be the snapshot of the instant when the friend crossed the horizon. Beyond that point in time, no information can be retrieved about the whereabouts of the friend. Similarly, the image of each distant galaxy will eventually freeze at some finite time in its own frame, and we can collect a limited amount of information from it. In particular, we will never be able to study the evolution of a distant galaxy beyond some finite age in its own frame of reference. The more distant a galaxy is, the earlier its image will freeze, and the less information will be available to us about the way it ages.
Of course, bound systems which are held together by a force stronger than the repulsive force of the cosmological constant, do not participate in the cosmic expansion. This includes electrons bound to atoms by the electromagnetic force, planets bound to stars, as well as galaxies bound together by a stronger gravitational pull than the cosmic repulsion. Which galaxies will remain bound to the Milky Way and not fly away? In a paper I wrote with my former postdoc, Ken Nagamine, we simulated the future evolution of all distant galaxies on a computer. Our simulation indicated that all galaxies outside the local group of galaxies, namely beyond 3 million light years, are not bound to the Milky Way and will be pushed out of our view by cosmic expansion.
As a result, the future of the Universe outside our own galaxy will be the simplest imaginable and consist only of the vacuum. We better enjoy the present-day complexity available for us to see through our telescopes before it will all go away.
Just like any aspect of our life, cosmic complexity is transient and precious and should not be taken for granted. We are all too familiar with the similarities between the state of an infant and that of the elderly. In private life as well as in the cosmos, the arrow of time starts from simplicity, goes through complexity and returns to simplicity.
“From [dust] you were taken, for dust you are, and to dust, you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).
Avi Loeb is the head of the Galileo Project, founding director of Harvard University’s – Black Hole Initiative, director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, and the former chair of the astronomy department at Harvard University (2011-2020). He chairs the advisory board for the Breakthrough Starshot project, and is a former member of the President’s Council of Advisors onScience and Technology and a former chair of the Board on Physics and Astronomy of the National Academies. He is the bestselling author of “Extraterrestrial:The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth” and a co-author of the textbook “Life in the Cosmos”, both published in 2021.
A long-duration aerial mission soon to be carried out by NASA over Antarctica will launch stadium-sized craft in support of a series of record-breaking science missions, the agency announced this week.
The Antarctic Long Duration Balloon (LDB) Campaign, which includes a trio of scientific balloon flights equipped to study a range of different phenomena, will launch at the beginning of December, according to a press release NASA issued on Monday.
The mission will employ a series of massive zero-pressure balloons, which the American space agency says will support five missions in total.
Equipped with open ducts through which gas can escape, thereby eliminating the buildup of pressure within, zero-pressure balloons expand as they accumulate heat from the rising Sun as they are being carried aloft. Conversely, as the Sun sets, heat is lost, which results in a loss of gas, which causes zero-pressure balloons to have a shorter flight duration than other inflatable systems.
However, long-duration missions can be achieved during the polar summer, a period during which the balloons remain in constant sunlight for extended periods.
One of the missions aims to break a previous long-duration balloon flight record of just over 55 days. The balloons will launch from NASA’s facility for balloon launches located close to McMurdo Station, the largest community on Earth’s southernmost continent located on the southern edge of Ross Island, Antarctica.
McMurdo Station
(Credit: Air National Guard)
Andrew Hamilton, acting chief of NASA’s Balloon Program Office (BPO), said the annual launch will carry NASA’s stadium-sized balloons to altitudes where stratospheric wind conditions will “provide a unique and valuable opportunity to fly missions in a near-space environment for days or weeks at a time.”
A primary component of the 2023 launch is NASA’s GUSTO mission, or Galactic/Extragalactic ULDB Spectroscopic Terahertz Observatory, which the agency says will conduct measurements of emissions from cosmic material located between stars known as the interstellar medium.
The space agency says the data GUSTO collects during its time in flight above Antarctica will provide scientists with valuable information about the life cycle of interstellar gas that populates the Milky Way. Other phenomena GUSTO will observe over the course of its mission include star formation and destruction, as well as how gases flow near the center of our galaxy.
GUSTO will be armed with a telescope equipped to detect oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen emission lines.
“This unique combination of data will provide the spectral and spatial resolution information needed for Walker and his team to untangle the complexities of the interstellar medium,” read a portion of a NASA mission brief detailing the mission, “and map out large sections of the plane of our Milky Way galaxy and the nearby galaxy known as the Large Magellanic Cloud.”
While GUSTO is the premier science mission that will be undertaken during this year’s flight, several additional science objectives will be carried out during NASA’s annual Antarctic LDB campaign, including the Anti-Electron Sub-Orbital Payload (AESOP-Lite) mission, which will study cosmic ray electrons and positrons.
A NASA balloon is prepared near the agency’s launch site near McMurdo station (Credit: NASA)
Additionally, an engineering test flight called the Long durAtion evalUation solaR hand LAunch (LAURA) mission will employ solar panels to help extend the use and duration of the hand launch platform used at NASA’s Antarctic facility for long-duration flights. The experiment will help remedy problems that arise from hand-launched balloons, the flight time of which is impacted significantly by the power systems contained in their payloads, which are used to power the scientific instruments they carry.
Among the hand-launched missions conducted in December will also be NASA’s Anihala (Antarctic Infrasound Hand Launch) mission, which will be a component of the payload equipped with AESOP-Lite that will measure the subtleties of background sound in Earth’s stratosphere. The experiment will offer a unique opportunity to make such observations over a region of the planet where sound produced by human civilization is minimal.
“The annual Antarctic long-duration balloon campaign is the program’s flagship event for long-duration missions,” Hamilton said in a statement.
“The BPO team is excited to provide support to all our missions this year,” he added.
CIA's Secret Unit Conducted UFO Retrieval Missions on 9 Global Crash Sites, Explosive Report Claims
CIA's Secret Unit Conducted UFO Retrieval Missions on 9 Global Crash Sites, Explosive Report Claims
Are we alone in the universe, or is there more to discover?
A secret CIA unit, known as the Office of Global Access (OGA), has retrieved several crashed UFOs worldwide, UK-based Daily Mail reported, based on information from multiple anonymous sources. These insiders claim that at least nine “non-human craft” have been recovered, some damaged from crashes and two remarkably intact, in a secret operation spanning decades.
The OGA, operating under the CIA’s Science and Technology Directorate, reportedly played a pivotal role since 2003 in managing these top-secret missions, the report said. This comes amid growing evidence suggesting the US government may possess advanced, non-human technology.
‘WE ARE NOT ALONE’
David Grusch, a former US intelligence officer, who has testified before Congress, supporting these claims, has reconfirmed it in a recent podcast with Joe Rogan. “The answer is we are not alone. And I know that with 100% certainty. Which as an intel officer you must never say 100%. But all things pointed towards that. Based on the people I talked to like Harry Reid (ex-Senate Majority Leader) and I use him as an example. But I talked to the highest of the high people you can possibly talk to. If you catch my drift. Unless all of them are lying and covering up something else,” he said.
Back in July, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sponsored a bill advocating disclosure of “recovered technologies of unknown origin and biological evidence of non-human intelligence,” which passed in the Senate. Insiders shed light to Daily Mail on the OGA’s role, describing a system capable of detecting cloaked UFOs. The report states that special military units are allegedly dispatched to salvage wreckage if these crafts land, crash, or are brought down. The OGA specialises in facilitating secretive global access, allowing the military to navigate restricted areas, including those behind enemy lines.
‘NOT UNDER MILITARY CONTROL’
While most OGA operations involve conventional retrieval missions like nuclear weapons or downed satellites, some allegedly involve UFO retrieval. “The actual physical retrieval is by the military. But it’s not kept under military control, because they have to keep too many records. So they start moving it out fairly quickly into private hands,” one source told the UK publication. Documents from 2016 reveal the OGA as one of 56 CIA offices, with its chief and deputy among the agency’s top officials, according to the report. A 2015 CIA chart places OGA within the ‘Science and Technology’ wing. Established in 2003, OGA integrates analysis, technology, and tradecraft for challenging targets globally.
Former OGA deputy director Doug Wolfe, linked to strategic access programs, initiated the office, as per the report. OGA reportedly coordinates with Special Operations Forces and nuclear experts for UFO retrieval. Despite some denial from US agencies like the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST), insiders insist on the involvement of these entities. Private US aerospace contractors purportedly receive wreckage for analysis, shielded from rigorous government audits under trade secret protections.
Notably, the report highlights the compartmentalisation of information, suggesting many involved may not realise they deal with non-human craft. US whistleblower David Grusch drew parallels with the Manhattan Project, where engineers were unaware they worked on the atomic bomb’s components. Harry Reid, former Senate Majority Leader, indicated Lockheed Martin’s involvement in holding potential alien wreckage. While setting up a UFO investigation office in 2008, Reid faced obstacles accessing alleged programs.
In July, the US Senate voted for Schumer’s bill, aiming to create a review board with presidential-level powers for disclosing recovered technologies. If passed in the House of Representatives, it will be added as an amendment to the annual military spending bill for 2024. “The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena,” Schumer said in a July press release announcing the amendment.
Has evidence of aliens been recovered by governments? (Picture: Getty)
The UK’s leading UFO expert says it doesn’t matter whether the US is hiding one alien body or 10 – it would ‘fundamentally change everything’.
Nick Pope, who previously led the Ministry of Defence’s ‘UFO desk’, was responding to claims by whistleblower David Grusch, who alleges the US government has retrieved at least ten extraterrestrial bodies.
Adding to his claims, last week Mr Grusch spoke on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast and said the number of crashes recorded by the US was in ‘double digits’. He added that the number of terrestrial bodies recovered was ‘up there as well, just like with the retrievals’.
Commenting on the claims, Mr Pope said: ‘In one sense, the numbers David Grusch gave don’t matter, because if we have just one crashed UFO and extraterrestrial body, this would fundamentally change everything, in terms of our understanding of the universe.
UK UFO expert Nick Pope (Picture: Getty)
‘I can’t evaluate Grusch’s claims, because when I was investigating UAP for the MoD we never acquired a smoking gun that would prove an extraterrestrial presence, despite having some fascinating and unexplained cases.
‘Neither did we hear about any such smoking gun, so if the US government has acquired craft and bodies, they didn’t tell the UK.
‘In terms of keeping this secret, I don’t think the numbers matter so much as the principle – it’s binary, in the sense that either the authorities will be able to keep a lid on it, or they won’t.’
Mr Grush has made clear he himself has not had any direct encounter with aliens, but has spoken to numerous sources, including a former senator, the late Harry Reid, who confirmed the government had evidence of UAP.
David Charles Grusch speaking before Congress in July (Picture: Getty)
‘The question now is whether or not any of Grusch’s claims can be proven,’ said Mr Pope.
‘Various congressional representatives and committees are reportedly trying to get further information, with a view to verifying this, and the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has also asked Grusch to come in and give further details.
‘But there are question marks over how this could be done, as he no longer has an active security clearance, and even if he gets it back, it’s unclear who he could brief, even within Congress, given the alleged levels of classification.
‘Short of bringing forward any of the craft and bodies for independent scientific study, it’s difficult to see how the claims could be verified. Additional corroborative testimony from other whistleblowers might help, but as with Grusch’s claims, this would just be testimony.’
The issue of UAP has rarely been out of the headlines since Mr Grusch made his initial claims in an interview with the Debrief, as calls grow for transparency about unidentified craft in airspace shared with commercial and military aircraft.
Mexico held its own congressional hearing in September, but it took a turn from the serious to the bizarre when journalist and ufologist Jaime Maussan unveiled two small ‘bodies’ said to be non-human beings found in Peru.
While the scientific community has widely dismissed the specimens as a hoax – something Mr Maussan has been found guilty of before – others are not so sure.
However, Lt Ryan Graves, a former US Navy pilot who gave evidence at the Washington congressional hearing and attended Mexican parliament, labelled the unveiling as an ‘unsubstantiated stunt’.
Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson called out the U.S. government Tuesday on his show, questioning its transparency over releasing information about unidentified flying objects (UFOs).
Carlson released his 42nd Twitter episode in which he discussed the issues he has found between the U.S. government and UFOs. Before bringing on Tennessee Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, Carlson questioned why the federal government would allegedly create a “coordinated effort” to hide information about UFOs for the last “80 years.”
“Federal agencies have been lying about UFOs for more than 80 years, this has been a coordinated effort. It is both highly time-consuming and very expensive. Many Americans have been hurt in the process. But what’s the point of this? Would it be a lot easier just to release the facts?” Carlson stated.
“The conventional explanation for why they haven’t been released is that the U.S. government is lying about UFOs because the truth about UFOs is too scary to reveal — that they’re real. And our leaders wouldn’t want to panic the population. But that’s not true. In fact, it’s ridiculous.”
“Terrifying the population is what our government does best and most avidly. Officials regularly gin up irrational fears about COVID or white supremacy or Vladimir Putin or a dozen other topics as part of a pretty obvious control strategy,” Carlson continued. “So why would they lie about UFOs? Well, because they’re covering up a crime, obviously, and it’s their crime.”
Carlson continued to call out the government, begging questions that should be asked by “honest lawmakers” if they were concerned about the issue. The Daily Caller co-founder asked if taxpayer money was ever used to “procure advanced non-human technology,” the possible whereabouts of it, and — if real — whether the public has benefited from it.
However, the “most pressing” question Carlson asked was if the government has had any contact with potential “beings.”
“And then this question, the most pressing of all, has the U.S. government communicated directly with the beings that piloted these craft? Have American officials ever entered into any sort of agreement with them? And if so, what are the terms of that agreement? These are not random questions, they are informed questions. And at this point, Americans have a moral right to know the answers,” Carlson stated.
Burchett was later brought on by the Twitter host to discuss the lack of transparency from the federal government, with Carlson honing in on why the government would allegedly want to hide information in the first place. The Tennessee representative discussed how power, influence, money, and corruption could be the root of the cause, noting that he believes the slow release of information is “intentional.”
Burchett has notably been outspoken regarding issues surrounding UFO sightings and their possible technological capabilities. The Tennessee lawmaker made some hefty claims over the summer on a podcast about the capabilities that he believes UFOs and aliens have, emphasizing that there are some things “we do not control in our military airspace.”
Mars Odyssey Beams Back Magnificent Images of Martian Horizon
Mars Odyssey Beams Back Magnificent Images of Martian Horizon
In an operation that took mission scientists three months to plan, NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter captured a series of panoramic images that showcases the curving Martian landscape below gauzy layers of clouds and dust.
This image of the Martian horizon was captured by the THEMIS camera on NASA’s Mars Odyssey orbiter.
Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / ASU.
“If there were astronauts in orbit over Mars, this is the perspective they would have,” said Mars Odyssey project scientist Jonathon Hill, of Arizona State University.
“No Mars spacecraft has ever had this kind of view before.”
“The reason why the view is so uncommon is because of the challenges involved in creating it.”
They were taken from an altitude of about 400 km (250 miles) — the same altitude at which the space station flies above Earth.
The sensitivity of the THEMIS instrument to warmth enables it to map ice, rock, sand, and dust, along with temperature changes, on the planet’s surface.
It can also measure how much water ice or dust is in the atmosphere, but only in a narrow column directly below the spacecraft.
That’s because THEMIS is fixed in place on the orbiter; it usually points straight down.
The Mars Odyssey scientists wanted a more expansive view of the atmosphere.
Seeing where those layers of water-ice clouds and dust are in relation to each other helps them improve models of Mars’ atmosphere.
“I think of it as viewing a cross-section, a slice through the atmosphere,” said Mars Odyssey project scientist Jeffrey Plaut, of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
“There’s a lot of detail you can’t see from above, which is how THEMIS normally makes these measurements.”
Because THEMIS can’t pivot, adjusting the angle of the camera requires adjusting the position of the whole spacecraft.
In this case, the team needed to rotate the orbiter almost 90 degrees while making sure the Sun would still shine on the spacecraft’s solar panels but not on sensitive equipment that could overheat.
The easiest orientation turned out to be one where the orbiter’s antenna pointed away from Earth.
That meant the team was out of communication with Odyssey for several hours until the operation was complete.
To make the most of their effort, the researchers also captured imagery of the Martian moon Phobos.
This marks the seventh time in 22 years that the orbiter has pointed THEMIS at the moon in order to measure temperature variations across its surface.
“We got a different angle and lighting conditions of Phobos than we’re used to. That makes it a unique part of our Phobos dataset,” Dr. Hill said.
“The new imagery provides insight into the composition and physical properties of the moon.”
Earlier this year, Congress passed something called the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023. The law requires to tell the public what it knows about the countless unidentified flying objects that have been spotted in the skies above Earth over the past 3,000 years.
It's designed to be, and it very well could be a transformative piece of legalization. And it comes at a time when we can say with confidence that the most unlikely sounding theories about UFOs are actually true.
Yes, these things are real. They're not all weather balloons. They're not experimental aircraft from this or any other country. Whatever they are, they are not of human origin. Nor do they behave according to the laws of known physics.
And yes, the US government currently has physical evidence that they exist. That means wreckage of the craft as well as the bodies of the beings that flew them.
Now, the Office of Global Access (OGA), a wing of the Central Intelligence Agency's Science and Technology Directorate, has played a central role since 2003 in orchestrating the collection of what could be alien spacecraft.
This CIA's secret office has conducted UFO retrieval missions on at least nine crash sites around the world, according to Dailymail.
The CIA has a 'system in place that can discern UFOs while they're still cloaked' and special military units are sent to salvage the wreckage and then often hands the wreckage or material over to private aerospace/defense contractors (who are working close with the US government) for analysis.
So the question is, now that the UAP Disclosure Act has passed, when can the rest of us see the information that we paid for and in fact, own? Well, not so fast, it turns out.
Just when it seemed the UAP Disclosure Act was finally going to lift the veil on decades of secrets, two Republican lawmakers voted against the legislation. The two members happen to be especially powerful this term. They are Congressman Mike Rogers of Alabama, who is the chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Congressman Mike Turner of Ohio, who is chairman of the House Intel Committee.
Why is this happening and what could be their potential motives?
One of the great secrets of Washington know to everyone inside Washington is that many of the most powerful members of Congress do not work for their constituents, much less for the rest of us, for the country at large. They are instead puppets and they are controlled effectively by the permanent bureaucracy, including through bribery and blackmail.
Some people saying the UAP Disclosure Act was founded to pave the way for controlled UFO disclosure, now that is not going to happen as long as key politicians are controlled and instructed to violate in letter and in spirit federal law and to hide the truth about UFOs from the American public.
But why these key politicians may not want you to know the truth? Just connect the dots and follow the money trail leading to defense contractors!
Pine Gap, Australia: Unraveling the Mysteries in the Desert
Pine Gap, Australia: Unraveling the Mysteries in the Desert
Nestled in the remote heart of Australia’s Red Centre, near the iconic town of Alice Springs, lies a facility as enigmatic as it is crucial: Pine Gap. Officially known as the Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap, this installation, a collaboration between the United States and Australian governments, has long been the subject of intrigue and speculation, particularly in the realm of UFOs and extraterrestrial theories.
The Secretive Heart of Surveillance
Established in 1970, Pine Gap’s primary function revolves around satellite surveillance and signals intelligence. Its labyrinth of radomes and advanced equipment plays a pivotal role in global surveillance, making it one of the most important intelligence facilities worldwide. The facility’s strategic location allows it to monitor a vast portion of the Eastern Hemisphere, a crucial asset during the Cold War and beyond.
A Nexus for Extraterrestrial Theories
The shroud of secrecy enveloping Pine Gap has naturally attracted the attention of UFO enthusiasts and alien conspiracy theorists. Some speculate that the facility’s advanced technology is used not just for terrestrial surveillance but to monitor extraterrestrial activity. Theories range from the facility tracking alien spacecraft to it being a clandestine meeting ground for human and alien collaboration.
These theories are bolstered by the global fascination with UFOs and the undying quest to find extraterrestrial life. Pine Gap’s restricted access and classified operations provide a fertile ground for such speculations, despite the lack of concrete evidence to support these claims.
Between Fact and Fiction
The reality of Pine Gap, however, is grounded more in strategic defense than in science fiction. While the facility undoubtedly houses advanced technology capable of monitoring space, there is no credible evidence linking it to extraterrestrial research or encounters. Much like Area 51 in the United States, Pine Gap’s allure lies in its secretive nature and the human propensity for mystery and the unknown.
The Cultural Impact
Pine Gap has cemented its place in popular culture, inspiring references in films, books, and television shows. These often dramatize the facility’s potential links to UFOs and aliens, further embedding it in the public consciousness as a site of otherworldly intrigue.
Conclusion: A Blend of Reality and Myth
Pine Gap remains an enigmatic presence in the Australian desert, its domes silently keeping watch over the skies. While it continues to be a significant player in global surveillance and intelligence, its association with UFOs and aliens remains a fascinating blend of myth and mystery. This blend keeps Pine Gap firmly in the realm of both strategic importance and popular imagination, a place where the lines between reality and science fiction intriguingly blur.
As the world continues to look up at the stars and wonder, facilities like Pine Gap remind us of the endless possibilities that the universe may hold, and the human quest to explore the unknown, whether it be within our own world or beyond.
VIDEO:
Restricted Locations On Earth Only Few Have Explored – LifesBiggestQuestions
The information covered in the video also explore several other well-known secretive or classified facilities and areas around the world, each with its own unique history and set of theories or speculations:
Jiangsu National Security Education Museum, China: This museum, which is closed to foreign visitors, is dedicated to the history of Chinese intelligence and espionage. It features exhibits of spy gadgets, tools, and stories of espionage involving China, underscoring the importance of these practices in national security.
Metro 2, Russia: Allegedly a secret underground metro system in Moscow, said to have been constructed during Stalin’s reign for emergency escape routes and strategic military transport. Its existence has neither been confirmed nor denied by the Russian government.
Area 51, USA: A highly classified US Air Force facility in Nevada, long associated with UFO and alien conspiracy theories. Its secretive nature and history of aviation and weapons testing have fueled these theories, though it’s likely focused on military technology.
The Greenbrier Bunker, USA: A hidden bunker beneath the Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia, intended as a refuge for the U.S. Congress during a nuclear attack. It was kept secret until 1992 and now serves as a data storage facility and tour site.
Mariana Trench: The deepest known point in Earth’s oceans, home to unique species and important for scientific research. It offers insights into the limits of life and deep-sea ecosystems.
Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, USA: A facility in Virginia for U.S. government and military officials in case of a national disaster. It ensures the continuity of government operations and has led to various conspiracy theories about its capabilities.
Each of these locations or phenomena has its own set of mysteries and speculations, often fueled by their secretive or inaccessible nature. While some are grounded in verified facts, others remain the subject of theories and conjecture, lacking solid evidence.
Dit Himalaya-meer verbergt een behoorlijk duister geheim. In de jaren veertig werd een huiveringwekkende ontdekking gedaan, maar pas in de 21e eeuw werd het mysterie opgelost. Of toch niet? Klik verder en trek je eigen conclusies.
Japanse soldaten De Britse regering stuurde een team van onderzoekers naar Roopkund. Nog een schok: ze kwamen tot de conclusie dat de botten te oud waren om van Japanse soldaten te zijn.
Mysterie Er ontstonden in die tijd veel theorieën, waaronder een aardverschuiving, een epidemie of zelfs rituele zelfmoord als oorzaak van al die sterfgevallen
DNA-testen Uit de overblijfselen werden twee verschillende groepen mensen geïdentificeerd. De ene was een groep nauw verwante individuen, die een familie of een stam geweest konden zijn
Hoe kwamen ze om het leven? De conclusie was dat hagelstenen de doodsoorzaak waren. Een gewelddadige en plotselinge hagelbui zou de groep hebben getroffen en dat blijken ze niet te hebben overleefd.
Lokale legende Een ander volksverhaal gaat over de zwangere vrouw van koning Yasodhwal. Tijdens de bevalling stroomde haar placenta naar Roopkund en doodde daar iedereen.
Route van de trektocht De tocht kan veeleisend zijn, maar het omringende landschap is absoluut adembenemend. Volg ons en krijg toegang tot het laatste celebrity en lifestyle nieuws
As events in our world transpire, humans perceive their occurrence as a linear progression for which we have invented concepts of past, present, and future, which summarizes one of the most mysterious concepts in all of physics: time.
We tend to take for granted the idea that time is a common part of our everyday lives. We can tell the time of day, for instance, or we can make time for having a coffee with a friend. Yet, despite our familiarity with it, we still have a hard time explaining what, precisely, time really is.
In his landmark book A Brief History of Time, the late physicist Stephen Hawking asked a fundamental question about human perception of what we call time: how come we can remember the past but not the future? In other words, what gives rise to our perception of a linear progression of time that only goes in one direction?
The notion that there exists a sort of “arrow of time,” as Hawking called it, actually had three components. The first is what Hawking called psychological time, which has to do with human perception of time, and our ability to perceive the present, and recall the past. The second is entropic time, which deals with the universal tendency for states in nature to trend toward disorder (think of an egg falling to the floor, which can very easily break open, but which you or I would have a hard time reassembling). The third component involves cosmological time, which deals with the expansion of the universe in its current inflationary state, which some models hold will reverse again once into a deflationary state, in which events in time as we perceive it might even appear to occur in reverse order.
Now, a new study by a team of physicists could shed new light on the lingering mystery of the arrow of time in a paper which looks at the various ways that cells and particles could be the source for various phenomena that gives rise to the human concept of time.
Relying primarily on Hawking’s notion of entropic time and the trend toward disordered states in systems in nature, the study, conducted by researchers at the CUNY Graduate Center Initiative for the Theoretical Sciences (ITS), examined the ways that the arrow of time arises from microscopic processes occurring on the microscopic scale.
Christopher Lynn, a postdoctoral fellow in the ITS program and lead author of the paper, says that he and his team began with a pair of fundamental questions: would the strength of the arrow of time be measurable within any given system, and would they be able to detect its point of origin on the micro-scale, “where cells and neurons interact, to the whole system?”
According to Lynn, this is precisely what his team succeeded in doing by first examining how the arrow of time could be “decomposed” through a unique process of breaking down observations into various separate portions of a system and studying the interactions that occurred between them.
According to the ITS research team, they were able to observe various separate pieces of the arrow of time within a single moment, which comprised portions that worked either individually, in pairs or triplets, or in far more complex ways with multiple sets of interactions.
In their experimental study, the researchers observed the function of neurons within the retina of a salamander’s eye. Specifically, they referenced earlier studies that looked at what the neuron response was to various kinds of movies that ranged from single objects moving across a screen to complex scenes in nature.
Based on such observations, the team found that the arrow of time seemed to arise from relatively simple interactions occurring between pairs of neurons rather than complex systems involving larger numbers of them. Most intriguing to the researchers had been that their observations appeared to show that the arrow of time was most significant in response to the random motion of objects in nature.
Lynn and his team believe that the significance of this observation points to new questions about the ways that our individual internal perception of the passage of time correlates with events in the world around us, an element that could be of great interest to neuroscience.
Lynn says such observations could also “lead to answers about whether the arrow of time functions differently in brains that are neuroatypical.”
David Schwab, professor of Physics and Biology at the ITS Graduate Center and principal investigator of the study, says that Lynn and his team’s research into the “decomposition of local irreversibility—also known as the arrow of time—is an elegant, general framework that may provide a novel perspective for exploring many high-dimensional, nonequilibrium systems.”
“Our findings provide the first step toward understanding how the arrow of time that we experience in daily life emerges from these more microscopic details,” Lynn said in a statement.
Ten Incredible Underwater Discoveries That Have Captured Our Imagination
Out of all the amazing archaeological discoveries made each and every day around the world, my favorites have got to be those that emerge from the depths of the ocean. I think there is something about the underwater world that captures our imagination – perhaps it is the curiosity and intrigue about what else may lie beneath the surface, or the idea that entire cities may be hidden on the ocean floor, out of sight and out of reach. Fortunately, underwater discoveries are not always out of reach and every year more incredible findings are made thanks to advancing technology in the field of marine archaeology. Here we present ten remarkable marine discoveries that have captured our imagination.
1. Artifacts Retrieved From Site of First Ever Ancient Naval Battle
In November, 2013, archaeologists announced the recovery of a treasure trove of artifacts off the coast of Sicily from the site of the first ancient naval battle ever discovered, including battering rams, helmets, armor and weapons dating back 2,000 years.
Roman helmet from the Battle of the Egadi Islands.
They are the remnants of the Battle of the Egadi Islands - the last clash from the first Punic War which took place in 241 BC – in which the Romans fought the Carthaginians in a battle that culminated from more than 20 years of warring as the Romans struggled to gain a foothold in the Mediterranean Sea. While the Carthaginians were much more powerful on the water, the Romans lay in wait trapping the Carthaginians and blocking off their sea route in a sudden attack. Up to 50 Carthaginian ships were sunk, killing up to 10,000 men. The Roman victory set them on the road for Europe-wide domination. The priceless horde of artefacts had lain undisturbed on the seabed at a depth of 100 meters (328.08 ft) for more than two millennia.
2. 2,000-Year-Old Intact Roman Medicinal Pill Found In Submerged Shipping Vessel
In June, 2013, a team of Italian scientists conducted a chemical analysis on some ancient Roman medicinal pills discovered in the Relitto del Pozzino, a 2000-year-old submerged shipping vessel which sank off the coast of Tuscany, revealing what exactly the ancient Romans used as medicine.
A front, profile, and rear view of one of the medicinal tablets.
The Roman shipwreck lay near the remains of the Etruscan city of Populonia, which at the time the ship foundered was a key port along sea trade routes between the west and east across the Mediterranean Sea. The Relitto del Pozzino was excavated by the Archaeological Superintendence of Tuscany throughout the 1980s and 90s, revealing a variety of fascinating cargo including lamps originating in Asia minor, Syrian-Palestinian glass bowls, bronze jugs, ceramic vessels for carrying wine and, of particular interest, the remains of a medicine chest containing a surgery hook, a mortar, 136 wooden drug vials and several cylindrical tin vessels, one of which contained five circular medicinal tablets. The tin vessels had remained completely sealed, which kept the pills dry, providing an amazing opportunity to find out exactly what substances were contained within them. The results revealed that the pills contain a number of zinc compounds, as well as iron oxide, starch, beeswax, pine resin and other plant-derived materials. Based on their shape and composition, scientists have suggested that the tablets were used as a type of eye medicine.
3. Incredible Discovery Of Boat Wreck In Croatia Dated To 3,200 Years
In March 2014, marine archaeologist and researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) in France, Giulia Boetto, announced the incredible discovery of a boat wreck in Zambratija Cove, Croatia, which was just dated to 1,200 BC. The unique and rare finding is a Bronze Age sewn boat, a type of wooden boat which is literally sewn together using ropes, roots, or willow branches.
Wreck of Zambratija, Istria. Observations on the hull.
The boat measures 7 meters (22.96 ft) in length and 2.5 meters (8.20 ft) in width and is a sewn boat, which was a technique of shipbuilding practiced in the Adriatic until the Roman era. The remains of the boat found in Zambratija Cove are incredibly well-preserved for its age, with stitching still visible in some areas and the frame largely undamaged. The different types of wood used to construct it have been identified as elm, alder, and fir, and tree ring dating is currently underway, which will provide the date the tree was cut to the nearest year. Ms. Boetto said that they hope to finalize a 3D model of the boat and, eventually, a complete reconstruction.
4. Elongated Skulls Found In Maya Underwater Cave
In January, 2014, a flooded sinkhole in southern Mexico that terrifies local villagers was explored by underwater archaeologists, who found the submerged cavern littered with elongated skulls and human bones. The underwater cavern, known as Sac Uayum, is a cenote located in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
A cenote is a natural pit resulting from the collapse of limestone bedrock that exposes groundwater underneath. They were sometimes used by the ancient Maya for sacrificial offerings. Local legend says that the mysterious cavern is guarded by a feathered, horse-headed serpent. Older residents of the nearby village of Telchaquillo tell stories of people seeing the serpent perching in a tree, leaping up, spinning around three times, and diving into the water. From the first day of diving archaeologists discovered that there may be a very real reason why the villagers fear the place. It appears something terrible took place there and perhaps knowledge of this was passed down over the centuries leading to the development of myths and legends. The team identified more than a dozen human remains. The bones bear no marks that would indicate cause of death, so the people probably weren't sacrificed. According to the researchers, the elongated skulls were intentionally flattened during infancy, a practice that archaeologists are still seeking answers for.
5. Swedish Divers Find 11,000-Year-Old Underwater Relics
Swedish divers made a unique and rare discovery in the Baltic Sea – Stone Age artifacts left by Swedish nomads dating back 11,000 years. Researchers uncovered a number of remnants that are believed to have been discarded in the water by Swedes in the Stone Age, objects which have been preserved thanks to the lack of oxygen and the abundance of gyttja sediment, which is sediment rich in organic matter at the bottom of a eutrophic lake.
It is extremely rare to find evidence from the Stone Age so unspoiled. Buried 16 meters (52.49 ft) below the surface, the team uncovered wood, flint tools, animal horns and ropes. Among the most notable items found include a harpoon carving made from an animal bone, and the bones of an ancient animal called aurochs, the ancestor of domestic cattle, the last of which died off in the early 1600s. Archaeologists are continuing the dig, and are now particularly interested to see whether there is also an ancient burial site in the region.
6. Mysterious 10,000-Year-Old Underwater Ruins In Japan
On the southern coast of Yonaguni, Japan, lie submerged ruins estimated to be around 10,000 years old. The origin of the site is hotly debated - many experts argue that is man-made, while more other scientists insist it was carved out by natural phenomena.
The unique and awe-inspiring site was discovered in 1995 by a diver who strayed too far off the Okinawa shore and was dumb-struck when he stumbled upon the sunken arrangement of monolithic blocks "as if terraced into the side of a mountain". The site consists of huge stone blocks which fit together perfectly, right angled joins, carvings and what appear to be stairways, paved streets, crossroads and plazas. Despite the unusual features displayed at Yonaguni, there remains some scientists, such as Geologist Robert Schoch of Boston University, who have studied the formation and who are adamant that the large blocks formed naturally as a result of tectonic movement.
7. The Controversial Underwater Structures Of Zakynthos
In June 2013, Greek archaeologists announced an amazing finding – an ancient underwater city in the gulf of Alykanas in Zakynthos, Greece. According to the Underwater Antiquities Department, the discovery included huge public buildings, cobblestone paving, bases for pillars and other antiquities. Of particular significance were the 20 stone pillar bases, all of which feature a “34 cm diameter incision”, which were probably meant for wooden columns. Preliminary observations led to the conclusion that the remains belonged to a large ancient public building, probably belonging to an important settlement in the ancient city’s port. However, in a strange twist, a study released in December claimed that the ‘artifacts’ are not remnants of an ancient city at all, but simply a unique natural phenomenon.
Disc and doughnut-shaped structures appeared to be architectural remnants of a city, but scientific analysis showed the formations to actually be a naturally occurring geological phenomenon.
8. The Perfectly Preserved Ancient Chinese Underwater City
The Lion City, otherwise known as Shi Cheng, is an ancient submerged city that lies at the foot of Wu Shi Mountain (Five Lion Mountain), located beneath the spectacular Qiandao Lake (Thousand Island Lake) in China. Officials have taken a renewed interest in the sunken city since discovering it in February 2014, that despite more than 50 years underwater, the entire city has been preserved completely intact, transforming it into a virtual time capsule.
The Lion city in China, similar to the lost city of Atlantis.
The Lion City was built during the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 200 AD) and was once the center of politics and economics in the eastern province of Zhejiang. But in 1959, the Chinese government decided a new hydroelectric power station was required - so it built a man-made lake, submerging Shi Cheng under 40 meters (131.23 ft) of water. The Lion City lay undisturbed and forgotten for 53 years, until Qiu Feng, a local official in charge of tourism, decided to see what remained of the city under the deep waters. He was amazed to discover that, protected from wind, rain, and sun, the entire city complete with temples, memorial arches, paved roads, and houses, was completely intact, including wooden beams and stairs.
9. The 5,000-Year-Old Sunken City In Southern Greece
In the Peloponnesus region of southern Greece there is a small village called Pavlopetri, where a nearby ancient city dating back 5,000 years resides. However, this is not an ordinary archaeological site, the city can be found about 4 meters (3.12 ft) underwater and is believed to be the oldest known submerged city in the world. The city is incredibly well designed with roads, two story houses with gardens, temples, a cemetery, and a complex water management system including channels and water pipes.
In the center of the city, was a square or plaza measuring about 40x20 meters ( 131.23 x 65.61 ft) and most of the buildings have been found with up to 12 rooms inside. The design of this city surpasses the design of many cities today. The city is so old that it existed in the period that the famed ancient Greek epic poem ‘Iliad’ was set in. Research in 2009 revealed that the site extends for about 9 acres and evidence shows that it had been inhabited prior to 2800 BC. Scientists estimate that the city was sunk in around 1000 BC due to earthquakes that shifted the land. However, despite this and even after 5,000 years, the arrangement of the city is still clearly visible and at least 15 buildings have been found. The city’s arrangement is so clear that the head of the archaeological team, John Henderson of the University of Nottingham, and his team, have been able to create what they believe is an extremely accurate 3D reconstruction of the city.
The underwater remains and the digitally reconstructed pillars and walls of one of the buildings.
10. Ancient Egyptian city of Heracleion - on the border between myth and reality
The city of Heracleion, home of the temple where Cleopatra was inaugurated, plunged into the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Egypt nearly 1,200 years ago. It was one of the most important trade centers in the region before it sank more than a millennium ago. For centuries, the city was believed to be a myth, much like the city of Atlantis is viewed today. But in 2001, an underwater archaeologist searching for French warships stumbled across the sunken city. After removing layers of sand and mud, divers uncovered the extraordinarily well preserved city with many of its treasures still intact including, the main temple of Amun-Gerb, giant statues of pharaohs, hundreds of smaller statues of gods and goddesses, a sphinx, 64 ancient ships, 700 anchors, stone blocks with both Greek and Ancient Egyptian inscriptions, dozens of sarcophagi, gold coins and weights made from bronze and stone.
The team discovered a sunken statue of a pharaoh on the Mediterranean sea floor near the great temple of ancient Heracleion.
The Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BC) told us of a great temple that was built where the famous hero Heracles first set foot on to Egypt, and was named after him. He also reported of Helen of Troy’s visit to Heracleion with her lover Paris before the Trojan War. More than four centuries after Herodotus’ visit to Egypt, the geographer Strabo observed that the city of Heracleion, which possessed the temple of Herakles, is located straight to the east of Canopus at the mouth of the Canopic branch of the River Nile. However, until its discovery, Heracleion was just a place of legends.
Top image: Divers studying various underwater discoveries.
Senior military and intelligence personnel have consistently reported the presence of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) in proximity to locations linked to nuclear power, weaponry, and technology across the United States for the past 75 years.
However, the U.S. is not the only country in which unknown aerial objects have been observed, and sometimes close to sites of national security significance.
“Canadians report seeing UFOs in the sky at a rate of 3 times a day,” says Chris Rutkowski, a Canadian ufologist and media expert. “There are about 1,000 UFO reports filed in Canada every year, and the number remains high.”
However, amidst this extensive reporting of the phenomena, another question arises: where are the official Canadian records involving UAP observed near nuclear power facilities?
Now, The Canadian Constitution Foundation (CCF), a national and non-partisan charity with the mission to defend constitutionally protected rights and freedoms, is supporting a Canadian freelance investigative journalist, Daniel Otis, in his effort to appeal a decision made by Ontario Power Generation (OPG), involving the denial of access to records pertaining to UAP detected at or near nuclear power plants in Canada.
Daniel Otis’s UAP investigations, reporting on UAP activity, and social-political commentary on the topic have been extensively published in national outlets such as CTV News and Motherboard. Through his reports, Otis plays a vital role in enhancing Canadians’ understanding of how government agencies are addressing these enigmatic phenomena.
In support of his investigative work, Otis has submitted over 200 requests under federal and provincial freedom of information laws to various Canadian agencies, including the Department of National Defense, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Historically, these agencies have nearly always provided the records requested with information that poses a security risk redacted.
“For more than two years, I have used freedom of information requests to uncover case files, procedures, and briefing material about unidentified objects and lights in Canadian airspace,” Otis says. “While this might seem outlandish at first, I have obtained thousands of pages of relevant material, including 70 years of reports from Canadian pilots, soldiers, and police officers.”
Last year, OPG turned down Otis’s inquiry under Ontario’s Freedom of Information and Privacy Protection Act (FIPPA) for the supply of records concerning Unidentified Aerial Phenomena identified near Ontario’s nuclear power plants.
Otis launched the request based on an anonymous tip he received. Even though the existence of records was acknowledged, OPG initially refused to provide the copies, insisting on an exemption within FIPPA. This exemption states that records need not be disclosed if their revelation could reasonably be expected to seriously threaten an individual’s safety or health.
On March 2, 2023, during a meeting of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Natural Resources, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) officials were asked by Committee Vice-Chair and Member of Parliament Larry Maguire if the government shared any information it had on UAP or drone reports from nuclear power facilities throughout the country.
“The CNSC can report that there have been no reported drone intrusions or attempted intrusions at Canadian high-security nuclear facilities,” wrote Kathleen Heppell-Masys, Director General Directorate of Security and Safeguards, in a response on March 11.
She added that “All CNSC licensees, including operators of high-security sites such as nuclear power plants and Chalk River Laboratories, are required as conditions of their licenses and under NSC regulations to report on any attempted or actual breaches of security, or attempted or actual acts of sabotage at their sites. This requirement applies to any actual or attempted intrusion of the facilities by ‘drones’ including autonomous, semi-autonomous, and remotely piloted aircraft systems.”
“The excessive secrecy is absurd,” House of Parliament Member Larry Maguire told The Debrief. “It is my sincere hope the Chief Science Advisor’s Sky Canada Project will include specific recommendations on how information can be released into the public domain for further study and investigation.”
“By making information publicly available, it will help scientists and researchers analyze the data and cross reference it with other open-source material. We also need to see a scientific plan and best practices the government could adopt,” Maguire said.
Maguire told The Debrief that he had made his own inquiries about UAP sightings near Canadian nuclear facilities, to which officials provided lackluster responses.
“When I originally asked questions about incidents near nuclear facilities at the Natural Resources Committee, it was clear the department did not have a plan on how to investigate occurrences. Even though the Deputy Minister, who is now the Clerk of the Privy Council, said they would be willing to work with their American counterparts, I have seen no information to suggest it is happening.”
“It should also be noted the department said they had no records of incidences, while OPG is now willing to go to great lengths not to comply with this access to information request.”
After Otis appealed the decision to Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner (IPC), OPG raised several other dubious reasons that it cannot provide even redacted records. The reasons the cited include the constitutional division of powers, the federal Nuclear Safety and Control Act, and other related regulations.
However, OPG’s interpretation of the law is incorrect, as illustrated by the decision of New Brunswick Power, which is governed by the same constitution and federal regime as OPG, to provide Otis with records of UAP sightings at or near its nuclear plant.
“How many UAPs are associated with nuclear sites? It’s actually hard to say,” Rutkowski told The Debrief.
“I was asked a few years ago for a list of UAP near Canadian nuclear sites and it was quite long. But the problem is how to define a nuclear site and what does ‘near’ or ‘over’ one mean?”
One example Rutkowski gives is his Canadian UFO Survey, which he says now has almost 25,000 reports in it spanning more than three decades. “If we search the database for a specific location, such as Pickering, where a nuclear energy generating station is located, we get more than 50 reports! So in one sense, UAP are definitely associated with nuclear sites.”
“Since Pickering is near large population centers and is on an airline flight path, someone in southern Ontario who sees a UAP in the direction of Pickering might only see a light in the general area, not really directly over the nuclear site,” Rutkowski says. “The same is likely true for Chalk River, Bruce Point, etc.
“So, it might also be that UAP are only incidentally associated with nuclear sites.”
Rutkowski says that he has been told of security officials at nuclear sites that have observed unusual aerial phenomena, although such reports “are not routinely reported to me or to civilian organizations so it’s hard to say what they might be. I’d have to say that from experience, many would turn out to be misidentified aircraft or astronomical objects.”
“Nevertheless, I think that Otis’s requests should be given due consideration and that he should have access to UAP reports filed by security personnel working a nuclear sites,” Rutkowski said.
“Ontario’s freedom of information law is clear that the public has a right to access information from public institutions and exemptions must be limited and specific,” says CCF counsel Josh Dehaas.
“Mr. Otis has been more than reasonable in his request,” Dehaas adds. “He simply wants those parts of the documents that are not exempt from disclosure so that he can do his job and inform the public about the UFOs that have been reported at or near OPG’s nuclear plants.”
Presently, Otis is urging Ontario’s Information and Privacy Commissioner to order and oversee the release of redacted records in this case.
“Ontario Power Generation, a multi-billion-dollar provincial Crown corporation, has put the weight of their legal team into fighting my request,” Otis said.
“By simply redacting and releasing records, we could achieve a reasonable outcome that protects sensitive personal and security-related information while providing important data that researchers and the public can use to help unravel the enduring mystery of sightings like these.”
Requests for a comment were sent to Ontario Power Generation by The Debrief, but no responses had been recieved from the company as of the time of publication.
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton Or chrissynewton.com.
EXCLUSIVE: CIA's secret office has conducted UFO retrieval missions on at least NINE crash sites around the world, whistleblowers reveal
EXCLUSIVE: CIA's secret office has conducted UFO retrieval missions on at least NINE crash sites around the world, whistleblowers reveal
The Office of Global Access (OGA) - a wing of the CIA - has played a central role in collecting alien spacecraft since 2003, sources tell DailyMail.com
At least nine 'non-human craft' have been recovered by the US government – some wrecked from a crash, and two completely intact
The CIA has a 'system in place that can discern UFOs while they're still cloaked' and special military units are sent to salvage the wreckage, sources said
A secretive CIA office has been coordinating the retrieval of crashed UFOs around the world for decades, multiple sources told DailyMail.com.
One source said that at least nine apparent 'non-human craft' have been recovered by the US government – some wrecked from a crash, and two completely intact.
Three sources briefed on those alleged top secret operations told DailyMail.com that the Office of Global Access (OGA), a wing of the Central Intelligence Agency's Science and Technology Directorate, has played a central role since 2003 in orchestrating the collection of what could be alien spacecraft.
The three sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid reprisals, have all been briefed by individuals involved in those alleged UFO retrieval missions.
Though the shocking claims sound like they come from a science fiction novel, they are part of a growing body of evidence suggesting the US government could indeed be hiding advanced vehicles that were not made by humans.
The Office of Global Access - a wing of the CIA - has played a central role in collecting alien spacecraft since 2003, sources tell DailyMail.com
David Grusch - a former high-ranking intelligence official – is one of three military whistleblowers who testified under oath about UFOs. Grusch claims he has evidence of secret programs involving technology far surpassing the US's capabilities
In July Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer co-sponsored a bill to allow disclosure of 'recovered technologies of unknown origin and biological evidence of non-human intelligence'
The same month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sponsored an extraordinary bill to allow disclosure of 'recovered technologies of unknown origin and biological evidence of non-human intelligence' – which has now passed in the Senate.
Sources who spoke to DailyMail.com shed light on how the CIA has allegedly coordinated the secret recovery and storage of these alleged crashed or landed UFOs.
Late CIA expert Jeffrey Richelson wrote in his 2016 book, The US Intelligence Community, that the Office of Global Access helped provide 'worldwide collection capability'
'There's at least nine vehicles. There were different circumstances for different ones,' one source briefed by UFO program insiders told DailyMail.com. 'It has to do with the physical condition they're in. If it crashes, there's a lot of damage done. Others, two of them, are completely intact.'
The source said the CIA has a 'system in place that can discern UFOs while they're still cloaked,' and that if the 'non-human' craft land, crash or are brought down to earth, special military units are sent to try to salvage the wreckage.
Another source with knowledge of the OGA's role said that they specialize in allowing the US military to secretly access areas around the world where they would usually be 'denied' – for example behind enemy lines.
'They are basically a facilitator for people to get in and out of countries,' the source said. 'They are very clever at being able to get anywhere in the world they want to.'
Multiple sources briefed on the OGA's activities told DailyMail.com that most of its operations involve more conventional retrieval missions, such as stray nuclear weapons, downed satellites or adversaries' technology.
But they claimed some missions coordinated by the OGA have involved retrieval of UFOs.
'The task at hand is simply to get it into custody and protect the secrecy of it,' one source said. 'The actual physical retrieval is by the military. But it's not kept under military control, because they have to keep too many records. So they start moving it out fairly quickly into private hands.'
Documents published by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in December 2016 showed that the OGA was one of 56 offices in the CIA, with its chief and deputy making up two of a total 286 director-level officials in the spy agency.
An unclassified organizational chart published by the CIA in October 2015 lists the OGA among nine offices in the 'Science and Technology' wing of the agency.
Late CIA expert Jeffrey Richelson wrote in a 2016 book on the agency that the OGA was established in 2003, and cited a CIA description that it 'integrate[s] analysis, technology, and tradecraft to attack the most difficult targets, and to provide worldwide collection capability.'
Doug Wolfe helped set up the CIA's Office of Global Access in 2003 and served as its deputy director. He managed 'unwarned access programs that deliver intelligence from the most challenging denied areas' according to a short biography published by a conference he attended in 2017
Schumer's bill requires all government agencies to turn over evidence of any 'recovered technologies of unknown origin and biological evidence of non-human intelligence' to a panel of experts, who can then choose to make the information public
One source claimed at least nine 'non-human craft' have been recovered by the US government – some wrecked from a crash, and two completely intact. A 3D rendering of a UFO
Wolfe's bio cryptically adds that he 'was responsible for leading and managing strategic, unwarned access programs that deliver intelligence from the most challenging denied areas' and 'served as program manager with responsibility for the end-to-end system acquisition of an innovative new source and method for the IC [Intelligence Community].'
Two sources told DailyMail.com that the OGA coordinates with Special Operations Forces such as SEAL teams or Delta Force under the Pentagon's Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), or nuclear weapons experts such as the Nuclear Emergency Support Team (NEST), to collect the crashed or landed craft.
But another source, who has briefed members of Congress on alleged crash retrievals, said that NEST had not been involved in any of these operations.
A spokesperson for the agency also denied involvement.
'[NEST] personnel encounter materials from unknown origins on a regular basis,' a spokesperson said. 'In fact, one of NEST's missions is to help determine the origin of nuclear material interdicted outside of regulatory control or used in a nuclear device.
'During its operations, NEST has never encountered any material related to UAP.'
In a written statement, a JSOC spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'We have nothing for you on this.'
A former SEAL team member told DailyMail.com that they had been on operations coordinated by the CIA to retrieve high-value stray enemy weapons, and that they knew of colleagues who had been on similar operations where they recovered technology that appeared highly advanced – though not necessarily out-of-this-world.
'Absolutely that happens,' the ex-SEAL said. 'Even ordinance or a weapon that we've never seen, we recover and bring it back.'
One source said that the Air Force Special Operations Command's 24th Special Tactics Squadron, based at Pope Field Army Airbase in North Carolina, has also been involved in securing areas for UFO crash retrievals.
Sources said the CIA office then often hands the wreckage or material over to private aerospace contractors for analysis, where it is not subject to rigorous government audits and can be shielded with protections for trade secrets.
'The CIA is the portfolio manager or owner of the UAP [Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena] crash retrieval operation,' one source, who has shared their information with Congress, told DailyMail.com.
'The Department of Energy national labs are materials analysis contractors whenever recovered radioisotopes are involved but not always just radioisotope materials. The aerospace-defense industry are also contractors that specifically do not handle any recovered radioisotopes, but they handle the other non-radioactive material – and intact craft.'
Multiple sources said that many of the people involved in these programs may not even realize they are dealing with non-human craft, due to the intense security and compartmentalization of information in such top secret programs.
UFO whistleblower David Grusch appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Wednesday, repeating his claims of a secret US government program that is hiding crashed 'non-human' UFOs
In an interview on Wednesday with podcaster Joe Rogan, whistleblower David Grusch gave an example of engineers in the Manhattan Project of the 1940s not realizing they were working on fuses for the atom bomb that would eventually be dropped on Japan.
Late Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told the New Yorker in 2021 that top defense company Lockheed Martin was one of the private contractors holding potentially alien wreckage.
'I was told for decades that Lockheed had some of these retrieved materials,' he said.
As majority leader, Reid was one of the 'Gang of Eight', a select group of top lawmakers given access to the country's most closely held secrets too sensitive to share widely in Congress.
But even he was denied access to these alleged programs, he told the magazine.
'I tried to get, as I recall, a classified approval by the Pentagon to have me go look at the stuff. They would not approve that. I don't know what all the numbers were, what kind of classification it was, but they would not give that to me.'
Reid helped set up a new UFO investigation office in the Pentagon in 2008 to probe the regular encounters US military pilots and other armed forces members had with strange objects in the sky and sea.
In June, former top intelligence officer Grusch came forward with claims that while working for the Pentagon's UFO office he discovered the US had a secret program trying to glean new technology from multiple 'non-human' craft it had obtained, dating as far back as the 1930s.
The former National Reconnaissance Office staffer's claims were deemed 'urgent and credible' by the Intelligence Community Inspector General, whom Grusch says he gave documents evidencing his story, and introduced to around 40 witnesses involved in the alleged 'reverse engineering' UFO programs in July 2021.
The OGA is one of 56 offices in the CIA, according to documents published by the National Archives in 2016
The Office of Global Access sits inside the CIA's directorate of Science and Technology, one of five directorates at the agency according to a 2015 unclassified organizational chart
Earlier this year Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Marco Rubio told TV news station NewsNation that he had spoken to some of these 'first-hand' program insiders, who allegedly worked to glean new technology from potentially alien captured craft.
'There are people that have come forward to share information with our committee over the last couple of years,' Rubio said in the June 26 interview.
'Some of these people still work in the government. A lot of them are very fearful. Fearful for their jobs, fearful for their clearances, fearful of their career. Some of them are fearful of harm coming to them.
'Most of these people, at some point or maybe even currently, have held very high clearances and high positions within our government.
'Some of these claims are things that are beyond the realm of what any of us has ever dealt with.
'If it's even partially true, then somebody's broken the law. There's been some violations. Because these things have to be disclosed to Congress.'
Top lawmakers appear to be taking seriously the claims of UFOs hidden in secret bunkers.
Senate leader Schumer co-sponsored a bill to create a review board with presidential-level powers, with the aim of uncovering and disclosing any non-human craft or even bodies, held by the US government.
Earlier this year Senate Intelligence Committee ranking member Marco Rubio said that he had spoken to some of these 'first-hand' program insiders, who allegedly worked to glean new technology from potentially alien captured craft
Senate leader Schumer co-sponsored a bill to create a review board with presidential-level powers, with the aim of uncovering and disclosing any non-human craft or even bodies, held by the US government
It requires all government agencies to turn over evidence of any 'recovered technologies of unknown origin and biological evidence of non-human intelligence' to a panel of experts, who can then choose to make the information public.
The Senate has voted in favor of Schumer's bill. If passed in the House of Representatives, it will be added as an amendment to the annual military spending bill for 2024.
'The American public has a right to learn about technologies of unknown origins, non-human intelligence, and unexplainable phenomena,' Schumer said in a July press release announcing the amendment.
Missouri Republican congressman Eric Burlison, part of an informal caucus of lawmakers campaigning for greater transparency on UFOs, told DailyMail.com that the sources' claims gave him and his colleagues a lead to follow in their investigations.
'These are the kind of specific programs we've been trying to get the names of,' he said. 'It's been so difficult because we can't get that information with specifics from Grusch or from the [Intelligence Community] Inspector General.
'I can't confirm it's true. But it certainly gives us a trail to follow.
'I think that if it does exist, even if they give us no information beyond that, I think we owe it to the world to disclose that.'
I found this interesting structure and it really looks similar to that of the UK Stonehenge site. Except this mini version on the moon has its top circle of stones still on it. The site measures about 75 meters across, I got that from NASA saying the crater is 1.6km across. It's really not that mini, actually larger than the one in the UK, but both unique and really captures our imagination about what both structures are used for.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
This day in UFO history: The Mysterious Todmorden Encounter – Unraveling the Alan Godfrey UFO Abduction Case
This day in UFO history: The Mysterious Todmorden Encounter – Unraveling the Alan Godfrey UFO Abduction Case
In the serene township of Todmorden, nestled within West Yorkshire’s enigmatic landscapes, a perplexing event unfolded that still captivates UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. The date was November 28, 1980 – exactly 43 years ago, a night that would etch itself permanently in the annals of UFO history, all thanks to the experiences of one Police Constable, Alan Godfrey.
Godfrey, a respected officer, embarked on what seemed like a routine patrol. His mission was straightforward — investigate the peculiar reports of cattle roaming a local council estate. Little did he know that his night would turn into a subject of extraterrestrial speculation.
As Godfrey navigated the damp streets of Todmorden, his attention was drawn to an anomalous sight — a bright, diamond-shaped object, suspended eerily above the ground. This was no ordinary aerial phenomenon; it was silent, massive, and unlike anything he had ever encountered. Attempting to communicate with his station, Godfrey found his radio unresponsive, adding to the surreal nature of the moment.
The object, described as 20 feet high and 14 feet wide, seemed to be exerting a strange force, affecting the surrounding environment yet making no sound. Godfrey, maintaining his composure, sketched the object in his police notebook, a document that would later become a key piece of evidence in his extraordinary tale.
In a bewildering twist, Godfrey experienced what he later described as a “jump in time.” One moment he was observing the object, and the next, he found himself driving further down the road, unable to account for approximately 30 minutes of his time. This gap in memory, coupled with a split boot and an unexplained red mark on his foot, deepened the mystery.
The intrigue intensified under hypnotic regression. Godfrey recalled a beam of light that rendered him unconscious, followed by waking up in a strange room, surrounded by small beings and a humanoid figure. This narrative, extracted from the depths of his subconscious, painted a picture of a possible extraterrestrial encounter.
The aftermath of this incident was a whirlwind of media attention, skepticism, and personal turmoil for Godfrey. His account, though met with ridicule by some, was also backed by corroborating reports of strange lights by other officers and locals. The incident not only challenged the credibility of a respected police officer but also stirred a national conversation about the possibility of extraterrestrial visitations.
Years have passed since that fateful night in Todmorden, but the enigma of Alan Godfrey’s encounter remains undiminished. Was it a brush with the unknown, a misinterpretation of natural phenomena, or something else entirely? The Todmorden encounter, as it came to be known, continues to be a beacon for UFO researchers and enthusiasts, a reminder of the unfathomable mysteries that might lie beyond our understanding.
As we delve into the depths of the unknown, stories like Godfrey’s serve as compelling narratives, challenging our perceptions and inviting us to ponder the vast, unexplored frontiers of our universe.
In a remarkable disclosure during a recent House Oversight Committee hearing on national security, a past incident involving an unidentified aerial phenomenon (UAP) at Vandenberg Air Force Base was brought to light. This incident, dating back to 2003, has resurfaced in the public domain, shedding new light on the enigmatic world of UAPs.
The Unusual Sighting
According to the testimony presented by Ryan Graves, a retired Navy pilot and the founder of Americans for Safe Aerospace, a group of Boeing contractors working near a launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base witnessed an extraordinary event. They reported seeing a gigantic, red, square-shaped object, estimated to be about 100 yards in size. This object emerged from the direction of the ocean, hovering at a low altitude over the facility for approximately 45 seconds before vanishing over the nearby mountains. The time was recorded as approximately 8:45 a.m.
Subsequent Developments
Graves further revealed that within 24 hours of this sighting, there were additional reports of similar occurrences on the base. Some of these reports included descriptions of objects displaying seemingly aggressive maneuvers towards the base’s security personnel. These incidents were not isolated occurrences but were part of a documented pattern, as confirmed by the accounts and records shared by the witnesses with Americans for Safe Aerospace.
The Hearing and Its Implications
This intriguing account was part of a broader discussion during the House Oversight Committee’s hearing. The hearing, focusing on UAPs (formerly known as UFOs), featured testimonies from various individuals, including retired Major David Grusch and former U.S. intelligence officer David Fravor. While some details were withheld, the overall aim of the hearing, as stated by Representative Tim Burchett, was to promote government transparency in dealing with such phenomena.
Reflecting on the Incident
The Vandenberg sighting stands out for its peculiar characteristics and the credible nature of the witnesses involved. The detailed descriptions provided by the contractors, along with the documented evidence, offer a compelling case for further investigation into this and similar incidents. While the UAP phenomenon remains shrouded in mystery, such accounts continue to spark curiosity and demand attention from both the public and scientific communities.
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As our understanding of these phenomena continues to evolve, the Vandenberg incident serves as a reminder of the vast unknowns still present in our skies. The pursuit of knowledge in this field remains a challenging yet fascinating endeavor, as each new sighting provides another piece to an ever-expanding puzzle.
De NASA heeft de indrukwekkende donkere nevel, officieel gecatalogiseerd als SH2-63 en LBN 86, in de ‘Astronomieafbeelding van de Dag‘ in de schijnwerpers gezet
Deze nevel, bijgenaamd de Pijlstaartrognevel vanwege zijn kenmerkende vorm, bestaat uit gas en stof in lichte bruine tinten.
De afbeelding, benadrukt door NASA, is vastgelegd door Vikas Chander, gedurende 20 uur belichting onder de donkere luchten van Chili.
Graancirkels: wat weten we over dit mysterieuze fenomeen?
In de jaren tachtig en negentig doken overal ter wereld graancirkels op, wat angst en intriges over hun oorsprong veroorzaakte. Deze cryptische patronen lijken de afgelopen jaren echter verdwenen.
Laten we de geschiedenis, feiten en theorieën verkennen over dit mysterieuze fenomeen dat een milieukunstvorm inspireerde. Klik door de galerij om aan de slag te gaan.
In de jaren 1960 waren er talrijke UFO-waarnemingen in Queensland, Australië. Mensen beweerden cirkels te hebben ontdekt in moerasriet en rietvelden. Eén zo'n voorval deed zich voor in 1966 toen een aanzienlijke cirkel werd gevonden in het riet van een moeras in Tully, Queensland.
Vergelijkbare vindplaatsen zijn gedocumenteerd in verschillende delen van Australië, zoals Tooligie Hill in South Australia in 1971 en Navarre in Victoria in september 1972.
De oorsprong van graancirkels gaat echter veel verder terug. In 1678 werd van een groep cirkels die in Hertfordshire waren ontdekt, gedacht dat ze het werk van de duivel waren, omdat het onmogelijk leek dat een mens ze had kunnen maken;
Er werden verschillende verklaringen voor hun ontstaan geopperd. Sommigen geloofden dat UFO's verantwoordelijk waren, terwijl anderen een onbekende vorm van energie, mogelijk paranormaal, voorstelden als de schepper.
Verder onderzoek wees uit dat graancirkels in het Verenigd Koninkrijk niet willekeurig verspreid waren. Ze verschenen vaak in de buurt van wegen, bewoonde gebieden en oriëntatiepunten zoals de historische steencirkels van Stonehenge en Avebury.
In 1990 begon een team wetenschappers, de zelfbenoemde "cerealogisten", aan een onderzoek om het mysterie rond deze formaties te ontrafelen. Ze sloegen een kamp op op een heuvel in Wiltshire, uitgerust met detectoren voor warmte, licht en geluid. Hun doel was om elk bewijs vast te leggen van een UFO of een buitenaardse entiteit die verantwoordelijk was voor het maken van de graancirkels.
Operatie Blackbird omvatte samenwerking met de BBC en er werd in het gebied gepatrouilleerd door functionarissen van het Ministerie van Defensie. In de tweede nacht registreerde de bewakingsapparatuur knipperende oranje lichten in het aangrenzende veld. De volgende ochtend werden twee grote cirkels met parallelle lijnen ertussen ontdekt.
Tijdens het onderzoek van de cirkels werden een bordspel en een houten kruisbeeld ontdekt in het midden van één ervan. Onderzoeker Colin Andrews accepteerde de mogelijkheid dat de knipperende oranje lichten waarschijnlijk werden veroorzaakt door de warmtehandtekening van een hoaxer.
Colin Andrews informeerde de pers dat hun onderzoek was gehinderd door een grap, wat een tegenslag veroorzaakte. Hij benadrukte de ernst van hun werk en benadrukte dat de grap van korte duur was.
Volgens berichten hebben samenzweringstheoretici gesuggereerd dat het leger het bedrog heeft uitgevoerd om de onderzoekers minder geloofwaardig te maken.
In 1991 schokten Doug Bower en Dave Chorley de wereld toen ze beweerden dat zij degenen waren achter de graancirkels, beginnend in 1978. Ze lieten het proces zien van het creëren van een graancirkel met behulp van basisgereedschap zoals een houten plank, een touw en een baseballpet met een lus van draad om een rechte lijn aan te houden.
Bower en Chorley verklaarden naar verluidt dat ze beïnvloed waren door de gebeurtenissen in Australië in de jaren 1960. Ze namen de eer op zich voor alle graancirkels in Groot-Brittannië vóór 1987 en voor meer dan 200 graancirkels van 1978 tot 1991.
De onthulling van de cirkels van Bower en Chorley in de jaren 1990 leidde tot een toename van het aantal graancirkels. In 2009 meldde het tijdschrift Smithsonian dat deze geometrische ontwerpen in de loop der jaren groter en ingewikkelder zijn geworden. Anonieme cirkelmakers hebben met hun creaties New Age toeristen aangetrokken.
Volgens de publicatie zijn er sindsdien wereldwijd op verschillende locaties graancirkels waargenomen. In Zuid-Engeland, waar de meeste activiteit plaatsvindt, richten de cirkelmakers zich op koolzaad-, gerst- en tarwevelden.
Er zijn echter sceptici die betwijfelen of graancirkels uitsluitend door mensen zijn gemaakt. Physics World onthult dat biofysici opgezwollen stengels hebben geïnterpreteerd als bewijs dat de gewassen werden blootgesteld aan microgolven toen de cirkels werden gevormd. Deze ontdekking heeft geleid tot gepatenteerde methoden om de groei van gewassen te versnellen.
Na de bekentenis van Bower en Chorley ontstond er een gepassioneerde discussie tussen degenen die geloofden dat mensen verantwoordelijk waren en degenen die beweerden dat hun bekentenis niet elke cirkel kon verklaren.
Studies gepubliceerd in 1999 en 2001 vonden bewijs van straling op gewassen in graancirkelformaties, wat een raadsel is voor degenen die de cirkels toeschrijven aan door mensen gemaakte houten plankontwerpen.
Andere incidenten hebben eenvoudiger verklaringen. In 2002 maakten mensen melding van graancirkels in de buurt van Pike Lake in Saskatchewan, Canada. Later werd echter bevestigd dat deze formaties in feite mesthopen waren die door een nabijgelegen boer waren weggegooid.
Ook de cirkels die in de jaren 1960 in Australië werden waargenomen, zouden kunnen worden toegeschreven aan wallaby's die opium consumeerden. Volgens rapporten betraden deze buideldieren papavervelden die voor medicinale doeleinden werden gecultiveerd, consumeerden ze overmatige hoeveelheden van de gewassen en bewogen ze zich vervolgens in cirkelvormige patronen.
The Incredible Saga of Pat Brown’s Ongoing Alien Abductions Since 1988!
The Incredible Saga of Pat Brown’s Ongoing Alien Abductions Since 1988!
In the realm of UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters, few stories resonate as profoundly as that of Pat Brown, an African American woman whose life took an extraordinary turn starting in 1988. Her experiences, marked by both fear and spiritual awakening, offer a unique perspective into the enigmatic world of alien encounters. This article delves into the remarkable journey of Pat Brown, whose experiences challenge the conventional boundaries of reality and open up a dialogue about the possibilities that lie beyond our understanding.
The Beginning of a Mysterious Journey
Living a routine life as a telephone operator in a bustling Los Angeles suburb, Pat Brown’s world was as ordinary as it could be until a visit to her friend Denise in Prescott, Arizona. Skeptical of paranormal phenomena, Pat’s perspective took a sharp turn during this trip. It was here, in Denise’s home, that Pat first encountered beings from another world. Described as slender, iridescent entities that glowed with a whitish hue, these beings entered her room through the walls, marking the onset of Pat’s extraordinary experiences.
A Transformational Encounter
The pivotal moment in Pat’s journey occurred on Christmas Eve of 1992. This encounter was far more intense than her previous experiences. She awoke to find her room filled with gray alien beings. They paralyzed and transported her aboard their spacecraft, an experience that was both terrifying and transformative. This abduction marked a significant shift in her life, leading her to abandon her job as a telephone operator and embark on a new path as a healing massage therapist.
The Spiritual Shift
Despite the fear and confusion brought on by these encounters, Pat’s story took an unexpected turn towards the spiritual. Following a series of abductions, she received a telepathic message offering a ball of golden light for healing. This experience marked a dramatic shift in her encounters, transforming them from episodes of fear to profound spiritual experiences. Pat’s journey suggests a deeper connection between alien encounters and personal spiritual growth.
Redefining the Narrative
Pat Brown’s story is more than just a series of alien encounters; it’s a narrative that challenges our understanding of the universe and our place within it. Her experiences prompt questions about self-exploration, the existence of other dimensions, and the deeper meaning of our existence. Additionally, Pat’s story addresses the misconception that alien encounters are exclusive to certain races, emphasizing that these experiences transcend racial boundaries.
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A Journey of Enlightenment
Pat Brown’s experiences with extraterrestrial beings transform from encounters of fear to enlightening spiritual revelations. Her journey offers a unique insight into the unexplained phenomena of alien encounters, challenging us to think beyond our conventional understanding of reality. As we continue to explore the mysteries of the universe, stories like Pat Brown’s serve as a reminder of the endless possibilities that exist beyond the known world.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:ALIEN LIFE, UFO- CRASHES, ABDUCTIONS, MEN IN BLACK, ed ( FR. , NL; E )
NASA Uses Two Worlds to Test Future Mars Helicopter Designs
NASA Uses Two Worlds to Test Future Mars Helicopter Designs
This video combines two perspectives of the 59th flight of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter. Video on the left was captured by the Mastcam-Z on NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover; the black-and-white video on the right was taken by Ingenuity’s downward-pointing Navcam. The flight occurred Sept 16. NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
Engineers will go beyond the ends of the Earth to find more performance for future Mars helicopters.
For the first time in history, two planets have been home to testing future aircraft designs. On this world, a new rotor that could be used with next-generation Mars helicopters was recently tested at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, spinning at near-supersonic speeds (0.95 Mach). Meanwhile, the agency’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has achieved new altitude and airspeed records on the Red Planet in the name of experimental flight testing.
“Our next-generation Mars helicopter testing has literally had the best of both worlds,” said Teddy Tzanetos, Ingenuity’s project manager and manager for the Mars Sample Recovery Helicopters. “Here on Earth, you have all the instrumentation and hands-on immediacy you could hope for while testing new aircraft components. On Mars, you have the real off-world conditions you could never truly re-create here on Earth.” That includes a whisper-thin atmosphere and significantly less gravity than on Earth.
The next-generation carbon fiber rotor blades being tested on Earth are almost 4 inches (more than 10 centimeters) longer than Ingenuity’s, with greater strength and a different design. NASA thinks these blades could enable bigger, more capable Mars helicopters. The challenge is, as the blade tips approach supersonic speeds, vibration-causing turbulence can quickly get out of hand.
To find a space big enough to create a Martian atmosphere on Earth, engineers looked to JPL’s 25-foot wide, 85-foot-tall (8-meter-by-26-meter) space simulator – a place where Surveyor, Voyager, and Cassini got their first taste of space-like environments. For three weeks in September, a team monitored sensors, meters, and cameras as the blades endured run after run at ever-higher speeds and greater pitch angles.
A dual rotor system for the next generation of Mars helicopters is tested in the 25-Foot Space Simulator at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Sept.15. Longer and stronger than those used on the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the carbon-fiber blades reached near-supersonic speeds during testing. NASA/JPL-Caltech
“We spun our blades up to 3,500 rpm, which is 750 revolutions per minute faster than the Ingenuity blades have gone,” said Tyler Del Sesto, Sample Recovery Helicopter deputy test conductor at JPL. “These more efficient blades are now more than a hypothetical exercise. They are ready to fly.”
At around the same time, and about 100 million miles (161 million kilometers) away, Ingenuity was being commanded to try things the Mars Helicopter team never imagined they would get to do.
Fourth Rock Flight Testing
Ingenuity was originally slated to fly no more than five times. With its first flight entering the mission logbook more than two-and-a-half years ago, the helicopter has exceeded its planned 30-day mission by 32 times and has flown 66 times. Every time Ingenuity goes airborne, it covers new ground, offering a perspective no previous planetary mission could achieve. But lately, Team Ingenuity has been taking their solar-powered rotorcraft out for a spin like never before.
“Over the past nine months, we have doubled our max airspeed and altitude, increased our rate of vertical and horizontal acceleration, and even learned to land slower,” said Travis Brown, Ingenuity’s chief engineer at JPL. “The envelope expansion provides invaluable data that can be used by mission designers for future Mars helicopters.”
Limited by available energy and motor-temperature considerations, Ingenuity flights usually last around two to three minutes. Although the helicopter can cover more ground in a single flight by flying faster, flying too fast can confuse the onboard navigation system. The system uses a camera that recognizes rocks and other surface features as they move through its field of view. If those features whiz by too fast, the system can lose its way.
So, to achieve a higher maximum ground speed, the team sends commands for Ingenuity to fly at higher altitudes (instructions are sent to the helicopter before each flight), which keeps features in view longer. Flight 61 established a new altitude record of 78.7 feet (24 meters) as it checked out Martian wind patterns. With Flight 62 Ingenuity set a speed record of 22.3 mph (10 meters per second) – and scouted a location for the Perseverance rover’s science team.
The team has also been experimenting with Ingenuity’s landing speed. The helicopter was designed to contact the surface at a relatively brisk 2.2 mph (1 mps) so its onboard sensors could easily confirm touchdown and shut down the rotors before it could bounce back into the air. A helicopter that lands more slowly could be designed with lighter landing gear. So, on Flights 57, 58, and 59 they gave it a whirl, demonstrating Ingenuity could land at speeds 25% slower than the helicopter was originally designed to land at.
All this Martian Chuck Yeager-ing is not over. In December, after solar conjunction, Ingenuity is expected to perform two high-speed flights during which it will execute a special set of pitch-and-roll angles designed to measure its performance.
“The data will be extremely useful in fine-tuning our aero-mechanical models of how rotorcraft behave on Mars,” said Brown. “On Earth, such testing is usually performed in the first few flights. But that’s not where we’re flying. You have to be a little more careful when you’re operating that far away from the nearest repair shop, because you don’t get any do-overs.”
More About Ingenuity
Ingenuity began its life at Mars as a technology demonstration. It first flew on April 19, 2021, hovering 10 feet (3 meters) for 30 seconds. Four more flights in as many weeks added 499 seconds and saw the helicopter flying horizontally over the surface for 1,171 feet (357 meters). After proving flight was possible on Mars, Ingenuity entered an operations demonstration phase in May 2021 to show how aerial scouting could benefit future exploration of Mars and other worlds.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was built by JPL, which also manages the project for NASA Headquarters. It is supported by NASA’s Science Mission Directorate. NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley and NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia, provided significant flight performance analysis and technical assistance during Ingenuity’s development. AeroVironment Inc., Qualcomm, and SolAero also provided design assistance and major vehicle components. Lockheed Space designed and manufactured the Mars Helicopter Delivery System.
At NASA Headquarters, Dave Lavery is the program executive for the Ingenuity Mars Helicopter.
News Media Contacts
DC Agle Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. 818-393-9011 agle@jpl.nasa.gov
NASA Tests its Next-Generation Mars Helicopter Blades
Artist illustration of three solar-powered Mars helicopters from NASA: Ingenuity (upper right), along with the proposed design for Sample Recovery Helicopter to be use on the future NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return Mission (foreground) and a concept for a future Science Helicopter (upper center). (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
NASA Tests its Next-Generation Mars Helicopter Blades
While NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter continues to break records for both airspeed and altitude while it explores Jezero Crater on the Red Planet, NASA engineers back on Earth are hard at work testing carbon fiber blades for next-generation Mars helicopters that could exceed the performance of Ingenuity on future missions to Mars, specifically with the planned Mars Sample Return mission that NASA hopes to accomplish sometime in the 2030s.
“Our next-generation Mars helicopter testing has literally had the best of both worlds,” Teddy Tzanetos, who is the project manager for Ingenuity and manager for the Mars Sample Recovery Helicopters, said in an official NASA statement. “Here on Earth, you have all the instrumentation and hands-on immediacy you could hope for while testing new aircraft components. On Mars, you have the real off-world conditions you could never truly re-create here on Earth.”
These off-world conditions on Mars include surface atmospheric pressure and surface gravity that is less than one percent and one-third of Earth’s surface, respectively. It is because of this significantly reduced surface pressure that Ingenuity’s rotations per minute (rpm) are between 2,400 to 2,900 rpm to achieve flight on the Red Planet. This is significantly higher than on Earth, as helicopters typically only need 500 to 600 rpm to achieve flight.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter incorporates four carbon fiber blades organized into two counter-rotating rotors, meaning that rotate opposite to each other, spanning 1.2-meters (4-feet) across with the aforementioned rotating speed of between 2,400 to 2,900 rpm (rotations per minute). Additionally, Ingenuity also weighs in at approximately 1.8 kilograms (4 pounds) on Earth, but with Mars having approximately one-third the gravity Ingenuity weighs only 0.68 kilograms (1.5 pounds) on the surface of the Red Planet.
April 2021 video discussing the design and development of Ingenuity.
For the next-generation Mars helicopters, NASA engineers at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena are constructing blades that are slightly more than 10 centimeters (4 inches) longer than Ingenuity’s blades, along with exhibiting a separate design and increased strength, as well.
“We spun our blades up to 3,500 rpm, which is 750 revolutions per minute faster than the Ingenuity blades have gone,” Tyler Del Sesto, who is the Sample Recovery Helicopter deputy test conductor at JPL, said in an official NASA statement. “These more efficient blades are now more than a hypothetical exercise. They are ready to fly.”
One goal of these next-generation Mars helicopters could be on the joint NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return mission slated to occur sometime in the 2030s. This mission will encompass three parts: sample collection, sample retrieval, and a return mission. It is the sample retrieval mission that will involve the most equipment, including two Ingenuity-class helicopters tasked with collecting samples with a robotic arm that are currently being placed on the surface of Mars in Jezero Crater by NASA’s Perseverance rover.
These sample retrieval helicopters will vary in design from Ingenuity in that they are planned to have a set of four wheels used to drive to the sample upon landing a few meters from them. Upon retrieval, the helicopters will fly to the Sample Retrieval Lander (SRL), which will then load the samples into the Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), which will launch the samples to low Martian orbit where they will return to Earth for analysis. Currently, Perseverance has collected a total of 23 samples with the goal of collecting 38 samples in the end.
Artist illustration of the various components that will comprise the Mars Sample Return mission, which is slated for the 2030s. These components include NASA’s Perseverance rover (lower left, and currently on Mars), Sample Retrieval Lander (far right), two Ingenuity-class helicopters, Mars Ascent Vehicle, and the Earth Return Orbiter. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
As noted, Ingenuity continues to break records for both altitude and speed as it has completed a total of 66 flights as of this writing, which far exceeds the original plan of five flights over the course of a 30-day mission that began on April 19, 2021. Thus far, Ingenuity has achieved a maximum horizontal distance of 704 meters (2,309.71 feet), which it achieved on its 25th flight on April 3, 2022, and a maximum altitude of 24 meters (78.7 feet), which it achieved on its 61st flight on October 5, 2023.
How will these next-generation Mars helicopters help improve the science and engineering performed on the Red Planet in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
UFO “whistleblower” David Grusch continued his so-called “disclosure” campaign, Tuesday, appearing on an episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Former Air Force intelligence officer-turned-ufology’s new poster child for UFO disclosure, David Grusch, seemed to tell everyone what they wanted to hear during his latest interview with Joe Rogan. From the early days of UFO recovery, to calling out Congressmen, and making wild claims of “variety” of alien bodies, Grusch really did hit every talking point required by the UFO community.
But was any of it real? For my money, probably not. It’s not that I don’t trust Grusch. I don’t trust anyone or anything involved in the mainstream ufology world, because they’ve never actually done anything to back up a single one of their claims.
Here’s the pattern the UFO community use to keep people paying them to do work “revealing alien technology” that never sees the light of day:
find a poster child, an everyman with credentials who seems believable, to “reveal something shocking” about UFOs to the world;
get that guy to spout every single clause within UFO conspiracies, and add a few just for him;
get a few politicians and famouses to believe his testimony; and
send him on a world tour before retiring him for a younger, more appealing new poster child.
A lot of men think power comes from their words. It doesn’t. Power comes from action. Where is any of the action from the leaders of ufology? Other than the acts of starting organizations and nonprofits to fund their alleged “research.” If you’ve donated to one of these organizations, tell me what you got in return for your cash, other than more questions and zero answers?
Until I see a freaking spaceship land next to the White House, I will continue believing all these UFO celebs are just one giant psyop to distract us from what’s really going on in the world.
Alien Caught In Security Cam, Fresno, California, November 10, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Alien Caught In Security Cam, Fresno, California, November 10, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting: Nov 10, 2023
Location of sighting: Fresno, California, USA
This amazing raw cam footage was show to us by UFOvni2012 Youtube Channel. It shows an alien figure with a huge head moving around near some parked cars. The footage clearly shows a figure standing turning and walking off into the shadows. This is absolute proof that aliens walk among us.
Watch as this UFO enters the mouth of the volcano. This is Popocatepetl, the volcano that I have been reporting UFOs near on live cam for over ten years. Again we see another UAP that trys to mimic a meteor as it enters the mouth of the volcano. There is an alien base below this volcano, about 5 miles below the surface area. UFOs are not harmed by heat since most will travel faster than light, which allows time travel to be possible.
UFO Disguised As Meteor Over Chestertown, Kent County, Maryland Nov 24, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
UFO Disguised As Meteor Over Chestertown, Kent County, Maryland Nov 24, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting:Nov 24, 2023 Location of sighting: Chestertown, Maryland, USA
This object was recorded yesterday and it's just amazing how big it is. The object is a UFO that is trying to look like a falling meteor. However meteors have tails and this has no tail, no explosion, no other parts broken off. So, the evidence is there, it's a UFO.
Kinda smart of aliens to try to make UFOs look like something else right? Making it look like a meteor, cloud, sundog, ect just confuses the observer, but not me.
Now sure, we have never seen a rainbow on Mars before, mostly because NASA would not bother telling us about such similarities to Earth. But I took the two photos, put them together and yes, it is a full rainbow. When I changed the photos to natural normal Mars color which took away the red filter NASA uses to hide colors, it looked even more vibrant. This is the true Mars, the one NASA doesn't want you to see.
Now rainbows are only created from droplets of water, or moisture of some sort in the atmosphere, NASA would like you to believe there is not enough water on Mars for such an occurrence, and yet, the rover photo doesn't lie. It just records and sends. So, there is a lot more water on Mars than we thought.
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Shocking Revelation: Telepathic Extraterrestrials at Ariel School – A UFO Encounter Beyond Belief!
Shocking Revelation: Telepathic Extraterrestrials at Ariel School – A UFO Encounter Beyond Belief!
In the realm of UFO sightings, few events have sparked as much intrigue and debate as the Ariel School incident. On a seemingly ordinary day in 1994, in a small school in Zimbabwe, an extraordinary event unfolded that would forever change the lives of those who witnessed it and ignite worldwide curiosity.
A Day Unlike Any Other: The Incident Unfolds
It was September 16, 1994, when 62 schoolchildren at Ariel School in Ruwa, Zimbabwe, experienced something unprecedented. During a morning break, these students reported seeing a mysterious craft landing near their schoolyard, followed by encounters with otherworldly beings. This incident stands out not just for the number of witnesses but for the consistency in their accounts.
The Children’s Testimonies: A Chorus of Consistency
What makes the Ariel School sighting particularly compelling is the coherence among the children’s testimonies. Despite varying minor details, the core of their accounts shared remarkable similarities – descriptions of a silver craft, strange beings with large eyes, and a feeling of telepathic communication. These children, with no apparent reason to fabricate such a story, described their experiences with a sincerity that left researchers, teachers, and parents baffled.
The Ariel School incident quickly garnered international attention, drawing UFO enthusiasts, skeptics, and media from across the globe. For many, this event was a compelling piece of evidence of extraterrestrial visitation, a case study in the ongoing search for proof of life beyond Earth. Skeptics, however, pointed to the power of suggestion and mass hysteria as possible explanations.
Investigative Endeavors: From Cynthia Hind to Dr. John Mack
Notable figures in UFO research, such as Cynthia Hind, Africa’s leading UFO investigator, and Harvard psychiatrist Dr. John Mack, took a keen interest in the case. Dr. Mack, known for his work on alien abduction experiences, conducted extensive interviews with the children, reinforcing the authenticity of their accounts. Yet, his involvement was not without controversy, as some criticized his methods and potential influence on the children’s recollections.
The Enduring Mystery and Its Impact
Decades later, the Ariel School incident remains an enigmatic chapter in the history of UFO sightings. It continues to be a subject of study and speculation, with documentaries and follow-up interviews revisiting the event and its impact on the witnesses. The incident has become a cornerstone case for those arguing for the serious examination of UFO sightings and the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
Reflections and Future Implications
The Ariel School sighting stands as a poignant reminder of the vast unknowns that surround us. It challenges our understanding of the world and encourages open-mindedness in the face of the unexplained. As we continue to explore the cosmos, both scientifically and through personal experiences, incidents like Ariel School keep the dialogue about UFO sightings vibrant and relevant.
The Ariel School UFO incident is not just a story of a momentary encounter; it’s a narrative that challenges our perception of reality and ignites our imagination about the possibilities that lie beyond our planet. It’s a testament to the enduring fascination with UFO sightings and the relentless human quest to understand the unknown.
Weetjes om mee uit te pakken bij vrienden, ook al zullen ze je waarschijnlijk voor gek verklaren. Deze 45 feiten klinken als leugens of nonsens, en toch zijn ze stuk voor stuk waar.
1. New York ligt zuidelijker dan Rome
Je hebt er mogelijk nooit bij stilgestaan, maar in Europa zou New York City zich in het zuiden van het continent bevinden. Zo ligt de Amerikaanse stad zelfs iets zuidelijker dan de Italiaanse hoofdstad Rome. De ligging van New York City zou ongeveer vergelijkbaar zijn met die van Madrid en Napels.
Brussel ligt overigens noordelijker dan om het even welke stad in de Verenigde Staten. Zelfs Quebec en Montreal bevinden zich meer in het zuiden. En Miami ligt zich ongeveer even zuidelijk als Zuid-Libië.
2. Tussen Noord-Korea en Noorwegen ligt slechts één land
Om van Noorwegen naar Noord-Korea te reizen, hoef je eigenlijk maar één land te doorkruisen: Rusland. In het uiterste noorden heeft het land van Kim Jong-un een kleine grens van enkele tientallen kilometers met Rusland. De meest nabijgelegen Russische stad is Vladivostok. In Lapland grenst Rusland voor een klein stukje ook aan Noorwegen.
Andere landen die enkel door Rusland van Noord-Korea gescheiden worden zijn onder andere Finland, Estland, Letland, Wit-Rusland en Oekraïne.
3. Als je met een vinger in je oor krabt, klinkt dat net zoals Pac-Man
Dit is een weetje dat je zelf even moet uittesten. Je zal inderdaad het geluidje van het populaire spelletje uit 1980 herkennen.
4. De naam ‘Jessica’ is door Shakespeare bedacht
William Shakespeare heeft niet alleen op de literatuur z’n stempel gedrukt. Hij bedacht met z’n werk ook enkele namen die vandaag populair zijn. Het beste voorbeeld is Jessica, een naam die historisch geen referentie heeft voor Shakespeare hem introduceerde in The Merchant of Venice. De naam is mogelijk wel afgeleid van de Hebreeuwse mannennaam Iscah.
Ook de naam Miranda zou mogelijk voor het eerst door Shakespeare gebruikt zijn. Al is die naam misschien ook van een Latijns woord afkomstig.
5. Anne Frank en Martin Luther King zijn in hetzelfde jaar geboren
In 1929 zijn twee figuren geboren die elk om hun reden in de geschiedenisboeken staan. Op 15 januari zag Martin Luther King het levenslicht. Hij is een van de beroemdste activisten in Amerika en werd in 1968 vermoord. Anne Frank is op 12 juni geboren en werd bekend dankzij haar dagboek dat ze bijhield terwijl ze tijdens de Tweede Wereldoorlog in Amsterdam was ondergedoken. Ze overleed in februari 1945.
6. Er zit minder tijd tussen het leven van Cleopatra en de uitvinding van de iPhone dan tussen Cleopatra en de eerste piramide
We associëren Cleopatra wel eens verkeerdelijk met de piramiden in Egypte. Ze was wel de koningin van het oude Egypte, maar zelfs voor haar waren de piramiden al verre geschiedenis. De eerste piramide zou rond 2700 voor Christus gebouwd zijn. Cleopatra werd in 69 voor Christus geboren.
De eerste iPhone is in 2007, zo’n 2.078 jaar later, gelanceerd. En dat is dus een slordige 600 jaar minder dan er tussen die eerste piramide en de tijd van Cleopatra verstreken is.
7. Rusland heeft een grotere oppervlakte dan Pluto
Het grootste land ter wereld is Rusland, maar wist je al dat het land groter is dan de totale oppervlakte van Pluto. Ooit was dat de verste bekende planeet uit ons zonnestelsel, maar na discussie over die status is bepaald dat Pluto een dwergplaneet is. Met een oppervlakte van meer dan 17 miljoen vierkante kilometer is Rusland groter dan Pluto.
8.Saoedi-Arabië importeert kamelen uit Australië
Het klinkt onwaarschijnlijk, maar Saoedi-Arabië begon in het begin van deze eeuw met het importeren van kamelen uit Australië. Sinds de negentiende eeuw lopen er ook Down Under kamelen rond, en sindsdien is hun aantal fors toegenomen. Saoedi-Arabië kampte dan weer met een tekort aan kamelen, aangezien het vlees van de dieren er gegeten wordt. Om aan de consumptie te blijven voldoen, moeten ze dus bij Australië aankloppen.
9. Nijlpaardenmelk is echt niet roze
Eén onwaarschijnlijk feit willen we hier toch even ontkrachten. Een hardnekkig gerucht op het internet luidt dat melk van nijlpaarden roze is. Die mythe blijft maar bestaan, mede omdat zelfs National Geographic zich ooit liet vangen en het gerucht via de sociale media verspreidde. Toch is de melk niet echt roze.
Nijlpaarden scheiden wel een soort zweet af dat onder invloed van de zon rood kan kleuren. Wanneer hiervan een beetje in de melk terechtkomt, kan die een rozig tintje krijgen. Maar voor alle duidelijkheid: de melk van een nijlpaard is net zoals andere melk gewoon wit.
10. De volledige naam van Barbie is Barbara Millicent Roberts
Iedereen noemt de bekende pop gewoon Barbie, maar haar officiële naam is Barbara Millicent Robert. En haar vriendje Ken heeft Carson als achternaam.
De cowboy uit Toy Story heet dan weer voluit Woody Pride. En het Koekiemonster uit Sesamstraat heet eigenlijk Sid.
11. Wortels waren vroeger paars
Bij een wortel denken we bijna automatisch aan de kleur oranje. Nochtans waren wortels oorspronkelijk paars. In Nederland werd vanaf het einde van de zestiende eeuw een zoete, oranje variant gekweekt. Deze oranje wortel kreeg vermoedelijk al gauw de voorkeur, omdat dit ook de kleur was het Huis van Oranje en van de strijd om onafhankelijkheid.
Maar voordien waren paarse wortels dus heel normaal, met zelfs variaties in geel en wit. Vandaag zie je restaurants terug uitpakken met deze rijkdom aan kleuren.
12. Een walvissenhart is zo groot dat een volwassen mens door de slagaders zou kunnen zwemmen
Walvissen zijn dieren met een groot hart. Letterlijk dan, want het hart van de kolossen van de oceaan is zo’n anderhalve meter lang, 120 centimeter breed en anderhalve meter hoog. Het weegt bovendien ongeveer 180 kilo.
Bij zo’n gigantisch hart horen ook enorm slagaders. Die zouden zelfs zo breed zijn dat een volwassen mens er doorheen zou kunnen zwemmen. Het hart van deze dieren wordt ook wel eens vergeleken met het formaat van een kleine auto. Het slaat overigens maar acht tot tien keer per minuut, en die hartslag zou onder water tot kilometers ver te horen zijn.
13. Je loopt twee keer meer risico om door een drankautomaat te worden gedood dan door een haai
De meeste haaien jagen helemaal niet op mensen, maar een ontmoeting loopt natuurlijk wel bijna altijd fataal af. Gelukkig is het aantal incidenten met haaien relatief beperkt. Enkele jaren geleden zette The Guardian vijf verrassende zaken op een rij die op basis van statistieken dodelijker zijn voor mensen.
Zo blijken in de Verenigde Staten vier tot zes keer meer mensen te sterven wanneer ze door een drank- of snackautomaat verpletterd worden. De apparaten richtten ook een pak meer verwondingen aan dan haaien.
De andere vier risico’s waar we voor moeten uitkijken: een slangenbeet (20.000 doden per jaar), bliksem (1.000 doden per jaar), verdrinken in bad, … en linkshandig zijn. Zo’n 2.500 linkshandigen sterven jaarlijks wanneer ze een voorwerp voor rechtshandigen moeten gebruiken.
14. Er zit meer tijd tussen de release van Home Alone en nu dan tussen die film en de maanlanding
Dit feit lijkt misschien verrassend aangezien de uitzendingen van Home Alone op het einde van het jaar bijna even standvastig zijn als het feit dat we dan Kerstmis vieren. De eerste film in deze franchise verscheen in 1990, en dat is intussen dus al meer dan 30 jaar geleden. De maanlanding dateert van 1969, met andere woorden ongeveer 21 jaar voor we met Kevin McCallister kennis maakten.
We kunnen er nog een schepje bij doen, want ook voor Home Alone 2 gaat deze rekensom op. Die verscheen in 1992, dus 27 jaar geleden en 23 jaar na de maanlanding. Over een paar jaar mogen we ook Home Alone 3 aan dit lijstje toevoegen.
15. Oxford University is ouder dan het Rijk van de Azteken
Een onwaarschijnlijk, maar historisch correct feit. Laten we beginnen met het rijk der Azteken. Dat bestond tussen 1200 en 1521 in het huidige Mexico. De laatste koning van dit volk kwam om het leven in de strijd met de Spaanse veroveraars, wat ook het einde van het rijk betekende.
De universiteit van Oxford bestaat al sinds 1096. Er zijn in elk geval bewijzen dat er in deze periode al les werd gegeven. Zeker in de loop van de twaalfde eeuw groeide het aantal studenten, omdat Engelse scholieren niet langer aan de universiteit van Parijs mochten studeren.
Enkel de universiteit van Bologna weerhoudt Oxford ervan om zelfs de oudste ter wereld te zijn. De Italiaanse instelling bestaat al sinds 1088. De universiteit van Cambridge werd pas in 1209 opgericht.
16. Frankrijk executeerde nog mensen met de guillotine toen de eerste Star Wars-film uitkwam
Dit feit is zo onwaarschijnlijk dat je er bijna het hoofd bij zou verliezen. De eerste film in de Star Wars-franchise kwam in 1977 in de bioscoopzalen. En dat is ook het jaar waarin Frankrijk voor de laatste keer iemand met de guillotine executeerde. Het apparaat waarmee vooral tijdens de Franse Revolutie bij duizenden ter dood veroordeelden het hoofd werd afgehakt, was ook in de jaren 60 en 70 van de vorige eeuw nog in gebruik. Tussen 1965 en 1977 zouden acht mensen op deze manier geëxecuteerd zijn.
In principe hadden er nadien nog een paar executies kunnen plaatsvinden, want pas in september 1981 schafte Frankrijk de doodstraf af. En de guillotine werd toen veroordeeld tot een plaats in de musea.
17. Het gordeldier baart bijna altijd identieke tweelingen
Gordeldieren zijn niet zo bekend bij het brede publiek, maar eigenlijk zijn het fascinerende wezentjes. Vooral hun voortplanting is interessant, want gordeldieren krijgen heel vaak identieke tweelingen. Sommige gordeldieren krijgen acht tot vijftien jonger per keer. En die groeien heel snel op, want na amper een jaar zijn ze al klaar om zichzelf voort te planten.
18.De eenhoorn is het nationale dier van Schotland
Heel wat landen hebben een nationaal dier dat ook echt een grote rol speelt in de natuur van de staat. Denk maar aan de kangoeroe in Australië, de springbok in Zuid-Afrika of de tijger in India. Maar de Schotten hebben lang geleden gekozen voor … de eenhoorn.
Dat mythische wezen bestaat natuurlijk niet echt, maar misschien is dat net de reden waarom het zo goed bij Schotland past. Eenhoorns worden immers beschouwd als de sterkste van alle dieren, wild en ontembaar.
19. Een aardbei is geen bes, maar bananen, avocado’s en watermeloenen zijn dat wel
Een aardbei, een banaan, een avocado en een watermeloen: welk van deze fruitsoorten is een bes? Onwaarschijnlijk: je zou denken aan een aardbei, maar dat is eigenlijk de enige in het rijtje die we geen bes mogen noemen. Mensen hadden duizenden jaren geleden al de neiging om bepaalde fruitsoorten bessen te noemen. Maar de wetenschap heeft hier pas later een definitie aan gegeven.
Bessen bestaan uit drie verschillende lagen, met in de binnenste laag de zaadjes. Dat is bij een aardbei niet het geval, maar je kunt die structuur wel herkennen in avocado’s, watermeloenen en zelfs bananen.
20. De laatste mammoet stierf duizend jaar na de bouw van de eerste Egyptische piramide
Intussen weten we dat de eerste piramide rond 2700 voor Christus gebouwd is. Toen waren de meeste mammoeten al uitgestorven, op een kleine groep na. In het oosten van Siberië wist een populatie tot 1650 voor Christus te overleven. Het rijk van de Egyptische farao’s bestond toen zelfs al 3.000 jaar. Uiteindelijk stierven ook deze laatste mammoeten, zodat we met zekerheid kunnen stellen dat Cleopatra de dieren nooit gezien heeft.
21. Er zijn in de hele wereld meer valse dan echte flamingo’s
Flamingo’s zijn een hype, die zodanig geëxplodeerd is dat er vandaag meer valse flamingo’s circuleren dan er echte vogels zijn. Zo zouden in het wild iets minder dan twee miljoen flamingo’s leven, terwijl er wereldwijd miljoenen valse exemplaren bestaat.
22. Nintendo bestaat al sinds 1889
Neen, dat is geen schrijffout in de titel. Toen Nintendo in 1989 de Super Nintendo-console uitbracht, bestond het bedrijf exact honderd jaar. In 1889 richtte Fusajiro Yamauchi Nintendo op als bedrijf dat speelkaarten produceerde. Nog voor Nintendo zich definitief op speelgoed begon te focussen, was het bedrijf onder andere bezig met het aanbieden van taxiritten en zelfs hotelletjes waar mensen een kamer konden boeken om seks te hebben.
In de jaren 70 evolueerde Nintendo dan naar een bedrijf dat videospelletjes maakte. Maar de roots van Super Mario liggen dus in een duister verleden waarover het bedrijf het vandaag niet meer zal hebben.
23. Als de zon niet groter was dan een witte bloedcel, dan zou de hele Melkweg even groot zijn als de Verenigde Staten
Deze vergelijking maakt vooral duidelijk hoe nietig onze planeet en onze zon eigenlijk zijn. Als je de zon zou verkleinen tot de schaal van een witte bloedcel en je het volledige sterrenstelsel op dezelfde schaal verkleint, dan zou de Melkweg de omvang van de Verenigde Staten hebben. En dus is onze zon niet meer dan een witte bloedcel in de hele VS.
En dat is enkel ons sterrenstelsel … In het volledige universum zouden er volgens schattingen minstens 100 miljard sterrenstelsel bestaan. En de kans is groot dat we dit cijfer eigenlijk nog mogen verdubbelen.
24. Will Smith is nu ouder dan zijn Uncle Phil was tijdens de eerste aflevering van The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
Voor iedereen die in de 90s is opgegroeid, blijft The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air een symbolische reeks. Het was ook de doorbraak van Will Smith als wereldberoemd acteur. Onwaarschijnlijk, maar intussen is hij al 51 jaar oud. Dat is ouder dan zijn oom, Uncle Phil, in de allereerste aflevering van de serie. Acteur James Avery, die in 2013 overleed, was 45 jaar toen Will Smith aan zijn deur kwam aanbellen. Actrice Tatyana Ali, die de jongere Ashley speelde, is intussen ook al … 40 jaar!
25. We delen 60% van ons DNA met bananen
Ons lichaam bestaat uit drie miljard genetische bouwsteentjes, of basenparen. Dat maakt dat we maar voor een heel klein stukje verschillen van een andere persoon, en we allemaal voor 99,9% genetisch identiek zijn. Dat betekent ook dat we met andere levende organismen in de natuur veel genetische overeenkomsten hebben. Het meest verrassende is misschien wel dat we voor 60% hetzelfde DNA als een banaan hebben.
Minder verrassend is het feit dat we 96% van ons DNA met dat van chimpansees delen. Bij katten gaat het om 90%, en zelfs een muis heeft voor 85% dezelfde genetische structuur.
26. Voor de Tyrannosaurus Rex is de tijd van de Stegosaurus langer geleden dan de T-Rex voor de mens
We vergeten soms dat de mensheid nog maar heel kort over deze planeet loopt. Zo hebben de dinosaurussen er veel langer over gedaan. De Tyrannosaurus Rex, zowat de bekendste van alle dinosauriërs, leefde zo’n 60 tot 70 miljoen jaar geleden. Daardoor heeft de T-Rex ook een pak uitgestorven soortgenoten nooit gekend.
De Stegosaurus bijvoorbeeld, dat is de dinosaurus met grote puntige platen op zijn rug en een staart met stekels. Deze soort leefde zo’n 150 miljoen jaar geleden, een eeuwigheid dus voor de Tyrannosaurus Rex, die zelfs voor ons bijgevolg nog veel recenter is. De Stegosaurus moest in zijn tijd met een ander roofdier rekening houden: de Allosaurus.
27. Alaska is tegelijkertijd de meest noordelijke, westelijke én oostelijke staat van de VS
Een blik op de wereldkaart maakt meteen duidelijk dat Alaska de meest noordelijke en westelijke staat van de VS is. In theorie moet dit betekenen dat de meest oostelijke staat ergens aan de oostkust moet worden gezocht. En dan zou het meest oostelijke punt in de staat Maine liggen.
In de Stille Oceaan bevindt zich echter de eilandengroep Aleoeten, die officieel bij Alaska hoort. De eilanden strekken zich zover uit dat ze geografisch in de oostelijke hemisfeer liggen. En dus is Alaska eigenlijk ook de meest oostelijke staat van de VS. De meest zuidelijke staat is overigens Hawaï.
28. Pluto maakte sinds zijn ontdekking nog niet één volledige baan rond de zon
Officieel is Pluto intussen geen planeet meer, maar een onwaarschijnlijk feit is dat hij sinds zijn ontdekking in 1930 nog niet één keer volledig rond de zon is kunnen draaien. Pluto doet daar namelijk 248 aardse jaren over. De zon zou je op Pluto overigens niet echt kunnen zien, want de dwergplaneet staat veertig keer verder van z’n ster dan de aarde.
29. Een miljard seconden duren ongeveer 32 jaar
Wanneer je 32 jaar oud bent, zijn ongeveer één miljard seconden in je leven verstreken. Duizend seconden duren zowat 16 minuten, een miljoen seconden komen overeen met elf dagen. En voor duizend miljard seconden heb je ongeveer 32.000 jaar nodig.
30. Honing wordt nooit slecht
Zelfs na die duizend miljard seconden mag je nog steeds van een pot honing eten. Honing wordt namelijk nooit slecht. Het bevat een hoge zuurtegraad die zowat alles doodt dat zich in de honing zou willen nestelen. Enkele andere voedingsmiddelen die hooguit in de verre toekomst een vervaldatum hebben: witte rijst, suiker, zout en sojasaus.
31.Er zijn meer sterren in de ruimte dan zandkorrels op aarde
We weten intussen wel dat we in het hele universum bijzonder klein zijn, maar met deze vergelijking wordt duidelijk hoe klein. Er zouden in het hele heelal tien keer meer sterren zijn er zandkorrels in al onze woestijnen en op alle stranden ter wereld samen liggen. Natuurlijk gaat het om slechts schattingen, want zowel het tellen van zandkorrels als het berekenen van het aantal sterren is onbegonnen werk.
32. Er zijn meer bibliotheken dan McDonald’s-restaurants in de VS
De Verenigde Staten zijn dan wel een voedingsbodem voor grote ketens, toch zijn openbare bibliotheken ook nu nog talrijker. In totaal zijn er ongeveer 17.000 bibliotheken. Vorig jaar waren er ter vergelijking net geen 14.000 McDonald’s-zaken. De hamburgerketen kent overigens al een tijdje een hele lichte terugval in het aantal Amerikaanse restaurants.
Starbucks heeft misschien wel een kans om over een paar jaar meer zaken te hebben dan er in Amerika bibliotheken zijn. Nu al zit de keten aan bijna 15.000 filialen in de VS.
33. Voor iedere mens op aarde zijn er ongeveer 1,6 miljoen mieren
Het is onmogelijk om exact te weten hoeveel mieren er op aarde rondkruipen, maar ze zijn in elk geval met veel, minstens 100 biljoen. In een BBC-documentaire werd dan ook ooit gesteld dat het gewicht van alle mieren samen evenveel zou zijn als dat van alle mensen bij elkaar.
34. Een octopus heeft drie harten
Een octopus is niet alleen uiterlijk een bizar wezen, ook langs de binnenkant zijn de dieren bijzonder. Ze hebben namelijk drie harten: eentje pompt bloed doorheen het lichaam, en de twee andere pompen bloed naar de kieuwen. De reden hiervoor heeft wellicht te maken met de structuur van het bloed. Hun rode bloedcellen bevatten namelijk hemocyanine, dat rijk is aan koper, in plaats hemoglobine, dat rijk is aan ijzer. Dat maakt hun bloed overigens ook blauw!
Aangezien hemocyanine minder efficiënt is in het vervoeren van zuurstof, helpen de drie harten hiervoor te compenseren door bloed aan een hogere druk rond het lichaam te pompen.
35. Elke 5.000 baby’s wordt er eentje zonder anus geboren
Jaarlijks zien een pak baby’s zonder anus het levenslicht. In de meeste gevallen zit er een stukje huid in de weg of is de anus misvormd. Soms hebben deze kinderen nog andere aandoeningen, zoals problemen met de nieren. In de meeste gevallen is een chirurgische ingreep noodzakelijk.
36. Je kunt niet neuriën terwijl je je neus dichtknijpt
Nog eentje op uit te proberen: knijp je neus dicht en probeer te neuriën! Lukt het niet? Dat is normaal, want bij het neuriën sluit je je mond en verplaatst het geluid zich door je neus. Wanneer je die neus dichtknijpt, kan je dus onmogelijk geluid produceren.
37. Op Saturnus en Jupiter regent het soms diamanten
De grote gasplaneten van ons zonnestelsel hebben een bijzonder soort neerslag. Het regent er soms diamanten die groot genoeg zijn om in een ring te worden gedragen. Bij onweer wordt methaan omgezet in roet (koolstof). Dat stort vervolgens naar beneden, terwijl het verhardt. Eerst verandert het in grafiet, later in diamant.
Eigenlijk zijn dit zowat de hagelstenen van deze planeten, maar een lang leven hebben de diamanten niet. Ze smelten uiteindelijk weg in een vloeibare zee rond de hete kern van deze reuzen.
38. Als je een blad 42 keer vouwt, zou het dik genoeg zijn om tot aan de maan te reiken
Natuurlijk valt dit niet met een eenvoudig blaadje papier te bewijzen, maar het is wiskundig wel zo dat papier vouwen exponentieel werkt. Als je een blad twee keer vouwt, is het vier bladzijden dik. Doe je het drie keer is het acht bladzijden dik. Na twintig keer vouwen zou je al aan de top van de Mount Everest zitten. En bij de 42ste keer zit je aan de maan …
39. Als je een gat naar het midden van de aarde boort en er een boek in gooit, duurt het 38 minuten voor het boek de kern bereikt
Lange tijd was het idee dat het 42 minuten en 12 seconden zou duren om de kern van onze planeet te bereiken, maar een realistischer model heeft enkele jaren geleden berekend dat dit vier minuten sneller zou gaan: 38 minuten en 11 seconden. Natuurlijk blijft dit hypothetisch, want het is onmogelijk om een gat naar het centrum van de aarde te boren.
40. Meer dan de helft van ons lichaam is niet menselijk
Het aantal menselijke cellen in ons lichaam beperkt zich tot 43%. De andere cellen zijn bezoekers afkomstig van bacteriën en fungi. Vooral in de geneeskunde is dit belangrijke kennis, omdat het helpt om behandelingen voor allerlei ziekten te ontwikkelen.
41. Pindanoten groeien ondergronds en zijn daarom geen noten
Hoewel het woordje een onderdeel van de term is, zijn pindanoten officieel geen noten. Meer zelfs, we moeten pindanoten eerder als groenten bestempelen. Noten groeien immers aan bomen, terwijl een pindanoot onder de grond groeit.
We kunnen nog een stapje verder gaan, want ook walnoten, cashewnoten, pistachenoten en amandelen zijn in principe geen echte noten. Zij worden beschouwd als de zaadjes van de bomen waar ze aan groeien, wat hen dan weer in de buurt van fruit brengt.
42. Een schildpad kan uit zijn anus ademen
Sommige schildpaddensoorten die in het water leven, hebben tijdens de wintermaanden bijna geen energie nodig. Ze absorberen daarom zuurstof uit het water via oppervlakken van het lichaam waar bloedvaten worden blootgesteld. En dat blijkt vooral rond hun anus sterk het geval te zijn. In wetenschappelijke termen heet dit fenomeen overigens cloacale ademhaling.
43. Er zitten meer atomen in één glas water dan het aantal glazen water in alle oceanen ter wereld
Er zitten bijzonder veel moleculen in een glas water. In totaal zou je ruim duizend meer atomen in een glas water kunnen tellen dan het aantal glazen dat je met al het water uit de oceanen zou kunnen vullen.
44. De kans is bijna 100% dat je volgende glas water een molecule bevat die ooit door het lichaam van een dinosaurus is gepasseerd
Simpel uitgedrukt drinken we allemaal de urine van dinosaurussen. Slechts 0,01% van het water op deze planeet wordt door mensen en dieren opgedronken, en dat water loopt doorheen een cyclus.
Belangrijke opmerking: de dino’s hebben heel lang op deze planeet rondgelopen, de mens is er veel minder lang. Volgens de cyclus betekent dit dus dat ons drinkwater in principe nog geen moleculen kan bevatten die andere mensen ooit hebben opgedronken. Maar de kans is dus groot dat een dinosaurus dat wel gedaan heeft.
45. Op het moment van je geboorte was je heel even de jongste persoon ter wereld
Om af te sluiten nog een logische, maar toch onwaarschijnlijk straffe opmerking: we zijn allemaal ooit de jongste persoon ter wereld geweest. Al is het maar een fractie van een seconde. Volgens de globale statistieken worden er iedere seconde immers vier kinderen geboren. Dat zijn er 250 per minuut, 15.000 per uur en 360.000 per dag. Na 24 uur is een pasgeboren kind dus al lang niet meer een van onze allerjongste aardbewoners.
Het eerste elektrische “vliegende” schip ter wereld dat geschikt is voor passagiers wordt verwacht deel uit te maken van het openbaar vervoer vanStockholm in 2024.
Het futuristische ontwerp is van het Zweedse bedrijf Candela Technology AB.
De CEO van het bedrijf, Gustav Hasselskog, zei in een verklaring: “De P-12 is een platform dat een breed scala aan klanten zal bedienen.
“Of het nu gaat om vloten van het openbaar vervoer, VIP-diensten of particuliere klanten, het zal de manier waarop we reizen over water revolutioneren.”
Verwacht wordt dat de boot die boven het water lijkt te vliegen, zal helpen bij het aanpakken van het probleem van overvolle wegen en trage pendelreizen.
Hasselskog voegde toe: “Vaak is de snelste route over water.”
Het schip is 39 voet lang en kan ongeveer 30 passagiers vervoeren, met behulp van een hydrofoil om boven het water te blijven.
Een paar bladen tillen de boot uit het water en verminderen de weerstand met maximaal 80%, waardoor het stil kan opereren terwijl het een topsnelheid van 46 km/u bereikt, terwijl het tegelijkertijd een kleine golf van slechts 5 cm creëert.
The heart of the Milky Way revealed some of its secrets to theJames Webb Space Telescope(JWST) — and new images could help reveal more about the origin story of the universe.
Just 300 light years from the supermassive black hole that churns in the Milky Way’s center, there’s a hub of about 500,000 stars. JWST saw this place by peering 25,000 light-years from Earth, a relatively short distance by space standards. This proximity allows astronomers to see individual stars, including a nest, and gain data on how massive stars form. The image may help tackle a question of nature versus nurture, offering clues about how a cosmic environment impacts star formation. And some places, like the rose-colored cloud on the image’s right side, have never been seen before in this much detail.
“The galactic center is a crowded, tumultuous place,” Rubén Fedriani, a co-investigator of the project at the Instituto Astrofísica de Andalucía in Spain, said in a statement NASA published on Monday. NASA shares credit for the telescope with the Canadian Space Agency and the European Space Agency.
The Sagittarius C region, seen here in this NIRCam JWST image, is home to approximately 500,000 stars.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STSCI, SAMUEL CROWE (UVA)
WHAT DOES THE IMAGE SHOW?
The star-forming region is called Sagittarius C, not to be confused with the name of the supermassive black hole near it, Sagittarius A*. Despite the neighboring chaos, the star nest is dense and abundant with massive protostars, including one juvenile already 30 times the mass of our Sun.
JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) was able to peer through some, but not all, of Sagittarius C’s dense gas. In the image, a dark region signals where the material was so thick that NIRCam couldn’t see the background stars behind it. Appropriately, this place is called the infrared-dark cloud. And near where this cloud meets the vivid blue region, there’s a pink pocket. It’s a cluster of massive protostars.
“The cloud the protostars are emerging from is so dense that the light from stars behind it cannot reach Webb, making it appear less crowded when in fact it is one of the most densely packed areas of the image,” both space agencies wrote.
The cyan-colored wisps that take up half of the image are hydrogen, which is protostar-building gas that has struck and turned into charged particles.
SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS
“The image from Webb is stunning,” Samuel Crowe, the observation team’s principal investigator and an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia, said in the NASA statement. “And the science we will get from it is even better.”
Massive stars are critical to the evolution of the universe, since they produce heavy elements in their nuclear cores. This hard-to-see cradle of massive stars near the center of the Milky Way might be better — or worse — at making these special stars than other places in our home galaxy, like its extended spiral arms.
To find the answer, astronomers will continue searching for clues in the galaxy’s chaotic heart.
Since Captain Kirk first ordered the Starship Enterprise to engage the warp drive back in 1967, fans of science fiction have dreamed of traveling to the stars at warp speed. That idea remained in the realm of science fiction until 1994, when Mexican mathematician Miguel Alcubierreproposed a mathematically viable solution for building a real-world faster-than-light warp drive.
Since then, numerous scientists and engineers have taken a swing at their own version of a viable, real-world warp drive, including an attempt to patent one of these “out there” ideas.
Here, The Debrief looks at three of the past most promising warp drive models, along with one brand new physics concept called the “Tri-Space Model,” which may hold the key to making faster-than-light travel possible.
THE ORIGINAL: ALCUBIERRE/WHITE WARP DRIVE
While Alcubierre’s warp drive concept showed that traveling faster than light was mathematically possible, it was widely criticized for its massive power requirements and use of purely theoretical “exotic matter.” Still, many scientists and engineers were intrigued by his work, including former NASA engineer and physicist Dr. Harold G. “Sonny” White.
Hoping to move Alcubierre’s metric from theory into a published, canonical form, White first looked at the idea more closely in 2003.
“I started working in the (NASA) space program in 2000,” White told The Debrief in an interview. “While I was working in the space program, I was thinking about this Advanced Power propulsion. I was thinking about this Alcubierre Warp metric. You know, it was not published in its canonical form. And so, in 2003, I published a paper in the journal General Relativity and Gravitation.”
White immediately noted how Alcubierre’s math worked but also spotted areas he thought his own background in engineering and physics could improve the concept.
“Some things didn’t quite make sense to me, but by putting it into canonical form, helped me figure out ‘how does this concept really work?’, White told The Debrief. “From the process of not being at warp to being at warp… what would that look like when you look at the mathematics? And the only way I could see to answer the question is to put it in the canonical form in 2003, so that’s what I talked about in that paper.”
Theoretical Warp Bubble Structure
(Image Credit LSI)
Years later, White was asked by NASA to present his updated warp concept, leading to his 2011 paper and the warp drive concept now known as the “Acubierre/White Warp Drive.”
“I got asked to give a talk [about the warp drive] to DARPA and NASA at the DARPA 100-year Starship Symposium in 2011,” he told The Debrief. “I did a sensitivity study on the metric. I looked at what happens when you change the parameters and the mathematics.”
Specifically, White looked at the geometry of the classic warp drive model and found something that dramatically reduced the amount of energy required by Alcubierre.
“It basically comes down to how thick you make the toroidal ring and negative vacuum energy density,” he explained. “How thick or thin to make it, topologically? What does that do to the overall energy required? And so, during that work, I had no ‘objective’ objectives, per se, other than just to explore. In the process of doing that, I discovered that by making that ring a little thicker, instead of being like a wedding band wrapped around your finger, it’s a little bit more like a lifesaver, was key.”
In fact, White’s geometric adjustment to the classic model dramatically reduced the amount of exotic matter required to a much more manageable concept.
“By using that optimization technique, I was able to reduce the amount of exotic matter from a Jupiter-sized amount down to something about the size of the Voyager spacecraft,” said White. “So about two metric tons or just under two metric tons.”
As White notes, even a few tons of a theoretical substance like exotic matter is still unachievable by today’s scientists and engineers, but his changes definitely improved the ultimate viability of Alcubierre’s idea.
“Instead of just being mathematically possible in our work, we potentially move it into the category of maybe it’s plausible,” he noted with a lighthearted shrug. “There are now two metric tons of this stuff we’re not quite sure exactly how to make.”
White’s views about the feasibility of warp drives and their related effects have garnered a fair amount of attention from critics over the years. Among them is astrophysicist Ethan Siegel who, while remaining skeptical of White’s claims, has noted that the warp drive concept “remains an interesting possibility and one worthy of continued scientific investigation, but one that you should remain tremendously skeptical about given the current state of affairs.”
THE LENTZ DRIVE
A decade after White updated the original warp drive concept, reducing the need for exotic matter down from a Jupiter-sized amount to a few tons, another scientist named Dr. Eric W. Lentz decided to take a stab at his own warp drive concept. Published in 2021, his paper “Breaking the warp barrier: hyper-fast solitons in Einstein–Maxwell-plasma theory” lays out a whole new warp drive concept. And unlike Alcubierre and White, Lentz believed that his faster-than-light warp drive model could be accomplished in a completely new and different way.
“The Alcubierre solution provided an intuitive picture of what a warp drive would do: contract the space immediately in front of the central region containing the ship or transport, and expand the space immediately behind,” Dr. Lentz explained in an email to The Debrief. “This gives us the picture of the warp drive as a wave of curvature on which a ship will ride to its destination.”
However, Lentz explains, “this picture is not an essential feature of a warp drive.” Instead, he says, a solution proposed by physicist Jose Natario back in 2002 showed that the expansion and contraction weren’t necessary to transport the ship forward. That work, says Lentz, was critical to forming his own theory, one where a warp field could be created using only traditional matter and not exotic matter.
“[Natario] showed that the expansion could be trivial (zero) everywhere and still perform the same task of transporting a ship,” Lentz told The Debrief. This is a significant breakthrough, he says, because it means that exotic matter that warps the space in front of the theoretical passenger, as well as behind them (as depicted in nearly all theoretical warp drive solutions), is no longer needed to achieve faster-than-light travel.
Could dark matter allow physicists a path toward overcoming the challenges of faster-than-light travel?
(Credit: ESO).
“In the Alcubierre solution, the energy density and curvatures are maximally separated, with the energy being restricted to a small torus between the regions of high contraction and expansion,” Lentz told The Debrief, once again evoking the classic image of the Alcubierre Warp model. “The curvatures and sources in my proposal are instead highly correlated, with the regions of high energy density and high expansion and contraction overlapping almost exactly.”
As his published paper explains, “This is the first example of hyper-fast solitons resulting from known and familiar sources, reopening the discussion of superluminal mechanisms rooted in conventional physics.”
Lentz does freely admit that his theory is somewhat novel, even in this highly theoretical arena. “The expansion factor in my proposal is stranger still [than in Natario or Alcubierre], having regions of large expansion and contraction of space surrounding the central region containing a ship.”
Still, the issue of power requirements is not totally solved by Lentz, although he told The Debrief there is some hope in this area.
“There are a number of very effective energy-saving mechanisms for the Alcubierre drive described in the literature,” he explained. “The challenge would be to either modify these mechanisms to operate using only conventional sources, [like his proposed theory which does not require exotic matter] or to innovate novel energy saving techniques.”
In other words, if these proposed energy reduction techniques don’t work on his drive concept due to the lack of exotic matter, a legitimate concern, then an entirely new solution, the likes of which has not yet been proposed, would need to be found. Fortunately, Lentz says, his drive already accomplishes some of that goal since “not all the energy needs to come directly from the reactor, as we expect much of the energy sourcing the bubble to come from the particles’ rest masses.”
Those particles, known in physics as solitons, are at the heart of the Lentz solution to faster-than-light travel and, aside from any theoretical attempts to further reduce energy needs, are something he believes represents the most viable area for future, practical testing. Lentz told The Debrief he sees a handful of reasonable goals going forward, including zeroing in on a viable energy level for a real-world, testable drive concept using only current power generation technology.
“After the energy requirements are low enough and suitable means of creating such solitons has been found, I would want to have the existence of such solitons confirmed in a laboratory setting for a small (~1m radius), slow (~km/s speed), but detectable soliton,” he said. “The target energy level is where a bubble of radius ten meters moving at 1% of the speed of light could be powered by a modern-day fission reactor.”
Although he is obviously enthusiastic about his novel solution to faster-than-light travel without exotic matter, Lentz also told The Debrief he is excited about all of the new, innovative concepts being discussed.
“It has been exciting to see how much progress has been made in this field recently,” he said, “and I think there are many more advances ready to be made. I am looking forward to seeing what the next few years bring.”
APPLIED PHYSICS WARP CONCEPT
Sometimes slower is better, especially when you want to avoid using “exotic matter” to make your theory work. Enter the Applied Physics (APL) Group. Their designs were recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Classical and Quantum Gravity and represent the latest in an increasingly crowded field of warp proposals.
Unlike the Alcubierre and White designs, the APL team shuns exotic matter as a power source. However, sacrifices need to be made. The physical nature of APL’s design means it is constrained by Newtonian physics. In short, while their drive concept is indeed designed to transport humans across the galaxy, it is not capable of breaking the speed of light. Damn.
“There is a common misconception that interstellar travel has to be superluminal,” Gianni Martire told The Debrief last year, “it doesn’t. If we can send a probe to reach another star within ten years, it is still incredibly useful.”
And while Sci-fi fans have the itch to go fast, APL’s warp drive doesn’t have the same energy requirements and, therefore, radiation, which tends to be a massive problem in building a crewed warp-capable vessel. Basically, no one gets cooked to death when they hit Warp Factor 1.
“Before our paper,” Martire says, “saying such things [like warp] was nonsense sci-fi. Now it’s real science.We took a small step into the future, do you feel it?”
THE TRI-SPACE MODEL
It all began in college when a young science fiction buff, future engineer, and Senior Project Leader for The Aerospace Corporation, Gregory Meholic, stumbled upon a curious little pamphlet made by the RAND Corporation.
“It was on Tachyon particles and their potential for faster-than-light travel and motion,” Meholic explained to The Debrief. “And I mean, lots of science fiction uses tachyons as the go-to faster-than-light widget, right?”
That RAND pamphlet was an exploratory work in speculative physics written by Lt. Col. Edward Puscher for the United States Air Force in 1980. It explores the theory regarding a theoretical particle called a tachyon that may exist in a permanent faster-than-light state.
“Basically, it was an algebraic solution to the general and special relativity equations that govern motion near the speed of light,” Meholic explained.
A big kick in the FTL pants for any science fiction fan is Einstien’s Theory of Relativity. The closer you get to light speed, the more your mass increases. As you near the 300,000 kilometers per second mark (the speed of light), you require an infinite amount of energy to hit light speed.
“And this pamphlet basically was trying to show that, first, Tachyons can theoretically exist in a super-liminal realm,” says Meholic. “And second, it provided the logical algebraic follow-outs of special and general relativity to show their characteristics.”
After Meholic read the pamphlet, it tweaked his imagination.
“What occurred to me in reading this was that three possible velocities could be associated with any given point in space: sub-light, light speed, and superluminal travel,” he explained.
So, in a nutshell, Meholic’s Tri-Space Theory breaks up reality into three “realms” that coexist at any point in spacetime. The sub-light realm is everything that moves slower than the speed of light, like your old Honda Accord or that barista at your regular coffee shop. The light-speed realm is the world of the massless photon zipping around at the 300,000 kps speed limit. And then there is the superliminal realm where things like tachyons dwell. Once you go beyond the math curve that brings you to light speed, the math doubles back.
“So when I started to think about this ‘other side of the curve,’ so to speak, what happens in this superluminal realm is really interesting because when you take energy away from the system, you go faster,” says Meholic.
In our realm, sub-light, the more energy you put into travel, the faster you go. In the superliminal realm, beyond the algebraic curve, as Meholic says, the more energy you put into travel, the slower you go, eventually bumping into the crawling 300,000 kps limit, but from the topside. To slow down to the speed of light, a superliminal object would require an infinite amount of energy; almost like a backward theory of relativity.
“And this implies that the rest mass becomes imaginary, which is the whole square root negative one thing…And so, as long as you’re moving faster than light speed, this particular algebraic solution says that tachyon particles could have a real positive mass traveling at these superluminal speeds,” Meholic postulates.
And for science fiction fans who need their ship to get from Earth to Wolf 359 in a hurry, the idea that something can have mass and achieve faster-than-light travel solves the whole cosmic speed limit issue. The Tri-Space Model doesn’t violate the rules because the superliminal object exists outside the sub-light and light-speed realms. No causality issues. No weird time dilations. No accidental time travel. No infinite mass problems. Just open superliminal space.
Sounds fun, but it begs one big question: How?
For an object to exist in superliminal space, it must jump from this realm to the superliminal realm. The idea isn’t to speed up to superliminal speed but to pop into it. And the best way to do that is to convert ordinary dull sub-light matter into a version that can exist in the superliminal realm. So how does someone build the machine to make such a conversion possible? Zero clue.
While Meholic’s idea is still very much speculative, it is unique. It doesn’t require a warp in spacetime or a wormhole or much in the way of new math. It is very similar to dark matter and dark energy; the biggest challenge is that we cannot currently observe the superliminal, so to say a “superliminal realm” exists becomes a matter of theoretical physics.
In sum total, we are still a long way from making the concept of faster-than-light travel anything more than just an entertaining element of science fiction. However, with the work of scientists like these who remain dedicated to its study, this fictional form of travel may indeed one day make its way into the realm of science fact.
Follow and Connect with Christopher Plain on Twitter @plain_fiction.
Grace Eleanor Keeling, bekend als GK Barry, plaatste een clip op haar TikTokaccount terwijl ze buiten sprak over de jeuk en krabben van haar kat. Terwijl ze sprak over de mogelijkheid dat haar huisdier vlooien had, verscheen er een heldere flits aan de hemel achter haar en bewoog snel voordat het weer verdween.
In de reacties leek het erop dat de fans van de 24-jarige zich niet al te veel zorgen maakten over de jeuk van GK’s kat, omdat ze meer bezorgd waren dat ‘E.T. onderweg was om haar op te halen’. Met meer dan 1,5 miljoen weergaven gaven duizenden commentatoren hun mening over wat ze dachten van de ongebruikelijke flits.
Later, na het lezen van alle reacties, zocht GK naar de ‘UFO‘. Ze maakte een screenshot van haar eerdere video terwijl ze vroeg: ‘Wat in hemelsnaam is dit? Is het een UFO?’
10 More Strange Sea Creatures Found by ROVs in the Deep Pacific
The deep Pacific, including the waters of and close to Hawaii, are home to an extraordinary and sometimes bizarre array of marine fauna: these are 10 more odd deep ocean creatures from the Pacific found around Hawaii, the Johnston Atoll, and specific locations such as the North Pioneer Ridge and Mid Karin Guyot.
The UFO Crash At Roswell | Full Documentary
Cover-ups and conspiracies… what really happened that night in Roswell, 1947. Those brave enough, share their personal experiences of this synonymous incident. This documentary re-examines the happenings of the supposed UFO encounter, with accounts from Jesse Marcel, Frankie Rowe and Walter Haut. Was it a weather balloon that crashed in new mexico? Or was it something more.
One Hour Of Mind-Blowing Scientific Hypotheses On Extraterrestrial Life
In this video, we explore humanity's longstanding fascination with the possibility of alien life, tracing back to ancient civilizations. We examine the Fermi Paradox, questioning why we haven't encountered extraterrestrial beings despite high probabilities. The Drake Equation's methodology for estimating the number of potential civilizations in our galaxy is detailed. We also discuss the Kardashev Scale for classifying alien civilizations and the concept of the Great Silence, addressing the lack of alien signals.
Additionally, theories like the Great Filter, Rare Earth, Cosmic Quarantine, and Dark Forest hypotheses are explored, each offering unique perspectives on the existence and detectability of alien life. Finally, the potential of the James Webb Space Telescope in unveiling signs of extraterrestrial existence is highlighted, raising the possibility that discovering alien life might be imminent.
When Did Humans First Consider The Possibility Of Alien Life? When did humans begin contemplating the existence of life beyond Earth and how have historical and cultural perspectives shaped our understanding of extraterrestrial life?
What Is The Historical Background Of The Fermi Paradox? What is the Fermi Paradox and how does it challenge our expectations of extraterrestrial life, given its formulation and historical development?
How does the Drake Equation estimate the number of civilizations in our galaxy? What is the Drake Equation and how does it use various factors to estimate the number of potential alien civilizations in our galaxy?
How Is The Kardashev Scale Used To Classify Alien Civilizations? What is the Kardashev Scale and how does it categorize different levels of civilization based on their energy consumption and technological advancement?
What Is The Great Silence?Why Are There No Signs From Alien Civilizations?
What does the term 'Great Silence' refer to in the search for extraterrestrial life and what are some of the main theories explaining why we haven't found signs of alien civilizations?
What Is The Great Filter Hypothesis, And Can We Survive It? What is the Great Filter Hypothesis in the context of extraterrestrial life and what are its implications for the future of human civilization and our chances of surviving potential cosmic challenges?
What Is The Rare Earth Hypothesis?Is Complex Life Uncommon In The Universe? What does the Rare Earth Hypothesis propose about the rarity of life in the universe and how does it challenge the notion that complex life is common in the cosmos?
What Is The Cosmic Quarantine Hypothesis? Is Planet Earth A “Zoo” For Aliens? What is the Cosmic Quarantine Hypothesis and how does it suggest that Earth might be deliberately isolated or observed by advanced civilizations?
What Is The Dark Forest Hypothesis?Are Aliens Intentionally Avoiding Contact With Us?What is the Dark Forest Hypothesis and how does it explain the potential reasons for aliens avoiding contact with human civilization?
How Could The James Webb Space Telescope Detect Signs of Alien Life? What capabilities does the James Webb Space Telescope have in detecting signs of life on distant planets and what are the scientific community's expectations regarding its role in astrobiology?
Is It Only A Matter Of Time Before We Find Alien Life? What advancements in technology and scientific efforts are bringing us closer to discovering extraterrestrial life, and what could be the implications of such a discovery?
10 Mile Alien Base On Moon, Google Moon Map, UFO Sighting News.
10 Mile Alien Base On Moon, Google Moon Map, UFO Sighting News.
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
Above photo shows full view of crater and its name in orange letters.
Date of discovery: January 8, 2012 by me,
but republished Nov 24, 2023 Location of discovery: Earth's Moon Google Moon: 49°54'5.25"N 142°37'43.85"E
Since the diameter of De Moraes crater (orange words near base in photo) is about 45-46 km across, we can assume since the alien structure covers 1/3 of that crater, then the alien base is 15-15.3 km across or 9.32 miles or 564.1 yards across.
I was looking over some moon maps as many of you know I like to do and I came across an unusual building near De Moraes crater. This crater is located on the northern part of the moon's far side. This object looks like a moon base of some sorts and has definite shapes that tell us it was designed by aliens. Most likely this object could also move from place to place, landing where convenient. I took three screenshots on my Galaxy Note and the moon map program is downloadable for free called "Moon Maps." It is a 2D atlas that uses Clementine mission photos and Lunar Orbiter mission photos.
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Crashed UFO with 'Android' beings inside that were still alive
Crashed UFO with 'Android' beings inside that were still alive
I recently watched intelligence officer David Grusch's nearly 3-hour UFO discussion with Joe Rogan. In this video, Chris Lehto goes through all his notes, analyzing Grusch's revelations about the secret crash retrieval programs, the double-digit recovered craft, and the government harassment he says he endured when he tried exposing this shocking coverup.
There are double- digit craft numbers and double digit biologics in various forms. Mike Herrera said we've captured two to three is what he said per year. My guess is over 30 years if you capture two to three per year they have about 60 to 90 recoveries, just imagine that.
Not only the US has a UAP task force but behind the scenes they have been engaged with China and Russia who have their own crash retrievals, yet the UFO crashes that have occurred in other countries over the years, like the 1933 UFO crash in Italy.
The UFO that crashed in Italy in 1933 was actually a dish-shaped around 10 to 20 feet craft but no bodies were found at 1933 crash site. It should be mentioned that Pope P. 12th was involved and after the craft was recovered it was sent back to the US by Franklin D Roosevelt.
Or the UFO that crashed off the coast of Perth Australia on 1981. Besides the US, Japan along with France and Australia were involved in the retrieval of the craft.
They hauled up the UFO from the ocean with 2 entities inside that were alive. They were extracted and kept them alive, transferred to Perth then transferred to Hawaii then to Area 51 where the Air Force took control.
Like the 1933 Italy UFO, this UFO also ended up in the US and it is not surprise that this event disappeared from the records.
Talking about some bodies that they found, it is said that they are Androids. Created biologics, but maybe it's not biological in the sense that we think of biologics.
With all the secret UFO retrieval programs over the world, I think they're not sharing it because it will be a huge blow to the governments of the world when the public knows that governments have lied for years about the existence of UFO retrieval programs as well as that they have recovered UFOs not from this world, including entities whether biological or Android.
If you want an in-depth breakdown of this landmark interview's key insights, strap in for unfiltered notes and commentary.
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Breaking News: Grusch Confirms UFO Recoveries with ‘Android’ Beings Still Alive Inside!
Breaking News: Grusch Confirms UFO Recoveries with ‘Android’ Beings Still Alive Inside!
In a world where the unknown beckons with its mysterious allure, UFO sightings stand as a testament to humanity’s unquenchable curiosity about the cosmos. The recent groundbreaking revelations in the domain of unidentified flying objects have not only captivated the public imagination but have also sparked a renewed interest in extraterrestrial phenomena. This article delves into the depths of these revelations, unearthing insights that challenge our understanding of the universe.
The David Grusch Revelation: A Turning Point in UFO Research
The intelligence officer David Grusch‘s near 3-hour discussion with popular host Joe Rogan marks a pivotal moment in UFO discourse. Grusch’s revelations about secret crash retrieval programs and the recovery of extraterrestrial crafts in double digits have sent shockwaves through the community of UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. His account of government harassment faced in the wake of attempting to expose this coverup adds a layer of intrigue to the already complex narrative of UFO sightings.
Global Involvement and Historical Context
It’s not just the United States that’s entangled in the web of UFO mysteries. Countries like China and Russia, along with France, Japan, and Australia, have their own tales of UFO recoveries, suggesting a global engagement in understanding these celestial visitors. Historic incidents like the 1933 UFO crash in Italy and the 1981 incident off the coast of Perth, Australia, highlight a long-standing global interest in these phenomena. These events, coupled with claims of recovered extraterrestrial entities, both biological and android, intensify the enigma surrounding UFO sightings.
The Implications of Disclosure
The implications of governments worldwide admitting to the existence and retrieval of UFOs are vast. Such an admission would not only confirm the presence of otherworldly technology but also challenge the very foundations of our understanding of life and technology. The idea that governments have been withholding information about extraterrestrial life for decades, if not longer, raises questions about transparency and the public’s right to know.
Looking to the Future
As we stand at the precipice of potentially monumental disclosures, the future of UFO research seems more promising than ever. The pursuit of truth in this field is not just about satisfying curiosity; it’s about expanding our knowledge of the universe and our place within it. The ongoing research and discussions surrounding UFO sightings continue to push the boundaries of the known world, inviting us to look beyond and question the reality we’ve come to accept.
VIDEO:
Chris Lehto – Grusch Confirms Double Digit UFO Recoveries!
The revelations about UFO sightings and recoveries challenge us to rethink our understanding of the universe and our place in it. As we continue to unravel the mysteries of these sightings, we move closer to possibly the most significant discovery in human history – the confirmation of extraterrestrial life.
Many a space enthusiast first became interested in the topic when they saw some astounding picture taken by one of the world’s great telescopes and began to get a sense of scale of the universe. This author personally remembers the first time he saw Hubble’s Ultra Deep Field – arguably the image that has changed his life more than any other. Given the massive size of the universe, there are always more incredible pictures to be taken, and now humanity has a new tool for that task. Euclid, the European Space Agency’s dark matter/energy hunter, has released its first set of images – and they are absolutely mesmerizing.
One of the most breathtaking is something equivalent to the famous Ultra Deep Field shot. Except in this case, Euclid decided to concentrate on the Perseus Cluster, a group of over 1,000 galaxies located about 240 million light years away from us. It’s one of the most massive known structures in the universe and will undoubtedly shed some insights into the nature of dark matter and how it affects galaxy formation.
But even more impressively, the shot of the cluster also contains around 100,000 additional galaxies in the background, some as far as 10 billion light years away from us. So look again at those little dots in the background – each of those is a galaxy, and while it might not be quite as big as the Milky Way, it is still likely comprised of hundreds of millions of stars. If that doesn’t provide some sense of scale of the universe, it’s unclear what would be able to.
Video showing off some of the new images from Euclid.Credit – European Space Agency YouTube Channel
Closer to home, there are some images of more familiar-looking objects. One, known as IC 342, is a spiral galaxy that looks suspiciously like the Milky Way if we were able to see it from the top. It’s also known as the “Hidden Galaxy,” but Euclid’s infrared imaging system makes it pop in the newly released picture.
Globular clusters are also of particular interest in hunting for dark matter, and Euclid’s first crop of images contained one of NGC 6397, the second closest globular cluster to Earth. At only 7800 light years distant, it’s only a short hop in astronomical terms, but Euclid has allowed us to see it as never before by capturing an image of the entire cluster in a single observation – no other telescope developed so far can do that.
But possibly one of the author’s personal favorites of this set of images is a new rendition of one of the most famous structures in all of space. Euclid’s capture of the Horsehead Nebula is stunning and ethereal in its sharpness and quality. Part of Euclid’s mission will be to collect information about Jupiter-sized planets being created in this star-forming region. But taking a fantastic picture is a nice bonus, if for no other reason than the aesthetics.
Fraser interviews a Euclid project scientist who goes into details about the plans for the mission.
There are several other fascinating images in the first round, including a type of galaxy called an “irregular dwarf,” which looks more like a diffuse shell of light rather than the spiral or other structures we typically associate with galaxies. ESA also released a video showing a series of captured images, and they probably have more sitting on the telescopes’ data banks as we speak.
However, we might have to wait a little while before they are released. Euclid is currently at the Earth-Sun Lagrange 2 point, and its operators are starting up systems and testing them out. They currently plan on starting full scientific observations in early 2024 and release the data from those observations once a year. With about six years of data expected as part of the mission, expect plenty more stunning photos to come out of this new telescope over the coming years.
Composite image of a series of new pictures from Euclid. Credit – ESA/Euclid/Euclid Consortium/NASA, image processing by J.-C. Cuillandre (CEA Paris-Saclay), G. Anselmi, CC BY-SA 3.0 IGO
How NASA Keeps Ingenuity Going After More than 50 Flights
More information is always better when it comes to publicly funded space exploration projects. So it’s welcome when a NASA engineer takes time out of the assuredly busy work lives to provide an update on everyone’s favorite helicopter on Mars. Ingenuity has been having a rough few months, and a new article entitled “The Long Wait,” posted by Travis Brown, Chief Engineer on the Ingenuity project, on NASA’s website, provides a good amount of detail as to why.
The problems started when Ingenuity took off for flight #52 on April 26th. When the helicopter landed, it was out of range Perseverance, its rover companion, and the helicopter’s radio link back to its controllers on Earth. This was intentional, but it meant that Ingenuity’s minders didn’t know whether the flight had been completed successfully.
Dr. Brown explains why the team would intentionally choose to land the helicopter out of range of Perseverance and details the four main mission priorities for the helicopter’s secondary mission. Unsurprisingly, the number one priority is: don’t mess up Perseverance. The rover is currently collecting interesting samples for the now-endangered Mars Sample Return mission, which, assuming it still goes ahead, will see those samples eventually return to Earth.
Fraser describes Ingenuity’s long silence, among other topics.
If Ingenuity accidentally interferes with that process, needless to say, the NASA brass would be upset. The helicopter’s handlers have decided that the best way for it is to stay well ahead of the rover and let it catch up to them, which is what it was trying to do with Flight #52.
Unfortunately, part of Perseverance’s mission is flexibility, and its own project team can make the call as to where they want the rover to go next. After Ingenuity’s flight, the rover team decided not to stick to the planned path that would take it near the helicopter in a few days but instead take a long way around to do some exciting science elsewhere. When Perseverance did move back into range, 61 days had passed where the helicopter had been patiently waiting for it.
When Ingenuity could finally transmit its images back, the science team was excited as it had landed on a group of pebbles that had never before been seen on the Martian surface. Another flight was planned immediately, with this one intended to scout the immediate area for any other interesting geological features for Perseverance to look at.
NASA released a video to celebrate Ingenuity’s 50th flight. Credit – NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory YouTube Channel
That’s where the second problem came up. During Ingenuity’s flight #53, a never-before-seen error forced the helicopter to land unexpectedly, what Dr. Brown describes as a time desynchronization between a camera that keeps track of ground features and other sensors tied to its inertial guidance system. Any engineer who has worked with multiple systems can tell you how difficult timing synchronization timing can be, so the guidance system was right to shut the system down for machine safety. Still, it means that Ingenuity was once again grounded without being able to fulfill a potentially interesting mission objective.
While Ingenuity was recovering from its unexpected landing, Perseverance caught up to the helicopter, making it redundant to provide scientific data since the superior instruments on the rover were now on station. Luckily, that freed the helicopter up for a brief flight #54, where it tested its systems out again and then returned to its scouting duties with flight #55 shortly afterward, with no attendant synchronization problems.
Remember that the original mission plan for Ingenuity lasted for 30 days and three flights. It is now on day 979 and has completed 66 flights in total. That is astounding for such a tiny machine on such a remote planet, and congratulations to Dr. Brown and his team. May they be able to overcome many more obstacles and complete many more flights.
Gamma-ray Bursts: Harvesting Knowledge From the Universe's Most Powerful Explosions
Gamma-ray Bursts: Harvesting Knowledge From the Universe's Most Powerful Explosions
The most powerful events in the known universe – gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) – are short-lived outbursts of the highest-energy light. They can erupt with a quintillion (a 10 followed by 18 zeros) times the luminosity of our Sun. Now thought to announce the births of new black holes, they were discovered by accident.
Two neutron stars begin to merge in this artist’s concept, blasting jets of high-speed particles. Collision events like this one create short gamma-ray bursts. Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/ A. Simonnet, Sonoma State University
The backstory takes us to 1963, when the U.S. Air Force launched the Vela satellites to detect gamma rays from banned nuclear weapons tests. The United States had just signed a treaty with the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union to prohibit tests within Earth’s atmosphere, and the Vela satellites ensured all parties’ compliance. Instead, the satellites stumbled upon 16 gamma-ray events. By 1973, scientists could rule out that both Earth and the Sun were the sources of these brilliant eruptions. That’s when astronomers at Los Alamos National Laboratory published the first paper announcing these bursts originate beyond our solar system. Scientists at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center quickly confirmed the results through an X-ray detector on the IMP 6 satellite. It would take another two decades and contributions from the Italian Space Agency’s BeppoSax and NASA’s Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory to show that these outbursts occur far beyond our Milky Way galaxy, are evenly distributed across the sky, and are extraordinarily powerful. The closest GRB on record occurred more than 100 million light-years away.
Though discovered by chance, GRBs have proven invaluable for today’s researchers. These flashes of light are rich with insight on phenomena like the end of life of very massive stars or the formation of black holes in distant galaxies.
Still, there are plenty of scientific gems left to discover. In 2017, GRBs were first linked to gravitational waves – ripples in the fabric of space-time – steering us toward a better understanding of the how these events work.
The Long and Short of GRBs
Astronomers separate GRBs into two main classes: short (where the initial burst of gamma rays lasts less than two seconds) and long events (lasting two seconds or longer).
Shorter bursts also produce fewer gamma rays overall, which lead researchers to hypothesize that the two classes originated from different progenitor systems.
Astronomers now associate short bursts with the collision of either two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole, resulting in a black hole and a short-lived explosion. Short GRBs are sometimes followed by kilonovae, light produced by the radioactive decay of chemical elements. That decay generates even heavier elements, like gold, silver, and platinum.
Long bursts are linked to the explosive deaths of massive stars. When a high-mass star runs out of nuclear fuel, its core collapses and then rebounds, driving a shock wave outward through the star. Astronomers see this explosion as a supernova. The core may form a either a neutron star or a black hole.
In both classes, the newly born black hole beams jets in opposite directions. The jets, made of particles accelerated to near the speed of light, pierce through and eventually interact with the surrounding material, emitting gamma rays when they do.
As a high-mass star explodes in this artist’s concept, it produces a jet of high-energy particles. We see GRBs when such gets point almost directly at Earth. Credit: NASA/Swift/Cruz deWilde
This broad outline isn’t the last word, though. The more GRBs astronomers study, the more likely they’ll encounter events that challenge current classifications.
In August 2020, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope tracked down a second-long burst named GRB 200826A, over 6 billion light-years away. It should have fallen within the short-burst class, triggered by mergers of compact objects. However, other characteristics of this event – like the supernova it created – suggested it originated from the collapse of a massive star. Astronomers think this burst may have fizzled out before it could reach the duration typical of long bursts.
Fermi and NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory captured its opposite number, GRB 211211A in December 2021. Located a billion light-years away, the burst lasted for about a minute. While this makes it a long GRB, it was followed by a kilonova, which suggests it was triggered by a merger. Some researchers attribute this burst’s oddities to a neutron star merging with a black hole partner.
As astronomers discover more bursts lasting several hours, there may still be a new class in the making: ultra-long GRBs. The energy created by the death of a high-mass star likely can’t sustain a burst for this long, so scientists must look to different origins.
Some think ultra-long bursts occur from newborn magnetars – neutron stars with rapid rotation rates and magnetic fields a thousand times stronger than average. Others say this new class calls for the power of the universe’s largest stellar residents, blue supergiants. Researchers continue to explore ultra-long GRBs.
Afterglows Shedding New Light
While gamma rays are the most energetic form of light, they certainly aren’t the easiest to spot. Our eyes see only a narrow band of the electromagnetic spectrum. Studying any light outside that range, like gamma rays, hinges tightly on the instruments our scientists and engineers develop. This need for technology, alongside GRBs’ already fleeting nature, made bursts more difficult to study in early years.
The Hubble Space Telescope’s Wide Field Camera 3 revealed the infrared afterglow (circled) of GRB 221009A and its host galaxy, seen nearly edge-on as a sliver of light extending to upper left from the burst.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, A. Levan (Radboud University); Image Processing: Gladys Kober
GRB afterglows occur when material in the jets interact with surrounding gas.
Afterglows emit radio, infrared, optical, UV, X-ray, as well as gamma-ray light, which provides more data about the original burst. Afterglows also linger for hours to days (or even years) longer than their initial explosion, creating more opportunities for discovery.
Studying afterglows became key to deducing the driving forces behind different bursts. In long bursts, as the afterglow dims, scientists eventually see the source brighten again as the underlying supernova becomes detectable.
Because afterglows last for such a long time and emit light large telescopes can detect, astronomers can pinpoint their locations and identify their host galaxies. This helps them determine more about bursts, including how far away they are.
Although light is the universe’s fastest traveler, it can’t reach us instantaneously. By the time we detect a burst, millions to billions of years may have passed, allowing us to probe some of the early universe through distant afterglows.
Bursting With Discovery
Despite the expansive research conducted so far, our understanding of GRBs is far from complete. Each new discovery adds new facets to scientists’ gamma-ray burst models.
Fermi and Swift discovered one of these revolutionary events in 2022 with GRB 221009A, a burst so bright it temporarily blinded most space-based gamma-ray instruments. A GRB of this magnitude is predicted to occur once every 10,000 years, making it likely the highest-luminosity event witnessed by human civilization. Astronomers accordingly dubbed it the brightest of all time – or the BOAT.
This is one of the nearest long burst ever seen at the time of its discovery, offering scientists a closer look at the inner workings of not only GRBs, but also the structure of the Milky Way. By peering into the BOAT, they’ve discovered radio waves missing in other models and traced X-ray reflections to map out our galaxy’s hidden dust clouds.
NASA’s Neil Gehrels Swift Observatory detected X-rays from the initial flash of GRB 221009A for weeks as dust in our galaxy scattered the light back to us, shown here in arbitrary colors. Credit: NASA/Swift/A. Beardmore (University of Leicester)
GRBs also connect us to one of the universe’s most sought-after messengers. Gravitational waves are invisible distortions of space-time, born from cataclysmic events like neutron-star collisions. Think of space-time as the universe’s all-encompassing blanket, with gravitational waves as ripples wafting through the material.
In 2017, Fermi spotted the gamma-ray flash of a neutron-star merger just 1.7 seconds after gravitational waves were detected from the same source. After traveling 130 million light-years, the gravitational waves reached Earth narrowly before the gamma rays, proving gravitational waves travel at the speed of light.
Scientists had never detected light and gravitational waves’ joint journey all the way to Earth. These messengers combined paint a more vivid picture of merging neutron stars.
With continued research, our ever-evolving knowledge of GRBs could unravel the unseen fabric of our universe. But the actual burst is just the tip of the iceberg. An endless bounty of information looms just beneath the surface, ready for the harvest.
Later dubbed the Oh-My-God particle, the cosmic ray’s energy shocked astrophysicists. Nothing in our Galaxy had the power to produce it, and the particle had more energy than was theoretically possible for cosmic rays traveling to Earth from other galaxies.
Led by the University of Utah and the University of Tokyo, the Telescope Array has since observed more than 30 ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, though none approaching the Oh-My-God-level energy. No observations have yet revealed their origin or how they are able to travel to the Earth.
On May 27, 2021, the Telescope Array experiment detected the second-highest extreme-energy cosmic ray.
At 2.4*1020 eV, the energy of this single subatomic particle is equivalent to dropping a brick on your toe from waist height.
The Telescope Array consists of 507 surface detector stations arranged in a square grid that covers 700 km2 outside of Delta, Utah.
The event triggered 23 detectors at the north-west region of the Telescope Array, splashing across 48 km2.
Its arrival direction appeared to be from the Local Void, an empty area of space bordering the Milky Way Galaxy.
“The particles are so high energy, they shouldn’t be affected by galactic and extra-galactic magnetic fields,” said Dr. John Matthews, Telescope Array co-spokesperson at the University of Utah.
“You should be able to point to where they come from in the sky.”
“But in the case of the Oh-My-God particle and this new particle, you trace its trajectory to its source and there’s nothing high energy enough to have produced it.”
“That’s the mystery of this — what the heck is going on?”
The researchers named it the Amaterasu particle after the Sun goddess in Japanese mythology.
The Oh-My-God and the Amaterasu particles were detected using different observation techniques, confirming that while rare, these ultra-high energy events are real.
“These events seem like they’re coming from completely different places in the sky. It’s not like there’s one mysterious source,” said University of Utah’s Professor John Belz.
“It could be defects in the structure of spacetime, colliding cosmic strings. I mean, I’m just spit-balling crazy ideas that people are coming up with because there’s not a conventional explanation.”
Ultra-high-energy cosmic rays must exceed 5*1019 eV. This means that a single subatomic particle carries the same kinetic energy as a major league pitcher’s fast ball and has tens of millions of times more energy than any human-made particle accelerator can achieve.
Astrophysicists calculated this theoretical limit, known as the Greisen-Zatsepin-Kuzmin (GZK) cutoff, as the maximum energy a proton can hold traveling over long distances before the effect of interactions of the microwave background radiation take their energy.
Known source candidates, such as active galactic nuclei or black holes with accretion disks emitting particle jets, tend to be more than 160 million light-years away from Earth.
The new particle’s 2.4*1020 eV and the Oh-My-God particle’s 3.2*1020 eV easily surpass the cutoff.
The scientists also analyzed cosmic ray composition for clues of its origins: heavier particles, like iron nuclei, have more charge and are more susceptible to bending in a magnetic field than lighter particles made of protons from a hydrogen atom.
The new particle is likely a proton.
Particle physics dictates that a cosmic ray with energy beyond the GZK cutoff is too powerful for the microwave background to distort its path, but back tracing its trajectory points towards empty space.
“Maybe magnetic fields are stronger than we thought, but that disagrees with other observations that show they’re not strong enough to produce significant curvature at these ten-to-the-twentieth electron volt energies. It’s a real mystery,” Professor Belz said.
Robert Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Aerospace Says Out Of Body Experience Can Be Induced,
Robert Bigelow, founder of Bigelow Aerospace Says Out Of Body Experience Can Be Induced," UFO Sighting News.
Here is something I have never seen before, but pertains to the old CIA files of them using remote viewing to see alien activities and structures on other planets and moons in our solar system. Billionaire Robert Bigelow, states that a general told him about some experiments that created out of body experiences using an astronaut G-Lock, which is like a fast spinning arm with a chair. This is real science and it defies all scientific explanations. But one day, science will recognize it and it will no longer be in the shadows.
UFO orbs are most often seen near aircraft, not because it's interesting, but because it's the only thing in the sky near them that they can scan and observe closely. Here we see a one meter metallic orb, similar to those seen in recently US government released videos. Orbs can both be controlled by an AI thats almost godlike, and it can be controlled manually by an alien or AI species on a far away planet.
Oh, and the eyewitness states, he felt compelled to watch, orbs and UFOs do have telepathic tech that can both read your thoughts from up to a mile away or more and it can also send you messages. If it ever happens to you, you will 100% understand. Yes, its happened to me and I still am amazed by my own experience. Meditation can call them to you, if you are focused for 15 minutes or more, alone and hold still, so they can pinpoint your exact location. Send them a greetings, "Welcome my brothers and sisters in the sky, we are all one, I am honored to know you are there." And go from there on your own. Good luck.
Scott C. Waring
Eyewitness states:
"A sphere makes an excessively close approach to an airplane about to land in Costa Rica. This is a demonstration of the versatility of these objects. We received a mental command to record the aircraft and that we would see a surprise."
Elon Musk, With All His Accomplishments, Can We Rule Out He's An Alien? Nope! UFO Sighting News.
Elon Musk, With All His Accomplishments, Can We Rule Out He's An Alien? Nope! UFO Sighting News.
Musk has a great since of humor, saying there is a graveyard full of his enemies, but there is a bit of truth to it. He's not human, he's an alien from an advanced civilization with an IQ that is off the charts. No human can outwit him, no human can defeat him. He came here on a mis££sion to advance humanity through innovation of technology, and he wont stop till he's completed it.
UFO sightings have always captivated human imagination, sparking curiosity and debate. Among the plethora of global UFO encounters, Japan stands out with its unique and compelling cases. This article delves into the mysterious world of UFO sightings in Japan, exploring both ancient connections and contemporary incidents.
The Fukushima Incident: A Turning Point in UFO Sightings
On March 11, 2011, Japan faced one of the worst nuclear disasters in history at Fukushima. Amidst this catastrophe, numerous UFO sightings were reported, suggesting a possible extraterrestrial interest in our nuclear activities. These sightings were not isolated; similar occurrences were noted during the Chernobyl disaster, hinting at a pattern of otherworldly observation or intervention in nuclear crises.
Global Perspective on UFO Research
While Japan initially denied the existence of UFOs, other countries like Chile have been pioneers in UFO research. In 2014, a significant incident involving Chilean naval officers recording a UFO further solidified the global interest in these unexplained phenomena. Japan’s eventual policy shift in 2020, acknowledging and recording UFO encounters, marked a significant change in global UFO discourse.
Shintoism and the Alien Connection
Japan’s primary religion, Shintoism, with its reverence for Kami (gods or spirits), provides an intriguing perspective on the UFO phenomenon. The Kami, often described as celestial beings, bear striking similarities to descriptions of extraterrestrial beings. With over 81,000 shrines dedicated to these Kami, the ancient religious practices in Japan may hold clues to understanding the long-standing connection between Japan and extraterrestrial visitors.
VIDEO:
Ancient Aliens: Japan’s WILD Extraterrestrial Energy
The ongoing global efforts to study and understand UFO sightings, coupled with Japan’s rich cultural and religious context, present an enigmatic tapestry of human-extraterrestrial interactions. Whether these sightings are mere coincidences or evidence of a deeper cosmic connection, they continue to intrigue and mystify.
In exploring the mystery of UFO sightings, especially in the context of Japan’s unique experiences, we delve into a realm that challenges our understanding of the world and our place in the cosmos. This journey, filled with ancient wisdom and modern encounters, offers an unparalleled exploration of the unknown.
“Wat is er in hemelsnaam aan de hand?”: ontdekking krachtigste kosmische straal sinds ‘Oh-My-God-deeltje’ verbaast wetenschappers
Astronomen hebben een deeltje afkomstig uit de ruimte waargenomen met een extreem hoge energie. De wetenschappers gaven het de naam ‘Amaterasu’, naar de Japanse zonnegodin. Het is de krachtigste kosmische straal ooit geobserveerd sinds het zogenaamde ‘Oh-My-God-deeltje’. En wat het verhaal nog mysterieuzer maakt: de astronomen hebben geen flauw idee wat Amaterasu naar de aarde heeft geslingerd.
Artist’s illustration of extensive air showers induced by ultra-high-energy cosmic rays.
Credit: Toshihiro Fujii/L-INSIGHT/Kyoto University
Wetenschappers hebben een verbazingwekkende ontdekking met de wereld gedeeld in een nieuwe publicatie in het toonaangevende wetenschappelijke tijdschrift Science. Op 27 mei 2021 namen zij met het Telescope Array-observatorium in Utah waar hoe onze atmosfeer reageerde op een deeltje vanuit de ruimte. Dit observatorium is gespecialiseerd in het observeren van kosmische straling en bestaat uit 507 detectoren, elk zo groot als een pingpongtafel. Samen bestrijken ze een uitgestrekt gebied van maar liefst 700 km².
Het ging hier weliswaar om een deeltje met een extreem hoog energieniveau van meer dan 240 exa-elektronvolt (EeV). Dat is 244,000,000,000,000,000,000 elektronvolt. Ter vergelijking, de gemiddelde energie van een elektron in het noorderlicht is ‘maar’ 40,000 elektronvolt. Het deeltje bevat zelfs nog miljoenen keer meer energie dan de deeltjes die wij kunnen creëren in de krachtigste deeltjesversneller ooit gebouwd, de Large Hadron Collider. Dit energierijke deeltje kreeg de naam ‘Amaterasu’. Dit is een verwijzing naar een zonnegodin uit de Japanse mythologie. Maar het is niet het meest energierijke deeltje ooit. Die eer gaat nog steeds naar het Oh-My-God-deeltje uit 1981 met 320 EeV. Eerst wou men dit het ‘WTF-deeltje’ noemen, maar achteraf kwam ingenieur John Walker met ‘Oh My God’ op de proppen, een verwijzing naar de bijnaam “het God-deeltje” van higgsboson.
Kosmische straling waarnemen met deze hoeveelheid energie is dus een zeldzame gebeurtenis. Zo zeldzaam dat de astronomen die de ontdekking deden eerst dachten dat er gewoon iets mis was met de detectoren, vertelt Toshihiro Fujii van Osaka Metropolitan University. “Toen ik besefte hoe hoog het energieniveau was van deze kosmische straling dacht ik dat dit een vergissing moest zijn. In de afgelopen 3 decennia hebben we immers nog nooit zo'n energierijk deeltje waargenomen.”
Dat dit een uitzonderlijke waarneming is, bevestigt ook John Matthews van de University of Utah. “Het regent continu geladen deeltjes op aarde. Elke seconde vliegt er een door jouw handpalm wanneer je jouw hand uitsteekt. Maar die hebben allemaal een lage energie. Eentje met hoge energie, dat is er een per eeuw op een vierkante kilometer. De kans dat er zo een door jouw hand vliegt is dus zeer klein.”
Als je het traject van dit nieuwe deeltje volgt in de ruimte, dan komt je niets tegen waarvan het van afkomstig kan zijn
Er is ook een mysterieus tintje aan dit hele verhaal. Want wetenschappers hebben geen flauw idee van welke bron deze kosmische straling afkomstig is. Het deeltje lijkt te komen vanuit een regio genaamd ‘The Local Void’. Dat is een leeg gebied dat grenst aan onze Melkweg. Bizar volgens de astronomen, want je hebt een bron nodig die enorme hoeveelheden energie bevat, zelfs een exploderende ster is niet krachtig genoeg, en die is daar nergens te bespeuren.
“Als je het traject van dit nieuwe deeltje en het Oh-My-God-deeltje volgt in de ruimte, dan komt je niets tegen met een energieniveau dat groot genoeg is om deze straling richting de aarde te sturen”, legt John Matthews uit. “Normaal zou je zonder problemen naar de hemel moeten kunnen kijken en zeggen ‘dat daar is de bron’. Dat we dit niet kunnen is het grote mysterie dat deze deeltjes omhult waardoor je denkt: wat is er in hemelsnaam gaande?”
“Het kunnen afwijkingen zijn in de structuur van ruimtetijd, kosmische snaren die botsen, … . Ik ben nu maar willekeurig zotte ideeën van wetenschappers aan het opsommen”, zegt John Belz van de University of Utah. “Er is momenteel gewoon geen logische conventionele verklaring voor wat we ontdekt hebben.” Ook Toshihiro Fujii oppert enkele hypotheses: “Misschien is het deeltje wel afkomstig van een gammastraal of een supermassief zwart gat in het centrum van een sterrenstelsel. Of misschien moeten we eerder kijken naar de afbraak van donkere materie of een zelfs nieuwe deeltje waarvan de natuurkundige eigenschappen niet passen binnen ons Standaard Model.”
Volgens de astronomen is er dus waarschijnlijk een onbekende bron ergens in The Local Void of is onze kennis over de fysica van dit soort deeltjes gewoonweg ontoereikend. Verder onderzoek zal dit moeten uitwijzen. Ze hopen dan ook dat het Amaterasu-deeltje hen nu nieuwe inzichten zal verschaffen in kosmische straling met een hoge energie en waar het vandaan komt.
Het concept van tijdreizen boeit lezers en bioscoopbezoekers al tientallen jaren. Maar hoewel mensen gefascineerd zijn door het idee, is niemand erin geslaagd om het tijdreizen meer tot realiteit te maken dan voorheen. Het lijkt een droom die net iets te ver buiten bereik ligt. Maar in een tijdperk waarin de wetenschap de grenzen van het mogelijke blijft verleggen, weten we eigenlijk wel - in theorie - wat de fysica van tijdreizen zou kunnen inhouden?
Het zal je misschien verbazen dat natuurkundigen nog steeds niet precies weten hoe tijd werkt. Voorlopig lijkt reizen naar de toekomst mogelijk (aangezien we er elke dag naartoe razen).
Maar als het aankomt op het mogelijk ontmoeten van onze over-over-overgrootouders door naar het verleden te reizen, ziet het er extreem moeilijk, of bijna volledig onmogelijk uit.
Tijd was relatief voor Einstein. Een belangrijk resultaat van relativiteit is dat de tijdstroom niet constant is. Tijd kan versnellen of vertragen, afhankelijk van de omstandigheden.
Voor ons zijn de relativistische effecten van tijd te subtiel om op te merken. Maar ze hebben wel degelijk invloed op de satellieten die worden gebruikt voor het Global Positioning System (GPS).
De klokken in de lucht tikken sneller dan de klokken op aarde. Daarom moeten de klokken in de lucht constant worden bijgesteld om de nauwkeurigheid te garanderen. Als dat niet gebeurt, kan je navigatie-app ongeveer 10 km per dag onnauwkeurig zijn!
Relativiteit betekent dat het mogelijk is om naar de toekomst te reizen. Of je nou reist met de lichtsnelheid of tijd doorbrengt in een intens zwaartekrachtsveld, je ervaart een relatief korte hoeveelheid aan subjectieve tijd.
In de rest van het universum zouden daarentegen tientallen jaren of eeuwen voorbijgaan. Dus wanneer je terugkeert, zou je verder in de toekomst zijn dan de tijd die je hebt ervaren.
Een studie uit 1949, gepubliceerd door Kurt Gödel, stelde voor dat een gesloten tijdachtige kromme, een pad waar ruimte en tijd in zichzelf teruglopen, tijdreizen naar het verleden mogelijk zou kunnen maken.
Zonder bewijs voor het bestaan van een gesloten tijdachtige kromme, is er geen manier om deze te reconstrueren. Emily Adlam, filosoof aan de Chapman Universiteit in Californië, zegt: "Zelfs als we veel grotere technologische krachten hadden dan we nu hebben, lijkt het onwaarschijnlijk dat we in staat zouden zijn om doelbewust gesloten tijdachtige krommen te creëren."
In 1991 kwam de natuurkundige Richard Gott met de theorie dat zo'n gesloten cirkel mogelijkµzou zijn als er twee "kosmische snaren" waren die in tegengestelde richting langs elkaar heen bewogen.
Wat geweldig zou zijn... als kosmische snaren bestonden! Deze snaren zijn nog steeds hypothetisch en volgens sommige theorieën zouden ze het hele vroege universum hebben gevormd.
Een ander fenomeen dat volgens de relativiteit mogelijk is, zijn wormgaten. Theoretisch is het mogelijk dat ruimtetijd wordt gevouwen als een stuk papier, waardoor een tunnel kan worden geperforeerd om een kortere weg te creëren tussen twee ver van elkaar verwijderde punten, oftewel een wormgat.
Het probleem met wormgaten is weer dat hoewel in theorie is aangetoond dat ze zouden kunnen bestaan, als een wiskundige mogelijkheid, het fysieke bestaan van wormgaten iets heel anders is.
Als wormgaten zouden bestaan, zouden ze niet erg lang bestaan. Sterker nog, als het twee zwarte gaten zijn die zich hebben samengevoegd, zoals wordt getheoretiseerd, dan zou hun intense zwaartekrachtsveld instorten onder hun eigen zwaartekracht.
Er is nog meer slecht nieuws voor toekomstige tijdreizigers: deze wormgaten zouden microscopisch klein zijn, te klein voor een bacterie, laat staan voor een mens om er doorheen te gaan.
Om het omvang- en zwaartekrachtprobleem op te lossen zou er een grote hoeveelheid negatieve energie in het atoom nodig zijn. De energie van het atoomveld moet over het algemeen echter meer positieve energie bevatten, dus zelfs als er kleine zakjes negatieve energie in het atoomveld zouden ontstaan, is het geen erg realistisch beeld.
Terwijl relativiteit het gedrag beschrijft van grote objecten zoals mensen en sterrenstelsels, verklaart kwantummechanica het hele kleine: kleiner dan atomen, zoals elektronen en fotonen.
Uit de kwantummechanica zijn vreemde waarnemingen naar voren gekomen, met name non-lokaliteit. Dit is waar een verandering in de toestand van een deeltje op één locatie onmiddellijk een ander "verstrikt" deeltje ergens anders kan beïnvloeden.
Einstein noemde dit "spookachtige actie op afstand". Het is vele malen experimenteel aangetoond, maar veel natuurkundigen zijn ongelukkig met de mogelijkheid van niet-lokaliteit.
Als reactie hierop zijn sommige natuurkundigen met een alternatieve manier gekomen om de experimenten te interpreteren. Sommigen suggereren dat wanneer iets er direct lijkt te zijn, het eigenlijk naar de toekomst is gereisd en weer terug. Dit introduceert retrocausaliteit, oftewel gebeurtenissen die in de toekomst plaatsvinden hebben een effect op het verleden.
Als dit het geval is, is ons lineaire concept van tijd niet noodzakelijk correct. Het betekent in feite dat informatie uit de toekomst altijd terugkeert om het verleden te beïnvloeden. Het is goed om in gedachten te houden dat deze theorie ook niet door iedereen wordt geaccepteerd. Sommigen vinden deze theorie nog ongehoorder dan non-lokaliteit.
Kortom, we hebben geen volledig antwoord. Relativiteit en kwantumfysica zijn niet met elkaar te combineren, maar ze werken wel om bepaalde aspecten van ons universum te verklaren. Misschien is er een overkoepelende, verenigende theorie die ze met elkaar verbindt, maar die is nog niet ontdekt. Voorlopig blijft tijdreizen buiten bereik - net als de meer mysterieuze aspecten van het universum.
Astronomers pouring over imagery obtained by the Very Large Array Sky Survey (VLASS) in New Mexico recently spotted a transient object they say is unique—and potentially far more energetic—than past examples they have witnessed, according to new research.
In astrophysics, the area of transient astronomy involves the study of short-lived astronomical events or phenomena. Some of these transient objects may last as little as a few seconds, or even fractions of one, while others could persist for several weeks, or even years.
From the enigmatic fast radio bursts of recent years to sudden eruptions of gamma rays and the appearances of novae and supernovae, the primary feature uniting many transient events is their extremity. That is, they usually result from the powerful energy released by the complete or partial destruction of distant celestial objects.
Now, a team of researchers says they may have located one of the most powerful transient objects in its class that astronomers have ever observed, a discovery that could potentially offer clues toward unraveling other unusual phenomena observed in recent years.
The new object, dubbed VT 1137-0337, is believed by astronomers to be a pulsar wind nebula (PWN), also known as a plerion. These objects occur when a nebula forms within the remaining shell of a supernova remnant (SNR). The unique feature of a PWN involves how winds generated by a central pulsar are what astronomers believe powers the nebula.
The discovery of VT 1137-0337 resulted from the analysis of images collected by VLASS, part of an ongoing project of New Mexico’s National Radio Astronomy Observatory, by astronomers Dillon Dong, a graduate student at Caltech, and Professor Gregg Hallinan, his doctoral adviser.
Comparisons between VLA images of the area where VT 1137-0337 exists as seen in 2018 (right) and in 1998 (left), showing that the object only appeared within recent years (Credit: Dong & Hallinan, NRAO/AUI/NSF).
Dong explained to The Debrief that the otherwise monumental task of sifting through the VLASS imagery was made easier by applying filtering that relied on code he wrote, which scanned every image they acquired and identified all of the radio sources present at the time they were recorded. Dong’s program also filtered out artifacts that occasionally turn up in VLASS images, all of which helped him and Hallinan narrow down transient objects that would likely be of interest to their research.
The next step was to take the filtered data and compare that against data from previous radio surveys conducted over the last several decades.
“By cross-matching my catalog of VLASS radio sources with a catalog from a historical radio survey from the 90s and 2000s called FIRST, I identified several thousand variable and transient sources,” Dong told The Debrief, noting that the transient objects he and Hallinan focused on were primarily “sources that have brightened substantially or newly appeared in the radio sky over the past two decades.”
Dong says that several of the transient objects they detected result from far distant black holes that possess relatively compact jets of powerful radio emissions, the likes of which have been discovered in previous studies of VLASS imagery in recent years.
However, during his recent research effort, Dong was more interested in objects that existed closer to us, within an estimated 600 million light-years.
“To find those nearby sources, I cross-matched the catalog of radio variables/transients with a catalog of nearby galaxies,” Dong explained. What he found surprised him.
“As it turns out, there are about 20 transients that are located too close to nearby galaxies to be explained by chance,” Dong told The Debrief, calling the new collection of transient objects—all presumably in nearby galaxies—a sort of “gold mine.”
One of the sources that stood out among those detected by Dong’s code filtering system turned out to be the first known instance involving a stellar collision that is believed to have given rise to a supernova explosion. And there were other transients that caught the eye of Dong and Hallinan, one in particular on account of several unusual features it possessed.
“VT 1137-0337 was another transient that stood out, this time because it had a very unusual flat radio spectrum and because it was fading so slowly,” Dong says. “Both of these properties are unique among known radio transients, and their combination is best explained by an emerging pulsar wind nebula.”
Dong says that the radio emission characteristics displayed by VT 1137-0337 resemble those of known pulsar wind nebula, the most famous of which is the Crab Nebula, located in the constellation Taurus. However, what set VT 1137-0337 apart from other nebulae like it was the amount of energy it produced: close to 10,000 times more than the Crab Nebula.
The Crab Nebula, as seen by NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope
(Public Domain).
“VT 1137-0337 one is 10,000x the luminosity of the Crab Nebula,” Dong says, “mostly because the neutron star is young and hasn’t had a chance to slow down. It is also five to 500 times more strongly magnetized than the Crab Pulsar, which contributes to the energy.”
Dong says that astronomers currently think that most neutron stars have their genesis from within supernovae, which as he words it, “carve-out” a nebula that eventually emerges as gas ejected from the supernova becomes transparent.
“This one nicely fits the picture which is why we were able to identify it as a PWN,” Dong says, though noting that it “will be interesting to see if we can find examples of others that may be formed in different ways.”
However, the data Dong and Hallinan are processing could lead to more than just the discovery of transient objects like VT 1137-0337, now believed to be the most powerful PWN ever observed. In addition to being extremely dense, neutron stars are also some of the most magnetic objects in the universe (hence the name magnetar, which simply denotes a neutron star with a highly magnetic field). As highly magnetized neutron stars spin, a wind of highly charged particles is produced, which are ejected from the star at close to the speed of light.
However, even in the case of an object as powerful as VT 1137-0337, the amount of energy required to propel the particle wind outward eventually has a braking effect.
“If you leave the magnet spinning for hundreds or thousands of years, the energy it takes to launch that wind will act as an extremely strong brake and will significantly slow down the rotation” Dong explains.
“That’s the case for pretty much every neutron star we know of in the Milky Way” Dong told The Debrief, who says that “the previous youngest one is about 700 years old and has been slowing down ever since it was born.”
“In our case, we found one that’s less than 80 years old, which provides astronomers an opportunity to directly observe how particularly powerful neutron stars behave when they’re young.” Not only that, but it could also potentially shed light on another great mystery of modern astrophysics: fast radio bursts.
“Some of the leading theories for fast radio bursts claim that they are also due to young, highly magnetized neutron stars,” Dong says. “We haven’t seen any bursts yet from this source, but if we do, that would be an important piece of evidence in confirming this theory.”
Going forward, Dong says he plans to continue to watch VT 1137-0337, although he is always on the lookout for additional evidence of transient features that turn up in the VLASS imagery, and even hints at the fact that there may already have been a few others detected.
“There are many interesting transients left to publish,” Dong told The Debrief, confiding that he plans to “be spending much of the next year writing papers.”
Micah Hanks is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. Follow his work atmicahhanks.com and on Twitter:@MicahHanks.
NASA is gearing up for a new space biology research program, which the agency says will advance its understanding of how lunar dust can affect animals and plants, along with a range of other investigations into how the lunar environment may affect organisms.
NASA announced that it has awarded nearly a dozen grants or cooperative agreements as part of its Thrive In DEep Space (TIDES) program, which aims “to enable long-duration space missions and improve life on Earth through innovative research,” the agency said in a release on Tuesday.
The focus areas of the TIDES program will study how environmental stressors imposed by spaceflight can impact organisms, along with other information aimed at helping NASA better understand how to leverage technologies in the years ahead as advances in human spaceflight carry our explorations further into deep space.
The space biology research programs include investigations into plants undertaken by University of Wisconsin, Madison scientist Simon Gilroy, Ph.D., who will look at how lunar regolith impacts the nutrition of vegetation. Aymeric Goyer, Ph.D. of Oregon State University, will also undertake a study of potato plants grown in lunar regolith.
At the intersection of plant studies and microbial organisms, Christopher Mason, Ph.D., a professor of physiology and biophysics at Weill Medical College of Cornell University, will study how microbes known as extremophiles can potentially aid plant growth in lunar soil.
A similar research effort, undertaken by University of Texas, Austin researcher Thomas Juenger, Ph.D., will look at engineering plant-microbial interactions to aid plant growth in simulated lunar soil, and Miranda Haus, Ph.D. of Michigan State University will examine root stunting in lunar highland regolith and its effect on legumes.
Additional TIDES research efforts will focus on how lunar regolith-based substrate impacts the growth of tomatoes, lettuce, and other vegetables, along with a series of experiments undertaken by Kathryn Fixen, Ph.D. with the University of Minnesota, into small-scale investigations of how lunar regolith may affect plants.
Animal research investigations are also included in the array of experiments undertaken by the TIDES program, which includes studies by Arizona State University scientist Cheryl Nickerson into the effects of lunar dust on the human intestine, as well as infectious disease risks, and investigations by NASA Ames researcher into how biological systems on the cellular level may be impacted by spaceflight and lunar regolith.
“Eleven investigators will conduct these Space Biology investigations from ten institutions in nine states,” the NASA statement reads. “Eight of these awards are to investigators new to the Space Biology Program.”
“When fully implemented, approximately $2.3 million will be awarded in fiscal years 2024-2027,” the agency said. More about NASA’s TIDES program can be found at the agency’s website.
A view of Mercury’s north polar chaotic terrain (Borealis Chaos) and the Raditladi and Eminescu craters where evidence of possible glaciers has been identified (Credit: NASA)
I have lost count of how many times I have given public lectures and explained the temperature differences between Mercury and Venus. How Mercury, surprisingly isn’t the hottest planet in the Solar System and how that badge goes to Venus, thick atmosphere blah blah blah. Mercury and its complex surface geology does of course get a good chunk of time but a recent paper has rather caught my attention and turned what I thought I knew about Mercury on its head! In short, a team of scientists have announced evidence for salt glaciers on Mercury!
Planetary Science Institute (PSI) scientists; Deborah Domingue, Bryan Travis, Jeffrey S Kargel, Oleg Abramov, John Weirich, Nicholas Castle and Frank Chuang are the co-authors of a paper that made the announcement. Their discovery of Mercurian glaciers (which are made of salt rather than the glaciers composed of water ice we are familiar with on Earth) are believed to have formed under the crust in Volatile Rich Layers (VRLs). The glaciers are then exposed by asteroid impacts. Salt glaciers are a rare phenomenon on Earth but have been seen in areas like the Zagros Mountains in Iran.
The irregular dark patches are the salt glaciers. Satellite image of the Zagros Mountains in Iran (Credit : U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey)
The team went on to suggest formation processes for these salt glaciers and the chaotic terrain that Mercury is well known for and at mechanisms that can explain the VRL formation? They studied the Borealis Chaos region near Mercury’s north pole, a region rich in chaotic terrain. Asteroid impacts have to all intents almost wiped out the craters in this region, many dating back to the early days of the formation of the planet. Underneath this layer lies ancient cratering that was discovered through analysis of localised gravitational fields. The placement of the two layers suggest perhaps that the VRLs may have in some way developed on top of an already solid terrain.
The chaotic terrain at the antipode of the Caloris Basin on Mercury (Credit : NASA)
Previous theories suggest the different layers formed through mantle differentiation where minerals separate out into layers but now a new theory is emerging. It seems the evidence points to some sort of global event, perhaps even from the collapse of Mercury’s fleeting hot atmosphere shortly after the formation of the planet. An alternative theory suggests that escaping volcanic gas may temporarily create pools of water or dense, highly salty steam which could have deposited salt. Significant amounts of the water would have swiftly been lost into space while some could have been trapped in minerals leaving behind a clay and salt rich layer.
The discovery of the glaciers on Mercury is in itself fascinating yet what has really captured my imagination is the impact this has on the potential for areas of habitability on Mercury – or any other planet for that matter.
On Earth, the existence of certain salt compounds in what would otherwise be inhospitable locations has given life a foot hold. We often talk of the Goldilock Zones around stars, the distance at which liquid water can exist and therefore has the potential for life. Yet the discovery of subsurface volatiles (which would ordinarily have evaporated out into space) suggests perhaps depth is also a key criteria for a hospitable environment. The surface of Mercury seems inhospitable to life but perhaps, life may get a foot hold underground. Okay this may seem far fetched but it does add an interesting dimension to the debate around a planets suitability for life.
'Ten aliens have been captured' by humans, claims ex-US intelligence officer
'Ten aliens have been captured' by humans, claims ex-US intelligence officer
US Air Force veteran and former intelligence officer David Grusch has made wild claims that aliens have been captured by humans and it has happened multiple times
Bombshell claims have been made that aliens have been captured on Earth (stock) (Image: Getty Images)
Humans have captured at least ten aliens, according to a former US intelligence officer.
US Air Force veteran David Grusch, a former member of the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and National Reconnaissance Office, claims ET "pilots" were seized after a number of UFO crashes on Earth running into "double digits".
Though there had been some "interactions" with humans, most aliens were a "variety" of biological "entities" of which boffins had no understanding of the "physiology at all".
To read more stories about Space and beings from another planet, click here
David Grusch was on the Defense Department's Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (file)(Image: CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Earlier this year, Grusch stunned politicians when he claimed the US Government had been covering up UFO crashes for decades.
He claimed whistleblowers had told him they had worked on secret projects aimed at reverse-engineering recovered alien craft wreckage - and "non-human biologics" had been found at crash sites.And he's since appeared on Joe Rogan's podcast.
After the host asked him how many biological entities had been found, Grusch said there were "a variety and we have a certain number of different things".
Claims suggested at least 'ten aliens' have been caught (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
"But the total numbers of what’s interacting with us on earth, I mean nobody knows that," he said.
"I talk to people who are familiar with the biological analysis and everything. So we have some idea, not a complete picture because it’s like, you know, you’re looking at it, it’s like, well I don’t even understand the physiology at all, it’s like what the heck, it’s way different."
While he admitted he had not seen first-hand evidence of the craft or bodies he said he had spoken at length with dozens of senior intelligence and military officials who had come forward to him.
Grusch says is in possession of "double digit" numbers of crashes (file)(Image: Getty Images)
He claimed the US Government was in possession of "double digit" numbers of crashed UFOs but could not disclose the exact number.
Grusch told Rogan the number of retrieved ET bodies was "up there as well, just like with the retrievals".
Asked where they came from he said: "Nobody I talked to espoused any specific origin to me. We may know that but I’m not aware of anything."
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Former US intelligence officer David Grusch appeared on the Joe Rogan Experience, providing additional details on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). A Pentagon whistleblower, Grusch shared more insights, revealing some harsh truths. Jesse Michels, among the first to interview Grusch after his story broke, asserts with 100% certainty that Grusch is not lying. Furthermore, Grusch has received support fromKarl E. Nell, a retired Army Colonel.
On the podcast with Joe Rogan, David Grusch makes a series of intriguing claims regarding UAPs and government involvement. He told Rogan a story about a high-ranking Navy officer who saw a strange triangular UFO above his car. Grusch highlighted that the officer is trustworthy. After the UFO encounter, the officer’s car paint changed to a milky white color, and there are photos of this. Grusch points out that there’s no normal explanation for why the paint changed so quickly.
When Rogan asked about the strange event and if there were pictures or a regular explanation, Grusch said he could not think of a normal airplane or technology that could cause this. He also mentioned that the incident happened in the continental U.S., where planes usually need special permission to fly at low altitudes. Grusch revealed that the witness kept the experience to himself for a couple of years before sharing it as the UAP Task Force was established.
Grusch discussed how he got into the UFO program. He said someone important in the intelligence community approached him and introduced him to a person with impressive academic qualifications and permissions. They met at a secret place and discussed a program about studying materials from unidentified flying objects that had crashed.
Grusch says that he and his colleagues, who had special access, confirmed this information by talking to about 40 people, including high-ranking officials. These people shared reports, documents, and their experiences, which Grusch checked with other sources. Everything matched, and Grusch became more sure that the program was real.
Grusch also talked about filing a complaint about facing negative consequences, keeping the identities of people who shared information safe, and how his claims about crashed UFOs became more credible and urgent. He explained that this complaint led to him giving classified testimony for about 11.5 to 12 hours before congressional staffers and lawyers in December 2022.
According to Grusch, the United States possesses a double-digit number of retrieved UAP crafts, with documented events dating back to the 1930s. He talked about an Italy UFO event that happened in 1933, called the Magenta case. A UFO with a disc shape crashed there and turned into a bell or acorn-shaped object. It was about 20 by 10 feet in size.
Grusch described there was nothing inside the UFO, and the Italians thought it might be a German experiment. They asked the Germans, but they said it was not theirs. The Pope and the Vatican got involved, secretly telling the U.S. through the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), which later became the CIA.
Interestingly, Joe Rogan asked about technology connected to UFO stories, like the idea that fiber optics came from studying UFOs. Grusch neither confirmed nor denied this, saying it is classified. He talked about how he has to be careful about what he says, going through a review process by the Department of Defense’s Office of Pre-Publication and Security Review (DOPSR).
According to Grusch, $22 million was given to Bigelow Aerospace in a program called AATIP. This money was meant for studying buildings and equipment related to unidentified flying objects (UFOs). Grusch talked about how they tried to get access to materials from UFOs, and it seems they might have had to enter forcefully, but he does not give all the details. He said they got pieces of a hallway from the 1950s. Grusch mentions that Dr. James Lacatski, a retired DIA intelligence officer who set up the UFO program that ran from 2008 to 2010, shared similar information in his book and public talks.
Grusch said the program had problems with bureaucracy. The CIA did not allow UFO materials from Lockheed Martin to be transferred to the AATIP program. This caused the program to end. After that, AATIP focused on studying strange occurrences at Skinwalker Ranch to please the government.
When it comes to details about the UFO materials, like where they came from or where they are now, Grusch said he cannot share that information. He suggests asking people like Dr. Lacatski for more details. Grusch disclosed that he came across intelligence documents suggesting that a certain foreign adversary had knowledge of the U.S. program through stolen information. He emphasized the potential security risks associated with such breaches.
Phenomena is Ancient
Grusch continued to share his perspective on the UFO phenomenon. He wanted to make it clear that he was not trying to blame anyone. He thought it would be good for everyone to be more open and honest about UFOs. He believes that if we talk about it more, it could lead to more jobs, more research, and better education.
He talked about the fundamental questions related to UFOs, such as the existence of extraterrestrial life and the nature of human consciousness. Grusch asserted with confidence, based on conversations with high-level individuals like Harry Reid, that we are not alone, and the UFO phenomenon is real.
“You know for humanity. Are we alone or you know what happens when we die? Well, I don’t know about that, but are we alone? Well, the answer is we’re not alone. And I know that with 100% certainty, which as an Intel officer, you never say 100%, but all things pointed towards based on the people I talked to…The phenomenon is real. It’s been going on for thousands of years. People have been seeing strange things and not everybody’s mass hallucinating. So that’s kind of my long diatribe about what’s happening."
Rogan asked Grusch what the people he talked to think about these strange objects. Grusch said some people use words like “extraterrestrial,” but theSchumer amendmentuses “non-human intelligence” to cover more possibilities.
Grusch shared his thoughts and talked about Dr. Jacques Vallée‘s work on how UFO stories changed over time, such as people used to talk about witches, and now they talk about alien abductions. He touched upon the morphological similarities between historical accounts, such as the Foo Fighters in World War II and the more recent Tic Tac incident in 2004. Grusch discussed declassified Air Force reports from the 1950s describing flying objects with similar measurements to those observed in the Tic Tac incident, albeit labeled differently.
Grusch also mentioned Ezekiel’s Wheel and Vedic texts, highlighting ancient depictions of aerial battles and phenomena that resemble modern interpretations of UFO encounters. He suggested that there is a real and trippy phenomenon with an undetermined origin, presenting itself in various forms, including orbs and balls of energy. Grusch highlighted the idea of an interdimensional or shadow biome cryptocurrency, acknowledging the multitude of theories surrounding the nature of UFOs.
Grusch acknowledged the existence of a variety of entities but mentioned that the total number and the extent of their interaction with Earth are unknown. He highlighted the challenges in understanding these entities, particularly in terms of their physiology. Grusch mentioned that he had discussions with people familiar with biological analysis which implies that there is some understanding but not a complete picture.
Rogan then asked if there are different types of biological remains, and Grusch said yes, confirming that there are various retrievals. He further asked about interactions with these beings and if they share information or talk about human problems. Grusch replied it is a sensitive topic, and the people he talked to did not want to discuss it. He admitted there might be detailed records but said he does not know much about it.
Rogan further asked about possible interactions with live beings and when they happened. Grusch said he was told about specific events, but the details were classified. Some of those events go back a long time. They discussed alleged UFO stories such as President Eisenhower sending UFO wreckage to a military base. Grusch mentioned discussions about UFOs dating back to the late 1980s involving Senator Barry Goldwater.
Grusch brings up public statements by officials, like General Goldwater and Senator Barry Goldwater, supporting the idea that some people have known about UFOs for a long time. Grusch expresses hope for change and transparency, especially with current political figures in positions of influence. He mentioned individuals like Chuck Schumer, Jake Sullivan, and John Podesta, emphasizing the need for championing the disclosure of UFO information within the government. Grusch also brings up an interview with Mike Pompeo, the former CIA director, where Pompeo briefly mentions having seen the UFO file and states, “we have bigger problems.” Grusch suggests that Pompeo should clarify his statement for further understanding.
Consciousness
Grusch and Rogan further discussed human abilities and consciousness. Grusch mentioned the CIA Stargate program, which involved remote viewing. He shared a story about remote viewing involving a hostage situation and emphasized that there seemed to be a real feedback loop confirming the accuracy of the information obtained through remote viewing.
Grusch pointed out the work of Stanford professor Gary Nolan, who studied individuals with heightened abilities and observed increased activity in the caudate nucleus in their brains. They speculated on whether this part of the brain acts as a transceiver, allowing individuals to access information from higher spatial dimensions.
Rogan expressed his fascination with the idea that certain abilities could be emergent properties of human beings as they evolve. He noted that human communication goes beyond acoustic communication and discusses the limitations of verbal communication in conveying complex information.
Grusch added to this by mentioning experiences of alleged contacts where individuals reported receiving instant knowledge or nonverbal communication, such as QR code-like information. He referenced the work of Dr. John Mack, who studied people claiming alien encounters and mentioned the book “Proof of Heaven” by Dr. Eben Alexander, describing a near-death experience and the difficulty of expressing the acquired knowledge in human language.
Grusch talked about the 9-person presidential panel which would disclose the UAP story between 2024 and 2030. The bill has cleared the Senate but is threatened in the House by Mike Turner and Mike Rogers.
“As long as the house doesn’t kill the Schumer Amendment, which would be the greatest setback to humankind and US history literally. The presidential panel gets empaneled 90 days after the passage of the bill. If it doesn’t get killed, by Christmas, it will be in the National Security Act. The panel will be formed say February or March. Then they have a 300-day process to develop to process to develop an initial plan for the president, and I don’t know if Chuck Schumer and his staff are being crafty, but the 300 days if you do it out is the election. I don’t know if they want to make this an election issue.”
Now I was looking at an Iapetus moon map and noticed a face looking to the left, like a silhouette. Then realized there were not one, but three faces all looking the same direction. One species is clearly similar to humans, another at least half similar species, but the lower face to the right is that of a dog species. All show a different expression on the face, confusion, interest and the dog species is happy.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
Quote of the day, something to think about, UFO Sighting News.
Quote of the day, something to think about, UFO Sighting News.
“Six mistakes mankind keeps making century after century:
Believing that personal gain is made by crushing others;
Worrying about things that cannot be changed or corrected;
Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it;
Refusing to set aside trivial preferences;
Neglecting development and refinement of the mind;
Attempting to compel others to believe and live as we do.”
― Marcus Tullius Cicer, born January 15, 0106 BC
"Insisting that a thing is impossible because we cannot accomplish it," It sounds a lot like those who are against the fact that aliens and UFOs are real. I wonder how long before we accomplish full alien disclosure?
Fast communications could speed up science on the asteroid mission.
Artist's impression of the Psyche spacecraft.
(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU)
A NASA laser just fired successfully in a deep-space test.
On Nov. 14, NASA picked up a laser signal fired from an instrument that launched with the Psyche spacecraft, which is currently more than 10 million miles (16 million kilometers) from Earth and heading toward a mysterious metal asteroid. (The spacecraft is at more than 40 times the average distance of Earth's moon, and still voyaging afar.)
The moment marked the first successful test of NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) system, a next-generation comms link that sends information not by radio waves but instead by laser light. It's part of a series of tests NASA is doing to speed up communications in deep space, on different missions.
"Achieving first light is a tremendous achievement. The ground systems successfully detected the deep space laser photons from DSOC," Abi Biswas, the system's project technologist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Southern California, said in an agency statement.
"And we were also able to send some data, meaning we were able to exchange 'bits of light' from and to deep space," Biswas added.
Other missions have tried out laser comms in Earth orbit or on the way to the moon and back, but DSOC gives laser communications its trickiest, most distant test yet. If it's successful, NASA officials expect that astronauts of the coming decades, bound for the moon or for Mars, may use laser light as their means of taking with ground control.
This DSOC test began in California, at JPL's Table Mountain Facility. There, in the hills outside Los Angeles, engineers switched on an uplink beacon, a near-infrared laser pointed in Psyche's direction. About 50 seconds later, a transceiver on Psyche received the laser and relayed its own laser signal back to Palomar Observatory, near San Diego.
The task requires astronomical precision, and automated guidance systems help aim Psyche's own laser. But should the test work out, the benefits are high: Because laser light has shorter wavelengths than radio waves, using optical light would allow space missions to send 10 to 100 times more information per unit time than they currently do.
The Nov. 14 test marked "first light" for DSOC, and engineers will continue to test the system as Psyche voyages to its namesake asteroid, which resides in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Psyche should get there in 2029, then spend 29 months surveying the bizarre metallic world.
Exploring the Cosmos: NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Pioneers Laser Communication from the Depths of Space
Exploring the Cosmos: NASA’s Psyche Spacecraft Pioneers Laser Communication from the Depths of Space
In a groundbreaking achievement that may revolutionize space exploration communication, NASA’s Psyche spacecraft, on a pioneering mission to explore the asteroid belt, has successfully sent a laser-beamed message from a staggering distance of 16 million kilometers—far beyond the Moon’s orbit. This landmark event, a testament to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of knowledge, marks a new era in how we reach out to the vastness of space.
The Deep Space Optical Communications Breakthrough
At the heart of this revolutionary feat is the Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC) tool, a marvel of modern engineering. Onboard the Psyche spacecraft, DSOC accomplished what no other has done before: transmitting a near-infrared laser encoded with test data from a position about 40 times farther than the distance between the Moon and Earth. The message was successfully received by the Hale Telescope at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory in California, proving the viability of laser communication over immense cosmic distances.
The Psyche Mission: A Journey to the Unknown
Psyche, an ambitious NASA mission, is not just a spacecraft; it’s a daring voyage to a metal-rich asteroid named Psyche, nestled in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. This mission, however, is not just about reaching an asteroid; it’s a testbed for futuristic technologies that could shape the future of space exploration. The DSOC technology demonstration, riding along on this journey, is one such innovation, aiming to revolutionize how we communicate in the vastness of space.
Captured in December 2022: Psyche’s DSOC with Gold-Capped Laser Transceiver at NASA’s Astrotech Facility Image credit: NASA
Laser Communication: The Future of Deep Space Messaging
Traditional space communication has relied heavily on radio waves, which, while effective, have their limitations, especially when it comes to data transmission speed and volume. DSOC changes the game by using laser beams, tightly packed with data, to send information across the solar system. This method allows for the transmission of vast amounts of data at unprecedented speeds, a crucial feature for future deep-space missions, including potential manned voyages to Mars and beyond.
Overcoming Cosmic Challenges
However, this technological leap is not without its challenges. The further the distance, the more precision is required in pointing the laser beam. Additionally, the signal weakens over long distances, introducing communication lags. For instance, during the initial test, photons took around 50 seconds to travel from Psyche to Earth, a duration that will only increase as the spacecraft ventures further into space.
The Implications of DSOC’s Success
The successful test of DSOC’s laser communication is more than a mere technical accomplishment; it’s a beacon of possibilities. It heralds an era where high-resolution scientific data, detailed imagery, and even live video streams from distant planets could become the norm. This technology promises to enhance our understanding of the cosmos, bringing distant worlds within our digital reach.
Looking Ahead: A New Dawn in Space Exploration
As NASA’s Psyche spacecraft continues its journey, carrying with it the DSOC technology, we stand on the brink of a new age in space exploration. This is not just about the exploration of distant celestial bodies, but also about how we connect with our robotic emissaries in the void. The success of DSOC’s laser communication is a pivotal step towards a future where the mysteries of the universe are just a laser beam away. With this incredible technology, we are rewriting the rules of space exploration, bringing the cosmos closer to Earth than ever before.
Wow. JWST Just Found Methane in an Exoplanet Atmosphere
This artist’s rendering shows the warm exoplanet WASP-80 b. When viewed with human eyes, the colour may appear bluish due to the lack of high-altitude clouds and the presence of atmospheric methane identified by NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. That makes it similar to the planets Uranus and Neptune in our own solar system. Image credit: NASA.
Wow. JWST Just Found Methane in an Exoplanet Atmosphere
If there’s one chemical that causes excitement in the search for biosignatures on other worlds, it’s methane. It’s not a slam dunk because it has both biotic and abiotic sources. But finding it in an exoplanet’s atmosphere means that planet deserves a closer look.
Methane captures scientific attention mainly because of its short duration in a planetary atmosphere. Methane can’t withstand starlight for very long, at least not in terrestrial atmospheres. It succumbs to photodissociation and needs to be replenished continually to maintain its presence in an atmosphere.
If a rocky planet has a lot of methane, then the source has to be massive, making a biotic source likely. On Earth, biological activity creates an enormous amount of methane. Metabolically, methane is not difficult to make.
Methane is common in our Solar System, though not necessarily plentiful. As far as scientists can tell, it’s all abiotic. Processes like serpentinization could explain it. Serpentinization is a natural, abiotic process involving water, carbon dioxide, and the mineral olivine. Olivine is common on Earth and is the primary component of our planet’s upper mantle. We’ve also found it on the Moon, on Mars, and on some asteroids.
Recently, the James Webb Space Telescope detected methane in the atmosphere of WASP-80b, a gas giant about half as massive as Jupiter. WASP-80b orbits a K-type main sequence star about 1.5 billion years old. WASP 80 is about 162 light-years away, and WASP-80b is the only planet detected around the star so far.
This image shows the measured transit spectrum (top) and eclipse spectrum (bottom) of WASP-80 b from the JWST’s NIRCam. In both spectra, there is clear evidence for absorption from water and methane. During a transit, the planet passes in front of the star, and in a transit spectrum, the presence of molecules makes the planet’s atmosphere block more light at certain colours, causing a deeper dimming at those wavelengths. During an eclipse, the planet passes behind the star, and in this eclipse spectrum, molecules absorb some of the planet’s emitted light at specific colours, leading to a smaller dip in brightness during the eclipse compared to a transit. Image Credit: BAERI/NASA/Taylor Bell.
Since WASP-80b is a gas giant, then life is ruled out, barring some extreme sci-fi scenarios. But the serpentinization of olivine, the most well-known abiotic source of methane, is also ruled out since WASP-80b is not a rocky planet. But finding it is still interesting. That’s partly because we can now compare the exoplanet to the methane-containing atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune in our own Solar System. That can only help us understand future methane detections better.
WASP-80b is a warm Jupiter. Its temperature is about 550 Celsius (1,025 F; 825 K.) So it’s in between hot Jupiters like HD 209458 b (the first transiting exoplanet discovered) and cold Jupiters, like our Solar System’s largest planet. Our Jupiter is about 112 Celsius (235 F; 125 K.)
Three Jupiters: Our Jupiter (L) is a cool Jupiter. WASP-80b (M) is a warm Jupiter, and HD 209458 b is a hot Jupiter. Image Credits: Jupiter: By NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute. WASP-80b: NASA. HD 209458 b: By JohnVanVliet – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=87759452
The temperature is an important point. There’s a dearth of methane detections in exoplanet atmospheres, so at this stage of the game, each detection plays an important role in developing atmospheric theory and guiding follow-up research. WASP-80b’s temperature puts it in “an interesting transitional regime where equilibrium chemistry models predict that there should be detectable CH4 and CO/CO2 features in the planet’s transmission and emission spectra…” the authors of the research explain.
WASP-80b is really close to its red dwarf star and takes only three days to orbit. Because the planet is so far away and so close to its star, even the powerful JWST can’t actually see it. Instead, astronomers used the JWST to study the combined light from the star and the planet in transits and eclipses.
There haven’t been many methane detections in exoplanet atmospheres by telescopes like the Hubble and the Spitzer, which can both observe in infrared, though not like the JWST can. The lack of detections led scientists to develop theoretical explanations of how methane could be depleted in atmospheres. High metallicity, high interior heat flux, and other reasons were explored as methane depletion mechanisms.
Since the JWST has now detected methane, it raises an important question. “However, this definitive detection of methane throughout the atmosphere of WASP-80b with low-resolution, JWST spectroscopy raises the question to what extent past non-detections were affected by the sparse wavelength coverage and precision achievable with HST and Spitzer,” the authors write. So if astronomers keep detecting methane in more exoplanet atmospheres, we may have to change our thinking about methane as a biosignature.
This figure from the research shows the light curves from WASP-80b’s transit (L) and eclipse (R) observations with the JWST’s NIRCam instrument. One thing to note is that the error bars in panel c are smaller than the point size. That indicates a strong detection. Image Credit: Bell et al. 2023
“As we find methane and other gases in exoplanets, we will continue to expand our knowledge about how chemistry and physics work under conditions unlike what we have on Earth, and maybe sometime soon, in other planets that remind us of what we have here at home,” the authors wrote in a NASA blog post.
The researchers explain that finding exoplanets with methane in their atmospheres also helps us understand our own Solar System. “NASA has a history of sending spacecraft to the gas giants in our solar system to measure the amount of methane and other molecules in their atmospheres,” the authors write. “Now, by having a measurement of the same gas in an exoplanet, we can start to perform an “apples-to-apples” comparison and see if the expectations from the solar system match what we see outside of it.”
NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft captured these views of Uranus (on the left) and Neptune (on the right) during its flybys of the planets in the 1980s. Both planets have methane in their atmospheres which makes them appear blue. But they have different amounts. Uranus’ atmosphere contains about 2.3% methane, making it the third most common component. Neptune contains about 1.5% methane. While that may not seem like a huge difference, it could be a clue to how and where planets like these form, either in our Solar System or elsewhere. Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Caltech
The researchers also say that measuring methane alongside water helps define how and where a planet formed. “For example, by measuring the amount of methane and water in the planet, we can infer the ratio of carbon atoms to oxygen atoms,” they write. “This ratio is expected to change depending on where and when planets form in their system.” Astronomers can use this data to determine if a planet formed close to its star or formed further away and then migrated inward.
The JWST likely isn’t done with WASP-80b. This data is from the space telescope’s NIRCam instrument. Future MIRI and NIRCam observations will probe the planet at different wavelengths, which should detect other carbon molecules like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. “Our findings lead us to think that we will be able to observe other carbon-rich molecules, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, enabling us to paint a more comprehensive picture of the conditions in this planet’s atmosphere,” the researchers explain.
While methane catches everyone’s attention because of its link to biology, this research shows us another side to methane. It can help us understand how and where some planets formed and if they migrated. Methane detections in exoplanets will help us build a better overall understanding of exoplanet atmospheres. They can even help us understand our own Solar System, about which we still have so many questions.
The JWST is poised to play a key role in building our knowledge of methane and atmospheres.
“One thing is clear: the journey of discovery with the James Webb Space Telescope is brimming with potential surprises,” the authors say.
What’s Going on With the Mars Sample Return Mission?
Anybody with a modicum of intellectual curiosity is looking forward to the NASA/ESA Mars Sample Return Mission. NASA’s Perseverance rover is busily collecting and caching samples for eventual return to Earth. While the technical and engineering challenges in getting those samples into scientists’ hands here on Earth are formidable, budgeting and funding might be the mission’s biggest headaches.
Budgetary wrangling between NASA and Congress is nothing new. During its development, the James Webb Space Telescope faced potential cancellation as lawmakers balked at its growing expense. Even the Apollo Program had its budget cut. But this time, it’s NASA itself that is curtailing its budget. NASA announced that it’s taking the unusual step of cutting its budget for the Mars Sample Return Mission
The MSR mission has struggled with ballooning costs. While initially estimated at $4 billion US, the expected cost has inflated to nearly $11 billion US. Compare that to the Perseverance mission, which cost about $2.4 billion to build and launch. Obviously, the MSR mission is more complicated, but a $7 billion price increase can be hard to rationalize, no matter what comparison is made.
In this case, NASA has decided to take action, possibly hoping to forestall governmental interference in the mission.
“It’s very unfortunate that we have to make this decision at this point.”
Sandra Connelly, deputy associate administrator for science at NASA
“It is our responsibility to spend American taxpayer funding responsibly. Significant reductions in spending must be implemented immediately, or the program will not have sufficient funds to last through the fiscal year,” Margaret Vo Schaus, NASA’s chief financial officer, said in a statement.
The budget cuts stem from an independent review of the MSR mission. There’s nothing remarkable about it being reviewed; mission reviews are commonplace. And while a $7 billion jump from the initial $4 billion projection to $11 billion might seem shocking, it may be because the price was set too low to begin with.
“MSR was established with unrealistic budget and schedule expectations from the beginning,” the Independent Review Board (IRB) said in their report. “Technical issues, risks, and performance-to-date indicate a near zero probability of the mission launching on time,” they wrote.
“The projected overall budget for MSR in the FY24 President’s Budget Request is not adequate to accomplish the current program of record,” they stated.
The Perseverance has already collected and cached some of the sample tubes for eventual return to Earth. This photo montage shows each of the sample tubes shortly after they were deposited onto the surface by Perseverance, as viewed by the WATSON (Wide Angle Topographic Sensor for Operations and eNgineering) camera. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS
That’s pretty damning. The report also criticizes NASA for its weak job of explaining the significance of the MSR mission. The IRB also says that NASA should reorganize the mission. “Alternate architectures should be examined under clear guidelines provided by NASA HQ for yearly budget constraints,” they write in their recommendations.
Is NASA being rash with their internal budget cutting?
Some lawmakers in California, where JPL is situated, think so. They’re decrying the cut and the effect it will have on people and the economy.
Six Californian lawmakers wrote a letter that said, “We write to express our strongest opposition to NASA’s recent unilateral and unprecedented decision to prematurely move forward with funding cuts to the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission before Congress has finalized its Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations process.”
“This short-sighted and misguided decision by NASA will cost hundreds of jobs and a decade of lost science, and it flies in the face of congressional authority,” according to the letter. “We are mystified by NASA’s rash decision to suggest at this stage of the appropriations process that any cuts would be necessary.”
NASA’s Perseverance rover puts its robotic arm to work around a rocky outcrop called “Skinner Ridge” in Mars’ Jezero Crater. Perseverance gathered an important sample of sedimentary rock here. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
The lawmakers point out that the mission has assembled an elite team of people and that cutting the budget might drive some of them into the arms of the private sector. That would be difficult to reverse, they say.
“This talent represents a national asset that we cannot afford to lose, and if this uniquely talented workforce is lost to the private sector, it will be near impossible to reassemble,” they write.
The internal budget cut could also lead to cancelled contracts between NASA and different companies, adding to the economic fallout.
It’s also about American leadership in science, technology, and space exploration. America’s position is being challenged by China, who announced their own sample return mission to Mars named Tianwen 3 that should launch in 2028 and return samples by 2031. If China beats NASA and the ESA, that changes the space science landscape considerably.
A wireless camera took this ‘group photo’ of China’s Tianwen-1 lander and rover on Mars’ surface. China is only the third nation to execute a soft landing on Mars, after the USA and the USSR. The USSR’s space ambitions are in disarray, so they likely aren’t returning any time soon. But if China completes a Mars sample return mission before the US and the ESA, how will it change the space exploration landscape? Credit: Chinese Space Agency
“China is rapidly expanding its space program with a new space station, a goal of landing taikonauts on the moon by the end of this decade, a stated intention of being the first to return samples from Mars, and an aggressive vision for more ambitious endeavours,” the lawmakers write.
The IRB also recognizes China’s Mars ambitions and said in their report, “China is planning to return Mars samples on a similar timetable, but lack similar scientific rigour. MSR will bring back carefully selected samples that the international Mars science community has deemed are of the greatest value.”
NASA itself seems committed to leadership in space exploration, so from that perspective, the MSR budget cut appears confounding. “Interviews with NASA and ESA personnel reflected a strong commitment to a partnership of world leadership in Mars exploration and to mission success,” the IRB report says.
Politicians control the purse strings, so who knows what will come of this. If the six bi-partisan lawmakers who wrote the letter have enough influence, perhaps NASA will reverse its decision.
The committee behind the House appropriations bill that funds NASA had this to say: “The Committee supports consistent funding for the Mars Sample Return mission. The Committee directs NASA to allocate no less than $949,300,000 for this mission.” (Note that that figure is an annual figure.) “The Committee directs NASA to ensure that its fiscal year 2025 budget request includes the funding necessary to complete the mission launch no later than 2030,” the committee wrote.
So where does this leave the MSR mission?
NASA isn’t going it alone in the MSR mission. This artist’s illustration shows the ESA’s Mars Sample Return ascent module lifting off from Mars’ surface with the Martian soil samples. Image Credit: ESA
It seems like NASA is wary of the turmoil in Congress as the Republican majority struggles to work together. They get some of their funding from the Senate, which is confirmed, but the rest comes from the House, which is struggling to fund the government itself.
Sandra Connelly is the deputy associate administrator for science at NASA. She said that NASA is responding to a worst-case scenario that would see NASA only receive funding from the Senate while other funding might be stalled.
On November 13, she said, “It’s very unfortunate that we have to make this decision at this point. However, the intent is to enable sufficient funding to carry us throughout the year so we can continue working on and architecting this mission,” she said.
In a roundabout way, the letter from the six Californian lawmakers could be a shot across the bow of the House of Representatives and the dysfunction the Republicans in the House are struggling with.
In the end, it’s up to politicians to sort it out. The problem is many of the US’s politicians seem to be distracted with other issues at this point. Hopefully, they’ll sort it out before American space leadership is undermined.
Imagine you were just elected President of the United States. During one of your first classified briefings, you learn that the US military has recovered advanced extraterrestrial technology. You are told we’ve made only modest headway in understanding how this technology works, where it is from, or why these intelligently controlled machines are here. What would you do in that circumstance?
As President, your top priority is to keep the American people safe from all threats, both foreign and domestic. Hundreds of millions of people, including tens of millions of children, place their faith in you. Are you going to hold a press conference revealing that aliens are visiting planet Earth, but we don’t know where they’re coming from, why they are here, or whether we can defend ourselves from them?
It is hard for me to imagine any of the politicians I’ve worked for over the years leaping at that opportunity. The sudden, unexpected confirmation of an ET presence on Earth would not only unsettle but inevitably terrify millions—if not billions—of people. And for what purpose? What chance would you have as President of moving forward on other vital issues on your agenda, given the tumult that would result? What reason is there to believe the net effect for society would be positive rather than negative?
These are questions that need to be addressed by those advocating the release of information confirming an extraterrestrial presence on Earth. Such information has the potential to be a genuine Pandora’s box, and it is, therefore, vital we think this through carefully before proceeding.
This is a pressing issue, as various committees and members of Congress are seeking to determine whether the US government has incontrovertible proof of an extraterrestrial presence on Earth. Such a revelation would undoubtedly be the most shocking, profound, and transformative discovery in human history. Yet, despite the gravity of the issue, Congress has been proceeding without holding any hearings or requesting any studies to assess the impact of this potential bombshell. It appears that our legislators are failing to heed the maxim, “Don’t ask the question if you aren’t prepared for the answer.”
Strangely, there is little discussion of this critical issue among proponents of disclosure in the UAP community. Perhaps advocates of disclosure simply assume that truth and transparency are always for the better. Although I applaud the sentiment, the issue is not so simple for government officials bearing the weighty responsibility of governing. I therefore thought I would offer some thoughts from the standpoint of a former national security official because national security concerns are inescapably central to this discussion.
The first question that arises is, “How can we make a fair determination about the potential risks and benefits of disclosure without access to all the facts?” Suppose the US government recovered extraterrestrial technology decades ago. In that case, there has inevitably been some progress in assessing it and, hopefully, some insights gleaned regarding the nature and intent of its designers. However, no credible individuals purporting to have access to such information have provided any details. One of the only things we can say with certainty is that unless ETs prove to be angelic, which is not what our military is reporting, disclosure would undeniably frighten, if not terrify, large segments of the population.
Moreover, what if disclosure precipitated a change in the behavior of an alien civilization, given that they no longer had an incentive to remain elusive and clandestine? What is the risk potential that disclosure might cause some governments to overreact, precipitating fearful and aggressive interactions? If these risks are substantial, does it still make sense to release such disruptive information?
When I first became publicly involved in the UAP topic, the alleged recovery of ET technology was not an issue. My immediate goal was to alert policymakers to a dangerous intelligence failure, namely, the fact of serious and recurring intrusions into restricted DoD airspace by strange, unidentified aircraft. It was shocking to learn our vaunted multi-billion-dollar intelligence system was paralyzed by ineffable stigma, as effectively as any electromagnetic warfare (EW) weapon, placing US personnel and the nation at risk. This situation reminded me of both Pearl Harbor, where vital warning information was not forwarded up the chain of command, as well as 9/11, when intelligence agencies failed to share vital information that could have saved the lives of thousands of innocent civilians. Having survived the attack on the Pentagon myself, this was not a purely theoretical consideration.
Admittedly, I was also hoping to generate enough Congressional pressure to compel the DoD and the Intelligence Community to use their vast capabilities to study UAP. Knowing our technical intelligence systems well, I was tantalized by the prospect of what we might learn if these sometimes mind-boggling capabilities were brought to bear on the UAP mystery. Therefore, it was also an opportunity to potentially solve this fascinating and profound mystery.
At the time, the ET issue was present but remained unspoken for good reason; if we had approached Congress with an explicit focus on aliens, we would have quickly been shown to the exit. Many legislators were privately curious about UAP, but we needed to focus on the national security angle to provide a politically viable justification for engaging on the UAP issue. Nevertheless, as time passed and new information became available, Congressional interest expanded to include credible allegations of recovered extraterrestrial materials.
I confess I was partly responsible for this change of emphasis because I brought physicist Eric Davis to Capitol Hill to meet with oversight committee staff in October of 2019. This was, to my knowledge, the first time a Congressional oversight committee had been provided credible information on the issue of allegedly recovered non-human technology from an individual with knowledge of such operations. Later, I played a role in helping bring other witnesses forward, including whistleblower David Grusch. In doing so, I was forced to wrestle with the same simple but critical question that guides everyone in the national security community: “What is in the nation’s best interest?”
Eventually, members of Congress began to realize that the alleged recovery of off-world materials was a serious issue. Consequently, they enacted a provision requiring the All Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), which reports jointly to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and the Deputy Director of National Intelligence, to investigate this sensational allegation. Congress understandably did so without deciding in advance whether to make the report’s findings public. Although it is true that some key members of Congress, such as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Rep. Tim Burchett (R-TN), have expressed support for releasing the facts, whatever they prove to be.
However, it is not clear how many of their colleagues agree. It is also conceivable their views might change if confronted by disturbing revelations in the event such allegations prove to be true. For example, Senator Gillibrand has young children, and it is conceivable that if sufficiently alarming information emerges, she might reconsider her admirable desire to share as much information as possible with the public.
At this point, it already seems clear that AARO will report that it found no credible evidence the US government has recovered alien technology or knows of any extraterrestrial activity. However, I don’t think this finding by AARO will satisfy key members of Congress or the public. This is entirely understandable because asking AARO to investigate this issue is roughly comparable to asking the Intelligence Community to investigate the Iran-Contra Affair. AARO has a clear conflict of interest in that it must protect this explosive information if directed to do so. Alternatively, AARO could also be denied access to the information. The only way for Congress to assure itself of the truth is to continue pressing ahead with its own investigation, as advocated by members of both parties in the House of Representatives.
In that regard, I want to challenge the recurring assertion that the UAP issue is primarily for scientists, not politicians or government officials. Although UAP deserves serious attention from the scientific community, as NASA itself recently acknowledged, national security considerations are inevitably paramount.
I say that partly because we are not dealing (at least not exclusively) with remote signals from deep space or an intangible interdimensional intelligence that seeks to subtly influence human affairs. For all we know, something along those lines could be happening, and it is a fascinating proposition, but what current intelligence collected by the US indicates is that our military is encountering intelligently controlled, solid objects invading restricted military airspace, sometimes even flying in formation, on an almost daily basis. Many of these objects are emitting radiation in the 1-3 and 8-12 gigahertz range. Multiple credible reports indicate that UAP has rendered segments of our nuclear deterrent inoperable; in other cases, they are jamming radars on fighter aircraft. We also have multiple cases of near-mid-air collisions and cases involving serious injuries to military and civilian personnel. Therefore, as much as we need and want scientific investigations, the government cannot be permitted to divest itself of the UAP issue.
Similarly, the government does not have the luxury of limiting itself to pristine scientific information. This is one of the areas in which I differ with Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the current Director of AARO, who claims there is no “credible” evidence of UAP demonstrating capabilities or doing things that violate our understanding of science. To my mind, the USSNimitz(CVN-68) aviators, radar operators, and technicians who encountered an anomalous craft during training exercises off the California coast in 2004 areeminentlycredible. The Intelligence Community prefers rigorous scientific information whenever possible. Still, it would be untenable—if not suicidal—for either the Intelligence or Law Enforcement communities to limit themselves to pristine, scientifically repeatable sensor data. We rarely have the luxury of having sensor information when facing the intentions of foreign leaders or the precise capabilities of adversary military forces. Hence, the Intelligence Community does its best with what it has in those circumstances, including reliance on human intelligence reporting.
Therefore, by its own standards, the Intelligence Community should consider the accounts of the Nimitz aviators and radar operators as highly credible evidence of intelligently controlled craft doing things we cannot emulate and simply don’t understand. For example, the “Tic Tac” UAP they encountered accelerated to supersonic speeds without producing a sonic boom; it overcame g-forces that would destroy anything built by man, and there was no evidence of the electrically charged plasma we would normally expect to see on manmade aircraft moving at hypersonic velocities. I realize the inherent limitations of human reporting. Still, I also see no reason to suddenly change the normal rules and standards the Intelligence Community relies on in cases that involve evaluating UAP.
I’m raising these issues to provide a reminder that the paramount question about UAP, both for government policymakers and the public, will undoubtedly be whether UAP poses an existential threat. I’m thrilled to be supporting investigations of UAP signatures, propulsion systems, metamaterials, and UAP effects on humans, but national security, rather than science, will be at the forefront in the minds of government officials assessing the potential costs and benefits of disclosure. In sum, we can’t dodge the national security issue when making the case for disclosure; we must address it head-on.
Admittedly, nothing as potentially ontologically shocking as UAP disclosure has probably ever occurred, certainly not in modern times. However, there are still some interesting historical precedents we can examine.
Consider the Sputnik issue that arose in 1957. Sputnik was merely a small satellite emitting tracking signals, not a weapons system. Yet the mere fact America was lagging behind the Soviet Union in space and missile technology immediately became a major political issue, reminiscent of the furor over the more recent Chinese spy balloon incident. It was not long before Congress and the White House responded, and the space race got underway. Thankfully, what began as a military competition with the Soviet Union eventually turned into a collaborative space exploration effort involving the Russians and many other nations. So, in that case, the initial fright and concern, which was a national security issue, ultimately led to major scientific and technological breakthroughs and laudable international cooperation. I would like to believe the UAP issue can follow that same path from national security to science.
Admittedly, other examples are tragic. When we look at the first contact between more technologically advanced civilizations and indigenous peoples, the consequences often proved catastrophic for the less technologically advanced. In part, this was due to the spread of lethal diseases for which indigenous peoples had no immunity. But it was much more than that; contact often proved psychologically and culturally devastating, as the leadership and cherished religious and cultural beliefs of many indigenous groups were eradicated without being replaced by a viable substitute. We all need psychological and cultural maps to navigate reality. For many indigenous people, those maps were destroyed but not replaced, leaving behind a devastating psychological and spiritual void that millions of people are still contending with as they seek to reconcile Western secular views with their traditional beliefs.
Note the difference between these two cases. In the case of Sputnik, we have an awareness of a potential threat; in the second instance, we have an actual invasion and occupation. So, a key question for us to ask ourselves (again, a national security issue) is whether disclosure might provoke hostilities. That seems highly unlikely; so, although the Sputnik case is far less shocking and provocative than disclosure would be, it may be a more appropriate model than the tragic cases involving European contact with pre-industrial indigenous societies.
I believe that a graduated process of disclosure would avert a crisis atmosphere while prompting new investments in technology, scientific research, and a rash of collaborative international meetings and initiatives. Processing this unsettling information would certainly take time, but danger and fear of the unknown have always been inherent in the human condition, and people would, as always, adapt. For example, few Americans are losing sleep over the fact they live in cities targeted by Chinese and Russian thermonuclear weapons. Similarly, if some UAP proves to be extraterrestrial, people would still get out of bed the next day, go through their morning wake-up rituals, and head to school or work.
Although it would be a much more disturbing provocation than Sputnik, I believe the inevitable ontological shock would eventually prove highly beneficial, stimulating immense creativity, investment, and research. Moreover, and most importantly, it could have a profound, positive, and desperately needed impact on mankind and international relations.
Earlier this year, I penned an article for Politico titled, “If the US Government has UFO Crash Materials It is Time to Reveal Them.” In the article, I made several points, including the following:
Democracy requires transparency.
The American people own any materials recovered by our government.
The public can handle disclosure.
The government cannot forever stifle the truth, so it is better to get ahead of it.
Secrecy stifles Science.
There is no evidence of an imminent threat.
If there is a threat, we need to know so we can prepare.
Finally, I argued that disclosure could transform international tensions, catalyzing desperately needed international collaboration. I’d like to expand on this last point as it is both the most important point and the least obvious.
In my view, both domestically and internationally, we are presently on an extremely dangerous trajectory that requires urgent intervention. Disclosure would undoubtedly alter the trajectory of our species, but almost certainly for the better.
It is obvious that our nation, our species, and the environment are in serious and growing jeopardy. If this were solely my view, it would be easy to dismiss, but unfortunately, that is not the case. I don’t have the time here to list all my concerns, nor all the ways our society is presently financing its own downfall through perverse incentives that have developed over many decades, nor is there space here to do justice to the growing dangers we face abroad. Hence, rather than attempt to make the case myself, I’ll offer the perspective of two renowned analysts of world affairs.
Ray Dalio is the ingenious billionaire who established the world’s largest hedge fund. Yuval Hariri is a dazzling Cambridge-trained historian and author. Their perspectives are as different as their occupations, but their analyses are complimentary and equally sobering.
Mr. Dalio’s views are available to us through his fascinating book Principles for Dealing with a Changing World Order. His argument, supported by myriad graphs and piles of data, is that the evolution of human societies runs in discernable cycles. It appears he has handsomely profited from understanding these cycles. In short, when a nation or civilization becomes debt-ridden and over-extended, wealthy but complacent, with massive disparities in wealth, dangerous internal fractures and civil strife emerge.
Today, the US is more deeply indebted than at any time since WWII, and the debt is rapidly growing even as interest rates rise, making repayment of this mountain of debt far more difficult. When interest on debt crowds out productive investments, the economy suffers. Eventually, economic hardship and disputes over how to share the pain of deficit reductions occur, leading to polarization and instability.
When this instability and economic stagnation occur simultaneously with challenges from a rising foreign power, as is the case with China today, history shows that war and disaster for the declining power usually follow. Regrettably, military confrontation between the US and China is a real and growing risk, especially in the South China Sea and Taiwan. Dangerous encounters between US and allied nations and Chinese forces are occurring with disturbing and growing frequency. Meanwhile, President Xi is moving China in the direction of North Korea, a state where an ambitious and intolerant dictator with near godlike status imposes his views at every level of society from the classroom to the boardroom. A fanatically nationalistic 1.5-billion-person version of North Korea, replete with AI security systems controlling Orwellian surveillance capabilities, is a daunting prospect.
For all these reasons, I share Mr. Dalio’s concerns about the prospect of tectonic and possibly catastrophic change occurring in the years immediately ahead. As Dalio states:
“The most reliable signs of an escalation to civil war are 1) the rules being disregarded; 2) both sides emotionally attacking each other; 3) blood being spilled.”
It’s not hard to see the relevance of these factors given the riots and demonstrations of recent years, the assault on the nation’s Capital, and the incredible partisan hatred gripping the nation, making it impossible to pass desperately needed legislation. To my knowledge, the US has never before failed to pass a defense bill at a time when the US military is under fire and already stretched to its limits supporting friends and allies. This growing crisis of government legitimacy is toxic and only getting worse; meanwhile, there are no efforts in sight to correct the massive fiscal imbalances that are undermining our children’s future.
Mr. Dalio also observes that when change comes, it is generally swift, devastating, and unanticipated. This conservative businessman sees a shocking 30% risk of civil war in America with what he characterizes as the “next big risk point” occurring around the time of the next Presidential election.
Dr. Harrari offers a very different perspective, one that focuses primarily on global existential challenges facing our species. He states:
“Each of these problems – nuclear war, ecological collapse, and technological disruption – is enough to threaten the future of human civilization. But taken together, they add up to an unprecedented existential crisis, especially because they are likely to reinforce and compound one another.”
Harrari later adds:
“If despite these common threats humans choose to privilege their particular national loyalties above everything else, the results may be far worse than in 1914 or 1939.”
Thankfully, there is a potential solution. As Dr. Harari further observes:
“A common enemy is the best catalyst for forging a coming identity…”
Suppose a common threat is the best recipe to achieve a desperately needed common bond. What could be more helpful or consistent with our long-term prosperity and survival than learning that one or more advanced civilizations are visiting our planet? It would be a shock, to be sure, and many would initially be frightened or even terrified—whether or not for good reason—but that fear would quickly subside if little change occurred in UAP activity. Regardless, we need a jolt to reframe international perspectives in order to manage issues such as AI, global warming, and WMD effectively.
Much as NASA recently demonstrated the ability to alter the trajectory of an asteroid, in the event we detect one on a collision course with Earth, we need a powerful ontological jolt to promote the collaboration required to manage these common global threats. This is why, in addition to democratic principles, I support UAP transparency and believe our nation and species would hugely benefit from an awareness that we are not alone.
And on the chance that a threat does exist, aren’t we better off knowing so we can take appropriate action? When has ignorance ever been a good national security strategy?
In conclusion, I’d like to cite a third figure quite different either from Mr. Dalio or Dr. Harriri: a former US President who had an extraordinary personal UAP sighting. Whether Ronald Reagan was prescient or speaking from an awareness of secret government information remains to be seen, but his statement to the UN General Assembly in 1987 is most apt:
“In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment, we often forget how much unites all the members of humanity. Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond. I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. And yet, I ask you, is not an alien force already among us? What could be more alien to the universal aspirations of our peoples than war and the threat of war?”
For all the reasons above, I hope our elected officials will seek and reveal the truth of what our government knows about UAP. We need and deserve the truth, however unsettling it may be, and the sooner we are made aware, the better.
Christopher Mellon spent nearly 20 years in the U.S. Intelligence Community, including serving as the Minority Staff Director of the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. He actively participates in Harvard’s Galileo Project and, in his free time, works to raise awareness regarding the UAP issue and its implications for national security. Follow him online at his official website and on X: @ChrisKMellon.
A version of this essay was originally presented at The Sol Foundation’s first annual symposium, held at Stanford University November 17-18, 2023.
While conventional geological perspectives might attribute it to a natural formation, such as a ridge or mountain shaped by specific erosion patterns over the planet's history, this particular structure stands out. Unlike numerous other straight and vertical formations on Mars, it defies the natural order and it does not fit with the surrounding landscape.
Rather than mirroring the typical traits of natural features, this structure bears a striking resemblance to a constructed wall. Notably, even there is a reflection of light bouncing off the structure onto the Martian surface.
This discovery adds to a growing list of anomalies on Mars that defy conventional explanations. Could it be conceivable that this intriguing structure represents the remnants of an ancient wall, perhaps constructed by intelligent beings who once inhabited Mars before a catastrophic event made the planet uninhabitable?
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Noah's Ark Located! Google Earth Map, Nov 22, 2023, Video, UFO Sighting News.
Noah's Ark Located! Google Earth Map, Nov 22, 2023,Video,UFO Sighting News.
Coordinates: 39°42'55.04"N 44°17'48.27"E
Date of discovery: Nov 22, 2023
I was using Google Earth map looking at Mount Ararat in Turkey and found something exciting...Noahs Ark, Google ruler says it's 150 meters high and close to 300 meters from end to end. This is the biblical location where they say Noah landed his arch 5,000 years ago after the earth flooded for 150 days. If ancient Egyptians could lift chilled stone blocks weighting tons each to make pyramids, then it would be a much easier task to build a 300 meter by 150 meter ship made of gopherwood. Gopherwood is the type of wood the Bible cites as being used to make the ark.
Spaceship Bigger Than Earth Seen On Google Sky Map, Nov 21, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Spaceship Bigger Than Earth Seen On Google Sky Map, Nov 21, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of discovery: Note 12, 2023
Location of sighting: space
Source: Google Sky map
Coordinates:0h 40m 07.35s, -36° 36' 55.23”
I found a space station, or space ship, which is both one and the same. The object is unique and like a metallic egg with appendages on two sides. These appendages are four in total and each is of a different side, but each is also like a bent arm at a 90 degree angle to the main part of the ship. Near the giant spaceship are three smaller ships. How big is it? It is many times bigger than Earth itself.
Just above it is another similar size ship, but of a different shape, like a horse shoe, but the side facing the camera are the two ends.
Its funny that such massive evidence that proves that aliens exist is so easy to find, but you must understand, that we humans have been programed from birth to believe aliens don't exist, so why would anyone bother looking for something that doesn't exit? I like to think outside my programing. I have reprogramed myself to keep an open mind, allow new and unusual possibilities inside and to accept the answers once I find them.
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Satellite Images Capture ARCTIC UFO
Satellite Images Capture ARCTIC UFO
In the ever-evolving realm of extraterrestrial exploration and the quest for understanding our universe, a fascinating discovery emerged in October 2020. Satellite images unveiled a peculiar, metallic-looking object in Antarctica, half-buried under ice. This finding sparked a series of intriguing theories and debates within the scientific and ufological communities. But the question remains: Is this an actual alien artifact, or merely an optical illusion?
Antarctica: A Land of Ice and Mysteries
Antarctica, the coldest and most remote continent on Earth, is a land shrouded in ice and mystery. Holding 90% of the planet’s ice, its landscape often draws comparisons to alien worlds due to its stark and unforgiving terrain. In October 2020, an investigator analyzing satellite imagery of this icy wilderness stumbled upon something that defied conventional explanation – a saucer-shaped object protruding from the ice.
The Martian Connection
The discovery fueled theories about extraterrestrial life and interplanetary connections. Brad Olsen, an author and researcher, speculated that this object could be an alien spacecraft, suggesting it had emerged from its icy tomb as global temperatures rose. Such a find was not just a leap into the world of science fiction but also a potential bridge to our cosmic neighbors.
George Haas, chairman of the Cydonia Institute, proposed a bold theory linking Earth and Mars as twin cradles of an ancient interplanetary civilization. He pointed to pyramid-like structures and humanoid faces on Mars, asserting they were more than natural formations but relics of a shared Martian and Earthly heritage. This hypothesis, while controversial, raises the tantalizing possibility that our red neighbor once harbored life similar to our own.
The Science Behind the Sightings
However, not everyone is convinced about the extraterrestrial origin of these findings. Science writer and forensic video analyst Mick West offered a more grounded explanation, attributing the Antarctic object’s appearance to the ‘crater illusion’ – a trick of perspective and light. NASA’s Bob Anderson also weighed in, suggesting that natural erosion could explain the Martian formations, though he remained open to further exploration and study.
VIDEO:
Satellite Images Capture ARCTIC UFO (S2) | The Proof Is Out There | The UnXplained Zone
The Quest for Answers Continues
As the debate rages on, the mysteries of Antarctica and Mars continue to captivate our imagination. While some experts lean towards optical illusions and natural explanations, others advocate for expeditions to these remote locations for direct study. The Antarctic object and Martian formations, whether products of nature or evidence of ancient civilizations, remind us of the vast unknowns that lie beyond our current understanding. In our quest to unravel the secrets of the universe, these enigmas serve as beacons, guiding our scientific and exploratory endeavors into new and uncharted territories.
De James Webb Ruimtetelescoop van de NASA, in samenwerking met andere ruimteagentschappen, heeft een fantastisch en gedetailleerd beeld vastgelegd van het centrum van ons sterrenstelsel, de Melkweg, waarbij kenmerken werden onthuld die tot nu toe onontdekt waren door astronomen.
De James Webb heeft het stervormingsgebied Sagittarius C vastgelegd, gelegen op 300 lichtjaar van het supermassieve zwarte gat in het centrum van ons sterrenstelsel en op 25.000 lichtjaar afstand van de aarde.De afbeelding onthult een cluster van jonge sterren en benadrukt een nog in vorming zijnde ster met meer dan 30 keer de massa van onze zon. De gegevens van Webb zullen astronomen helpen meer te weten te komen over stervorming in een extreem kosmische omgeving en de geschiedenis van de oorsprong van ons universum.
In 2016, a large number of emails from the account of John Podesta, the chairman of Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign, were leaked by WikiLeaks. The tranche of emails thrilled the Internet when reporters associated with the New York Times were working on the groundbreaking story entitled “Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious U.F.O. Program.”
The emails between Podesta and a person named Bob Fish are the main subject that has been widely discussed by UFO enthusiasts. Mr. Fish, who had previously worked as an IT contractor, held the position of Director of Advanced Programs at Network Equipment Technologies from 1984 to 1993. (Source)
During that time, he was responsible for overseeing a top-secret global network for a major intelligence agency within the Department of Defense. In addition, he was involved in various operations that were of national importance, such as the Gulf War and Operation Just Cause.
The leaked emails may provide new insight into UFOs. Mr. Fish sent an email to Podesta on March 5, 2015, in which he stated that blurry photos, crop circles and statements from witnesses alone would not be enough to confirm the existence of UFOs. “What was needed,” he continued, was “hard scientific data collected from instruments that are known to be accurate and reliable.” Which, he added, was available “if one knows ‘where to look’ and ‘what to look for.’”
Bob Fish. Image source: Linkedin
He claimed that the federal government had been collecting data on UFOs since the 1970s, using the Defense Support Program (DSP) satellites.
In his next email to Podesta, he shared an incident that happened with him in El Segundo, a city in California. After Project Blue Book was shut down, Fish met with a USAF official who worked on the program. He told Fish that “there were times when they were diverted from these missions to track UFOs off the east coast of Florida.”
Further, the email stated: “His claim was the UFOs had a landing and takeoff spot in the ocean east of Miami, north of Bermuda. He also claimed there was a specific electronic signature (frequency) emanating from them when they were going into or coming out of the water, so they were easy to track. On several occasions, they filmed the UFO as it transitioned from water to air or vice versa.”
Mr. Fish was convinced that the United States Air Force’s Project Blue Book, which was officially closed in 1970, did not end but instead was taken out of public view. The existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) demonstrated that the Pentagon’s interest in UFOs never dissipated.
Based on the observations provided by Lue Elizondo, the former director of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), the United State government had already been aware that UAPS were vastly outmatched by superior technology. These objects have capabilities that are beyond comprehension.
They can travel at incredibly fast speeds and have the ability to get invisible while accelerating. They are capable of moving through air without wings and can travel through space, atmosphere, and oceans without being affected by gravity, and without any visible means of propulsion.
Such scenarios alarmed the US government, and the officials realized that if this god-like technology were to be obtained and mastered by their adversaries before the United States, it would make democracy vulnerable. Australian investigative reporter Ross Coulthart noted that his sources confirmed “there has been consideration given to offensively trying to bring down these objects.”
In his book “In Plain Sight: An investigation into UFOs and impossible science“, Coulthart describes that the United States government appears to have knowledge of some UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) entering Earth’s orbit from deep space. Furthermore, the US government can actively track them via RF signals emanated from these craft based on conversations with retired US intelligence officer Bob Fish.
“I wrote to Bob Fish and after a few weeks, he kindly responded, confirming everything he told Podesta, and more. He had never spoken publicly about UAPs before. A previously very highly security-cleared defense communications intelligence insider, Fish has extensive experience working on classified programs, including President Reagan’s ‘Trust but Verify’ nuclear missile disarmament treaty with the Soviets, and he assured me he was happy to be quoted about his strong interest and belief in UAPs.
He clearly knew a lot more than he was prepared to reveal. When I asked him what he knew about the purported US ability to track such mystery craft, he told me, ‘At some point, the information about “alien” stuff and true US national defense information crosses paths.
Patriots with clearances do not want to be traitors to their country or their way of life. For instance, if I told you the exact electromagnetic signature of a high-Mach UFO that US sensors search for, but don’t attack, and you put it in a book, the Soviets/Chinese would manufacture a bomber with SIGINT/ELINT [signals and electronic intelligence] countermeasure equipment that generated that exact signature.
We must find a path forward that brings about greater knowledge of the truth without endangering the civilizations we have evolved into. The intriguing thing about Fish’s comment was the implication there was indeed a ‘truth’ still being concealed.”
Mr. Fish stated that the UAP entered the atmosphere and descended into the Atlantic Ocean, specifically in an area east of Miami, Florida and north of Bermuda. He suggested that this location would be ideal for a telescope with sensor capabilities if one were to be running the Galileo Project.
Former U.S. Navy Lt. Ryan Graves told Lex Fridman on a podcast that his squadron started getting the UAP hits, once they upgraded their APG-73 radar to the APG-79. He mentioned that the upgrade was something like going from analog to digital and that sometimes they would fly F-18s with the old radar in the morning, and the objects would not be there, but when they swapped to the F-18s with the new radar, the UAP hits would be back again. He also noted that perhaps the new radar was not filtering out something that they should have been yet, or perhaps it had not been calibrated. (Source)
“The radar always picks up everything flying, but they go so fast, you don’t recognize them. Your mind says it could have been an 18-wheeler, it could be something low, I don’t know what it was…”
— John Callahan, FAA Retired at the National Press Club, Washington D.C., 2013. (Source)
There is pretty good evidence that the government has been intercepting UFO signals or emissions since at least the 1950s. In one 1957 case investigated by James E. McDonald, a UFO was simultaneously witnessed by military officers, it was seen on radar and ECM gear detected a certain frequency coming from it. (Source)
During the summer of 1954, the United States Air Forcewas on high alert. A pair of mysterious objects had been located in orbit between 400 and 600 miles from Earth, and now officials were in a state of confusion as to what they might represent. Could they be non-terrestrial objects of natural origin, or could they be something else entirely?
A more concerning possibility also lurked in the minds of officials at the time: what if the objects were manmade, and possibly of Soviet origin?
Dr. Lincoln La Paz, then the head of the Extra-Terrestrial Bodies Institute at the University of New Mexico, had been in constant communication with the Air Force about their unusual new problem. For weeks, he shot back and forth between the Palomar Observatory in California and the missile test center at White Sands, New Mexico, until it was finally determined by the astronomer that the objects were indeed natural: they were only meteors.
The story received tremendous attention after it first appeared in Aviation Week, and just days later, a source close to the Army Office of Ordnance Research assured the New York Times that no satellites deemed to be of artificial origin had been detected yet, adding about La Paz’s meteors that “there was absolutely no connection between the reported satellites and flying saucer reports.”
The search for objects in Earth’s orbit had been virgin territory in 1954, and the events in the fall of that year were only a foreshadowing of the kind of public fear yet to come. Once the Soviets actually did launch Sputnik 1 from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in the early days of October 1957, concerns about a technological gap among Western nations escalated into a full-blown crisis.
The world would never be the same. In the aftermath of the “Sputnik crisis,” the United States accelerated its space-bound efforts, eventually placing its own satellites into orbit, followed by successful manned space missions and, eventually, humans landing on the Moon in July 1969. Today, on any clear night one can look at the night sky and see tiny points of light moving silently along in their positions in orbit, representing objects that range from satellites and the International Space Station, to tiny reflective bits of debris from past space missions that have accumulated in Earth’s orbit steadily over time.
In addition to the satellites we have placed into orbit around our own planet, humans have also sent several spacecraft to further locales, some of which we have positioned around nearby planets like Mars. It seems logical to assume that if there were any intelligent extraterrestrials out there, they might do the same.
This brings to mind an interesting question for modern astronomers: what if aliens have surveilled our planet, either in the past, or even in the present day? If so, how might we detect evidence of their technologies?
(Credit: NASA)
With the amount of debris that clutters the space around our planet today, it would prove difficult to locate any prospective alien probes that may be watching us. Based on current European Space Agency data, there are 5,800 functioning satellites in orbit, with nearly 31,590 debris objects that have been logged and continuously tracked by Space Surveillance Networks.
However, not all objects in orbit around our planet are being tracked. According to current statistical models, smaller space objects between 1 mm and 10 cm could number greater than 131 million.
In short, the orbital area around our planet has become a very cluttered place since the dawn of the Space Age, making it increasingly difficult to search for any possible outliers that might represent evidence of non-terrestrial technological artifacts that might be observing our planet.
That’s why one group of researchers, led by Beatriz Villarroel of the Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics and Stockholm University, has undertaken a citizen science effort to search for evidence of such non-terrestrial artifacts in what some might consider an unusual place: data that has already been publicly available for decades.
Prior to the launch of manmade satellites like Sputnik 1 in the late 1950s, Earth’s skies were free of the clutter that hinders modern searches for prospective non-terrestrial objects. According to Villarroel and her team, one way to overcome this problem is by scanning earlier photographic plate projects such as the First Palomar Sky Survey (POSS-1), which is the focus of the Vanishing & Appearing Sources during a Century of Observations (VASCO) project.
“We expect the project to yield many interesting findings over time,” reads a statement on the website of the VASCO Network, “maybe even some anomalous objects and events — could aliens be responsible for any of those?”
“We show that even the small pieces of reflective debris in orbit around the Earth can be identified through searches for multiple transients in old photographic plate material exposed before the launch of the first human satellite in 1957,” the researchers state in the paper’s abstract. According to Villarroel and her coauthors, images depicting what they identify as “simultaneous transients” may hold the key to detecting evidence of non-terrestrial artifacts that may have been lurking in Earth’s orbit since the days prior to Sputnik.
Beatriz Villarroel of the Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics and Stockholm University
(Image Credit: Karl Nordlund/Stockholm University)
“About 80% of the very fast bright flashes (glints) in our sky are the result of artificial objects with highly reflective, flat surfaces,” Villarroel recently told The Debrief. These objects, many of them relatively small according to Villarroel, may be found in geosynchronous orbit around the Earth.
“A fast glint like this will look like a star in an image,” Villarroel says, “and sometimes one can see several glints from the same object in an image (or from different ones). Space debris and satellites in geosynchronous orbits can leave multiple glints in an image.
“Multiple glints in sky images is, therefore, a typical signature of artificial objects,” Villarroel says. By looking at some of the earliest photographic plates collected by 20th-century astronomers, the VASCO team thinks they could easily discern the presence of any reflective objects in geosynchronous orbits (GEO) since they would appear as short lines in these photographs, the length of which can be used as an indicator of their speed and position in orbit (satellites at higher GEO altitudes produce fast, transient glints that result from the light they reflect from the Sun).
Of particular interest to Villarroel and her colleagues are the appearances of multiple glints, which may indicate a single object tumbling through space producing a series of flashes as its surfaces reflect sunlight, or possibly even the presence of several objects.
“We propose to look for multiple glints in image data before Sputnik I,” Villarroel told The Debrief. “If such signatures are found in a time when there were no high-altitude satellites, that could imply the presence of Non-Terrestrial Artifacts (NTAs) in orbits around the Earth.”
Although surveying photographic data from pre-satellite times offers obvious benefits to the search for non-terrestrial artifacts, there are challenges for modern researchers using this approach, since multiple glints in older sky survey imagery could be accounted for by a number of other things. These could include defects in the images that produce the appearance of star-like objects which, in fact, may simply be photographic artifacts.
“If one finds multiple glints in an image, we cannot know for sure that the observation is real as some defects might possibly look star-like,” Villarroel says. “And it is difficult to access the original photographic plates to examine the ‘stars’ under a microscope.”
One simple way that Villarroel and her colleagues have proposed to help narrow down any likely anomalies is to search or instances where they appear in a single line.
“The main proposal of the paper is, therefore, to look for an even clearer signature, which is to search for these multiple glints-events that on top of everything, also are aligned along a line,” Villarroel told The Debrief. Unlike plate defects, which could most often be expected to appear randomly across the image, Villarroel says that genuine glints of light detected by cameras, possibly produced by debris or satellites of unknown origin, would produce consistent glints of light along a line in an image.
Villarroel says there are several sources of imagery that astronomers can use for such surveys, many of which are freely available. However, an added benefit of conducting multiple surveys could be that the presence of any anomalies detected in one photographic plate collection, if thereafter found in a separate set of images, could help confirm the presence of a genuine anomaly.
“Many observatories have their photographic plate collections,” Villarroel says. “Finding similar examples of ‘multiple transients’ in other image data sets could help to confirm the effect. Also, we have predicted some shapes and glinting patterns in our recent preprint that one can use to search for the predicted objects in modern datasets.”
Along with her efforts with the Vasco Network, Villarroel is a research team member of The Galileo Project, a scientific effort led by astronomer Avi Loeb aimed at detecting extraterrestrial technological signatures produced by Extraterrestrial Technological Civilizations (ETCs).
“The Galileo project is excellently suited for these searches,” Villarroel told The Debrief.
With decades of imagery now in hand, modern advances in computer imaging and artificial intelligence could prove to be instrumental in helping astronomers make a breakthrough in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. Considering some of the early observations by Lincoln La Paz and other astronomers at the dawn of the Space Age, it would indeed be ironic if it were ever proven that evidence of extraterrestrial technologies had been lurking much closer to home than most would have ever expected.
When asked about some of the intriguing observations that preceded the earliest launch of artificial satellites in 1957, Villarroel says cases from decades ago might indeed be worthy of renewed attention from modern astronomers, especially if the current efforts to analyze photographic plate collections ever turns up anything odd.
“These historical examples would be very interesting for us to look at through the VASCO glasses,” Villarroel says.
Micah Hanks is Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on Twitter: @MicahHanks.
Last March, a mystery object was tracked by astronomers as it hurtled toward the lunar surface, which eventually crashed into the far side of the Moon along the northwestern fringe of the Mare Orientale impact basin near the massive Hertzsprung Crater.
Although the object was believed to have been identified as a defunct portion of a Chinese rocket, something about the errant spacecraft’s impact with the Moon had puzzled scientists. Unlike the normal impact features that are formed when objects collide with the lunar regolith, this one had left a curious, double crater, which was later spotted by the cameras on NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) as it passed over the impact site.
The unusual double-impact craters left by the collision of a mystery object with the far side of the Moon last March (Credit: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University).
Speculation ensued about what the object might have been that could have caused such an unusual impact feature. Now, a team of researchers at the University of Arizona says they have uncovered evidence that can definitively prove the Chinese rocket’s identity.
However, the findings, recently published in ThePlanetary Science Journal, also reveal an additional twist: that the Chinese craft had likely carried a mysterious payload with it, the identity of which remains unknown.
A MYSTERY OBJECT IS DETECTED IN SPACE
The mysterious object, designated WE0913A, was first spotted several years ago by researchers at the University of Arizona’s Catalina Sky Survey, who noticed it moving at a surprising pace as it passed between Earth and the Moon.
Although initially thought to have been a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket booster launched in 2015, spectral analysis of light reflected off the object by the team’s Raptor Telescope helped determine that the object’s movement and appearance made a booster from China’s Chang’e 5-T1 rocket a more likely solution.
China initially disputed this, claiming that the rocket, a part of the Chinese National Space Administration’s lunar exploration program, was believed to have burned up in the Earth’s atmosphere during re-entry. However, U.S. Space Command officials confirmed that the Chinese rocket’s third stage was never detected impacting Earth’s atmosphere.
The rogue booster, which had been the rocket’s third and uppermost stage that provided thrust to carry the experimental Chang’e 5-T1 to its eventual orbit around the Moon, was left behind after it jettisoned the mission’s orbiting module and sample return capsule.
That is until light reflecting off the rotating rocket booster was eventually spotted by astronomers at the University of Arizona.
SHEDDING LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY
Vishnu Reddy, a professor of planetary science at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, said that the team was able to observe variations in the light being reflected off the rocket that helped them narrow down the object’s likely identity.
“When the broad side of the rocket is pointed at you, you get more light, and as it turns, you get less light from that side,” Reddy, one of the co-authors of the new paper, said in a statement.
Tanner Campbell, a doctoral student under Reddy at the University of Arizona’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and the first author of the new study, said the team was able to make comparisons between light curve data made during observations of WE0913A and computer simulations that accounted for thousands of hypothetical space objects, which allowed them to identify key features of the object that were able to help reveal its identity.
Co-authors Grace Halferty, Vishnu Reddy, Adam Battle and Tanner Campbell, whose new paper appeared in The Planetary Science Journal, appear before the RAPTORS-1 telescope they used for the spectral observations of the errant rocket booster
(Credit: Vishnu Reddy/University of Arizona).
“Something that’s been in space as long as this is subjected to forces from the Earth’s and the moon’s gravity and the light from the sun,” Campbell said. However, unlike a typical empty rocket booster fitted with an engine on one side, the Arizona team noticed WE0913A had been moving very strangely.
“You would expect it to wobble a little bit,” Campbell said. “But this was just tumbling end-over-end, in a very stable way.” The only solution would seemingly have been another object aboard the rocket booster, which would provide a counterweight to the pair of 1,200-pound engines it carried.
“We performed a torque balance analysis, which showed that this amount of weight would have moved the rocket’s center of gravity by a few inches,” Campbell said, adding that the observed movement could not be explained in the absence of an additional source of weight on board the craft.
“That’s what leads us to think that there must have been something more mounted to the front,” Campbell said.
A TALE OF TWO CRATERS
Along with their observations of the tumbling craft, the team says that additional revealing data came from the strange, double crater the craft produced as it collided with the lunar surface.
The pair of impressions, separated approximately 100 feet from one another, are unique among craters caused by collisions between manmade spacecraft and the Moon.
“This is the first time we [have seen] a double crater,” Campbell said. Past observations of craters produced by Apollo-era rockets are generally round or oval-shaped, depending on whether the impacting object had been traveling straight downward or if it approached at an angle. When Chang’e 5 T1 made impact, it came almost straight down, and although the shape of the craters it produced is consistent with this trajectory, Campbell says that something else must have been present in order to account for there being two of them.
“To get those two craters of about the same size, you need two roughly equal masses that are apart from each other,” Campbell said.
TRACKING DEFUNCT SPACE HARDWARE
Roberto Furfaro, deputy director of the University of Arizona’s Space4 Center and also one of Campbell’s co-advisers, says the team’s research underscores the need for being able to track the growing number of objects that are populating space as more nations engage in their own off-planet explorations.
“[O]nce you’re putting more and more objects on the moon, it becomes extremely important that we not only track the object, but also understand what they are going to do once they get there,” Furfaro said.
Currently, the identity of the object presumed to have created the second crater remains undetermined, and according to Campbell, we may never know what it was unless China chooses to disclose it.
“Obviously, we have no idea what it might have been,” Campbell said. “Perhaps some extra support structure, or additional instrumentation, or something else.”
“We probably won’t ever know,” he guesses.
Campbell and the team’s paper, “Physical Characterization of Moon Impactor WE0913A,” was published in The Planetary Science Journal on November 16, 2023.
A pensioner believes he's stumbled onto proof that aliens exist and he is convinced the government and international space agencies are trying to cover up the truth.
Retired photographer Julian Heath, who lives in the leafy enclave of Wallington in Surrey, has taken to stargazing with the help of the subscription app Stellarium, which he installed on his Amazon Kindle Fire.
The app allows users to explore the solar system and track satellites in real-time, which led Julian to his rogue discovery: a small 'alien' craft travelling around the world every six seconds.
'I think it's alien, we've got nothing in this world that would travel round the world at that speed, Julian tells MailOnline.
'There's nothing that Earthlings can produce that can travel that fast.'
Retired photographer Julian Heath is convinced he has found a UFO on a stargazing app
The pensioner claims to have spotted the object on his Amazon Kindle and he claims it can orbit the earth in six seconds
Julien stumbled across his new hobby while browsing the apps on his Amazon Kindle and freely admits he's not an expert in the field.
He continued: 'It's quite a fascinating thing to watch, because you can see when the sun is rising and you can see the satellites in the sky.
'You can also see the constellations and track how slow or how fast the satellites are moving.
'I was looking at it a few days ago and suddenly this thing zoomed across the the screen.'
The object that caught Julien's eye was a small satellite which appeared to be zooming around the planet once every six seconds.
Assuming it was a bug, Julien thought nothing of the phenomenon but when he relogged onto the app a few days later it appeared again.
His suspicions raised, Julian began his search for the truth, but claims he has been frustrated by a lack of transparency from government agencies.
He continued: 'I hadn't realised at the time that it has a tag on it, which means that the powers that be know about it.
'It's clearly travelling around the world at great heights and seems to slightly shift to the right every single scan.
'It has to be some kind of UFO, and it looks as though it's scanning the world.
'I did rather stupidly go and stand out in the garden one clear night and look up at where it was, but at that speed you wouldn't see anything anyway.
'Somebody knows about it, and they're keeping quiet about it.
'I tried the Home Office and I tried the Ministry of Defence, but not one of them has any sort of contact details on their website for the public.
'They obviously don't want people like me sending emails to them.'
With no clarity on the matter, Julien has taken to watching the skies from his garden
Julian believes that as the object has been tagged government agencies must be aware of it
With no clarity as of yet, Julian says he has had to confide in his wife who is less enthused by his discovery than himself.
He said: 'I’ve told my wife and she sort of looks at me with a stare, and doesn’t say a word. I know she thinks I'm nuts.
'Other friends I've told as well but as they don't have the app it's hard to explain.'
According to Brown University, the fastest time in which a man made satellite can complete an orbit of the earth is 90 minutes.
MailOnline has approached Stellarium for more information on the strange object.
Can YOU help solve the mystery? Email john.james@mailonline.co.uk
Missouri State Rep. Chris Dinkins officially named the town of Piedmont its “UFO Capital” back in August. And the reason why is actually kind of terrifying.
Seemingly hundreds of Piedmont’s residents have seen UFOs floating around over the years, accordingto KSDK.
“My grandpa loved to spin a tall tale about things he saw,” Piedmont’s Chamber of Commerce executive director, Sara Phillips, told the outlet. It all started back in 1973, when more than 500 people called local law enforcement to report a “fleet” of alien spaceships flying over their homes.
“One resident said that if they had to estimate half the residents had seen something in the sky. Clearwater Lake becomes kind of the epicenter of this,” said State Historical Society of Missouri member Sean Rost. “There are people reporting seeing lights above the water. There are people seeing lights under the water.”
The FBI and the military were called in to deal with the situation and to explain the situation to locals. But, to date, no firm explanation has even been provided.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the event, House Bill 1261 officially designates Piedmont as the “UFO Capital of Missouri.” The bill was sponsored by State Rep. Chris Dinkins in the hopes it’ll attract more tourists to spot the lights that apparently still fly over the tiny little .
EXCLUSIVE: Retired US Army Colonel says secret UFO projects should be made public by October 2030 - to beat America's rivals and get ahead of a 'catastrophic' leak
EXCLUSIVE: Retired US Army Colonel says secret UFO projects should be made public by October 2030 - to beat America's rivals and get ahead of a 'catastrophic' leak
The revelations came amid an invite-only UFO gathering at Stanford University
But many at the exclusive event worried UFO disclosure may spark social unrest
Nearly two decades ago, a think-tank in Washington D.C. invited past and present government officials from the CIA, the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), the Pentagonand elsewhere to debate the risks of revealing the truth about UFOs.
The 2004 event — according to a former CIA scientist who went public with the shocking story Friday — broke into working groups to weigh the positive and negative ramifications of declassifying America's top secret UFO programs.
Every working group according to that scientist, Dr. Hal Puthoff, came back with the same co
But now, a host of Washington insiders are calling for a strategic 'campaign' to drag these alleged UFO reverse-engineering programs out into public view.
The Sol Foundation, a new nonprofit dedicated to exploring the broad implications of what are now called 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' or UAP, convened its first ever symposium Friday, sponsored by Stanford University's School of Medicine
Sol's lofty goal, as described by its chief operating officer - the now famous UFO whistleblower and US Air Force and intel veteran David Grusch - is to 'open ourselves to a future where truth, unity, technological advancements and a deeper understanding of our existence converge'
The pivot emerged this weekend at an invite-only conference of former government officials, tenured physicists and other academic researchers, activists and reporters, held at Stanford University and attended by DailyMail.com.
The most explosive moments from the UFO event — the first ever symposium of the new nonprofit Sol Foundation, which is dedicated to exploring the broad implications of what are now called 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' or UAP — came from recently retired US Army Colonel Karl E. Nell.
On Saturday, Col. Nell called for a 'UAP campaign plan' to compel transparency as well as 'a Manhattan Project' to successfully reverse engineer recovered UAP craft.
His stated goals, as heard by DailyMail.com at the event, were nothing less than broad transparency on covert UAP programs 'on or before conclusion of the decade.'
In a later slide, Col. Nell projected his strategic hope that so-called 'disclosure' on the UAP issue would be complete by October 1, 2030, although he admitted his timeline targets were 'at risk' of falling behind.
The Sol Foundation's lofty goal, as described by the now famous UFO whistleblower and US Air Force veteran David Grusch, was to 'open ourselves to a future where truth, unity, technological advancements and a deeper understanding of our existence converge.'
Grusch, who now serves as the group's chief operating officer, delivered the concluding remarks for Sol's first ever symposium Saturday night, via a remote live video feed.
'Let us advocate for transparency, not for ourselves,' Grusch told the assembled attendees, 'but for the generations to come, as we embark on a journey toward a more enlightened and interconnected world.'
Last June, Col. Nell staked his own reputation to Grusch's public testimony on UFOs, calling the UFO whistleblower 'beyond reproach' and vouching for Grusch's allegations of a secret, decades-long and illegal UFO crash retrieval and reverse-engineering program.
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But the most explosive moments from Sol's two-day symposium came from retired US Army Colonel Karl Nell (left). Col. Nell called for a 'UAP campaign plan' to compel transparency as well as 'a Manhattan Project' to more successfully reverse-engineer recovered UAP craft
Col. Nell (above) called UFO whistleblower David Grusch 'beyond reproach' when Grusch's allegations of a secret, decades-long and illegal UFO reverse-engineering program became public in June. He said he wants to avoid 'catastrophic disclosure' on UAP initiated by a US rival
Col. Nell was one among a host of Washington insiders at Sol calling for a strategic 'campaign' to drag these alleged UFO reverse-engineering programs out into public view. He expressed the hope that the general public would compel their representatives in Congress on the issue
In one slide (above), Col. Nell projected strategic hopes that 'disclosure' on the UAP issue would be complete by October 1, 2030, although he admitted his timeline targets were 'at risk' of falling behind. Col. Nell was previously a 'modernization advisor' to Army Futures Command
Geneticist Dr. Garry Nolan, whose Stanford lab houses some of the world's most precise equipment for measuring the atomic and molecular structure of physical samples, is a co-founder of Sol and its executive director.
The group's sweeping mission statement, according to its website, is to develop policy around the believed 'broad consequences' of UAP 'for the future of science, technology, economy, politics, law, religion, culture, and all other human institutions and endeavors.'
To that end, the group's other co-founder, Peter Skafish, is an anthropologist focused on the social implications of humanity's potential (or already occurring) encounters with the 'non-human intelligences,' which Grusch has said pilot these UAP.
Due largely to Dr. Nolan's efforts, the Sol Foundation event was sponsored by Stanford University's School of Medicine.
In recent months, whistleblowers with knowledge of a classified UFO 'reverse engineering' program have opted to testify to the Senate intelligence committee, in part over their reported mistrust of the Pentagon's new UFO office, dubbed AARO. Above, a page from Project 1794 declassified in 2012
Col. Nell's comments raised eyebrows among attendees, in no small measure because of the senior army official's final military posting.
Col. Nell was a 'modernization advisor' to the Army Futures Command engaged in the 'most significant Army reorganization since 1973' — which has spearheaded the development of remote-operated and unmanned robotic combat vehicles, AI projects and other advancements.
Nobel Prize nominee and CIA scientist Dr. Hal Puthoff, who worked in the government's 2008-2012 UFO program called AAWSAP, once told DailyMail.com that he had briefed Congress on classified information about UFO reverse-engineering programs
Chris Mellon, formerly with the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, told Sol he had recently spoken with someone still in the Defense Department. Mellon's source said that more revelations and more high-resolution images were coming soon
READ MORE:
Pentagon UFO chief Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick will be REPLACED by end of 2023 as whistleblowers accuse him of lying to the public and ignoring witnesses
A candidate 'short list' has been interviewed to replace Dr. Kirkpatrick (above), current head of the US Defense Department's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), one ex-official told the DailyMail.com. The news comes as UFO whistleblowers, per one attorney, 'don't want to go to Sean's AARO' citing safety concerns. 'Really knowledgeable' UFO whistleblowers, 'people who've laid their hands on the equipment,' as this attorney aiding the whistleblowers told the DailyMail.com 'never did trust Sean'
Col. Nell, now an aerospace executive, commanded at every grade level across decades of service including tours with the US Army Reserves, the DIA and US Space Command.
From 2021 to 2022, Col. Nell was assigned as the Army's dedicated liaison to the Pentagon's UAP Task Force.
After apologizing for framing his recommendations to citizen UAP advocates in military terms, Col. Nell detailed tactical 'lines of effort' he hoped the public, government officials and scientists might execute, in parallel, as part of a collaborative effort to advance scientific understanding of UAP.
Perhaps most ambitiously, Col. Nell expressed the hope of direct 'engagement' with the 'non-human intelligences,' or perhaps extraterrestrial beings, piloting UAP sometime in the next decade — a new 'interactive' era of 'scientific discovery.'
But, first and foremost, Col. Nell described his proposal as an effort to 'avoid catastrophic disclosure,' meaning a chaotic release of Earth-shattering revelations designed to sow discord, whether by independent actors or by one of the United States' foreign rivals.
In an echo of the 2004 think-tank exercise detailed by Dr. Puthoff earlier at this Sol event, multiple speakers at the conference floated potential dangers that could arise from future revelations about allegedly secret UAP programs.
Belgian artificial intelligence entrepreneur Jonathan Berte, founder of Robovision and Sol's chief financial officer, looked to the late 19th century Industrial Revolution to suggest that tech breakthroughs from UAP could actually worsen climate change.
The discovery of oil during that period, Berte noted, actually led to a massive increase in coal mining, as older energy sources were pushed to their limits in an effort to build the hardware and equipment needed to exploit the new, emerging energy sources.
Berte suggested a similar Catch-22 could plague even the most utopian of new technologies or energy sources that may one day derive from UAP.
Another speaker, former Secretary of Defense for Intelligence official Chris Mellon, expressed similar worries about social unrest, economic turmoil and a possible international arms race that could follow further revelations on the UAP topic.
At one point, Mellon floated the possibility that 'disclosure' might change the behavior of UAP and whatever is controlling them, because they no longer have an incentive to hide and remain clandestine.
He worried further about how governments might overreact, causing an aggressive response from UAP and their alleged occupants.
Nevertheless, he described himself as in favor of further UAP disclosure.
Since helping leak three unclassified UFO videos to the New York Times in 2017 — sightings that remain unexplained to this day — Mellon has spearheaded efforts to compel the US government to investigate UFOs more seriously and more openly.
The former DoD official challenged the idea that the measured 'controlled disclosure' described by Col. Nell could occur at all, attributing the current state of affairs to similar principled stands by activist-insiders.
In fact, Mellon said that he had recently spoken with someone still within the Defense Department and that more revelations and more high-resolution images were coming soon.
'The US government is working on a declassification guide,' Mellon said, 'So with that there will be better imagery to be publicly released soon.'
'Maybe not 100 percent in focus,' he added, 'but better imagery.'
An alert was issued by security forces after the UFO sighting was reported from the northeastern state of Manipur at about 2.30pm local time.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) also halted flight operations at state capital Imphal’s Bir Tikendrajit International Airport for several hours.
The object “was visible with bare eyes”, an unnamed official from one of India’s federal police agencies reportedly said.
“IAF activated its Air Defence response mechanism based on visual inputs from Imphal airport,” said a post on X by the IAF. “The small object was not seen thereafter.”
Indian authorities have not revealed specific details of their investigation of the UFO sighting.
A video on social media showed a small white dot on the skyline near the airport. The Independent could not verify the authenticity of the video.
Rafale fighter jets were dispatched to investigate the object from the Hashimara airbase in the eastern state of West Bengal.
“Soon after information about the UFO near the Imphal airport was received, a Rafale fighter aircraft from a nearby airbase was scrambled to go and search for the UFO,” a defence official was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The jet returned and another one was later sent to investigate.
Reports said the second fighter jet also returned without finding any evidence of a UFO.
The fighter jets were equipped with advanced sensors and carried out low-level flying over the suspected area near the airport, but didn’t find anything suspicious.
“The UFO was visible with bare eyes moving westwards of the airfield [at the Imphal airport] till 4 pm,” an official from India’s Central Industrial Security Force was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
Investigation operations took several hours and flights at the Imphal airport resumed operations only after 5.30pm on Sunday, after authorities received clearance from the IAF.
Two flights were diverted from the airport and three departing flights were delayed before operations were allowed to resume.
The sky has always been a source of wonder and mystery, sparking curiosity and countless questions. One of the most fascinating and elusive topics in this realm is that of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). Recent years have seen a resurgence in UFO sightings, bringing with them a renewed interest and a barrage of questions: Are we alone in the universe? What are these mysterious objects? This article delves into the world of UFO sightings, exploring the latest developments and the ongoing quest to understand these enigmatic occurrences.
Recent Surge in UFO Sightings:
In recent years, UFO sightings have moved from the realm of conspiracy theories to a subject of legitimate inquiry. The US government’s acknowledgment of the existence of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) and the release of several declassified videos by the Pentagon have added credibility to these sightings. Videos showing high-speed objects with no visible means of propulsion have intrigued not only the public but also the scientific community.
The Tic Tac Incident:
One of the most famous UFO sightings in recent history is the 2004 USS Nimitz encounter, commonly referred to as the “Tic Tac” incident. This sighting involved a radar-visual encounter by several Navy pilots, who observed a 40-foot long, tic-tac-shaped object performing maneuvers seemingly impossible with current human technology. This incident, captured on advanced infrared systems, remains unexplained and continues to be a significant point of reference in UFO discussions.
The Role of To The Stars Academy:
In bridging the gap between these mysterious sightings and the public, organizations like To The Stars Academy have been instrumental. Founded by notable figures such as Luis Elizondo, the former head of AATIP, and supported by experts from various fields, the organization aims to research and publicize information about UFO phenomena.
Scientific Interest and Research:
The scientific interest in UFO sightings has escalated recently. Researchers are now approaching the subject with a new level of seriousness, analyzing data and looking for patterns that could provide insights. The goal is not just to prove or disprove the existence of extraterrestrial life but to understand the physics and technology behind these sightings.
Governmental Disclosure:
The shift in the government’s stance on UFO sightings is notable. With the release of classified documents and videos, there is a newfound transparency that encourages further investigation and public discourse. This openness is a significant step towards demystifying the phenomenon and potentially understanding the technology behind these sightings.
Video:
Ancient Aliens: UFO Secrets Hidden by the Government?! (Special)
The exploration of UFO sightings opens up a universe of possibilities and questions. While the truth behind these sightings remains elusive, the ongoing investigations, both by governmental agencies and private organizations, promise to shed light on these mysterious occurrences. Whether these sightings are a result of advanced earthly technology or evidence of extraterrestrial visitations, the search for answers continues to captivate and intrigue us.
Alex Dietrich (Ret.) served as one of the nation’s first female strike-fighter aviators as a F/A-18 pilot from 2001-2020.
Yesterday, the President held a press conference on the issue of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) due to a flurry of recent activity.
The nation was captivated by a suspected Chinese reconnaissance balloon floated across the continental United States. This incident prompted NORAD and other U.S. agencies to adjust their radar scans. The filter changes have exposed more unidentified objects, and another three were shot down over the weekend. These events highlight a longstanding domain awareness gap confronting our collective consciousness on three fronts: military defense, aviation safety, and scientific inquiry.
Officials have since disclosed that the Chinese military had previously breached U.S. airspace on at least four other occasions. We are now aware of these earlier incursions due to political and popular pressure to investigate and disclose UAP activity.
“UAP” replaces the antiquated (and stigmatized) term “UFO” to describe “anything in space, in the air, on land, in the sea or under the sea that can’t be identified,” per the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act. The bipartisan-sponsored UAP amendment requires DoD to establish a dedicated UAP program and publish annual unclassified reports to Congress (and thus the public) in the hopes of answering interminable questions.
Are they a threat? Are they natural phenomena? Are they disruptive tech? Should we shoot them down? Who has jurisdiction? If we don’t know what it is, how can we establish who is responsible and pays for the surveillance, response, and subsequent operations? It’s a slippery slope that deters even a hesitant first step toward attempting an answer.
I started asking the same questionsnearly 20 years ago in an F/A-18F flying off the coast of California. My colleagues and I encountered something we could not explain: an anomalous flying object in broad daylight against a clear blue sky and calm waters. Our carrier strike group had been watching anomalous hits on the radar for days. Once airborne, we were vectored and asked to investigate. We merged and visually acquired the object, a matte white oblong shape with no apparent flight control surfaces, visible means of propulsion, or smoke trail. Yet it outmaneuvered us with ease. We communicated in real-time via radio and then debriefed the intelligence team and chain of command back aboard the ship. Another F/A-18F launched and managed to capture video of the object with its forward-looking infrared (FLIR). A screenshot of that video has since become an iconic symbol of UAP encounters.
The Nimitz encounter is one of many. Pilots and credible eyewitnesses on the ground for years have reported and verified objects with unknown provenance and exotic capabilities. It would be irresponsible to suggest that any or all of these reports represent the same tech or are of the same origin. They are, by definition, unidentified. But we do know that collectively these anomalies expose a blindspot in our ability to sense them in the first place, track them in real time, and predict where they might pop up next.
Are UFOs real? Yes. Are they a foreign adversary? Maybe. Are they extraterrestrial in nature? It’s possible. Should we keep investigating? Absolutely.
There are many potential answers to the UAP mystery, and those answers are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Truth is persistent. Whatever is happening here, it will be revealed. How quickly depends on our collective commitment to authorize and resource appropriate agencies who can effectively leverage sensor technology, capture crowdsourced reporting, and mine the collective data.
Despite persistent snickering, anytime the topic of UFOs is broached, NASA has managed to convene a committee of respected high-ranking representatives from the DoD, FAA, and academic institutions for an ongoing UAP study.
The Pentagon’s commitment has evolved from the small Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification (AATIP) program into the robust All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Private industry is rising to the occasion with rapid innovation and agile solutions.
Alex Dietrich in the early 2000s in service with Strike Fighter Squadron 41 (VFA-41) also known as the “Black Aces”
(Credit: Alex Dietrich).
Enigma Labs is on the leading edge with a mechanism to systematically capture and analyze reporting at scale.
Congress has also made an impressive bipartisan push on the issue, with Senators Gillibrand (D-NY), Rubio (R-FL), Warner (D-VA), Graham (R-SC), Heinrich (D-NM), Blunt (R-MO), and Representative Gallagher (R-WI) speaking out to break the taboo and push agencies to cooperate and take UAP seriously.
The partnership between multiple objective parties, systematic data collection, and careful analytical methods will move us toward reporting and listening, away from ridicule and stigma. We can move the needle away from the unknown and toward the known.
Be vigilant. Stay curious. Look up. We have barely tasted the sky.
Lieutenant Commander Alex Dietrich (Ret.) served as one of the nation’s first female strike-fighter aviators as a F/A-18 pilot from 2001-2020. She logged more than 1,250 flight hours, 375 carrier-arrested landings, and was awarded a Combat Air Medal for 206 combat missions flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). She was also awarded a Bronze Star medal for a boots-on-ground deployment to Afghanistan in 2010. She has since taught leadership, ethics, and critical thinking at the George Washington University, U.S. Naval Academy, and now serves on the faculty of the University of Colorado School of Engineering in Boulder. Dietrich is an advocate for Legacy Flight Academy, a foundation that promotes diversity in aviation, and Wings for Val, supporting women in aviation.
White spherical UFO shut down airport in Manipur India
White spherical UFO shut down airport in Manipur India
A spherical, white unidentified flying object (UFO) recently led to the temporary shutdown of an airport in Manipur, India. According to reliable sources, the UFO was first spotted by the pilot of an Indigo flight scheduled for departure at approximately 2:20 pm. In response to this sighting, all flight operations were promptly suspended, and normal activities only resumed around 6 pm. The mysterious UFO remained visible until approximately 4 pm.
Bhaskar Salam, a passenger on the affected flight, recounted the confusion and uncertainty surrounding the situation. He expressed that he was unaware of the circumstances and was informed that the flight couldn't take off due to an unidentified object hovering in the sky. Flight operator officials, however, remained uncertain about the nature of the object.
Imphal West Superintendent of Police, Ksh Shivakanta Singh, shed light on the perplexing incident, stating that the object lingered in the sky for several hours, before disappearing without a trace. The mysterious nature of the UFO has left both authorities and witnesses puzzled, with no conclusive explanation for its presence or sudden disappearance.
Crashed Ship On Mars With Pilot Sitting Near It, Nov 19, 2023, UFO Sighting News. Date of discovery: Nov 19, 2023 Location of discovery: Mars New source: http://gigapan.com/gigapans/233826 I was going through this Mars Gigapan photo and noticed so
Crashed Ship On Mars With Pilot Sitting Near It, Nov 19, 2023, UFO Sighting News.
I was going through this Mars Gigapan photo and noticed some really odd object that just jumped out at me. These things really scream out "created by intelligent life." The most interesting of them all were both a ship and a sitting pilot near the craft. The ship had balanced sides and it has a rectangle open door at its back. The pilot is sitting down, knowing he was about to die, looked off into the distance where his loved ones were, maybe a planet far away or maybe just far off on Mars. The pilot has a suit on, and his helmet is open where the visor would be.
I also found some other objects, giant heads, long structures, a crushed disk, and a hollow caved in orb. I can only dream what I could accomplish if NASA gave me control of the rover for a month.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
Credo Mutwa’s Alien Encounters in African Lore
Credo Mutwa’s Alien Encounters in African Lore
In the realm of extraterrestrial encounters and ancient folklore, few figures stand out as vividly as Credo Mutwa, a South African Zulu shaman. His accounts, deeply rooted in African culture and laced with the enigma of alien contact, present a fascinating tapestry of interstellar narratives.
The Mantidines: An Enigmatic Presence
Central to Mutwa’s experiences are the Mantidines, beings that merge the features of Greys and Mantis-like creatures. These entities are not just visually striking, with their black eyes and snake-like irises, but also carry a unique, unforgettable odor. Mutwa’s description paints a vivid image of beings that are as mysterious as they are intimidating. Their name, derived from a word meaning to mistreat and abuse, hints at their ominous nature, especially in their interactions with human beings.
Chitauri: The Underground Reptilians
The Chitauri, described as intelligent, aggressive reptilian beings, add a darker hue to Mutwa’s alien tapestry. Residing in subterranean realms, these creatures are tied to rituals of human sacrifice and blood-drinking, echoing ancient human fears of the underworld. The Chitauri’s characteristics resonate with global myths of lizard-like entities, suggesting a universal archetype embedded in human consciousness.
Wasungu: The Pre-European Visitors
The Wasungu, described as white-skinned aliens arriving in boomerang-shaped spacecraft, challenge conventional history. According to Mutwa, their presence in Africa predates European exploration, hinting at a forgotten epoch of alien-human interaction on the African continent. This narrative invites us to ponder the possibility of ancient, advanced civilizations and their extraterrestrial connections.
A Future Connection
Perhaps most intriguing is Mutwa’s theory that these aliens, especially the Mantidines, originate from our future rather than outer space. This hypothesis posits that their intimate interactions with humans, such as the capability to impregnate Earth women, signify a connection that transcends extraterrestrial origins. Mutwa suggests these beings are our descendants, embittered by the legacy of our actions, and seeking retribution for our future transgressions.
VIDEO:
Credo Mutwa On Alien Secrets
Credo Mutwa’s stories blend traditional African folklore with the mysterious realm of alien encounters. They serve not just as a record of extraterrestrial contact but also as a mirror reflecting our fears, hopes, and the timeless quest for understanding our place in the cosmos. His narratives challenge us to look beyond the stars and within ourselves, exploring the depths of human experience and its potential connection to the vast universe.
India: UFO Alert at Imphal Airport: Mysterious Object in the Sky Halts Flights and Sparks Intrigue!
India: UFO Alert at Imphal Airport: Mysterious Object in the Sky Halts Flights and Sparks Intrigue!
The Unfolding of a Mystery in the Skies of Imphal
On a seemingly ordinary Sunday, the skies of Imphal, Manipur, bore witness to an extraordinary event. The Bir Tikendrajit International Airport became the epicenter of intrigue and curiosity as it experienced what many might call a scene from a sci-fi movie: a UFO sighting.
The Sight that Halted Flights
It was around 2:30 PM, a time typically bustling with the day-to-day activities of an airport. However, the routine was abruptly disrupted when an unidentified flying object was spotted hovering above the airport. This sighting was not a fleeting glimpse; the UFO remained visible, intriguing and mystifying onlookers, until around 4 PM.
A Coordinated Response
The response to this unprecedented event was swift and systematic. The Indian Air Force (IAF) was promptly alerted, and they activated their air defense mechanisms, a testament to the seriousness with which such sightings are regarded. The airport’s airspace was temporarily sealed off, and flight operations were suspended, affecting hundreds of passengers. The aerial anomaly prompted the diversion of incoming flights and the delay of departures, as safety and security took precedence.
The Human Side of the UFO Encounter
Beyond the mechanics of the airport’s operations and the strategic responses, there lies the human element. Passengers, some en route to destinations like Guwahati and Kolkata, found themselves part of an unexpected adventure. Their accounts provide a personal touch to the incident, transforming it from a mere news item into a shared human experience.
The Quest for Understanding
As with most UFO sightings, the incident at Imphal Airport sparked a flurry of questions. What was this unidentified object? Why did it appear, and where did it go? The Directorate General of Civil Aviation, in collaboration with the IAF, launched an investigation, delving into the mystery that had unfolded in the skies.
A Global Phenomenon in a Local Context
UFO sightings have always captured the human imagination, transcending geographical boundaries. From the famous Roswell incident to the numerous sightings reported worldwide, these mysterious occurrences continue to fascinate and perplex us. The Imphal incident adds to this global tapestry of unexplained aerial phenomena.
VIDEO:
The UFO sighting in Imphal is more than an isolated event; it’s a reminder of the vast, uncharted territories of our knowledge. As we continue to gaze at the skies with wonder and curiosity, such incidents serve as a nudge to the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding. The skies of Imphal may have returned to normalcy, but the questions remain, fueling our quest for answers in the endless expanse above.
Bizarre aerial objects are usually considered an American phenomena, but new imagery shows two over the north of England. A 'concerned citizen', who wishes not to be named, has described sightings of the unidentified flying objects ( UFOs ) from her back garden in Stockport.
The first, described as looking like a square or triangle, had a hazy appearance and was changing shape and 'darting around the sky'. Meanwhile, the second object – a much brighter white in colour and 'shaped like a Tic Tac' – kept vanishing and reappearing.
One of the most famous and unusual UFOs to date, spotted by the US Navy in 2004, was the floaty white oblong similar to the breath mint. 'The triangular one was so strange, it looked like it was made of metal with a dark hole in the centre,' the citizen told MailOnline. 'The Tic Tac one was cool too, it kept getting brighter then disappearing and coming back.'
The two 'questionable' objects, which were sighted by the resident over separate nights in the first week of October, left her feeling 'concerned'. Nick Pope, a UFO expert formerly with the UK's Ministry of Defence, said the images and the story behind them are 'fascinating' but couldn't identify the aerial entities. 'It's not possible to discern much about this sighting from the photos alone,' Pope told MailOnline. 'Any mention of a Tic Tac-shaped object performing unusual manoeuvres is particularly intriguing given the US Navy sightings of such objects.'
Another British UFO researcher, Philip Mantle, said they could be 'conventional' objects such as drones or something else fairly explainable. 'One thing that is cropping up a lot of late are lights from the ground, usually an outdoor attraction of some kind,' he told MailOnline. 'These huge spot lights reflect off the low cloud. 'They look different when viewed from different angles and can look very spectacular. I've looked at lots of alleged UFO photos down the years and most turn out to be something conventional. I see no reason why these photos should not be something conventional but they are such poor quality.'
According to the Defence and Security Media Advisory (DSMA) Committee, the matter falls under the remit of UK Space Command, who MailOnline has contacted for comment. UFO stands for 'unidentified flying object' and so the term doesn't necessarily describe an object with an extraterrestrial origin.
A recent Pentagon document revealed the typical UFO has a round shape, usually described as spherical or an orb, with a white or silver colour, often translucent.
Based on what we know from reported sightings between 1996 and 2023, other UFO shapes include rectangle, oval, triangle, disk, cylinder, square and even polygon.
Meanwhile, 16 per cent have been described as having lights, although in many cases this may have been due to their reflective qualities. The Pentagon has also released a hotspot map that reveals the location of reported UFO sightings, including Japan and the Middle East. Read the full story:
The universe, in its vast expanse, holds mysteries that have long captivated human imagination. One such enigma revolves around the existence of extraterrestrial life and Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs). The Joe Rogan Experience, a platform known for delving into a plethora of topics, has not shied away from exploring this fascinating subject. The podcast has hosted a diverse range of discussions, weaving a tapestry of theories and anecdotes that spark curiosity and debate.
The Historical Context of UFO Sightings
The phenomenon of UFO sightings is not a recent development. Historical accounts, such as the remarkable sighting post the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, suggest that such occurrences have been intertwined with pivotal moments in human history. This correlation posits a theory that nuclear advancements on Earth might have piqued extraterrestrial interest, leading to increased UFO activity. It raises the question: Are we under cosmic surveillance?
The Science and Skepticism
Prominent figures like Neil deGrasse Tyson bring a scientific skepticism to the UFO discourse. Tyson’s perspective, rooted in the need for empirical evidence, challenges enthusiasts to differentiate between the unexplained and the unexplainable. His approach underlines the importance of substantiating extraordinary claims with extraordinary evidence. Yet, this skepticism does not negate the possibility of alien life but rather calls for a rigorous scientific method in its pursuit.
The Government and Secret Knowledge
The possibility that governments might possess secret knowledge about extraterrestrial beings adds a layer of intrigue to the UFO narrative. The discussions on the podcast touch upon the alleged governmental programs dedicated to UFO research and the potential of advanced technology derived from extraterrestrial sources. This shadowy aspect brings forth questions about the ethics and implications of withholding such profound information from the public.
Personal Encounters and Theories
Personal accounts and theories add a human dimension to the UFO conversation. From Jackie Gleason’s rumored UFO house inspired by an alleged encounter, to Bob Lazar‘s controversial claims about Area 51, these stories blend the lines between personal experience and folklore. They serve as a reminder of the profound impact that the prospect of alien contact can have on the human psyche.
The Cultural Impact
The cultural impact of the UFO phenomenon is undeniable. From influencing pop culture to shaping public opinion, the idea of extraterrestrial visitors has left an indelible mark on human culture. It reflects our innate desire to explore the unknown and the existential quest to understand our place in the cosmos.
VIDEO:
18 Craziest Alien Theories In Joe Rogan History
The Joe Rogan Experience, through its eclectic mix of guests and topics, has contributed significantly to the ongoing dialogue about UFOs and extraterrestrial life. While the truth about these phenomena remains elusive, the discussions highlight the human yearning to explore the unknown and the importance of approaching such profound questions with an open mind and a scientific temperament. As we gaze into the night sky, the mysteries of the universe continue to captivate and inspire, reminding us that we are part of a much larger, more mysterious cosmos.
Which Presidents Have Seen UFOs? Yep, It’s More Than One.
Which Presidents Have Seen UFOs? Yep, It’s More Than One.
A wild history of Oval Office obsession with the biggest conspiracy theory of the modern era.
By GARRETT M. GRAFF
Early in Ronald Reagan’s second term, he asked his Soviet counterpart a seemingly off-the-wall question. Ostensibly, he and Mikhail Gorbachev had come to Lake Geneva for an arms control summit. But on a private walk around the lake, Reagan turned to his Cold War enemy and said:
‘What would you do if the United States were suddenly attacked by someone from outer space? Would you help us?’” Gorbachev later recounted. “I said, ‘No doubt about it.’ He said, ‘We too.’ So that’s interesting.”
To the U.S. president, the question was an opportunity to recognize a shared desire to protect humanity on Earth, a species that might very well succumb to the horrors of nuclear war. But his reference to aliens as a possible shared enemy wasn’t as random as it might sound. Reagan was a lifelong fan of science fiction and he’d had an encounter with a UFO while riding in plane in the 1970s.
Reagan, it turns out, wasn’t the only president who has had a more than passing interest in the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
For the past half-century, almost every president has come to office pledging — publicly or privately — to get to the bottom of UFOs. Ever since the modern UFO age began during Harry Truman’s administration, presidents have nosed around hoping to find the truth. In 1947 and 1948, waves of “flying saucer” sightings captured the public imagination — the Pentagon feared they represented not aliens but secret Soviet spacecraft built by kidnapped Nazi rocket scientists — and as the sightings increased month and month, Truman’s own interest piqued. One afternoon in 1948, Truman summoned his military aide, Col. Robert Landry to the Oval Office and “talked about UFO reports and what might be the meaning for all these rather way-out reports of sightings, and the subject in general,” Landry recalled. “All manner of objects and things were being seen in the sky by people.”
Truman told Landry that he hadn’t given much serious thought to the reports, but was worried about the possibility of new and underestimated threats. “If there was any evidence of a strategic threat to the national security,” the president said, “the collection and evaluation of UFO data by Central Intelligence warranted more intense study and attention at the highest government level.” Moving forward, he wanted a quarterly oral report from Landry and the Air Force on whether any of the UFO sightings presented any real danger. Over the rest of Truman’s presidency, Landry regularly provided the briefings, but as he later recalled in an oral history, “Nothing of substance considered credible or threatening to the country was ever received from intelligence.” But the sightings never fully went away and solid explanations never materialized. Truman himself eavesdropped on Landry as he phone-banked Air Force officers in an unsuccessful search of answers to a wave of UFO sightings over the capital region in 1952.
The problem — and puzzle — of UFOs would continue to confound many of Truman’s successors, right up to modern times. As the 42nd president of the United States, Bill Clinton’s framed portrait hung in nearly every government office across the country — and at least one imaginary one in Hollywood: the office of FBI Assistant Director Walter Skinner, the fictional boss of special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully, the protagonists of The X-Files. As millions tuned in every Friday night on Fox to watch the criminal profiler Mulder and medical doctor Scully work to uncover the truth about extraterrestrials, circling ever closer to an alien invasion, Clinton’s very real administration also found itself repeatedly considering the possibility of life “out there.”
Like his Oval Office predecessors, the former Arkansas governor had expressed interest in aliens as soon as he had taken the oath of office. When Webb Hubbell, Clinton’s longtime friend, started as the associate attorney general, Clinton gave him specific marching orders: “Webb, if I put you over at Justice, I want you to find the answers to two questions for me. One, who killed JFK? And two, are there UFOs?” (“He was dead serious,” Hubbell later wrote in his memoir. “I had looked into both, but wasn’t satisfied with the answers I was getting.”)
As the years passed, Clinton’s interest in UFOs — and, specifically, the idea that the government wasn’t leveling with the American people about what it knew — never seemed far from his mind. Responding to a question from a child named Ryan during a 1995 trip to Ireland, he said, “No, as far as I know, an alien spacecraft did not crash in Roswell, New Mexico, in 1947,” and then quipped, “and Ryan, if the United States Air Force did recover alien bodies, they didn’t tell me about it, either, and I want to know.”
Yet despite such consistent presidential curiosity and interest across generations and the 80-year history of modern UFOs, only once have two UFO-spotting presidential believers run against each other — that would be Reagan and Jimmy Carter in 1980 — and only once has a president’s interest in UFOs helped to change the course of world geopolitics. Having established some unlikely common ground with Gorbachev during their lakeside stroll, Reagan was able to negotiate nuclear arms reduction treaties that significantly altered an arms race that threatened humanity.
‘It was obviously there, and obviously unidentified’
Jimmy Carter spotted his UFO while waiting for a Lions Club event to start on Jan. 6, 1969. The Lions Club was one of the most important networks of Carter’s life — he’d followed his father into the service group and risen in its ranks by 1969 to be a district governor, in charge of about 56 clubs in southwestern Georgia, a network that provided him important visibility as a rising politician and one that he’d credit later for stoking his ambition to run for governor in the first place.
That January night it was about 7:15 p.m., just after dark on what weather records would describe as a clear, cold night, and he was standing outside a little one-story restaurant in Leary, Ga., a town of less than a thousand residents, with a group of about a dozen other men waiting for their meeting to start at 7:30 when a bright approaching light attracted their attention.
One of Carter’s club colleagues pointed to the horizon, “Look, over in the west!” The men watched a bright light appear to come toward them and then move rapidly away. “It was about 30 degrees above the horizon and looked about as large as the moon. It got smaller and changed to a reddish color and then got larger again,” Carter recalled. At various times, the luminous object appeared more blue, other times more reddish. He estimated the object was perhaps 300 to 1,000 yards away, set against the star-filled night sky, and the group watched it for about 10 to 12 minutes before it seemed to move away and disappear for good. Carter had a tape recorder that night and, as he explained later, captured some of his colleagues’ memories of the incident immediately.
Some four years later, Carter, then Georgia governor and set to run for the presidency, documented his UFO sighting. Hayden Hewes, the director of the ambitiously named International UFO Bureau, had heard that Carter had seen something suspicious and sent him the group’s standard questionnaire at the state capitol in Atlanta. Carter dutifully filled out the details, noting his previous military service in the U.S. Navy and his training in nuclear physics. He was no crackpot — and it was technically a UFO, albeit he believed not likely to be an alien spacecraft. Carter speculated that the UFO “was probably an electronic occurrence of some sort,” but the governor told Atlanta Constitution reporter Howell Raines, “it was obviously there, and obviously unidentified.”
In the 1970s, many wrote off Carter’s sighting as confusion over the appearance of the particularly bright planet Venus in the night sky — a standard phenomenon that accounts for a large percentage of UFO sightings — but to more trained observers, it seemed unlikely that the Naval Academy-trained Carter, who would have known celestial navigation through and through, would be confused by a planet. The mystery persisted: What had he seen?
It wasn’t until 2016 that a researcher finally solved Carter’s sighting and proved him correct — in fact, he was only off by a few minutes and the sighting would have appeared at the almost precise location in the sky he’d recorded. That year, former Air Force scientist Jere Justus read Carter’s description and knew almost instantly what the future president had seen: a high-altitude rocket-released barium cloud.
Justus had worked in the 1960s on Air Force and NASA atmospheric studies that involved releasing clouds of barium to study winds in the upper atmosphere. At twilight and just after dark, the particle clouds can give off a green or blue glow as the barium becomes electrically charged in the atmosphere. As Justus dug into the records, he found that just such an experiment had been launched from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida’s Panhandle at 6:41 p.m., with the rocket rising into the sky and releasing three different clouds of barium at various heights, through about 7:09 p.m. The clouds — rising and growing rapidly in brightness — would have been visible from Leary about 150 miles away.
“The rapid growth in apparent cloud size and brightness, followed by the subsequent diminishment in both size and brightness, could easily be interpreted by an observer as an ‘object’ first approaching and then receding,” Justus wrote.
He knew from his own experience how to someone unfamiliar with the characteristics of a barium cloud, the rocket launches could appear to be objects moving closer and further away in the dark — and could even appear as almost nearby despite being a hundred kilometers up in the sky. Justus recalled an incident from one of his own experimental launches in the early 1960s: “An Atlanta woman saw a sodium vapor trail, launched one evening from Eglin AFB, about 600 km distant. She viewed the cloud through the bare branches of a deciduous tree, then called a local Atlanta TV station to report that a “UFO had landed in a tree at the end of her street’!”
Carter, as it turns out, might be the only president to run twice against fellow UFO viewers. He was the Democratic presidential nominee against two Republican challengers — incumbent Gerald Ford in 1976 and then California Gov. Ronald Reagan in 1980 — and both men had had their own experiences with UFOs. Ford led a congressional investigation into strange sightings in his home state of Michigan in the 1960s, and Reagan had encountered a UFO while flying in a Cessna Citation near Bakersfield, Calif., in 1974.
Reagan’s pilot that night, Bill Paynter, later recounted noticing a strange object several hundred yards behind their plane. “It was a fairly steady light until it began to accelerate. Then it appeared to elongate. Then the light took off. It went up at a 45-degree angle at a high rate of speed. Everyone on the plane was surprised,” he said. “The UFO went from a normal cruise speed to a fantastic speed instantly. If you give an airplane power, it will accelerate — but not like a hot rod, and that’s what this was like.”
Reagan was wowed: “It went straight up into the heavens.”
As Carter campaigned in ’76 against Ford, he promised he would open up the nation’s UFO secrets. “One thing’s for sure, I’ll never make fun of people who say they’ve seen unidentified objects in the sky,” he pledged in his original presidential campaign. “If I become president, I’ll make every piece of information this country has about UFO sightings available to the public and the scientists.”
But, once in the Oval Office, Carter never followed up on his pledge. Whatever the government was hiding would stay hidden.
‘Here come the little green men again’
Four years later, when Reagan defeated Carter, his presidency ended up being fundamentally shaped by the intersection of UFOs and American culture. For much of his life, Reagan had been fascinated by science fiction and dramas of the skies, seeing the stories not so much as fiction but as a road map to the outer bounds of human imagination and future utopias. He loved the drama and mystery of the Kennedy-era space race, and the novels of Edgar Rice Burroughs about a Martian warlord named John Carter. His service in World War II had brought him into the motion picture unit of the Army Air Forces, and later as an actor, he’d starred in countless films focused on military operations, as well a couple of science fiction-oriented productions, including Murder in the Air, in which he played a government agent who is asked to impersonate a dead spy in order to destroy a U.S. Navy dirigible and stop a death ray.
Now, upon his election to the presidency in 1981, he had pulled together a space advisory council that included leading sci-fi writers, a team he’d kept in place even after the presidential transition was complete, and governed through anecdotes and experiences from movies. He had long loved the message of the 1951 invasion movie The Day the Earth Stood Still, that the nations of the world could set aside their difference and unite against a common foe. In the heady postwar era, he’d even joined the United World Federalists, a North Carolina-based utopian group that advocated for a single peaceful global government.
Such feelings of hope and optimism were sorely needed, as the Soviet Union appeared to be on the downslide, and fears of a nuclear war caused out of desperation persisted. Despite a hawkish first few years in office, Reagan had quickly intuited that in the nuclear age, as Armageddon loomed, the heroes were no longer the warriors — the heroes were the peacemakers. The Cold War, he realized, was like a Western — two quick-draw gunslingers facing off at high noon, but he knew that both would fall in any shoot-out. There would be no hero left standing once the ICBMs launched. Peace, instead, was the heroic option. And he wanted very much to be the hero on the global stage, just as he’d long been on screen. In 1983, influenced in part by his emotional reaction to a TV movie called The Day After that depicted the fallout of a nuclear Armageddon in graphic visuals, the president began a campaign for a new missile defense system called the Strategic Defense Initiative that was quickly nicknamed, pejoratively, “Star Wars.”
Reagan would also use the analogy about an alien attack in a speech to the United Nations, saying, “Perhaps we need some outside, universal threat to make us recognize this common bond. I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world. And yet, I ask you, is not an alien force already among us? What could be more alien to the universal aspirations of our peoples than war and the threat of war?” (Reagan’s frequent references to the alien invasions did not sit well with all his staff. According to Reagan biographer Lou Cannon, National Security Advisor Colin Powell “would roll his eyes and say to his staff, ‘Here come the little green men again.’”)
For Reagan, that stretching of the imagination — the intersection in a thought experiment of UFOs, Hollywood, and geopolitics — was just the nudge he needed to help push the Cold War toward a conclusion and the world toward a safer path.
‘We don’t know exactly what they are’
In the years since Reagan, his successors have continued to wonder what, if anything, is up there in the sky.
Most recently, in 2021, former President Barack Obama spoke about the mystery — what the government by then called UAPs, unidentified anomalous phenomenon — telling late night host James Corden, “When I came into office, I was like ‘All right, is there the lab somewhere where we’re keeping the alien specimens and spaceship?’ And you know, they did a little bit of research and the answer was ‘no.’ But what is true — and I’m actually being serious here — is that there’s footage and records of objects in the skies that we don’t know exactly what they are. We can’t explain how they moved, their trajectory. They did not have an easily explainable pattern.”
It was a remarkable statement and one that hinted at how long-standing — and real — the mystery of UFOs was, even to commanders in chief who, presumably, would have had access to answers if there were ones.
Misschien is dit verhaal voor de meeste mensen onbekend, maar het heeft gedurende tientallen jaren grote belangstelling gewekt bij ufo-experts en -toeschouwers.
Het echtpaar beweert dat ze in de nacht van 19 september 1961 een verblindend licht zagen terwijl ze over Route 3 naar huis reden. Ze dachten aanvankelijk dat het een vallende ster was.
Het echtpaar reed in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Nadat ze de auto hadden stilgezet en een verrekijker hadden gepakt om het vreemde object (dat geen vallende ster was) nader te bekijken, besloten Betty en Barney Hill weer op de weg te gaan. Het ruimteschip raasde achter hen aan en kwam steeds dichterbij.
Het echtpaar herinnerde zich dat ze door de ramen ongeveer tien mensachtige figuren zagen. Barney Hill beweert dat deze wezens door middel van telepathie met hen communiceerden.
De gebeurtenis vond plaats toen het vermeende ruimteschip in de buurt van de auto neerkwam. Bij het zien van de wezens herinnert Barney Hill zich dat hij in angst terug naar het voertuig rende en schreeuwde dat ze hen wilden vangen.
Terug in de auto startte Barney de motor weer en probeerde weg te rijden. Het echtpaar vertelt dat ze op dat moment een vreemde reeks ritmische piepgeluiden hoorde.
Eenmaal thuis bekroop hen echter een vreemd gevoel en merkten ze ongewone dingen op: kleine scheurtjes in Betty's jurk, een scheur in de riem van Barney's verrekijker en gaten in zijn schoen.
Het raarste wat ze merkten was dat ze een hiaat hadden in de rit naar huis. Ze herinnerden zich niets meer van een stuk van ongeveer 56 km van de reis direct na de ontmoeting. De herinnering aan wat ze gezien hadden was zo gefragmenteerd dat ze niet konden samenvoegen wat er gebeurd was.
Twee jaar na deze gebeurtenis ging het echtpaar naar een therapeut die regressieve hypnotherapie uitvoerde om hen te helpen zich de gebeurtenissen van die nacht te herinneren. Inmiddels hadden ze ingezien dat ongeveer twee uur uit hun geheugen was verdwenen.
Na veel regressieve hypnosesessies konden Betty en Barney Hill reconstrueren wat er gebeurd was. Ondanks dat ze tijdens de sessies gescheiden waren, kwamen hun versies van de gebeurtenissen aardig overeen.
In de aftiteling van de films beweert de regisseur dat het verhaal gebaseerd is op een reeks archiefstukken van de Amerikaanse luchtmacht. De Hills hadden zich onmiddellijk na het incident tot de autoriteiten gewend.
Onder hypnose vertelden Betty en Barney Hill hun therapeut dat de aliens hen hadden ontvoerd. Ze werden meegenomen naar hun ruimteschip en onderworpen aan proeven en experimenten.
Volgens de Hills namen de tweevoetige aliens met grijze huid en uitpuilende ogen haar- en weefselmonsters van verschillende lichaamsdelen met gereedschap dat leek op spuiten.
Betty en Barney Hill herinnerden zich dat de aliens hen, nadat ze verschillende monsters hadden verzameld, vrijlieten, waarna hun bewuste geheugen werd uitgewist.
Betty Hill slaagde er ook in een sterrenkaart te reconstrueren die de herkomst van de aliensaangaf. Uit deze reconstructie concludeerden deskundigen dat het ging om sterrensysteem Zeta Reticuli in het zuidelijke sterrenbeeld Raster, 39,2 lichtjaar van de aarde.
De zaak Hill was een van de eerste gevallen van gedocumenteerde ufo-waarnemingen. De archieven van de New Hampshire University bewaren nog steeds alle documenten en geluidsopnamen die tijdens de hypnosesessies en interviews zijn gemaakt.
In de laatste aflevering van een docuserie over de gebeurtenissen onthulde de therapeut die het stel behandelde zijn visie. Hij concludeerde dat hun vermeende ontmoeting met aliens te maken had met de vermeende sociale druk die ze ervaarden als interraciaal koppel, iets wat in een tijd slecht werd gedragen. De show, genaamd 'Ufo', werd in 2021 uitgezonden door streamingdienst 'Showtime,' zoals gemeld door sify.com.
Dezelfde therapeut beweert dat hij zes maanden later van gedachten veranderde en concludeerde dat het echtpaar de waarheid sprak, zoals uit een fragment van de docuserie blijkt.
'Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience'
Barney Hill overleed in 1969, slechts acht jaar na het incident, maar zijn vrouw Betty overleed pas in 2004. Haar leven lang heeft ze uitgebreid gevochten om hun verhaal en het bestaan van aliens te bewijzen. Haar nicht, Kathleen Marden, schreef in 2007 een boek over haar tante: 'Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience'.
Of het waar is of niet, één ding is zeker: het verhaal van Barnie en Betty Hill blijft een mijlpaal voor de ufologische gemeenschap en een van de fascinerendste verhalen over waarnemingen van aliens.
Het universum verbergt veel mysteries. Een daarvan is of er intelligent leven aanwezig. Het volgende verhaal suggereert dat dit inderdaad het geval is en onthult daarnaast dingen die nog angstaanjagender zijn.
Volgens het boek 'The Expanding Case for the UFO' van Morris K. Jessup (een aan de University of Michigan opgeleide astronoom) heeft de Amerikaanse marine een experiment uitgevoerd dat bekend zou worden als het 'Philadelphia Experiment'.
Vermeend getuige van het incident was marinier Carl Allen. Hij beweerde eveneens te hebben gezien dat enkele bemanningsleden dood waren, versmolten met de scheepsromp.
Volgens zijn unificatietheorie ('theorie van alles'), zou een elektromagnetisch apparaat hiervoor verantwoordelijk kunnen zijn. De VS wilde oceaan kunnen oversteken zonder dat het door de vijandelijke schepen waargenomen zou worden.
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Onzichtbaar
Volgens het History Channel, zou Einstein een experiment hebben ontwikkeld waarbij een sterk elektromagnetisch veld werd geïnstalleerd op het schip dat het 'onzichtbaar' zou maken voor radars en mijnen. Maar beweerd wordt dat het experiment een heel ander effect had.
De film 'The Philadelphia Experiment' is gebaseerd op het verhaal en werd uitgebracht in 1984. Jaren later zou de film opnieuw voor controverse zorgen.
Alfred Bielek kwam met nieuwe getuigenverklaringen en claimde dat de film hem zijn ervaringen tijdens het experiment opnieuw deed beleven. Volgens hem werden ze niet alleen naar een andere plek geteleporteerd, maar hebben ze ook door de tijd gereisd.
Door de ophoping van zoveel energie zou er volgens Bielek een doorgangsportaal in de ruimte zijn ontstaan door welke UFO's naar onze planeet zouden kunnen komen.
Alfred Bielek ging zelfs verder en zei dat de Amerikaanse marine hier niet alleen weet van had, maar dat het eveneens een buitenaards wezen gevangen had weten te nemen.
Zij die niet in deze samenzweringstheorie geloven wijzen op objectieve feiten die het weerspreken. Voor hen die er wel in geloven, zijn de antwoorden op het marineschip zelf te vinden.
Volgens de verslagen is er geen buitengewone activiteit waargenomen en er is ook geen document dat kan bevestigen dat het schip in Norfolk is aangemeerd.
Het vliegtuig Natilus Kona, met een gemengde vleugel en momenteel uitgebreide tests in Californië, zal een versie hebben met nul koolstofemissie dankzij een samenwerking met het bedrijf Zeroavia.
Het is gepland dat de demonstrator Kona de grootste commerciële drone ter wereld zal worden. Met een spanwijdte van 26 meter wordt verwacht dat hij al in 2024 zal vliegen.
Als op afstand bediende vrachtdrone is hij ontworpen om te opereren op landingsbanen van maximaal 800 meter lang en zal hij in staat zijn om 3,8 ton aan nuttige lading over een afstand van maximaal 1.667 km in één vlucht te vervoeren wanneer hij wordt bediend met conventionele verbrandingsmotoren.
Tweede testvlucht van Starship is een succes (al is de grootste raket ter wereld wel ontploft)
Tweede testvlucht van Starship is een succes (al is de grootste raket ter wereld wel ontploft)
Artikel van Michaël Torfs
Starship is de grootste raket ter wereld. Ze maakt deel uit van het commerciële ruimteprogramma SpaceX van de Amerikaanse ondernemer Elon Musk. De raket bestaat uit twee delen: een stuwraket, Super Heavy genaamd, en het eigenlijke ruimteschip. De volledige tweetrapsraket is zowat 120 meter hoog.
In april was al een eerste lanceerpoging gedaan. Dat was deels een succes, omdat de raket effectief kon opstijgen. Maar net op het moment dat de draagraket zich zou loskoppelen, ontplofte alles. Het doel was om dit keer beter te doen en dat is ook gelukt.
De lancering zelf verliep goed vandaag. Alle 33 motoren van Super Heavy werkten zoals gepland. Met succes ging de raket recht omhoog de ruimte in, met gejuich in het ruimtestation Starbase in Boca Chica (zuid-Texas) tot gevolg.
Ook de afsplitsing van Super Heavy lukte, al ontplofte Super Heavy kort daarna. Een ramp was dat niet, want Super Heavy zou sowieso gecontroleerd neerstorten. Belangrijker was dat Starship zelf bleef doorvliegen, en dat alle zes stuwmotoren bleven werken.
So far, so good. Maar dan gebeurde het
Alles ging goed, maar enkele minuten later raakte het contact met Starship onderbroken. Er volgde een lange radiostilte, ook op de live uitzending. Uiteindelijk bleek dat de Starship ontploft was, na een achttal minuten vlucht. Starship bevond zich toen op 148 kilometer hoogte en kliefde door de ruimte met 24.000 kilometer per uur.
De ontploffing gebeurde net voor het moment dat de motoren zouden uitvallen - Starship zou dan voldoende gelanceerd zijn om zonder stuwkracht het traject verder af te leggen. "We hebben contact verloren met de tweede trap", vertelde commentator John Insprucker op de livestream. "En we denken dat we de tweede trap (het ruimteschip Starship, red.) hebben verloren."
Het plan was om bijna volledig rond de aarde te vliegen tijdens een anderhalf uur durende vlucht. Starship had, als alles was gelukt, gecontroleerd moeten neerstorten voor de kust van Hawaï. Dat alles lukte dus niet. Maar omdat de vlucht het dit keer toch een heel stuk langer uithield dan in april, wordt het beschouwd als een volgende succesvolle stap.
Een tijdlang was het ruimteschip zelfstandig op weg door de ruimte.
Elon Musk zelf feliciteerde zijn team na de "opwindende" tweede vlucht. Hij onderstreepte dat alle 33 Raptor-motoren van Super Heavy op de afspraak waren, en dat de loskoppeling is gelukt.
"Bij een test als deze heeft succes te maken met wat je eruit leert. De test van vandaag zal ons helpen om de betrouwbaarheid van Starship te verhogen met het oog op de toekomst en de interplanetaire plannen", liet SpaceX nog weten.
Maar ook Bill Nelson, de baas van de Amerikaanse ruimtevaartorganisatie NASA, had lof in petto. Hij feliciteerde de SpaceX-ploeg voor de "vooruitgang" die vandaag is geboekt. "Ruimtevaart is een straf avontuur waarbij je de juiste instelling moet hebben - dingen gewoon doen en durven vernieuwen. Vandaag is een kans om te leren - en dan opnieuw te vliegen."
Maanprogramma
Starship moet een belangrijke rol gaan spelen in de plannen om weer mensen op de maan te krijgen. De raket brengt daarbij een maanlander in een baan om de maan, waarin astronauten dan kunnen overstappen om uiteindelijk voet op de maan te zetten.
Starship moet later, in samenwerking met de NASA, ook vracht vervoeren richting de maan. In een latere fase moet Starship ook een rol gaan spelen in het reizen naar Mars.
Starship stijgt op op de lanceerbasis Boca Chica in het zuiden van Texas.
We’re Entering a New Age When Spacecraft Communicate With Lasers
In October 2023, NASA launched its long-awaited on-again, off-again Psyche mission. The spacecraft is on its way to study the metal-rich asteroid 16-Psyche, an M-type asteroid that could be the remnant core of a planetesimal that suffered a collision long ago. But understanding the giant, metal-rich asteroid isn’t the Psyche mission’s only goal.
It’s also testing a new laser communication technology.
The new system is called Deep Space Optical Communications (DSOC.) DSOC uses infrared lasers to communicate between spacecraft and ground stations. In this first experiment, the Psyche spacecraft communicated with the Hale Telescope at Caltech’s Palomar Observatory in San Diego County, California. Psyche was beyond the Moon when it communicated, and the distance between the spacecraft and the Hale Telescope was nearly 16 million km (10 million miles.)
The successful test took place on November 14th, and during the test, data was transmitted and received by both the spacecraft and the ground station, a phenomenon called “closing the link.” The successful test is the DSOC’s ‘first light.’
“Achieving first light is one of many critical DSOC milestones in the coming months, paving the way toward higher-data-rate communications capable of sending scientific information, high-definition imagery, and streaming video in support of humanity’s next giant leap: sending humans to Mars,” said Trudy Kortes, director of Technology Demonstrations at NASA Headquarters in Washington.
The technology may be coming to fruition just in time. As our spacecraft instruments become more powerful and as the amount of data they send back grows, current spacecraft communication systems are struggling to keep up. High-bandwidth laser communication systems should relieve the bandwidth bottleneck that hampers existing missions.
This image shows the Psyche spacecraft in a clean room. The DSOC is the silver tube extending toward the top of the image. Image Credit: NASA.
Current spacecraft communication systems are based on state-of-the-art radio systems. But the infrared laser system at the heart of DSOC works with data transmission rates from 10 to 100 times greater than radio systems.
The benefits are obvious if the system can be perfected.
Currently, spacecraft communicate with Earth using NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN). The DSN is made up of three facilities around the world, separated by about 120 degrees. So, no matter where a spacecraft is, it can communicate with one of the facilities. The three facilities are in California, Spain, and Australia.
The three facilities that make up the DSN. Each is separated by 120 degrees. Image: NASA/JPL
The DSN is reliable, and NASA allows other spacefaring nations to use the system. But since it’s based on radio communications, it’s becoming an outdated bottleneck.
While the DSN and other space communications systems are impressive, they’re struggling to keep up with future plans. It can take up to 20 hours to transmit a 250-megabit data payload directly to Earth. And it gets worse the further a spacecraft is from Earth.
NASA’s New Horizons mission is an instructive example. When it performed its flyby of Jupiter in 2007, it transmitted data back to Earth at about 38 kilobits per second (kbps.) That’s a little slower than old telephone dial-up modems from the past. The data rate dropped precipitously when it encountered its main objective, Pluto. The data rate plummeted to approximately 2,000 bits per second (bps) at that extreme distance. That’s like the telecommunications equivalent to Morse code.
To reach those speeds, New Horizons had to use both its antennae and transmit to NASA’s largest receiving dish here on Earth. It reached Pluto in July 2015, but it took until 2016 to transmit all of the data from the historic encounter. Imagine being a member of the New Horizons team waiting for critical, career-defining data.
“More data means more discoveries.”
Dr. Jason Mitchell, Director, Advanced Communications and Navigation Technologies Division, NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program
This image shows the Psyche spacecraft in a clean room. The DSOC is the silver tube extending toward the top of the image.
Image Credit: NASA.
DSOC’s infrared laser system will be a huge improvement. It’s similar to radio communications but uses tighter waves. This allows ground stations to receive more data, which is a critical problem with our rapidly-improving spacecraft. The DSOC on Psyche has only a 22 cm antennae, while the ground transmit antenna is 1 meter and the ground receiving antenna is 5 meters. At a distance of 0.4 AU, the uplink speed should reach 292 kbit/s, and the downlink speed should reach 100 Mbit/s.
DSOC does suffer from some drawbacks, though. For instance, downlink speeds are slower in the daytime.
Spacecraft instruments, and especially cameras, are generating more and more data. These speeds, and hopefully higher speeds in future DSOC systems, should be able to keep pace.
This graph shows the expected data rates required for future deep space missions. Image Credit: By JPL, NASA – JPL, NASA, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=64264594
“Optical communication is a boon for scientists and researchers who always want more from their space missions, and will enable human exploration of deep space,” said Dr. Jason Mitchell, director of the Advanced Communications and Navigation Technologies Division within NASA’s Space Communications and Navigation (SCaN) program. “More data means more discoveries.”
This isn’t NASA’s first foray into DSOC. They’ve been working on it for years, and they’ve demonstrated it in Near-Earth Orbit and out as far as the Moon. But November’s test was the first deep space test. While DSOC promises faster communication, it requires extremely precise pointing, and the precision required increases with distance. The system works by transmitting a laser beacon from Earth to the spacecraft. That helps stabilize the line-of-sight between the two and helps Psyche aim its downlink laser accurately. Further tests at greater distances are the next step.
“We were able to exchange ‘bits of light’ from and to deep space.”
Abi Biswas, Project Technologist for DSOC at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
There’s also the latency problem. From the Moon, it takes about 2.5 seconds for a signal to reach Earth. In this test, Psyche was well beyond the Moon, and the signal took about 50 seconds to reach Earth. But while it’s at the asteroid, a signal from the Psyche spacecraft will need up to 20 minutes to reach Earth. That latency problem doesn’t go away just because the system is based on a near-infrared laser. Infrared light moves at the same speed as radio waves.
But even though there are future challenges yet to be overcome, the test was successful, and that’s the only result NASA can hope for.
“Achieving first light is a tremendous achievement. The ground systems successfully detected the deep space laser photons from DSOC’s flight transceiver aboard Psyche,” said Abi Biswas, project technologist for DSOC at JPL. “And we were also able to send some data, meaning we were able to exchange ‘bits of light’ from and to deep space.”
This view of NASA’s Ingenuity Mars Helicopter was generated using data collected by the Mastcam-Z instrument aboard the agency’s Perseverance Mars rover on Aug. 2, 2023, one day before the rotorcraft’s 54th flight. Imagine what it would be like to watch a video of the little helicopter. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS
The future of space exploration is going to be more and more data-dependent. Imagine real-time (with a signal delay, of course) video from the surface of Mars, taken by high-resolution cameras on rovers. Imagine astronauts on the surface of Mars with real-time, Mars-hardened versions of Go-Pro cameras on their helmets. Imagine subscribing to the personal YouTube channel of a Mars astronaut.
Naturally, some people won’t believe what they’re seeing. But for those of us who follow along as space technology develops year by year, it will be another crowning moment.
I discovered a a Dyson Sphere in Google Sky map, Nov 2023, UFO Sighting News.
I discovered a a Dyson Sphere in Google Sky map, Nov 2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of discovery: Nov 17, 2023
Location of discovery: Space Source coordinates: 5h08m06.84s 24°16'13.71"
I think I found a mega structure around a star on Google Sky Map. It's a Dyson sphere an alien built megastructure that encompasses a star and captures a large percentage of its solar power output. I have seen hundreds of stars, but never one like this. It's not a glitch, it's something much more significant. Imagine if you will, a structure built around a sun, and the sun is already 1000X bigger than earth, and that structure would be 5-10X that size. People would live within in and look up and see the sun, its energy controlled 100% and harnessed and used by the alien tech used to make the Dyson sphere. If you don't know what a Dyson Sphere is, just take a look at the Star Trek scene below as Captain Picard describes it to us.
Technology Reverse Engineered From UFO And Alien Spacecrafts
Technology Reverse Engineered From UFO And Alien Spacecrafts
What Exactly Happened On SpaceX's Second Starship Launch Attempt?
After 212 days of repairs, upgrades, and iteration, SpaceX just attempted the second integrated test flight of the Starship launch vehicle, and the improvements were obvious. The last flight was on April 20th earlier this year and ended with a bang after a few issues with the launch pad, engines, internal fires, etc. This time around, we saw a very different result from engine ignition all the way to an eventual explosion.
With this test complete, SpaceX now has a lot of work ahead of them as they find out exactly what went wrong, and launch the next Starship prototype. Here I will go more in-depth into what happened on this second flight test, where the issues arose, what to expect in the near future, and more.
Prohibited Locations On Earth Aliens Are Hiding
Prohibited Locations On Earth Aliens Are Hiding
40 INVENTIONS AND TECHNOLOGIES SHAPING TOMORROW
DAVID ICKE - Aliens are HERE! Exposing the illuminati Government
David Icke explains to True Geordie that Aliens are on earth and are controlling it.
NASA's Most Bizarre UFO Experiences | NASA's Unexplained Files
Sit back and explore some of NASA's most bizarre UFO experiences surrounding planet Mars and the many explorations journeys they carry out.
In 2014 Russia sent out 3 of its very own satellites but shortly after, a fourth flying object was discovered circling its trio of satellites, was it a UFO or something more sinister?
In the realm of UFO enthusiasts and conspiracy theorists, few names loom as large as Bob Lazar’s. His extraordinary claims, involving reverse-engineered alien technology and secret government facilities, have captured the imagination of believers and skeptics alike. In this article, we’ll embark on a journey to uncover the enigmatic world of Bob Lazar, exploring UFOs, Element 115, and the secrets hidden deep within the government’s clandestine projects.
Part 1: A Man with a Mysterious Past
Bob Lazar’s journey into the world of UFOs began in 1989 when he revealed his identity in an interview with investigative reporter George Knapp on a Las Vegas TV station. Clad in a pseudonym and concealing his face, Lazar shared his experiences working at S4, a subsidiary facility near Area 51, which was tasked with reverse-engineering alien technology. Despite initial skepticism, Lazar’s claims gained traction over the years.
Part 2: Reverse-Engineering Alien Technology
One of Lazar’s most astonishing claims revolves around the propulsion system of extraterrestrial spacecraft. According to him, these craft utilized an antimatter reactor fueled by Element 115. At the time, Element 115, provisionally named UNM Pentium, had not been artificially created. Lazar suggested that the Element 115 reactor generated a gravity wave, enabling the UFOs to achieve unparalleled flight capabilities.
Part 3: The Elusive Element 115
Element 115, later named Moscovium, became a centerpiece of Lazar’s narrative. He alleged that the stable isotope of Element 115 was key to creating gravity waves. However, all known isotopes of Moscovium are highly radioactive, with exceedingly short half-lives, challenging the feasibility of Lazar’s claims. Nevertheless, this element remains a topic of fascination in the context of UFO propulsion systems.
Part 4: UFO Sightings and Extraterrestrial Diplomacy
Lazar’s disclosures extended beyond technology, touching on diplomacy between extraterrestrial beings and Earth. He described a series of interviews and examinations of alien entities, suggesting a diplomatic exchange involving special officers and high-ranking officials. While these claims raise eyebrows, they align with the secrecy and intrigue associated with Area 51.
Part 5: The Mystery of Area 51
Area 51, officially known as Homey Airport or Groom Lake, has long been synonymous with covert government operations and UFO-related conspiracies. Bob Lazar’s revelations about his employment at Area 51’s subsidiary facility, S4, add to the complex web of secrecy surrounding the site. The facility is believed to house alien technology and serve as a hub for clandestine meetings.
Part 6: Men in Black Erasing History
Lazar’s assertion that his employment and education records were erased and modified reinforces the notion of a government cover-up. Skeptics have attempted to discredit him by suggesting inaccuracies in his academic and professional history. The concept of the “Men in Black” erasing incriminating evidence plays into the narrative of government suppression.
Part 7: The Legacy of Bob Lazar
Despite skepticism and controversy, Bob Lazar’s story endures as a captivating tale of UFOs, Element 115, and government secrets. Whether you view him as a whistleblower or a sensationalist, Lazar’s claims have left an indelible mark on the world of conspiracy theories and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.
VIDEO:
Top 5 Strongest Signs Of Alien Life In History
Bob Lazar’s enigmatic journey continues to captivate and divide enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Whether his claims are viewed as extraordinary revelations or elaborate hoaxes, they remain a fascinating chapter in the ongoing quest for answers to the mysteries of our universe.
The Gimbal UFO event stands as a significant pillar in the UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) disclosure, introducing US military whistleblowers who claim to have witnessed the phenomena they describe as “non-human.” In 2020, the U.S. Department of Defense released three pivotal UAP videos that triggered widespread discussions within the UFO community, prompting inquiries into the information held by the US government regarding these phenomena.
These videos capture UFO encounters from November 2004 and two separate incidents from January 2015, each identified by distinctive nicknames: Flir (2004), Go Fast (2015), and Gimbal (2015). They depict pilots tracking unidentified objects in the sky. Among these, the renowned 2015 UFO “Gimbal” footage was recorded by US fighter pilots near the nuclear aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, as an unidentified object appeared on their radar. Despite the pilots mentioning, “There’s a whole fleet of them, look on the SA,” the footage only displays a single mysterious object at the center of the frame.
Apart from Ryan Graves, a former Lt. U.S. Navy and F/A-18F pilot, there is another least discussed whistleblower who experienced the famous Gimbal UFO event. Matthew Roberts, a former cryptologist in the US Navy with 16 years of service, shared his experience and encounters with non-human entity during a Netflix series “Encounters.” He was present on the USS Theodore Roosevelt in 2015 during an event involving the now-famous “Gimbal footage.”
After going on several military missions and teaching other code experts while working on land, Matthew Roberts moved to the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) for three years. His time at ONI ended in March 2020, and that is when he chose to quit the military, even though he was close to retiring in four years. The reason for leaving was the intense and personal experiences he had with unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) while at ONI, which he writes about in his book named “Initiated.”
Roberts described his initial reaction to the gimbal footage: “I was watching this footage, and I could see no kind of aviation surfaces that you would expect to see — wings, tail, rudders. There’s none of that.” He struggled to comprehend the unconventional movement of the object, stating, “I couldn’t really make sense of why this thing was kind of up in the air like it was.”
As he looked more closely at the video, Roberts realized something important: “I knew it didn’t belong to us or anyone else. So, the only other possibility, I think, is that it’s technology from non-human intelligence.”
Given his classified role and access to sensitive information, Roberts was aware that such encounters were not isolated incidents for the Navy: “I was kind of aware this was not a one-off event for the Navy. These things happen frequently, all the time, going against the wind.” Roberts confessed to being captivated by the footage, watching it obsessively. Despite his access to classified information, he had no awareness of the actions taken by the upper chain of command concerning these encounters.
In 2017, after transferring to the Office of Naval Intelligence, Roberts claimed to have had follow-on experiences with what he described as nonhuman entities. He recounted unsettling encounters where he would wake up feeling his body being moved across the bed and experiencing a hand grabbing his arm. Roberts believed these encounters were evidence of non-human intelligence.
“In 2017, I moved to the Office of Naval Intelligence, where I was going to work as an analyst. Shortly after I got there, I began having experiences related to the phenomenon. It was like the start of seeing nonhuman entities in my room at night. I would wake up several times a week, feeling my body sliding across the bed, and I knew they were taking me. One time, I woke up because I felt a hand grab my arm. I tried to raise my hands to my face, but I couldn’t move. I could see the outline of a shadowy figure with a torso, two arms, and a head standing over me.
Back when I was in the Navy and saw the footage, I already knew there was something nonhuman out there. So, when these entities started appearing in my room, I knew all of this was real. I had the comfort of knowing I wasn’t going crazy; I understood what it was. There’s a lot of sensor and radar evidence. I believe that if they just release all the footage and say, “Hey, this is what we have, we don’t even have to explain it, we don’t know,” there would be no doubt about whether the phenomenon is real. Everyone would know it.”
Thinking about all the sensor and radar evidence, Roberts said that if they share all the available videos, people would not doubt if the UFO phenomenon is real. He said, “Everyone would know it.” Roberts’ account provides a unique perspective on the UFO phenomenon, combining his military background, access to classified information, and personal experiences with what he believes to be non-human entities.
Mick West, known for debunking UAPs, provided his explanation for the objects: arguing that mundane things – tech glitches, camera glare, balloons, and birds – are more likely than aliens. However, Journalist Daniel Lavelle asked Matthew Roberts about West’s theory to which Roberts politely replied “All aircraft – nationally, internationally – have to broadcast who they are. If they’re not broadcasting that, that’s very unusual. Mick West, bless his soul, he has never been in the military.”
The book describes how Roberts went through strange experiences: encountering UFO aliens, other bizarre entities along with a series of other happenings forced him to question his sanity. “Initiated” tells the story of how Roberts went through tough times but came out on the other side as a changed person. He can now say he is truly “initiated.”
During his AMA on Reddit, Roberts described the non-human entities: “I saw ones that had blue skin and were tall. I saw very tall white ones that resembled Jack Skellington. I saw one that looked like a yard gnome. I saw some that appeared to radiate white light. I don’t know where they were from they never revealed that.”
Matthew Roberts explains that he never tried to film any of the encounters with non-human entities in his bedroom. When asked if he considered setting up a recording device, he mentions that these encounters often happen when individuals are in an altered state or when the entities appear in the sky with a craft, conveniently when the person does not have his cell phone.
He considered recording the experiences but decided against it. He reasons that it would not convince everyone, as some might think he faked it. Roberts believes the argument over the authenticity of any images would overshadow the main point, which is encouraging people to seek and have their own experiences with consciousness. He emphasizes that he does not need people to believe him; instead, he wants others to explore consciousness firsthand.
Roberts asserts that the truth of these experiences has been documented for thousands of years by various individuals, citing such authors as William Walker Atkinson, Mabel Collins, Joseph Campbell, Dr. John Mack, and Dr. Robert Moore. He challenges the notion that he could have orchestrated the biggest hoax in human history, suggesting that there may be something genuinely significant in these experiences.
He points to the wealth of evidence available for those willing to examine it, citing a podcast by Mark Gober called “Where is My Mind,” where accomplished scientists discuss their work on consciousness. Roberts believes that understanding consciousness surviving death is a crucial aspect of our existence, mentioning the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies (BICS) and the substantial prizes offered for evidence of consciousness after death.
He suggested that these entities seem to have a significant level of control over the experiences people have, which contributes to why some individuals perceive these encounters as malevolent or evil. He acknowledged that many people who invest time and money into gathering evidence of these phenomena often end up without conclusive results.
In highlighting the rarity of tangible evidence, Roberts mentioned a particular case involving Peter Khoury, where there was reportedly some DNA evidence. However, he does not go into detail about the specifics of that case.
Roberts shared that his conscious experiences with these entities began in late 2017 and continued until the spring of 2018. During this period, he claimed to have been taken several times a week. He recounts instances of sleep paralysis as a child, where he felt a heavy presence and heard whispers. He mentioned a specific incident when he was a small boy, wrapping himself up tightly in a blanket to prevent the entities from whispering in his ear, a practice he later remembered and replicated as an adult.
In his book, Roberts takes a “mythopoetic approach to alien intrusion,” drawing parallels between his experiences and myths, religious texts, and the Hero’s Journey described by Joseph Campbell. He believes that within these encounters, individuals undergo a transformative process, akin to the cycle of death and resurrection, ultimately leading to a change in oneself.
Because of the intense experiences he had, Matthew Roberts decided to quit his military job. He then went to study psychology to learn more about the mind and emotions related to UFO phenomena. He is also working on another book that explains how his way of thinking influenced the unusual experiences he went through.
NASA heeft op deze vrijdag (17) de ongelooflijke aurora borealis van Qeqertaq benadrukt als de ‘Astronomische Foto van de Dag‘. Het kleine kustdorp, met iets meer dan 100 inwoners, bevindt zich in Groenland.
Qeqertaq heeft het voorrecht om een zeer lage ‘lichtvervuiling’ te hebben, wat betekent dat, in tegenstelling tot grote steden, de schoonheid van de nachtelijke hemel niet wordt overschaduwd. Op de foto toont het noorderlicht al zijn pracht en lijkt het te dansen aan de Arctische hemel – echt een hemels spektakel
De afbeelding is vastgelegd vanuit de geïsoleerde nederzettingQeqertaqdoorDennis Lehtonen. Hierop is een eenzame ijsberg te zien die door de ijzige zee drijft, verlicht door de lichten van de kust en een magische scène creëert.
Het noorderlicht is een natuurlijk lichtverschijnsel dat optreedt in de poolgebieden van de aarde en wordt veroorzaakt door de interactie tussen geladen deeltjes van de zonnewind en de gassen in de aardse atmosfeer.
Unveiling the Mysteries of the Sky: Extraordinary UFO Sightings in the Alaska Triangle
Unveiling the Mysteries of the Sky: Extraordinary UFO Sightings in the Alaska Triangle
The Alaska Triangle, a region famous for its pristine wilderness, also harbors a mystifying secret: it boasts the highest number of UFO sightings per capita in the United States. These sightings, coupled with compelling evidence, paint a picture of a sky teeming with unexplained phenomena.
The Enigmatic Encounters
Tales of strange lights and silent, flying objects have long been part of Alaska’s lore. One riveting account comes from Terry, who, along with his wife, witnessed two glowing orbs traversing the sky in a controlled manner. These orbs, described as cauldrons of molten metal with rotating lights, left no trace but awe and wonder in their wake.
In October 2020, the Alaskan coast became a stage for another unusual light display, performing maneuvers that defied conventional explanation. From Skagway to Juneau, numerous videos and photographs have captured these bewildering aerial phenomena.
Ketchikan’s Spectacular Sightings
Ketchikan, a southeastern Alaskan city, stands out with its frequent and vivid UFO encounters. A notable example is a video taken on New Year’s Eve 2012, showing unexplained lights on a mountain that remain a mystery to this day.
The Pyramid Enigma
Adding to the intrigue, counterintelligence agent Doug Mutchler unveiled a startling discovery: a subterranean structure in Alaska, shaped like a pyramid and larger than the Great Pyramid of Giza. This revelation, originating from seismic wave analysis following a nuclear detonation in China, points to hidden wonders beneath the Alaskan wilderness.
Recent Sightings and Continuing Mystery
As recently as 2020, residents of Wasilla and Palmer reported extraordinary sightings. From silent triangular formations to lights that defy physics, these accounts add layers to the already dense mystery enveloping Alaska.
VIDEO:
The Most Shocking UFO Reports With Chilling EVIDENCE | The Alaska Triangle
The Alaska Triangle remains a hotbed for UFO activity, with each sighting contributing to the enigma. These accounts, backed by visual evidence, challenge our understanding and invite us to look skyward, pondering the possibilities of what lies beyond.
In een verrassende gang van zaken hebben wetenschappers het bestaan van Nessie als ‘plausibel’ bestempeld nadat ze gefossiliseerde plesiosaurusbeenderen in een Afrikaanse rivierbedding hadden ontdekt. Eerder werd aangenomen dat deze zeereptielen met lange nek, die lijken op het mythische monster van Loch Ness, uitsluitend in zout water leefden. Zou Nessie een levend overblijfsel uit het dinosaurustijdperk kunnen zijn? Voorlopig is er niets noemenswaardigs gevonden. Het mysterie rond het kolossale wezen van het meer blijft bestaan, en de twijfels over het bestaan van het monster blijven bestaan.
Een team van wetenschappers heeft gefossiliseerde overblijfselen van plesiosauriërs, kleine zeereptielen met lange nek, gevonden in een 100 miljoen jaar oud riviersysteem in de Sahara. Deze ontdekking heeft de speculatie doen herleven over de mogelijkheid dat het monster van Loch Ness meer is dan alleen een fictief verhaal.
Sahara woestijn
De fossielen werden ontdekt in de Sahara-woestijn van Marokko. De bevinding suggereert dat deze reptielen niet alleen in zoutwater- maar ook in zoetwateromgevingen hebben gewoond, in tegenstelling tot eerdere opvattingen.
Britse wetenschappers hebben de mogelijkheid van het bestaan van een monster van Loch Ness in het verleden als ‘plausibel’ beschouwd vanwege een verbazingwekkende ontdekking.
Plesiosaurussen, een groep zeereptielen, ontstonden ongeveer 230 miljoen jaar geleden. Deze opmerkelijke waterdinosaurussen floreerden tijdens het Jura-tijdperk en vertoonden zowel een enorme omvang als een indrukwekkende behendigheid.
Plesiosaurussen zagen er intimiderend uit als een toproofdier in de oceanen, die snel grote prooien achtervolgden en verslonden. Hoewel de zoetwaterclassificatie niet eerder aan hen was toegewezen, trekt een recente ontdekking deze overtuiging in twijfel.
Wetenschappers heroverwegen de mogelijkheid van een 'monsterbewoner' in het zoetwater Loch Ness in Schotland vanwege recente Noord-Afrikaanse fossiele ontdekkingen.
Loch Ness ligt in de Schotse Hooglanden, ten zuidwesten van Inverness. Het is een uitgestrekte watervlakte met een lengte van ongeveer 37 km, met een diepste punt van 230 m (755 ft). Legenden over een wezen dat in de diepte rondspookt, zijn terug te voeren op de oudheid en de verhalen die door de Pictische volkeren werden verteld.
De vorming van het meer vond plaats als gevolg van gletsjerprocessen in de Great Glen meer dan 10.000 jaar geleden, aan het einde van de laatste ijstijd. De Great Glen-breuk ontstond ongeveer 400 miljoen jaar geleden.
De opmerkelijke ontdekking van Mary Anning, een skelet van een plesiosaurus, wordt nu permanent tentoongesteld in het Natural History Museum in Londen.
Deskundigen zijn verbaasd over de bevindingen in Marokko. De indrukwekkende collectie omvat botten en tanden van volwassen individuen met een lengte van 3 meter, evenals een armbeen van een baby van 1,5 meter lang. De omstandigheden rond hun ontdekking op de rivierbedding in het Krijt-tijdperk blijven echter onverklaard.
Nieuwe bevindingen uit de Sahara hebben paleontologen ertoe aangezet de habitat van bepaalde soorten waarvan voorheen werd aangenomen dat ze uitsluitend marien waren, te heroverwegen. Er wordt nu verondersteld dat plesiosauriërs het opmerkelijke vermogen hadden om te overleven in zowel zoet- als zoutwateromgevingen.
Onderzoekers geven aan dat de plesiosaurus in zoet water leefde en zich voedde, naast kikkers, krokodillen, schildpadden, vissen en andere waterdinosaurussen.
Spinosaurus leefde ongeveer 99 miljoen jaar geleden in het huidige Noord-Afrika. Ondanks dat het een enorm landroofdier was, bezat het semi-aquatische neigingen en dook hij in het ondiepe water om vissen en andere zeedieren te vangen als aanvulling op zijn dieet.
Nothosaurus, een zwemmend reptiel uit het Trias, leefde van vis en inktvis. Zodra de Nothosaurus zijn prooi onder water had gevangen, kwam hij weer boven water om stenen en kustlijnen te verslinden.
Ceratosaurus, een vleesetende dinosaurus uit het Jura-tijdperk, staat bekend om zijn snuithoorns. Op deze afbeelding zien we er een die in een rivier waadt terwijl hij op waterdieren zoals vissen jaagt.
Zouden Plesiosauriërs in Loch Ness kunnen overleven?
Wetenschappers geloven dat het mogelijk is dat plesiosauriërs in zoet water hebben bestaan, wat de vraag doet rijzen of men in Loch Ness had kunnen gedijen.
De theorie verliest enige geloofwaardigheid als gevolg van het uitsterven van plesiosaurussen, dat samenviel met de ondergang van dinosauriërs 66 miljoen jaar geleden. De recente fossiele ontdekking in Afrika heeft echter onverwachts de discussie over ‘Nessie’ weer doen oplaaien.
Tijdens de jaren 1870 en 1880 waren er meerdere meldingen van een object dat het water bewoog en verstoorde, evenals de waarneming van een groot dier met korte poten dat uit Loch Ness tevoorschijn kwam. Deze observaties werden echter niet algemeen erkend. Niettemin begon in 1933 de legende van het monster van Loch Ness aan kracht te winnen.
Op 2 Mei 1933 meldde de Inverness Courier dat een echtpaar beweerde "een groot wezen te hebben zien bewegen en duiken in het water" van het meer. Het was echter de foto die zogenaamd door Robert Kenneth Wilson was gemaakt en op 21 April 1934 in de Daily Mail werd gepubliceerd, die mensen echt fascineerde. Deze foto wordt algemeen erkend als de beroemdste afbeelding van het wezen dat bekend staat als het monster van Loch Ness.
In het begin van de jaren dertig verspreidde een rage genaamd Nessiemania zich over Groot-Brittannië. Op deze foto uit 1933 wordt een replica van het monster van Loch Ness voor de kerstperiode per aanhanger vervoerd naar Bertram Mills Circus in Olympia, Londen.
Het ongeïdentificeerde wezen kreeg al snel het label ‘Nessie’, wat leidde tot wijdverbreide fascinatie. Op deze foto uit 1954 voegt Urquhart Castle context toe, terwijl het vermeende monster in de buurt van het belangrijke monument lijkt te zwemmen.
Nessie's bekendheid zorgde ervoor dat ze een beroemdheid werd. Deze foto uit 1969 toont een lid van het Loch Ness Monster Investigation Team dat ijverig het oppervlak van Loch Ness in de gaten houdt op tekenen van leven.
In 1969 bouwde een Amerikaan genaamd Dan Scott Taylor Jr. zijn eigen gele onderzeeër genaamd de "Viperfish" en maakte meerdere duiken naar de bodem van Loch Ness. Zijn doel was om te ontdekken welke mysteries eronder lagen, maar helaas heeft hij tijdens zijn expedities niets gevonden.
De televisieserie 'Loch Ness' concentreert zich op het familiedrama en bevat Ted Danson en Joely Richardson. De plot volgt Dr. Jonathan Dempsey (Danson), een wetenschapper die ernaar streeft bewijs te leveren voor het bestaan van het wezen.
Hier is de echte wetenschapper Thayne Smith Lowrance, in 1999 afgebeeld met een sonarapparaat tijdens een van zijn vele pogingen om het legendarische wezen te vinden. Maar Nessie bleek even zinspelend als altijd.
In 2019 was er een aankondiging die erop wees dat Nessie misschien wel een kolossale paling zou kunnen zijn. Onderzoek uitgevoerd naar het omgevings-DNA gevonden in Loch Ness bracht een aanzienlijke hoeveelheid paling-DNA aan het licht, zoals professor Neil Gemmell, een geneticus van de Universiteit van Otago (foto) beweert. Niettemin werd er geen bewijs voor het bestaan van een monster ontdekt.
In het jaar 2016 werd een interessante ontdekking gedaan: de overblijfselen van een model dat het monster van Loch Ness afbeeldt uit de film 'The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes', gemaakt in 1970. Ingenieur John Haig, op de foto te zien, vond deze overblijfselen met behulp van een onderwaterrobot die kan worden ondergedompeld in Loch Ness.
Toeristen die hopen op een Nessie-waarneming bij Loch Ness worden misschien teleurgesteld, maar ze kunnen nog steeds genieten van het unieke Loch Ness Centre & Exhibition in Drumnadrochit. Verrassend genoeg kun je zelfs een glimp opvangen van het legendarische wezen, dat gracieus poseert voor foto's!
Bronnen:(Newsweek) (Cretaceous Research), (BBC) (The Independent) (UOL) (The Guardian)
Virgin Galactic Flies Science Experiments to the Edge of Space
On November 2, Virgin Galactic flew Unity 2 on the Galactic 05 mission. It carried two scientists, a private tourist, and an astronaut trainer on a sub-orbital trip flown by Pilots Mike Masucci and Kelly Latimer. It was the company’s sixth successful flight in six months and the last for 2023.
The scientists aboard were Dr. Alan Stern of Southwest Research Institute (SWRI), joined by Kellie Gerardi, who was sponsored by the International Institute for Astronautical Sciences (IIAS) in Canada. Stern is also the principal investigator of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt and is vice president at SWRI. He’s a long-time planetary scientist who has served on a number of missions. Stern has conducted suborbital research aboard NASA sounding rockets. He is the former board chair of the Commercial Space Flight Federation and a current member of the National Science Board.
Kelli Gerardi is active in aerospace, and bioastronautics and served as a payload specialist for this mission. She leads mission operations for Palantir Technologies, serves on the Defense Council for Truman National Security Project, and served on the board of directors for The Explorers Club. In addition, she is a prolific science communicator with several books and a Website to her credit. She also maintains an active social media presence.
During its almost four minutes in microgravity at apogee at 87.2 kilometers (54.2 miles) above Earth, the science team performed a series of biomedical experiments aimed at tracking human performance in space. Also included was a microgravity fluids experiment and a human-tended practice session with a mockup of a camera that will fly on future space missions.
Carrying Science to Apogee
During his brief time in microgravity, Stern used the Accutracker II heart and pulse monitor to collect physiological data on himself. “This particular version flew on the Shuttle many times,” he said. Stern and his co-investigator, Dr. Dan Durda have also flown with the harness on high-performance F-104 flights and parabolic missions aboard the so-called “Vomit Comet” aircraft. Stern described the flight on Galactic 05 as a risk-reduction mission to test the technology. “For me, this was mostly a training flight,” he said, noting that NASA will sign a contract with Virgin after 13 successful test flights like this one.
The Accutracker II harness worn by Alan Stern aboard Virgin Galactic’s 05 expedition. Courtesy Dan Durda/SWRI.
Their second experiment was a practice run learning to use a handheld Xybion wide-field visible and ultraviolet astronomical imager. “What we carried today was a mockup of the camera we’ll carry on the next flight,” he said. “It’s a training and learning experience, but this is part of the new era that it’s affordable enough that you can do that. I’m going to recommend to my colleagues in the funding agencies that they give these training flights to people.
Practicing for Future Flights
Essentially, the team has to show NASA that they can manipulate the camera in space efficiently. Stern’s aim was to learn to maneuver the camera in space. He had to stabilize it in microgravity and get the timing sequences down for a successful run with the real thing. “We now, as a result of Galactic 05 have videos of it in flight that tell us how long it took to do all the steps,” he said.
Other aspects of using the camera in space revolve around the transmissive nature of Unity’s windows on Unity. “What you don’t know is how glints affect the camera, how micro-abrasions and scratches on the windows produce flaws, what kind of exhaust film gets on them,” he said. ” “The only way to find that out is to get data through the windows in flight, to get data from three different windows, three geometries, and then compare it to Shuttle data that we have.”
Alan Stern practicing with a mockup of an astronomical camera his team hopes to fly aboard Virgin Galactic. Courtesy Virgin Galactic.
More Biomedical Studies at Apogee
Kellie Gerardi’s experiments collected biomedical and fluid behavior data during the Unity 2 flight. Her sponsor developed all three through a series of reduced gravity flights prior to the mission. The first examined questions about how confined fluids behave in low-gravity environments. That has implications for everything from spacecraft life support systems to administering medications in space through special syringes.
In her second experiment, Gerardi gathered biometric data from the Astroskin biomonitoring device built into a “smart shirt”. It provided ECG data as well as heart rate, breathing rate, and air volume. It also measured skin temperature during flight. Unity 2’s flight was the first time it collected data through all phases of a mission. Interestingly, hospitals, first responders, and others here on Earth also use this Astroskin.
Kellie Gerardi tested a biomedical Astroskin suit, a blood glucose monitor, and tended a fluids experiment. She also made time to simply gaze at the view out the portholes during flight. Courtesy Virgin Galactic.
The third experiment measured blood glucose changes during flight. Changes in blood sugar are a well-known aspect of long-duration flight aboard the Shuttle and International Space Station. This is because prolonged periods of weightlessness induced a sort of “pre-diabetes” condition in astronauts. This sort of insulin resistance affects the way the muscles and liver absorb glucose and regulate blood sugar levels. The aim of Gerardi’s experiment was to see if that was affected during launch, apogee, and return to Earth.
Science at Suborbital Heights
After landing, both scientists talked about their experiences and the experiments they conducted. For Stern and SWRI, the mission was critical and went beyond just the two experiments he conducted. “When we set the objectives for this flight for Southwest Research, we had 8 objectives. Some were what we call minimum mission success and then accomplishing what we call slow mission success,” he said. “We got everything we wanted. All eight objectives were fully accomplished.”
Just after landing, Kellie Gerardi (left), Alan Stern (center), and space tourist Kettie Maisonrouge (right), talked about their experience during the Virgin Galactic flight. Image credit: Carolyn Collins Petersen
For Gerardi, her Institute’s tests were critical confirmation of prior work. “The Astroskin unit I was wearing is the identical unit that is flown currently on the International Space Station,” said Gerardi. She noted that there was a significant difference between its use there and on her Virgin Galactic flight. “I was able to wear it during the launch, reentry, and landing portions of the flight. Normally astronauts put it on once they’re already in a microgravity environment,” she said. “So, it’s measuring pretty much all of the things you would expect. It’s like free vector cardiography (VCG is a method of getting 2D images of cardiac electrical activity). It’s got pulse oximetry and a number of different sensor data.”
Her third experiment focused on continuous blood glucose monitoring during flight. This test is in response to evidence that long-duration space missions produce insulin resistance in astronauts. The data from the monitor she wore adds new data to studies of this condition in space flyers. It should help answer questions about how quickly that resistance resolves after flight.
Gerardi was particularly excited about the fluids payload, and its operation in microgravity. “One of the experiments we flew had Shuttle heritage. It was bolted down on the Shuttle and the G jitter really disrupted the data,” she said. The Unity 2 flight was a good chance to see how the fluids in the experiment would behave. “What we saw was extraordinary. We exceeded anything that we have seen in parabolic flight here on Earth…we were collecting the highest-quality data and watching some really novel behavior from the fluid cell and being able to react to that in real-time.”
Why Do Suborbital Science?
A question that keeps coming up is, “Why do suborbital flights? Why not just go to the International Space Station?” It’s not like suborbital science is new. Scientists have been doing suborbital science for years—using sounding rockets and high-altitude balloons. Those continue today. So, going to suborbital heights is not a new idea. Going to orbit, on the other hand, adds several challenges. One is accessibility. The ISS is a limited commodity. To get an experiment on it takes years of planning and waiting for a launch window. Getting onto a suborbital flight still has some lead time, but as more of these missions happen, the accessibility increases.
A NASA Black Brant IX sounding rocket soars skyward into an aurora over Alaska during the launch on 5:13 a.m. EST, Feb. 22, 2017. Credit: NASA/Terry Zaperach
Suborbital Is Economical
Another challenge is cost. Cost figures vary across launch platforms, but, for example, a seat on Axiom can cost in the range of $70 million. Going up on suborbital flights to microgravity to do short-term experiments (or even a tourist ride) is much more accessible and much less expensive, Stern pointed out. “The new commercial vehicles, such as the Virgin rocket ship that we just flew on, fly at ten times lower costs and they fly presently about ten times more often, and soon hundreds of times, and then soon many hundreds of times more frequently,” he said. “So, it’s opening up access in a way that we never could afford to do, or had the capacity to do all the way back to the 1950s, when rocket-borne research was really getting underway.”
Virgin Galactic’s VSS Unity conducted her second powered test flight on Tuesday, May 29th. With six flights under their belts, the VG crews are planning for more in 2024. Credit: Virgin Galactic
At the current time a tourist seat on Virgin Galactic’s Unity 2 cost around half a million dollars. (Those prices may well rise to ~$1 million, according to recent announcements from the company.) Science teams can expect to pay around $650,000 for a seat and equipment to get four minutes of microgravity in suborbital space. By comparison, someone flying a hyperbolic “vomit comet” type flight pays around $10,000 for an experience in a lunar-gravity (1/6 G) environment. An uncrewed suborbital rocket costs around $3 to $5 million (at the low end).
Training Scientists in Suborbital Space
Suborbital flight puts scientists back in control of experiments to be done in space. “You know, volcanologists go to volcanoes, astronomers go to observatories, oceanographers go into the ocean space, but space scientists have been going to control rooms,” Stern said. “And that’s not the best way to do your experiment because automating things is expensive and it’s error-prone, with lots of failure modes.” Gerardi agreed and pointed out that the research she did onboard allowed her to do things in microgravity that couldn’t be done on the ground.
Putting people into space, even for short periods of time in microgravity, is changing the face of space flight, according to both Unity 2 astronauts. “It’s going to be really transformative all the way across the 21st century and probably forever,” said Stern, also pointing out that his flight put Southwest Research Institute (where he is a vice-president), in a very competitive place for continuing human spaceflight for suborbital science. For IIAS, it’s a chance to enhance its robust educational programs that train future astronauts and explorers. “It’s a new era of access to space,” she emphasized, “for scientists and for civilians.”
The Galactic 05 expedition was the last Unity flight of the year. The next Unity 2 mission is planned for January 2024 and the company will then begin phasing out those flights by mid-year. The company is already working on the Delta suborbital craft to replace it and plans to open a new spacecraft plant in Phoenix next year. Virgin has announced layoffs as part of a process of streamlining the non-Delta workforce. The first Delta craft may launch as soon as 2026, and the company expects to serve both tourist and science research passengers.
For years, people noticed strange features on the Moon dubbed “Lunar Swirls.” They’re bright regions that appear to be concentrations of lighter-colored material on the surface. It turns out that interactions between the solar wind and magnetic regions on the Moon may play a role at two sites.
Scientists long thought that these swirls weren’t related to the surrounding topography, but it turns out there’s some kind of interaction going on between the swirl deposition and the surface. Planetary Science Institute senior scientist John Weirich led a team to study topographic data for lunar swirls at high resolution. They found a correlation between the swirl areas and lower topography in a region called the Reiner Gamma swirl.
About Swirl Regions
The Moon has a number of similar regions with high-contrast bright markings that appear to loop across the surface. Generally, they look like wide bright swirls separated by darker off-swirl lanes. The fact that they exist spurs questions about how they form and there isn’t a clear answer, yet. Once that mystery is solved, scientists will have a better understanding of how the lunar surface is affected by the solar wind, bombardment by micrometeorites, how the lunar soil “migrates”, and what other effects the local environment has on the surface.
Lunar swirls are found in several regions on the Moon. Courtesy NASA.
“Lunar swirls have piqued scientists’ interest since they were discovered, partly because the scientific community doesn’t completely understand how they formed. There are many hypotheses about their formation process. Each hypothesis has observations that support it, but there are also other observations that contradict them,” Weirich said. “Since we don’t have a full understanding of how these swirls formed, we don’t completely understand the story they can tell us about the Moon. Forming them could involve a combination of well-understood processes interacting together or a currently unknown process. Unusual objects or phenomena are sometimes the key to obtaining deeper knowledge, and for this reason, lunar swirls are very intriguing. And the fact that they look really cool.”
Studying Swirls in Higher Detail
To do their work, Weirich’s team looked at earlier research showing that bright areas are 2-3 meters lower than dark areas, particularly in the Mare Ingenii lunar swirl. “However, it is not as simple as the bright areas are uniformly lower than the dark areas. If that was the case this relationship between topography and swirl would be easy to demonstrate by comparing an elevation map to a picture of the swirl. Instead, this relationship is only seen when we compare the average height of the bright areas and the average height of the dark areas.”
Weirich studied Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission images and applied a special software suite to determine the surface topography. The team also used machine-learning tools on specific images. It classified the swirls into various units: bright areas (on-swirl)and dark areas (or “off-swirl”). The studies allowed them to identify transition regions between the two units, and they labeled those “diffuse-swirl”.
The correlation between topography and swirl formation still doesn’t explain exactly why they form. But, it does give planetary scientists some new clues as they study other swirl features on the Moon. At present, there are several theories about formation, but none of them explain all of the details. One idea is that they formed as a result of cometary impacts. That explains the brightness of these features. Another theory is that the swirls form when weak magnetic fields protect lighter-colored lunar surface soil (regolith) from the solar wind. Finally, weak electric fields created by brief interactions between the magnetic anomalies and solar wind plasma could play a role. Those fields could affect electrically charged fine dust on the surface. How topography plays into any of these theories is still an unknown.
How They Did It
The specialized software the team used does stereophotoclinometry to analyze the topography of a surface. It combines stereo imaging and photoclinometry to get the surface height of a region. The swirl units of interest were defined by machine learning procedures. The team then compared that information to the SPC-derived topography. That allowed them to statistically determine if height correlations existed and what differences they showed.
The SPC methodology has been used on various surfaces, including using data from the OSIRIS-REx mission, among other missions. Planetary scientists use SPC methodologies to describe the shapes of planets, asteroids, comets, and other small bodies. Still, there’s not yet a definite explanation for these swirls. However, the combo of high-resolution imaging, machine learning, and advanced software techniques gives planetary scientists more insight into their still-mysterious origins.
Details about the seventh mission of the U.S. military’s mysterious X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle have been revealed, along with surprising news about the secretive spaceplane’s upcoming launch.
For the first time, X-37B Mission 7 (OTV-7) will see the robotic spaceplane launched on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, according to an announcement from The Department of the Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office and its partners at the U.S. Space Force.
The launch will occur on December 7, 2023, lifting off from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center.
While much is known about the X-37B and its past missions, several of the reusable robotic spaceplane’s operations remain mysterious. Carried into space aboard a rocket during its missions, the X-37B carries out orbital operations overseen by the Space Force, demonstrating reusable spaceflight technologies while facilitating a range of experiments and other operations for various agencies.
The spaceplane’s December launch, dubbed USSF-52, will include various experimental capabilities with several objectives.
The X-37B is seen after its sixth mission, OTV-6
(Credit: Staff Sgt. Adam Shanks),
X-37B Program Director Lt. Col. Joseph Fritschen said the tests will help to broaden the current capabilities of the reusable spaceplane and, with the help of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, will be able to carry out “multiple cutting-edge experiments for the Department of the Air Force and its partners.”
“These tests include operating the reusable spaceplane in new orbital regimes, experimenting with future space domain awareness technologies, and investigating the radiation effects on materials provided by NASA,” the U.S. Space Force said in a statement on November 8.
One of the experiments, aptly named “Seeds-2,” will be carried out during OTV-7 as part of a NASA test that will expose seeds to the radiation conditions of long-duration spaceflight. In addition to helping scientists better understand how radiation impacts plant seeds, the experiment aims to support NASA’s objectives in the coming years to facilitate long-term crewed space missions.
The X-37B’s last mission saw the introduction of a new service module, which broadened the mysterious spaceplane’s capabilities and facilitated more experiments than its initial five missions.
(Credit: Boeing)
X-37B Mission 6 (OTV-6) was the first to undertake a research experiment undertaken by the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, called the Photovoltaic Radio-frequency Antenna Module experiment, which successfully displayed the capability of generating radio and microwaves through the collection of solar power.
Other experiments carried out during OTV-6 included tests similar to NASA’s upcoming “Seeds-2” experiment and the deployment of a small satellite called FalconSat-8 procured by the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Research Lab.
Fundamentally, the forthcoming OTV-7 mission will aim to perform similar tests with experimental technologies to help ensure space domain awareness during future missions.
“The X37B continues to equip the United States with the knowledge to enhance current and future space operations,” said Gen. B. Chance Saltzman, Chief of Space Operations, who said X-37B’s forthcoming mission will help showcase “the USSF’s commitment to innovation and defining the art-of-the-possible in the space domain.”
Astronomers report that the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) recently detected water vapor, sand clouds, and sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere of the exoplanet WASP-107b, according to newly published findings.
Led by a team of European astronomers from Belgium’s KU Leuven University, the researchers pointed the JWST’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) at the exoplanet, located roughly 211 light-years from Earth. Their discovery, now published in Nature, has revealed the presence of water vapor, sulfur dioxide, and silicate sand clouds while notably lacking methane, a common greenhouse gas
WASP-107b is a low-density exoplanet orbiting WASP-107. Discovered in 2017, the exoplanet immediately challenged our understanding of planetary development. The super-Neptune planet, meaning it’s larger than Neptune, has a surprisingly low density. This has implications for our understanding of gas giant formation and structure.
Moreover, it orbits very close to its star, with a year lasting only about 5.7 Earth days. Due to its proximity to its star, astronomers still need clarification on how the planet can retain an atmosphere, which generally would burn up due to its proximity to its star.
The recent discovery has only complicated astronomers’ understanding of this unique gas giant.
Due to its atmospheric conditions, Neptune is distinguished by its ‘fluffy’ nature. Astronomers were able to peer deep into its atmosphere. This fluffiness, combined with the precision of the JWST infrared system, has enabled a new understanding of the planet’s atmospheric composition.
The absence of methane in WASP-107b’s atmosphere is intriguing, hinting at a potentially warm interior and shedding light on the planet’s internal heat dynamics. Detecting sulfur dioxide, typically associated with the smell of burnt matches, was unexpected, as previous models had not predicted its presence.
According to the report, due to the “fluffy” atmosphere and the general cooler temperatures of the planet’s host star, photons from the star can penetrate deeper into the planet’s gaseous atmosphere, allowing for complex chemical reactions to occur. Moreover, the discovery of water vapor in the atmosphere was also surprising since it seems connected to giant clouds made of sand.
Elements like water and sulfur do not appear often in cloudless atmospheres, so the fact that they were detected indicates that WASP-107b has high-altitude clouds. The JWST was able to peer into these clouds and indicated that they were a silicate-type material, similar to sand on Earth. According to traditional models of exoplanet formation, sand clouds like this usually form much closer to the planet’s surface, where the temperature is much warmer. However, since WASP-107b’s atmospheric temperature sits at around 500 degrees Celsius, the clouds seemingly “fluff” up into the upper atmosphere due to its close proximity to a star.
The endurance of these high-altitude sand clouds is similar to Earth’s water cycle. Silicate vapors from evaporated sand droplets in hotter, deeper layers rise and then recondense into clouds at cooler, higher altitudes. This vaporization and condensation process keeps the sand clouds persisting high in the atmosphere.
“The fact that we see these sand clouds high up in the atmosphere must mean that the sand rain droplets evaporate in deeper, very hot layers and the resulting silicate vapour is efficiently moved back up, where they recondense to form silicate clouds once more,” explained lead author Dr. Michiel Min. “This is very similar to the water vapour and cloud cycle on our own Earth but with droplets made of sand.”
Professor Leen Decin of KU Leuven emphasized that JWST’s discovery is reshaping our comprehension of planetary formation and evolution, offering new perspectives on the Solar System itself. Moreover, the study demonstrates how JWST can characterize exoplanets without counterparts in our own Solar System.
WASP-107b, with all its fluffiness, points astronomers to a whole new host of possible planetary incarnations that have yet to be discovered. While this exoplanet is undoubtedly inhospitable to life, at least as we know it, it allows us to imagine strange new worlds that do not fit the mold of planetary evolution.
Mysterious 'explosive' sound from a 'UFO' over New England shook homes and rattled windows - and a Harvard physicist believes he has located the source
Mysterious 'explosive' sound from a 'UFO' over New England shook homes and rattled windows - and a Harvard physicist believes he has located the source
A loud boom that lasted for 12 seconds was heard and felt in New England
An observatory also pictured up the sound, leading to an investigation
New Englanders reported hearing a 'strange' sound on the evening of October 20, which shook homes and raddled windows for at least 12 seconds.
Harvard University's astronomical instruments recorded the noise, finding it did not resemble anything from birds, aircraft or wind.
Alien-hunting physicist and Harvard's former head of astronomy Avi Loeb to investigate the source of the 'unidentified flying object.'
Loeb determined the UFO released explosive energy equivalent to 2,400 pounds of TNT detected from over a 10-mile radius.
The sound was moving 1,115 feet per second when an observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts detected it.
Loeb determined that the energy source likely came from an exploding mile-wide meteor during the Orionid shower that peaked in the area on October 21.
Avi Loeb determined the UFO released explosive energy equivalent to 2,400 pounds of TNT detected from over a 10-mile radius. The sound was moving 1,115 feet per second when an observatory in Cambridge, Massachusetts detected it
Loeb's Galileo Project observatory recorded the boom using a giant, ultra-sensitive microphone (pictured) he installed on the roof of a building on Harvard's campus
Loeb's Galileo Project observatory recorded the boom using a giant, ultra-sensitive microphone he installed on the roof of a building on Harvard's campus.
Andy Mead, who designed and constructed the system, contacted Loeb on October 21 after noticing something strange picked up by the sensors.
'I started getting messages this morning about a 'viral' sound that was heard throughout New England,' Mead shared in the note.
'Notably, the Mount Washington Observatory made a post about it as they had so many inquiries.
'That post now has over 4,000 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 751 shares, many of whom heard the sound and are following the story.'
Reports stemmed from both states, traveling through Mount Washington, Boothbay Harbor, Maine and Sturbridge, where people heard an explosion over their homes around 7:43pm ET on October 20.
Andy Mead, who designed and constructed the AMOS system, contacted Loeb on October 21 after noticing a social media post about something strange in New Hampshire
(pictured)
Mead told Loeb he checked AMOS, finding 'a very interesting sound' that lasted for 12 seconds.
Loeb then created a website to crowdsource reports from other locations that could constrain the distance of the mystery source.
Harvard University's observatory recorded the noise, leading alien-hunting physicist Avi Loeb to investigate the source of the 'unidentified flying object'
'Given the mission of the Galileo Project, one question came to mind: 'Is this an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP)? Are aliens using advanced technologies near Earth,' the physicists shared in a Medium post.
The signal was short but produced a sudden release of energy that sent a wave through Earth's atmosphere.
Loeb found that the pressure wave had weakened by the time AMOS detected the sound, as it was moving 1,115 feet per second.
'Multiplying this speed by the duration of the pulse, 12 seconds, implies a shell width of 4 kilometers [2.4 miles] for the blast wave, implying a distance of about 40 kilometers [24.8 miles] from the explosion,' he shared.
'At that distance, the measured pressure disturbance suggested an explosive energy release of 2.4 kilotons of TNT. The inferred energy and distance are reminiscent of meteors, which are known to make their own music at high altitudes.'
The Orionid Meteor Shower, which takes place every autumn when Earth passes through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet, peaked on October 21 with up to 25 shooting stars every hour
The Orionid Meteor Shower, which takes place every autumn when Earth passes through a stream of debris from Halley's Comet, peaked on October 21 with up to 25 shooting stars every hour.
Meteors, also known as shooting stars, come from leftover comet particles and bits from broken asteroids.
When comets come around the sun, the dust they emit gradually spreads into a dusty trail around their orbits.
Every year, Earth passes through these debris trails, which collide with our atmosphere and disintegrate to create fiery and colorful streaks in the sky.
Because this is an annual event, residents of New England reported hearing the same 'boom' in 2021, also on October 20.
ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter Observes Green Atmospheric Nightglow on Mars
ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter Observes Green Atmospheric Nightglow on Mars
The atmospheric nightglow is observed on Earth. On Mars, it was something expected, yet never observed in visible light until now.
This image shows an artist’s impression of what nightglow might look like to an astronaut in the polar winter regions of Mars at night.
Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech /Cornell University / Arizona State University / E.W. Knutsen.
Airglow occurs when two oxygen atoms combine to form an oxygen molecule, about 50 km above the planetary surface.
The oxygen atoms form on Mars’s dayside when sunlight gives energy to carbon dioxide molecules, making them split apart.
When the oxygen atoms migrate to the night side and stop being excited by the Sun, they regroup and emit light at lower altitudes.
“This emission is due to the recombination of oxygen atoms created in the summer atmosphere and transported by winds to high winter latitudes, at altitudes of 40 to 60 km in the Martian atmosphere,” said Dr. Lauriane Soret, a planetary scientist at the University of Liège.
The illumination from the nightglow could be bright enough to light the way of future see the glow as bright as moonlit clouds on Earth.
“These observations are unexpected and interesting for future trips to the Red Planet,” said Dr. Jean-Claude Gérard, a planetary scientist at the University of Liège.
ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft observed the Martian nightglow in infrared wavelengths a decade ago.
ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter followed up by detecting glowing green oxygen atoms high above the dayside of Mars in 2020 — the first time that this dayglow emission was seen around a planet other than Earth.
These atoms also travel to the nightside and then recombine at lower altitude, resulting in the visible nightglow detected by the orbiter.
Orbiting Mars at an altitude of 400 km, Trace Gas Orbiter was able to monitor the night side of Mars with the ultraviolet-visible channel of its NOMAD instrument.
The instrument covers a spectral range from near ultraviolet to red light and was oriented towards the edge of the planet to better observe the upper atmosphere.
“The nightglow serves as a tracer of atmospheric processes,” the researchers said.
“It can provide a wealth of information about the composition and dynamics of a region of the atmosphere difficult to measure, as well as the oxygen density.”
“It can also reveal how energy is deposited by both the Sun’s light and the solar wind.”
“Understanding the properties of the Martian atmosphere is not only scientifically interesting but it is also key for missions to the planet’s surface.”
“Atmospheric density, for example, directly affects the drag experienced by orbiting satellites and by the parachutes used to deliver probes to the Martian surface.”
The team’s paper was published in the journal Nature Astronomy.
JC. Gérard et al. Observation of the Mars O2 visible nightglow by the NOMAD spectrometer onboard the Trace Gas Orbiter. Nat Astron, published online November 9, 2023; doi: 10.1038/s41550-023-02104-8
Visible Spectrum Unveils New Clues: Is This the Same Mysterious Gimbal UFO?
Visible Spectrum Unveils New Clues: Is This the Same Mysterious Gimbal UFO?
In the realm of the unexplained and the extraordinary, UFO sightings occupy a unique and captivating space. The recent surge in reports of unidentified flying objects has reignited public and scientific interest alike. As we delve into the latest UFO sightings, we unravel a tapestry of mystery, skepticism, and boundless curiosity.
Video:
The initially released Gimbal, showcased in the infrared spectrum.
The Resurgence of UFO Interest
The phenomenon of UFO sightings is not new, but recent advancements in technology and a shift in governmental transparency have brought it back into the spotlight. High-quality video recordings and enhanced imaging techniques have allowed for more detailed observations than ever before. In 2022, the United States government’s establishment of the Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) marked a significant step in recognizing and investigating these enigmatic occurrences.
The Gimbal Sighting: A Case Study
Among the numerous reports, the “Gimbal UFO” sighting stands out. Originally captured by a U.S. Navy jet’s infrared camera, this sighting showcases a flying object with extraordinary aerodynamic capabilities. Unlike conventional aircraft, the Gimbal UFO demonstrates an ability to hover, rotate, and change directions at seemingly impossible speeds. The release of this footage by the AARO has sparked a wave of speculation and analysis among both enthusiasts and skeptics.
Analyzing the Evidence
What makes the Gimbal sighting particularly intriguing is the clarity and quality of the footage. Experts and amateurs alike have pored over this video, debating the physics of the UFO’s movements and the potential technologies behind it. Some suggest experimental military aircraft or drones, while others lean towards extraterrestrial origins. The lack of definitive answers only adds to the allure of the phenomenon.
New video in the visible light spectrum. Could it be the same object?
The Impact of Technology on UFO Reporting
The proliferation of smartphones and social media has played a crucial role in the increase of UFO sightings. People around the globe can now capture and share their experiences in real-time, creating a vast network of eyewitness accounts. This democratization of reporting has led to a significant uptick in UFO sighting reports, providing researchers with a wealth of data to analyze.
The Role of Government and Scientific Inquiry
The establishment of organizations like the AARO represents a paradigm shift in how governments approach UFO sightings. No longer dismissed outright, these phenomena are being studied with a scientific lens. This change is encouraging more witnesses to come forward, shedding light on incidents that might have otherwise gone unreported.
The Future of UFO Sightings
As we continue to explore the skies and beyond, the mystery of UFO sightings remains an enticing puzzle. With each new report, we edge closer to understanding whether these sightings are earthly in origin or point to something beyond our current comprehension. The quest for answers continues, fueled by human curiosity and the relentless pursuit of the truth.
The world of UFO sightings is as mystifying as it is fascinating. With advancements in technology and a shift in attitude towards these phenomena, we are entering a new era of discovery. Whether the truth behind these sightings is terrestrial or not, the journey of exploration and understanding is in itself a remarkable adventure.
Wetenschappers van KU Leuven ontdekken zandwolken op exoplaneet WASP-107b: "Wetenschappelijke mijlpaal"
Wetenschappers van KU Leuven ontdekken zandwolken op exoplaneet WASP-107b: "Wetenschappelijke mijlpaal"
Artikel van Vincent Merckx
Stel het je eens voor: in de plaats van de regenbuien die we momenteel over onze hoofden uit gegoten krijgen, valt zand uit de lucht. Dat zand wordt door luchtstromen de atmosfeer in gestuwd, bevriest daar en "regent" vervolgens weer uit. Dat hele proces herhaalt zich opnieuw en opnieuw en opnieuw.
Klinkt een beetje apocalyptisch, niet? Toch doet precies dát zich voor 200 lichtjaar hiervandaan, op de exoplaneet WASP-107b. Dat ontdekte een team van Europese astronomen, geleid door onderzoekers van het Instituut voor Sterrenkunde aan de KU Leuven. Ze publiceren hun bevindingen vandaag in het wetenschappelijke tijdschrift Nature.
Kringloop van zand
Eerst iets meer over die exoplaneet - een planeet buiten ons eigen zonnestelsel, dus. WASP-107b draait rond een ster die iets koeler is dan "onze" zon. Het is ook een erg ijle exoplaneet, een zogenoemde gasreus. WASP-107b heeft ongeveer de massa van Neptunus, maar is meer dan twintig keer groter. Doordat de atmosfeer er zo ijl is, kan je er ook makkelijk doorheen kijken.
Dat biedt een mooie kans voor onderzoekers die de verschillende lagen van die atmosfeer willen onderzoeken. Het team van astronomen, onder wie professor Leen Decin van de KU Leuven, analyseerde de atmosfeer door de golflengtes op te meten van het licht dat erdoorheen viel. De verschillende golflengtes van dat licht leerden hen op hun beurt iets over de chemische samenstelling van de atmosfeer van WASP-107b.
Zo ziet het lichtspectrum van de atmosfeer van WASP-107b eruit.
Daarbij deden ze twee opvallende ontdekkingen: zwaveldioxide (SO₂) en siliciumwolken. Die zwaveldioxide was een grote verrassing. Volgens wetenschappelijke modellen kon er immers geen zwaveldioxide aanwezig zijn.
Dat er wolken waren, was op zich niet zo nieuw. Die zijn al vaker aangetroffen op exoplaneten. Wel slaagde het team er als eerste in om de chemische samenstelling van de wolken uit te lezen. Ze bleken te bestaan uit kleine deeltjes silicium (het belangrijkste bestanddeel van zand op onze Aarde).
Dat silicium vormt op WASP-107b een kringloop zoals die van water en wolken op onze planeet, legt Michiel Min uit. Hij is astronoom aan het SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research en werkte mee aan het onderzoek. "Het feit dat we deze zandwolken hoog in de atmosfeer zien, moet betekenen dat de zandregendruppels verdampen in diepere, zeer hete lagen van de atmosfeer en dat de resulterende siliciumdamp omhoog wordt getransporteerd, waar ze opnieuw condenseren om opnieuw siliciumwolken te vormen."
Immense spiegel
We hebben de ontdekkingen te danken aan de James Webb-ruimtetelescoop, zegt Decin van het Instituut voor Sterrenkunde, en dan in het bijzonder het instrument MIRI. Daar is twintig jaar lang aan gewerkt door een team van Europese en Amerikaanse wetenschappers. De KU Leuven leverde daar een belangrijke bijdrage aan.
De gigantische spiegel van de James Webb-telescoop kan veel zwakkere lichtsignalen opvangen.
Maar ook de immense spiegel van de James Webb-ruimtetelescoop was onmisbaar. Die heeft een diameter van zes meter. "Die spiegel zorgt dat je dingen kan waarnemen die vroeger veel te zwak waren om te zien", legt Decin uit. "Planeten zenden geen eigen licht uit, die reflecteren licht van hun moederster. Dat vraagt om krachtige instrumenten om dat zwakke signaal te kunnen waarnemen."
Gigantisch veel andere zonnestelsels
Maar waarom is die ontdekking van siliciumwolken en zwaveldioxide nu belangrijk?
Decin noemt het "een wetenschappelijke mijlpaal". "Het verandert ons begrip van de vorming en evolutie van planeten en werpt een nieuw licht op ons eigen zonnestelsel."
"Zwaveldioxide, dat kennen we op aarde bijvoorbeeld van de geur van verbrande lucifers. We begrepen niet hoe dat op een exoplaneet gevormd zou kunnen worden. Als we onze kennis enkel baseren op wat hier op aarde te zien is, dan is dat onvoldoende om te begrijpen wat er gebeurt op exoplaneten."
Dit dwingt ons om onze horizonten te verbreden, vindt Decin. "Ons zonnestelsel is maar één planetenstelsel. Daarbuiten bestaan gigantisch veel andere architecturen met compleet andere chemische samenstellingen dan wat we kennen van hier op Aarde of hier in ons eigen zonnestelsel."
There is a series of shooting down unidentified objects around the world that involves the United States. The military 2023 February UAP events are among the recent cases. Filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, along with investigative journalist George Knapp, has revealed a photograph of an object initially labeled as a “hostile drone” by the media. However, official statements from the United States, the UK, and allied intelligence agencies now confirm their inability to ascertain its origin, designating it as “unidentified.”
In episode 41 of Weaponized, Corbell and Knapp discuss UFO shootdowns covering both current events and historical perspectives. Corbell discusses events in 2019, specifically mentioning attempts to bring down over 100 UAPs on Navy warships using electromagnetic systems like the DRAKE (Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare) Anti-Drone System.
In the episode, Jeremy Corbell provides details about a UAP event that took place in late summer 2021 off the coast of Japan involving the USS Milius. The USS Milius experienced a series of encounters with UAPs that exhibited similar behavior to the previously mentioned incidents near Navy warships. However, in this case, the UAPs were observed in a vast 300-mile radius of sea, with no other ships around.
Corbell further describes the frustrating attempts to take down the UAPs using electromagnetic techniques, noting that these efforts were once again ineffective. The UAPs displayed extreme maneuverability over four or five consecutive nights, with multiple objects present during a 5-hour window from 1:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. or midnight to 4:00 a.m. The ship’s captain, out of frustration, reportedly instructed the crew to stop reacting to the UAPs and creating reports since there seemed to be no viable solution.
It’s a UFO, not a Hostile Drone!
Corbell and Knapp discussed an incident that happened in the Middle East, specifically in Syria on December 14, 2021. Corbell describes how the Royal Air Force, using a Typhoon fighter plane, reported shooting down a hostile drone, marking the first air-to-air firing by the Royal Air Force in 40 years. The media initially reported it as a terrorist drone, but there was a subsequent shift to calling it a “Mystery drone” as no terrorist group or nation claimed responsibility.
Corbell notes a significant discrepancy between public reporting and intelligence community products. He introduces an image, referred to as the “Syria Dome UAP,” associated with the event, and mentions that internally, the intelligence community labeled it as an UAP. Corbell emphasizes the importance of transparency and accurate reporting, pointing out that what is publicly disclosed differs from the information shared among allied nations within the intelligence community.
Corbell posts on X (formerly Twitter), “In a joint operation, a Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jet engaged an unidentified aerial vehicle using an Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM). Initial media reports labeled the unidentified as a ‘hostile drone’ – however – internal intelligence products officially classify the aerial vehicle of unknown origin as a UAP – and maintain this designation. The UAP was not recovered.”
Liberation Times writes, “According to Corbell, the Five Eyes report was published months after the incident occurred and indicates that on 14 December 2021, an RAF Typhoon jet shot at one UAP using an ASRAAM missile. At the time, the incident was reported as the first enemy aircraft shot down by the RAF since the Falklands War in Argentina more than 40 years ago.”
Corbell continues, stating that Centcom (United States Central Command) has been tracking UAP for over 15 years, and the frustration lies in the lack of proper reporting and handling of these incidents within the chain of command. He notes that in conflict zones, there is a tendency to shoot at anything within a certain proximity to ground troops or bases, especially if it appears to have a payload. However, the issue arises in the lack of recovery or proper handling after such engagements.
Further, in the episode, Corbell reveals the image of an object that he called the “Syria Dome UAP.” He says, “This image… is the one that was historically fired upon. It is referred to as a ‘terrorist drone,’ exhibiting a peculiar appearance. Whatever it may be, it is classified as a UAP within the intelligence community. This is not something that has been identified.”
Corbell notes that there were two of these unidentified devices, and when the Royal Air Force engaged with them, firing an Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missile (ASRAAM), one of the objects managed to evade and escape the scene. Corbell emphasizes the intelligence control exhibited by these objects, suggesting that they were not under random or autonomous flight.
Corbell admits uncertainty about whether the fired missile hit the object or if it made contact with the ground. He underscores the discrepancy between the public narrative, which presented the incident as involving a terrorist drone, and the internal classification within the intelligence community, where it is recognized as a UAP. The point is reiterated that the public is not receiving the full and accurate information about these encounters.
George Knapp shares his perspective on the image, stating that, in his extensive experience, he has seen various images of drones, both military and private, but finds the appearance of this particular object unique. He likens it to resembling a mushroom cloud, highlighting its distinctive and unconventional design.
Corbell said that the Five Eyes report indicates that the USAF militarily engages such craft if they are within a radius of ground troops and appear to carry a payload.
He told Liberation Times: “Unless observed with a possible payload, UAPs largely go ignored, as they are not part of the mission – this means that we lose the opportunity to study the phenomena and answer key questions, including 1) Who are the operators 2) Where do they originate from 3) How do they work? And 4) What is their intent?”
“I can confirm that there is frustration within the ranks of the U.S. military that UAPs with unique flight characteristics are being ignored. Worryingly, this critical information is not being reported up the chain of command properly – causing vulnerability to our troops and those of other nations.”
Previously on the Joe Rogan show, Corbell claimed that based on information from documents, the military fires upon UAPs within a certain proximity to ground troops, typically within 27 to 30 miles. The decision to engage is reportedly based on the perceived threat, with the military firing upon objects that appear to have a payload. The text also mentions that UAPs resembling cubes surrounded by spheres are not targeted, as they do not appear to have a payload.
Corbell suggests that the military has been firing Hellfire missiles at these UAPs, and there are reports of similar actions by countries like Russia and Syria. The text raises questions about the origin of these UAPs, as they are not believed to be assets of the countries engaging with them. Some UAPs are described, such as one resembling a jellyfish about the size of a coffee table.
“One of the UAPs that was fired upon looked like a jellyfish, about the size of a big coffee table, and domed. There is no known retrieval program in these war zones, and even if they did hit something, it’s unknown if they would be able to take it down. It’s possible that these UAPs could be balloons used by drug smugglers, but they have controlled flight, which is not a new phenomenon. There have been similar sightings of metallic spheres outpacing planes during World War II, with both sides thinking it was the other side’s technology.”
A while ago, Lue Elizondo, the former head of AATIP shared his thoughts on the UFO/UAP and how the Pentagon approaches the phenomenon from strictly national security perceptive. In an interview with Curt Jaimungal and Sean Cahil, Elizondo provides deeper insight into the Pentagon’s theories on why UFO/UAPs are routinely spotted around American, Russian, Chinese, and other nuclear-armed nations’ most secretive and sensitive nuclear assets.
Breaking News: Pentagon UFO Chief Shawn Kirkpatrick Resigns! Insider David Grusch Reveals Startling New UFO Insights!
Breaking News: Pentagon UFO Chief Shawn Kirkpatrick Resigns! Insider David Grusch Reveals Startling New UFO Insights!
In the ever-evolving quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe, the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), more commonly known as UFOs, has transitioned from the realm of science fiction to serious scientific and governmental consideration. The recent resignation of Sean Kirkpatrick, the head of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), after an impactful 18-month tenure, has brought this topic into sharper focus.
Kirkpatrick’s departure was not just a routine change in personnel. It came amidst a backdrop of escalating discussions about the nature of UAPs — are they evidence of extraterrestrial visitors, or advanced technologies from earthly adversaries? Kirkpatrick himself leaned towards the former, expressing that the possibility of these sightings being aliens would be less concerning than foreign technologies operating undetected in U.S. airspace.
Adding fuel to the fire are the claims of David Grush, a whistleblower with bold assertions about the U.S. government’s possession and reverse-engineering of UAP crafts. Grush speaks of the retrieval of crafts and biological materials related to UFO incidents, a claim that, if proven true, could redefine our understanding of life and technology.
What is striking in today’s discourse is the shifting public perception. Once a topic relegated to late-night talk shows and conspiracy theorists, UFOs and UAPs are now being discussed openly in mainstream media. Notable figures in science and academia are joining the conversation, suggesting that we are on the cusp of significant revelations.
The implications of these discussions are profound. Confirmation of extraterrestrial life or advanced alien technologies would not only be a scientific breakthrough but could also have far-reaching implications for our understanding of the universe and humanity’s place in it. The thought of other intelligent life forms existing in the vast expanse of space challenges our worldview and raises philosophical questions about existence itself.
VIDEO:
MASSIVE!! Pentagon UFO Chief Shawn Kirkpatrick steps down! David Grusch shares NEW information!
The conversation about UAPs also touches on fascinating theories of time travel and parallel universes. It opens the door to speculation about the nature of time and space, and how these might interact with the phenomenon of UFOs. The idea that these crafts could be from different timelines or dimensions is a tantalizing one, adding layers of complexity to an already intricate puzzle.
As we look to the future, there’s a palpable sense that more disclosures and developments in UAP research are on the horizon. This could lead to a greater understanding of these phenomena, shedding light on what these unidentified objects truly are. Will they reveal secrets of advanced extraterrestrial civilizations, or unveil new technological capabilities of rival nations?
In conclusion, the resignation of Sean Kirkpatrick and the revelations of whistleblowers like David Grush have opened a new chapter in the story of UFOs and UAPs. As the world watches with bated breath, one thing is certain: we are on the brink of potentially groundbreaking discoveries that could forever change our perception of the universe and our place within it. The skies above hold more secrets than we ever imagined, and the truth, as they say, may indeed be out there.
Over enkele miljarden jaren zal onze Melkweg botsen en samensmelten met het Andromeda-stelsel, onze ruimtelijke buur, in een kosmische gebeurtenis die het hele zonnestelsel zou kunnen beïnvloeden.
Astronomen spreken al geruime tijd over de dreigende botsing tussen de twee stelsels, en dankzij gegevens verkregen via de Hubble-ruimtetelescoop is dit onderzoek aangevuld met een simulatie van dit belangrijke galactische evenement.
Volgens deNASAzal de botsing leiden tot een significante transformatie van beide stelsels. Wetenschappers illustreren de botsing met een analogie van honkbal, waarbij deMelkwegde slagman zou zijn en de balAndromeda, die beweegt met een snelheid van 110 kilometer per seconde.
Wanneer ze botsen, over ongeveer 4 miljard jaar, zullen de sterren binnen elk stelsel niet botsen, maar worden ze in verschillende banen rond het nieuwe galactische centrum geworpen. Zo zal bijvoorbeeld onze Zon worden weggeslingerd naar een nieuw gebied, wat invloed kan hebben op de Aarde.
De volledige samensmelting van de Melkweg met Andromeda staat gepland om twee miljard jaar na de ontmoeting van beide plaats te vinden.
Unraveling the Phaistos Disc – Historical Enigma or Ingenious Sham?
Unraveling the Phaistos Disc – Historical Enigma or Ingenious Sham?
In 1908, an Italian researcher delved into the remains of Phaistos, a bygone Minoan stronghold situated on Crete's southern shoreline. Within a subterranean temple vault, amid scorched remains, grime, and cinders, he unearthed a remarkably preserved disc with a gold tint. This find has since become one of archaeology's most talked-about enigmas: The Phaistos Disc.
This disc, often called the Phaistos or Phaestos Disc, is a broad, sienna-hued, baked clay circular plate measuring around 15 cm (5.91 inches) across and 1 cm (0.39 inches) in thickness. Each face of this disc showcases a spiral filled with odd stamped insignias that wind their way clockwise to its core. It's believed these 45 distinct insignias were formed by embedding hieroglyphic stamps into the wet, malleable clay disc.
It was the archaeologist Luigi Pernier who chanced upon this disc in a sub-level chamber of the palace during his dig. It's believed that a seismic tremor or volcanic explosion may have led to the site's downfall. Distinct relics, like the Arkalochori Axe, bearing resemblances in inscriptions, speculated to be Linear A (an undecoded script of ancient Greece), have been found elsewhere in Crete.
Interkriti writes of the ancient city:
“Phaistos was one of the most important centres of Minoan civilization, and the most wealthy and powerful city in southern Crete. It was inhabited from the Neolithic period until the foundation and development of the Minoan palaces in the 15th century B.C. […] According to mythology, Phaistos was the seat of king Radamanthis, brother of king Minos. It was also the city that gave birth to the great wise man and soothsayer Epimenidis, one of the seven wise men of the ancient world.”
The disc's purpose, the meaning behind its cryptic symbols, and even its origin at Phaistos remain subjects of ongoing debate among scholars.
Panorama of ruins of the ancient Minoan Palace of Phaistos, Crete, Greece. ( dach83 /Adobe Stock)
Cryptic Insignias on the Phaistos Disc
The disc's most intriguing feature is undoubtedly the hieroglyphic sequence spiraling on both its surfaces. These icons, or pictograms, depict varied images like a pedestrian, a tattooed face, protective headgear, a projectile, shackles, felines, raptors, and others. Both the Minoan capital Knossos' discoverer, Sir Arthur Evans, in 1900, and Luigi Pernier tried and failed to decode the disc. Since then, over 26 notable efforts have been made to break the code.
The general consensus is that the script is Linear A, unassociated with any recognized language. However, some academics propose it could relate to multiple tongues, like Hittite, Homeric Greek, Indo-European, or a Semitic dialect. An article by WMMagazin cites Petr Kovar's "convincing" translation which indicates the script might be Proto-Slavic. Yet, there's no universally accepted translation.
Linear A Script. Ink-written inscriptions round the inner surface of a cup. Third Middle Minoan (Public Domain)
Decoding Efforts Surrounding the Phaistos Disc Theories about the disc's significance range from it being an age-old chant, a gaming surface, an astral record, an Atlantis manuscript, a mythical narrative, a maze's description, female initiation ceremonies, to a celestial almanac.
There's uncertainty regarding whether to read the symbols from the disc's core spiraling out or the reverse. Further, scholars can't agree on whether the transcribed symbols should be read from right to left or the opposite. Many concur that without more context or symbol samples, successful decoding might remain elusive.
Chart detailing a rendering of some of the symbols found on the Phaistos Disc (Partial Screenshot, Public Domain)
Yet, the allure of the disc remains. For instance, in 2015, Dr. Gareth Owens proposed that one disc side might praise the Minoan maternal deity, while the other honors Astarte, the love deity. This wasn't a direct translation but rather an inferred vocalization, inspired by Michael Ventris's code-breaking of Linear B. Owens clarified:
“We are reading the Phaistos disc with the vocal values of Linear B and with the help of comparative linguistics, ie comparing with other relative languages from the Indo-European language family. Reading something, however, does not mean understanding. The Disc of Phaistos is written in the Minoan script that records the Minoan language. This is the best sample of ‘Cretan hieroglyphics’, always in quotes, because it is not the writing system of ancient Egypt. The name is wrong. The scripts of the Phaistos Disc is also Minoan Linear A.”
The two sides of the Phaistos Disc. ( dimcha /Adobe Stock )
In October 2018, Georgian Journal presented an alternate theory – that the disc's content might be in Proto-Kartvelian (Proto-Georgian) – a pictographic script predating alphabets. They noted that only the Proto-Georgian language matched when Dr. Herbert Zebisch compared various languages using his software. Consequently, Gia Kvashilava theorized that the disc's content might be dedicated to the Colchian fertility deity, Nana.
While most experts believe in the disc's authenticity, a few speculate it might be a sophisticated forgery. Although Pernier's dig records were meticulous, the disc's exact origin remains unverified through scientific age determination methods. Hence, speculated dates range from 1700 BC to 1400 BC, targeting either Middle or Late Minoan periods.
Some even ponder if Pernier might have crafted the disc himself. However, the discovery of other items bearing Linear A inscriptions suggests otherwise. Crafting such a resilient fake, deceiving experts for over a hundred years, would be a colossal and daring deception.
Ultimately, until the Phaistos Disc's code is definitively unlocked and its secrets exposed, this gilded disc will persistently captivate linguists, code-breakers, and aficionados of historical conundrums.
Top Image: The Phaistos Disc ( CC BY SA 3.0 ) in front of a mysterious background. ( kerenby /Adobe Stock )
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, T. Temim (Princeton University)
When Chinese astronomers first glimpsed the Crab Nebula in 1054 CE — they didn’t see anything like this. A new photo courtesy of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captures milky strands of material, known as synchrotron radiation, as it courses throughout the body of SN 1054 — a hat tip to the supernova remnant’s original discovery.
The $10 billion telescope, filled with an array of infrared instruments, began snapping photos of the universe in unprecedented detail in the summer of last year. In that short amount of time, JWST has already delivered groundbreaking revelations about our universe, and the Crab Nebula is its latest subject in a new image published on Monday by NASA.
The Crab Nebula is located in the constellation Taurus, and in 1054 CE, its star went supernova. Amazingly, the resulting explosion caught the attention of Chinese astronomers during the Song Dynasty, some 6,500 light years away. Fast forward 1,000 years later, and the nebula is an ever-expanding remnant of that medieval explosion, but interest in the nebula has only grown as we’ve improved ways to glimpse the cataclysmic aftermath.
But unlike previous images of this iconic cosmic object, the JWST reveals the smoke-like feature flushed throughout the nebula in greater detail. These ethereal wisps come from the pulse of the Crab Nebula’s zombie heart. When certain massive stars die, they go supernova by ejecting their outermost layer, leaving behind an ultra-dense object called a neutron star.
When some neutron stars rapidly rotate, they emit what NASA describes as a “milky smoke-like material,” known as synchrotron radiation. These wind-charged particles move around magnetic field lines, and as they blow through the supernova remnant, they push the Crab Nebula’s shell of gas and dust outward.
A STELLAR DEATH
The Princeton University research team behind the latest investigation relied on JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) and Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI) to better understand the nebula’s origins and to explore how stars die. Stars are complicated objects, and what happens when one dies can be incredibly varied. That’s why detailed imagery like this one is necessary for scientists to unpack the complicated machinations of a star’s violent ending.
A neutron star, like the one in the center of the Crab Nebula, forms when a star roughly eight to 20 times the mass of the Sun runs out of hydrogen in its core. This triggers the beginning of the end. As NASA explains, a star will then begin to fuse helium into carbon, carbon into neon, neon into oxygen, oxygen into silicon, and silicon into iron.
“By the time silicon fuses into iron, the star runs out of fuel in a matter of days. The next step would be fusing iron into some heavier element, but doing so requires energy instead of releasing it,” NASA says.
The star’s core then collapses, and when it does, there emerges a cataclysmic shock wave that ripples through the star’s outer layers as the core rebounds to its original size, which creates a supernova.
“Webb’s sensitivity and spatial resolution allow us to accurately determine the composition of the ejected material, particularly the content of iron and nickel, which may reveal what type of explosion produced the Crab Nebula,” Princeton University’s Tea Temim shared in NASA’s announcement.
According to NASA, scientists will rely on new data from another major observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, over the next year or so. By drawing comparisons, astronomers hope to get one step closer to providing brand-new insight into this 1,000-year-old cosmic explosion.
Picture this: you are an astronomer working the night shift at the observatory, where scientists scour the heavens for celestial wonders and potential signs of intelligent life from afar. Tonight, however, rather than peering through telescopes, you have prepared for a long evening spent pouring over data sets from various projects happening around the facility.
You step over to visit the observatory’s director, your friend John Kraus, in the office beside you to see how his night is going. John is reading a new paper about telescope design, and beside him is a pile of books scattered across the floor covering radio astronomy and antenna theory.
You glance at your wristwatch, and it’s getting close to midnight.
You walk down the dark hallway to make yourself a strong cup of coffee because you know you’ll be here for the long haul. Somebody has to get through all this data; it won’t sort itself.
As you start to pour your coffee, a tiny beeping indicator echoes in the distance. You think nothing of it at first, but suddenly, it is followed by a sound that catches your attention: one indicating a radio transmission 30 times louder than ambient sound. Your cup of coffee is left steaming on the counter as you bolt back down the hall to your desk.
You can’t believe what you’re hearing and seeing. The transmission lasts for over 72 seconds. Looking over at your data chart, you then wipe your eyes to make sure what you’re seeing is right.
Could this really be what it looks like?
You double-check all the information on the printout in front of you and confirm the narrowband radio transmission you’re hearing is being broadcast at 1,420 megahertz. Excitedly, you circle a portion of the code, a vertical orientation of letters and numbers that reads “6EQUJ5”, and write “WOW!” in the margin: it is the precise spot where your fellow scientists have predicted that a message from an alien civilization, if one were to exist, would likely be found.
The famous “Wow! Signal” (Credit: Big Ear Radio Observatory and North American AstroPhysical Observatory).
This, or something close to it, is how the events might have unfolded for you on the night of August 15, 1977, at 11:16 p.m., if you had been working the Big Ear radio telescope at Ohio State University Radio Observatory. For it was under circumstances like these that astronomer Jerry R. Ehman discovered what has since been remembered, appropriately enough, as the WOW! Signal.
Originating from the direction of Sagittarius, the famous signal seemed to possess the characteristics scientists would expect from a genuine signal from an intelligent alien civilization. However, the actual source of the signal remains undetermined, and scientists remain divided on whether it had been something mundane or if it might have actually been an alien message.
Regardless of its source, the Wow! Signal became highly influential in terms of galvanizing the search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI). It inspired many to wonder what would happen if humans ever did receive a clear, unambiguous message from an extraterrestrial civilization.
Now, the idea of how and when we may receive alien messages from the stars has also served as part of the inspiration behind an innovative new SETI-themed artistic effort geared toward educating the public about some of the opportunities and challenges communication with extraterrestrials might present.
A SIGN IN SPACE
Daniela de Paulis, an interdisciplinary artist and licensed radio operator presently holding the title of Artist in Residence at both the SETI Institute and the Green Bank Observatory, has assembled a diverse team of experts from around the world that includes SETI researchers, space scientists, and artists, all collaborating on her most recent artistic venture, A Sign in Space.
Daniela de Paulis.
An innovative global theatre presentation, Paulis’s project aims to showcase how receiving, decoding, and interpreting an extraterrestrial message would work through the involvement of the worldwide SETI community. Drawing on professionals from various fields, as well as the general public, the project requires international collaboration to foster communication, including SETI space research, societies, and cultures from multiple disciplines.
“I presented this proposal to some scientists I’ve met through the SETI committee, and they reacted very positively. From a small core group of people, including myself and these scientists, we had the opportunity to talk with the European Space Agency.”
“The European Space Agency loved the proposal so much that they suggested using one of their spacecraft for this project,” adds de Paulis. The result was that on May 24, 2023, at 19:00 UTC / 12:00 pm PDT, the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter sent an encoded message to Earth from its position in orbit around Mars, simulating a signal from a form of extraterrestrial intelligence.
DECODING A COSMIC CRYPTOGRAM
Three prominent radio astronomy observatories situated worldwide detected this encoded message, including the SETI Institute’s Allen Telescope Array, the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope at the Green Bank Observatory, and the Medicina Radio Astronomical Station observatory managed by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics.
The precise content of the encoded message, developed by de Paulis and her team, remained a secret until the release date, allowing the public to contribute to its decoding and interpretation in a live Discord channel open to the public 24-7.
To encourage public involvement, a live social media event was organized by the SETI Institute, featuring interviews with crucial team members that included scientists, engineers, and artists, all of whom participated from different parts of the world.
After the signal was transmitted to Earth, it was made available to the public for decoding. Meanwhile, the A Sign in Space team followed up by hosting a series of Zoom panel discussions made available to the public, which focused on topics that explore the societal implications of detecting a signal from an extraterrestrial civilization.
The message generated for A Sign in Space, which remains undeciphered (Credit: A Sign in Space).
A CODED MESSAGE, UNSOLVED
As of now, the message has still not been decoded, and de Paulis and her team are unsure if ever will ever be.
“Some of us thought, okay, this is going to take two weeks. Other people said, Oh, this is not going to be decoded ever. So we simply have no idea,” de Paulis told The Debrief.
“It could be months. It could be years.”
If it remains unsolved, de Paulis hasn’t decided when the message will be revealed. However, she admits that she has considered not sharing the decoded version at all, an outcome that could also exist in real-life scenarios if an ET civilization does contact us.
“For me and my team, it’s really important not to give any spoilers because we want to really give the sense that, if we ever received an extraterrestrial message, we would have no one to ask, for help,” de Paulis says.
No one to ask for help, of course, except for each other.
“People now understood that it might be better to work with each other because the skills of one person would add to the skills of another person. And in general, there is, I would say, more self-reflection,” adds de Paulis.
One major takeaway for de Paulis has been watching the limitations that humans place on themselves, particularly as she observes the community Discord chat trying to decode the message.
“Knowing, of course, the content of the message, it’s really interesting to see how biased the human mind can be,” de Paulis told The Debrief, “and how we very quickly narrow down the options to something that we deem safer.”
“This dynamic seems to be really recurrent,” de Paulis says.
Regardless of how or when it occurs, receiving a clear and obvious message from an extraterrestrial civilization would be a profoundly transformational experience for all humankind.
However, for de Paulis and her team, what A Sign in Space has helped reveal is that before we can understand and potentially communicate with other intelligent forms of life in the cosmos, humanity must first consider how we can improve the ways we communicate with each other.
“We know how great we are, but also there are so many limitations, like exactly communicating with each other,” de Paulis explains. “Even solving human problems that, from the external side, seem to be solvable.”
Chrissy Newton is a PR professional and founder of VOCAB Communications. She hosts the Rebelliously Curious podcast, which can be found on The Debrief’s YouTube Channel. Follow her on X: @ChrissyNewton Or chrissynewton.com.
Human consciousness is quickly rising during these End Times bringing with it the last grasping effort by the Cabal and their Reptilian overlords to prevent extraterrestrial disclosure and humanity’s awakening by a contrived World War III. Humanity has a critical choice to make, allow itself to be manipulated into another devastating World War that involves nuclear weapons or welcoming extraterrestrial disclosure and the release of transformative technologies that would bring.
This is the trailer to Nov 25 Webinar: “The Exopolitical State of the Planet: The Ukraine & Israel-Palestine Wars, Manufacturing WWIII, the Battle over Consciousness & Extraterrestrial Disclosure.” To learn more or register, visit: https://www.crowdcast.io/c/exostateofplanet2023
“Monsters” lurk amidst the flickering lights from galaxy cluster MACS0416.
A new image published by NASA and the European Space Agency on Thursday shows a story from a long time ago. MACS0416 is located 4.3 billion light-years away from Earth. To reach the visible-light instrumentation onboard the Hubble Space Telescope and the infrared technology on the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), its light made quite an odyssey. It began its journey at the tail-end of the formation of the Solar System.
Astronomers are learning more about this region, tucked away in the constellation Eridanus (the River), thanks to the two observatories. “The image reveals a wealth of details that are only possible to capture by combining the power of both space telescopes,” JWST officials wrote in a Thursday image description.
Galaxy cluster MACS0416 is seen in this composite image that uses Hubble and JWST data.
Astronomers took this latest view of MACS0416 to hunt for transient objects or things that change in brightness over time.
The galaxy cluster is packed with enough of these flickers to earn a special nickname.
“We’re calling MACS0416 the Christmas Tree Galaxy Cluster, both because it’s so colorful and because of these flickering lights we find within it,” Haojing Yan, associate professor at the University of Missouri and lead author of a paper accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, said in NASA’s announcement.
The body of this imaginary tree is made of two colliding galaxy clusters that will eventually form one heftier object. The soft glow throughout the center of the image acts like a trunk of sorts. According to Hubble officials in 2018, this light comes from stars scattered throughout the hodgepodge cluster, pulled out of the galaxies they once called home.
Left: Hubble Space Telescope’s optical light observations of galaxy cluster MACS0416. Right: James Webb Space Telescope’s infrared observations of the same region.
The tree’s ornaments are varied and abundant. Thanks to a phenomenon called gravitational lensing, the light from distant galaxies gets magnified. Although they are located much farther away than MACS0416, the lensing makes their light appear and spruces up the holiday visuals.
THERE’S A “MONSTER”
One distant ornament stands out. Incredibly, it's not a galaxy but something even smaller: a clutch of stars. “Among the transients the team identified, one stood out in particular,” NASA officials wrote in their Thursday announcement.
The stars, magnified by a factor of at least 4,000, come from an ancient place in space where light is just now reaching the telescopes. These stars are from just 3 billion years after the Big Bang when the universe was about a quarter of its current age.
This archaic visual behemoth received quite a name. “The team nicknamed the star system ‘Mothra’ in a nod to its ‘monster nature,’ being both extremely bright and extremely magnified,” NASA officials wrote. They added that Mothra “joins another lensed star the researchers previously identified that they nicknamed ‘Godzilla’” because both are names of giant monsters in Japanese cinema.
This image of galaxy cluster MACS0416 highlights one particular gravitationally-lensed background galaxy, from when the universe was about a quarter of its current age. It contains a group of stars, highlighted here, whose brightness varies over time. It’s nicknamed “Mothra.”
Mothra is one of 14 transient objects across this field of view. Remarkably, two of these very highly magnified objects are supernovas, explosions of stars visible to astronomers from exceptionally distant places.
With blues indicating relatively nearby galaxies and reds showing dusty places or distant galaxies, this visual cornucopia provides plenty of science to celebrat
NASA’s Curiosity mission has just passed a special milestone. On Monday, NASA announced that Curiosity has now surpassed 4,000 sols, or days on Mars.
The small-SUV-sized rover reached the Red Planet on August 5, 2012, to explore Gale Crater for signs that past or present life could have existed on Mars. To find glimmers of this evidence, Curiosity has sojourned across a sediment-rich landscape on the alien planet with its six wheels over the last 11 years.
Curiosity is the oldest active Martian rover, taking over the title in 2019 when the 15-year-old Opportunity mission ended. NASA personnel think Curiosity still has quite a bit of life left.
“Despite having driven almost 20 miles (32 kilometers) through a punishingly cold environment bathed in dust and radiation since 2012, Curiosity remains strong,” according to a statement published Monday from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, the hub for Curiosity and the fleet of NASA’s Mars explorers.
To commemorate Curiosity’s accomplishment, Inverse has compiled images that define Curiosity’s last decade.
BILLIONS OF YEARS OF HISTORY
Curiosity took the images that went to making this composite view of Mars on April 10 and 11, 2015.
On April 10 and 11, 2015 — Curiosity’s 952nd and 953rd sols on Mars — both of its Mastcam lenses worked together to create this expansive view of the alien landscape.
According to JPL’s image description, the sand ripples and gravel that appear in the middle and at the bottom of this image were the sort of terrain that Curiosity first traversed. The rover left behind its landing site to reach Mount Sharp, a 3-mile-high peak in the middle of Gale Crater.
"This may be one of the thickest exposed sections of layered sedimentary rocks in the solar system. The rock record preserved in those layers holds stories that are billions of years old — stories about whether, when, and for how long Mars might have been habitable,” Joy Crisp, Curiosity deputy project scientist at JPL, shared in a statement NASA published in 2011.
ALIEN SUNSET
Curiosity took the images for this sunset sequence on April 15, 2015.
To produce this view of a sunset on another planet, Curiosity’s team stitched together four images that Mastcam’s left eye captured over the span of 6 minutes, and 51 seconds. This sequence was captured on April 15, 2015, the mission's 956th sol.
This was the first time that the mission observed the Martian sunset in color. According to JPL officials, “Mastcam sees color very similarly to what human eyes see, although it is actually a little less sensitive to blue than people are.”
SAND DUNE SELFIE
Curiosity took 57 images on January 19, 2016, to produce this self-portrait (minus its robotic arm).
Curiosity is well-known for its selfies. The rover took this portrait from Namib Dune, located along the northwestern flank of Mount Sharp.
This image shows most, but not all, of Curiosity’s body. “The view does not include the rover's arm,” JPL officials wrote in an image description published on January 27, 2016. “The arm was positioned out of the shot in the images, or portions of images, that were used in this mosaic.”
The selfie is a mosaic of 57 images, taken on January 19, 2016 — Curiosity’s 1,228th sol — with a camera located at the end of the rover’s robotic arm called the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI).
DRILLING INTO BEDROCK
Curiosity captured the before and after of obtaining the Aberlady sample from Martian bedrock on April 6, 2019.
This Mastcam sequence shows the first time Curiosity drilled into the bedrock of a clay-bearing unit, a maneuver that the mission team had highly anticipated.
Curiosity is equipped with four spectrometers that can measure the chemical composition within rock samples. The one collected here on April 6, 2019 — the mission’s 2,370th sol — was called Aberlady.
CLOUDS OVER MOUNT SHARP
Curiosity captured images of clouds rolling over Mount Sharp on March 19, 2021.
To gather scientific data, sometimes Curiosity has to look up.
Each frame in this scene is a mosaic of six individual images. They show clouds drifting over Mount Sharp on March 19, 2021, the 3,063rd sol of the mission.
Curiosity Navigation Cameras Spot Twilight Clouds on Sol 3075: Using the navigation cameras on its mast, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover took these images of clouds just after sunset on March 31, 2021, the 3,075th sol, or Martian day, of the mission.
Curiosity Navigation Cameras Spot Twilight Clouds on Sol 3072: Using the navigation cameras on its mast, NASA’s Curiosity Mars rover took these images of clouds just after sunset on March 28, 2021, the 3,072nd sol, or Martian day, of the mission.
Cloudy days are rare on Mars because of the planet’s thin atmosphere, but they can appear seasonally when Mars is farthest away from the Sun in its orbit, according to NASA. Curiosity’s images of the clouds helped scientists realize that clouds were much higher than most clouds which hover around 27 miles above the surface. Their larger altitude indicates they are made of dry ice (or frozen carbon dioxide) rather than water ice.
ROLLING ALONG
This eight-frame movie comes from the Curiosity rover, captured on December 12, 2021.
These clouds rolling along the Martian sky appeared to Curiosity’s navigation camera on December 12, 2021, the 3,325th sol of the mission.
This wasn’t easy, according to NASA. “Martian clouds are very faint in the atmosphere, so special imaging techniques are needed to see them,” according to an image description from JPL.
To get a clear, static background, Curiosity had to snap multiple images. “That allows anything else moving within the image (like clouds or shadows) to become visible after subtracting this static background from each individual image,” JPL officials added.
AN EARTHLY PERSPECTIVE
Curiosity took this view of the Martian landscape on August 23, 2022. Its color has been adjusted to depict what the human eye would perceive on Earth.
Mission team members adjusted the color in this image “to match the lighting conditions as the human eye would perceive them on Earth,” according to an image description published in 2022.
This scene is a mosaic of 23 Mastcam images captured near a hill called Bolivar on August 23, 2022, the 3,572nd sol of the mission.
Soon after reaching its 4,000th sol milestone, Curiosity went offline. From November 6 to 28, the mission team will await the end of solar conjunction. This is when Mars passes behind the Sun. During this time, Curiosity cannot communicate with Earth because the star’s plasma could interfere with sending commands.
But in a few weeks, Curiosity will continue its explorations.
For nearly 18 months, he’s been the first head of the Pentagon’s fledgling office tasked with investigating what the government calls “unidentified anomalous phenomena,” which military pilots have increasingly reported seeing in the skies.
Kirkpatrick set up an entire system for collecting data, waded through hundreds of reported UFO sightings and batted down whistleblower claims that the government covered up a program to reverse-engineer alien craft. And don’t forget the Chinese spy balloon episode.
In an interview with POLITICO Magazine, he talked about why he’s stepping down in December and how he sought to “institutionalize the solution for getting at the heart of these anomalies.” The Pentagon has a real interest in deciphering the sharp rise in unidentified crafts spotted by military pilots; if these aren’t aliens, they could be foreign adversaries posing incredibly new threats.
Kirkpatrick, 55, was perhaps the perfect person to lead what’s formally known as the Defense Department’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, which was established in July 2022. A physicist who spent decades working in the defense-intelligence arena, he’s open to the possibility that we’re not alone in the universe, having co-authored a hotly-debated paper about alien motherships. But his bottom line is to focus on the science.
“If you are talking with NASA or the European Space Agency, and you’re talking about looking for life out in the universe, it is a very objective, very scientifically sound discussion and discourse,” he said, describing the public discourse. “As that discussion gets closer to the solar system, somewhere around Mars, it turns into science fiction. And then as you get even closer to Earth, and you cross into Earth’s atmosphere, it becomes conspiracy theory.”
Part of Kirkpatrick’s work going forward, he added, will be to “raise the level of the conversation” about these unidentified objects.
And yes, we did ask him if aliens are real.
This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Lara Seligman: You’ve only been in the job less than 18 months. Why are you leaving now?
Sean Kirkpatrick: When I took the job, I promised going in that I would do a year, and we would reevaluate. I have decided to stay on until towards the end of this year because there’s a couple more things I need to finish.
One of those is finishing Volume One of the historical review [required by the law], which really encompasses all of the interviewees that have come in to talk to us. And then laying that out as “Here’s what we’ve been able to prove is true, here’s what we’ve been able to prove is not true,” as a very thorough and objective research product. The legislative requirement for the historical report is not due until June of next year. I decided, because of the desire for more transparency faster, we are doing a Volume One, and then Volume Two will be delivered next year. Volume One covers everything up to about a month ago. Volume Two is going to cover anything new that comes up since we’ve turned on the reporting button on our website.
I deferred my retirement because I was asked to come do this. I set out those goals. It’s been about 18 months. I’m ready to move on. I have accomplished everything I said I was going to do.
Seligman: What changes to the office can we expect once you are gone?
Kirkpatrick: It won’t get a new name. They are not going to get a major makeover. The team has done a really exceptional job of setting the foundational stone for the vision I laid out and how we’re going to execute on this. Whoever comes in next, that will be really to execute the rest of those foundational stones and ensure that is projected into the future.
Kirkpatrick: No, these are all expected challenges. The balloon, that’s a very interesting case of the interagency in the U.S. government trying to understand the differences between a known anomalous thing, if you will, and an unknown anomalous thing. Our job is harder than “Hey, there’s a Chinese spy balloon, you know what it is? What is it doing?” That’s not our job. Our job is to understand the unknowns and what could be there. What are the possibilities that threaten us? And how do we get at it? How do I apply technical rigor to go after that “hunt” mission, if you will?
The whistleblowers are an interesting bit. We’ve had greater than 30 people now come in to talk to us. We have investigated every single one of them, every single story, every lead that provided any substantive evidence for us to go after.
David Grusch is a unique instance in that he has refused to come and share any of that information. We still can’t get him to come in. I’ve got five different people who have gone to talk to him to get him to come in. And the answers have always been everything from “We’re not cleared” to “It would jeopardize his whistleblower protections” to “Why can’t we just go get the information that he shared from the IG?” It’s every excuse that I have heard, why not to come in. And that’s been a challenge because now here we are, we’re about to put out Volume One of the historical review, which I believe captures most all of the people that he’s spoken with, but I can’t say that 100 percent because I can’t hear what he thinks he has. If he has evidence, I need to know what that is.
Seligman: What are the biggest accomplishments of your year and a half as the head of AARO?
Kirkpatrick: I laid out a plan about 18 months ago on what we needed to accomplish in order to make this mission area successful and to institutionalize the solution for getting at the heart of these anomalies. That included really several main areas. There was there was an analytic area, there was an operational area. There was a science and technology area. And then there was a strategic messaging or communications information sharing area.
In all of those, I mapped everything that the congressional language asked us to do for the last couple of years and kept a scorecard: These are all the things I needed to accomplish coming into this job.
We have standardized the analytic framework for how we deal with these observations in a very rigorous fashion. We have run that framework successfully now, and are ramping up the number of cases that are being resolved.
Operationally, we have institutionalized how to respond to and mitigate these incidents. We have worked with the Joint Staff and the commands and the combat support agencies and the intelligence community on questions like: When one of these things is observed, how do we get more data? How do we save that data that’s been collected? That was historically a very big problem: That data was not retained. Now data is required to be retained so that we can have something to analyze.
In the science and technology area, how do you look at all of these sensors and ensure that we understand, when an F-35 or an F-22 or ground radar sees an anomalous object, how do we know that’s not a normal object that you just haven’t calibrated against? We’ve run a campaign against those sensors, making sure that we measure each and every one of the unknown objects against them. And we turn those into additional modeling, simulation and training back to the operators so that we can reduce false alarms. The other thing that we’re doing there is a campaign of pattern of life: understanding what is normal, so that you can understand when an anomalous or an abnormal peak and activity occurs.
In the information sharing area: It’s been a long time coming, but we have gotten to the point now where we have a dedicated website. We are pushing material out, it is a living website, there will be updates on a periodic basis.
If I go back to the fundamental definition of a UAP [unidentified anomalous phenomena] that we had written into law, it is an unknown object that is not initially understood by the sensor or the people observing it. That doesn’t mean that it’s not understandable. It just means that initially when you look at it, you may not understand what that is.
People are subject to optical illusions, sensors are subject to being fooled or spoofed or even just having errors. Understanding what all of that is out in the real world is a very challenging mission space. It is hard to apply science and technology to the real world. It’s easy to do in a lab.
So putting all that together and putting it into an institutionalized space and getting it formalized and getting it into policy and getting it into orders: Those have all been major accomplishments that we set out to do, that I set out to do. And that has been achieved today.
Seligman: Are aliens real?
Kirkpatrick: That is a great question. I love that question. Number one, the best thing that could come out of this job is to prove that there are aliens, right? Because if we don’t prove there are aliens, then what we’re finding is evidence of other people doing stuff in our backyard. And that’s not good.
Two, from a scientific perspective: The scientific community will agree that it is statistically invalid to believe that there is not life out in the universe, as vast as the universe is and the number of galaxies and solar systems and planets. That is what part of NASA’s mission is to look for that life. The probability, however, that that life is intelligent and that it has found Earth and that it has come to Earth and that it has repeatedly crashed in the United States is not very probable.
So part of what we’ve been trying to do, and part of what I will continue to do until I’m done, is raise the level of the conversation. Let me explain. If you are talking with NASA or the European Space Agency, and you’re talking about looking for life out in the universe, it is a very objective, very scientifically sound discussion and discourse. As that discussion gets closer to the solar system, somewhere around Mars, it turns into science fiction. And then as you get even closer to Earth, and you cross into Earth’s atmosphere, it becomes conspiracy theory.
We need to change the level of the [public] conversation. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve engaged academia to work on a number of scientific papers that look at the probabilities of these things, and what are the signatures associated with that? So that we can benchmark what we’re doing in scientific proofs and in scientific fact and not hearsay and pointing fingers and government cover ups and conspiracies with no evidence of any of them.
Seligman: Is that why you wrote that paper with Harvard professor Avi Loeb about the theory that UAPs are probes from an alien mothership?
Kirkpatrick: That was the start of that work where we were looking at, if you want to believe these hypotheses, what are the signatures that you would expect to see from that? Because if I don’t see any of those signatures, with any of the data that we see, then that’s not a valid hypothesis. That’s how science works. Right? You have to have a hypothesis. You have to have measurables with that hypothesis, and then your data has to meet it. And you have to lay that out in a peer-reviewed journal so that you have something to pin it against.
Seligman: That paper though with your name attached made it look like you were backing the theory. Is this something that you regret?
Kirkpatrick: That paper was in draft when it was leaked. We hadn’t actually finished that paper and it needed a lot of editing before it went out.
Seligman: It wasn’t leaked. Avi Loeb posted it online.
Kirkpatrick: Well, yeah, he posted it without permission.
Seligman: Do you regret your involvement in that?
Kirkpatrick: No, because it’s the same principle. We are standing up for the facts. We are standing up for the scientific method. And this is how you go about doing it. You either do it or you don’t.
Seligman: What’s next for you?
Kirkpatrick: I have a number of things that I’m exploring right now. One of them for certain is going to be consulting, doing some board work, working with a number of folks across the interagency, the space community, the science and technology and intelligence community as we go forward. I think we’ll hear more in the coming month.
Space exploration should never be run of the mill nor something that finds itself on the back pages of the newspaper. Captain James T. Kirk was right that space really is the final frontier and making it more accessible is one of the driving forces behind SpaceX. Their mission to seek out new life and new civilisations, wait that’s wrong – that’s Starfleet. The SpaceX mission ‘to revolutionise space technology, with the ultimate goal of enabling people to live on other planets is at the forefront of the development of the enormous Starship which may make another launch attempt as soon as this Friday 17th November.
SpaceX is a company that shot to fame since it was founded (I really wanted to type ‘launched’ but resisted) back in 2002 by Elon Musk. Musk had a vision to revolutionise space exploration by reducing costs and more excitingly he wanted to colonise Mars. SpaceX operate the Falcon rockets, the Dragon capsule that is often transporting supplies to and from the International Space Station and skywatchers around the globe are familiar with the infamous Starlink project that has launched more than 5,000 small satellites into orbit providing global internet coverage. There is no doubt the SpaceX brand is a well known one.
SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft is launched from Launch Complex 39A (Credit : NASA/Joel Kowsky)
One of the more recent additions to the SpaceX fleet is the super heavy lift launch vehicle known rather imaginatively as Super Heavy and, when coupled with Starship in its final configuration has the capability of lifting at least 150 tonnes into low earth orbit. It is the tallest and most powerful rocket ever to have flown at an immense 120m tall but the real headline statement for Starship is that it is designed to be fully re-usable with both stages being recovered after launch and used again. If you haven’t yet watched the Starship stages landing then you really should hunt them down, I never tire of watching it.
The plans for Super Heavy and Starship are not just to get objects into low earth orbit though, there are plans to use them to refuel other Starships in orbit, to be a part of the NASA Artemis program to get humans back to the Moon and ultimately the colonisation of Mars. The power behind Super Heavy are the powerful Raptor rocket engines that burn liquid methane and oxygen to get off the launchpad but fire again to slow down the booster during descent to a graceful landing, ready to be used again.
SpaceX sea-level Raptor at the company headquarters at Hawthorne, California (Credit : Brandon De Young)
This all sounds pretty amazing but as we saw on 20 April this year, space flight is anything but routine. Four minutes after launch, at an altitude of 39km above the Gulf of Mexico, Musk’s beloved Starship failed to separate from the booster leading to the whole system exploding in a fireball on its maiden voyage. The FAA grounded the entire fleet but, it looks like we may be set for a fresh attempt this Friday 17th November subject to final approval from the FAA. If or when the launch finally goes ahead, it will be from a new reinforced launch site and will use a new separation technique known as Hot Staging where the second stage engines will fire to put the booster away! Good luck SpaceX.
Old footage shows unknown ancient devices found during Nazi expeditions in Antarctica and Egypt
Old footage shows unknown ancient devices found during Nazi expeditions in Antarctica and Egypt
This is said to be a rare footage from an unknown private film collection archive, that supposedly shows objects and ancient devices that were discovered and then taken away during the Nazi expeditions in Egypt and Antarctica, which are still secret!
I do know for a fact that many artifacts have been looted in previous wars but I have never seen anything like this before.
It would be great if it could be proven that the ancient artifacts shown in the short film were made by ancient civilizations with advanced technology, extraterrestrial intervention, or other supernatural explanations, but... as long as they keep it a secret and withhold the truth about our history, the origin of these objects will remain a mystery.
It will be interesting to learn how they will explain the discovery of these objects.
UFO the size of a football field hovered over Vandenberg Air Force Base
UFO the size of a football field hovered over Vandenberg Air Force Base
In 2003, an unidentified flying object, comparable in size to a football field, reportedly hovered over Vandenberg Air Force Base, as disclosed during a House Oversight Committee's national security subcommittee hearing on UFOs. The hearing, held on Wednesday, delved into UFOs, now termed "unidentified anomalous phenomena" by the U.S. government.
The proceedings included whistleblower accounts that shed light on purported government UFO programs spanning multiple decades, according to retired major David Grusch. Former Navy fighter jet pilot Ryan Graves, founder of the non-profit Americans for Safe Aerospace, presented testimony regarding the alleged UFO sighting at Vandenberg.
During questioning by Representative Anna Paulina Luna, Graves recounted the 2003 incident: "In the 2003 timeframe, a sizable group of Boeing contractors near a launch facility at Vandenberg observed a large, 100-yard-sided red square approaching from the ocean. It hovered at low altitude over the launch facility for about 45 seconds before rapidly darting off over the mountains around 8:45 a.m."
Graves further described a subsequent event 24 hours later, involving additional sightings on the base, with some objects displaying aggressive behavior toward security guards. The information, according to Graves, came from a witness who approached him at Americans for Safe Aerospace, and this witness possessed documented police blotter and records from the 2003 incidents.
Testimonies from former Major Grusch and ex-U.S. intelligence officer David Fravor were also part of the hearing, although they refrained from answering certain questions. Representative Tim Burchett emphasized the importance of government transparency in addressing the issue, clarifying that the aim was to uncover facts without sensationalizing the subject.
Shocking Encounter: 6 British Soldiers Face Triangular UFO & Missing Time Near Salisbury Plain!
Shocking Encounter: 6 British Soldiers Face Triangular UFO & Missing Time Near Salisbury Plain!
Unveiling the Mystery: The Enigmatic UFO Sightings Over Salisbury Plain
In the realms of the unexplained and the unknown, few phenomena capture the imagination quite like UFO sightings. The late 1980s and early 1990s were a particularly fertile period for such sightings, with numerous reports of mysterious crafts filling the skies worldwide. Among these, the Salisbury Plain incident in the UK stands out for its complexity and intrigue.
The Encounter: A Triangular Enigma
It was a cold winter night in 1989-1990 when a group of six British soldiers, engaged in night maneuvers near Salisbury Plain, witnessed something extraordinary. Their encounter with a colossal, black, triangular craft, reportedly the size of a football pitch, marked a chilling chapter in UFO sightings history.
Renowned UFO researchers Jon King and Timothy Good have scrutinized this incident, adding credibility to the soldiers’ accounts. King, the editor of “UFO Reality,” and Good, a respected figure in the field, bring a critical eye to these unexplained events, which often go dismissed as mere fantasy or misidentified military exercises.
Advanced Technology: Beyond Human Capabilities
What sets the Salisbury Plain sighting apart is not just the size of the craft but its purported advanced technology. Comparable sightings in Belgium, where UFOs executed maneuvers impossible by today’s aviation standards, echo this narrative of technological marvels. These crafts’ abilities to move thousands of meters in a blink have fueled theories ranging from extraterrestrial visitations to top-secret military projects.
The Human Experience: A Soldier’s Tale
Central to the Salisbury Plain story is Mark, a former British soldier whose identity remains concealed for fear of repercussions. His experience, and that of his fellow soldiers, encapsulates the human element in UFO encounters. The group’s collective memory lapse, the strange sensations of being controlled, and the appearance of a mysterious figure dressed in black, wielding a rod-like object, all contribute to a deeply unsettling experience.
The Aftermath: Questions and Theories
The soldiers found themselves disoriented and off-course, grappling with missing time and lingering emotional distress. Such experiences raise profound questions about the nature of these sightings. Are they evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, or do they hint at something else entirely?
VIDEO:
The Salisbury Plain UFO encounter remains an enigmatic piece in the vast puzzle of UFO sightings. It challenges our understanding of technology, physics, and perhaps the very notion of life beyond our planet. As we continue to seek answers, stories like these keep the flame of curiosity alive, urging us to look skyward and question what lies beyond.
Mysterious Night Skies: Dual UFOs Captured Over Alicante, Spain
Mysterious Night Skies: Dual UFOs Captured Over Alicante, Spain
In the serene night skies of the Province of Alicante, Spain, a remarkable event unfolded on the 12th of November, 2023, reigniting the ever-fascinating discussion of UFO sightings. This time, the awe-inspiring moment was captured through a night vision camera, NVG10, presenting a crystal-clear and intriguing view of what appears to be two interconnected UFOs.
The footage, filmed with the cutting-edge NVG10 night vision camera (Amazon link), known for its high-resolution imaging and advanced low-light capabilities, showcases a pair of luminous, unidentified flying objects. These UFOs, linked together by an unexplained force, glide seamlessly across the nocturnal backdrop, leaving viewers mesmerized and curious about their origin.
This sighting in Alicante, a region known for its picturesque landscapes and tranquil nights, adds a new chapter to the ever-growing anthology of UFO encounters. The two linked objects, with their synchronized movement and radiant appearance, challenge our understanding of the skies above and beckon us to question what lies beyond our terrestrial realm.
What makes this footage particularly compelling is the clarity provided by the NVG10 camera. Its ability to capture detailed images in low-light conditions has not only provided UFO enthusiasts with captivating visual evidence but also has sparked interest among skeptics and scientists alike.
As the debate around the existence of extraterrestrial life continues, this latest sighting in Alicante offers a fresh perspective and a tantalizing glimpse into the unknown. Whether these UFOs are a testament to otherworldly visitors, a natural phenomenon, or something else entirely, remains a topic of intrigue and wonder.
For those keen on exploring the mysteries of the night sky, the NVG10 night vision camera emerges as a tool of choice, bridging the gap between the seen and the unseen, and potentially unlocking new secrets of our universe.
As we delve into this extraordinary encounter, we invite you to watch the video and join the conversation. What are these mysterious objects? Are we alone in this vast cosmos, or is this sighting in Alicante a beacon of otherworldly presence? The skies above continue to hold their secrets, but with each new sighting, we inch closer to unraveling the mysteries of the universe.
NASA has temporarily lost the ability to communicate with its Mars fleet, according to a statement issued by the space agency citing a phenomenon that occurs every two years that blocks commands from being sent to its robotic explorers.
The phenomenon, known as Mars solar conjunction, occurs when the Sun moves between Earth and Mars every other year.
“Like dancers on either side of a huge bonfire, the two planets are temporarily invisible to each other,” reads a NASA FAQ page describing the biennial celestial event.
The Sun photographed by Perseverance on Nov. 7, 2023 (Sol 965), just prior to the onset of the 2023 Mars solar conjunction
(NASA/Caltech).
NASA says its rovers and orbital craft currently engaged in science missions on Mars will not discontinue operations, although data collection will remain limited for two weeks while Earth and Mars remain on either side of the Sun.
This year’s solar moratorium officially began on November 11 and will last until the 25th.
During the period of interrupted communication, some of the instruments are temporarily taken offline by engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and no new instructions are dispatched to the robotic scientists on the Red Planet due to the likelihood that they will be lost once they encounter the interference caused by the Sun and the highly charged particles it emits.
However, in preparation for the communication breakdown, NASA sends two weeks’ worth of commands to its Mars fleet so that limited operations can continue.
Perseverance captured a selfie from the location where it will remain parked during the 2023 Mars solar conjunction
(NASA/Caltech).
Currently, NASA says its Perseverance and Curiosity rovers are being tasked with ongoing monitoring of surface conditions on Mars, as well as observations of weather conditions, radiation levels, and other information their onboard sensors can continue to monitor.
The Ingenuity Mars Helicopter has also been tasked with observing the motion of sand on the Red Planet throughout the course of the solar conjunction, while the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Odyssey orbiter will keep their camera eyes trained on the Martian surface from their positions in orbit, along with the MAVEN spacecraft’s collection of data about the Martian atmosphere.
Limited information about the status of the Mars fleet will continue to be dispatched back to NASA, all except for a period of two days at the height of the conjunction where Mars and Earth are on the exact opposite ends of the Sun from each other.
“We’ll still be able to hear from them and check their states of health over the next few weeks,” said Roy Gladden, manager of the Mars Relay Network at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in a NASA statement.
After November 25, full communication is expected to be restored, and science data that has remained in limbo for the previous two weeks will be sent back to Earth, while new instructions will also be sent to the Mars fleet.
NASA Wants to Learn to Live Off the Land on the Moon
Artist rendition of an In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technology demonstration on the lunar surface. NASA is working with industry and academia to develop technologies for future production of fuel, water, or oxygen from local resources, thus advancing space exploration capabilities. (Credit: NASA)
NASA Wants to Learn to Live Off the Land on the Moon
In preparation for the upcoming Artemis missions to the lunar south pole, NASA recently solicited a Request for Information (RFI) from the lunar community to map out its future Lunar Infrastructure Foundational Technologies (LIFT-1) demonstration for developing In-situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) technologies as part of the agency’s ambitious Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative (LSII). The primary goal of LIFT-1, which is being driven by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD), is to advance ISRU technologies for extracting oxygen from the lunar regolith, including manufacturing, harnessing, and storing the extracted oxygen for use by future astronauts on the lunar surface. Proposals for LIFT-1 became available to be submitted via NSPIRES on November 6, 2023, with a deadline of December 18, 2023.
Artist rendition of future Artemis astronauts on the lunar surface using available resources for production of fuel, water, and oxygen. (Credit: NASA)
“The LIFT-1 demonstration creates a viable path to launch, land, and conduct operations on the lunar surface. This is the infusion path we need for ongoing industry and NASA center-led technology development activities,” said Dr. Prasun Desai, who is the acting associate administrator of STMD at NASA Headquarters in Washington DC. “Using in-situ resources is essential to making a sustained presence farther from Earth possible. Just as we need consumables and infrastructure to live and work on our home planet, we’ll need similar support systems on the Moon for crew and robots to operate safely and productively.”
NASA is heavily invested in developing ISRU technologies and is in collaboration with industry and academia in a wide range of studies involving lunar regolith, including construction, oxygen extraction, and growing plants. In addition to using lunar regolith to extract oxygen, efforts are being made to extract oxygen from lunar water ice, which is the primary reason Artemis is targeting the lunar south pole due to its proximity to the permanently shadowed regions (PSRs) of the Moon.
Lunar regolith being used to grow plants at the University of Florida, which is an example of NASA collaborating with academia in developing ISRU technologies for future human missions to the Moon. (Credit: UF/IFAS photo by Tyler Jones)
The purpose of ISRU is to “live off the land” through the resources that are available on-hand without the need for constant resupply from Earth. Future astronauts on both the Moon and Mars will need both food and water to survive for long-term missions, and supply missions from Earth can be both costly and risky, especially as humans venture farther out into the cosmos. Therefore, steps are being taken to learn how future astronauts can use available resources to their benefit, specifically for food, water, and oxygen.
An example of the most recent off-Earth ISRU technology demonstration is the toaster-sized Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilization Experiment (MOXIE) onboard NASA’s Perseverance rover with the goal of extracting oxygen from the carbon dioxide-heavy Martian atmosphere, which was accomplished in April 2021, only a few months after Perseverance landed in Jezero Crater. After just over an hour of the test, MOXIE produced 5.37 grams (0.01 pounds) of breathable oxygen, which is enough breathable oxygen for an astronaut to use for approximately 10 minutes. After this successful test, NASA now aspires to use develop similar technologies on the Moon using lunar resources, specifically lunar regolith and water ice found at the poles.
“An ISRU technology demonstration approach has been a topic of discussion within the Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative and Consortium communities for several years,” said Niki Werkheiser, who is the director of Technology Maturation in STMD at NASA. “This RFI is the next phase to make it a reality.”
As noted, LIFT-1 is part of NASA’s Lunar Surface Innovation Initiative, but developing ISRU technologies is just one of six areas the Initiative is targeting, with the other areas of interest being surface power, excavation and construction, extreme environment, dust mitigation, and extreme access. The development of these various technologies is a massive collaborative effort between various industries and academia, and will involve both human and robotic exploration efforts, as well. But development of these various technologies will not be limited to just the Moon, as NASA is hoping to use the lessons learned from Artemis to establish the necessary technologies for future human missions to Mars and beyond.
Artist illustration showing the construction of a landing pad at a future lunar base. (Credit: European Space Agency)
How will ISRU help improve the upcoming Artemis missions and what new discoveries with ISRU technologies will be made in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
If You Account for the Laniakea Supercluster, The Hubble Tension Might Be Even Larger
One of the great unsolved mysteries of cosmology is known as the Hubble tension. It stems from our inability to pin down the precise rate of cosmic expansion. There are several ways to calculate this expansion, from observing distant supernovae to measuring the Doppler shift of maser light near supermassive black holes, and they all give slightly different results. Maybe we don’t fully understand the structure of the Universe, or maybe our view of the heavens is biased given that we are located deep within a galactic supercluster. As a new study shows, the bias problem is even worse than we thought.
If we were floating deep in space, far away from any galaxies, then our view of cosmic expansion would be free of gravitational influences and we could better see how distant galaxies move away from us. Since we are part of a local cluster of galaxies, we have a bit of bias in our data. This is why many local galaxies are blue-shifted. The Universe isn’t contracting near us, we’re just in a galactic gravitational well. We can easily account for this bias, so it isn’t a problem. However, given the Hubble tension, a team recently looked for gravitational biases beyond the local group, hoping it would solve the issue.
They looked at the largest gravitational structure we’re a part of, known as the Laniakea Supercluster. It is a massive cluster of galaxies more than 520 million light-years across, containing more than 100,000 galaxies, including the Milky Way. Our local group is being pulled toward the heart of Laniakea, and thus our motion through the Universe could skew our observations of cosmic expansion.
Observations show a statistical bias in the data. Credit: Giani, et al
When the team measured the gravitational influence of the supercluster as a whole, they found it does bias our observations by about 2% – 3%. But it’s biased in the wrong direction. In other words, by not taking the effect of Laniakea into account, the Hubble tension seemed smaller than it actually is. These new results show that the tension is 2% – 3% greater than we thought. Even some of the more recent Hubble constant measurements that seemed encouraging aren’t enough to account for the Laniakea bias.
Removing subtle biases from our cosmological data is challenging, so it is possible that further observations may swing the results back in the right direction. But we can’t rely on bias alone to solve this mystery. Clearly, something subtle and strange is going on, and the solution isn’t obvious. It will take a great deal more study to understand Hubble’s tension.
This image was taken by a small camera that was jettisoned from China's Tianwen-1 spacecraft to photograph the spacecraft in orbit above the Martian north pole. Credit: CNSA/PEC
China continues to take great strides as part of its goal to become a superpower in space and a direct competitor with NASA. In addition to its proposed expansion of the Tiangong space station and the creation of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), China is also planning on sending crewed missions to Mars in the coming decade. In preparation for the arrival of taikonauts on the Red Planet, China is gearing up to return samples of Martian soil and rock to Earth roughly two years ahead of the proposed NASA-ESA Mars Sample Return (MSR).
This mission will be the third in the China National Space Administration’s (CNSA) Tianwen program (Tianwen-3) and will consist of a pair of launches in 2028 that will return samples to Earth in July 2031. According to a new study recently published in the journal Chinese Science Bulletin, Chinese scientists announced that they have developed a new numerical model to simulate the atmospheric environment of Mars. Known as the Global Open Planetary atmospheric model for Mars (aka. GoPlanet-Mars, or GoMars), this model offers research support in preparation for the Tianwen-3 mission.
A wireless camera took this ‘group photo’ of China’s Tianwen-1 lander and rover on Mars’ surface. Credit: Chinese Space Agency
In the past two decades, the number of missions and space agencies engaged in the exploration of Mars has increased considerably. At present, ten robotic missions are exploring its surface and atmosphere, including seven orbiters, two rovers, and one helicopter. And with many more destined for Mars in the next decade (as well as crewed missions), the demand for Martian weather forecasts is growing. As they indicate in their paper, “The world’s aerospace powers have developed Mars atmosphere models to provide meteorological environment protection for landing exploration.”
To provide information on the meteorological conditions around the Tianwen-3 mission’s potential landing sites, the research team built a global open planetary atmospheric model for Mars. They then used this model to replicate the three critical cycles of the Martian atmosphere: dust, water, and carbon dioxide. They then tested the model using the Open access to Mars Assimilated Remote Soundings (OpenMARS) dataset, a global record of Martian weather from 1999 to 2015, as well as observations made by China’s Zhurongrover (part of China’s Tianwen-1 mission) and NASA’s Viking 1 and 2 landers.
Their results showed that the GoMars model successfully reproduced the unique characteristics of surface pressure on Mars and provided good simulation performance for the surface temperature, zonal wind, polar ice, and dust. According to Wang, the Tianwen-3 mission will expand upon Tianwen-1 by adding the additional tasks of landing, sampling, and returning, which requires detailed information about Mars’ atmospheric conditions. This is crucial given how sandstorms caused multiple missions to be lost, such as Opportunity, Insight, and Zhurong – all due to the buildup of dust on their solar panels.
In addition, the Perseverance rover suffered damage to one of its wind sensors during a sandstorm due to airborne pebbles colliding with it. Since observation data is in short supply for Mars, the model also has applications for virtual reality simulations. This is necessary when prepping missions to remote planets, which helps them design vehicles and select appropriate landing sites. In this respect, a “virtual Mars” program that incorporates GoMars and future observations could take a lot of the guesswork out of future mission planning.
Since the 1960s, when the Soviet and American space programs began sending probes to Mars, scientists have been developing Martian atmospheric models in the hopes of overcoming the “Mars Curse.” With a growing number of nations sending missions to Mars, the need for climate modeling has become all the more crucial. In the end, dust and weather can have a significant impact on the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) phase. They can also affect surface operations, particularly where solar panels, communications, and sensitive instruments are concerned.
They can also be a problem during the ascent phase, where missions attempt to reach orbit and return to Earth – for example, as part of a sample return mission. As Wang commented in an interview with the Xinhua News Agency:
“The dust cycle on Mars is as important as the water cycle on Earth. GoMars can be used to simulate the dust activity before and after the rover’s dormancy, which can provide atmospheric environment data to analyze the possible causes of the dormancy. For example, GoMars can simulate the temperatures of the landing zone, and scientists can use these data to design materials that are suitable for building Mars rovers to cope with extreme cold.”
Early in the next decade, NASA and the ESA also intend to send the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission to retrieve samples obtained by the Perseverance rover. This will consist of a NASA Sample Retrieval Lander, two Sample Recovery Helicopters, a Mars Ascent Vehicle, and an ESA Earth Return Orbiter. NASA and the ESA currently expect this mission to launch no sooner than 2033, coinciding with NASA’s first crewed mission to Mars leaving Earth. Clearly, the new Space Race extends beyond the Moon and now includes reaching Mars!
The Oort Cloud Might be More Active Than We Thought
Every now and then a comet or asteroid comes to our solar system from interstellar space. We have observed two interstellar objects in recent years, Oumuamua in 2017, and Borisov in 2019. One would assume then that in the past at least some interstellar objects have struck Earth. But we’ve never found an interstellar meteorite. A new study argues that this is because the Oort cloud is much more active than we thought.
The Oort cloud is a halo of icy material on the outermost edge of the solar system, where the Sun’s gravity is barely strong enough to hold them in a stellar orbit. When another star passes somewhat near the Sun, members of the Oort cloud can be nudged toward the inner solar system, where they can become long-period comets. We have never observed the Oort cloud, but we know it’s there because comets can approach the Sun from every direction, not just the orbital plane of the planets.
Astronomers can distinguish between Oort cloud objects and interstellar objects by their orbits. Interstellar objects have a hyperbolic orbit, meaning that if you traced their path purely under the gravitational influence of the Sun, it would continue on to interstellar space, never to return. Oort cloud objects, on the other hand, have an orbital path that is closed. They may travel to the most distant region of space, but they are gravitationally bound to the Sun.
Of course, some interstellar objects could make a close approach to Jupiter or another planet, where the gravitational tug of that world shifts it into a bound orbit. So some interstellar objects could appear similar to Oort cloud objects. The opposite chance encounter, where an Oort cloud object is nudged into a hyperbolic orbit, was thought to be much more rare.
The path of a meteor as calculated from observations. Credit: Peña-Asensio, et al
We have observed some meteors with hyperbolic paths. By combining multiple images of a meteor path, we can calculate the path of entry into Earth’s atmosphere. In this study, the team looked at a meteor seen in Finland in 2022, which appeared to have a hyperbolic path. They found that based on the uncertainties of the observations, the meteor is statistically more likely to be a perturbed Oort cloud object rather than a true interstellar object. Applying the same statistics to six other hyperbolic meteors, they found four of them showed a similar statistical leaning toward being Oort objects. This would imply that most hyperbolic meteors are not interstellar.
Interstellar objects have still likely struck Earth, but more rarely than the initial data suggested. So our search for interstellar meteorites is going to be a challenge.
David Grusch Claims UFO Secrecy Orchestrated by Manhattan Project’s Key Figures and Corporations
David Grusch Claims UFO Secrecy Orchestrated by Manhattan Project’s Key Figures and Corporations
Unraveling the Shadows: The Link Between UFO Secrecy and the Manhattan Project
In a riveting disclosure, UFO whistleblower David Grusch has brought to light a startling connection between the Manhattan Project’s veil of secrecy and the ongoing UFO coverup. His revelations, based on intimate knowledge and extensive research, suggest a deep-rooted conspiracy involving government and corporate entities, intricately woven into the fabric of American history.
David Grusch says the UFO coverup was initiated by the same personnel and corporate elements that oversaw the Manhattan Project
The Manhattan Project, a clandestine operation that birthed the atomic bomb, was marked by an unprecedented level of secrecy. Grusch asserts that this very framework of concealment was later adapted to mask the truth about unidentified flying objects (UFOs). He points out the involvement of both federally funded research centers and private corporations, intricately linked to the US government, in this elaborate coverup.
Grusch’s insights are particularly relevant in the context of the Schumer Amendment, a legislative proposal that seeks to shed light on government secrets. This amendment, citing the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, hints at the intricate relationship between nuclear secrets and UFO information. Grusch suggests that the amendment’s reference to ‘transclassified’ nuclear information (TFNI) is no coincidence. This process, wherein a foreign nuclear secret is appropriated and reclassified as a US asset, mirrors the alleged tactics used to conceal UFO information.
Moreover, Grusch’s testimony is not solitary. He has provided detailed evidence to congressional committees and the Inspector General, including specific facilities and addresses. This information is further bolstered by accounts from individuals who have firsthand experience with these covert programs.
As we delve deeper into Grusch’s revelations, we confront a perplexing narrative that blurs the lines between national security and the public’s right to know. His narrative not only raises questions about the extent of governmental secrecy but also underscores the role of private corporations in shaping the narrative on UFOs.
Full interview:
In essence, David Grusch’s exposé opens a window into a shadowy world where the legacy of the Manhattan Project extends far beyond nuclear weapons, casting a long shadow over one of the most enigmatic and debated topics of our time – UFOs.
The Pentagon's outgoing UFO chief has said he does believe extraterrestrial life exists - but that you'd have to go to Mars or beyond to find it.
Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the longtime laser and materials physicist and head of the Pentagon's UFO-chasing All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, delivered his assessment following news of his retirement from government service.
Kirkpatrick's 18-month tenure as the office's first-ever director has been laced with controversy, as expected for an area once relegated to the scientific fringe.
In the summer, there was a Congress hearing into claims the American government is covering up its knowledge of alien craft - which included the resurfacing of the 'Tic Tac' shaped UFO saga from 15 years ago.
Kirkpatrick's office was established in July 2022. He said his mission is to 'is raise the level of the conversation' around aliens and their potential existence.
Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the longtime laser and materials physicist and head of the Pentagon 's UFO-chasing All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office delivered his assessment following news of his retirement from government service
The description 'Tic Tac' was used for the 'perfectly white' wingless oblong that was captured from a cockpit's in-flight video (pictured)
When asked by Politico if aliens are real, he said: 'That is a great question. I love that question.
'Number one, the best thing that could come out of this job is to prove that there are aliens, right? Because if we don’t prove there are aliens, then what we’re finding is evidence of other people doing stuff in our backyard. And that’s not good.
'Two, from a scientific perspective: The scientific community will agree that it is statistically invalid to believe that there is not life out in the universe, as vast as the universe is and the number of galaxies and solar systems and planets.
'That is what part of NASA’s mission is to look for that life. The probability, however, that that life is intelligent and that it has found Earth and that it has come to Earth and that it has repeatedly crashed in the United States is not very probable.
'So part of what we’ve been trying to do, and part of what I will continue to do until I’m done, is raise the level of the conversation.
'If you are talking with NASA or the European Space Agency, and you’re talking about looking for life out in the universe, it is a very objective, very scientifically sound discussion and discourse.
Kirkpatrick's 18-month tenure as the office's first-ever director has been laced with controversy, as expected for a mandate once relegated to the scientific fringe
'As that discussion gets closer to the solar system, somewhere around Mars, it turns into science fiction. And then as you get even closer to Earth, and you cross into Earth’s atmosphere, it becomes conspiracy theory.
'We need to change the level of the [public] conversation. It’s one of the reasons why we’ve engaged academia to work on a number of scientific papers that look at the probabilities of these things, and what are the signatures associated with that?
'So that we can benchmark what we’re doing in scientific proofs and in scientific fact and not hearsay and pointing fingers and government cover ups and conspiracies with no evidence of any of them.'
Kirkpatrick also revealed he's had over 30 whistleblowers 'come in to talk,' adding: 'We have investigated every single one of them, every single story, every lead that provided any substantive evidence for us to go after.'
According to the director of the Pentagon's UFO investigation office, 'the best thing that could come out of this job is to prove that there are aliens.'
The alternative to what would be a literally Earth-changing discovery of extraterrestrial life exploring our own planet would be that a rival foreign power could be 'doing stuff in our backyard,' he said.
Kirkpatrick added: 'And that's not good.'
While some UFO whistleblowers now accuse Kirkpatrick of fostering an 'atmosphere of disinterest,' others have suggested his superiors are holding AARO's efforts back even though a few have described 'really positive' experiences with the office.
'I'm ready to move on,' Kirkpatrick told Politico, upon official confirmation of his retirement. 'I have accomplished everything I said I was going to do.'
Whistleblowers with knowledge of a classified UFO 'reverse engineering' program have opted to testify to the Senate intelligence committee, in part over their reported mistrust of Kirkpatrick and his Pentagon UFO office. Above, a page from Project 1794 declassified in 2012
Kirkpatrick added there remains lingering tasks he hopes to have finished — including the office's congressionally directed 'Historical Record Report' on UFOs, which is due to Congress in June 2024, over six months after Kirkpatrick's departure.
At a press conference this past Halloween, Kirkpatrick announced a new secure reporting mechanism designed to help the office investigate claims of alleged highly secretive and potentially illegal US government UFO programs.
'The reporting mechanism is for current or former US government employees, service members, or contractors with direct knowledge of alleged US government programs or activities related to UAP [UFOs] dating back to 1945,' he said.
Ever since UFOs exploded back into public consciousness with a series of New York Times exposes in December 2017, government officials, scientists and devotees have reframed the mysteries as unidentified aerial, or anomalous, phenomena: 'UAP.'
The new name hopes to add caution and reduce preconceived notions as to the true nature these airborne mysteries.
When asked at the Halloween press conference whether AARO has reached out to officials from adversarial foreign nations in an effort to pool UAP data, Dr. Kirkpatrick replied that the concept was a non-starter from a national security standpoint.
'We certainly have not reached out to any adversaries, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which they're adversaries,' Kirkpatrick said.
While the office's annual UAP report released this October found that 'none' of its hundreds of military UFO cases 'have been positively attributed to foreign activities,' Kirkpatrick expressed concern over telling, but less concrete, evidence.
'I am worried from a national security perspective,' Kirkpatrick told CNN in advance of the report's release.
'There are some indicators that may be attributed to foreign activity, and we are investigating those very hard,' he said.
This time last year, a classified 22-page report, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, described hundreds of unresolved cases, some involving 'orbs' caught on drone cameras that were then seen 'suddenly bolting off the screen.'
Some non-government groups, including specialists Bellingcat, have offered prosaic explanations for one of these 'orbs' — but Kirkpatrick has openly speculated in a paper with Harvard physicist Dr. Avi Loeb that these UAP could be alien probes.
Despite serious concerns from AARO's soon-to-be-departing director that the solution the UAP mystery might prove to be advanced tech flown by a foreign power, evidence exists that these 'metallic orbs' predate even the Cold War era.
One 1944 Newsweek article, titled 'The Silver Sphere Puzzle,' explored similar cases of flying orbs during WWII, as did a report from the Associated Press headlined 'Balls of Silver Seen Over Reich Intrigue Science.'
Then too, journalists and investigators suspected it was a wartime anti-radar device from one of America's then-adversarial nations, Nazi Germany.
'It could be that those floating silver balls encountered by American airmen over the Reich are another German attempt to create interference for radio communications,' the AP's wartime radio editor wrote.
'The most common misconception is that [the possible phenomena] are all the same thing and they're all extraterrestrial,' as Kirkpatrick told ABC News last July, 'and neither of those are true.'
EXCLUSIVE: Woman spots two 'UFOs' from her garden in Stockport including one resembling the white 'Tic-Tac' spotted by the US Navy in 2004 - and experts are baffled
EXCLUSIVE: Woman spots two 'UFOs' from her garden in Stockport including one resembling the white 'Tic-Tac' spotted by the US Navy in 2004 - and experts are baffled
The two objects were seen over separate nights in the first week of October
Bizarre aerial objects are usually considered an American phenomena, but new imagery shows two over the north of England.
A 'concerned citizen', who wishes not to be named, has described sightings of the unidentified flying objects (UFOs) from her back garden in Stockport.
The first, described as looking like a square or triangle, had a hazy appearance and was changing shape and 'darting around the sky'.
Meanwhile, the second object – a much brighter white in colour and 'shaped like a Tic Tac' – kept vanishing and reappearing.
One of the most famous and unusual UFOs to date, spotted by the US Navy in 2004, was the floaty white oblong similar to the breath mint.
The 'concerned citizen' shared her encounter with two unidentified flying objects (UFOs) from her back garden in Stockport
A Department of Defense document reveals characteristics of the typical UFO
'The triangular one was so strange, it looked like it was made of metal with a dark hole in the centre,' the citizen told MailOnline.
'The Tic Tac one was cool too, it kept getting brighter then disappearing and coming back.'
The two 'questionable' objects, which were sighted by the resident over separate nights in the first week of October, left her feeling 'concerned'.
Nick Pope, a UFO expert formerly with the UK's Ministry of Defence, said the images and the story behind them are 'fascinating' but couldn't identify the aerial entities.
'It's not possible to discern much about this sighting from the photos alone,' Pope told MailOnline.
'Any mention of a Tic Tac-shaped object performing unusual manoeuvres is particularly intriguing given the US Navy sightings of such objects.'
Another British UFO researcher, Philip Mantle, said they could be 'conventional' objects such as drones or something else fairly explainable.
Bizarre aerial objects are usually considered an American phenomena, but new imagery shows two over the north of England
Composite of the bizarre objects which were seen on separate nights in the first week of October
'One thing that is cropping up a lot of late are lights from the ground, usually an outdoor attraction of some kind,' he told MailOnline.
'These huge spot lights reflect off the low cloud.
'They look different when viewed from different angles and can look very spectacular.
'I've looked at lots of alleged UFO photos down the years and most turn out to be something conventional.
'I see no reason why these photos should not be something conventional but they are such poor quality.'
According to the Defence and Security Media Advisory (DSMA) Committee, the matter falls under the remit of UK Space Command, who MailOnline has contacted for comment.
UFO stands for 'unidentified flying object' and so the term doesn't necessarily describe an object with an extraterrestrial origin.
One of the most famous and unusual UFOs to date, spotted by the US Navy in 2004, was compared with the Tic Tac breath mint due to its white, oblong appearance (pictured)
A recent Pentagon document revealed the typical UFO has a round shape, usually described as spherical or an orb, with a white or silver colour, often translucent.
Based on what we know from reported sightings between 1996 and 2023, other UFO shapes include rectangle, oval, triangle, disk, cylinder, square and even polygon.
Meanwhile, 16 per cent have been described as having lights, although in many cases this may have been due to their reflective qualities.
Former intelligence official said the DoD is covering up evidence related to extraterrestrials
The US government has been forced to take the presence of unidentified flying objects more seriously in recent months.
Former intelligence official David Grusch testified under oath in July that the Pentagon had first-hand encounters or knowledge of secret government programmes involving technology that is 'non-human'.
'My testimony is based on information I've been given by individuals with a long-standing track record of legitimacy... whom have shared compelling evidence in the form of photography, official documentation and classified oral testimony to myself and many various colleagues,' Grusch said, adding that he was driven to share by a 'commitment to truth and transparency.'
Its release comes come roughly a month after David Grusch claimed the Pentagon is covering up evidence related to extraterrestrials in a bombshell testimony before Congress
'I am asking Congress to hold our government to this standard and thoroughly investigate these claims,' he told lawmakers at the time. 'But as I stand here under oath now, I am speaking to the facts as I have been told them.'
He told the committee that he and more than 30 aircrew members and veterans had experience of UAPs, unidentified anomalous phenomena, along with members of Congress who have confided in him.
He also claimed the government has 'intact and partially intact' extraterrestrial vehicles, although he provided no evidence to support that or any of his other assertions.
Suggesting the American people had been left in the dark for nearly a century, he claimed the first recovery of a UFO was in Magenta, Italy, in 1933 - 14 years before the Roswell incident (generally accepted as the first UFO sighting).
An artist's impression of the alleged 1933 UFO crash outside Magenta in northern Italy shows a craft shaped like a saucer
He said Mussolini's Italian government held it until 1944 through 1945 when Pope Pius XII tipped America off about it.
When asked if he firmly believes the government had UAPs, Grusch responded: 'Absolutely.'
He said his view was based on interviews with at least 40 witnesses.
Asked where the craft are, he said: 'I know the exact locations and those locations were provided to the inspector general ... I actually had the people with the first-hand knowledge provide a protected disclosure to the Inspector General.'
He further claimed he has faced brutal retaliation after coming forward about his firsthand accounts of UFOs.
'I do have knowledge of active planned reprisal activity against myself and other colleagues,' Grusch said.
'There were certain colleagues of mine that were brutally administratively attacked. It makes me very upset as a leader to see that happen to other co-workers and superiors of mine in the last three years.'
Guys, check this out! I found a UFO or I should say the cloaked outline of a UFO on Earths Sun. It's also in a ESA video released that has an earth size comparison below the UFO, which means the UFO is as big or bigger than our moon! Now the ESA announced that this video is the highest detail ever released on video of the sun by the solar orbiter recording the suns south pole region. The UFO is cloaked but the suns energy is reflecting off its edges revealing the location, size, and shape of the craft, not to mention its speed. The UFO is holding position, not moving and its size of the moon, its shape, like four cakes piled one on the other. I drew the shape I believe it to be and put it into the lower left corner of part of the video for you to compare. I have reported UFOs on and near the sun for over 15 years and this one is the best ever proof that UFOs do go to our sun, most likely to harvest some rare energy particles they need to power their advanced technology. This is 100% undeniable proof that UFOs exist and they are on our sun right now!
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
LATEST UFO SIGHTINGS AND VIDEOS - 12/11/2023
LATEST UFO SIGHTINGS AND VIDEOS - 12/11/2023
20 Unexplained Mysteries In The Sky Caught On Camera
Gazing up at the sky is one of the first things that humans ever did. I mean, what is up there? We still don’t really know! But there are plenty of things we can spot that might give us some clues, and the skies seem to be especially busy these days! From the strange phenomenon known as a Red Sprite to the heavenly light pillars, let’s jump on our magic carpet and fly through 20 Unexplained Mysteries In The Sky Caught On Camera
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More than 270 UFO sightings reported over 8 months, Pentagon says
More than 270 reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena, known as UAPs or UFOs, were made to the U.S. government in a recent eight-month period, the Department of Defense said in a Tuesday report to Congress. Chris Impey, astronomy professor at the University of Arizona, joins CBS News to unpack the findings.
NASA report into hundreds of UFO sightings released | 7NEWS
What NASA Really Saw! | Secret Space UFOs: Apollo 1-11 | 2023 Documentary
The UFO phenomenon has been recorded far beyond the boundaries of Earth with hundreds of sightings during the Apollo missions 1-11. James Fox, Darcy Weir, Mike Bara and Richard Dolan discuss this hidden history of UFOs in space and structures on the Moon. A history of NASA's early Apollo missions as astronauts endeavor to set foot on the moon and go further in space than any man has before. 2023. Stars: Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, Mike Bara
Mysterious UFO Sighting at Mori Point, Pacifica Captivates Observers
Mysterious UFO Sighting at Mori Point, Pacifica Captivates Observers
Pacifica, California – In an awe-inspiring display that has both enthusiasts and skeptics buzzing, a UFO was captured on a webcam at Mori Point, Pacifica, California. This remarkable event occurred on 9th June 2022 but it was just recently released.
The footage shows an enigmatic object performing intelligent movements, displaying an agility that defies conventional explanations. As it maneuvers through the sky, the UAP leaves behind a unique trail, only to disappear and then astonishingly re-emerge, further adding to the mystery surrounding its origins and intent.
What Sets This Sighting Apart?
Intelligent Movement:The UAP exhibited movement patterns that suggest a level of control and purpose, differentiating it from natural phenomena or identifiable man-made objects.
Disappearance and Reappearance:The object’s ability to vanish and then reappear is not only baffling but also challenges our understanding of known aircraft capabilities.
Captured on Webcam: The availability of clear webcam footage offers a rare and valuable opportunity for analysis and interpretation by both experts and the public.
A Hub for UFO Sightings
Mori Point, a scenic coastal bluff in Pacifica, is no stranger to UFO sightings, making this recent event part of a larger pattern that continues to intrigue and perplex observers. This latest sighting adds to the growing archive of UAP encounters along the California coast.
Implications and Ongoing Debate
This sighting at Mori Point ignites further debate about the nature of UFOs and their frequent appearances in our skies. Are they extraterrestrial visitors, secret military technology, or something else entirely? As the discussion continues, one thing is certain: the interest in and significance of UFO sightings remain as high as ever.
Diep onder het Afrikaanse continent en de Stille Oceaan, nabij het centrum van de aarde, bevinden zich vreemde en flinke ‘klonters’ (twee keer groter dan de maan). Decennialang was onduidelijk waar ze vandaan komen, maar Amerikaanse onderzoekers denken er nu uit te zijn: het zijn brokstukken van een andere planeet.
Dat schrijven onderzoekers in het blad Nature. Hun studie handelt over twee mysterieuze ‘blobs’ of ‘klonters’ die in de jaren tachtig van de vorige eeuw al zijn ontdekt (zie kader). Deze klonters – formeel aangeduid als Large Low-Velocity Provinces (LLVPs) zijn ongeveer twee keer groter dan de maan en bevinden zich nabij het centrum van de aarde. De ene LLVP bevindt zich diep onder het Afrikaanse continent. En de andere onder de Stille Oceaan. Onderzoek heeft reeds uitgewezen dat de LLVPs waarschijnlijk een andere samenstelling hebben dan de omringende aardmantel. Maar decennialang bleef onduidelijk waar het materiaal nu precies vandaan kwam.
LLVPs LLVPs bevinden zich diep in het binnenste van de aarde. Ze zijn niet te zien, maar toch weten onderzoekers vrij zeker dat ze er zijn. Hoe kan dat? Het is te danken aan seismische golven. Deze golven – die bijvoorbeeld ontstaan tijdens aardbevingen – kunnen door het binnenste van de aarde heen reizen. De snelheid waarmee ze dat doen, wordt bepaald door de samenstelling van dat binnenste. En tijdens metingen aan seismische golven ontdekten onderzoekers in de jaren tachtig dat die golven afgeremd werden. Het hintte op de aanwezigheid van twee grote klonters materiaal die een hoog ijzergehalte hebben en de seismische golven met hun hoge dichtheid en temperatuur vertragen. Onderzoekers besloten ze daarom aan te duiden als Large Low-Velocity Provinces, wat zoveel betekent als grote gebieden waarin de snelheid laag ligt.
Theia In een nieuwe studie denken Amerikaanse onderzoekers nu meer duidelijkheid te kunnen geven over de herkomst van de LLVPs. Hun onderzoek suggereert namelijk dat het om brokstukken gaat van Theia: een planeet die miljarden jaren geleden op de aarde klapte. Bij de zware botsing ontstonden grote brokstukken – zowel afkomstig van de aarde als van Theia – die uiteindelijk in een baan rond de aarde samenklonterden en zo de ons allemaal welbekende maan vormden.
Eureka! Die conclusie volgt uit een heus ‘eureka-moment’ dat zich voor onderzoeker Qian Yuan aandiende toen deze een seminar over planeetvorming bijwoonde. Eén van de sprekers presenteerde het verhaal over het ontstaan van de maan en het viel Yuan tijdens deze presentatie op dat de maan relatief rijk aan ijzer is. Het eureka-moment diende zich kort daarna aan, toen de spreker vertelde dat er op aarde – in tegenstelling tot de maan – geen spoor van Theia te vinden is. “Nadat hij gezegd had dat niemand wist waar de ingeslagen planeet nu is, had ik een ‘eureka-moment’,” vertelt Yuan. “Ik realiseerde me dat het ijzerrijke ingeslagen object getransformeerd zou kunnen zijn tot ‘mantelklonters’.”
Simulaties Samen met collega’s besloot Yuan dat scenario verder te onderzoeken. Ze gebruikten daarvoor onder meer modellen waarmee ze de botsing tussen de aarde en Theia simuleerden. En die bevestigden dat de botsing zowel de maan als klonters in het binnenste van de aarde kan hebben voortgebracht. “Middels simulaties van mantelconvectie ontdekten we dat de dichte, ijzerrijke materialen van Theia naar de onderkant van de aardmantel konden zinken en zich aldaar konden ophopen,” vertelt onderzoeker Mingming Li. “Het lijkt erop dat de klonters het resultaat zijn van een planetaire botsing die onze maan vormde,” concludeert collega Ed Garnero. “In andere woorden: de gigantische klonters die momenteel diep in de aarde, diep onder onze voeten, te vinden zijn, zijn buitenaards. De aarde bezit niet alleen klonters, de aarde heeft buitenaardse klonters!”
Het nieuwe onderzoek wijst erop dat de twee klonters in het binnenste van de aarde bestaan uit materiaal afkomstig van Theia. De klonters zijn flink; als je ze over het aardoppervlak zou uitsmeren, zouden ze een 100 kilometer dikke laag rond de volledige planeet vormen. Afbeelding: Hernan Canellas / Image courtesy of ASU.
Twee mysteries Met hun onderzoek lossen de wetenschappers mogelijk twee mysteries in één klap op. Allereerst natuurlijk het mysterie van de klonters: het nieuwe onderzoek verklaart – eindelijk – waar ze vandaan komen. Daarnaast lost het onderzoek ook een ander raadsel op, namelijk waarom er gek genoeg buiten de maan nooit materiaal van Theia is teruggevonden. Het onderzoek suggereert namelijk dat het leeuwendeel van de onfortuinlijke planeet door de jonge aarde is geabsorbeerd (en de resterende stukken zijn opgegaan in de maan).
“Dit onderzoek laat zien dat de enorme klonters (de LLVPs) diep in de aardmantel kunnen bestaan uit materialen van de planeet die op de proto-aarde insloeg en de maan vormde,” vertelt onderzoeker Mingming Li. “En dat de maan en de klonters dus dezelfde oorsprong kennen.” “Door naar binnen te kijken – naar het binnenste van de aarde – in plaats van naar buiten – naar de maan – hebben we nog een bewijsstuk gevonden voor de kosmische catastrofe die de gigantische inslag waarbij de maan ontstond, is,” concludeert onderzoeker Travis Gabriel.
Legislator Sergio Gutiérrez chairs a second UFO hearing in the Chamber of Deputies. I am again joined by Jimmy Church of Fade to Black Radio for LIVE coverage, and post-discussion of this second Mexican Chamber of Deputies landmark Public Hearing on UFOs. Mexico UFO Hearing
"That type of faulting can facilitate the exchange of surface and subsurface materials through shear heating processes, potentially creating environments conducive for the emergence of life."
(Left) a view of Titan around Saturn and (right) the Jovian moon of Jupiter.
(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ MSSS/ Kalleheikki Kannisto/ Space Science Institute)
Scientists are investigating specific geological features on the largest moons of both Jupiter and Saturn that could be ideal spots for the emergence of life elsewhere in the solar system.
The team, led by researchers from the University of Hawaii at Mānoa, looked at what are called "strike-slip faults" on the Jovian moon, Ganymede — the solar system’s largest moon, bigger even than the planet Mercury — and Saturn's moon, Titan. Faults like these happen when fault walls move past each other horizontally, either to the left or the right, with a famous example here on Earth being the San Andreas fault. It's sort of like a giant crack, rift, or certain type of crevice in the ground.
Such seismic features are generated on these icy moons, scientists believe, when these bodies orbit their parent gas-giant planets. The planets' immense gravitational influences generate tidal forces that squash and squeeze the moons, inevitably flexing the natural satellites' surfaces. Plus, these tidal forces aren’t very consistent because the orbits of both moons are elliptical, meaning they are sometimes closer to Saturn or Jupiter. Other times, they're much farther away. That, in turn, leads to even stronger tidal forces.
"We are interested in studying shear deformation on icy moons because that type of faulting can facilitate the exchange of surface and subsurface materials through shear heating processes, potentially creating environments conducive for the emergence of life," Liliane Burkhard, lead author of the research and a scientists at the Hawaii Institute of Geophysics and Planetology, said in a statement.
Saturn’s moon, Titan, has surface temperatures of around minus 290 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 179 degrees Celsius). This is incredibly cold — cold enough that the water of this moon actually plays the role of rock. It can crack, deform and, ultimately, form faults.
During its flybys of Titan, NASA’s Cassini spacecraft was able to determine that this moon of Saturn may have liquid water oceans tens of miles beneath its thick shell of ice. Additionally, Titan is the only solar system moon with a dense, Earth-like atmosphere, meaning it has a similar hydrological cycle with methane clouds, rain and liquid flowing across the surface to fill lakes and seas. For this reason, Titan is already considered one of just a few bodies in our solar system that could support life — as we know it, at least.
When the NASA Dragonfly mission (which launches in 2027) arrives at Titan in 2034, it will send a rotorcraft lander to fly across the frigid surface of this moon in an effort to hunt for those potential biological signs. That doesn't exactly mean it'll search for bug-eyed aliens, however. At the very least, the team hopes the lander will detect the chemical building blocks of life we're familiar with.
The Dragonfly mission is initially set to land at the Selk crater area on Titan, a region that is also of interest to Burkhard and the team. This is because when calculating the stress exerted on Titan’s surface as a result of tidal forces, the researchers weren't only focused on whether there might be signs of extraterrestrial life on the ground. They also explored the chance that the Selk crater region could be subjected to shear deformation to figure out whether it's a safe landing site option for Dragonfly in the first place.
"While our prior research indicated that certain areas on Titan might currently undergo deformation due to tidal stresses, the Selk crater area would need to host very high pore fluid pressures and a low crustal coefficient of friction for shear failure, which seems improbable," said Burkhard. "Consequently, it’s safe to infer that Dragonfly won’t be landing in a strike-slip ditch!"
Strike-slip faults at the San Andreas Fault (a) on Ganymede (b) and on Titan (Image credit: University of Hawaii)
Burkhard and colleagues also looked at the geology of the Jovian moon, Ganymede, to investigate the icy body’s history of tidal stress. In particular, the team looked at a bright region in the northwest of Ganymede called Philus Sulcus, which is composed of parallel sets of fractures.
The researchers basically looked at available high-resolution observations of the area to find that there were different degrees of tectonic deformation in bands of light terrain that cross over each other. The cross-cutting nature of these bands indicated to Burkhard and colleagues the existence of three distinct eras of geological activity — ancient, intermediate, and young.
"I investigated strike-slip faulting features in intermediate-aged terrain, and they correspond in slip direction to the predictions from modeling stresses of a higher past eccentricity," said Burkhard. "Ganymede could have undergone a period where its orbit was much more elliptical than it is today."
When investigating other parts of Philus Sulcus, the team found the direction of slip features to have different alignments. This implies these features may have been generated by processes other than high tidal stress. "So, Ganymede has had a tidal 'midlife crisis,' but its youngest 'crisis' remains enigmatic," Burkhard added.
The geologic investigations undertaken by this team and others are vital for informing the missions of spacecraft that aim to explore solar system moons like Titan and Ganymede. said Burkhard.
“Missions such as Dragonfly, Europa Clipper, and ESA’s JUICE will further constrain our modeling approach and can help pinpoint the most interesting locations for lander exploration and possibly for gaining access to the interior ocean of icy moons,” Burkhard concluded.
The team’s research is published across two papers in the journal Icarus.
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Op 13 juli 2023 scheerde planetoïde 2023 NT1 op een afstand van 100.000 km langs de aarde, en dat zonder dat wetenschappers ook maar ergens vanaf wisten. Dit roept de vraag op: in hoeverre kunnen we als mensheid de aarde beschermen tegen kleine(re) planetoïden zoals 2023 NT1? Wetenschappers uit Amerika hebben hiervoor mogelijk een oplossing bedacht.
In het onderzoek schrijven de onderzoekers dat kleine planetoïden, zoals 2023 NT1, ook wanneer ze op het moment van ontdekking al heel dicht bij de aarde in de buurt komen, nog kunnen worden vernietigd middels een methode die bekend staat als PI, oftewel ‘Pulverize it’. In het Nederlands betekent dit ‘verpulver het’. Bij deze methode wordt er gebruik gemaakt van een raket die een aantal doorborende staven als lading heeft. Sommige van deze staven zijn compleet van één materiaal gemaakt, anderen zijn gevuld met traditionele explosieven. Zodra de raket in de buurt komt van de planetoïde worden de staven afgeschoten en doorboren ze het vliegende gevaar. Dit zorgt er uiteindelijk voor dat de planetoïde in kleinere stukken breekt met een diameter van maximaal 15 meter.
Snelle reactie Het grote voordeel van PI is dat er erg snel gereageerd kan worden. Zo schrijven de wetenschappers dat zelfs op het moment dat een inslag enkele uren verwijderd is, de planetoïde nog steeds onschadelijk kan worden gemaakt. Zelfs in dat geval zullen de overgebleven brokstukken grotendeels verbranden in de atmosfeer. De schokgolf van de brokstukken die eventueel zouden landen hebben dan niet genoeg energie om significante schade toe te brengen aan natuurgebieden en steden. Op aarde zullen omstanders op het moment van doorboring dan vooral een grote lichtshow zien, welke bestaat uit een reeks (ongevaarlijke) knallen en flitsen.
Onzichtbaar PI is niet de enige manier waarop planetoïden vernietigd kunnen worden; wetenschappers hebben eerder al een andere verdedigingstechniek ontwikkeld. Hierbij wordt er gebruik gemaakt van deflectie. Een goed voorbeeld hiervan is het experiment dat ongeveer een jaar geleden werd uitgevoerd met de ruimtesteen Dimorphos. Bij deze test werd er een DART-ruimtesonde met een snelheid van 6 km/s tegen de ruimtesteen aan geknald. Het resultaat was een succesvolle koerswijziging van de ruimtesteen.
Het nadeel van deflectie is dat het plannen, bouwen en afschieten van de ruimtesonde al snel enkele jaren, zo niet decennia kan duren. Daarnaast kost het ook veel geld en materieel om zo’n ruimtesonde te bouwen. Het probleem met kleinere planetoïden is dat deze niet altijd enkele jaren, maar soms pas enkele weken of enkele dagen voor inslag pas waargenomen kunnen worden. Of, zoals bij 2023 NT1 het geval was, soms zelfs helemaal niet (zie kader).
Over 2023 NT1 2023 NT1 scheerde in juli op een afstand van zo’n 100.000 kilometer langs de aarde. Daarmee kwam de ruimtesteen ongeveer drie keer dichter bij dan de maan! Maar wetenschappers hebben dat gemist; ze ontdekten de ruimtesteen pas twee dagen later. In deze studie leggen de onderzoekers ook uit hoe dat komt: de ruimtesteen kwam vanuit de richting van de zon en ging dan ook als het ware schuil in het felle zonlicht.
Catastrofe voorkomen In het beste geval wordt een planetoïde al decennia of eeuwen van tevoren waargenomen voordat deze inslaat. In dat geval zou deflectie wel eens beter kunnen werken, omdat er dan een kleinere koerswijziging nodig is. In het onderzoek wordt dan ook meermaals benadrukt dat PI vooral bedoeld is als een toevoeging aan de beschikbare mogelijkheden, in plaats van een vervanging van de deflectiemethode.
Echter wordt er ook gewezen op het feit dat om iets op te kunnen blazen, je het wel eerst moet kunnen observeren. De onderzoekers benadrukken dan ook meermaals het belang van goede detectiemethoden. Hierbij wordt vooral hoopvol uitgekeken naar toekomstige observatoria zoals het Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) en NASA’s aankomende Near-Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor. Het is dus erg mooi dát er nu een manier is bedacht om kleinere planetoïden zoals 2023 NT1 onschadelijk te kunnen maken, maar tegelijkertijd voelt het vooralsnog ook een beetje als jagen in het donker zonder zaklamp.
"If they're out there, this analysis lets us figure out where they could be living."
(Image credit: ALLVISIONN/Getty Images)
Scientists usually search for life elsewhere in the universe by using Earth as a template — after all, it is the only planet we know where life thrives. (Life as we know it, at least.) But according to new research, a bygone era of Earth may be a better indicator of complex life than the Earth we know of today.
Telescopes that help assess whether exoplanets are habitable typically search for biosignatures in offworld atmospheres based on compounds, and compound levels, we see on Earth right now. However, scientists say these telescopes may be able to more easily detect those telltale signatures on worlds that don't look a lot like modern Earth. Instead, it may be a better bet to have our observatories look for worlds that resemble Earth as it was long ago, when dinosaurs ruled the surface. The reason for this is that, at that time, there were higher oxygen levels on our world. Simply put, it's easier to detect a lot of oxygen on an exoplanet than a little bit of oxygen.
"Modern Earth's light fingerprint has been our template for identifying potentially habitable planets, but there was a time when this fingerprint was even more pronounced — better at showing signs of life," study co-author Lisa Kaltenegger, who is the director of the Carl Sagan Institute, said in a statement. "This gives us hope that it might be just a little bit easier to find signs of life — even large, complex life — elsewhere in the cosmos."
Scientists generally agree the amount of oxygen in Earth's atmosphere has swung back and forth over the past 400 million years, going from 16 percent (just enough to spark a fire), to as high as 35 percent (beyond which that fire could never be extinguished.) Then, about 50 million years ago, oxygen levels stabilized to the 21 percent we see today.
Importantly, the new study's models show oxygen levels reached 30 percent about 300 million years ago, which would've been sufficient to enable growth of complex life forms. That includes the dinosaurs that ruled our planet roughly between 245 million and 66 million years ago.
An artist’s impression of the new titanosaur and its heart-shaped bones
Mark Witton
So, telescopes could spot exoplanets in their own versions of the Phanerozoic era, scientists say. The atmospheres of such planets would be rich in oxygen, like Earth's was then, and would likely have two pairs of biosignatures — oxygen and methane and ozone and methane, which are easily identifiable by a telescope, the new study finds.
"The Phanerozoic is just the most recent 12% or so of Earth's history, but it encompasses nearly all of the time in which life was more complex than microbes and sponges," Rebecca Payne , the study's lead author and a scientist at Cornell University, said in the statement. "These light fingerprints are what you'd search for elsewhere, if you were looking for something more advanced than a single-celled organism."
Scientists are also excited by the hypothesis that an exoplanet that has an atmosphere with 30 percent oxygen may indicate it hosts life beyond just microbes, perhaps "creatures as large and varied as the megalosauruses or microraptors that once roamed Earth."
"Hopefully we'll find some planets that happen to have more oxygen than Earth right now, because that will make the search for life just a little bit easier," said Kaltenegger. "And, who knows, maybe there are other dinosaurs waiting to be found."
This research is described in a paper published in October in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society.
A European Space Agency satellite has detected a mysterious glow coming from Mars. Measured in the visible spectrum with the NOMAD-UVIS instrument on board the European Space Agency (ESA) Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) satellite, the unexpected glow emanates from the night side of Mars and was observed in the planet’s upper atmosphere.
A similar glow was witnessed by the same research team using a satellite orbiting Venus. Like that visible light signal, the researchers believed the mysterious glow coming from Mars resulted from oxygen interacting with the planet’s upper atmosphere. That’s mainly because they also saw a similar mysterious glow coming from Mars, only in the daytime.
“Back in 2020, we were already able to detect the presence of a green emission between 40 and 150 km in altitude, present during the Martian day,” explained Jean-Claude Gérard, a planetologist at the Laboratory for Planetary and Atmospheric Physics (LPAP) at the University of Liège (BE), where the research team was headquartered. “This was due to the dissociation of the CO2 molecule, the main constituent of the atmosphere, by ultraviolet solar radiation”.
However, the researchers soon discovered that this unexpected mysterious glow coming from Mars was originating from the nighttime side. They also figured out it was caused by something else entirely.
“This emission is due to the recombination of oxygen atoms created in the summer atmosphere and carried by the winds towards the high winter latitudes,” explained Lauriane Soret, a researcher at LPAP.
Once at higher altitudes, the atoms recombine with CO2 molecules when they come in contact. This reaction, the researcher explains, produces an oxygen molecule “in an excited state” that relaxes, causing it to emit light “in the visible range.”
MYSTERIOUS GLOW COMING FROM MARS COULD PROVIDE CRITICAL EVIDENCE ABOUT THE PLANET’S SEASONS
The researchers say they discovered the glow by reorienting the UVIS-NOMAD instrument on the ESA’s Mars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) satellite so it could scan the atmosphere on its edge. They quickly detected the light emissions, which appeared to be concentrated over the polar regions of the red planet. According to the announcement of the discovery, “the oxygen atoms converge in the downward branch of the gigantic trajectory from the opposite hemisphere.”
Illustration of the dissociation of CO2 molecules in the summer atmosphere and the transport of oxygen atoms to the winter polar regions.
CREDIT: @ESA
Now that they know what to look for, Soret says their study will be continued during the TGO mission, hoping it “will provide us with valuable information about the dynamics of the Martian upper atmosphere and its variations over the course of the Martian year.”
ANOTHER MYSTERIOUS LIGHT EMISSION SPOTTED IN THE ULTRAVIOLET RANGE
In their published research, which appears in the journal Nature Astronomy, the team says that along with the mysterious glow coming from Mars in the visible light range, they have also spotted a glow in the ultraviolet range. That glow, they believe, is not caused by oxygen but something else entirely.
“We have noticed that another ultraviolet emission due to the nitric oxide (NO) molecule is also observed by UVIS in the same regions,” said Soret. “Comparing the two emissions will enable us to refine the diagnosis and identify the processes involved.”
Fellow researcher Jean-Claude Gérard adds that these “unexpected and interesting” observations will also likely help guide future missions to the red planet. The researcher even points out that future missions could carry cameras to capture images of the glow for all to see.
“The intensity of the night glow in the polar regions is such that simple and relatively inexpensive instruments in Martian orbit could map and monitor atmospheric flows,” he concludes, noting that the glow is bright enough “to be observable during the polar night by future astronauts in orbit or from the Martian ground.”
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.
UFO hunter who has studied 'alien' mummy for over a decade claims remains are an ancient species of tiny, cave-dwelling human
UFO hunter who has studied 'alien' mummy for over a decade claims remains are an ancient species of tiny, cave-dwelling human
The businessman who bought the tiny 'alien' skeleton told Spanish TV his 'alien' mummy might be from a lost race, which lived alongside Chile's Aymara people
But experts in infant anatomy tell DailyMail.com that the 'Atacama skeleton' is likely a normal human fetus - preserved in the dry heat of the Atacama Desert
READ MORE: Mummified 'aliens' brought to Mexico's congress for second time
Chile's mysterious, oblong-headed 'Atacama skeleton' may have once been a small class of terrestrial humanoid living in the high caves of the South American Andes, at least according to the man who has spent a decade studying the being.
This Spanish businessman and researcher who now owns the eerie, but tiny, skeletal mummy dropped his new theory on Spain's Mitele TV network late last week.
Sensational origin stories have trailed Chile's 'Atacama skeleton' ever since the six-inch-long 'alien' mummy was first taken from an abandoned church in the ghost town of La Noria, 3,225-feet above sea level in the arid Atacama Desert.
But seven experts in infant anatomy and anthropology maintain that there is nothing at all unusual about the skeleton, nicknamed 'Ata' — even as other small mummies have been presented before Mexico's Congress as proof of extraterrestrial life.
One expert called the new theory 'absurd,' telling DailyMail.com it was 'not based on scientific evidence, or just knowledge of normal anatomical development of babies.'
Chile's mysterious, oblong-headed 'Atacama skeleton' (above), according the Spanish businessman who has spent a decade studying it, may have once been a small class of terrestrial humanoid: a human cousin he believes may have once lived in Chilean caves
Ramon Navia-Osorio Villar (left) who now owns the eerie, but tiny, skeletal mummy dropped his new theory on Spain 's Mitele TV network late last week. In 2013, the Barcelona-based entrepreneur also led a UFO research at the Institute for Exobiological Investigation and Study
Based on an assessment by biological anthropologist Siân Halcrow and her colleagues, which included the tiny Ata's 6-inch crown-of-the-head-to-heel-length measurement, the skeleton likely belonged to a fetus or premature infant that died less than four months into pregnancy
Professor Siân Halcrow, a biological anthropologist at New Zealand's University of Otago, told DailyMail.com that 'Ata' matches the profile of an ordinary, perfectly normal, human fetal skeleton.
Alongside archaeologists from Stockholm University in Sweden, anatomical experts from Stony Brook medical school in the US, and others, Halcrow published an analysis in 2018 criticizing both Ata's 'alien' believers and skeptics alike.
'We estimated the length of the femur, and we estimated that the fetus would have been about 15 weeks in-utero gestation,' Halcrow explained to DailyMail.com, 'so very premature.'
Based on Halcrow and her co-authors' assessment, which included tiny Ata's 6-inch crown-of-the-head-to-heel-length measurement, the skeleton likely belonged to a fetus or premature infant that died less than four months into pregnancy.
Although details are murky, a Barcelona-based entrepreneur named Ramón Navia-Osorio Villar is believed to have purchased the mummy from treasure hunter Oscar Muñoz, who had taken the 6-inch corpse from the Atacama ghost town in 2003.
A longtime UFO hunter and enthusiast, Navia-Osorio spearheaded the publication of a report on the 'Atacama skeleton' in 2013 via the UFO organization that he led: the Institute for Exobiological Investigation and Study (IIEE).
A longtime UFO hunter and enthusiast, Navia-Osorio spearheaded the publication of a report on the 'Atacama skeleton' in 2013 via the UFO organization that he led: the Institute for Exobiological Investigation and Study (IIEE)
That report, ' The Anthropomorphic Being From Atacama ,' was followed by a more thorough, peer-reviewed study conducted by a team at Stanford five years later
The Stanford team's 2018 research , however, was met with instant backlash as many questioned the findings and the ethics of the study itself, criticizing them for working with parties who arguably violated Chilean law by taking Ata's remains
That report, 'The Anthropomorphic Being From Atacama,' was followed by a more thorough, peer-reviewed study conducted by a team at Stanford five years later.
The Stanford team's 2018 research, however, was met with instant backlash as many questioned the findings and the ethics of the study itself, criticizing them for working with parties who arguably violated Chilean law by taking Ata's remains.
The Stanford study, published in the journal Genome Research, sparked such immediate debate that the authors issued a statement defending it just days later.
Ultimately, their analysis was skeptical of any extraterrestrial claims, however, making the argument that Ata's genes were quite Earth-bound and displayed signs of unusual mutations linked to dwarfism and scoliosis.
But Professor Halcrow noted that there is no visible indication that such genetic mutations were taking effect — or would have that early in fetal development.
Ata's large and slender skull, although it might resemble a classic 'alien grey' to the average person, is not particularly unusual to doctors familiar with infant development, like obstetricians, or scholars of human anatomy
Anatomy Professor Siân Halcrow compared the dramatic-seeming dimensions of Ata's skull to fetal medical replicas, called 'bone clones,' and found that even Ata's small facial features weren't unusual for her 15-week age
'With the skull in particular, obviously the skull is going to be larger in proportion to the body just because of the normal development of a baby,' Professor Halcrow said.
Ata's large and slender skull, although it might resemble a classic 'alien grey' to the average person, is not particularly unusual to doctors familiar with infant development, like obstetricians, or scholars of human anatomy.
Professor Halcrow compared the dramatic-seeming dimensions of Ata's skull to fetal medical replicas, called 'bone clones,' and found that even Ata's small facial features were not unusual for her age.
Professor Halcrow told DailyMail.com she knew for sure because she has 'a series of bone clones from in-utero period up to 38-40 weeks gestation: So, full term.'
'You can see that the very young one in the set does look very strange, that the cranium looks quite big compared to the mid-face — but that's just part of normal development.'
Because the skull of a fetus maintains many 'fontanelles,' or 'soft spots,' which allow the young brain to grow, Professor Halcrow hypothesizes that pressure during premature child birth — or even the dehydrating effects of the Atacama desert itself — may have further elongated Ata's skull into its seemingly unique shape.
But although it has been over five years since Professor Halcrow and her international colleagues published their critique, the man who acquired the 'Atacama skeleton' still insists that Ata is no ordinary human.
On the Spanish television program 'Cuarto Milenio' last Saturday, Navia-Osorio told the hosts Ata might have come from an extinct race of cave-dwelling tiny people.
'They were very small people who lived in caves and only came out at night,' Navia-Osorio said, 'hence its strange almond-shaped eyes.'
On Spanish TV program 'Cuarto Milenio' last Saturday, businessman Ramón Navia-Osorio Villar told the show's hosts that Ata might have come from an extinct race of cave-dwelling tiny people, who 'only came out at night,' he added, 'hence its strange almond-shaped eyes'
Navia-Osorio, who has written several books on UFOs and aliens, told Cuarto Milenio's viewers that he heard this theory via 'a native friend from the Aymara tribe,' who told him 'that these beings used to live with their ancestors before the Spanish settlers arrived'
The ex-Air Force security officer said he investigated two sightings of a 100-yard UFO witnessed by Boeing contractors and Air Force police on October 14, 2003. There's 'at least 80 people that know this happened,' the USAF vet., Jeff Nuccetelli, told the Merged podcast. As he recalled the eyewitnesses reactions, 'They're scared. Everyone's freaked out'
A native friend from the Aymara tribe told me that these beings used to live with their ancestors before the Spanish settlers arrived,' the businessman told the hosts of Cuarto Milenio ('Fourth Millennium').
For at least 800 years, and potentially millenia, the indigenous Aymara people have lived on the Altiplano plateau in the Andean highlands, in a region now divided between the South American nations of Bolivia, Peru and Chile.
It is Navia-Osorio's contention that these tiny human-like cave-dwellers lived alongside the Aymara people concurrent in time with Europe's Middle Ages.
Navia-Osorio takes issue with the claims made by UFO 'disclosure movement' activists in the United States who produced a documentary in 2013 purporting to have conclusive evidence that Ata was an extraterrestrial.
'We received it at the Spanish Royal Academy of Sciences and there we carried out the first X-ray, with low radiation so as not to damage the specimen,' he told Cuarto Milenio.
'This creature was not extraterrestrial, it was terrestrial,' Navia-Osorio said, although back during the preliminary analysis, he said he 'started to worry.'
'They already told us that they did not know what it was,' he recounted. 'The head was so voluminous; the hands were so elongated. It had no kneecaps. The clavicle was more triangular than that of humans.'
Today he has one rebuttal to scientists, like Professor Halcrow, who believe that Ata was once simple a 15-week old fetus.
'How could it be a fetus if it had calluses on its feet?' Navia-Osorio asked.
For now, only the desiccating heat of the Atacama Desert knows the answer.
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Pentagon UFO boss says strange sightings are either 'aliens' or a foreign power - and he hopes it's extraterrestrials
Pentagon UFO boss says strange sightings are either 'aliens' or a foreign power - and he hopes it's extraterrestrials
'If we don't prove it's aliens,' Pentagon UFO chief Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick said, 'then what we're finding is evidence of other people doing stuff in our backyard'
Kirkpatrick - formerly a laser physicist for the CIA - added, 'that's not good'
READ MORE: New analysis of 200ft 'saucer-shaped object' spotted over the Andes Mountains in 2010 finds it is 'a genuine UFO,' not 'a camera artifact'
According to the director of the Pentagon's UFO investigation office, 'the best thing that could come out of this job is to prove that there are aliens.'
The alternative to what would be a literally Earth-changing discovery of extraterrestrial life exploring our own planet would be that a rival foreign power could be 'doing stuff in our backyard,' he said.
Dr. Kirkpatrick's 18-month tenure as AARO's first ever director has been laced with controversy, as expected for a mandate once relegated to the scientific fringe.
According to the director of the Pentagon 's UFO investigation office, physicist Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, 'the best thing that could come out of this job is to prove that there are aliens.' Last July, Kirkpatrick described his national security mandate as helping avoid 'technical surprise'
'I'm ready to move on,' Kirkpatrick told Politico Tuesday, upon official confirmation of his retirement. 'I have accomplished everything I said I was going to do.'
Dr. Kirkpatrick added that there remains lingering tasks he hopes to have finished — including AARO's congressionally directed 'Historical Record Report' on UFOs, which is due to Congress in June 2024, over six months after Kirkpatrick's departure.
At a press conference this past Halloween, Kirkpatrick announced a new secure reporting mechanism designed to help AARO investigate claims of alleged highly secretive and potentially illegal US government UFO programs.
'The reporting mechanism is for current or former US government employees, service members, or contractors with direct knowledge of alleged US government programs or activities related to UAP [UFOs] dating back to 1945,' he said.
In its annual UAP (i.e. UFO) report, published this past October, the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office stated that, 'None of these UAP reports have been positively attributed to foreign activities'
Ever since UFOs exploded back into public consciousness with a series of New York Times exposes in December 2017, government officials, scientists and devotees have reframed the mysteries as unidentified aerial, or anomalous, phenomena: 'UAP.'
The new name hopes to add caution and reduce preconceived notions as to the true nature these airborne mysteries.
When asked at the Halloween press conference whether AARO has reached out to officials from adversarial foreign nations in an effort to pool UAP data, Dr. Kirkpatrick replied that the concept was a non-starter from a national security standpoint.
'We certainly have not reached out to any adversaries, for a variety of reasons, not the least of which they're adversaries,' Kirkpatrick said.
While AARO's annual UAP report released this October found that 'none' of its hundreds of military UFO cases 'have been positively attributed to foreign activities,' Kirkpatrick expressed concern over telling, but less concrete, evidence.
'I am worried from a national security perspective,' Kirkpatrick told CNN in advance of the report's release.
'There are some indicators that may be attributed to foreign activity, and we are investigating those very hard,' he said.
Last summer, the AARO chief, who once worked on optical and laser physics projects for America's intelligence gathering agencies, including the CIA, described AARO's national security mandate to ABC News as avoiding 'technical surprise.'
To judge from AARO's own presentations to Congress and NASA's UAP advisory panel, the office has zeroed-in on a series of troubling cases involving so-called 'metallic orb' UAP.
This time last year, a classified 22-page report, compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), described hundreds of unresolved cases, some involving 'orbs' caught on drone cameras that were then seen 'suddenly bolting off the screen.'
Some non-government groups, including OSINT specialists Bellingcat, have offered prosaic explanations for one of these 'orbs' — but Kirkpatrick has openly speculated in a paper with Harvard physicist Dr. Avi Loeb that these UAP could be alien probes.
Despite serious concerns from AARO's soon-to-be-departing director that the solution the UAP mystery might prove to be advanced tech flown by a foreign power, evidence exists that these 'metallic orbs' predate even the Cold War era.
Then too, journalists and investigators suspected it was a wartime anti-radar device from one of America's then-adversarial nations, Nazi Germany.
'It could be that those floating silver balls encountered by American airmen over the Reich are another German attempt to create interference for radio communications,' the AP's wartime radio editor wrote.
'The most common misconception is that [the possible phenomena] are all the same thing and they're all extraterrestrial,' as Kirkpatrick told ABC News last July, 'and neither of those are true.'
Have YOU seen one? The Pentagon reveals what the most commonly reported UFO looks like
But that could finally change following the official release of information from the Pentagon about the mysterious aerial phenomena.
The new Department of Defense document reveals characteristics of the typical UFO, including the colour and the shape, velocity, and flight level
Based on clues from reported sightings, the typical UFO has a round shape, usually described as spherical or an orb, with a white or silver colour, often translucent.
It also has a size of between 3 and 13 feet (1 to 4 metres) and usually travels through the air at a height just below commercial passenger planes.
However, they declined to certify that the mummified remains were those of alien beings.
Journalist Jaime Maussan (second from left) drew global attention after testifying on extraterrestrial activity in the Chamber of Deputies and presenting what he alleged to be the corpses of aliens found in Peru.(Cuartoscuro)
The two tiny bodies with large heads, big eyes, long necks and three fingers on each hand — resembling the archetypal depiction of a gray alien — were allegedly found in Peru.
Maussan brought them to Congress on Sept. 13 for a first-of-its-kind hearing on UFOs, which these days are usually termed Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP), or FANI in Spanish. He insisted the bodies were 1,000-year-old corpses of extraterrestrials.
At that time, experts dismissed his presentation as a stunt, pointing to studies on similar remains that concluded the specimens were modified using animal and human bones.
On Tuesday, over the course of three hours in a room of the Chamber of Deputies, Maussan presented a string of doctors and scientists, plus photographs and X-ray images of what he called a new “non-human being.”
Maussan is well known for his belief in extraterrestrial life, and hashosted a TV series on the topic for the last twenty years. (Daniel Augosto/Cuartoscuro)
“They’re real,” said anthropologist Roger Zúñiga of San Luis Gonzaga National University in Peru, noting that researchers had studied five similar specimens. “There was absolutely no human intervention in the physical and biological formation of these beings.”
Argentine surgeon Celestino Adolfo Piotto said he reviewed data and images, concluding that the bodies were an evolved version of today’s human beings. He called them “our descendants.”
Zúiñga presented a letter signed by 11 researchers from his university declaring the bodies to be non-human, but the letter made clear they were not implying the bodies were extraterrestrial.
“None of the scientists say [the study results] prove that they are extraterrestrials, but I go further,” Maussan said, suggesting that the bodies could be evidence of non-Earthly life forms, or a “new species” due to their lack of lungs or ribs.
He previously claimed the specimens had big brains and big eyes that “allowed for a wide stereoscopic vision,” and that they lacked teeth, so they likely only drank and did not chew.
“All ideas and all proposals will always be welcome,” Deputy Sergio Gutiérrez Luna stated, “to debate them, to listen to them and to agree — or not.”
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Astronomers Directly Detect Atomic Oxygen on Venus
Astronomers Directly Detect Atomic Oxygen on Venus
tomic oxygen is produced on the dayside of Venus by photolysis of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.
Atomic oxygen is a key species in the mesosphere and thermosphere of Venus. It peaks in the transition region between the two dominant atmospheric circulation patterns, the retrograde super-rotating zonal flow below 70 km and the subsolar to antisolar flow above 120 km altitude. However, past and current detection methods are indirect and based on measurements of other molecules in combination with photochemical models. Hübers et al. show direct detection of atomic oxygen on the dayside as well as on the nightside of Venus by measuring its ground-state transition at 4.74 THz.
Image credit: Mattias Malmer / NASA.
Venus is known to rotate very slowly, with one day on Venus lasting the equivalent of 243 Earth days.
Atomic oxygen, a key species in the mesosphere and thermosphere of Venus, is produced on the dayside of the planet by the breakdown of carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide, and then transported to the nightside.
Atomic oxygen is important for the photochemistry and energy balance of Venus’s atmosphere, but it has not yet been directly observed on the dayside of Venus.
Nightside detections have previously been limited to observations of the night airglow of Venus, a faint emission of light by the planetary atmosphere.
In a new study, Dr. Heinz-Wilhelm Hübers, a researcher at the Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt and the Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and his colleagues analyzed a total of 17 points on both Venus’ dayside and nightside using the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (upGREAT) array spectrometer on board NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) airplane.
“The observations were made in the early evenings of November 10, 11 and 13, 2021,” they said.
“In total, 17 positions on Venus have been measured: seven on the dayside, nine on the nightside and one at the terminator.”
The researchers detected atomic oxygen at all observed points and found it to be concentrated at altitudes of around 100 km.
The measurements were based on an atomic oxygen ground state fine structure at 4.74 Terahertz.
They also found variations in the column densities, with a maximum density recorded on the dayside.
“The observed average Venus continuum brightness temperature is approximately 246 K corresponding to an altitude of about 65-70 km right above the cloud layer,” they said.
“The temperature of the atomic oxygen is approximately 156 K on the dayside and approximately 115 K on the nightside, which corresponds to altitudes around 100 km.”
“Future observations, especially near the antisolar and subsolar points but also at all solar zenith angles, will provide a more detailed picture of this peculiar region and support future space missions to Venus such as NASA’s DAVINCI mission or ESA’s EnVision mission,” they added.
“Along with measurements of atomic oxygen in the atmospheres of Earth and Mars these data may help to improve our understanding of how and why Venus and Earth atmospheres are so different.”
The findings were published in the journal Nature Communications.
HW. Hübers et al. 2023. Direct detection of atomic oxygen on the dayside and nightside of Venus. Nat Commun 14, 6812; doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-42389-x
De bouw van Tenacity is voltooid. Dit ruimtevaartuig van Sierra Space gaat goederen van en naar het ISS vervoeren en kan bij terugkomst landen op een landingsbaan.
Het internationale ruimtestation (ISS) – en de toekomstige opvolger – moeten continu bevoorraad worden. Daarvoor zijn er momenteel meerdere ruimtevaartuigen beschikbaar, zoals Northrop Grummans Cygnus en de H-II Transfer Vehicle van de Japanse ruimtevaartorganisatie.
Soms moet er ook materiaal terug naar de aarde worden gestuurd, maar de meeste bevoorradingsvaartuigen zijn daartoe niet in staat. Space X’s Dragon is een van de weinige die dat wel kan, en landt bij terugkomst in zee. Het Amerikaanse bedrijf Sierra Space komt nu met Tenacity, een ruimteschip dat bij terugkomst als een soort vliegtuig kan landen op een landingsbaan.
Spaceshuttle
Vorige week maakte Sierra Space bekend dat de bouw van Tenacity is afgerond en dat het ruimtevliegtuig in de komende weken wordt verscheept naar NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Test Facility in Ohio voor milieutests.
Hoewel Tenacity momenteel het enige ruimtevaartuig is dat zijn ruimtereis kan eindigen op een landingsbaan, konden NASA’s spaceshuttles die in 2011 met pensioen gingen dat ook al. Niet gek dus dat het uiterlijk van de Dream Chaser sterk lijkt op dat van de spaceshuttle
Een ruimteschip dat de atmosfeer binnenkomt, heeft naast extreme hitte (ruim 1600 graden) ook te maken met een enorme versnelling en dus hoge g-krachten. Toch kan Tenacity die krachten beperken tot anderhalf keer de zwaartekracht (1,5 g), wat schade aan kwetsbare lading kan voorkomen. De vleugels spelen hierbij een belangrijke rol; ze creëren lift.
Bij een vliegtuig zorgt liftkracht ervoor dat het toestel in de lucht blijft en bij Tenacity dat het toestel afremt.
Eerste missie is al snel
Sierra Space heeft een contract met NASA voor de lancering van bevoorradingsmissies van het ISS met Dream Chaser-toestellen. En de eerste missie zou al ergens april 2024 kunnen beginnen.
De lancering zal dan plaatsvinden vanaf NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aan boord van United Launch Alliance’s nieuwe Vulcan Centaur-raket. Bij terugkomst zal Tenacity landen op NASA’s Shuttle Landing Facility, waar de spaceshuttles vroeger ook landde. Daarna kan het ruimteschip opnieuw worden gelanceerd, volgens Sierra Space heeft de Dream Chaser namelijk een levensduur van minstens vijftien missies.
Autonome bevoorradingsmissies zijn slechts het begin voor de Dream Chaser-toestellen. In de toekomst wil Sierra Space ook mensen vervoeren met het vaartuig.
Bekijk hieronder een animatie van een lancering en landing van het ruimtevliegtuig:
Have you ever gazed up at the night sky and wondered if we are truly alone in the universe? The concept of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, has long intrigued and mystified humanity. From casual observers to dedicated ufologists, the surge in reported UFO sightings has captured imaginations worldwide. But what lies behind these mysterious sightings? Are they mere figments of our imagination, or do they hint at something more profound?
The Enigma of UFO Sightings
UFO sightings have been reported for decades, with accounts ranging from strange lights in the sky to close encounters with extraterrestrial beings. These sightings often come with a mix of skepticism and fascination. While some sightings can be explained as misidentified natural phenomena or man-made objects, others remain unexplained, fueling speculation and debate.
Historical Context and Notable Incidents
The history of UFO sightings is rich and varied. One of the most famous incidents is the 1947 Roswell UFO incident, where an unidentified object crashed in Roswell, New Mexico. This event sparked widespread interest and conspiracy theories about alien spacecraft and government cover-ups.
Another significant case is the 1952 Washington, D.C. UFO incident, where multiple UFOs were sighted over the Capitol. This event led to a frenzy of media coverage and public concern, further cementing UFOs in popular culture.
Government Investigations and Disclosure
Various governments have taken UFO sightings seriously enough to conduct investigations. Project Blue Book, a United States Air Force program, collected and analyzed UFO data from 1952 to 1969. Although the project concluded that most sightings were misidentifications, it acknowledged that some cases remained unexplained.
In recent years, there has been a call for greater transparency regarding UFOs. The release of classified documents and military footage of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) has rekindled interest and speculation. These disclosures suggest that even governments are grappling with the mysterious nature of these sightings.
The Role of Technology in Modern UFOlogy
Advancements in technology have played a significant role in the study and documentation of UFO sightings. With smartphones, people around the globe can quickly capture and share images and videos of unusual aerial phenomena. This democratization of information has led to a surge in reported sightings and has allowed for more rigorous analysis by both amateur and professional researchers.
The Skepticism and Science Perspective
While the fascination with UFOs is undeniable, it’s crucial to approach these sightings with a healthy dose of skepticism. Scientists and skeptics argue that most UFO sightings can be attributed to natural phenomena, like atmospheric conditions, astronomical objects, or human-made crafts like drones or aircraft.
The Cultural Impact of UFO Sightings
UFO sightings have had a profound impact on our culture, influencing everything from movies and television shows to literature and music. The idea of intelligent life beyond Earth challenges our understanding of our place in the universe and continues to inspire both fear and wonder.
VIDEO:
UFOs: Secret Missions Exposed | Special | Full Episode
The mystery surrounding UFO sightings remains unsolved. Whether these sightings are evidence of extraterrestrial visitors, secret military technology, or natural phenomena, they continue to captivate and intrigue. As we continue to explore the cosmos, both through scientific endeavors and the human imagination, the quest for answers about UFO sightings remains an enduring and fascinating journey.
De B-21 is de volgende evolutie van de vloot strategische bommenwerpers van de Amerikaanse luchtmacht en het eerste zesde-generatie vliegtuig ter wereld dat de lucht in gaat.
Wat betreft het leveren van de vastberadenheid van de Verenigde Staten, zal de Raider de luchtmacht voorzien van een lange afstand, hoge overlevingscapaciteit en flexibiliteit in de missielading. De B-21 zal de moeilijkste verdediging doorbreken om precisieaanvallen overal ter wereld uit te voeren. Hier is wat u moet weten over de B-21 Raider van Northrop Grumman terwijl het de vliegtesten voortzet.
De B-21 Raider stelt normen voor technologie van de zesde generatie. Aan de buitenkant zal de nieuwste stealth-technologie en vooruitgang in laag-detecteerbare processen het vliegtuig makkelijker en goedkoper te onderhouden maken dan voorgaande systemen. Aan de binnenkant zal de open architectuur van de B-21 snelle upgrades mogelijk maken, van de integratie van nieuwe wapens tot software-updates, dankzij geavanceerde netwerkcapaciteiten en een succesvolle migratie naar de cloud-omgeving. Met deze innovaties is de B-21 ontworpen om de evoluerende dreigingen van de komende decennia het hoofd te bieden.
De B-21 Raider is van cruciaal belang voor het ondersteunen van de strategische afschrikkingsstrategie van ons land. Naast de geavanceerde mogelijkheden voor langeafstandsaanvallen met precisie die commandanten de mogelijkheid geven om elk doelwit, overal ter wereld, in gevaar te brengen, is het ontworpen als het belangrijkste onderdeel van een grotere familie van systemen die inlichtingen, bewaking en verkenning, elektronische aanval en multi-domein netwerkcapaciteiten zullen bieden. In een dynamische wereldwijde veiligheidsomgeving zal de B-21 de flexibiliteit en afschrikking bieden die cruciaal zijn voor de veiligheid van de VS en onze bondgenoten.
De B-21 Raider is vernoemd naar de Doolittle Raid vande Tweede Wereldoorlog, toen 80 luchtmachtpersoneel onder leiding van luitenant-kolonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle en 16 B-25 Mitchell middelgrote bommenwerpers een missie ondernamen die de loop van de oorlog veranderde.
De aanval was een katalysator voor een veelheid aan toekomstige vooruitgang in de luchtoverwicht van de VS en dient als inspiratie achter de naam Raider en de baanbrekende en innovatieve geest ingeënt in het gehele personeel dat de B-21 tot leven brengt.
Bron:Northrop Grumman
Foto en video: reproductie Twitter @ShorealoneFilms
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The Webb Telescope Reveals a Spooky, Skeletal View of a Nearby Galaxy This image of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy is the ultimate galactic Halloween skeleton. BY KIONA SMITH NOVEMBER 8, 2023
This image of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy is the ultimate galactic Halloween skeleton.
The Webb Telescope Reveals a Spooky, Skeletal View of a Nearby Galaxy
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) captured two views of the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy, revealing that galaxies — like ogres and onions — have layers.
So much is invisible to us because our eyes can only see light in a narrow band of wavelengths, between 0.38 and 0.75 micrometers (a micrometer is one-thousandth of a millimeter). But JWST’s instruments perceive the universe in much longer wavelengths called infrared. In infrared, we can see into (and through, depending on the specific wavelengths of light involved) the clouds of gas and dust that block shorter light waves, like visible light. That helps astronomers peel back the layers of a galaxy like the Southern Pinwheel, 15 million light-years away, and see the galaxy’s structure in a whole new light.
WHAT DO GALAXIES LOOK LIKE ON THE INSIDE?
By matching visible colors to each wavelength of infrared light, image processors turned NIRCam data into this stunning image.
ESA
JWST’s Near InfraRed Camera (NIRCam) shows M83 in light wavelengths between 0.6 and 5 micrometers long. The image looks staticky and pixellated, but all those tiny specks of static radiating out from the blue-white center of the galaxy to fill the image are actually billions of stars. Those densely-packed stars are mostly older; their younger neighbors show up as patches of bright blue nestled in the reddish threads of gas that trace the galaxy’s spiral shape.
Powerful stellar winds and radiation from those young, temperamental stars have blasted the nearby gas clouds, stripping electrons away from hydrogen atoms and leaving the ionized gas glowing in bright pink.
If you’re located near or south of the Equator, you can spot the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy in the night sky with a good pair of binoculars, but it won’t look anything like this MIRI image.
ESA
In even longer wavelengths of light, from 6.6 to 8.7 micrometers long, JWST’s Mid InfraRed Instrument (MIRI) sees the dusty scaffolding of the galaxy in shades of yellow, orange, and red — and this is where it gets weird. The darker reds and oranges are organic molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. These molecules form when carbon and other elements bond with the ionized hydrogen in the pink clouds NIRCam revealed.
Yellow tendrils in the dust clouds, where new stars are in the process of forming, trace the galaxy’s familiar spiral shape. The core of the galaxy blazes brightly with its dense population of stars.
To compare these two views of the same galaxy, visit ESA’s website and move the slider and back and forth. Can you spot any of the same features?
On the European Space Agency’s website, you can move a slider back and forth to compare the images; make sure to notice how the bright pink areas of ionized hydrogen in the NIRCam image line up with the bright yellow stellar nurseries in the MIRI version. It’s also worth taking a moment to compare what the galaxy’s bright core looks like in the different infrared wavelengths.
Some of the Moon's Craters are From Interstellar Impacts. Can We Tell Which?
Far Side of Moon Imaged by MoonKAM. This image of the lunar surface was taken by the MoonKAM system onboard NASA’s Ebb spacecraft on March 15, 2012. Credit: NASA/Caltech-JPL/MIT/SRS
Some of the Moon's Craters are From Interstellar Impacts. Can We Tell Which?
By discovering two interstellar objects (ISOs), we know that asteroids and comets from other star systems pass through the Solar System from time to time. By inference, some of these must have crashed into the Moon, creating impact craters. If we could study the impact sites, we might be able to learn about the star systems that they came from.
A new paper suggests there could be a way to determine which lunar craters came from interstellar object impacts. The authors say that young, small craters with high-melt volume near the Moon’s equator are likely the best candidates for ISO-generated craters on the lunar surface.
The two landmark discoveries of ISOs have changed our thinking on what’s possible for the origins of objects in our Solar System. Detecting the cigar-shaped body named ‘Oumuamua (2017) and the speedy rogue Comet 2I/Borisov (2019) suggest that these objects — which have somehow been ejected from other solar systems — can wander through the Milky Way, unattached to any star system, for hundreds of millions of years. Astronomers say their detections – made possible by improved telescopes and observing techniques — implies a large population of such objects exist and that ISOs enter our Solar System on a fairly regular basis. Estimates have ranged from one, to seven, to twenty-one and even seventy objects every year.
“We find that selecting young, small craters with a high volume of melt located away from the lunar poles increases the likelihood of association with a high-speed ISO by 100-fold as compared to selecting randomly, assuming high-speed ISO impacts generate melt,” the authors wrote.
Figure 1. (a) shows the difference between the cumulative distribution functions of craters generated from solar system objects and ISOs. Most craters generated from solar system objects were formed in the first billion years, so that the ratio of the CDFs for craters with ages less than 3?Gyr is ?20. (b) shows the cumulative probabilities of impact angles at various latitudes on the Moon for Near Earth Objects, calculated from the probability found in (Robertson et al. 2021). For latitudes 0° through 70°, there is a <10% probability that the crater is generated from vertical impact, while the probability is much higher at around 40% for latitudes 70°–90°. Credit: Daniel Chang, Cheng-Han Hsieh, and Gregory Laughlin.
Most craters on the surface of planetary bodies in our Solar System were formed during the first heavy bombardment period about 4 billion years ago. Therefore, since about 95% of lunar craters were formed during the first billion years of the Moon’s existence, and assuming a constant ISO flux, the scientists write that selecting young craters (<3?Gyr) “increases the probability of ISO association by a factor of 20 as compared to selecting randomly.”
Among that selection, the next criteria would be to search for craters formed from high-velocity impactors. This would be craters with diameter less than 300?m with visible high-impact melt pond. Impact melt is exactly what its name implies: surface rocks that were instantly melted due to a high-velocity impact from an asteroid or comet. Large volumes of impact melt can pool to form what’s known as crater-fill deposits, which over time hardens to form an entirely new rock.
Craters with impact melt ponds accounts for 15% of the crater population. Then, the authors say, discard all the craters that appear to be created by vertical impact and choose craters that nearer to the equator.
“In total, selecting craters that fit these constraints [crater age, size, melt, and latitude] results in a 100 times higher probability of association with a high-speed ISO as compared to selecting randomly,” the authors write.
But, they note, no one should expect that a large number of lunar craters are the result of ISO impacts, since “craters from other sources, however, still massively outnumber ISO-generated craters.”
Just about everyone has heard of the creature called Mothman. But, did you know the monster was (and still is) among us? Well, let's dig deep into some of this high-strangeness. But, first, let's tackle the beginning. Back in 1975, when I was just ten-years-old, a book was published that became an absolute classic. In fact, it was an epic production of the occult, the paranormal, the cryptoterrestrial and the supernatural. And altogether combined. As for the “leading character” in the book, he had a pair of burning eyes and gargoyle-style wings. You know who we’re talking about. The title remains unforgettable when you’ve read the book and seen the various, spectacular artwork to back it up. The name: The Mothman Prophecies. The author of this production was the late John Alva Keel, the author of a great, adventurous book called Jadoo. The book company said of Keel’s Jadoo that “…From the Upper Nile to the to the lower Ganges and the Roof of the World in Tibet, John Keel traveled in search of Jadoo – the black magic of the Orient – and had some of the most fantastic experiences ever to appear on the printed page.” Even at my early time, I knew I was set for a life like that. There simply was nothing else I could do: it was adventure or zero. Now, back to The Mothman Prophecies.
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(Nick Redfern) The Flying, Red-Eyed Terror
The book told of the wild, sinister 1966-1967 story of a menacing red-eyed, winged monster that plagued the little city of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. And the word “prophecies” became very apt. It wasn’t long before people around the town were having nightmarish dreams of disaster, chaos and even death. And, no less, some of those grim prophecies came to absolute realities. The flying monster had carefully placed itself in the city – and by both day and night. There’s something else very important, too: it has been wrongly assumed that the first encounter with Mothman took place in Point Pleasant. Not at all. The first confrontation – we’re told - was on the night of November 12, 1966. The location was a cemetery in Clendenin, which is close to eighty-miles from Point Pleasant. The grave-diggers, who were on-site at the time, were shocked and awed when they saw what was described as “a brown shape with wings.” The creature vanished into the blackness leaving the men shaking. Three days later a group of amazed kids – Roger Scarberry, Linda Scarberry and Steve and Mary Mallette – had their night-time encounter; an encounter that just about defined the legend of Mothman. Deputy Millard Halstead said: “I’ve known these kids all their lives. They’d never been in any trouble and they were really scared that night. I took them seriously.” So did many others, too.
In that period of 1966 and 1967, there was a huge amount of strange activity in the area: Mothman; the pale-faced, Men in Black; poltergeist activity; UFOs; and weird and sinister characters that just might not have been quite human. One of them was a “man” who went by the name of Indrid Cold. A man who was known for his terrible, wild grin. In fact, the Grinning Man of today was clearly born out of Indrid Cold. We’ll hear much more about this half-human thing later on. There used to be an old TNT plant in the area. But, no more. It has pretty much been razed to the ground. Much of the area is empty, abandoned and covered in overgrown bushes, vines and moss, and hidden by the trees. Graffiti adorns the old structures – some with imagery of Mothman himself. The setting – and particularly so at night – is apocalyptic, to say the very least. Indeed, the ruined, run-down area looks like the kind of locale one might expect to see in the likes of The Walking Dead on television. And, decades later, the area still oozes a sense of hard-to-describe menace.
Notably, at the same time the events in Point Pleasant, West Virginia were afoot, very similar things were going down in New York – in Huntington, specifically in an area known to the locals as Mount Misery. Like Point Pleasant, the area was, and still is, steeped in weirdness. Strange creatures – such as “black panthers,” and ghostly black dogs with eyes like burning coals – roam the heart of the old woods. Ghostly children have been seen wandering the old lanes after the sun has set. Not the kind of love you would want. creepy Men in Black have knocked on the doors of locals late at night, warning them not to discuss the supernatural activity that dominates the area. And, for years, Mount Misery – with its thick, dense canopies of trees – has been a beacon for lovers. We’ll come back to the “Lovers Lane” aspect of all this later on, as it played a very important picture in the 1960s…and still does.
John Keel reported in his 1975 book, The Mothman Prophecies, that a young couple – Richard and Jane – after an evening of hanging out, and making out, were driving to Richard’s home when he suddenly fell sick. He was overcome by weakness and nausea and even briefly passed out at the wheel. Not too good. Fortunately, because of the tight corners on the small, winding roads, Richard was barely driving at fifteen miles per hour, something which allowed Jane to quickly grab the wheel and bring the car to a screeching halt. The next thing Jane remembered was seeing a bright flash, followed by a groggy sense of missing time and a feeling of memories of…well, something.
There is, however, another angle to the history of the area: Point Pleasant, West Virginia is a city of around four-and-a-half-thousand people. In 1774, the city became the site of a now-historic battle between the forces of Colonel Andrew Lewis and Native Americans from the Shawnee and Mingo groups, and overseen by Shawnee Chief Cornstalk. It was a bloody and violent battle that Cornstalk’s people lost. Despite the historic nature of the battle, there is no doubt that it has been eclipsed by a series of events which occurred between November 1966 and December 1967: it can only be the reign of Mothman. Just before Christmas of 1967, there was death on the Ohio River. Or, rather, I should say there was death under the waters. On the evening of December 15, forty-six people drowned when the Silver Bridge – that spanned the Ohio River – collapsed. After the awful disaster, the sightings of Mothman dropped hugely. Since then, there have only been sporadic sightings of Mothman in and around – and in other parts of West Virginia. To this day, there are many who believe the cause of the death and the mayhem was due to Mothman. A real-life grim-reaper gone insane? Perhaps. There’s another thing, too: some of those prophecies proved to be true. Now, let's get to the weirdness. The really weird weirdness.
There was, however, something else, too; it was something that was both terrifying and paranormal: as the threats of nuclear war grew and grew, more and more people were having nightmares and prophecies in the dead of the night. Most of those dreams revolved around Mothman and gigantic, radioactive mushroom clouds. Many people generously shared their dreams with me. The anniversary prompted something else, too: a pair of new books about the subject of Mothman. One of the books was Lon Strickler’s Mothman Dynasty: Chicago’s Winged Humanoids. Lon said of his book: It seemed like the nukes were ready to hit the red button and launch: “In the late summer of 2011, three reports of Mothman-like flying humanoids surfaced in the city of Chicago, then nothing. Whatever it was disappeared. Then unexpectedly in early 2017, a smattering of encounters emerged from different locations throughout the Chicago metro area. These reports quickly grew to nearly fifty before stopping suddenly at the end of the summer. Why Chicago? Why now? This book will examine the witness accounts as well as the investigators thought processes in real time as these incidents were brought to our attention. The sightings continue… but we are determined to find the truth.”
(Nick Redfern) One of Point Pleasant's huge bridges
The other book was The Lake Michigan Mothman: High Strangeness in the Midwest. The author was Tobias Wayland, who said of his book: “This book represents over two years of research by a dedicated team of investigators who have taken dozens of reports of a weird, winged humanoid seen around Lake Michigan. Author and investigator Tobias Wayland has collected these reports for the first time in one volume, along with his analysis and insider perspective as a member of the investigative team. The phenomena described the continuation of a decades-long series of events first recorded in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in the late '60s, but that has likely been with humanity since our advent, and seems just as likely to be with us until our end.” Things were, indeed, expanding – and most definitely not in a good way. That red-eyed thing was soaring around the skies and those nightmares were growing. Now, there are these words from my journals:
"In the first week of the month of all these nightmares, a trio of people – all unconnected – messaged and emailed me with the details of their experiences. One of those was an alien abductee named Kenny. A resident of San Bernardino, California, Kenny had a trauma-filled dream of a nuclear attack on the United States on the night of August 7. In the nightmare, Kenny was relaxing, watching television, in a house in a small town near Lubbock, Texas – a city he has not visited; at least, not yet. Relaxation soon turned to absolute terror. A deep, thunderous rumbling noise suddenly filled the air. He raced to the front-door, only to see a huge radioactive cloud hanging in the distance – perhaps five or six miles away; maybe more.
"Kenny was frozen to the spot, unable to move as the shock enveloped him that America had been hit by a devastating nuclear weapon. Then, as the blast from the detonation raced across the flat plains of West Texas, the sky turned dark and a massive wall of flame – perhaps two hundred feet high – destroyed everything in its wake. The last thing Kenny remembered before waking up in a frantic state, was the sight of another explosion, this one right on Lubbock itself. The war to outdo all wars had begun. Civilization, Kenny knew, would soon be over. Not only that: Kenny, in one of his nightmares, had seen a “huge black bird.”
"There was also the story of Kimberly J. Her experience reached me just a couple of days after Kenny contacted me. Living in the heart of Chicago, Kimberly had heard of the growing sightings of the Mothman and, as an alien abductee herself, viewed the whole situation as scary and ominous. In her very own nightmare, Kimberly saw the destruction of Chicago by a nuclear weapon, with millions of people killed in seconds and the whole city destroyed. Most intriguing is the fact that Kimberly saw what she described as an approximately nine-foot-tall “bird-man” hovering over the radioactive remains and the terribly injured survivors of the initial blast. She got a feeling that the bird-man was “watching the end of us.” It may well have been planning on doing just that."
There is another aspect to all of this matter of Mothman and nuclear war. Over a time of eight weeks, no less than nine people contacted me after they had terrifying experiences in their sleep. In every one of the nightmares, the United States was destroyed by gigantic explosions, and across the whole U.S.: “Mushroom” blasts, of course. But, who initiated it all? In the dreams, no-one knew because all of the United States’ military arsenal was flattened and unable to respond. None of the United States’ nukes could be launched. Planes couldn’t take to the sky. Cars and trucks were frozen. Laptops were dead. U.S. Military submarines sunk to the beds of the oceans, unable to help. All the electricity was lost just before the attacks. And there never would be any electric again. Three of those eight people saw in their nightmares huge, black birds circling in a dust-filled atmosphere. There is, however, a very important question that has to be addressed: How could the United States have been flattened by Russia? Or, were the Chinese the culprits? North Korea? Maybe, they had all joined together to destroy the United States.
I realized immediately what had happened. There was only one answer for all this. It was the science of electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) technology. EMP has the ability to totally paralyze technology of all kinds and across miles. Thankfully, those dreams were just that: dreams. But, in the real world, EMP weaponry can, indeed, bring down the most powerful technology to the ground. Were those EMP dreams really just dreams? I hope so.
(Nick Redfern) Every year there is a festival at Point Pleasant. Thousands arrive!
One of the strangest, and undoubtedly, creepiest of all encounters with a winged creature occurred at the height of the Vietnam War, and specifically in Da Nang, Vietnam – but, it has a modern day aspect, as you will see. It was in August 1969 that a man named Earl Morrison, along with several comrades, had the shock of his life. It was, very appropriately, in the dead of night when the menacing event occurred – and as the men were on guard-duty, keeping a careful look out for the Vietcong. Everything was quiet and normal until around 1:30 a.m. That’s when the atmosphere changed, and an eerie form made its presence known to the shocked men of the US 1st Division Marine Corps. Despite being somewhat reluctant to speak out publicly, Morrison eventually changed his mind and, by 1972, was comfortable about discussing the incident, even if he wasn’t comfortable with what he encountered. His story makes for incredible reading: “We saw what looked like wings, like a bat’s, only it was gigantic compared to what a regular bat would be. After it got close enough so we could see what it was, it looked like a woman. A naked woman. She was black. Her skin was black, her body was black, the wings were back; everything was black. But it glowed. It glowed in the night, kind of greenish cast to it. She started going over us, and we still didn’t hear anything. She was right above us, and when she got over the top of our heads she was maybe 6 or 7 feet up. We watched her go straight over the top of us, and she still didn’t make any noise flapping her wings.
She blotted out the moon once – that’s how close she was to us. And dark – looked like pitch black then, but we could still define her because she just glowed. Real bright like. And she started going past us straight towards our encampment. As we watched her – she had got about 10 feet or so away from us – we started hearing her wings flap. And it sounded, you know, like regular wings flapping. And she just started flying off and we watched her for quite a while.” One of those who took a great deal of interest in the story of the flying woman of Da Nang was a UFO researcher named Don Worley. His personal interview with Morrison revealed additional data, such as the fact that the woman’s hair was black and straight, that the wings may have had a slight furry quality to them, that she “rippled” as she flew by, that she appeared to lack bones in her body, and that her wings seemed to be directly “molded” to her hands and arms. The investigators, Janet and Colin Bord, say of this particularly odd case: “Usually our reports of winged figures describe them as ‘men,’ but without any indication whether features are seen which tell the witness definitely that it is a man. In view of this we suspect that so-called ‘birdmen’ should strictly be termed ‘bird people’ or ‘bird persons,’ and that no sex attribution can honestly be made.”
Now, to something that’s absolutely wild and that just might be tied to the story directly above. That is, if you have a really crazy imagination. On January 9, 2014, the John Keel website stated the following: “Mark Pilkington [a journalist and author who specializes in weird things] has alerted me to the fact that the current issue of Soldier of Fortune magazine (Feb. ’14) contains an article entitled ‘UFO Mystery Solved: “Mothmen’ Were Actually Green Berets.’” The writer, Harold Hutchison, claims that special operations forces near Point Pleasant were testing high-altitude, low-opening (HALO) parachuting for use in Vietnam; and that the jumpers used luminous paint to be seen during the tests. And this, he says, explains the Mothman sightings.” The people at the Haunted Librarian website weren’t impressed: “While Hutchison’s theory is interesting and places a patriotic spin on Mothman, a truly Americana urban legend, it doesn’t make sense. So, no, Mothman was not a wayward Green Beret.”
Moving on: how about a look at the place where Mothman was seen back in the 1960s? That was filled with weirdness, too. Although I’ve been to Point Pleasant on many occasions – usually to give lectures at the yearly festival in town - my trip to the city in 2017 was more like a road-trip, something I love. There was several of us: me, Lyle Blackburn, Ken Gerhard and several friends. They are devotees of road-trips, too. The drive there (and back) is beyond long; but it’s always worth it. So, we filled our vehicle with all the things we needed and hit the road. We rolled into town – slightly blearily-eyed and frazzled from a lack of sleep – around 5:00 p.m., checked into our motel, and then, as darkness fell, headed out to a local pizza eatery. There were about twenty of us there, including John and Tim Frick, who I first met at the September 2014 Mothman gig. If you don’t know the Frick brothers, you should. Not only do the brothers know just about everything when it comes to Mothman history, they also know the town itself very well. And, particularly, the many and varied landmarks which are linked to the story of Mothman. Around 8:00 p.m., they took us –with other friends – to the old, so-called TNT area, which has played such an integral role in the Mothman saga. As we left the pizza place, a full-blown convoy of vehicles followed Tim and John, as we traveled along small, winding, tree-shrouded, roads to the scene of the old action. No surprise, there was an atmosphere of excitement and anticipation in the increasingly chilly air.
For those who may not know, the TNT area’s official title is the McClintic Wildlife Management Area. It’s situated around five miles north of the town of Point Pleasant and runs to more than 3,500 acres. At the height of the Second World War, a TNT processing plant was established in the area, with the volatile chemicals used to create it stored in a series of concrete, igloo-like buildings. It was the work of around 3,500 U.S. Army personnel and, at the time, was known as the West Virginia Ordnance Works. Today, the plant is no more. The only things left now are the crumbling foundations and a couple of sturdy, metal, perimeter-gates and a rusted metal fence. During daylight, it’s an inviting and picturesque area, filled with densely-packed trees, a plethora of wildlife – such as deer, raccoons and beavers – and numerous ponds, pools and small lakes. After dark, however, things are very different. The atmosphere of menace, which was so present back in the sixties, is still there – utterly refusing to relinquish its icy grip on the people of Point Pleasant. And, the TNT locale is gone.
Having checked out what was left of the old plant, we all followed John and Tim to a specific stretch of heavily wooded ground, parked our vehicles, and were given an excellent and atmospheric tour of the igloos and their surroundings. I have to say the whole thing reminded me of something straight out of The Walking Dead: a ruined, overgrown environment, a once bustling area now utterly dead and abandoned, and an almost apocalyptic air that one could practically cut with a knife. The military was nowhere in sight, and the igloos were decaying, covered in foliage, and splattered with graffiti, both old and new. Me and a good friend, Denise, broke off from the main group and checked out some of the igloos, which was a profoundly memorable experience: the size and shape of the igloos cause a person’s voice to echo loudly and very oddly within their dark confines. Plus, we felt a deep sense of malignancy in the old buildings – a sense which was as immediate as it was long-lasting. You could almost taste the menace, if such a thing were possible.
Notably, there was some evidence that supernatural rites and rituals had been undertaken in some of the igloos, which I found most intriguing. It was near these very same igloos that so many of the Mothman sightings occurred in 1966 and 1967 – involving, it should be noted, witnesses who soon found themselves in the cold clutches of the Men in Black. Denise and I walked around, in near-darkness, for a couple of hours, with little more than the bright Moon for illumination, taking in the atmosphere and imagining what it must have been like decades ago earlier. A few scurrying animals and the cries of a handful of geese flying overhead were pretty much the only things that convinced us we hadn’t entered some strange portal – a doorway to an unsettling, dead world. After a while, we caught up with the rest of the gang. We hit the darkness-filled roads and headed back to our motels. It had been a cool night of high-strangeness.
There’s no doubt that the “flying humanoid” phenomenon is a real one. It might have been here, on Earth, for centuries. Millennia, possibly.” Maybe, forever. Who can say for sure? As we’ve seen, their names include Mothman, the Vietnam winged woman, the Houston Batman, the Batsquatch, the Owlman, the Yorkshire, U.K., Pterodactyl and numerous more. Not only that, those creatures of the skies are tied to disaster and death – and not just to Point Pleasant. Monster-seeker Jonathan Downes had to leave – and quickly leave - his interest in the matter of the Owlman of England for the sake of his health and his life. And, John did stay away, such were his fears of those sky-creatures. Remember that: these monsters are experts when it comes to paranormal backlash, as Jon called it. And, they won’t fail to use it when they need it. There’s also the matter of these entities being able to alter their forms, as we’ve seen. We’re talking about creatures that can morph their forms. For example, the good folk of Point Pleasant have seen giant-sized, bird-like animals over their homes. Others have encountered bat-type things. Then, there are those who - over Point Pleasant - suggest these creatures are Native American Thunderbirds. Think of the Houston Batman that was seen back in the 1950s: that was a definitive humanoid with wings. But, nothing like a Thunderbird. The creatures might look somewhat different, but the wings are always there. As are those red eyes. They will always be here. Everywhere.
Should you see a red-eyed thing late at night, and in or around Point Pleasant, West Virginia be careful. Be very careful. This monster is not just dangerous, but possibly deadly. But, I still recommend people to visit Point Pleasant: the site of West Virginia's legendary winged monster. And, I should stress that it isn't all about fear. In fact, the festival is absolutely great. Whether the Mothman agrees, I have no idea.
On the surface of it all, it wouldn't seem that the job of UFO researcher should be too dangerous. They read up on the lore and cases, perhaps go check things out, and they are investigating a phenomenon that many people don't believe in to begin with in the first place. However, judging by some cases, it seems that there can sometimes be a very big risk to be had indeed, as many researchers seem to have the habit of turning up dead. From conspiracies and strange "suicides," to mysterious illnesses and more, UFO researchers seem to have more occupational hazards that one might initially suspect. Here we get into a dark, gloomy, and dangerous world of conspiracies, aliens, UFOs, and sinister nefarious parties that will allegedly stop at nothing to keep this information from the rest of the world, sometimes with fatal consequences.
Strange and suspicious deaths in the UFO field are nothing really all that new, and it seems they have been an unfortunate and ominous feature of the landscape here since pretty much the very beginning of the modern flying saucer craze that kicked off with pilot Kenneth Arnold’s sighting of nine, shiny unidentified flying objects flying past Mount Rainier, Washington on June 24, 1947. Although UFOs had been sighted since long before this, Arnold’s sighting was the one that really made an impact, making it all mainstream and hitting the worldwide media in a major way, ushering in the modern UFO era and catapulting the phenomenon into the stratosphere. It was Arnold’s amazing sighting that practically single-handedly birthed the field of ufology, and one early player who helped to carry this forward was a man by the name of Frank Edwards.
Edwards was a prolific American writer and broadcaster, considered to be one of the pioneers in radio, and hosted a popular radio show broadcast across the United States in the 1940s and 1950s, at one point being considered one of the top three broadcasters in the nation. On his show he routinely talked about mysterious phenomena and the paranormal, and after the Arnold sightings became news he couldn’t resist frequently talking about UFOs on his show, eventually starting a new show called Stranger Than Science, that he could devote solely to UFOs and the paranormal. The show was a major hit, and he was soon by far the most outspoken radio broadcaster on the topic of UFOs, the show beaming out on the radio waves nationwide.
Frank Edwards
All of this eventually caught the attention of retired U.S. Marine Corps Major and early UFO whistleblower Donald E. Keyhoe, who sent Edwards an advance copy of Flying Saucers Are Real, in which he claims that UFOs are spacecraft piloted by alien entities from outer space, and that the U.S. government knew this and were working hard to keep it all a secret from the American public. Edwards was fascinated by all of this, and Keyhoe started making regular appearances on his show to talk about secretive government conspiracies involving UFOs and aliens, bringing these at the time strange new ideas to the masses in a way they never really had been before. Fueled by these revelations by Keyhoe, Edwards became more obsessed and outspoken with the topic of extraterrestrials and UFOs than ever before. He would write prolifically on the topic, publishing numerous books and articles on the UFO phenomena and other strange unsolved mysteries, and he would go on to write several groundbreaking books in the emerging field of ufology, including Flying Saucers: Serious Business in 1966 and Flying Saucers: Here and Now in 1967, both of which are considered to be classics in the field to this day. He even appeared on various TV shows talking about this stuff, including the Johnny Carson-era Tonight Show. Considering his high profile and far reaching audience for his seemingly never-ending talk of UFOs, it is perhaps easy to see how he might make some enemies in high places, and if some of the conspiracy theories surrounding him are to be believed then this is exactly what happened.
On June 24 of 1967, Edwards was scheduled to attend an important conference on UFOs called “The Conference of Scientific Ufologists” as a member of the Board of Governors for the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). It was a conference that he never would attend, as he would tragically die of a sudden heart attack in his home at the age of 59, just before midnight on the night before it was to begin. For the conspiracy minded the death was immediately suspicious for a few reasons. First was that Edwards had been in good health and had never had any health issues, so a heart attack seemed pretty strange. Then there was the unfortunate timing of the death, just a few minutes before June 24, which was the anniversary of the Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting and the reason the conference was held on that day. Making it all even more suspicious was that his official obituary stated rather cryptically that he had only “appeared” to have died from a heart attack. What does this mean, if anything? Then there were the other ominous clues that began to come in.
In the wake of the death, the popular radio host Long John Nebel would take to the airwaves to spectacularly claim that he had been shown two unsigned letters prior to the conference that both stated that Edwards would not live to see the end of the conference. In addition, Nebel claimed to have received a cryptic phone call from UFO author Gray Barker just days before the conference, during which Barker had claimed that a mysterious stranger had called him to flatly tell him that Edwards would not live to attend the conference, before simply hanging up with no further explanation. At the time, Nebel was known as being a reliable and solid broadcaster not prone to telling tall tales, so the fact that he would mention this on his show suggests that he really believed it to be true. There was hardly a person who knew Edwards that believed he had died of natural causes, but there was never any official investigation into foul play, the authorities wrote it off as nothing but a heart attack, and that was that.
Gray Barker
Interestingly, Nebel was front and center for another suspicious death within ufology, this time concerning the author, mathematician, archeologist, and astrophysicist Morris K. Jessup. He was known in the UFO community mostly for his often unorthodox theories, early postulation on the ancient astronaut theory and alternative history, and for his books The Case for the UFO (1955), UFOs and the Bible, The UFO Annual (both 1956), and The Expanding Case for the UFO. (1957). Jessup is known for having influenced the growing field of ancient astronauts, with his work forming the basis of other books that would follow in this vein, including the classic Chariots of the Gods, by Erich von Däniken, and others. He is also well-known for his involvement with the notorious Philadelphia Experiment, which purportedly sought to render a US Navy vessel invisible, and also for his mysterious death.
The scientist had long become increasingly interested in the UFO phenomenon, finally publishing his first book in 1955 titled The Case for the UFO, an extremely comprehensive case study on the topic that became a national smash-hit bestseller. It was all a double edge sword for Jessup, as although he was now a celebrated author and rising force in ufology, it also caused him some turmoil in his more academic pursuits, with funding being pulled for several projects because the university did not want to be associated with spaceships and aliens from outer space. This was a dark time for Jessup, causing the disintegration of his marriage and ostracism within academia, and he was also involved in a car accident in Florida that left him seriously injured, all of which sent him spiraling into a chasm of deep depression from which he would never emerge. On April 19, 1959, Jessup made arrangements to meet with a researcher named Manson Valentine, allegedly because he wanted to give some classified information on the Philadelphia Experiment, but this would never come to pass.
In April of 1959, he contacted Nebel, who was his longtime friend, and send him a suicide note. At the time Nebel tried to convince him not to go through with it, and for a time it seemed that Jessup had given up his plans to take his own life, but then on April 20th, 1959 there was tragic news. Jessup was found at his Florida home, dead in his car and with an exhaust hose shoved in through the window. It seemed on the surface to be an obvious suicide by carbon monoxide poisoning, but there were some odd details. For one, the hose had been put into place with wet towels seemingly from outside of the vehicle and with no way for Jesus to have wet them where he was. Jessup could have wet the towels before getting in, but why would he put them into the window from outside and then go around to the other side to get into the car? Was this really a suicide or had Jessup made a nefarious enemy with his rampant talk of UFOs? It seems the police were not too keen to find out, because they did no autopsy on the body, in spite of the fact that it was Florida law to do so, and authorities basically swept it all under the carpet. Why should this be?
From 1965 we have the curious case of the American columnist, journalist, and television game show panelist Dorothy Mae Kilgallen, who had an illustrious journalism career and was one of the most highly sought after and respected female journalists of her day. She started out mostly as a columnist for show business articles, rubbing elbows with the likes of Marilyn Monroe and numerous other famous people of the time. Her newspaper column The Voice of Broadway was eventually syndicated to more than 140 papers and she also became a regular panelist on the television game show What's My Line?, as well as launching radio shows and other endeavors. She is perhaps most famous for covering the 1954 murder trial of Sam Sheppard, who was a doctor convicted of killing his wife at their home in the Cleveland suburb of Bay Village, as well as for her public and outspoken skeptical of the conclusions of the Warren Commission's report about the assassination of President Kennedy and Jack Ruby's shooting of Lee Oswald. She was also very deep into the UFO phenomenon, even once saying in a press release:
Flying Saucers are regarded as of such vital importance that they will be the subject of a special hush-hush meeting of the world military heads next summer.
She also dug into secret insider information, plying her various political and celebrity contacts for information into the world of UFOs, a realm which she found herself being more and more swept up in. She would eventually publish a spectacular news report in which she declared:
I can report today on a story which is positively spooky, not to mention chilling. British scientists and airmen, after examining the wreckage of one mysterious flying ship, are convinced these strange aerial objects are not optical illusions or Soviet inventions, but are flying saucers which originate on another planet. The source of my information is a British official of cabinet rank who prefers to remain unidentified. We believe, on the basis of our inquiry thus far, that the saucers were staffed by small men – probably under four feet tall. It’s frightening, but there’s no denying the flying saucers come from another planet. This official quoted scientists as saying a flying ship of this type could not have possibly been constructed on Earth. The British Government, I learned, is withholding an official report on the ‘flying saucer’ examination at this time, possibly because it does not wish to frighten the public. When my husband and I arrived here from a brief vacation, I had no premonition that I would be catapulting myself into the controversy over whether flying saucers are real or imaginary.
It was unknown exactly who this supposed informant was, but the revelation really stirred the pot and got people talking. It is also unknown if any of this would have an impact on what was to come, but on November 8, 1965, Kilgallen was tragically found dead in her Manhattan townhouse. The famed reporter was discovered sitting in bed, wearing nothing but a blue bathrobe, false eyelashes, and a floral hair accessory, and authorities would quickly come to the conclusion that she had died of a drug overdose. However, there were mysterious clues orbiting about it all, such as that she’d been found dead in a bed she had never slept in, in sleeping clothes she didn’t usually wear, next to a book that she’d told people she’d finished reading. What was going on here? There have been plenty of theories that she had met her fate at the hand of one of the many potential enemies she had made covering topics like the mob and the Kennedy assassination, but there have also been fingers pointing to her involvement in releasing information on UFOs. Whatever the case may be, it is a case that has firm connections to the phenomenon of mysterious deaths of those who go too far into the UFO phenomenon, and it certainly makes one think.
Moving into the 70s we have a few high-profile deaths of UFO researchers. In 1971, a physicist at the University of Arizona and advocate of more serious studies into UFOs by the name of Dr. James McDonald was in the process of trying to convince U.S. Congress that UFOs were a phenomenon that deserved a closer look and more investigation. He was never successful, because he came down with a bad case of a gunshot to the head in an apparent suicide. Two years later, in 1973, beloved cryptozoologist and UFO aficionado Ivan T. Sanderson was taken out by an unusually fast-spreading cancer. This is curious, because strangely aggressive cancers and tumors are a common theme in the deaths of these doomed researchers, which we can see from a string of mysterious deaths in the 80s.
The astronomer Dr. Allen J. Hynek is a famous fixture of UFO history, having once been a major consultant and investigator for Project Blue Book, the U.S. Air Force’s official investigation into the UFO phenomenon. In 1986, Hynek was admitted to the hospital for prostrate surgery, but would never leave, as he was soon found to have an incredibly vicious brain tumor that ended him. According to those who knew him, in the days leading up to his death he had allegedly spoken of and seemed unsettled by some newly acquired information he had received on UFOs. Could this have had something to do with his death? Two years later, in 1988 notable investigative radio host Mae Brussell died of a fast-acting cancer in California. She was known as a major conspiracy theorist and for her no holds barred radio program on these topics called Dialogue: Conspiracy, later renamed World Watchers International.
The 1990s continued these shady deaths, with 1993 seeing astronaut Deke Slayton die of an aggressive cancer conveniently right before he was expected to come forward with his inside knowledge and experiences on UFOs. In 1994, an investigator for the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), Ann Livingston, died of an extremely aggressive and ferocious form of ovarian cancer. Rather spookily, this happened just a mere 2 years after she had claimed to have been harassed by ghoulish faceless, pale, and sinister Men in Black. Also in 1994 was the death of another MUFON investigator, Ron Johnson, who was actually the deputy director of investigations for the organization. He would die under very strange circumstances when after a slide presentation at a conference in Austin Texas, the lights came on and he was found unresponsive in his seat, with blood coming out of his nose and a weird purple coloration to his face. A few years later, 1996 saw the death of UFO author Karla Turner, who died of breast cancer. Turner was known for constantly attributing her cancer to actions taken by aliens due to some of the things she had written of in her UFO-themed books Masquerade of Angels, Taken, and Into the Fringe. In 1999, author of numerous UFO and conspiracy books, Jim Keith, also died when a blood clot stopped his heart as he was receiving routine surgery for a broken leg.
Perhaps one of the most bizarre individuals to have died a suspicious death for their whistleblowing of alleged information on aliens and UFOs is the American engineer Phil Schneider. An engineer-geologist, demolition specialist, and civil engineer, Schneider worked for the military and aerospace industries, and was allegedly heavily involved with the construction of underground military bases, eventually being assigned to work at the Dulce base in New Mexico. It is here where he would allege that he had come into contact with all manner of information and experiences dealing with aliens, UFOs, and government cover-ups, and he would have quite the bizarre tale to tell, indeed.
In the 1990s, Schneider began coming forth with what he claimed to be information that he had gleaned from his alleged top secret security clearance at Dulce. He claimed that aliens had already had a base beneath Dulce, and that his team had accidentally stumbled across it as they drilled in order to expand the base. It apparently wasn’t a warm welcome, devolving into what he calls a “massacre” and of which he would say:
I was involved in the expansion of the deep underground military base at Dulce, which is possibly the deepest base. It descends seven levels and is over 2.5 miles deep. At this time we were drilling four different wells in the desert, intending to tie them together, but this required blasting. My job was to go deep into the wells, research the characteristics of the black rocks, and recommend the explosives that would be suitable in each case. However, as we made our way down, we found ourselves in a large cavern that was full of extraterrestrial aliens known as the "big Greys". I killed two of them. At that time there were about 30 people there, and 40 more came there later, when it all started - they were all killed. We were surprised by the existence of an entire underground base filled with aliens. Later we learned that they have been living on our planet for a long time. In my opinion, this can explain a lot of what is behind the theory of ancient astronauts.
The incident would apparently leave Schneider with severe burns from the aliens’ alleged energy weapons, as well as later giving him cancer from the radiation emitted by them. After this rough start and “unfortunate misunderstanding,” the U.S. government supposedly reached a truce with what Schneider calls the “Zeta Reticuli,” also known as the “Greys,” signing a treaty he called the “Greada Agreement.” After this, Dulce served the secret function of serving as a place to house aliens and their technology, as well as to conduct both genetic and mind control experiments using alien technology. He was very specific in detailing the specifics of the base, explaining that it was divided into seven levels, each one housing things such as living quarters, storage facilities for alien craft, alien bodies, and “alien embryos,” laboratories, housing for such varieties of aliens as "Greys" and "Reptoids,” and meeting halls for conferences with representatives of the alien civilization. Schneider would claim that many of the technologies we take for granted every day, as well as military technologies such as stealth technology, were developed with the help of these aliens, and in exchange the U.S. government had established numerous secret underground bases for them to carry out experiments on humans, indeed there were supposedly 1477 underground bases built around the world, all as part of their agreement. This isn’t even the weirdest part yet.
Schneider would claim that the aliens had broken this treaty, and that this would boil over into a disagreement that often ended in violence. According to Schneider, the Greys were secretly plotting to overthrow the government and install a New World Order, all controlled by the UN, which they have infiltrated and secretly control. He also claimed that there are seven benevolent alien species and four evil species on Earth. As a result, a resistance movement against some of them has developed and there are some incidents Schneider says are tied to this. For instance, he would claim that the Bikini Atoll was the site of a nuclear explosion not to test the bomb, but to wipe out an underground alien base that had gone rogue, that the World Trade Center bombing and the Oklahoma City bombings were carried out using miniature nuclear devices. and that the Strategic Defense Initiative ("SDI" or Star Wars”) was actually intended as a defense against alien invasions. In addition to all of this, Schneider would make all sorts of off-the-wall claims about what the government was developing with alien tech, including that the U.S. had an earthquake machine and that AIDS was created in a lab. He would explain of some of this in one of his lectures:
The federal government currently has an earthquake-causing device. I'm a geologist and I know what I'm talking about. During the earthquake in Kobe (Japan) there was no pulse wave, as is usually the case in normal earthquakes. She wasn't there. In 1989 there was an earthquake in San Francisco, and there was no pulse wave or anything like that either. This is a Tesla device that is being used for evil purposes. Shadow budget programs distort the essence of science as we know it. Look at AIDS - it was created by government order in a laboratory in Chicago, Illinois, in 1972. It was a biological weapon that was used against the people of the United States. I know this because I have seen the documentation of the Office of Strategic Services, which, by the way, is still working to this day through the CDC in Atlanta. They used the glandular secretions of animals, humans and humanoids to create a virus. These humanoids have friendly relations with the government. There is absolutely no defense against what they create. It is a biological weapon with potentially dire consequences. Every alien on our planet must be isolated.
Schneider became very outspoken about these “facts” and the government’s attempts to blind the public to the truth, publicly speaking at lectures and seminars in the USA, Canada, England, and Japan, often showing samples of some materials allegedly obtained using extraterrestrial technologies. Listening to how outlandish his claims are, it would be easy to write him off as a kook, but things took a sinister turn when he turned up dead under mysterious circumstances.
On January 17, 1996, Phil Schneider was found dead at his home in Wilsonville, Oregon, with his neck wrapped with piano wire and his own catheter tube, and there were signs of what looked like torture. At the time, there was the persistent idea among Schneider’s believers that he had been killed for divulging too much top-secret secret information, assassinated for knowing too much or at least by someone who truly believed he did. The official stance was that it was a suicide. Forgetting for a moment that torturing oneself and then strangling oneself with piano wire isn’t a very traditional method of suicide, there are several other details that make it all the more ominous. Schneider had claimed that his life had been threatened on numerous occasions by the government and that 11 people he knew with similar information had been fatally silenced, often explained away as suicides. One of these was a Ron Rummel, a former Air Force intelligence officer and publisher of the publication “Alien Digest,” who was found dead on August 6, 1993 of a gunshot wound to the head. Although it was also deemed a suicide, there had been no blood on the gun, no fingerprints on the barrel and handle of the weapon, and there had been left a suicide not written by a left-handed person when Rummel was right-handed. Interestingly, no autopsy had been performed and Rummel’s body was cremated less than 24 hours later. Does this have any connection to Schneider’s strange death? Was he killed for something he divulged? Or was this just a delusional individual who killed himself in such a way as to make it look like that? Unfortunately, we may never know for sure.
Moving into the 2000s we have several more strange cases along these lines. In April of 2001, prolific author of unexplained phenomena, Ron Bonds, mysteriously died of a common food poisoning bacterium that rarely leads to death, but for some reason turned deadly for him. More sinister still was the death of prominent UFO researcher Paul Vigay in 2009. In February of that year, the 44-year-old was found bobbing about in the churning sea off the coast of Portsmouth, Hants, leaving a series of strange cryptic passwords behind on his phone that no one could figure out. Although authorities were quick to label it as a suicide, Vigay’s friends and family are adamant that he was not suicidal, and the coroner was also not able to verify whether it was suicide or not, saying, “I cannot say beyond reasonable doubt that yes Paul has taken his own life. The only person who could tell us what was going on in his mind and what happened that night is sadly not here to tell us."
Perhaps one of the weirdest cases of all is also the most recent. Conspiracy theorist and UFO expert Max Spiers was well-known for delving into government cover-ups, and in July of 2016 he was in Warsaw, Poland, visiting a friend and also planning on attending a conference on conspiracy theories and UFOs. On July 16, Spiers' friend found him on the sofa, unresponsive and apparently having vomited up a viscous “black liquid.” It would turn out that there were some pretty suspicious details surrounding the death, one being a text message he had written to his mother just before his death, which reads, “Your boy's in trouble. If anything happens to me, investigate." Also odd is that there was never any actual official autopsy done on the body, and adding to this was that Spiers was a healthy young man with no history of physical issues, making it odd that he should just drop dead on that sofa. There would be very little word on the state of the investigation until 2019, when authorities would rule the death as being caused by drug use and pneumonia. Max’s mother would say of it all:
Max was a very fit man who was in good health and yet he apparently just died suddenly on a sofa. All I have is a death certificate from the Polish authorities that it was from natural causes, but no post-mortem was done so how can they tell that? They are also refusing to release any paperwork about it to me because, absurdly, I don’t have his written permission. Apparently, he had not suffered any obvious physical injuries but he could have been slowly poisoned, which is why the results of toxicology tests from his post-mortem are so important. Again, we are left to wonder, if this really was an accident, or did some nefarious agency deem him to be a threat and have him erased? It really is quite the conundrum, and the case seems to be in a limbo of strangeness and pure speculation.
The main conspiracy idea behind all of these deaths is that these people were removed from the equation by nefarious parties, with government agencies and even the Men in Black coming into play. Skeptics would point out that people die, it is a fact of life, and that of course UFO researchers are going to fall victim to this as well. Yet, with the strange circumstances and details surrounding some of these cases it really makes one wonder what is really going on. Is this all just coincidence and reading things into it all, or is there something more sinister going on? The question remains, and if you are one of those who delves into UFOs it might be best to keep a set of eyes on the back of your head. You just never know.
Unraveling the Mystery: An In-Depth Analysis of UFO Sightings in Southern California
Unraveling the Mystery: An In-Depth Analysis of UFO Sightings in Southern California
In the realm of unexplained phenomena, UFO sightings hold a particularly captivating spot in both the imagination and curiosity of the public. Among the numerous accounts, a remarkable event from July 2020 in Big Bear, California, stands out, promising to add a significant chapter to the ever-evolving narrative of UFO encounters.
The Big Bear UFO Encounter
The Southern California skies became the canvas for an extraordinary event when Eddie Garcia, an ardent UFO enthusiast and member of the Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind (CE-5) movement, purportedly summoned what he believed to be an extraterrestrial craft. This incident wasn’t just another entry in the annals of UFO sightings; it was accompanied by a unique blend of technological assistance and human belief.
CE-5 Movement: A Blend of Technology and Meditation
CE-5, or Close Encounters of the Fifth Kind, represents a proactive approach to UFO spotting. Advocates like Garcia believe in initiating contact with extraterrestrial beings through specialized meditation techniques, often supported by smartphone apps. This method contrasts sharply with the passive observation that characterizes most UFO sightings.
Forensic Analysis: Unveiling the Truth
The footage from this incident underwent meticulous examination. Forensic video analysts used advanced tools to authenticate the video, ensuring it was free from digital tampering. While the video’s authenticity was established, the nature of the observed object sparked debates among experts.
Expert Opinions: UFO or Natural Phenomenon?
Astronomer and video effects designer Marc D’Antonio and aviation expert Lieutenant Tim McMillan delved into the footage. They ruled out conventional aircraft and drones based on the object’s erratic movements and lack of typical aviation characteristics. Yet, the possibility of it being a bat, attracted or repelled by Garcia’s laser, remained a plausible explanation.
The UFO Phenomenon: A Global Intrigue
This incident is a microcosm of the global fascination with UFO sightings. From enthusiasts to skeptics, the allure of unidentified flying objects spans across cultures and continents. It feeds into a larger narrative of our quest to understand the unknown and the role technology plays in this exploration.
VIDEO:
REAL ALIEN ENCOUNTER in Southern California (S2) | The Proof Is Out There | The UnXplained Zone
While the Big Bear sighting adds to the tapestry of UFO lore, it leaves us with more questions than answers. What did Garcia truly witness that night? Is there a scientific explanation, or does it edge closer to the extraterrestrial? The quest for understanding continues, as does the global captivation with UFO sightings.
What? Wow! That New Asteroid Image from Lucy Just Got Even More Interesting
Lucy’s images of asteroid Dinkinesh are the gift that keeps on giving. First, it was the discovery of a smaller companion. Now, it turns out that the companion itself is a contact binary. That’s two smaller objects touching each other as they orbit with Dinkinesh. So, how did they get that way?
NASA describes the companion as “unanticipated”, although according to Lucy project scientist John Spencer, they’re actually pretty common in the solar system. “We just haven’t seen many up close, and we’ve never seen one orbiting another asteroid,” he said.
Spencer and the team thought there might be something odd about Dinkinesh, given that it was showing some pretty strange brightness variations as the spacecraft got closer. “It gave us a hint that Dinkinesh might have a moon of some sort, but we never suspected anything so bizarre!”
Dinkinesh itself is an interesting target and part of Lucy’s target population of Jupiter Trojan asteroids. It orbits in the Main Asteroid Belt at an average distance of 2.1 AU. Jupiter Trojans make up a distinct population of asteroids trapped in Jupiter’s orbit. They date back to the origins of the Solar System and can provide insight into conditions that existed some 4.5 billion years ago.
Hints About Asteroid Moons
As news of the images spread across the Internet, people began commenting about “moon-moons” to describe Dinkinesh’s companions. One comment on X, by Michigan State University planetary scientist Seth Jacobson, referenced his 2011 thesis work. It focused on modeling similar systems, and even before that, interest in these systems was not new. Understanding what causes such “kissing asteroids” as the Dinkinesh moons, requires a great deal of observation. That’s what Lucy’s doing now.
Jacobson looked at “rotationally fissioned” asteroids, which form when two bodies “fission” as they reach a certain limiting rotational speed. That is, they slowly move apart, but appear tidally locked together. His 2011 paper looked at ideal cases of these objects as sources of then-current observations of small systems.
The work focused on so-called “rubble pile” asteroids and their physical characteristics and gravitational interactions. It involves looking at near-Earth asteroid evolution via something called the YORP (Yarkovsky–O’Keefe–Radzievskii–Paddack) effect. The Yarkovsky part of the effect basically describes how orbits of small asteroids are changed by a tiny amount of thrust created as sunlight re-radiates off their uneven surfaces. Since the amount of thrust is so small, it takes a long time to make big changes in the orbit. The effect also changes an asteroid’s spin rate, albeit slowly. The additional factors (added by other researchers looking into the effect) include any possible effects on asteroid orbits and obliquities. This happens to individual asteroids as well as floating rubble piles, with each piece being affected as well as the aggregate.
So, in addition to collisions that shape asteroids, sunlight, and gravitational effects contribute to their evolution. And, in the case of the recent Lucy images, we see direct evidence of that.
Kissing Asteroid Moons
So, how does this relate to Dinkinesh’s moon-moons? They definitely look like a contact binary. Over time, they rotated into place together, at least partly driven by the YORP effect. The end result is two moons looking as if they’re “kissing” each other after incident solar radiation and re-radiation drove them together in a long dance. Are they actually touching? Or simply moving together very closely in a rubble pile? If they are simply very close to each other in a mutual gravitational headlock, then perhaps rotational fission played a role.
This composite image of the primordial contact binary Kuiper Belt object 2014 MU69 (officially named Arrokoth) was compiled from data obtained by NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft as it flew by the object on Jan. 1, 2019. The image combines enhanced color data (close to what the human eye would see) with detailed high-resolution panchromatic pictures. Credits: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute//Roman Tkachenko
We’ve seen similar bodies in the solar system, including the strangely shaped Arrokoth in the Kuiper Belt. It’s a contact binary that appears to be doing more than kissing. The two lobes look almost welded together around a narrow “neck”. They probably merged together after getting locked together in a gravitational (tidal) dance. Unlike Dinkinesh’s companions, Arrokoth’s two lobes are not the same size.
Why Dinkinesh?
Dinkinesh is about 790 meters across, and its moon-moons are much smaller and don’t yet have names. This asteroid is part of Lucy’s larger mission to survey Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Interestingly, Dinkinesh was added into the mission timeline as a targeting and tracking test. The spacecraft’s systems not only did that, but also provided excellent imaging over time to give multiple views of this asteroid and its moons from different perspectives.
The results look intriguing for now, giving planetary scientists a lot to chew on. “It is puzzling, to say the least,” said Hal Levison, principal investigator for Lucy. “I would have never expected a system that looks like this. In particular, I don’t understand why the two components of the satellite have similar sizes. This is going to be fun for the scientific community to figure out.”
This image from the ESA's MASTER (Meteoroid and Space Debris Terrestrial Environment Reference) risk-assessment tool shows the dangerous debris orbiting Earth. Image Credit: IRAS/TU Braunschweig
What can we do about space junk? We know how much debris is in orbit, and we know the problem is getting worse. It’s our fault.
Our Earth now has a halo of orbital debris, and the ESA has a plan to stop contributing to the problem.
You can only kick a can down a road for so long before you’re tripping over all the cans. While politicians seem particularly adept at kicking them into the future and then blaming the other side when we’re ankle-deep in pesky cans, people in scientific pursuits don’t have the same luxury of intellectual dishonesty.
“Behaviours in space have to change.”
-ESA
We’re all aware of the space debris problem, and we know it’s getting worse. We’ve been launching satellites at an increased pace in the last few years. When combined with all of the satellites launched in prior decades, the result is a congested area that’s getting more crowded by the month. And like empty cans kicked into the future, many of the objects in orbit are no longer functioning or serving any purpose. They’re just there. If only someone had seen this coming.
But at least the ESA is committing to a plan to stop putting more debris in space.
“130 million pieces of space debris larger than a millimetre orbit Earth, threatening satellites now and in the future,” the ESA writes. “Once a week, a satellite or rocket body reenters uncontrolled through our atmosphere. Behaviours in space have to change.”
There’s not much of an argument that things need to change. But in an international world where not all countries want to cooperate and where private companies are responsible for a growing amount of stuff in space, change is tricky.
The ESA is setting a new standard for itself. They call it the “Zero Debris Approach.”
The space debris problem isn’t something that exists down the road. In 2009, two satellites collided over Siberia. One was defunct, but one was active. Besides destroying an active Iridium satellite, the collision created a whole bunch more debris. Perhaps the most troubling part is that the collision was predicted. In fact, of all the satellites that come close to each other, these two weren’t even in the top 200 satellites in dangerous proximity to one another.
“Arguably, the best approach is adopting practices that prevent creating debris in the first place,” an article in American Scientist said at the time.
There’s also the growing risk that even without any additional launches, collisions between existing debris will still make the problem worse. “It has been estimated that even in the case of no further launches into orbit, collisions among the existing space objects can lead to further growth in space debris population,” the ESA writes. The worst possible outcome is the Kessler syndrome, where collisions produce more debris that leads to a growing cascade of collisions that ultimately makes Earth orbit unusable.
American astrophysicist Donald Kessler predicted the Kessler syndrome back in 1978. In 2012, he co-authored an article saying that we’re already passed the tipping point for orbital debris. “That runaway debris generation scenario, often called the Kessler syndrome, may seem far off,” the article said. “But in fact, the sheer density of derelict objects in orbit has already exceeded what many consider to be the mathematical point of no return.”
This illustration depicts the Kessler Syndrome, named after American astrophysicist Donald Kessler. In 2012, Kessler co-authored an article warning that we’re already at the tipping point. Image Credit: ESA
There’s lots of talk about developing systems to remove existing space debris, especially larger pieces like intact satellites. There’s talk of harpoons, robotic arms, and even using other satellites to move debris into graveyard orbits. But there’s not much action to stop adding more debris.
Now, here we are, almost 15 years since the collision, and at least the ESA got the message.
“We are seeing a dramatically increased use of space, but still insufficient technology to prevent the risks that follow. Our aim to become debris neutral in just a few years will require clearing precious Earth orbits once a mission is complete, and if the mission fails to do this, it must be actively removed by dedicated vehicles,” explains Holger Krag, ESA’s Head of Space Safety.
This figure shows the amount of debris in space and what type it is. Image Credit: ESA
Krag likens it to the backcountry hiker’s motto: pack out what you pack in. “We are aiming for rules that compare to every national park on Earth – what you bring in, you must take with you when you leave.”
The ESA’s Zero Debris Approach starts with mission design. In 2022, the ESA undertook a large study involving all of their sites across Europe as well as 270 experts from industry, governmental agencies and academia. The study produced recommendations to help the ESA reach Zero Debris by 2030. The recommendations form the basis of the recently published ‘ESA Space Debris Mitigation Requirements.’
Here are the eight recommendations in the document:
Guarantee successful disposal
Improve orbital clearance
Avoid in-orbit collisions
Avoid internal break-ups
Prevent the intentional release of space debris
Improve on-ground casualty risk assessment
Guarantee Dark and Quiet skies
Beyond the protected regions (This includes GNSS constellations and lunar orbits.)
That’s a pretty comprehensive list, and it should be. We rely heavily on satellites, but many of us never think about them. They’re an important structural element in modern society.
“As space infrastructure has become the backbone of our modern society, the proliferation of space debris is threatening our way of life. Now is the time to act as a community to channel our collective efforts,” said ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher. “To implement the Zero Debris Charter, ESA will focus on developing ground-breaking technologies for satellite end-of-life disposal, in-orbit servicing and active debris removal. In addition, ESA will work hand-in-hand with institutions in charge of regulatory aspects.”
So, where are the rest of the world’s space agencies on this issue? NASA has made lots of statements about ‘limiting’ orbital debris and even has an office dedicated to the problem. But they haven’t taken the same type of bold step the ESA has.
China? They’re working on ways to de-orbit space junk successfully. But again, no bold, clear language commitment. ISRO? India’s set up a Centre for Space Debris Research, but they’ve made no promises about not adding to the problem.
How about Russia? Does what’s left of Roscosmos’ corpse have any plans? They make all kinds of statements, but nobody believes them. Especially since they keep messing with everyone else’s satellites.
You’ve gotta hand it to the ESA. Even though they’re an organization made up of 22 separate nations, they’ve come together and are the ones leading the charge on this issue.
NASA benadrukt een ongelooflijke foto van de Krabnevel gemaakt door de James Webb
NASA benadrukt een ongelooflijke foto van de Krabnevel gemaakt door de James Webb
NASA benadrukt een ongelooflijke foto van de Krabnevel gemaakt door de James Webb (NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; Tea Temim (Princeton University) // NASA – APOD)
Op de afbeelding is de Krabnevel, officieel gecatalogiseerd als M1, in al zijn pracht te zien dankzij de geavanceerde infraroodcamera’s van de James Webb, waarbij de helderheid, de wolk en de gefragmenteerde restanten van de explosie van een massieve ster in 1054 worden benadrukt.
In het midden bevindt zich een van de meest ongelooflijke objecten die astronomen kennen, de Krabpulsar, een neutronenster die ongelooflijk 30 keer per seconde draait en zichtbaar is als een helder punt.
De Krabnevel staat bovenaan de lijst van de 18e eeuw van Charles Messier, samengesteld uit hemellichamen die geen kometen zijn.
ESA is Testing a Modular Multipurpose Rover that Could Be a Science Lab or a Tiny Bulldozer
Most rovers have been built for Mars, and each one of them is a complex machine designed with specific goals and terrains in mind. But the Moon is different than Mars. We’re not searching for life there; we’re trying to establish a presence.
In recognition of the difference, the ESA is developing modular rovers that can serve different needs with only small modifications.
It’s called the European Moon Rover System (EMRS), and its goal is to “develop a versatile surface mobility solution for future lunar missions,” according to newly published papers. The surface mobility systems will serve four upcoming ESA missions: the Polar Explorer (PE), In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU), Astrophysics Lunar Observatory (ALO) and Lunar Geological Exploration Mission (LGEM).
Each of the four missions has specific requirements, including placing scientific instrumentation at the lunar south pole, excavating and transporting over 200 kg (440 lbs) of regolith, building an astrophysical observatory on the far side of the Moon, and studying the Moon’s volcanic history. The ESA is developing a rover that uses modularity to meet each goal rather than a completely different rover.
The new modular lunar rover design will have to move lunar regolith as part of building the Astrophysics Lunar Observatory. This image shows the test rover with its bulldozer blade attached during testing. Image Credit: ESA
“To achieve this, a modular approach has been adopted for the design of the platform in terms of locomotion and mobility, which includes onboard autonomy,” the paper explains.
There are obvious benefits to modularity and its offshoot, redundancy. Modular payloads can be used more advantageously for the specific mission at hand. They can also be removed and added as the need arises and are less time-consuming to work on and develop. And if one rover is out of commission for some reason, payloads can be swapped according to changing priorities.
When it comes to mobility, the new rovers will rely on Adaptable Wheels for Exploration (AWE) designed by Hellenic Technology of Robotics (HTR). “Rover wheels play a pivotal role, especially given the challenging lunar surface conditions and regolith,” the paper states. There’s plenty of loose sand on the Moon, and AWE will supply enough traction. The wheels have caterpillar-style tracks on top of springs and a fixed internal hub. These wheels are remarkably flexible and will be tough enough to meet the mission’s requirements, including being built with materials that can handle the wild temperature swings on the lunar surface.
This figure shows the EMRS wheels developed by HTR. The image on the right shows them being tested on the rover prototype. Image Credits: ESA/HTR
The rover’s four wheels are just part of the mobility design. The steering system is just as important. There are two potential steering system designs: on-top steering and on-side steering. The ESA has chosen on-side steering partly because it’s more compatible with upper payload bay volume.
On-side steering allows for four different turning modes: Skid Steering, Ackermann Turn, Crab Turn, and Point Turn.
The steering system allows for four different turning modes: Skid Steering, Ackermann Turn, Crab Turn, and Point Turn. Image Credit: ESA
The suspension system will be a hybrid of passive and active, with an independent suspension for each wheel. “The independent, active suspension enables a wheel-walking mode, and coupled with the independent steering even a’ paddling’ mode,” the paper states. Paddling mode provides a safeguard in case the rover gets stuck in very soft terrain. Getting stuck in soft ground is one of the most challenging scenarios for conventional passive suspension systems.
The suspension design also allows for the rover’s stored configuration during spaceflight.
This schematic shows the rover’s suspension system is stowed (L) and normal configurations (R.) Image Credit: ESA
When it comes to the modular rover’s chassis, the design team proposes a strong and lightweight Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) design. The chassis will have four separate bays. The primary bay is common among all rovers and will hold the common avionics, thermal control systems, and power components. There will also be two side bays and a top bay, all able to hold different payloads.
This schematic shows the rover’s four payload bays. The grey one is the primary bay. The pink ones flanking the primary bay are lateral payload modules that can hold equipment needing access to the lunar surface, like drills or excavators. The green one on top is a configurable cargo bay. The image on the right shows the cargo bay carrying materials for the Astrophysics Lunar Observatory (ALO.) Image Credit: ESA
The rover will have onboard software (OBSW) that will allow it to drive autonomously. It’ll be able to detect and identify different obstacles and objects and determine its way through, around, or over them. “It also has manipulation capabilities, allowing it to perform ISRU tasks, manipulate tools, and scientific sampling,” the paper states. Astronaut time is valuable, and the more autonomous the rovers can be, the more time astronauts will have for other tasks.
The paper points out that rover modularity starts paying off well before a rover is ever deployed. “The modular design of our prototype provides a unique advantage by allowing us to evaluate the rover’s locomotion and software in tandem with a variety of scientific payloads,” it states. That’s extremely valuable since the payloads could variously consist of things like drills, bulldozer blades, spectrometers and cameras.
The modular rover design is still in the concept phase, though test models have been built and tested.
“A series of rigorous obstacle and excavation tests has been carried out, shedding light on the remarkable capabilities of the EMRS system configuration,” the paper states. “These tests not only demonstrate the rover’s ability to safely navigate lunar terrain but also underscore its proficiency in lunar regolith excavation.”
The ESA is developing some ambitious plans not only for lunar exploration but for a sustained human presence on the Moon. Rovers will be the workhorse for these activities, and the modular design should give the rovers an advantage.
We’ll find out in a few years when the ESA lands on the Moon.
The details of the EMRS design process are in two new papers:
Mexican alien mummies have once again returned to the media spotlight, this time with factual evidence that supports the authenticity of the bodies. On November 6, 2023, Mexican journalist Jaime Maussan gathered a group of doctors and scientists to present new data on the Peruvian mummies, which show potential signs of non-human life forms, while refraining from confirming that the remains were extraterrestrial.
During the Second Public Hearing on the Regulation of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, experts in the field shared their research work and personal experiences related to this intriguing topic. The hearing included the participation of various professionals, including Jesús Ángel Guevara Madrigal, Air Controller of Mexico; Rafael Arcángel Berrocal Ramos, a lawyer; Thierre Maurice Pierre, a researcher at the Inkari Institute in Cusco, Peru; Roger Zúñiga Avilés, who led the investigation on behalf of the ICA University in Peru, as well as Peruvian legislators and other researchers.
On September 12, 2023, the Mexican government hosted a historic UAP hearing, organized by the Commission of Science and Technology of the Chamber of Deputies, where they first heard of Peruvian mummies from Jaime Maussan. The small mummified specimen was retrieved from Cusco, Peru, in a layer of diatomaceous earth. They are believed to be one thousand years old. “These aren’t beings that were found after a UFO wreckage,” Mr. Maussan said, “They were found in diatom mines, and were later fossilized.” He later added: “Whether they are aliens or not, we don’t know, but they were intelligent, and they lived with us. They should rewrite history… We are not alone in this vast universe; we should embrace this reality.”
After almost two months, Mr. Maussan was more focused on proving the authenticity of alien mummies. Mr. Maussan and other experts claim the specimens were tested and found to be “non-human beings that are not part of our terrestrial evolution.” He said, “None of the scientists say [the study results] prove that they are extraterrestrials, but I go further,” suggesting that they could be evidence of non-Earthly life forms.
On August 1, 2019, the San Luis Gonzaga National University of Ica, Peru, received four desiccated bodies exhibiting characteristics of both humans and reptilians. These specimens were transferred while safeguarding the confidentiality of the source of information, following the provisions outlined in the second article, subsection 18, of the Political Constitution of Peru. The purpose behind the delivery of these bodies was to ensure their custody and preservation and facilitate research aimed at elucidating the authenticity of these desiccated specimens.
One of the bodies, known as Maria, is approximately human-sized but displays distinct anatomical variations. It possesses an elongated skull and three fingers on both its hands and feet. Upon examination of the bones, a consistent structure was observed, devoid of any indications of finger damage.
The smaller bodies, measuring approximately 60 cm in length, display a morphological and anatomical structure markedly distinct from that of humans. Their skin exhibits morphological and histological characteristics reminiscent of reptiles, featuring three-digited hands and feet. Notably, they possess voluminous skulls, and their bone and joint system deviates significantly from human anatomy, showcasing unique and sui generis atypical features.
Importantly, it is worth noting the absence of rigid or metallic elements for union and support in the joints throughout the entire body. Given the extraordinary nature of these bodies and the pronounced anatomical and structural disparities, further comprehensive investigations are imperative for a deeper understanding of their essence.
Celestino Adolfo Piotti, a doctor in medicine and surgery and the founder of a special branch of anthropology in Argentina, said he reached this conclusion by studying X-rays of the skulls of non-human beings. He compared them to his theory of evolution, called the “guardian theory,” which disagrees with Charles Darwin’s theory.
[Translation] “The final numerical result that it gives me is that they are not individuals from the past or the present but rather from the future, so it means that these two beings, Mary and these two beings 60 centimeters high (those that Maussan presented), “They should have existed in the future and not in the past a thousand years ago,” he said.
The researcher acknowledged that the scientific method cannot provide an answer to the conclusion he reached. However, he stated that non-human beings are “the link of our human species that goes from being returned towards a new species…The lower beings would be a complete evolution of a species that will come after us, in summary, they would be our descendants.”
Thierre Maurice Pierre, a researcher at the Inkari Institute in Cusco, Peru, stated that the analysis concluded that non-human beings date back thousands of years and that their DNA is not human. However, he clarified that this does not necessarily mean they belong to extraterrestrial beings.
“The laboratories concluded that these bodies were centuries, even millennia old. The DNA of these beings does not belong to the human species. For this reason, the laboratories will speak of at least two unknown species. I want to insist on this important point: none of the laboratories have mentioned extraterrestrials,” he said.
Anthropologist Roger Zúñiga Avilés of San Luis Gonzaga National University in Ica, Peru, said researchers had studied five similar specimens over four years. “There was absolutely no human intervention in the physical and biological formation of these beings,” he added, saying he did not know the origin of the beings.
Zúñiga presented a letter signed by 11 researchers from the university declaring the same. The letter made clear, however, they were not implying the bodies were “extraterrestrial.” According to Reuters, “When asked about those studies, Zúñiga said the specimens were probably fake. The bodies that he and the other university researchers looked at, however, were real, he said.”
After thorough investigations, the research team has conclusively determined that the desiccated bodies under study are entirely authentic from a biological standpoint. There are no indications of tampering or artificial assembly. The scientific approach has been meticulous, and these results further affirm the authenticity of the bodies.
Mexican September UAP hearings came after the US Congress conducted its hearings where corner US intelligence officer David Grusch testified that the US government has its possession of intact alien crafts and claimed that “non-human biologics” had been recovered from crashed vehicles of unknown origin. He further claimed the Pentagon was secretly reverse-engineering the recovered craft without oversight by Congress or the US public.
Guys, take a deep breath, make sure you are very, very relaxed, because what I have to say is not the typical small talk. I was looking at a Gizmodo story that was about the asteroid Dinkinesh having not one, but two tiny moons orbiting it. But I noticed that the photos were over exposed...meaning they had too much light added on purpose to drown out the detail. So I added shadow and added focus then something awesome happened, I soon saw the two moons were actually two alien ships! And Dinky asteroid is actually has structures built into it, so it looks like an asteroid, but is really a space station or mother craft. Kinda mind-blowing. We don't need the gov to tell us what is and isnt real, we ourselves can research, enhance and discover the truth on our own. We already have mountains of factual pieces of evidence about UFOs and aliens existing in NASA photos themselves, I've been doing it over 20 years so I know.
“What’s the weirdest case you’ve ever studied?” Jacques Vallée talks UFO landing in Valensole, 1965
“What’s the weirdest case you’ve ever studied?” Jacques Vallée talks UFO landing in Valensole, 1965
In the tranquil lavender fields of Valensole, France, a strange occurrence in 1965 catapulted the small town into the annals of UFO lore. Maurice Masse, a local farmer, became an unwitting participant in one of the most scrutinized UFO sightings of the 20th century. This event would not only ignite a wave of curiosity but would leave an indelible mark on the sleepy landscape, turning it into a pilgrimage site for UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
An Early Morning Encounter
Before dawn on that fateful July morning, Maurice Masse encountered what he initially mistook for juvenile trespassers. However, this assumption was swiftly dispelled when the ‘children’ morphed into entities of inexplicable origin, alongside a craft bearing no resemblance to any known vehicular contrivance.
The Unfathomable Craft and Its Occupants
Masse described the beings as diminutive figures with disproportionately large heads, their eyes a deep, unsettling void. They donned garb unlike any terrestrial fashion, and one wielded a mysterious device — a detail paralleling numerous UFO sightings worldwide. The confrontation left Masse temporarily paralyzed, a peculiar effect also echoed in similar accounts from various corners of the globe.
The Aftermath and the Indelible Scar on Nature
In the wake of the entities’ abrupt departure, Masse discovered an area of his field that was rendered infertile, a testament to the unusual encounter’s tangible consequences. The ground, hardened like concrete, resisted agricultural attempts for seven long years, serving as a silent witness to the unexplained phenomenon.
The Scientific Scrutiny
The Valensole incident was not without rigorous scrutiny. Noted astronomer and UFOlogist Dr. J. Allen Hynek, along with French governmental agencies, investigated the site. They were met with a puzzle — the traces left behind defied conventional replication, suggesting that whatever landed in Valensole had properties beyond the current understanding of physics and technology.
Echoes of the Unexplained
This occurrence was not an isolated narrative. The sighting in Socorro, New Mexico, by policeman Lonnie Zamora the previous year shared eerie similarities, including the description of the craft and the feeling of paralysis reported by the witness. Such instances add layers of complexity to the global tapestry of UFO sightings, offering compelling vignettes of unexplained aerial phenomena that continue to provoke both wonder and debate.
The Continual Quest for Understanding
Decades have passed, yet the Valensole sighting remains a beacon for those seeking answers in the sky. The incident stands as a symbol of the enduring allure of the unidentified — a narrative that captivates, challenges, and confounds. It reminds us that, sometimes, the most enduring mysteries are not in the far reaches of space but here at home, in our fields, our skies, and our collective imagination.
VIDEO:
“What’s the weirdest case you’ve ever studied?” Jacques Vallée talks UFO landing in Valensole, 1965
With every recounted tale of lights in the sky and untraceable craft, the Valensole encounter endures, a cornerstone in the ever-expanding chronicle of UFO sightings. As we gaze upward, one cannot help but ponder — will the mysteries of the universe ever fully reveal themselves, or are we destined to grapple with the enigma of the unidentified, one sighting at a time?
JWST Detects Carbon Dioxide in a Centaur for the First Time
Centaurs are small planetary bodies that orbit between Jupiter and Neptune and have baffled astronomers for sharing characteristics with both asteroids and comets. Centaurs got their name after the mythical half-horse, half-human creatures called centaurs due to their dual characteristics. Above is an artist's illustration displaying a centaur creature among asteroids (left) and comets (right). (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
JWST Detects Carbon Dioxide in a Centaur for the First Time
A study published today in The Planetary Science Journal examines how NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has conducted a first-time detection of carbon dioxide in a Centaur, this one designated 39P/Oterma. A Centaur is a small planetary body that orbits between Jupiter and Neptune and frequently crosses the orbits of one or more of the gas giant planets within our solar system. While no Centaur has been imaged up-close, they typically exhibit a combination of attributes between comets and asteroids. While carbon monoxide has been detected in two known centaurs, this recent discovery could mark a turning point in how scientists understand the formation, evolution, and composition of not only Centaurs, but of the early solar system, as well.
“Centaurs are important to study since they are fairly well-preserved objects in space that can provide insight on the chemical composition and physical processes of the early solar system,” Study lead author, Dr. Olga Harrington Pinto, who is a postdoctoral researcher at Auburn University but conducted the research while a PhD student at the University of Central Florida, tells Universe Today.
Centaur 39P/Oterma was discovered on April 8, 1943, by Finnish astronomer, Dr. Liisi Oterma, who was the first woman to earn PhD in astronomy in Finland, along with being the first woman PhD of the faculty of sciences at Turku University. While 39P/Oterma has long been classified as an inactive comet, it currently exhibits a Centaur-like orbit between Jupiter and Saturn, meaning it doesn’t approach the Sun, and has a radius of approximately 2.21 to 2.49 km (1.37 to 1.55 mi), according to this study. So, why was 39P/Oterma chosen for this specific study?
“39P/Oterma is what we call an active centaur, a centaur that develops a coma and a tail like a normal comet,” Dr. Adam McKay, who is an assistant professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy at Appalachian State University and a co-author on the study, tells Universe Today. “Since they are active, we can use spectroscopy to observe molecules in their coma to gain insights into their composition. 39P was chosen as one of our targets because it would be active during the time of the proposed observations.”
For the study, the researchers used JWST’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument and was supported by ground-based observations from the Gemini North Observatory and Lowell Discovery Telescope to investigate the characteristics of 39P/Oterma while it was orbiting close to its perihelion (closest distance to the Sun) at 5.82 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun in July 2022. For context, the perihelion of 39P/Oterma has gradually increased since its discovery: 3.39 AU (1958), 5.47 AU (1983), and 5.71 AU (2023), and is projected to reach 5.91 AU and 6.15 AU in 2042 and 2246, respectively.
After analyzing the JWST NIRSpec data, the researchers confirmed the first detection of carbon dioxide in any Centaur, and the lowest amount of carbon dioxide ever detected in any Centaur or comet. They also did not detect traces of water or carbon monoxide, which are traditionally detected in Centaurs, specifically 29P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 1 (29P/SW1), another Centaur that shares approximately the same AU distance as 39P/Oterma.
“These results are important because they show that thanks to the impressive capabilities of JWST, we are able to see low production rates of a relatively small object that is very far away,” Dr. Pinto tells Universe Today. “And, though the production rates are low, it shows a different chemical behavior from another Centaur, 29P/SW1, seen at a similar distance (~6 AU). This difference in chemical behavior could be from the very different sizes of Centaurs 29P and 39P, or from having different orbital histories, or starting out with different compositions, or possibly a combination of all of these.”
The finding of carbon dioxide in a Centaur could be a gamechanger in terms of understanding the compositions and characteristics of Centaurs, asteroids, and comets throughout the solar system, along with potentially gaining better insight into the formation and evolution of the solar system, overall.
What new discoveries about Centaurs will researchers make in the coming years and decades and how many more Centaurs could possess carbon dioxide throughout the solar system? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!
The Indian space program has been on a bit of a tear lately. Chadrayaan-3 was just the latest successful for the ISRO, India’s space agency, when it launched in July – especially juxtaposed with Luna-25, a Russian moon lander mission that launched around the same time and failed spectacularly by crashing into the Moon. Maybe in part due to the ISRO’s success, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears to have taken an increased interest in the program and recently chaired a meeting to review the Gaganyaan Mission, India’s first foray into crewed space flight. But while in the meeting, he suggested the country’s exploration goals should go further – much further.
Let’s start with the Gaganyaan mission itself. It’s hit a series of setbacks after initially being planned for launch in December 2020. Admittedly, some of those setbacks were caused by the pandemic, which hit India particularly hard. However, the program appears to be back on track, and the mission planners confirmed a launch in 2025, though this is slightly later than even the Wikipedia page for the missions says at the time of writing, and it was updated only in September.
Press releases from the PM’s office most likely overrules any Wikipedia site, so while the mission may be delayed until 2025, the testing leading up to it is still ongoing. A test of the Crew Escape System Test Vehicle, a critical component in modern-day human spaceflight systems, occurred successfully recently. Around 20 additional tests are planned over the next two years to ensure the mission’s success.
Fraser discusses India’s moon mission.
One key component of the new mission is the development of a Human Rated Launch Vehicle called HLVM3 by the ISRO. This is a modified version of the Launch Vehicle Mark 3, which has been the workhorse of ISRO’s satellite launching efforts since its first orbital flight back in 2017. However, launching humans is not the same as launching satellites, and much work needs to be done to ensure the safety of any future astronauts that might take a ride on this rocket.
That might seem like enough to keep the mission planners and engineers at ISRO busy for the foreseeable future. But PM Modi wants to aim higher – literally to the Moon in this case. He suggested sending an Indian astronaut to the Moon by 2040. Doing so in 17 years is feasible, especially considering the US did so in 9 with 1960s technology.
But the Moon won’t be the only stop for the ISRO. PM Modi also announced a plan to build a Bharatiya Antariksha Station – translated as “Indian Space Station” in the press release, by 2035. What exactly this station will entail and how it will fit with the wider plans for the Moon were not detailed in the press release. Still, assumedly, an orbital station will plan a key staging role for astronauts traveling to our nearest cosmic neighbor.
And about the success of that mission.
Human spaceflight isn’t the only kind, though, and ISRO will be busy in the robotic arena as well. Interplanetary missions were also mentioned by the PM, who took special note of a Venus Orbiter and Mars landers in his discussions during the meeting. Neither of those projects has yet garnered a name, so it’s unclear how much support they’ll have going forward. But if recent history is any indication, India will be adding plenty of new accomplishments to its portfolio of successful space missions in the near future.
Now here are some unusual screenshots from a Chandrayaan mission. The crater is made of many over lapping tunnels, something I did not expect, but this seems like an intelligently made structure on Earths moon built across the crater in order to appear like a crater shadow. I also found some tunnels to the right of the crater, but I did have to add shadows in order to see them. You will also see structures around it here and there. The moon is certainly inhabited by an intelligent species, but would they welcome a visit from humans?
Here is an interesting capture by YouTuber Shellys UFOs. The UFO is triangle in shape with a smaller triangle hump on its upper center. Very unique and its movement is unpredictable. The blue glowing craft appears to want to be seen.
2.7 mile UFO found landed in Mars Crater, Seen On Google Mars Map! UFO Sighting News.
2.7 mile UFO found landed in Mars Crater, Seen On Google Mars Map! UFO Sighting News.
Date of discovery: Nov 7, 2023
Location of discovery: Mars
Google Coordinates: 69°26'0.85"N 86° 1'9.48"W
I found a disk structure with another smaller circle on its top center. The structure was found using Google Mars map. According to google ruler, the disk is 2.7 miles across and 1.8 miles high. Why is it not noticeable to astronomers? Well first off its hidden in a crater which itself is at least 3 to 4 miles deep and its located on Mars, which can only be seen close up by orbiting satellites. Hiding in a crater is perfect for them because it shields the alien ship from micro meteorites which could damage the hull of the ship.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
GIGANTIC SPACESHIP Towers Over 747 Plane
GIGANTIC SPACESHIP Towers Over 747 Plane
On a brisk November evening in 1986, the skies above Alaska became the stage for one of the most intriguing and well-documented UFO sightings in aviation history. This incident, involving Japan Airlines Flight 1628, captivates UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike, offering a rare blend of eyewitness credibility, radar confirmation, and government inquiry that continues to provoke discussion and speculation decades later.
The Puzzling Pursuit in the Alaskan Sky
The crew of JAL Flight 1628 couldn’t have anticipated that their routine cargo trip from Paris to Tokyo would catapult them into the annals of UFO legend. Captain Kenju Terauchi, an ex-fighter pilot with a wealth of experience, found his 747 being shadowed by lights that defied conventional explanation. These were no ordinary lights: they maneuvered with an unsettling precision, pacing the airplane as it cruised at 500 miles per hour.
VIDEO:
Ancient Aliens: GIGANTIC SPACESHIP Towers Over 747 Plane (Special)
The presence of these mysterious lights was just the prelude to a more extraordinary revelation. As the flight continued, an enormous object appeared — one that Captain Terauchi described as a “gigantic spaceship,” large enough to dwarf their 747. This object, seemingly ripped from the pages of science fiction, held the attention of the seasoned pilot and his crew, compelling a series of evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision.
A Cascade of Corroboration
In the realm of UFO sightings, corroborating evidence is as rare as it is vital. This incident sets itself apart with multiple layers of verification. Ground control radar systems mirrored the reports from the flight crew, painting a picture of an inexplicable object in close proximity to the commercial jet. In a further attempt to understand the situation, another commercial flight was diverted to observe the phenomenon. Yet, by the time they arrived, the unidentified object had vanished, leaving more questions than answers.
The Aftermath and Official Scrutiny
Following the encounter, the official response was swift. Captain Terauchi’s report prompted immediate interest from the FAA and an assortment of federal agencies, including NORAD. The detailed investigation included a comprehensive review of audio recordings, highlighting the urgent dialogues between the pilot and air traffic control. However, the incident took an unexpected turn when Captain Terauchi decided to go public with his belief in the extraterrestrial origin of the craft, a move that resulted in his reassignment within Japan Airlines.
Conspiracy or Cover-Up?
Adding to the enigma, John Callahan, the FAA’s Division Chief of Accidents and Investigations at the time, pushed for a deeper investigation. His involvement led to a high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., attended by representatives from the CIA, the FBI, and the Reagan administration. The narrative that emerged from this meeting — particularly the claim of a CIA agent dismissing the incident and confiscating evidence — fueled ongoing speculation about government transparency and the existence of UFOs.
The Enduring Legacy of Flight 1628
Decades have passed, but the UFO sighting by JAL Flight 1628 continues to resonate. Its impact is felt not only in the community of UFO researchers but also in the broader conversation about aerial phenomena and their implications for national security and understanding of the world. As governments worldwide become more open about their investigations into UAPs, the Alaska incident remains a touchstone, a case study in the complex interplay between witness testimony, technological evidence, and the endless quest for answers that lie beyond our understanding.
In the digital age, the story of Flight 1628 finds new life, as curious minds search for “UFO sightings” and stumble upon the extraordinary tale of that fateful night over Alaska. Whether you’re a steadfast believer or a staunch skeptic, the story of JAL Flight 1628 offers an undeniable intrigue that continues to challenge our perception of the skies above.
Het verhaal van de ontvoering door aliens van Betty en Barney Hill
Het verhaal van de ontvoering door aliens van Betty en Barney Hill
Artikel van Zeleb.es
De zaak van de ontvoering van Betty en Barney
De vermeende ontvoering van Betty en Barney Hill door een groep aliens omstreeks 1961 is een iconisch verhaal in ufologische kringen.
Emblematische zaak voor ufologen
Misschien is dit verhaal voor de meeste mensen onbekend, maar het heeft gedurende tientallen jaren grote belangstelling gewekt bij ufo-experts en -toeschouwers.
Een verblindend licht
Het echtpaar beweert dat ze in de nacht van 19 september 1961 een verblindend licht zagen terwijl ze over Route 3 naar huis reden. Ze dachten aanvankelijk dat het een vallende ster was.
Het echtpaar reed in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Nadat ze de auto hadden stilgezet en een verrekijker hadden gepakt om het vreemde object (dat geen vallende ster was) nader te bekijken, besloten Betty en Barney Hill weer op de weg te gaan. Het ruimteschip raasde achter hen aan en kwam steeds dichterbij.
De ontmoeting met aliens
Het echtpaar herinnerde zich dat ze door de ramen ongeveer tien mensachtige figuren zagen. Barney Hill beweert dat deze wezens door middel van telepathie met hen communiceerden.
Een grote schrik
De gebeurtenis vond plaats toen het vermeende ruimteschip in de buurt van de auto neerkwam. Bij het zien van de wezens herinnert Barney Hill zich dat hij in angst terug naar het voertuig rende en schreeuwde dat ze hen wilden vangen.
Vreemde geluiden
Terug in de auto startte Barney de motor weer en probeerde weg te rijden. Het echtpaar vertelt dat ze op dat moment een vreemde reeks ritmische piepgeluiden hoorde.
Details klopten niet
Eenmaal thuis bekroop hen echter een vreemd gevoel en merkten ze ongewone dingen op: kleine scheurtjes in Betty's jurk, een scheur in de riem van Barney's verrekijker en gaten in zijn schoen.
Geheugenverlies
Het raarste wat ze merkten was dat ze een hiaat hadden in de rit naar huis. Ze herinnerden zich niets meer van een stuk van ongeveer 56 km van de reis direct na de ontmoeting. De herinnering aan wat ze gezien hadden was zo gefragmenteerd dat ze niet konden samenvoegen wat er gebeurd was.
Regressieve hypnose
Twee jaar na deze gebeurtenis ging het echtpaar naar een therapeut die regressieve hypnotherapie uitvoerde om hen te helpen zich de gebeurtenissen van die nacht te herinneren. Inmiddels hadden ze ingezien dat ongeveer twee uur uit hun geheugen was verdwenen.
Eindelijk was alles duidelijk
Na veel regressieve hypnosesessies konden Betty en Barney Hill reconstrueren wat er gebeurd was. Ondanks dat ze tijdens de sessies gescheiden waren, kwamen hun versies van de gebeurtenissen aardig overeen.
The Ufo Incident
Een tv-film uit 1975 genaamd 'The Ufo Incident' verzamelde de geluidsbanden van die sessies. Regisseur Richard A. Colla had de regie.
Een film gebaseerd op archiefstukken
In de aftiteling van de films beweert de regisseur dat het verhaal gebaseerd is op een reeks archiefstukken van de Amerikaanse luchtmacht. De Hills hadden zich onmiddellijk na het incident tot de autoriteiten gewend.
Proeven en experimenten
Onder hypnose vertelden Betty en Barney Hill hun therapeut dat de aliens hen hadden ontvoerd. Ze werden meegenomen naar hun ruimteschip en onderworpen aan proeven en experimenten.
Foto: Wikipedia
Huid- en haarmonsters
Volgens de Hills namen de tweevoetige aliens met grijze huid en uitpuilende ogen haar- en weefselmonsters van verschillende lichaamsdelen met gereedschap dat leek op spuiten.
Geheugen uitgewist
Betty en Barney Hill herinnerden zich dat de aliens hen, nadat ze verschillende monsters hadden verzameld, vrijlieten, waarna hun bewuste geheugen werd uitgewist.
Zeta Reticuli
Betty Hill slaagde er ook in een sterrenkaart te reconstrueren die de herkomst van de aliens aangaf. Uit deze reconstructie concludeerden deskundigen dat het ging om sterrensysteem Zeta Reticuli in het zuidelijke sterrenbeeld Raster, 39,2 lichtjaar van de aarde.
De eerste gedocumenteerde ufo-waarneming
De zaak Hill was een van de eerste gevallen van gedocumenteerde ufo-waarnemingen. De archieven van de New Hampshire University bewaren nog steeds alle documenten en geluidsopnamen die tijdens de hypnosesessies en interviews zijn gemaakt.
De conclusies van de therapeut
In de laatste aflevering van een docuserie over de gebeurtenissen onthulde de therapeut die het stel behandelde zijn visie. Hij concludeerde dat hun vermeende ontmoeting met aliens te maken had met de vermeende sociale druk die ze ervaarden als interraciaal koppel, iets wat in een tijd slecht werd gedragen. De show, genaamd 'Ufo', werd in 2021 uitgezonden door streamingdienst 'Showtime,' zoals gemeld door sify.com.
Een wisselend standpunt
Dezelfde therapeut beweert dat hij zes maanden later van gedachten veranderde en concludeerde dat het echtpaar de waarheid sprak, zoals uit een fragment van de docuserie blijkt.
'Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience'
Barney Hill overleed in 1969, slechts acht jaar na het incident, maar zijn vrouw Betty overleed pas in 2004. Haar leven lang heeft ze uitgebreid gevochten om hun verhaal en het bestaan van aliens te bewijzen. Haar nicht, Kathleen Marden, schreef in 2007 een boek over haar tante: 'Captured! The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience'.
Een fascinerend verhaal over ufo's
Of het waar is of niet, één ding is zeker: het verhaal van Barnie en Betty Hill blijft een mijlpaal voor de ufologische gemeenschap en een van de fascinerendste verhalen over waarnemingen van aliens.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:ALIEN LIFE, UFO- CRASHES, ABDUCTIONS, MEN IN BLACK, ed ( FR. , NL; E )
Enceladus has All the Raw Materials for Life
Saturn's moon Enceladus isn't just bright and beautiful. It has an ocean under all that ice that has chemicals necessary for life. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, JPL, SSI, Cassini Imaging Team
Saturn’s ocean moon, Enceladus, is attracting increasing attention in the search for life in our Solar System. Most of what we know about Enceladus and its ice-covered ocean comes from the Cassini mission. Cassini ended its exploration of the Saturn system in 2017, but scientists are still working through its data.
New research based on Cassini data strengthens the idea that Enceladus has the chemicals necessary for life.
During its mission, Cassini discovered geyser-like plumes of water erupting through Enceladus’ icy shell. In 2008, Cassini performed a close-proximity flyby and analyzed the plumes with its Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA). The CDA showed that the water in the plumes contained a surprising mix of volatiles, including carbon dioxide, water vapour, and carbon monoxide. It also found trace amounts of molecular nitrogen, simple hydrocarbons, and complex organic chemicals.
The plumes of Enceladus have phosphate-rich ice grains entrained.Credit: NASA
The work centers on the discovery of ammonia and inorganic phosphorous in Enceladus’ ocean. The researchers used ecological and metabolic theory and modelling to understand how these chemicals could make Enceladus amenable to life. “Apart from speculating about threshold concentrations of bioactive compounds to support ecosystems, metabolic and ecological theory can provide a powerful interpretative lens to assess whether extraterrestrial environments are compatible with living ecosystems,” the authors explain.
A critical component of ecological theory is the Redfield ratio. It’s named after the American oceanographer Alfred Redfield. In 1934, Redfield published results showing that the ratio of carbon to nitrogen to phosphorous (C:N:P) was remarkably consistent across ocean biomass at 106:16:1. Other researchers found that the ratio shifted slightly depending on the area and the phytoplankton species present. More recent work refined the ratio to 166:22:1.
The exact numbers aren’t necessarily the critical point. Redfield’s conclusion is the vital part. The Redfield ratio shows a remarkable unity between the chemistry of living things in the deep ocean and the ocean itself. He proposed that there’s an equilibrium between ocean water and plankton nutrients that’s based on biotic feedback. He described a chemical framework for nutrients and simple life.
“Whatever its explanation, the correspondence between the quantities of biologically available nitrogen and phosphorus in the sea and the proportions in which they are utilized by the plankton is a phenomenon of the greatest interest,” Redfield said in the conclusion of his paper.
So, how does the discovery of ammonia and phosphorous in Enceladus’ ocean relate to the Redfield ratio and Enceladus’ biological potential?
This figure illustrates a cross-section of Enceladus, summarizing the processes SwRI scientists modelled in the moon in a 2020 study. Oxidants produced in the surface ice when water molecules are broken apart by radiation can combine with reductants produced by hydrothermal activity and other water-rock reactions, creating an energy source for potential life in the ocean. Image Credit: SwRI
The Redfield ratio is widespread all across the Tree of Life on Earth. “Because of this seeming ubiquity, the Redfield ratio has been considered a target signature for astrobiological life detection, especially on ocean worlds such as Europa and Enceladus,” the authors of the new paper write. When it comes to life, all we have to go on is Earth. So it’s sensible to use foundational aspects of life’s chemistry here on Earth as a lens through which to examine other potential life-supporting worlds.
Analysis of Cassini’s data from Enceladus’ plumes shows a high level of inorganic phosphate in the ocean. Other geochemical simulations based on Cassini’s findings indicate the same. “These reports of phosphorus follow on the tails of previous work identifying numerous elemental constituents of terrestrial life (C, N, H, O) from the Enceladus plume,” the authors explain. Even more analysis suggests that the ocean contains many of the chemicals common in living organisms, like amino acid precursors, ammonium, and hydrocarbons.
So Enceladus’ ocean has a rich chemistry, and many chemicals reflect life’s chemical makeup. In particular, there’s an emerging hypothesis that Enceladus could support methanogenesis. Earth’s Archaea perform methanogenesis across a wide swath of different environmental conditions on Earth and have done so for over three billion years, proving their survivability. Biochemical modelling suggests that Earth’s methanogens are compatible with Enceladus’ ocean.
The researchers developed a new, more detailed model for methanogens on Enceladus to see if they could survive and thrive there. Their model leaned heavily on the Redfield ratio. They found that though phosphorous is present in high levels in the moon’s ocean, the overall ratio “may be limiting to Earth-like cells.”
“High standing stocks of these nutrients could be consistent with incomplete drawdown due to a small or metabolically slow biosphere, a biosphere with a recent origin of life,” or other reasons that could cause an imbalance.
So where does that leave the prospects for life on Enceladus?
We’re improving at identifying individual chemicals on other worlds, and the JWST is leading the way. But we need a better understanding of overall chemical environments to advance the search for life. A transmission spectrum of the hot gas giant exoplanet WASP-39 b, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) on July 10, 2022, reveals the first definitive evidence for carbon dioxide in the atmosphere of a planet outside the Solar System. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and L. Hustak (STScI). Science: The JWST Transiting Exoplanet Community Early Release Science Team
We’re only at the beginning of biosignature science. We can identify individual chemicals, but from this great distance away, we can’t accurately measure Enceladus’ overall chemistry. Newer biosignature research, including this paper, aims to identify how biological processes reorganize chemical elements in telltale ways. By looking at entire ecosystems, as Redfield did, scientists may discover new biosignatures that are less ambiguous.
If we can do that, we may discover that non-Earthly lifeforms reorganize chemicals in entirely different ways.
This research is part of a new effort to detect more than individual chemical biosignatures, some of which can be false positives. Methane, for example, can be a biosignature but can also be produced abiotically. There are others, like the recently discovered phosphine on Venus
The problem with individual biosignatures like methane is that they can have both biological and abiotic sources. This image illustrates possible ways methane might get into Mars’ atmosphere and be removed: microbes (left) under the surface that release the gas into the atmosphere, weathering of rock (right), and stored methane ice called a clathrate. Ultraviolet light can work on surface materials to produce methane as well as break it apart into other molecules (formaldehyde and methanol) to produce carbon dioxide. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SAM-GSFC/Univ. of Michigan
Understanding ecosystems as a whole is the next step. There’s a bewildering number of factors to consider. Cell size, nutrient availability, radiation, salinity, temperature. On and on. But to understand the overall chemical environment at Enceladus, Europa, or anywhere else, we need more detailed data.
Luckily, instrument science keeps improving, and upcoming missions to Europa will start to paint a fuller picture. According to the authors, the next step requires more fulsome data and a more generalized approach.
“We suggest two priorities for further astrobiological research to better understand the implications of these conclusions,” they write. “First, we echo previous calls in the astrobiology literature to explore more generalized notions of metabolism and physiology.” They also suggest that looking for direct parallels to terrestrial life in the form of biochemistry may not be the best strategy for looking for life on Enceladus.
“Second, we recommend broadening the scope of Earth analogue environments to include those with extreme resource supply ratios mirroring that suggested for Enceladus,” they explain.
Our understanding of habitability grows incrementally, as this study clearly shows. There’ll likely be no revelatory moments where we suddenly understand it.
Nature has created a vast variety of worlds, each with its own chemistry. While using tools like the Redfield ratio as a lens is one way of looking at these worlds in all their unique glory, we can’t get tunnel vision.
While most of what our imaginations dream up about life on other worlds is fanciful and unlikely, life could’ve found another way on Enceladus. There could be different ways that life exists in and reorganizes chemical environments
Archaeologists in Belgium have demonstrated that spearthrowers were used for launching projectiles armed with tanged flint points at the Early Upper Paleolithic site of Maisières-Canal around 31,000 years ago.
Coppe et al. identified the use of spearthrower around 31,000 years ago at the Early Upper Paleolithic site of Maisières-Canal, Belgium.
Image credit: Neanderthal Museum.
Humans have been hunter-gatherers for most of our past, but scientists still lack knowledge about what our prehistoric ancestors gathered and how they hunted because of the near lack of organic preservation at Paleolithic sites.
Of these two modes of subsistence, hunting tends to be better visible archaeologically because it can leave behind durable stone and bone implements that once served as weapon components.
Four weapon systems — thrusted spears, thrown spears, the spearthrower, and the bow — are assumed to have existed in the Stone Age, but the timing of their invention and their possible co-existence remain debated.
“Until now, the early weapons have been infamously hard to detect at archaeological sites because they were made of organic components that preserve rarely,” said lead author Dr. Justin Coppe, a researcher in TraceoLab at the University of Liège.
“Stone points that armed ancient projectiles and that are much more frequently encountered at archaeological excavations have been difficult to connect to particular weapons reliably.”
“Most recently published claims for early use of spearthrowers and bows in Europe and Africa have relied exclusively on projectile point size to link them to these weapon systems.”
“However, ethnographic reviews and experimental testing have cast serious doubt on this line of reasoning by showing that arrow, dart, and spear tips can be highly variable in size, with overlapping ranges.”
A tanged point from the site of Maisières-Canal, Belgium.
Image credit: Coppe et al., doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-45554-w.
In the research, Dr. Coppe and colleagues examined a sample of 329 flint artifacts from the site of Maisières-Canal, which is located in Belgium near the town of Mons, on the northern edge of the alluvial plain of the Haine.
“Maisières-Canal is a reference site for the Early Upper Paleolithic of north-west Europe and one of the few Early Upper Paleolithic open-air sites known from the region,” the researchers said.
“The site has been interpreted as having a single main Early Upper Paleolithic occupation layer that shows limited vertical displacement of finds.”
“Thirteen radiocarbon dates consistently place the occupation to around 28,000-31,000 years ago.”
The excellent preservation of the stone points, their large number, their distinct morphologies, and recent technological analyses that allowed their careful experimental replication presented a unique opportunity to reconstruct the delivery systems with which the projectiles were shot.
“We carried out a large-scale experiment in which we fired replicas of Paleolithic projectiles using different weapons such as spears, bows and spearthrowers,” said Dr. Noora Taipale, also from TraceoLab at the University of Liège.
“By carefully examining the fractures on these stone points, we were able to understand how each weapon affected the fracturing of the points when they impacted the target.”
Examples of experimental thrusting spears and javelins armed with replicas of the archaeological flint points.
Credit: TraceoLab/ULiège
“Each weapon left distinct marks on the stone points, enabling us to match these marks to archaeological finds.”
“In a way, it’s like identifying a gun from the marks the barrel leaves on a bullet, a practice known from forensic science.”
“The excellent match between the experimental spearthrower sample and the Maisières-Canal projectiles confirmed that the hunters occupying the site used these weapons.”
The findings push back the dates for spearthrower use in Europe by over 10,000 years.
“Representing the first attempt to carefully consider the idiosyncrasies of different prehistoric weapons in all their complexity, our results provide the thus far oldest reliable evidence for the use of long-range weaponry in prehistoric hunting,” the scientists said.
The study was published in the journal Scientific Reports.
J. Coppe et al. 2023. Terminal ballistic analysis of impact fractures reveals the use of spearthrower 31 ky ago at Maisières-Canal, Belgium. Sci Rep 13, 18305; doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-45554-w
NASA heeft een verbluffende nieuwe afbeelding van Jupiter vrijgegeven, vastgelegd door de Hubble Space Telescope! Op de afbeelding verschijnt de grootste planeet in ons zonnestelsel in een compositie van ultraviolet licht.
De Hubble heeft de planeet ook in zichtbaar licht getoond, waar een grote rode vlek te zien is, die in ultraviolette golflengten blauw lijkt en een storm vertegenwoordigt.Deze gegevens maken deel uit van een onderzoek naar diepe waterwolken in de atmosfeer vanJupiter.
DeHubbleheeft een geschiedenis van het bestuderen van externe planeten en, met zijn ultraviolette mogelijkheden, maakt het de analyse van kosmische fenomenen en de evolutie van sterrenstelsels mogelijk.
Daytime Tic Tac UFO sighting filmed in Clovis, California
Daytime Tic Tac UFO sighting filmed in Clovis, California
The quiet skies of Clovis, California, became the canvas for an extraordinary celestial enigma as local resident Jason Beard’s casual glance upwards turned into a brush with the unknown. The skies, often a gateway to the stars, seemingly tore open the fabric of reality to present a sight that would stir the town with whispers of extraterrestrial visitors. Beard’s account and subsequent video footage have thrust the small Californian town into the limelight, adding a riveting chapter to the annals of UFO sightings.
The UFO in question, a Tic Tac-shaped anomaly, streaked across the midday sky, exhibiting behavior and characteristics that defied conventional understanding. This object did not just pass unnoticed; it left an indelible mark on the community, sparking debate, analysis, and the undivided attention of UFO enthusiasts worldwide.
With a fervor characteristic of the most ardent truth-seekers, Beard’s video was scrutinized by a so-called UFO expert. Through specialized software, a startling revelation was made: a “big ball of energy” appeared to envelop the craft, setting the social media sphere ablaze with speculation. Was this an advanced propulsion mechanism or something even more profound?
In the digital era, where drones and satellites are common, it’s not every day that a sighting manages to pierce through the veil of skepticism and ignite the collective imagination. The Clovis sighting has done just that, with its blend of mystery and visual evidence creating the perfect storm of intrigue.
Let’s delve into what makes this sighting a headliner in the world of UFO sightings:
The Shape and Speed:The iconic Tic Tac shape, also echoed in military sightings, presents an aerodynamic conundrum. Its seamless velocity points to technology that is not yet available to the public.
The Daylight Factor: Most UFO sightings occur at night, making it easier to dismiss them as misidentified planes or atmospheric phenomena. A clear-day sighting provides higher clarity, leaving fewer places for doubt to hide.
The Witness’s Conviction: Beard, having observed the skies for years, asserted the novelty of this encounter with the confidence of someone who has seen it all—yet nothing like this.
So, what could it be? A secret military experiment? A drone of unknown origin? Or perhaps a visit from an otherworldly civilization? The debate continues, fueled by the enigmatic nature of the sighting and the human yearning for answers.
As the Clovis incident takes its place among the most talked-about UFO sightings, one thing is clear: the sky is not just a space over our heads; it’s a domain of endless possibilities and, sometimes, mysterious visitors.
In the quest for truth, the skies above Clovis have become a theatre where the curious and the skeptical alike gaze upwards, pondering the vastness of our universe and the potential for encounters that shake the core of our understanding. Whether terrestrial or not, the Clovis UFO sighting is a reminder that, sometimes, looking up can be the beginning of an extraordinary journey.
Shocking new video by James Fox: “Feels like someone is trying to extinguish my career, it’s pretty terrifying.”
Shocking new video by James Fox: “Feels like someone is trying to extinguish my career, it’s pretty terrifying.”
In the tranquil solitude of nature, filmmaker James Fox often reflects on his groundbreaking work, piecing together narratives that challenge our understanding of the unknown. Known for his compelling documentaries delving into the enigmatic realm of UFOs, Fox has dedicated his recent years to uncovering the layers of secrecy surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena. However, a recent turn of events, as revealed in a distressing video to his social media followers, suggests that Fox is now navigating through the most tumultuous chapter of his career.
Fox, who has become a significant voice in the UFO documentary scene, has spent the last few years interviewing credible witnesses and military officials, earning him a reputation for his earnest search for truth in a field often clouded by skepticism. His documentaries, such as “I Know What I Saw” and “Out of the Blue,” have been pivotal in bringing the discussion of UFOs into the mainstream, presenting meticulously researched evidence to the public.
The filmmaker’s exploration of the Varginha UFO incident, Brazil’s own Roswell, encapsulates his commitment to shedding light on such encounters. By examining this 1996 event, where residents of Varginha reported seeing creatures and a UFO, Fox has contributed to preserving the narrative while igniting fresh discussions on the topic.
Yet, in a somber and unexpected announcement from his favorite spot – a place of reflection and solace – Fox shared with his followers that he has been grappling with profound challenges aimed at his professional endeavors. With palpable concern in his voice, he alludes to an unseen battle that has been waging for six months, suggesting a targeted effort to “extinguish” his career, leaving him feeling “pretty terrifying.”
Although details were sparse due to legal constraints, Fox’s message conveyed a dire sense of urgency and vulnerability. The decision to address his audience directly, ahead of a more detailed revelation promised for later in the week, speaks to the gravity of the situation and his reliance on the community’s support.
Fox’s commitment to his work has never been in question, but this current adversity reveals the fragile intersection where pioneering research meets the machinations of power structures resistant to disclosure. His journey is a stark reminder of the complexities facing those who dare to question and uncover truths that may unsettle the status quo.
While the full extent of Fox’s current predicament remains shrouded, what is clear is his unwavering passion for his craft and the causes he champions. As the UFO community and the public await further details with bated breath, the resilience of this tenacious filmmaker is being tested.
This unfolding story serves as a poignant narrative of a man deeply entrenched in the search for truth, standing firm against forces that threaten to silence his voice. James Fox’s plight is not merely his own but resonates with anyone who has faced adversity in pursuit of their life’s work. As Fox prepares to share more with the world, his experience underscores the complexities of challenging entrenched beliefs and the courage required to confront the unknown, both in the skies above and in the trials we face on the ground.
When I was a young fast-stream civil servant at the UK Cabinet Office in the 1990s, the Government seemed to have a line-to-take on everything. There would be an official, maybe in a far-flung division of an obscure department, responsible for each policy, as hard as it might be to find that person and track them down.
I think my observation remains true today concerning the UK Government’s policy on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), even if the Government tries hard to make it appear as though there is no policy and that no one is in charge.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence used to have a ‘UFO Desk,’ which is where Nick Pope is said to have worked in the 1990s. Famously, the then-Secretary of State, Bob Ainsworth, announced the closure of the desk in 2009 under the following logic:
“In more than 50 years, no UFO sighting … has indicated the existence of any military threat to the UK; there is no defence benefit in … recording, collating, analysing, or investigating UFO sightings”
and
“the level of resources devoted to this task is … diverting staff from more valuable defence-related activities”.
Yet, at a time when the United States has set up the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate UAP sightings, have held a hearing on UAPs in the House of Representatives, and have the Schumer amendment on UAP transparency making its way through Congress, are we really to believe that the UK Government has no resources focusing on UAPs?
Speaking to Julian Worricker on the World Tonight program on August 3rd, David Grusch, one of those UAP whistleblowers who provided testimony under oath to the U.S. Congress, said information about UAPs “does cross into other countries and other allies to include the Five Eyes alliance,” which echoes the statement from Sean Kirkpatrick, Director of AARO, on May 31st that in the previous week, he had met with the Five Eyes to discuss UAP data collection and collaboration.
The Five Eyes Alliance is an intelligence-sharing network between the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. So clearly, the UK is interested and involved in some capacity.
According to files from the National Archives, Carl Mantell of the RAF’s Air Command was the civil servant who penned the advice to Sir Bob Ainsworth in 2009 on the UFO desk closure. So, presumably, he was in the UFO policy hot seat then. But who might be in charge of UAP policymaking today?
Looking across the Machinery of Government, I suspect that policy for UAPs is spread across the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Defence, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6). With operational involvement of the Royal Air Force, DE&S, and DSTL. Plus, in all likelihood, some private contractor support, both from UK Aerospace companies and UK subsidiaries of US contractors.
Somewhere within the U.K. Government, someone is responsible. The ‘UFO desk’ lives on under another name.
I suspect, too, that the civil servant in question is growing increasingly alarmed at the level of dissonance between the current line-to-take and the way in which events are unfolding. A friend of mine received a reply from “Air Command Secretariat” at the MOD that contained the following rather extraordinary paragraph:
“I must inform you that the MOD has no opinion on the existence of either extraterrestrials, Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs). While I recognise you have used the term Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, the Department does not recognise this term, and I have therefore answered your question using our definition of UAP.”
The response goes on to repeat the 2009 Sir Bob Ainsworth line about there being no military threat. This feels like a tired reply that is past its sell-by date. I am sure that there are civil servants in the areas in question who are coming to this view, too.
By continuing to employ this line-to-take, the Government is delegitimizing conversations about UAPs. Taking away people’s voices on the topic leads to bad policymaking. If civil servants are inhibited from discussing the UAP topic – not only with the public but also with other branches of government – they cannot fully consider people’s needs, develop options, and offer their thinking up for constructive challenge.
Take flight safety risks. In June 2021, the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence produced a Preliminary Assessment on UAPs that stated:
“Most of the UAP reported probably do represent physical objects…”
and
“UAP clearly pose a safety of flight issue.”
One might reasonably expect the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to have been in touch with the US authorities about this statement and to have conducted a risk assessment on flight safety risk.
“Please provide copies of any risk assessments (quantified or unquantified) that the Civil Aviation Authority has carried out to assure itself that the existing measures in place are sufficient to protect pilots and air passengers from any risks associated with Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). Please, further, provide copies of correspondence in relation to the risk from UAPs to and from air safety andregulatory bodies in the United States; and any guidance given to pilots about UAP risks.”
The response that came back was as follows:
“Following a review of held information it has been determined, on the balance of probability, that the CAA holds no information within scope of the above original enquiry.”
My subsequent requests to try to get an explanation as to why they have not carried out a risk assessment or been in touch with the US authorities have not been answered. A request for a meeting was denied.
Of course. What else could the Head of Safety at the CAA do? He is not permitted to acknowledge the legitimacy of the UAP topic, so he is not able to talk to me or offer a substantive response to my question. Does anybody think this is good for pilots or air passengers? Or for confidence in air regulation and safety?
Another area in which this absence of a policy is causing real damage is the lack of physical and psychological health support for people affected by seeing anomalous objects in the sky. Sometimes called ‘experiencers’, these individuals are harmed in two ways: first from seeing something potentially frightening and then, when they ask for help, by being told directly or implicitly by doctors and other health professionals that they are mistaken or unwell. What are individual doctors to do when their professional bodies, such as the General Medical Council and the Royal Colleges, offer no guidance on the topic? Again, as with the CAA example above, it is the lack of a policy position on UAPs from the Government that is the fundamental problem.
On this front, I am part of a team that is setting up a new organization to help. We are establishing uNHIdden to promote mental health and well-being around anomalous experiences, as well as to help reduce anxiety around non-human intelligence and disclosure. It will be set up as a charity formally in the new year. uNHIdden has a medical board made up of doctors and clinical psychologists who are keen to help develop strategies that support both patients and therapists in this difficult area.
uNHIdden mirrors and works closely with UAP Med, which is based in the US and is focused on mitigating the effects of UAP/UFO exposures on witnesses, families, communities and society. Founder and Director Ted Roe explains his philosophy as follows:
“Like uNHIdden, our focus is on looking after and supporting the people affected by unexplained objects and unusual sightings. We need both strategies and front-line care to help people whose lives literally change in the instant that they see something that they cannot explain. At present, these people seem largely ignored.”
There are now indications that things may be about to change. Writing in Liberation Times on 13th October in an article, “The United Kingdom and the Looming UFO Paradigm Shift,” British journalist Christopher Sharp wrote:
“Multiple sources have informed Liberation Times that they anticipate some form of confirmation regarding programs linked to crafts of unknown or non-human origin in 2024, which lack any mundane explanation.
“If events continue to develop on this trajectory in the US, it will become abundantly clear that the prospects for maintaining the status quo [on UAP policy], as pursued by some individuals within the UK Government, are rapidly diminishing.”
Chris adds that senior UK Members of Parliament are closely following the UAP topic, but fear talking publicly on the topic due to associated stigma.
This seems optimistic. I must say I have a great deal of sympathy for the civil servant who finds him- or herself in the UAP hot seat today. They did not construct the “no military threat” line 14 years ago. Nor are they responsible for 80 years of obfuscation and denial. Plus, there is no UK equivalent of AARO or the Schumer Amendment, on which to hang a new line-to-take that shows the Government in a positive, proactive light.
Here is my thinking. The Government does not need to go “full tonto” (as Ben Wallace might say) on UAP disclosure; it just needs to show that it is taking the topic seriously. If I may offer a suggested new line-to-take, it would be something like the following:
“The Government acknowledges the legitimacy of observations of anomalous objects in the sky. We are working with our international partners to investigate the causes and their implications.”
This would be transformational in that it would start to reduce the stigma associated with the UAP topic. People who have seen unusual things would be able to feel that their experiences were seen as legitimate, so they could start to seek the help they need. Many in the ‘UAP community’ may feel that this line-to-take does not go far enough. But it would be a start. A journey of a thousand miles, and all that.
We at uNHIdden want to play a constructive part in helping to shape the future support of people affected by anomalous experiences. As well as starting to help create better conversations on the UAP topic.
I hope that the U.K. Government is listening.
John Priestland is the Founder and Chairman of uNHIdden (www.unhidden.org).
UC San Diego Professor of Astronomy and Astrophysics Shelley Wright has a lifelong love of outer space. She’s made a career of building state-of-the-art telescopes that can study everything from black holes to “technosignatures” from alien civilizations. Wright, who recently served on NASA’s panel on unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAPs), takes a moment to reflect on her career, the panel and the ongoing search for extraterrestrial life.
What kind of research do you specialize in?
I'm an experimental astrophysicist. One topic I've studied throughout my career is SETI — the search for extraterrestrial intelligence — particularly in trying to build new devices that operate at unique wavelengths to search for what we call “technosignatures” — technological evidence or signals from an alien civilization that is detectable across interstellar distances.
How did you become interested in astrophysics and SETI?
I was captivated by humanity’s question of “Are we alone?” This led me to ponder our place in the universe and whether there is other intelligent life that existed and co-exists with us now. In pursuing those questions, I fell in love with the universe.
Shelley Wright is a professor of astronomy and astrophysics at UC San Diego.
I got involved with SETI early in my career. I was a junior at UC Santa Cruz and saw an advertisement for the first-ever astrobiology conference, which was an emerging field at the time. On a whim, I decided to cut school and attend. It was there I met other SETI researchers, and I've collaborated with them and the community ever since.
How did you get selected for the NASA UAP panel?
I’ve been exploring this topic for over 20 years and have established myself as a SETI researcher in the field of astrobiology. I also specialize in developing unique instrumentation, and have thought extensively about how to image and sense unusual characteristics in the night sky. I think these qualifications likely played a role in why I was selected.
For NASA to even form a UAP panel — it lent credibility to the field was a big deal for the scientific community and the public. It was apparent that the panel process was intended to make a positive impact in the field and within our scientific and national community. I was also struck by the caliber and diversity of the panel members and could see that our approach to this problem would be unique, so I agreed to participate.
What was the main objective of the panel?
I think the public and even the scientific community had different expectations about what our panel was charged to do. Some people presumed we would sit down and analyze every single UAP case out there. We did investigate several UAP cases to better understand the characteristics of observed and reported UAPs, but our primary objective wasn’t to diagnosis each case.
The panel was tasked with understanding the landscape of UAPs, what they look like and how often UAPs were reported. What kind of resources could NASA and other government agencies offer? What kind of industry partnerships could be beneficial? Our goal was to establish guidelines for processes, scientific protocols and communications across government agencies for future UAP events.
The NASA UAP panel boasted a diverse membership, including oceanographers, astrophysicists, government agencies and industry experts.
(cr: NASA)
How would someone report a sighting?
It’s a great question. The panel spent a lot of time investigating how things were reported, and the truth is, there isn’t really a functioning reporting mechanism within U.S. government agencies. One of our leading recommendations was to fix this and to have better inter-agency communication. The difficult thing with reporting is that it's often anecdotal, and there’s little-to-no data to assess.
The panel explored the use of cell phones and metadata on cell phones. If someone did record something, what metadata would be associated with it? For instance, in what direction was the phone pointing? What were the conditions? Was the data manipulated? The panel also looked at earth-observing satellites and the type of data we have today and will have in the future for scientific investigations. Proper reporting in all these cases is important since we want to access the right scientific data for follow-up investigation.
Do you think in our lifetime we will find something that looks like a sign of extraterrestrial life?
In the context of UAPs, I think it would be really surprising if we ever found a marker that alien life was here on planet Earth. Simply because of the energy resources needed to travel between stars, the time it would take — it really is unfathomably large. You get humbled by it, being an astronomer.
But I do think that in our lifetime we will find something. Maybe a biosignature in a distant planet's atmosphere. It could even be what we call an “artificial signal” in another atmosphere that showed the presence of some technology. Maybe it’s a direct signal, but that’s an even rarer possibility.
Truthfully though, we don't know the answer to this question. And what shocks me most is that we barely try to answer it. That’s why I’m interested in this field. I do SETI research because we should be looking for the answer.
(L-R): Graduate students Sanchit Sabhlok and James Wiley assembling a Panoramic SETI telescope in Shelley Wright's lab.
(cr: Regents of the University of California)
Now that the panel has concluded, what’s next on the horizon for you?
In terms of life in the universe, there are a lot of exciting projects out there. Of course, James Webb Space Telescope is capturing amazing images and is also recording spectra to try to understand the chemical compositions of exoplanet atmospheres. There are also future missions like the Roman Space Telescope, launching in 2027.
We have ground-based facilities too — extremely large telescopes coming online that will also record spectra of planetary atmosphere. There are dedicated SETI programs, like Breakthrough Listen, where we continue to look for technosignatures at radio wavelengths.
For myself and my projects here at UC San Diego, we did the first ever near-infrared SETI search to explore signals at new wavelengths. Now we have an ambitious program to build an optical, or visible light, observatory where we try to image the entire observable sky, all the time at very fast speeds. Which, coincidentally, is also interesting for Earth-bound objects that are moving quickly in our atmosphere as well. That project is called Panoramic SETI. We've spent the last several years conducting research and development, building unique detectors and telescopes. Panoramic SETI is now ready, and our goal is to build a SETI optical observatory. If we pull this off, it’ll be a first in technosignature and astrophysical research. I’m really excited about what we might discover.
Ex-Ministry of Defence alien hunter demands UK gov open public UFO investigation
Ex-Ministry of Defence alien hunter demands UK gov open public UFO investigation
EXCLUSIVE: Ex-government alien hunter Nick Pope has demanded the UK take UFO sightings more seriously and wants the Official Secrets Act overhauled to allow whistleblowers to reveal the truth
An ex-Ministry of Defence alien hunter has called on the Government to announce an official probe intoUFO sightings in Britain.
Nick Pope, who once ran the UK's UFO investigation unit, said Britain must follow America's lead in examining strange happenings to avoid a "catastrophic failure of national security".
He wants to see a Commons Select Committee tasked with probing sightings dating back to WWII - like the team currently investigating 650 cases in the US.
The Official Secrets Act should be waived so whistleblowers who worked on hush-hush Government UFO programs can speak freely.
The UK's chief alien hunter has been speaking exclusively to the Daily Star(Image: Nick Pope)
And the MoD’s UFO investigations unit - axed in 2009 - should be relaunched.
Nick, 57, revealed he has viewed Brit military "gun camera" footage from the 1950s and 60s of UFOs performing out-of-this-world manoeuvres at high speed no human-made technology could perform.
Satellite imagery showing other strange craft is said to have been captured recently.
And he said there is no explanation for "Britain’s Roswell’ - an apparent UFO landing near an airbase in Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk in 1980.
The existence of alien life could be a well kept secret, Nick believes (stock)(Image: Getty Images)
But while the US has launched an official investigation into sightings dating back seven decades and urged whistleblowers who worked on secret Government programs to tell-all Nick said the UK has done nothing.
In America UFOs have been labelled a potential threat to national security and risk to commercial flights.
But Nick said the MoD refused to tell him if it was even helping the US probe – let alone conducting one of its own.
He told the Daily Star: "It would be a catastrophic national security failure if we had a chance to do something but didn’t engage just because of prejudices about UFOs.''
While most reports do turn out to have reasonable Earth-bound explanations, not all do (stock)(Image: Getty Images/Tetra images RF)
Nick, who spent three of his 21-year MoD career leading its UFO hunt, said though "most" reports turned out to be misidentifications with mundane explanations, there remained a number of "core sightings' that "you just couldn't explain in conventional terms".
He said the UK Government has been "spinning" the public for years that there is "nothing to see here - move on".
But to continue to ignore such cases beside the US probe could be putting Brits in danger.
Nick appears in a new National Geographic series UFOs: Investigating The Unknown, which starts on Tuesday (May 2) and explores the on-going US probe including eyewitness accounts and declassified footage of sightings.
The UK government knows more than it's letting on, Nick believes(Image: Getty Images)
He said it was "groundbreaking and "moves this subject from fringe to mainstream where it totally should be.
"This should be the series to convince people,'' he said.
"It's government, military, intelligence community, pilots, radar operator, all coming forward and saying, "look, this is real".
"We are beyond stories and rumours. It's here now.''
Nick said he thinks ETs are trying to make contact.
Asked if he believed Earth was witnessing "extraterrestrial activity" he replied: "I think so. I think curiosity and intelligence are inextricably linked. They would want to know what is out there.
"The answer to that question for them is us.''
The MoD had not responded to a request for comment as of Friday night (April 28).
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A new analysis of data from NASA’s retired Kepler space telescope has revealed a system of seven giant planets around Kepler-385.
An artist’s concept of Kepler-385, the seven-planet system revealed in a new catalog of planet candidates discovered by NASA’s Kepler space telescope.
Image credit: NASA / Daniel Rutter.
Kepler-385 is an F-type star located 4,944 light-years away in the constellation of Cygnus.
Also known as KIC 11968463, KOI-2433 or TIC 27082352, the star is about 10% larger and 5% hotter than the Sun.
The star hosts seven planets smaller than Neptune: Kepler-385b, c, d, e, f, g, and h.
The two inner planets, both slightly larger than Earth, are probably rocky and may have thin atmospheres.
The other five planets are larger — each with a radius about twice the size of Earth’s — and expected to be enshrouded in thick atmospheres.
This planetary system is among the highlights of a new Kepler catalog that contains almost 4,400 planet candidates, including more than 700 multi-planet systems.
It is one of only a few planetary systems known to contain more than six verified planets or planet candidates.
“We’ve assembled the most accurate list of Kepler planet candidates and their properties to date,” said Dr. Jack Lissauer, an astronomer at NASA’s Ames Research Center.
“NASA’s Kepler mission has discovered the majority of known exoplanets, and this new catalog will enable astronomers to learn more about their characteristics.”
While the Kepler mission’s final catalogs focused on producing lists optimized to measure how common planets are around other stars, Dr. Lissauer and colleagues were able to produce a comprehensive list of accurate information about each of the systems, making discoveries like Kepler-385 possible.
The new catalog uses improved measurements of stellar properties and calculates more accurately the path of each transiting planet across its host star.
This combination illustrates that when a star hosts several transiting planets, they typically have more circular orbits than when a star hosts only one or two.
After Kepler already showed us there are more planets than stars, the new study paints a more detailed picture of what each of those planets and their home systems look like, giving us a better view of the many worlds beyond our Solar System.
“Our primary catalog lists all known Kepler planet candidates that orbit and transit only one star,” the astronomers said.
“For completeness, we also provide an abbreviated listing of the properties of the two dozen non-transiting planets that have been identified around stars that host transiting planets discovered by Kepler.”
Jack J. Lissauer et al. 2023. Updated Catalog of Kepler Planet Candidates: Focus on Accuracy and Orbital Periods. Planetary Science Journal, in press; arXiv: 2311.00238
Hey Magician David Copperfield Answered Me On Twitter Today. UFO Sighting News.
Hey Magician David Copperfield Answered Me On Twitter Today. UFO Sighting News.
Date of Tweet: Nov 5, 2023
David Copperfield is about to perform his newest magic trick, one that would out perform all other acts he has done in the past. He will make the moon disappear on Feb of 2024. He also suggested that people worldwide might see some moon or strange lights appearing and disappearing in the sky over the last few months, so I got onto twitter and asked him about a several moon shaped objects over the mountains of Las Vegas area that were seen on 9-21-2023. Those objects were the same shape, and color of the moon itself. Oh, and David Copperfield lives in Las Vegas. See the tweet below.
I have seen him perform in Taiwan about 5 years ago, Davids parents sat a few rows ahead of me and my wife. Davids acts on stage and off were just mind boggling. I can't wait to see him make the moon disappear.
I had to go on and ask him, a burning question that I have long wondered about David Copperfield, is he more than human? Is he from another world and these illusions are real? So I asked him. (tweet below).
UFOs, Reverse Engineering, and the Enigmatic Colonel Nell
UFOs, Reverse Engineering, and the Enigmatic Colonel Nell
In a world where the extraordinary becomes the mundane, stories of UFOs might seem passé. Yet, the tale of retired Army Colonel Karl Nell and David Grusch stands apart, echoing the eerie chills of a conspiracy-laden blockbuster.
Unearthing the Whistleblower’s Secrets
David Grusch is not your everyday whistleblower. An Afghanistan combat veteran and a former Air Force intelligence officer, Grusch stepped into the limelight in 2023. His claims? The U.S., under secretive operations, has been reverse-engineering UFO craft and studying non-human pilots. Such a revelation, if true, would redefine our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
Colonel Nell: The Unwitting Protagonist
Enter Colonel Karl Nell, Grusch’s senior and a heavyweight in the military aerospace and defense sectors. Nell’s resume reads like a fiction novelist’s dream: multiple advanced degrees, top-tier military positions, involvement with defense giants like Lockheed Martin, and advisory roles in cutting-edge projects like AI-powered surveillance systems.
In simple words? If someone were privy to the nation’s well-guarded secrets, it would be Nell.
The Deafening Silence
What’s even more intriguing than Grusch’s revelation is Nell’s endorsement of it. In a media landscape hungry for sensational news, Nell’s validation of Grusch’s claims in 2023 was met with baffling silence. Why would mainstream channels shy away from such groundbreaking revelations?
Perhaps it’s the weight of Nell’s character – a person with his credentials would hardly risk it all for a frivolous claim. His assertion lends an undeniable gravity to Grusch’s claims.
A Modern Day Enigma
The lack of uproar in media houses forces one to ponder: are Grusch’s claims too earth-shattering to digest, or are they strategically overlooked? The truth remains buried in layers of conjectures, with stalwarts like Nell pointing towards a reality we might not be ready for.
VIDEO:
Army Colonel Admits UFO Reverse Engineering Programs DO Exist
In a universe of unknowns, one thing is certain – the story of Grusch and Nell has added another layer to the enigmatic world of UFOs, awaiting a keen detective to unearth its truths.
During an ancient collision, the protoplanet named Theia slammed into Earth, leading to the creation of the Moon. But it left some of its remains inside Earth. Image Credit: CalTech
Earth’s early history is marked by massive collisions with other objects, including planetesimals. One of the defining events in our planet’s history, the formation of the Moon, likely resulted from one of these catastrophic collisions when a Mars-sized protoplanet crashed into Earth. That’s the Giant Impact Hypothesis, and it explains how the collision produced a torus of debris rotating around the Earth that eventually coalesced into our only natural satellite.
New research strengthens the idea that Theia left some of its remains inside Earth.
The Giant Impact that created the Moon occurred in the Hadean eon. The Hadean is the first of Earth’s four eons and spans from the Earth’s formation about 4.5 billion years ago up to about 4.03 billion years ago when it was succeeded by the Archaean eon.
Earth was a magma ocean for about the first 50 million years. It began cooling during the Hadean, but the mantle was still much more viscous than it is today. Residual heat from its formation and the higher level of radiogenic heating kept the mantle in a more fluid state. There was more water in the mantle at that time, too, adding to the mantle’s fluidity.
Artist’s impression of magma ocean planet. Scientists think all terrestrial planets go through a magma ocean phase early in their history, and Earth is no exception. Credit: Mark Garlick
That’s important because when objects slammed into Earth, they were able to sink deeper into the mantle.
Back in the 1980s, scientists made a remarkable discovery. Two gigantic, continent-sized blobs were embedded deep in the Earth. One is under Africa, and one is under the Pacific Ocean. They’re called LLSVPs, or Large Low-Shear-Velocity Provinces, and they have unusually high iron levels. The iron concentration changes the speed of seismic waves that travel through them, leading to their discovery.
Scientists discovered two large low-shear-velocity provinces deep inside Earth in the 1980s. They contain high levels of iron that generate tell-tale seismic wave patterns. Image Credit: Edward Garnero.
Both the LLSVPs extend for thousands of kilometres horizontally and extend up to 1000 km upwards from the boundary between the Earth’s core and its mantle. They contain about 8% of the Earth’s mantle volume and about 6% of the Earth’s total volume.
For decades, their origins were a mystery. Scientists wondered if they could be the remains of Theia, the protoplanet that slammed into Earth, resulting in the Moon. But convincing evidence was elusive.
Now, new research points convincingly at the Giant Impact as the LLSVP’s source. The new paper is “Moon-forming impactor as a source of Earth’s basal mantle anomalies.” It’s in the journal Nature, and the lead author is Qian Yuan, a Postdoctoral Scholar Research Associate at Caltech’s Seismological Laboratory.
Yuan is a geophysicist, but when he attended a seminar on planet formation by Mikhail Zolotov, a professor at Arizona State University, in 2019, a light went on. Zolotov was explaining the Giant Impact Hypothesis. Two things happened simultaneously: Qian noted that the Moon is relatively iron-rich, and Zolotov explained that no trace of Theia has ever been found.
“Right after Mikhail had said that no one knows where the impactor is now, I had a ‘eureka moment’ and realized that the iron-rich impactor could have transformed into mantle blobs,” says Yuan.
This schematic from the research shows how the LLSVPs formed. Image Credit: Yuan et al. 2023.
Yuan isn’t the first scientist to consider this possibility. But, scientific methods and tools improve over time. Yuan worked with other researchers from multiple disciplines to perform multiple simulations of the Giant Impact with different chemical compositions for Theia and its impact on the Hadean Earth.
According to their work, this is what happened.
When Theia slammed into Earth, it released an enormous amount of energy. It sprayed molten material from both planets into orbit around Earth. Some escaped, much of it coalesced into the Moon, and some of it remained inside Earth’s molten form.
But much of the energy delivered by the collision remained in Earth’s upper regions, never penetrating to the core. This is where Yuan’s simulations differ from previous efforts. They’re more detailed and higher resolution. Previous efforts failed to show that the energy never penetrated the core, leading to uncertain conclusions.
But if Earth’s core was effectively blocked off from the impact energy, it remained much cooler. That also means that the Earth’s lower mantle wasn’t heated to the degree previous research showed. So, the material from Theia, called Theia Mantle Material (TMM) that remained inside the Earth didn’t dissolve completely into the mantle. Instead, it formed the two recognizable clumps that form both of Earth’s LLSVPs.
If the mantle had been warmer, meaning it had received more energy from the impact, the Earth’s mantle material and the TMM would’ve mixed together more thoroughly. But they didn’t mix, and the higher iron content in the TMM makes the LLSVPs visible in seismic probing because all that iron slows down the seismic waves.
The result is what geophysicists call thermochemical piles.
This figure from the study’s simulations shows how the Giant Impact formed LLSVP-like thermochemical piles from Theia Mantle Material. a shows how TMM is introduced to a depth of 1400 km to the core-mantle boundary (CMB.) When introduced, the material is in the form of randomly distributed spheres. b shows the temperature at 4.5 billion years. c shows the TMM accumulating into two distinct LLVPS-like thermochemical piles. d shows the perturbations measured in the seismic shear velocity. Image Credit: Yuan et al. 2023.
“Our mantle convection models show that dense TMM blobs with a size of tens of kilometres after the impact can later sink and accumulate into LLVP-like thermochemical piles atop Earth’s core and survive to the present day,” the authors write in their paper. “The LLVPs may, thus, be a natural consequence of the Moon-forming giant impact.”
This all leads to another fascinating line of inquiry. How did this material influence the rest of Earth’s history? Its plate tectonics, climate, even the course of evolution?
“A logical consequence of the idea that the LLVPs are remnants of Theia is that they are very ancient,” said study co-author Paul Asimow. “It makes sense, therefore, to investigate next what consequences they had for Earth’s earliest evolution, such as the onset of subduction before conditions were suitable for modern-style plate tectonics, the formation of the first continents, and the origin of the very oldest surviving terrestrial minerals.”
Lucy Completes its First Flyby… and Discovers a Bonus Asteroi
Moonlet rise over Dinkinesh as seen from NASA's Lucy spacecraft, taken within a minute of closest approach. Credit: NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOAO
Lucy Completes its First Flyby… and Discovers a Bonus Asteroid
NASA’s Lucy mission hits the jackpot on its very first asteroid flyby earlier this week.
Welcome to Dinkinesh. NASA’s Lucy missionflew past its first target of Wednesday, November 1st, and turned up a surprise: 152830 Dinkinesh (meaning ‘marvelous’ in the Amharic language) is not one asteroid, but two (!)
The Dinkinesh Flyby
The the 16,000 kilometers per hour (10,000 mph) flyby occurred at a range of 430 kilometers (270 miles), and served as a test for Lucy’s instruments on its way to the Trojan asteroids. Closest approach was on November 1st and occurred at 16:54 Universal Time (UT)/12:54 PM U.S. Eastern Time (EDT). The image really caught lots of us off guard, revealing a boulder-strewn surface on both small worlds. At most, we were expecting a few small pixels, so the dramatic resolution was a huge bonus.
An animation of Dinkinesh and its newly discovered moonlet as seen from Lucy’s tracking camera. NASA/SwRI
The L’LORRI Long Range Reconnaissance Imager and T2Cam tracking cameras really demonstrated their resolution and pinpoint tracking capability on this first flyby. If the names sound familiar, its because the instruments are similar to those carried aboard NASA’s New Horizons mission, with completed a flyby past Pluto and Charon in 2015.
The flyby is reminiscent of New Horizons’ dramatic 2019 rendezvous with the Kuiper Belt Object 486958 Arrokoth. That passage also surprised scientists, with the object’s strange twin-lobed structure.
A Tiny Moonlet
The Dinkinesh moonlet is an estimated 220 meters (720 feet) across, about the size of an Iowa-class battleship. Variations in brightness seen in Dinkinesh on approach hinted at the presence of the unseen moon. As of yet, no orbital period for the moon has been published.
Dinkinesh is a small main belt asteroid, discovered in 1999. Up close, 790 meter-wide Dinkinesh actually looks lots like 101955 Bennu, visited by OSIRIS-REx. The next target for Lucy is asteroid 52246 Donaldjohanson in 2025. Lucy will perform another Earth flyby for a gravitational assist later next year in December 2025. Lucy delivered a great portrait of the Earth and Moon pair during the October 2022 flyby:
The Earth and Moon (faint, to the left) as seen by Lucy during the first Earth flyby. Credit: NASA/SwRI
“Dinkinesh really did live up to its name; this is “marvelous’” says principal investigator Hal Levison (Boulder-SwRI) in a recent press release. “When Lucy was originally selected for flight, we planned to fly by seven asteroids…now with this satellite, we’ve turned it up to 11.”
What’s Next for Lucy
Lucy takes its name from the 3.2-million year old Lucy hominid fossil, which in turn was named from the Beatles song ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds.’ The naming alludes to the fossils of planetary formation sought out by planetary researchers in the Jupiter Trojan asteroids. Not only does the spacecraft’s L’TES instrument carry a disc made of lab-grown diamonds, but it also has a plaque with poems, speeches and quotes from Earth.
The Lucy plaque affixed to the spacecraft. Credit: NASA
Launched in 2021 atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, the main goal of Lucy is the exploration of the Trojan asteroids, located at stable L4 and L5 points ahead and behind massive Jupiter in its orbit. Plans at launch called for Lucy to visit seven Trojans from 2027 through 2033, though the number has now grown to 11. This now includes two main belt asteroids, plus two moonlets discovered since launch.
Asteroid 15094 Polymele targeted for a Lucy flyby in 2027 was found to possess a moonlet in March 2022. This moonlet is informally named ‘Shaun’ and was discovered during a stellar occultation. There’s an intriguing campaign underway worldwide to observe stellar occultations by target asteroids for the mission. This effort will help map asteroid profiles, refine orbits, and tease out undiscovered moonlets. This is a professional and amateur collaboration, with several events coming right up in 2024.
Lucy will be an amazing mission to follow in the coming decade. Now, what will we name Dinkinesh’s new companion moon?
Elon Musk tells Rishi Sunak AI will eventually mean no one needs to have a job in a conversation with the Prime Minister following the summit at Bletchley Park
Elon Musk tells Rishi Sunak AI will eventually mean no one needs to have a job in a conversation with the Prime Minister following the summit at Bletchley Park
Britain is hosting the world's first AI Safety Summit in Buckinghamshire
Artificial intelligence will eventually mean no one needs to work, Elon Musk told Rishi Sunak last night.
In conversation with the Prime Minister, the tech billionaire compared AI to a 'magic genie' that would bring a time when 'no job is needed'.
Mr Musk said people could still work 'for personal satisfaction' if they wanted, and one of the future challenges would be finding 'meaning in life'.
Mr Sunak replied: 'I'm someone who believes work gives you meaning.'
Speaking in front of tech bosses and journalists, Mr Musk said: 'You can have a job if you want to for personal satisfaction, AI can do everything.
'I don't know if that makes people comfortable or uncomfortable. It's both good and bad.
'One of the challenges in future will be how do we find meaning in life. We won't have universal basic income but universal high income. It'll be good for education - it'll be the best tutor.'
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, left, attends an in-conversation event with Tesla and SpaceX's CEO Elon Musk in London, Thursday, November 2, 2023
Rishi Sunak and Elon Musk met in London following the AI summit in Buckinghamshire
'There is a need for government to play a role when public safety is at risk. It can be annoying, but having a referee is a good thing,' Musk said
Speaking at Lancaster House following the AI summit at Bletchley Park, Mr Musk described 'a future of abundance where there is no scarcity,' calling AI a 'magic genie'. But he then quipped that those fairytales rarely end well.
MI5 to vet new software
Artificial intelligence software will be vetted by the security services to prevent 'misuse' by terrorists and rogue states, under plans approved by world leaders.
Rishi Sunak led a discussion at yesterday's AI summit on the introduction of 'state-backed testing'.
Whitehall sources said the plan would involve testing by agencies including GCHQ and MI5. One insider said: 'The safety assessment is done by the companies themselves. But they do not have access to the kind of classified material that would allow them to ask the right questions to discover whether this technology can do the really dangerous stuff.'
Mr Sunak said all the leading AI pioneers had agreed to have their new models tested by British and US 'safety institutes' before their release to the public.
Chinese ministers were notably excluded from the sessions on national security.
The X owner also suggested AI robots could also become our friends. 'An AI with memory could know you better than you know yourself – you could actually have a great friend,' he said.
Mr Musk hailed the Prime Minister's decision to invite China to the summit.
He said: 'If China is not on board, it becomes a weird situation. China is willing to participate in AI safety.
'This is something they care about – having them here was essential.'
The pair agreed that AI had major potential – though Mr Musk warned it should have a physical 'off switch' as well as regulation.
'There is a need for government to play a role when public safety is at risk. It can be annoying, but having a referee is a good thing.
'AI will be a force for good – most likely – but the chance of it going badly is not zero.'
He had earlier warned that AI poses 'one of the biggest threats' to humanity, clashing with Nick Clegg over the extent of the dangers. Speaking at the first day of the summit, the Facebook boss urged governments not to 'micro-manage' tech companies.
Mr Musk last night issued a further warning about humanoid robots that 'can basically chase you anywhere'.
'What if they get a software update one day, and they're not so friendly any more?'
The Prime Minister said 'we've all watched' movies about androids that end with the machines being switched off. But Mr Musk said the UK 'is in a strong position' on developing robots, praising Dyson in particular.
Mr Sunak hinted that the next General Election will take place in 2024 – rather than January 2025, the latest one could take place.
Speaking about the dangers of deep fakes, the Prime Minister said: 'I have already had a situation with a doctored image. Next year we have elections in India, the US, Indonesia, probably here. An enormous proportion of the world population is voting.
'Next year will be the first time that this has been an issue. It is mission critical to work out how to deal with this.' He declared that the summit had shown that the world had both the 'political will and capability' to control the technology.
He also said that the two-day event would 'tip the balance in favour of humanity'.
Rishi Sunak (L) and US tech entrepreneur Elon Musk (R) attend a conversation event in central London, Britain, 2 November 2023
Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) shakes hands with X CEO Elon Musk (R) on November 2
It came as the Prime Minister announced that leading AI firms had agreed to allow governments to test the safety of their models before they are released.
Mr Sunak, who had earlier warned the threat of AI was similar in scale to pandemics and nuclear wars, said: 'We can't expect companies to mark their own homework.'
While admitting 'binding requirements' would likely be needed to regulate the technology, Mr Sunak said now was the time to move quickly without laws.
However, he indicated it may need to be put on a statutory footing in the future.
Musk waarschuwt op top over kunstmatige intelligentie met Britse premier voor mensachtige robots
Techmiljardair Elon Musk heeft in een gesprek met de Britse premier Rishi Sunak gewaarschuwd voor de gevaren van kunstmatige intelligentie. Hij had het onder meer over “mensachtige robots die je overal achtervolgen”. Sunak en Musk sloten donderdag een top over kunstmatige intelligentie af in het Zuid-Engelse Bletchley Park.
De top duurde twee dagen en werd druk bijgewoond door politici en experten van overal ter wereld. Musk, de eigenaar van onder meer X, Tesla en SpaceX, werd er tijdens een slotgesprek geïnterviewd door de Britse premier Rishi Sunak, die hem een “briljante innovator” noemde.
Sunak vroeg Musk onder meer naar de impact van artificiële intelligentie op de arbeidsmarkt, waarop Musk antwoordde dat er “een moment komt waar geen enkele job nog nodig is” en “de enige reden dat mensen nog zullen werken hun eigen voldoening zal zijn”. Kunstmatige intelligentie zal volgens de techmiljardair een “tijdperk van overvloed” inluiden en dus wordt het in de toekomst dan ook vooral een uitdaging om nog betekenis te vinden in het leven “wanneer er een magische geest is die alles kan doen wat je wilt”.
De in Zuid-Afrika geboren X-eigenaar gelooft ook dat AI een “universeel hoog inkomen” teweeg zal brengen en op die manier meer gelijkheid in de wereld zal brengen.
Tegelijk waarschuwde Musk ook voor de gevaren van kunstmatige intelligentie, bijvoorbeeld in de vorm van mensachtige robots die je in principe “overal zouden kunnen achtervolgen”. Voor dat soort van robots zou er dan ook een uit-knop moeten worden voorzien, betoogde hij. “We moeten daar bezorgd om zijn. (..) wat als ze op een dag een software-update krijgen, en niet meer zo vriendelijk zijn?”
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UAP Fleet Over Del Mar, California 7-20-2023, UFO Sighting News. Video.
UAP Fleet Over Del Mar, California 7-20-2023, UFO Sighting News. Video.
Date of sighting: 7-20-2023
Location of sighting: Del Mar, California, USA Source: MUFON
Several video reports came in, but I chose this one because it's the best quality. Glowing spheres were seen along the ocean at Del Mar last week and the objects are each different colors. Now sure LED lights exist, but guess what? UFOs do glow these colors and are stated in hundreds of UFO reports, many are over 30 years old.
So yeah, keep an open mind please.
Scott C. Waring
Eyewitness states:
Over 30 minutes viewed multiple orbs over ocean solana beach ca changing colors and morphing into and out of each other.
This day in UFO history: Travis Walton’s Enigmatic Disappearance: 48 Years Later
This day in UFO history: Travis Walton’s Enigmatic Disappearance: 48 Years Later
On November 5, 1975, the serene landscapes of Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona witnessed an event that would become one of the most debated and intriguing mysteries in UFO history. Today, 48 years later, the abduction of Travis Walton remains a puzzling narrative that has been dissected, criticized, and marvelled at by enthusiasts and skeptics alike.
A Night Like No Other
The setting sun was casting its golden hues over the dense Arizona forest, as Travis Walton and his six logging crew members wrapped up another hard day’s work. As they journeyed home, an unusual glow caught their attention. The team witnessed what Travis initially perceived as a UFO, a sight so uncanny that he couldn’t resist the pull to approach it. What followed next was a bright, bluish-green beam of light which, according to witnesses, struck Walton and sent him flying backward.
VIDEO:
Joe Rogan with Travis Walton
The rest of the crew, stricken with panic, fled the scene. However, upon their return to the spot, Travis was nowhere to be found. This began a 5-day-long search, with the crew facing accusations of foul play.
Voices from the Abyss
Five harrowing days later, Travis was found on the side of a road. Disoriented and traumatized, he recounted an experience that sounded straight out of a sci-fi novel. He described being in an unfamiliar room, with three peculiar-looking creatures observing him. These beings, according to Walton, had large, brown eyes and wore orange jumpsuits, standing just about four to five feet tall with disproportionate heads. The narrative took another twist when Travis described being moved to another room, which appeared like a planetarium, where he was met by two different entities before blacking out.
Controversy and Debate
The mystery surrounding Travis’s disappearance piqued the curiosity of UFO enthusiasts, but also drew skeptics to the fore. Many factors added fuel to the skepticism: the Walton family’s penchant for pranks, a prior interest in UFOs, and debates surrounding the polygraph tests administered. The National Enquirer’s coverage of the event, which some argued glossed over key inconsistencies in the narrative, also came under scrutiny.
Travis’s narrative also diverged from the typical “alien abduction” accounts which surged in popularity during the 1980s. Notably, Travis did not report experiences like sleep paralysis or recovered memories which were common in other testimonies. This, coupled with the controversies surrounding the event, kept the debate alive and impassioned.
Legacy of the Enigma
Walton’s experience was immortalized in the 1993 film “Fire in the Sky”, although the film took considerable creative liberties, diverging from Travis’s own account in his book “The Walton Experience”. While the story has often been dismissed as a money-making scheme or an outright hoax, it’s hard to deny the lasting impact of Travis’s tale in the annals of UFO lore.
Decades later, the Walton case remains a testament to the enduring fascination with the unknown. Whether a genuine encounter, a misremembered experience, or a well-orchestrated hoax, the Travis Walton abduction invites us to ponder the limits of human understanding and the vast mysteries of the cosmos.
As we mark the 48th anniversary of this perplexing event, we’re reminded of the infinite wonders and enigmas that our universe holds, and the stories, like Travis’s, that keep us forever looking to the stars.
In the high-stakes Chess game of international politics, artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as the board on which future conflicts will be strategized and future societies shaped. In a recent essay published by The RAND Corporation, researchers there examined the current trajectory of AI development and have painted a picture of a world where AI is not merely a tool but a transformative force with the power to redefine global leadership.
Illustration by Dan Page for TIME
The race to AI supremacy is not just about technological bragging rights; it’s a strategic maneuver to gain a geopolitical edge. AI’s potential to drive economic growth, revolutionize military capabilities, and enhance cyber operations makes it a critical asset for any nation-state. The United States, long the torchbearer of technological innovation, finds its dominance challenged by China’s ambitious AI strategy. This contest is not just about who can develop more intelligent algorithms; it’s a proxy for ideological, economic, and military power. In other words, a 21st-century Moon-shot.
The current tension between the US and China in the AI domain is a flashpoint for broader geopolitical concerns. China’s “Next Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan” is a clear signal of its intent to become the world leader in AI by 2030. Meanwhile, the United States, through initiatives like the American AI Initiative, is striving to maintain its lead. This rivalry is not confined to research labs and tech campuses; it extends to the global stage, where AI capabilities are increasingly seen as a barometer of national power.
In the military arena, AI is poised to revolutionize warfare. Autonomous drones, AI-driven intelligence analysis, and predictive logistics are just the tip of the iceberg. The United States Department of Defense’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center (JAIC) and China’s advances in military AI applications indicate a future where AI not only supports but also conducts warfare.
French soldiers using a drone in training.
(Image: MOD)
Lt. Gen. Jack Shanahan, the former director of the Pentagon’s Joint Artificial Intelligence Center, said in a 2019 speech that the “integration of AI capabilities” is being pursued by the Department of Defense. Shanahan said that he could imagine a future where AI could be used in determining how to use lethal force after a human makes the decision.
“I’m not going to go straight to ‘lethal autonomous weapons systems,'” he stated, “but I do want to say we will use artificial intelligence in our weapons systems … to give us a competitive advantage. It’s to save lives and help deter war from happening in the first place.”
The implications are profound and double-edged: AI could help deter conflicts and make conflicts more precise or more impersonal and, potentially, more frequent. The ethical and strategic dilemmas of AI in combat, such as using lethal autonomous weapons systems (LAWS), are concerns that have yet to be fully grappled with on the international stage.
The cyber domain is another battleground that AI is transforming. Cyberattacks can now be more targeted, complex, and challenging to trace back to their origins. AI enhances the ability to exploit vulnerabilities at unprecedented speed and scale. The United States’ Cyber Command and China’s Strategic Support Force are both investing heavily in AI to defend against and conduct cyber operations. Microsoft’s Vice Chair, Brad Smith, wrote in 2020 that large-scale hacks, such as the recent SolarWinds hack, attributed to a nation-state actor, demonstrate the scale of disruption possible when AI augments cyber warfare.
“These types of sophisticated nation-state attacks are increasingly being compounded by another technology trend, which is the opportunity to augment human capabilities with artificial intelligence (AI),” Smith wrote in 2020. “One of the more chilling developments this year has been what appears to be new steps to use AI to weaponize large stolen datasets about individuals and spread targeted disinformation using text messages and encrypted messaging apps. We should all assume that, like the sophisticated attacks from Russia, this too will become a permanent part of the threat landscape.”
Beyond military and cyber applications, AI’s most profound impact may be on society itself. AI is set to reshape economies, with automation promising efficiency gains but also job displacement. The inequalities could stretch the societal fabric that AI is likely to exacerbate. Moreover, AI’s role in information dissemination and consumption has the potential to influence public opinion, with implications for democracy and governance. How nations adapt to these changes, manage the societal implications, and govern the use of AI will be crucial in determining their stability and prosperity.
Looking to the future, AI’s trajectory will intersect with every aspect of human life. In the geopolitical context, AI will determine a nation’s influence and status. Economically, AI will drive innovation and productivity, potentially widening the gap between the “AI-haves” and “AI have-nots.” Militarily, AI will redefine the principles of deterrence and defense, making the next war—if it comes—a battle of algorithms as much as armaments.
The interference of AI in traditional geopolitical dynamics cannot be overstated. It can potentially alter the balance of power by enabling smaller nations with advanced AI capabilities to punch above their weight. Regarding societal development, AI could either be a force for good, democratizing access to information and services, or it could deepen divides and erode privacy and individual freedoms. These concerns surrounding AI’s rise as a geopolitical lever necessitate a robust international governance framework. The world needs a set of rules to ensure that AI development is aligned with human values and global stability. This includes agreements on the militarization of AI, norms for cyber conduct, and frameworks to address the societal impacts of AI.
AI is the new fulcrum of geopolitical power. The United States and China, as the current frontrunners in AI, carry a particular responsibility to lead the way in establishing global norms. The choices we make now will determine whether AI becomes a tool for widespread benefit or a new vector for conflict and division. The future is not just being written in code; it is being coded with the power to transform our world.
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Lucy Shows Its Flyby Target Dinkinesh is Actually Binary Asteroid
Lucy Shows Its Flyby Target Dinkinesh is Actually Binary Asteroid
On November 1, NASA’s Lucy spacecraft flew by not just its first asteroid — the small main-belt asteroid (152830) Dinkinesh — but its first two. The first images returned by Lucy reveal that Dinkinesh is actually a binary asteroid.
This image, captured by the Lucy Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) onboard NASA’s Lucy spacecraft, shows the main-belt asteroid Dinkinesh and its moonlet. This image was taken at 12:55 p.m. EDT (16:55 UTC) on November 1, 2023, within a minute of closest approach, from a range of approximately 430 km (270 miles). Image credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center / SwRI / Johns Hopkins APL / NOIRLab.
Dinkinesh, also known as 1999 VD57, is a stony asteroid located in the main asteroid belt situated between Mars and Jupiter.
It was discovered by the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) survey on November 4, 1999.
It rotates with a period of 52.67 hours and varies in brightness with a light curve amplitude of 0.39 magnitudes.
“Dinkinesh really did live up to its name; this is marvelous,” said Lucy principal investigator Dr. Hal Levison, a researcher at the Southwest Research Institute, referring to the meaning of Dinkinesh (‘you are marvelous’) in Amharic.
“When Lucy was originally selected for flight, we planned to flyby seven asteroids. With the addition of Dinkinesh, two Trojan moons, and now this satellite, we’ve turned it up to 11.”
From a preliminary analysis of the first available images, Dr. Levison and colleagues estimate that the larger body is approximately 790 m (0.5 miles) at its widest, while the smaller is about 220 m (0.15 miles) in size.
This flyby of Dinkinesh primarily served as an in-flight test of the spacecraft, specifically focusing on testing the systems that allow Lucy to autonomously track an asteroid as it flies past at 16,000 km per hour (10,000 mph), referred to as the terminal tracking system.
“We have seen many asteroids up close, and one may think little is left to discover and surprise us. Well, that is clearly wrong,” said Lucy deputy principal investigator Dr. Simone Marchi, also from the Southwest Research Institute.
“Dinkinesh, and its enigmatic moonlet, differ in some interesting ways from the similarly sized near-Earth asteroids that have been seen by spacecraft like OSIRIS-REx and DART.”
“This is an awesome series of images,” said Tom Kennedy, Lucy’s guidance and navigation engineer at Lockheed Martin.
“They indicate that the terminal tracking system worked as intended, even when the universe presented us with a more difficult target than we expected.”
“It’s one thing to simulate, test, and practice. It’s another thing entirely to see it actually happen.”
While this encounter was carried out as an engineering test, the Lucy scientists are excitedly poring over the data to glean insights into the nature of small asteroids.
“Sharing the anticipation of viewing the first images with the team has been incredibly thrilling, as has been the lively discussion regarding the geology of these two remarkably small yet fascinatingly intriguing targets,” said Dr. Silvia Protopa, a researcher at the Southwest Research Institute.
“I am eagerly looking forward to unraveling the color variations across this binary system.”
“We knew this was going to be the smallest main belt asteroid ever seen up close,” said Lucy project scientist Dr. Keith Noll, a researcher at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center.
“The fact that it is two makes it even more exciting. In some ways these asteroids look similar to the near-Earth asteroid binary Didymos and Dimorphos that DART saw, but there are some really interesting differences that we will be investigating.”
The Lucy researchers will continue to downlink the remainder of the encounter data from the spacecraft over the next week.
They will use the data to evaluate Lucy’s behavior during the encounter and prepare for the next close-up look at an asteroid, the main-belt asteroid Donaldjohanson, in 2025.
Lucy will then be well prepared to observe the mission’s main targets, the Jupiter Trojan asteroids, starting in 2027.
Inside the weird and wonderful world of Robbie Williams and Ayda Field: How the former Take That star went from 90s hellraiser to new-age vegan UFO hunter… with the help of his wife
Inside the weird and wonderful world of Robbie Williams and Ayda Field: How the former Take That star went from 90s hellraiser to new-age vegan UFO hunter… with the help of his wife
Turkey teeth, botox, hunting for aliens, and having baths surrounded with scented candles. It's a world away from Robbie Williams's drug, drink and sex-fuelled days during Take That's hey'day in the 1990s.
Williams' hell-raising rock star life during which he bedded more than a hundred women and was drinking a bottle of vodka a day is well and truly behind him - and his wife of 13 years Ayda Field has played a huge part in him turning his life around.
The 49-year-old now describes himself as a 'Coca-Cola lite agoraphobic' and would rather eat a tangerine than have sex.
He shares pictures to his three million Instagram followers of himself indulging in a zen-like vegan lifestyle, playing with his four children and their doll house.
And, he talks about his back 'being full of arthritis' and having plastic surgery as his 50th birthday nears in February.
It's a life in stark contrast from the cocaine and vodka binges and several stints in rehab he had in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Robbie Williams, 49, and his American actress wife of 13 years Ayda Field, 44, who he credits with for saving his life
In its stark contrast to his hell-raising days of the late 1990s and early 2000s, when he openly admitted he battled with drugs and alcohol addiction
(Pictured in London in 1999)
The former Take That singer has candidly opened up about his darker days and mental health battles as he tried to cope with the enormous fame he experienced - with a four-part Netflix docu-series charting his roller-coaster career set to be released on November 8.
A year after he embarked on what would turn out to be a hugely successful solo career following his split from the boy band in 1995, he went on a six-day vodka and cocaine binge where he was vomiting 'black bile' and didn't sleep for 144 hours, believing he was 'indestructible'.
His drugs and alcohol battle was described by Williams as a 'fast track to death' and has seen him have several stints in rehab, including in 2007 after taking speed, acid, heroin, cocaine and 'heart-stopping' amounts of prescription drugs, reported The Sun.
Williams has previously revealed his ongoing battles with body dysphoria and anorexia, which he discusses in the Netflix series and how one time he was surviving on just one banana a day.
His love-life was just as frantic and saw him date a string of high-profile celebrities including Spice Girls Melanie C and Geri Horner, Lindsay Lohan, and All Saints' Nicole Appleton, while rumours swirled he bedded Kylie Minogue and Nicole Kidman.
Today, Williams' life has taken a complete turn and he has channelled his addictive personality into living a healthy lifestyle with his American actress wife Ayda, their four children - Teddy, Charlie, Coco, and Beau - through exercise, art, pickleball - and searching for aliens.
Gone are the days of drugs and alcohol, with the star, thought to have a net worth of £155 million, instead relaxing in soapy hot baths surrounding in lit candles and proud to be 23 years sober.
Williams pictured at the Nordoff Robbins Silver Clef Awards in London, in 1995. He split form Take That that year and 12 months later he went on a vodka and cocaine six-day binge where he was vomiting 'black bile'
The former Take That singer holds a bottle of Champagne in a car as he is spotted out and about in London in 1997
His drugs and alcohol battle was described by Williams as a 'fast track to death' and has seen him have several stints in rehab (Pictured in 1999 leaving the Hanover Grand nightclub, in London)
Williams' battles with addiction and mental health came during the height of his fame in the late 1990s and early 2000s (Pictured performing with Tom Jones at the Brit Awards in 2008)
Williams walks through Heathrow Airport with his face covered with a plastic mask of himself
His love-life was just as frantic and saw him date a string of high-profile celebrities including Spice Girls Melanie C and Geri Horner (pictured in 2000 St Tropez, France in 2000)
A weary-eyed Williams smokes a cigarette at the Quentin Tarantino Party at the Ministry of Sound in 1996
The Angels singer poses with bikini-clad models wearing black high heels in 1996 for a 7Up advert
He's turned to being vegan with his healthy meals being cooked up by a personal chef that are packed full of his five-a-day, while images on Instagram show him enjoying playing golf and boxing.
He has even rubbed shoulders with royalty having attended Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle, with his daughter, Teddy, a bridesmaid.
Asked what caused such a dramatic change, Williams often returns to the same answer: Ayda.
Appearing on the Jonathan Ross show in 2020, the Angels hitmaker got emotional as he credited her with saving his life.
'I look back at 15 years of being with my wife, she did, she gave me a life,' he said.
'Here I am on the telly getting emotional. She absolutely did.'
That same year he spoke candidly about his relationship with his wife during an appearance on Jessie and Lennie Ware's Table Manners podcast.
The singer admitted it makes him want to 'cry' when he talks about Ayda as he revealed he feels 'safe' with her and their 'mini tribe' of children.
He said: 'It's a very special thing to have. In a very turbulent, unsafe world, our mini tribe, you know that saying people say "nothing outside can affect you when inside is safe", and that's how I feel. Nothing out there can hurt me when I am with her.'
Today, Williams' life has taken a 360 degree turn and he has channelled his addictive personality into living a healthy lifestyle with his American actress wife Ayda and their four children
Williams, dressed in a black cape, and Ayda attend the Giambattista Valli show at the Haute Couture Fashion Week, Paris, in 2022
From left to right: Laura Dunn, Beau Dunn, Ayda Field, and Williams at a Pickleball Tournament in Los Angeles, California, in April 2023
The singer posts images of his healthier lifestyle to his three million followers on his Instagram page
As well as pickleball, Williams exercises with boxing. He once challenged Oasis frontman to a boxing match in 2000
Gone are the days of drugs and alcohol, with the star, thought to have a net worth of £155 million, instead relaxing in soapy hot baths surrounding in lit candles and proud to be 23 years sober
Williams plays with his children and their doll house at his home in one heartwarming post on his Instagram page
Perhaps one of the more bizarre episodes in recent years saw him live stream snippets of his wife's labour where he sings to her.
But constant reminders of his battles are never too far away. Ayda still locks away painkillers out of fear he could relapse.
He told the On The Edge podcast with Andrew Gold: 'Something's always lurking around the corner and I still can't be trusted with pills.
'The wife has to put them behind lock and key... They can be there for 18 months, every single day. Vicodin, whatever, every day, see them, go to bed.'
He admits it's lucky he's still alive, but nowadays Williams' life appears calmer, content, and settled.
In one recent Instagram post he wrote: 'Im not worried about the future. It's amazing Im still here …
'My memory being s***,my thoughts being cloudy, my back being full of arthritis, My eyesight going, My looks fading, the elasticity of my skin being f*****, the hair thinning….ect,ect,ect.
'Im still here ,were still here….Still, so much to do….'
His partying antics have taken a toll on his health, though, with Williams revealing in a recent interview with The Sun how they had left him feeling 'knackered'.
'The hair is thinning, the testosterone has left the building, the serotonin is not really here and the dopamine said goodbye a long time ago,' he said.
'I’ve used up all of the natural good stuff. I’ve got the manopause.'
So what does he want to celebrate his 50th? Apparently he's going to gift himself a £20,000 neck life and some 'Turkey teeth' with the star already having had botox.
As for what else is ahead in the future, Williams has previously spoken of his fascination with UFOs and that 'something is up' and wants to go on a 'TV quest' in search of finding out if there's anything behind his mental health.
He once lavishly rented out a plane used by rapper Snoop Dogg and asked journalist Jon Ronson to go UFO hunting with him and wanted the documentary-maker to set up a night for him to spend a night in a haunted house in the search for ghosts. He changed his mind on the latter.
Speaking on Alan Buxton's podcast in January, Williams told of how he spotted an 'penalty box-sized' unidentified flying object 16 years ago when he was completely sober.
'This was flat and it appeared over a tree. It was matt black underneath had yellow stripes like The Hacienda (London nightclub).
'I didn't think "little green men", I thought "there's a bit of tech we are not being told about". I thought it was the American government.'
He has even rubbed shoulders with royalty having attended Princess Eugenie's wedding to Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle, with his daughter, Teddy, a bridesmaid
Guys, I was exploring Google Earth when I found a long old ship off a small island called Wisteria island. The ship looks like it could be a US military ship that sunk during WWI or WWII, but could go back much earlier. According to Google ruler, it measures about 60 meters. ITs not a UFO, but I like to post things I discovery, things I think others may have interest in. I don't believe anyone has ever found this one or posted about it, so here it is. Someone is going to have some fun exploring this scuba diving.
Ex-Security Pro Drops SHOCKING Alaska UFO Footage! Must-See Revelation!
Ex-Security Pro Drops SHOCKING Alaska UFO Footage! Must-See Revelation!
In the vast, icy expanses ofAlaska, there’s a mystery that has been baffling locals and experts alike for decades. UFO sightings, while reported worldwide, seem particularly concentrated in one intriguing area of the state: the Alaska Triangle, with Mount Hayes right at its heart. But why is this remote region such a hotspot for unexplained aerial phenomena?
Mount Hayes: A Focal Point of the Unknown
At a towering 14,000 feet, Mount Hayes isn’t just another peak in the Alaskan range. It has drawn the attention of UFO investigators from around the globe. Few dare to scale its treacherous slopes, but it isn’t the peak that intrigues them—it’s what might lie beneath.
Former security officer Jared Augustine, while on patrol in 2016, captured puzzling video footage of a strange flashing light that split into three. This was just one of over 6,500 reported UFO sightings in Alaska. He stated, “There’s no satellite or aircraft that can divide into three like this. I believe it was a UFO of extraterrestrial origin.”
Alaskan Disappearances: A Pattern Emerges
The mysteries of Mount Hayes don’t stop at UFO sightings. Over 16,000 people have vanished within the confines of the Alaska Triangle. Could there be a connection? Is there a clandestine base hidden beneath Mount Hayes responsible for these strange occurrences? Many believers think so.
Charles Gaines, an electrician, shared an account from 2003 where he and his team witnessed an “armada” of UFOs while working on a remote wilderness lodge. They were “high, very fast, and seemed to defy the laws of physics,” he recalled.
Even eerier, a group of hikers in 1978 came across a sight that would haunt them for years: an indentation in the ground from a UFO landing, surrounded by the mutilated carcasses of various animals, including a 15-foot killer whale, hundreds of miles from any coast.
Secret Government Involvement?
What’s more captivating is the potential involvement of the U.S. government in these phenomena. There are whispers of a project named Stargate, initiated in the 1970s. Its aim? To employ psychics to spy, gathering intelligence on the Soviet Union, but potentially on these very extraterrestrial occurrences as well.
Historian Sasha Auerbach shares insights on Project Stargate, which involved the U.S. Army and the prestigious Stanford Research Institute. The project focused on individuals with psychic abilities, hinting at the U.S. government’s vested interest in matters well beyond our typical understanding.
VIDEO:
Former Security Officer Reveals Mysterious Alaska UFO Video | The Alaska Triangle
UFO sightings in Alaska, especially around Mount Hayes, beckon the curious, the brave, and those seeking answers. As we delve deeper into these mysteries, one can’t help but wonder: Are we truly alone? Or is there something, or someone, out there trying to make contact?
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft delivered an extra-special data package when it flew past asteroid Dinkinesh in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter on Wednesday.
Dinkinesh was a trial target for the mission’s terminal tracking system as it flies toward a collection of ancient asteroids near Jupiter called the Trojans. Up until Wednesday, Dinkinesh was considered the smallest asteroid in the main belt to ever get an up-close spacecraft visit. But Dinkinesh was usurped when a tiny moonlet appeared orbiting around it.
DINKINESH AND ITS MOONLET
Lucy principal investigator Hal Levison calls the finding “marvelous.” According to an announcement from NASA published Thursday, the team had some suspicions about a second rock. Dinkinesh changed brightness in the weeks prior to Lucy’s flyby, a hint that, as the spacecraft crept closer, a moonlet was creating noticeable shadows as it passed in front of the larger object.
NASA’s Lucy spacecraft took this image of asteroid Dinkinesh and its small satellite on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, with its Long-Range Reconnaissance Imager (L’LORRI) instrument.
The finding offers bonus science to what was otherwise a test-heavy rendezvous. Dinkinesh is interesting because of its location and diminutive size, at just half a mile across at its widest. The smaller asteroid is a measly 0.15 miles across, roughly the size of half a city block. In the coming weeks, Lucy’s team will download even more data from the encounter. And someday, this could add nuance to what’s already known about the main asteroid belt.
TESTING OUT LUCY’S ABILITY TO LOCK ONTO A TARGET
The goal of the game was to test out Lucy’s systems. When the spacecraft launched in 2021, Lucy was set to test its systems on another main belt asteroid, Donaldjohanson. Last year, the Lucy team realized the spacecraft would fly near Dinkinesh, so they rerouted to get really close. This second testing opportunity provides a more robust evaluation of how well the spacecraft can lock onto a target, a critical feature of the mission that will be doing all of its science while careening past the elusive Trojans at 15,000 miles per hour. }The Trojans are a strange lot. They orbit the Sun inside Jupiter’s orbit, just ahead and behind the gas giant as two grand swarms. Lucy will spend the great majority of its time flying through space, weaving through the inner Solar System, and getting just moments to take imagery and data on each one. Wednesday’s flyby is giving the team confidence that Lucy is prepped for what lies ahead for this decade.
Humans having sex with a now-extinct subspecies they met in Asia some 60,000 years ago could be the reason you have depression, a new study has claimed.
Researchers discovered a gene variant linked to the crossbreeding of humans and Denisovans which they believe affects our mood.
Those with the variant have lower levels of zinc in the body - a nutrient which studies increasingly show is associated with mood and happiness.
Scientists said SLC30A9 is the most widespread Denisovan gene discovered to date - starting in Asia and has spread to European and Native American populations.
Only recently with the advances in genomic sequencing has it been possible for scientists to trace modern human's DNA back to our ancient ancestors.
Researchers led by Barcelona's Pompeu Fabra University discovered a gene variant dwindling from the intermingling with an archaic human, Denisovans, involved in zinc regulation that releases lower amounts
The the mutation helped Denisovans cope with the cold, hostile climate that once ravaged Asia
The different branches of the human family tree have interbred and swapped genes — a processes known as 'introgression' — on numerous occasions.
Elena Bosch, IBE principal investigator and co-leader of the study, and her team identified an adaptive variant among current human populations in a region of our genome that bears remarkable similarity to the genome of an extinct ancestral population: the Denisovans.
'We discovered that this mutation surely had implications for the transport of zinc within the cell,' said Bosch.
Researchers did look into Neanderthal heritage but found the population was absent of the mutation.
Rubén Vicente, MELIS-UPF principal investigator, then joined the team to analyze intracellular zinc's movement.
'Elena contacted me because her team had observed a change in an amino acid in a zinc transporter, which was very different between the populations of Africa and Asia today, Vicente said.
'From there, we started asking ourselves questions and looking for answers.'
His laboratory identified that the observed variant causes a new zinc balance within the cell, promoting a change in metabolism.
This led them to find that the mutation helped Denisovans cope with the cold, hostile climate that once ravaged Asia.
Zinc transport is also involved in nervous system excitability and plays a role in people’s mental equilibrium and health.
The team points out that the variant found in this zinc transporter, which is expressed in all tissues of the body, is associated with a greater predisposition to suffering from some psychiatric diseases.
These include anorexia nervosa, hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia.
The Denisovans are thought to have been a sister species of the Neanderthals, who lived in western Asia and Europe at around the same time.
The two species appear to have separated from a common ancestor around 200,000 years ago, while they split from the modern human Homo sapien lineage around 600,000 years ago.
Bone and ivory beads found in the Denisova Cave were discovered in the same sediment layers as the Denisovan fossils, leading to suggestions they had sophisticated tools and jewellery.
The Denisovans are an extinct species of human that appear to have lived in Siberia and even down as far as southeast Asia.
Although remains of these mysterious early humans have only been discovered at one site - the Denisova Cave in the Altai Mountains in Siberia, DNA analysis has shown they were widespread.
DNA from these early humans has been found in the genomes of modern humans over a wide area of Asia, suggesting they once covered a vast range.
DNA analysis of a fragment of pinky finger bone in 2010, (pictured) which belonged to a young girl, revealed the Denisovans were a species related to, but different from, Neanderthals.
They are thought to have been a sister species of the Neanderthals, who lived in western Asia and Europe at around the same time.
The two species appear to have separated from a common ancestor around 200,000 years ago, while they split from the modern human Homo sapien lineage around 600,000 years ago.
Bone and ivory beads found in the Denisova Cave were discovered in the same sediment layers as the Denisovan fossils, leading to suggestions they had sophisticated tools and jewellery.
DNA analysis of a fragment of a fifth digit finger bone in 2010, which belonged to a young girl, revealed they were a species related to, but different from, Neanderthals.
Later genetic studies suggested that the ancient human species split away from the Neanderthals sometime between 470,000 and 190,000 years ago.
Anthropologists have since puzzled over whether the cave had been a temporary shelter for a group of these Denisovans or it had formed a more permanent settlement.
DNA from molar teeth belonging to two other individuals, one adult male and one young female, showed they died in the cave at least 65,000 years earlier.
Other tests have suggested the tooth of the young female could be as old as 170,000 years.
A third molar is thought to have belonged to an adult male who died around 7,500 years before the girl whose pinky was discovered.
NASA has released footage showing a massive 'canyon of fire' about twice the size of the US shooting out from the sun on Halloween day.
The feature was a tremendous explosion of radiation that measured 6,200 miles wide and 62,000 miles long - large enough for the American Space Agency's Perseverance rover to see it on Mars, which is 145.59 million miles away.
The plasma ravine was around double the size of the entire United States and 50 times longer than the largest-known crater in our solar system, the Red Planet's Valles Marineris.
The video shows thefilament slowing formingon the sun's southeastern limb and accelerating until it bursts, releasing electrified gas toward the ‘Earth-strike-zone.'
NASA has released footage showing a massive 'canyon of fire' about twice the size of the US shooting out from the sun on Halloween day
The culprit is sunspot AR3477, which released an M flare that can cause brief radio blackouts that affect Earth's polar regions.
However, EarthSky reports that the sunspot also released eight C flares in the last 24 hours.
On November 1, AR3477 shot an M1.2 flare that caused radio blackouts over the South Indian Ocean.
And the flare released last month could impact Earth on November 4.
NASA's probe, SDO, was recently named the fastest artificial object in history.
It was large enough for the American Space Agency's Perseverance rover to see it on Mars , which is 145.59 million miles away
The feature was a tremendous explosion of radiation that measured 6,200 miles wide and 62,000 miles long
The craft hit a record speed of 394,736 miles per hour (mph) last month, twice as fast as a bolt of lightning or 200 times the speed of a rifle bullet.
The achievement was made during its 17th sun swing on September 27, breaking its distance record by skimming just 4.51 million from the solar surface.
SDO launched on August 12, 2018, to study the sun.
In 2021, the probe uncovered the source in the sun, which produces solar energetic particles that threaten crewed spaceflight, near-Earth satellites and airplanes.
A team of US researchers analyzed the composition of particles that flew towards Earth in 2014 and found the same 'fingerprint' of plasma located low in the sun's chromosphere - its second-most outer layer.
The solar energetic particles are released from the sun at high speed during storms in its atmosphere.
The team behind the new study said the new information could be used to predict better when a major solar storm will hit and act faster to mitigate the risks.
EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon UFO chief Dr Sean Kirkpatrick will be REPLACED by end of the year as whistleblowers accuse him of lying to the public and ignoring witnesses
EXCLUSIVE: Pentagon UFO chief Dr Sean Kirkpatrick will be REPLACED by end of the year as whistleblowers accuse him of lying to the public and ignoring witnesses
A candidate 'short list' to replace Dr. Kirkpatrick at the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has been interviewed, an ex-official told DailyMail.com
New UFO whistleblowers, per one attorney, 'don't want to go to Sean's AARO'
'Really knowledgeable' UFO whistleblowers, 'people who've laid their hands on the equipment,' as the attorney told the DailyMail.com 'never did trust Sean'
The Pentagon's UFO chief will resign by year's end — amid a wave of complaints accusing him of making false statements about UFO whistleblowers and fostering an 'atmosphere of disinterest,' DailyMail.com understands.
'Four major candidates' have been interviewed to replace the current director of the Pentagon's UFO office, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, following months of heated public sparring between the former CIA physicist, UFO whistleblowers and activists.
The Pentagon appears to have already 'made the decision' on Kirkpatrick's unnamed successor, according to one former Pentagon official with past involvement in related UFO investigation programs, who spoke with the DailyMail.com.
'Given their public affairs track record,' this ex-official said, 'they may not put out anything to the press until well after the change, but who knows? They might surprise us.'
The personnel shift marks the culmination of months of accusations and counter-accusations traded between Kirkpatrick and former intel officer David Grusch, who has alleged widespread illegalities stemming from a long-secret UFO program.
This week, Grusch publicly accused Kirkpatrick of lying about his office's efforts to investigate these claims, which had been laid out by Grusch last July under oath before Congress.
Previously, Kirkpatrick had described Grusch's same testimony, made before the House Oversight committee, as 'insulting [...] to the officers of the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community.'
But fellow UFO whistleblowers working with Grusch, some past and present DoD and Intelligence Community officers themselves, reportedly 'don't trust and never did trust Sean,' according to an attorney aiding their efforts.
'Four major candidates' have been interviewed to replace the current director of the Pentagon UFO office, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick (above), following heated public sparring between the former CIA physicist and UFO whistleblowers, who sources say 'don't trust and never did trust Sean'
Air Force and intelligence agency veteran David Grusch (center) testified under oath before Congress this July alleging widespread illegalities stemming from a long-secret UFO 'crash retrieval' program. Flanking Grusch are two Navy pilots with knowledge of UFO incursions
While the precise reasons for his alleged departure remain murky, Dr. Kirkpatrick has faced vehement public criticism in recent weeks, from UFO enthusiasts and so-called 'disclosure' advocates seeking government transparency on UFOs and aliens.
A citizens' petition calling for Dr. Kirkpatrick's 'immediate removal,' hosted by Change.org, has garnered 1,739 signatures since its posting on October 22, 2023.
The petition's author, Lisa Fine, accused Kirkpatrick of operating 'a secret committee which directs the Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO)'s actions and public statements.'
'Dr. Kirkpatrick has repeatedly lied to the American people about a lack of evidence concerning UFOs/UAPs,' according to Fine, referencing the updated terminology for 'unidentified flying objects.'
In recent years, Pentagon brass, NASA experts and others have taken to calling what were once known as flying saucers 'unidentified anomalous phenomena' or UAP.
Grusch, a former Department of Defense official, first appeared on camera for NewsNation to tell his story of deeply covert US programs that he says possess 'intact and partially intact' craft of non-human origin
The petition's allegation that Dr. Kirkpatrick had assembled a secret advisory panel to run AARO, while still unproven, first emerged that same day via reporting by Matt Ford, host of 'The Good Trouble Show' YouTube channel, who had cited an anonymous source.
But the other recent accusations that Kirkpatrick has 'lied to the American people,' have come much more directly.
This Halloween, AARO hosted a conference call Q&A session between reporters and Dr. Kirkpatrick, in which the physicist fielded multiple questions about David Grusch and his allegations of a covert UFO crash retrieval and reverse engineering program.
On the call, Kirkpatrick told assembled media that he had interviewed 'a whole range of people, over 30 people now' in relation to the allegedly secret and illegal activity.
'I think we've interviewed most of the people that he [Grusch] may have talked to,' Kirkpatrick added, in reference to investigative work that Grusch reportedly performed while assisting AARO's predecessor, the Pentagon's UAP Task Force.
'We have extended an invitation at least four or five times now for him [Grusch] to come in over the last eight months or so,' Kirkpatrick told journalists on the call, 'and have been declined.'
But Grusch quickly accused Kirkpatrick of inventing these outreach efforts by his AARO team in their entirety.
'I have zero emails or calls from them,' Grusch told reporters for NewsNation the following day. 'That is a lie.'
Grusch accused Dr. Kirkpatrick of inventing outreach efforts by the Pentagon's AARO personnel, during a Halloween conference call with reporters earlier this week. 'I have zero emails or calls from them,' Grusch told reporters for NewsNation on Wednesday. 'That is a lie'
Similarly, one retired US Air Force Captain David Schindele, a former Minuteman ICBM launch control officer who reported his UFO encounter to AARO, said he felt that its personnel projected an 'atmosphere of disinterest.'
Schindele told viewers of Matt Ford's Good Trouble that Kirkpatrick and his AARO team were 'not people I want to talk to again.'
The Mail's former intelligence official — who has intimate knowledge of the military's ever-evolving UFO/UAP investigation portfolio — cautioned against drawing a direct line between these controversies and any plans for Kirkpatrick's departure, however.
'Sean has directly told folks he is leaving by the end of the year,' this former intelligence official told the DailyMail.com, under the condition of anonymity.
'I think it's completely a planned departure, he probably gave them a timeline when he took the job,' according to this source, citing geographical stress on Dr. Kirpatrick's family life.
'I am sure he's ready to go. I wouldn't read into it any more than that, honestly.'
The source added that he has heard AARO's first and current director would be moving on to a position with Oak Ridge National Laboratory — which briefly hosted the kernel of an apparent staff bio for Kirkpatrick before it mysteriously disappeared.
Veteran Australian TV news broadcaster and investigative reporter Ross Coulthart, who conducted the first televised interview with David Grusch, said that this staff bio 'requires explanation' in a series of posts to X (formerly Twitter).
'The AARO boss is presumably also investigating possible @Battelle links w crash retrieval/engineering programs,' Coulthart said, referencing military contractor UT–Battelle, which helps run the Oak Ridge lab on behalf of the Department of Energy.
Recent reporting by Daily Mail contributor Christopher Sharp and others has alleged that Battelle board member Stephanie O'Sullivan 'has knowledge of a UAP crash retrieval and reverse engineering program,' only to hide it from Senate investigators.
During her past years of government service, O'Sullivan was an associate deputy director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), following successes managing parts of the US spy agency's Directorate of Science and Technology.
Nevertheless, when reached for comment, Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough stated that, whatever his future plans may be, Dr. Kirkpatrick is not currently moonlighting for Battelle or ORNL in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Veteran Australian TV news broadcaster and investigative reporter Ross Coulthart, who conducted the first TV interview with David Grusch, said on social media that the apparent staff bio for Kirkpatrick at Oak Ridge National Laboratory's website 'requires explanation'
'Dr. Kirkpatrick remains the director, AARO,' Gough said. 'He is not currently employed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory'
'We have no AARO personnel announcements to make at this time,' she added.
Outside official channels, however, news of Kirkpatrick's planned departure have reached Daniel Sheehan, the Harvard-trained lawyer who represented past UFO whistleblower Luis Elizondo in his formal complaint to the DoD's Inspector General.
'He's out at the end of the year — and that's a big deal,' Sheehan told the DailyMail.com, adding that he understands 'four major candidates' are up for the job opening at the top of AARO.
When reached for comment, Pentagon spokesperson Susan Gough stated that Dr. Kirkpatrick (pictured above) 'remains the director, AARO' and is 'not currently employed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory'
Sheehan, whose history litigating progressive civil rights law cases dates back to the Vietnam War-era 'Pentagon Papers,' is now chief counsel, president and co-founder of the New Paradigm Institute.
The institute, a branch of the 501(C)(3) nonprofit Romero Institute, describes itself as dedicated to public policy advocacy on 'societal, environmental, and cosmic objectives,' which presumably includes UAP transparency.
Chris Mellon, a former official with the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and a passionate advocate for increased government diligence and transparency on the UAP issue, told the DailyMail.com that he too heard of similar developments at AARO.
'As to Sean, I've heard some of the same rumors,' Mellon wrote via email, 'but they're just rumors, I really don't know his plans.'
Earlier this summer, prior to Grusch's sworn Congressional testimony, Mellon told NewsNation's Chris Cuomo, 'I've been told that we have recovered technology that did not originate on this Earth, by officials in the Department of Defense and by former intelligence officials.'
Sources with similar firsthand testimony to give, have become even more skittish about delivering what they know to AARO, despite the office's new 'second phase' efforts to faithfully investigate hidden UFO crash retrieval programs.
'This phase of the reporting mechanism is for current or former US government employees, service members, or contractors with direct knowledge of alleged US government programs or activities related to UAP dating back to 1945,' Kirkpatrick told reporters this Halloween.
But with the future of AARO's leadership in limbo, Sheehan told the DailyMail.com that many trepidatious UFO whistleblowers have opted to deliver their testimony to the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, for now, instead.
Whistleblowers with knowledge of a classified UFO 'reverse engineering' program have opted to testify to the Senate intelligence committee, in part over their reported mistrust of Dr. Kirkpatrick and his Pentagon UFO office. Above, a page from Project 1794 declassified in 2012
Above, more documents from Project 1794: a Cold War-era US Air Force effort to build a supersonic flying saucer in collaboration with a Canadian defense contractor
US Customs and Border Patrol, the agency responsible for keeping terrorists and weapons out of the country, uploaded 10 videos that appear to show craft moving in strange ways in our skies. The videos document a fighter jet pursued by an apparently baffling flying orb, as well as something that appears to be a propeller-powered hang-glider, and another apparent orb hovering near a parked 16-wheeler truck
What they were doing is they were going straight through to the Senate Intelligence Committee,' Sheehan said.
'That's where the queue is forming of people who have real direct immediate knowledge — and Dave Grusch is in communication with these people, and our people are in communication with these people.'
'We know that they don't want to go into into Sean's AARO group until it's resolved as to who is going to take his place,' Sheehan emphasized.
'None of the whistleblowers want to go in there, because they don't view it as stable or safe.'
The former intelligence official, who confirmed word of Dr. Kirkpatrick's departure, weighed in with the opinion that 'the public push back from Dave [Grusch] was probably unexpected.'
Despite a long summer of contradictory timelines detailed by both Grusch and Dr. Kirkpatrick, in other words, the official suspects that AARO likely did not expect to have its director called a liar in public.
Among other inconsistencies, Grusch testified under oath before Congress this July that his last personal interaction with Dr. Kirkpatrick occurred in 2022.
'Him and I had a classified conversation in April 2022 before he took over AARO in July 2022,' Grusch told Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, under oath during the hearing.
Grusch added that he had provided Dr. Kirkpatrick with 'some concerns' he had, related to national security issues relevant to AARO's UAP mandate.
But, during AARO's Halloween conference call on Tuesday, Kirkpatrick asserted that the two had not spoken in nearly five years.
Camera-like object nestled within a groove on a Mars rock
Camera-like object nestled within a groove on a Mars rock
A recent image captured by the NASA Perseverance rover and shared by Neville Thompson on his Gigapan page reveals a prominent rock formation. Upon closer inspection, an intriguing detail emerges just to the left of the rock - a distinct, black, and shiny rectangular object resembling what looks like a camera nestled within a groove on the rock's surface.
The placement of this seemingly artificial object starkly contrasts with the natural surroundings prompts questions about its origin and purpose.
As it seems odd and unlikely that NASA put the object within the rock's groove, it raises the possibility of an unknown entity that placed the camera-like object to observe the Martian environment or eventually the NASA Perseverance rover.
Adding to the mystery, another unusual feature in the same image captures attention - a strange looking rock depicting a bird-like head apparently placed on top of other rocks. However, the most striking anomaly is a round circle (which could be an eye) engraved in the rock, displaying no signs of natural formation.
The presence of both objects suggests the potential presence of current or past life of a civilization on Mars.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:Ruins, strange artifacts on other planets, moons, ed ( Fr, EN, NL )
Diamond UAP Over Buffalo Ridge, Arizona 10-14-2023, UFO Sighting News.
Diamond UAP Over Buffalo Ridge, Arizona 10-14-2023, UFO Sighting News.
Date of sighting: 10-14-2023
Location of sighting: Buffalo Ridge, Arizona, USA Source: MUFON
Wow, check this UFO out. I really had to watch this video many times close up to truly see that this is not a sphere or disk, but actually diamond shaped. It's not often you get to see a craft like this one and without using infrared cameras too. This object was flying over the desert and probably came from the mountains in the area. It's just a lucky chance that this person went outside at the exact moment the UAP was passing and caught sight of it. This video shows us its shape, size (1 meter), its speed about 5mph and its hight from the ground. Excellent raw footage, and it's similar to many of the UAP videos the gov recently released.
Scott C. Waring
Eyewitness states:
I was sitting in my backyard in a cold plunge. I noticed to my west a strange object appear. I jumped out to grab camera and film. I thought I lost object but it appeared again to the North East. I filmed object in middle of my yard but than had difficulty finding it on camera on phone so I observed. The object then gained altitude and disappeared out of my vision.
The universe is so vast, it is unlikely that we are alone.
The universe is so vast, it is near impossible that alien life will ever physically reach us.
UFOs have always turned out to be celestial objects, airborne clutter, and even ground-bound objects.
The government task forces set to examine UFO reports lack the relevant expertise.
Part I of a Series
The UFO Movie They Don’t Want You to Seeis not just a movie, it’s a documentary that utilizes and even teaches critical thinking. It might as well have been called “A Logical Take on UFOs.” Skeptic, and the host of the Skeptoid podcast, Brian Dunning has exposed the truth behind over 900 urban myths, legends, and fantastic stories. It’s a master class on how to engage a logical take. Thus a logical review of Dunning’s new movie is essential.
We Are Not Alone
First, the movie presents a pretty compelling case that we are not alone in the universe. The universe is just too large, there are just too many planets and stars, and the conditions that make life possible are just too common, relatively speaking.* Life very likely exists, if not elsewhere in our galaxy, then elsewhere in the universe. At the same time, however, the same thing that makes alien life so likely—the vastness of the universe—makes it exceedingly unlikely that it will ever visit us. The distances are just too great, and the speed of light (the fastest anything can move) too slow, for life that evolved elsewhere to ever visit us in person. Interestingly, Dunning argues that some alien life likely already does know about us (or will soon); our planet teems with evidence of our existence. He also thinks that we (via a telescope) will likely detect evidence of life on another distant planet soon (within the century maybe). But physical visitation, by advanced biological alien beings, in advanced craft, near or on Earth, is almost statistically impossible.
What Are UFOs?
Why, then, are there so many UFO sightings? If they aren’t aliens, what are they? Dunning points out that there is good data on this: huge collections of UFO reports and what they turned out to be. In all of history, every time a UFO sighting has been verifiable (and not just an unverifiable incredible story, fuzzy video, or blurry photo), it has always, without exception, turned out to be one of three things:
A (misidentified) celestial object (for example, planet, meteor, satellite, rocket, Star Link launch)
A (misidentified) piece of airborne clutter (for example, weather balloons, planes, blimps, birds)
A (misidentified) object on the ground (for example, lighthouses, radio tower lights, grounded objects that look airborne from a plane window because of visual illusions)
Although the data proves this, Dunning goes on to illustrate his point by explaining four of the most famous UFO stories and videos of all time—evidence that believers have claimed to be the most rock-solid proof of alien visitation: The Rendlesham Forest incident, the Ariel School incident, the 1967 Malstorm AFB incident, Jimmy Carter’s UFO sighting, and the Gimel, Go Fast, Tic Tac, and Green Triangles videos. In each case, the explanation falls into one of the three above categories; it is beyond any reasonable doubt, in each case, that nothing extraordinary happened. What’s more, in each case, some illusion, trick of perception, or fault of memory is at play. The explanation was not, and never has been an extraordinary craft—for example, an alien craft, or one vastly beyond our current technology.
Want to prove yourself right? Try to prove yourself wrong
That’s not to say that it could never be, but Dunning rightly points out that a claim that a UFO is an extraordinary craft is an extraordinary claim—and extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. And when one wants to prove an extraordinary claim, with extraordinary evidence, one must try to falsify the extraordinary claim; you must consider and rule out all the non-extraordinary explanations.
This is one of the most basic rules of both scientific and critical thinking. Because anyone can find some evidence for anything, if you want to prove yourself right, but try to do only that, you inevitably will—even if what you believe is blatantly false. If you want to actually prove yourself right, you must try to prove yourself wrong; only if you honestly try to do that and fail, will you actually have good reason to believe that you are right. This is how scientists protect themselves against self-deception; they'll even invite others to try to prove them wrong.
What the UAP Task Force Needs, But Is Lacking
This brings me to the overarching conclusion of the documentary: the government’s Unidentified Arial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) is not actually up to its stated task. He shows a government official describing the experts that the UAP Task Force has brought on board: academics like physicists and metallurgists. Although that sounds impressive, these are the kinds of experts you would only need if a UFO turned out to be a spectacular craft (that was recovered). But since in the entire history of UFO sightings this has never happened, the task force is stacked with the experts that it is least likely to need.
What it needs is experts who can rule out the, historically and statistically, most likely explanations: celestial bodies, airborne clutter, and ground-bound objects. You need a host of (observational) astronomers, experienced personnel who are experts at looking at the sky and identifying what is in it. You need UFO skeptics,** who have spent their lives falsifying claims that UFOs are aliens; critical thinkers who know all the trip-ups that lead people to faulty conclusions. And you need NTSB air crash investigators—mainly because they know best what kind of illusions and faulty perceptions lead pilots, and the rest of us, astray. The task force doesn't seem to have them.
In Part II of this series: The possible criticism of the documentary.
Notes:
To be fair, most of the universe is inhospitable to life. However, the conditions that led to life on Earth are not unique to Earth. As Dunning puts it, “Those same conditions have been happening on rocky planets throughout the universe since the beginning of time.”
UFO enthusiasts, Dunning observes, won’t like this; they’ll claim the presence of skeptics will bias the conclusions. But a true quest for knowledge always invites skepticism; that viewpoint must be represented. Again, to prove something true, one must honestly try but fail to prove it false.
Astronomers have long suspected that the Moon formed roughly 4.5 billion years ago when a hefty planet-in-the-making called Theia collided with a young Earth. Now, researchers have found evidence that massive blobs deep within Earth are actually relics from long-lost Theia. If true, other planets may also be filled with parts of their ancient foes.
Scientists call Theia’s strike the Giant Impact. This was probably the last major event during Earth’s accretion phase when it was growing larger and regularly getting bombarded by space material. The Giant Impact is time zero on the clock for Earth and the Moon. This is why Qian Yuan, a geodynamicist at the California Institute of Technology who is interested in what makes some planets friendly to life, led a team of researchers to look into this ancient phase.
“So far, Earth is still the only habitable planet, but we do not know why Earth is habitable and others are not. As a modeler, I believe that the initial condition is crucially important, and it is widely believed that the Moon's formation set the initial condition of Earth,” Yuan tells Inverse.
The Giant Impact would have infused parts of Theia’s mantle into Earth’s mantle.
HONGPING DENG, HANGZHOU SPHERE STUDIO, CHINA
The middle layer of our planet, called the mantle, is an important part of the habitability question. It’s intrinsic to the carbon cycle, for instance, which is required to form complex molecules like proteins and DNA. Carbon is continually exchanged between the ocean’s surface waters and the atmosphere and can also be released in grand displays like volcanic eruptions. Sitting atop the mantle is the crust, which has evolved over time from supercontinents to the seven land masses where you find humans and many other terrestrial creatures living today.
Just below the mantle, there’s Earth’s outer liquid core. This powers the magnetic field that cocoons our planet from cosmic radiation that would pose a threat to life. Two blobs near the boundary between the mantle and the outer core, some 2,900 km below the surface, maybe Theia relics, according to simulations run by the team of astronomers. They published their findings on Wednesday in the journal Nature.
A previous study, published in Nature in 2016, showed these two continent-sized anomalies at the base of the mantle via seismic images. To create these images, seismologists use waves generated from earthquakes, which have traveled through the center of Earth, Edward Garnero, a geophysicist at Arizona State University, who was the lead author of the 2016 Nature study and a co-author of the new work, tells Inverse.
“In a similar way to ultrasound or MRI machines, we study recordings of the waves after they have traveled through structures or reflected off of them to identify anomalies. In this way, ‘pictures’ of the interior are computed, just like X-ray images,” Garnero says.
Another study, published in the journal Geochemistry in 2019, suggests that Theia’s collision would not have mixed ancient isotopes effectively due to its “hit-and-run” or “merger” nature.
Qian Yuan and team’s simulation. This shows the 24 hours following Theia’s impact.
In the new study, researchers simulated how the mantle would have sloshed about over the last 4.5 billion years and what the cataclysmic 24 hours looked like after the Giant Impact.
Theia was a protoplanet, so its abundance of material would have separated into layers. Theia also had a mantle, and the simulation work shows that Theia’s mantle material (TMM) could have sunk into Earth’s own mantle after the Giant Impact. The “mostly molten” TMM may have later solidified and sunk down to Earth’s lowermost mantle, the study says. Other work, like a study published in Nature in 2012, suggests that some ancient accreted material, which predates the 4.5 billion year benchmark that usually serves as the start of Earth’s clock, may have survived the convection of Earth’s mantle.
Some of this material may have been what Theia captured from the protoplanetary disk, the dusty puff where the entire Solar System originated.
On the left: Theia’s impact with Earth 4.5 billion years ago. On the right, a modern understanding of the two blobs Theia left behind.
HERNÁN CAÑELLAS
Yuan is still researching these relics, looking into the subsequent influences of the deep Theia blobs on the tectonic evolution of Earth's surface. And by doing so, aims to tie the epic past to the modern day.
Supernatural being 'Shapeshifter' caught on security camera in Mexico
Supernatural being 'Shapeshifter' caught on security camera in Mexico
A weird incident captured on a security camera in Mexico has raised eyebrows, depicting a mysterious transformation from an animal to a human-like figure. The peculiar event supposedly took place in a Nava residence's garage and was shared onTikTok.
In the video, a man is seen cleaning chairs while his dog roams around. Suddenly, the dog becomes fixated on the garage door, where a dark, four-legged shaped entity seemingly materializes. Upon investigating, the form appears to shrink and morph into an entirely different entity.
Despite the unclear nature of the sighting, the man appears visibly disturbed and hurries inside through a side door. During his absence, the creature undergoes a transformation into what resembles a person, who then departs.
Upon the man's return with his wife, the mysterious entity has vanished.
The paranormal event has sparked speculation, with some suggesting the being might be a shapeshifter called a nahual.
While tales of shapeshifters, beings who have the ability to physically transform themselves through unnatural means, are commonly disregarded as myths, one might ponder the thin line between myth and potential firsthand encounters with supernatural entities.
Location of sighting: Arkansas, USA (city known) Source: MUFON
Date on cam says 2022, but is not set correctly is actually 2023. This looks like an alien drone, possibly a single craft that breaks into 6 observing the deer. I believe this UAP breaks apart to scan a larger area then unites before returning to the mothership. Very rare and unique UFO body style.
Scott C. Waring
Eyewitness states:
We collected our game camera chip and found 36 shots of 6 vertical lights that seemed to be observing a deer. I videoed the pictures from my computer which I am sending you.
Alien Crash SURVIVOR Works With the Government (Special)
Alien Crash SURVIVOR Works With the Government (Special)
The Intriguing Tale of J-Rod: Area 51’s Alleged Alien Collaborator
The vast deserts of Nevada hide more than just tumbleweeds and cacti. Deep within this barren terrain lies a story so fascinating, it’s almost hard to believe. Area 51, one of America’s most mysterious military installations, is rumored to have had a unique resident, one not of this world.
The Mystery Begins: The 1953 Kingman UFO Crash
On May 19th, 1953, just as dawn broke over Nevada, a nuclear test was conducted under the code name “upshot knole.” Moments after the blast, witnesses reported seeing a disc-shaped object rapidly descending from the sky. This UFO was said to have headed towards Las Vegas before disappearing into the mountains.
Only two days later, a team of 40 engineers was discreetly summoned to Kingman, Arizona, about 175 miles from the nuclear test site. Their mission? Investigate the crash of an unidentified flying object. By the time they arrived under the cover of night, military personnel had already secured the crash site, revealing a 40-foot diameter disc-shaped craft that looked remarkably undamaged. Alongside the craft were four beings, leading to a myriad of questions.
From Kingman to Area 51: The Secret Transfer
The craft and its otherworldly occupants were transported to Groom Lake, better known today as Area 51. Situated deep within a ring of mountains in the Nevada desert, Area 51 was, at that time, a sparse establishment. It was the isolation of this facility, surrounded by miles of uninhabited desert, that made it the perfect location to study the intriguing findings of the Kingman crash.
J-Rod: The Alien Whistleblower
Among the beings found at the crash site, one, in particular, stood out — an entity later known as “J-Rod.” This extraterrestrial being was not only a survivor of the Kingman crash but, astonishingly, collaborated with the U.S. government for several years.
Captain Bill U house, a former Navy pilot and later an experimental tester for the U.S. Air Force, claimed to have had direct contact with J-Rod. Describing their interaction, U house recounted that J-Rod communicated much like humans, offering invaluable engineering and scientific advice.
Dan Beish, another whistleblower, asserted his role as a microbiologist responsible for ensuring J-Rod’s well-being. According to both U house and Beish, J-Rod resided in a special underground chamber at Area 51. Over the years, multiple other sources have hinted at the possibility of extraterrestrials collaborating with the U.S. government.
Video:
Ancient Aliens: Alien Crash SURVIVOR Works With the Government (Special)
While the secrecy surrounding Area 51 makes it difficult to ascertain the entire truth, the narrative of J-Rod provides an enthralling glimpse into the potential interstellar connections the U.S. might have fostered. Whether folklore or reality, the story of J-Rod and Area 51 continues to captivate our imaginations, reminding us of the mysteries the universe holds.
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- Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen) Categorie:ALIEN LIFE, UFO- CRASHES, ABDUCTIONS, MEN IN BLACK, ed ( FR. , NL; E )
UFO Sightings: Pentagon’s New Portal Encourages Whistleblowers and Government Insiders
UFO Sightings: Pentagon’s New Portal Encourages Whistleblowers and Government Insiders
In a world buzzing with tales of mysterious lights and unidentified aircraft, the Pentagon is stepping into the limelight with an unexpected initiative. If you’ve ever Googled “UFO sightings” out of pure curiosity or genuine belief, this latest move by the U.S. government will undoubtedly pique your interest.
UFO sightings have long captured the imagination of enthusiasts and skeptics alike. From grainy videos on YouTube to firsthand accounts from pilots, the mystery surrounding unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) remains largely unsolved. Now, in a groundbreaking move, the Pentagon is extending an invitation to those in the know.
Pentagon’s UAP Reporting Website:
Late last October, amidst swirling speculations and decades of reported sightings, the Pentagon unveiled its official UFO reporting platform (link: https://www.aaro.mil/AARO-Reporting-Information/). Designed for U.S. government insiders, the website seeks to gather reliable information regarding UAP encounters and any covert programs related to them.
A Special Call for Whistleblowers:
Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, spearheading the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), emphasized the platform’s focus. “We strongly encourage any current or former U.S. government employees, military or civilian, or contractors with firsthand UAP knowledge to come forward,” he stated. This intriguing call-out places an emphasis on the importance of credible sources, suggesting that the government is keen on sifting fact from fiction.
Privacy, Confidentiality, and Accountability:
The AARO assures that all reports will remain confidential. However, in an age where misinformation can spread like wildfire, the Pentagon is taking no chances. A stern warning accompanies the reporting form, reminding users of the severe consequences of falsifying information. With potential repercussions like imprisonment or termination of federal service, the message is clear: only genuine, verifiable information is welcome.
A Spotlight on Whistleblower David Grusch:
Among the many names associated with UFO sightings, David Grusch stands out. Claiming intimate knowledge of hidden government UFO projects, Grusch has caught the attention of UAP enthusiasts worldwide. Kirkpatrick, however, offered a fresh perspective. Despite multiple outreach attempts, Grusch has yet to discuss his claims with the AARO. Yet, the very mention of Grusch’s name indicates the Pentagon’s proactive approach in seeking the truth.
Deciphering the Mysteries of the Sky:
Beyond seeking whistleblower accounts, the AARO is diligently working to distinguish genuine UAP sightings from identifiable objects. Efforts are underway to understand how common objects appear on military equipment sensors, aiming to minimize misidentifications. Kirkpatrick explained, “We want to reduce the number of UAP reports that are merely balloons or drones.”
Why Trust the AARO?
In an age of skepticism, trust is hard-earned. So, why should insiders confide in the AARO? Kirkpatrick’s answer is straightforward: “It’s in law that we are the authorized reporting authority.” Coupled with the Whistleblower Act’s protection and the promise of anonymity, the AARO seems poised to become a pivotal entity in the world of UFO sightings.
Conclusion:
As tales of mysterious lights continue to fill the skies and online forums, the Pentagon’s initiative is a beacon for those seeking answers. With a focus on veracity and a commitment to uncovering the truth, this new portal may just hold the key to some of the world’s most enigmatic mysteries.
“The truth is out there; but, the establishment exists to destroy it. What is the point of seeking truth when truth is annihilated in the efforts to find it?”
– Suzy Kassem
The skies have always held mysteries, and it seems the Pentagon is now actively joining the quest to decode them.
Has the mystery of how the moon formed finally been solved? Our lunar satellite was propelled into orbit IMMEDIATELY after a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized planet 4.5 billion years ago, study claims
Has the mystery of how the moon formed finally been solved? Our lunar satellite was propelled into orbit IMMEDIATELY after a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized planet 4.5 billion years ago, study claims
Scientists suspect moon was created when a planet called Theia struck Earth
But the nature of collision and what happened after has been subject to debate
Some believe collision created debris which coalesced into the moon over time
In a new study, researchers ran the most detailed supercomputer simulations yet
Findings suggest the moon was placed into orbit around Earth immediately
It's a question that has puzzled scientists for hundreds of years – how exactly did our moon form?
Since the 1970s, astronomers have suspected that the moon was created when a giant protoplanet called Theia struck Earth.
However, the nature of this collision and what happened immediately after has been subject to debate.
Some scientists believe that the collision created a vast cloud of debris, which coalesced into the moon over time.
However, in a new study, researchers from the University of Durham claim that the giant impact immediately placed the moon into orbit around Earth.
Vincent Eke, co-author of the study, said: 'This formation route could help explain the similarity in isotopic composition between the lunar rocks returned by the Apollo astronauts and Earth's mantle.
'There may also be observable consequences for the thickness of the lunar crust, which would allow us to pin down further the type of collision that took place.'
In a new study, researchers from the University of Durham claim that the giant impact immediately placed the moon into orbit around Earth (artist's impression pictured)
The Moon theories
Astronomers have long suspected that the moon was created when a giant protoplanet called Theia struck the newly formed Earth - a theory first put forward in the 1970s.
It says the huge collision created a vast cloud of debris, which coalesced into the moon.
However, until now, astronomers have not been able to explain how this left the moon and Earth chemically identical.
Later, two hypotheses arose that could explain why the moon is Earth's chemical clone, but they predict radically different masses for Theia.
In one scenario, two half-Earths merged to form the Earth-moon system.
But the second hypothesis suggests Theia was a small, high-velocity projectile that smacked into a large and fast-spinning young Earth.
About 4.45 billion years ago, 150 million years after the solar system formed, Earth was hit by a Mars-sized object called Theia.
The collision created the moon, but debate has raged about exactly what happened during this event - and the question of why the moon and Earth are so similar in their composition has remained a mystery.
In the study, the researchers set out to explain the Moon's origin story once and for all.
The team used the SWIFT open-source simulation code, run on the DiRAC Memory Intensive service ('COSMA'), to create the most detailed supercomputer simulations yet.
This allowed them to simulate hundreds of different impacts, varying the angle and speed of the collision as well as the masses and spins of the two colliding bodies.
While previous studies have used lower-resolution simulations, the extra computational power revealed important new aspects.
For example, only the high-resolution simulations produced the Moon-like satellite, and the extra detail showed how its outer layers were richer in material originating from Earth.
If much of the Moon formed immediately following the giant impact, this could mean that less material became molten during formation than previously thought, according to the researchers.
Depending on how this molten rock solidified, these theories should predict different internal structures for the Moon.
The researchers suggest that the moon formed following a giant impact between Earth and a Mars-sized planet
The computer simulations indicate that the collision formed the moon almost immediately, and went straight into orbit around Earth
Jacob Kegerreis, who led the study, said: 'This opens up a whole new range of possible starting places for the Moon's evolution'
The simulations also revealed that even when a satellite passes so close to the Earth that it might be expected to be torn apart by tidal forces from Earth's gravity, the satellite can not only survive, but also be pushed into a wider, safer orbit.
Jacob Kegerreis, who led the study, said: 'This opens up a whole new range of possible starting places for the Moon's evolution.
'We went into this project not knowing exactly what the outcomes of these very high-resolution simulations would be.
So, on top of the big eye-opener that standard resolutions can give you wrong answers, it was extra exciting that the new results could include a tantalisingly Moon-like satellite in orbit.'
The researchers hope the findings will encourage further research into the Moon's composition and internal structure.
'The many upcoming lunar missions should reveal new clues about what kind of giant impact led to the Moon, which in turn will tell us about the history of Earth itself,' the team concluded.
About 4.45 billion years ago, 150 million years after the solar system formed, Earth was hit by a Mars-size object called Theia.
The collision created the moon, but debate has raged exactly what happened during this event - and a mystery has persisted on why the moon and Earth are so similar in their composition.
The impact of Theia with Earth was so violent, the resulting debris cloud mixed thoroughly before settling down and forming the moon.
This cloud would have been composed of some Earth material, explaining the similarity between Earth and the moon, and other material.
The colliding body is sometimes called Theia, after the mythical Greek Titan who was the mother of Selene, the goddess of the Moon.
But one mystery has persisted, revealed by rocks the Apollo astronauts brought back from the moon - why are the moon and Earth so similar in their composition?
Several different theories have emerged over the years to explain the similar fingerprints of Earth and the moon.
Perhaps the impact created a huge cloud of debris that mixed thoroughly with the Earth and then later condensed to form the moon.
Or Theia could have, coincidentally, been isotopically similar to young Earth.
A third possibility is that the moon formed from Earthen materials, rather than from Theia, although this would have been a very unusual type of impact.
A giant collision between the ancient protoplanet Theia and the proto-Earth about 4.5 billion years ago may have formed Earth’s Moon as well as two continent-sized regions — formally known as large low-velocity provinces — within Earth’s mantle, according to a research team led by Caltech scientists.
Yuan et al. suggest that LLVPs are remnants of the ancient protoplanet Theia that violently collided with Earth billions of years ago in the same giant impact that created our Moon.
Image credit: Hernán Cañellas.
In the 1980s, scientists discovered two continent-sized blobs of unusual material deep near the center of the Earth: one beneath the African continent and one beneath the Pacific Ocean.
Each blob is twice the size of the Moon and likely composed of different proportions of elements than the mantle surrounding it.
Where did these strange blobs — formally known as large low-velocity provinces (LLVPs) — come from?
“Terrestrial planet formation concludes with a number of giant impacts among Moon- and Mars-sized planetary embryos,” said Caltech researcher Qian Yuan and colleagues.
“The well-studied giant-impact scenario involves a protoplanet, Theia, colliding with proto-Earth.”
In the study, the authors used computer simulations to propose an explanation for LLVPs.
The material in these regions has been suggested to be between 2.0 and 3.5% denser than the surrounding mantle.
The simulations show that LLVPs may represent buried relics of Theia mantle material that was preserved in proto-Earth’s mantle after the Moon-forming giant impact.
These Theia relics are proposed to have been tens of kilometers across, and the authors suggest that they sunk to the lower region of the mantle and accumulated to form dense blobs above the Earth’s core.
“A logical consequence of the idea that the LLVPs are remnants of Theia is that they are very ancient,” said Dr. Paul Asimow, also of Caltech.
“It makes sense, therefore, to investigate next what consequences they had for Earth’s earliest evolution, such as the onset of subduction before conditions were suitable for modern-style plate tectonics, the formation of the first continents, and the origin of the very oldest surviving terrestrial minerals.”
“Our findings challenge the traditional notion that the giant impact led to the homogenization of the early Earth,” said Professor Hongping Deng, a researcher at the Shanghai Astronomical Observatory.
“Instead, the Moon-forming giant impact appears to be the origin of the early mantle’s heterogeneity and marks the starting point for the Earth’s geological evolution over the course of 4.5 billion years.”
“The Moon appears to have materials within it representative of both the pre-impact Earth and Theia, but it was thought that any remnants of Theia in the Earth would have been ‘erased’ and homogenized by billions of years of dynamics (e.g., mantle convection) within the Earth,” said Arizona State University’s Professor Steven Desch.
“This is the first study to make the case that distinct ‘pieces’ of Theia still reside within the Earth, at its core-mantle boundary.”
“It appears that Earth’s blobs are remnants of a planetary collision that formed our Moon,” said Arizona State University’s Professor Ed Garnero.
“In other words, the massive blobs currently inside Earth, deep beneath our feet, are extraterrestrial. Earth not only has ‘blobs,’ Earth has extraterrestrial blobs!”
“Through precise analysis of a wider range of rock samples, combined with more refined giant impact models and Earth evolution models, we can infer the material composition and orbital dynamics of the primordial Earth, Gaia, and Theia,” Dr. Yuan said.
An illustration of Earth's layers. The mantle is in bright red.
Shutterstock
“This allows us to constrain the entire history of the formation of the inner Solar System.”
“This research even provides inspiration for understanding the formation and habitability of exoplanets beyond our Solar System,” Professor Deng said.
In the quaint town of Hove, England, 2008, the eerie silence of the night was pierced by an incident that might sound like the stuff of science fiction but was claimed as a lived experience by 20-year-old Charmaine D’Rozario-Saytch. This experience raises thought-provoking questions about our world and our place in the universe.
Charmaine’s story begins like any other night, with her deep in sleep, nestled comfortably in her bed. But as the night progressed, she encountered what she describes as a chilling sight – a reptilian humanoid figure looming over her. This wasn’t a figment of her imagination nor a dream. It was her reality.
She recounts being led to an underground cave, surrounded by a group of these reptilian beings. What followed was an extraordinary transformation. Charmaine claims she underwent a physical metamorphosis, watching in bewilderment and astonishment as her smooth skin turned to scales, and she grew a tail, changing from a human into a reptilian form. The very essence of her human identity seemingly altered in those moments.
But the story doesn’t end here. Charmaine asserts that her abductors revealed a startling piece of information: humans might be the result of extraterrestrial genetic manipulation. Not all, but specific groups, throughout our history, have been visited and genetically altered by different extraterrestrial races. If this assertion holds any weight, it leads us to wonder, are we truly alone in this vast universe?
Linda Moulton Howe, a noted investigator in the realm of unexplained phenomena, believes the presence of these alien entities might be tied to territorial conflicts among different extraterrestrial civilizations. These conflicts might have repercussions that impact not just these advanced beings but also the very life they’ve supposedly created or manipulated.
Video:
Woman Abducted by Reptilian Alien (Season 14) | Ancient Aliens | The UnXplained Zone
The very nature of these stories and theories challenges our preconceived notions about religion and ancient prophecies. Ancient texts from various religious traditions speak of divine figures returning to Earth. Could these be misinterpretations or signs pointing towards the return of extraterrestrial entities? Giorgio Tsoukalos, a prominent figure in the study of ancient astronauts, posits that these promises of return might not be of divine nature, but extraterrestrial.
As we stand at the cusp of possibly one of the most transformative eras in human history, the question that looms large is whether we’re prepared for the potential revelation of our cosmic neighbors. Will they emerge from the shadows, or are they just figments of our collective imaginations, fueled by our innate desire to not be alone in this vast expanse of the universe?
Deze verbeterde afbeelding van Jupiters maan Ganymedes werd verkregen door de JunoCam-imager aan boord van NASA’s Juno-ruimtevaartuig tijdens de vlucht van de missie op 7 juni 2021 langs de ijzige maan. Gegevens van deze pas werden gebruikt om de aanwezigheid van zouten en organische materialen op Ganymedes te detecteren.
Gegevens verzameld door NASAJuno’s missie suggereert dat het zoute verleden mogelijk aan de oppervlakte komt JupiterDe grootste maan.
NASA’s Juno-missie ontdekte minerale zouten en organische verbindingen op het oppervlak van Jupiters maan Ganymede. Gegevens voor deze ontdekking werden verzameld door de Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) spectrometer aan boord van het ruimtevaartuig tijdens een vlucht langs de ijzige maan. De resultaten, die wetenschappers zouden kunnen helpen de oorsprong van Ganymede en de samenstelling van zijn diepe oceanen beter te begrijpen, werden op 30 oktober in het tijdschrift gepubliceerd. Natuur astronomie.
Ganymedes, groter dan de planeet Mercurius, is de grootste manen van Jupiter en is lange tijd van groot belang geweest voor wetenschappers vanwege de enorme binnenoceaan van water verborgen onder de ijskoude korst. Eerdere spectroscopische waarnemingen door NASA’s Galileo-ruimtevaartuig, de Hubble-ruimtetelescoop en de Very Large Telescope van het European Southern Observatory hebben de aanwezigheid van zouten en organische materialen aangetoond, maar de ruimtelijke resolutie van die waarnemingen was te laag om vast te stellen.
Op 7 juni 2021 kwam NASA’s Juno-ruimtevaartuig dichter bij Jupiters met ijs bedekte maan Ganymede dan enig ruimtevaartuig in meer dan twintig jaar. Minder dan een dag later maakte Juno zijn 34ste scheervlucht langs Jupiter. Deze animatie biedt een ‘ruimtevaartuigkapitein’-weergave van elke vlucht. Voor beide werelden werden JunoCam-beelden orthografisch geprojecteerd op een digitale bol en gebruikt om vluchtanimaties te maken. Er zijn kunstmatige frames toegevoegd om benaderings- en vertrekbeelden van zowel Ganymede als Jupiter te bieden. Krediet: NASA/Laboratorium voor straalaandrijving-California Institute of Technology/SwRI/MSSS
Juno’s nauwe benadering en de resultaten ervan
Op 7 juni 2021 vloog Juno over Ganymede (zie video hierboven) op een hoogte van minstens 650 mijl (1.046 kilometer). Kort na het tijdstip van de dichtste nadering maakte het JIRAM-instrument infraroodbeelden en infraroodspectra (in wezen chemische vingerafdrukken van materialen, gebaseerd op de manier waarop ze licht reflecteren) van het oppervlak van de maan. JIRAM, gebouwd door de Italiaanse ruimtevaartorganisatie Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, is ontworpen om infrarood licht (onzichtbaar voor het blote oog) op te vangen dat diep uit Jupiter komt, om de weerlaag te onderzoeken tot een diepte van 30 tot 45 mijl (50 tot 70 mijl). kilometer) hieronder. Gasreuzenwolken. Maar het instrument is ook gebruikt om inzicht te geven in de topografie van de manen Io, Europa, Ganymede en Callisto (gezamenlijk bekend als Satelliet). Manen van Galilea Voor hun ontdekker Galileo).
Verwerkte gegevens van de Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) spectrometer aan boord van NASA’s Juno-missie worden over een mozaïek van optische beelden van de Galileo- en Voyager-ruimtevaartuigen van het agentschap heen gelegd die het gegroefde terrein op Jupiters maan Ganymede tonen.
Afbeelding tegoed: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ASI/INAF/JIRAM/Brown University
Ontdek andere Joviaanse werelden
Eerdere modellen van het magnetische veld van Ganymedes hebben vastgesteld dat het equatoriale gebied van de maan, tot ongeveer 40 graden noorderbreedte, beschermd is tegen energetische elektronen- en zware ionenbombardementen veroorzaakt door Het helse magnetische veld van Jupiter. Het is bekend dat de aanwezigheid van deze deeltjesstromen een negatieve invloed heeft op zouten en organisch materiaal.
Tijdens de vlucht van juni 2021 besloeg JIRAM een smal bereik van breedtegraden (10°N tot 30°N) en een groter bereik van lengtegraden (35°O tot 40°O) op het naar Jupiter gerichte halfrond.
“We vonden de grootste overvloed aan zouten en organische materialen in Donker en helder terrein “Op breedtegraden waar het magnetische veld beschermt”, zegt hoofdonderzoeker Scott Bolton van de Juno-missie van het Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. “Dit suggereert dat we de overblijfselen zien van een diepe oceaanpekel die de oppervlakte van deze bevroren wereld heeft bereikt.”
Verwerkte gegevens van de Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) spectrometer aan boord van NASA's Juno-missie worden over een mozaïek van optische beelden van de Galileo- en Voyager-ruimtevaartuigen van het agentschap heen gelegd die gegroefd terrein op Jupiters maan Ganymede tonen. NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ASI/INAF/JIRAM/Brown University
Ganymedes is niet de enige ondergrondse wereld waar Juno doorheen ging. De maan Europa, waarvan men denkt dat deze een oceaan onder zijn ijskoude korst heeft, kwam ook onder de aandacht van Juno, eerst in oktober 2021 (zie afbeelding hierboven) en vervolgens in september 2022. En nu krijgt Io de flyby-behandeling. De volgende nadering van deze met vulkanen gevulde wereld is gepland voor 30 december, wanneer het ruimtevaartuig een bereik zal bereiken van binnen 932 mijl (1.500 kilometer) van het oppervlak van Io.
Referentie:
“Zouten en organische stoffen op het oppervlak van Ganymede gecontroleerd door de JIRAM-spectrometer aan boord van Juno” door Federico Tosi, Alessandro Mora, Alessandra Cofano, Francesca Zambon, Christopher R. Glenn, Mauro Ciarniello, Jonathan I. Lunin, Giuseppe Piccione, Cristina Bellacci, Roberto Sordini, Alberto Adriani, Scott J. Bolton, Candace J. Hansen, Tom A. Nordheim, Alessandro Moirano, Livio Agostini, Francesca Altieri, Sean M. Brooks, Andrea Cicchetti, Bianca Maria Dinelli, Davide Grassi, Alessandra Migliorini, Maria Luisa Morricone, Raffaella Nochesi, Pietro Scarica, Giuseppe Sindoni, Stefania Stefani en Diego Torini, 30 oktober , 2023, Natuur astronomie. doi: 10.1038/s41550-023-02107-5
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), een divisie van het California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Californië, beheert de Juno-missie voor hoofdonderzoeker Scott Bolton van het Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Juno maakt deel uit van NASA’s New Frontiers Program, dat wordt beheerd in het Marshall Space Flight Center van NASA in Huntsville, Alabama, voor het Science Mission Directorate van het agentschap in Washington. De Italiaanse ruimtevaartorganisatie (ASI) financierde de Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver bouwde en exploiteert het ruimtevaartuig.
In een nieuwe verkenning heeft Juno, een sonde van de NASA, een belangrijke ontdekking gedaan door mineralen en organische verbindingen op het oppervlak van de grootste maan van Jupiter en de grootste in ons zonnestelsel, Ganymedes, te observeren.
Deze gegevens werden verzameld tijdens een scheervlucht van de sonde dicht bij de bevroren maan en onthulden de aanwezigheid van ammoniumzouten, gehydrateerd natriumchloride, natriumbicarbonaat en mogelijke alifatische aldehyden, wat suggereert dat Ganymedes deze materialen tijdens zijn vorming heeft kunnen accumuleren. Deze ontdekking biedt waardevolle inzichten in de oorsprong van de maan en de samenstelling van zijn diepe oceaan.
Informatie verzameld door Juno onthulde ook dat gebieden beschermd door het magnetische veld van Jupiter de hoogste concentraties van zouten en organische verbindingen vertoonden. Deze bevinding draagt bij aan het begrip van de processen die Ganymedes in de loop van de tijd hebben gevormd en aan mogelijke oceanische omgevingen op andere hemellichamen.
Ganymedes is de grootste maan van Jupiter en staat bekend om het herbergen van een intern oceaan onder zijn bevroren korst, wat het tot een interessant onderzoeksobject maakt voor wetenschappers.
Study: Asteroid Impact-Generated Dust Played Key Role in Dinosaur-Killing Mass Extinction
Asteroid Impact-Generated Dust Played Key Role in Dinosaur-Killing Mass Extinction
About 66 million years ago, a massive asteroid crashed into Earth near the site of the small town of Chicxulub in what is now Mexico. The impact eradicated roughly 75% of the animal and plant species on Earth, including whole groups like non-avian dinosaurs and ammonites. Fine silicate dust from pulverized rock generated by the impact played a dominant role in global climate cooling and the disruption of photosynthesis following the event, according to new research.
This painting depicts an asteroid slamming into tropical, shallow seas of the sulfur-rich Yucatan Peninsula in what is today southeast Mexico. The aftermath of this immense asteroid collision, which occurred approximately 65 million years ago, is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and many other species on Earth. Shown in this painting are pterodactyls, flying reptiles with wingspans of up to 50 feet, gliding above low tropical clouds.
Image credit: Donald E. Davis / NASA.
The Chicxulub impact has long been thought to have triggered a global winter 66 million years ago, which led to the demise of the dinosaurs and around 75% of species on Earth.
However, what effect the various types of debris ejected from the crater had on the climate is debated, and exactly what caused the mass extinction remains unclear.
Previous research has suggested that sulfur released during the impact and soot from post-impact wildfires constituted the main drivers of an impact winter, but the size of silicate dust particles ejected into the atmosphere has not been considered to be a major contributor.
“The Chicxulub asteroid impact event 66 million years ago showcases a unique opportunity to examine the rate, magnitude and mechanisms of extreme and abrupt climate change in Earth’s history,” said Dr. Cem Berk Senel, a researcher at the Royal Observatory of Belgium and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, and his colleagues.
“The 45-60° inclined impact of a 10- to 15-km-sized carbonaceous chondrite on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico triggered a chain reaction of events ultimately responsible for the end-Cretaceous mass extinction and the demise of 75% of species, including the iconic non-avian dinosaurs.”
“Yet the climatic consequences of the various debris injected into the atmosphere following the Chicxulub impact remain unclear, and the exact killing mechanisms of the mass extinction remain poorly constrained.”
To evaluate the roles of sulfur, soot and silicate dust on the post-impact climate, Dr. Senel and co-authors produced paleoclimate simulations based on an analysis of fine-grained material emplaced at a well-preserved impact deposit from a site in North Dakota, the United States.
They found that the size distribution of silicate debris (approximately 0.8-8 micrometers) revealed a larger contribution of fine dust than previously appreciated.
They inputted the measured size distribution into a climate model and estimated that such fine dust could have remained in the atmosphere for up to 15 years after the event, contributing to global cooling the Earth’s surface by as much as 15 degrees Celsius.
They suggest that dust-induced changes in solar radiation may also have shut down photosynthesis for almost two years post-impact.
“Our simulations of the atmospheric injection of such a plume of micrometer-sized silicate dust suggest a long atmospheric lifetime of 15 years, contributing to a global-average surface temperature falling by as much as 15 degrees Celsius,” the authors said.
“Simulated changes in photosynthetic active solar radiation support a dust-induced photosynthetic shut-down for almost 2 years post-impact.”
“We suggest that, together with additional cooling contributions from soot and sulfur, this is consistent with the catastrophic collapse of primary productivity in the aftermath of the Chicxulub impact.”
The results appear in the journal Nature Geoscience.
C.B. Senel et al. Chicxulub impact winter sustained by fine silicate dust. Nat. Geosci, published online October 30, 2023; doi: 10.1038/s41561-023-01290-4
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Over mijzelf
Ik ben Pieter, en gebruik soms ook wel de schuilnaam Peter2011.
Ik ben een man en woon in Linter (België) en mijn beroep is Ik ben op rust..
Ik ben geboren op 18/10/1950 en ben nu dus 73 jaar jong.
Mijn hobby's zijn: Ufologie en andere esoterische onderwerpen.
Op deze blog vind je onder artikels, werk van mezelf. Mijn dank gaat ook naar André, Ingrid, Oliver, Paul, Vincent, Georges Filer en MUFON voor de bijdragen voor de verschillende categorieën...
Veel leesplezier en geef je mening over deze blog.
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