The man in the moon! NASA's Artemis II crew photograph a smiley face in the Orientale basin - so, can you see it?

• READ MORE: Most dangerous part of NASA's Artemis II mission is yet to come

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

NASA's Artemis II astronauts have snapped a photo of a huge crater on the dark side of the moon – but viewers can only see one thing. 

'The Artemis II crew captured this image showing the rings of the Orientale basin during their lunar flyby on April 6,' NASA explained on X.

'At the 10 o'clock position of the Orientale basin, the two smaller craters – which the Artemis II crew has suggested be named Integrity & Carroll – are visible.'

After posting the photo to X, NASA has been inundated with replies from fans who claim the Orientale Basin resembles a smiley face. 

'Cute like a hippo,' one user replied, alongside a zoomed in photo of the basin. 

Another added: 'A smile from the moon it is.'

And one joked: 'It appears highly probably that this is Doraemon,' in reference to the Japanese manga character.

To the left of the smiley face, you'll also see Carroll - a 'bright spot' on the moon that the Artemis II crew have asked to be named after commander Reid Wiseman's late wife, Carroll.

NASA's Artemis II astronauts have snapped a photo of a huge crater on the dark side of the moon – but viewers can only see one thin

After posting the photo to X, NASA has been inundated with replies from fans who claim the Orientale Basin resembles a smiley face

The stunning image was released just hours after NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, became the first people to travel around the far side of the moon in over 50 years.

During their six–hour lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew reached a distance of more than 252,756 miles (406,771km) from Earth, surpassing the distance achieved by the Apollo missions and setting a new record.

In doing so, they became the first humans in half a decade to witness the far side of the moon with the naked eye.

From their position 41,072 miles (66,098km) above the lunar surface, the moon appeared about as large as a basketball held at arm's length.

Whether it's on the moon or in toast, we often see faces in inanimate objects thanks to a phenomenon called face pareidolia.

This is a form of apophenia, when people see patterns in random, unconnected data.

There have been multiple occasions when people have claimed to see religious images and themes in unexpected places. 

On the Red Planet, one of the most famous is the 'face on Mars' spotted by one of the Viking orbiters in 1976.

One viewer joked: 'It appears highly probably that this is Doraemon,' in reference to the Japanese manga character'

What is face pareidolia?

This was later proven to just be a chance alignment of shifting sand dunes. 

Replies include zoomed-in images of the bottom right of the original photo, with many highlighting the smiling contours.

Having passed the moon, the Orion crew capsule will now ride the tug of Earth's gravity back home over the coming days, with splashdown expected on Friday.

Their final ordeal will be a blazing re–entry into the planet's atmosphere, as the capsule hits the atmosphere at around 25,000 miles per hour (40,200 km/h) before deploying its parachutes and landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Thankfully, the latest weather predictions suggest that Artemis II will have favourable conditions for reentry.

According to AccuWeather, the southern coast of California will see winds of only seven to 14 miles per hour (11 to 22 km/h) and waves no larger than five feet.

John Feerick, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, says: 'Mission controllers and recovery crews at sea will be watching conditions closely up to splashdown. 

'NASA says there can be no rain or thunderstorms within 30 nautical miles of the recovery site. 

'Waves should be under six feet, and winds need to stay below 25 knots for the recovery boats.'

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NATIONS OF THE WORLD UNITED STATES 262 CANADA 18 UNITED KINGDOM 13 AUSTRALIA 12 FRANCE 4 BRAZIL 3 GERMANY 3 MEXICO 3 SPAIN 3 CZECH REPUBLIC 2 RUSSIAN FEDERATION 2 ARGENTINA 2 NEW ZEALAND 1 CHINA 1 UKRAINE 1 AUSTRIA 1 ETHIOPIA 1 PALESTINIAN TERRITORY 1 URUGUAY 1 ISRAEL 1 CYPRUS 1 NETHERLANDS 1 BANGLADESH 1 PUERTO RICO 1 CHILE 1 LUXEMBOURG 1 TAIWAN 1   TOTAL: 342 SHAPE Sphere 55 Circle 38 Triangle 31 Unknown 29 Star-like 26 Other 22 Oval 13 Disc 13 Cigar 9 Tic Tac 9 N/A 8 Cylinder 8 Flash 7 Fireball 7 Boomerang 6 Diamond 5 Egg 3 Square/Rectangular 3 Cone 2 Teardrop 2 Saturn-like 2 Bullet/Missile 1 Chevron 1 STATES OF THE U.S.A. California 37 Texas 21 Florida 16 Arizona 12 Pennsylvania 12 New York 11 Ohio 10 Washington 10 Colorado 8 North Carolina 8 Illinois 7 Indiana 7 Minnesota 7 Missouri 7 Michigan 6 Alabama 6 Arkansas 5 Wisconsin 5 Georgia 5 Oregon 5 South Carolina 4 Tennessee 4 Louisiana 4 Oklahoma 4 New Mexico 3 Iowa 3 Kentucky 3 Virginia 3 Maine 3 Idaho 3 Massachusetts 2 Wyoming 2 Kansas 2 Utah 2 Vermont 2 Nevada 2 Maryland 2 West Virginia 2 New Jersey 1 Delaware 1 Montana 1 Nebraska 1 Alaska 1 Hawaii 1 New Hampshire 1 DISTANCE < 100 ft 45 101-500 ft 34 501 ft - 1 Mile 56 Over 1 Mile 56 Unknown 43 NO VALUE 23 ERT Most impressively there were 11 Landings, Hovering, or Takeoffs reported, and 30 Entities observed.

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Evidence of weapon that turns enemies to stone, found on Mars, UFO UAP Paranormal Sighting News.

Date of discovery: April 7, 2026

Location of discovery: Mars Sol 4856

Photo source: 

• https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/multimedia/raw-images/?order=sol+desc%2Cinstrument_sort+asc%2Csample_type_sort+asc%2C+date_taken+desc&per_page=50&page=4&mission=msl

KGB document in CIA files: 

• https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/DOC_0005517761.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com

I believe I found evidence that aliens used their biological built in body weapon to turn an enemy to stone on Mars. It's in the NASA photo right there! See the head, neck, two arms and legs where it was standing against the wall? Now, combine that with the KGB document called "Siberian soldiers turned to stone," and you understand that some alien species has the ability to turn any species that threatens it to stone using energy from the alien body itself. A built in genetic self defense mechanism...that leaves bodies of stone to put fear into enemies every time they look at the stone bodies. 

Let's sum up the document fast for you all. 

Soviet troops allegedly shot down a UFO over Siberia. Five small aliens emerged from the wreck. The beings reportedly merged into a single glowing sphere. The sphere emitted a burst of energy 23 soldiers were instantly “turned to stone.” Only two survived because they were partially shielded

 

So, you get it. Have a look at the figure I found on Mars thats is evidence of such an attack. Mars...was the place of a great battlefield, a battle that ended in extinction. 

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily

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NASA's Artemis II crew might be living out a real–life sci–fi blockbuster, but the daring astronauts are also big fans of on–screen space adventures.

In an adorable moment, NASA's Mission Control quoted Project Hail Mary while speaking to the Artemis II crew.

The crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – is currently making the 250,000–mile (402,300 km) journey home after a successful lunar flyby.

As Commander Reid Wiseman described the incredible view of the lunar surface, Mission Control playfully responded: 'Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!'

For those who haven't seen the film, that is the catchphrase of 'Rocky', the friendly alien encountered by scientist Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Reynolds.

On social media, both film and space fans have flocked to share their excitement over the unexpected movie reference.

One commenter wrote: 'When the NASA team is using a catchphrase from a science–fiction film, that's priceless!'

Another simply added: 'This brings me so much joy.'

In an adorable moment, NASA's Mission Control quoted from Project Hail Mary while speaking to the Artemis II crew

The surprising exchange came as the Artemis II crew made their six–hour lunar flyby, passing around the far side of the moon 41,072 miles (66,098 km) above the lunar surface.

The Orion crew capsule reached a staggering 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth, surpassing the distance achieved by the Apollo missions and setting a new record.

As they made the record–breaking journey, the astronauts took turns to radio back to Ground Control and describe what they were seeing.

Mr Wiseman told NASA: 'We just realised we have Earth at window four and the Moon at window three, and it gives you the best idea of scale we have had yet.

'The Moon is about three to four times the size of the Earth, and it is almost full, and the Earth is just a small crescent out there. It's magnificent – I got a picture of it with the wide lens. Such a majestic view out here.'

This prompted the Ground Control team to respond: 'Amaze! Amaze! Amaze! Thank you, Reid.'

NASA and the Artemis II crew are well known to be big fans of the film and original book by Andy Weir.

The crew even watched a special screening of the movie alongside their families while waiting in quarantine before launch.

As Commander Reid Wiseman described the incredible view of the lunar surface, Mission Control playfully responded: 'Amaze! Amaze! Amaze!' This is the catchphrase of 'Rocky' (pictured), the friendly alien encountered by scientist Ryland Grace, played by Ryan Reynolds

This exchange came as the Orion crew capsule made their lunar flyby, passing around the far side of the moon 41,072 miles (66,098 km) above the lunar surface

Speaking during an event organised by the Canadian Space Agency, Jeremy Hansen said that the film helped the crew with 'getting us ready to go on our own space adventure'.

'Art imitates science and vice versa,' said Mr Hansen.

'I thought it was just such an inspirational example – somebody who goes out there and just gets what was done to save humanity. It's a pretty extraordinary example that we can all follow.'

Earlier this year, Ryan Gosling and the team behind Project Hail Mary even visited NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to discuss the connection between science and filmmaking.

On social media, fans have gushed over NASA's nod to a beloved character.

One commenter wrote: 'I love how this movie/story is now forever connected to this historical event!'

'That rocky quote paired with Artemis II's view is NASA flexing pure cosmic poetry,' one commenter added.

While another chimed in: 'This makes me a lot happier than it should.'

The Artemis II crew are well–known fans of the film Project Hail Mary, having seen an exclusive screening during the quarantine before launch 

Earlier this year, Ryan Gosling (middle) and the team behind Project Hail Mary even visited NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to discuss the connection between science and filmmaking

This exchange came shortly before the Orion crew capsule entered a planned communications blackout, as the bulk of the moon briefly blocked out radio signals.

The 'loss of signal' began at 6.43 pm ET, and connection was restored after about 40 minutes of nerve–wracking silence.

Artemis II has now begun to transmit back the first pictures taken of the moon's far side during that blackout.

Read More

• NASA's Artemis II astronauts' first message as they fly by the moon: 'We will always choose Earth' 

These include a stunning photograph titled 'Earthset', which was taken from the far side of the moon and shows the Earth dipping beyond the lunar horizon.

This is a nod to Earthrise – the famous photo captured by NASA's Apollo 8 mission more than 50 years ago.

Having passed the moon, the Orion crew capsule will now ride the tug of Earth's gravity back home over the coming days, with splashdown expected on Friday.

Their final ordeal will be a blazing re–entry into the planet's atmosphere, as the capsule hits the atmosphere at around 25,000 miles per hour (40,200 km/h) before deploying its parachutes and landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Artemis II: Key facts

Launch date: April 1

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

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

Mission duration: 10 days 

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

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

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

Crew: 

* Commander Reid Wiseman

* Pilot Victor Glover

* Mission Specialist Christina Koch

* Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen

Mission Stages:

 1. Launch from Kennedy Space Centre Launch Pad 39B

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

3. Burn to raise apogee using the Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

4. Detach from Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and perform translunar injection

5. Fly to the moon over four days

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

7. Return to Earth over four days

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

9. Splashdown in the Pacific Ocean  

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Revealed: The 10 things you DIDN'T see in NASA's new 'Earthset' photo - including Australia, a hidden reference to the Apollo missions, and a decade-old camera

• READ MORE: Artemis II crew begin the four–day return to Earth

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Among the stunning photos from NASA's Artemis II crew, the spectacular 'Earthset' image stands out as the most jaw–dropping.

This image shows the bright blue Earth setting over the lunar surface as the bulk of the moon eclipses our home planet.

The Artemis II crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – captured the photo as they began their six–hour lunar flyby.

While it looks as if the Earth is setting, this effect is actually caused by the Orion crew capsule drifting over the moon's far side out of the view of Earth.

As the capsule drifted around the moon, the four astronauts took turns photographing the lunar surface, sketching, and recording audio descriptions of what they saw.

Many of the features they witnessed had not been seen by human eyes since the last Apollo mission half a decade prior.

The Earthset image reveals swirling clouds over Oceania and Australia, the peaks of ancient craters, and the wreckage of meteor impacts.

Here are 10 things that you might not have known about NASA's new 'Earthset' photo.

This image, titled 'Earthset', was taken from the far side of the moon and shows the Earth dipping beyond the lunar horizon. Here are 10 things you might not have spotted 

The Artemis II crew trained to spot and photograph important regions of the moon. During their six–hour flyby, they took over 10,000 images. Pictured: Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen practices photographing the moon

1. Taken on an £800 commercial camera 

While you might expect NASA to use the latest cutting–edge cameras, this image was actually captured using a decade–old piece of equipment.

According to NASA's Flickr post, this incredible image was captured using a Nikon D5.

This is a commercially available DSLR launched in 2016 that was quite poorly reviewed upon launch.

However, the camera's rugged construction, reliable mechanisms, and extremely high light sensitivity make it perfectly suited to space photography.

And, while it cost over £5,000 when first released, you can now pick up one of these high–end cameras for a little over £800.

2. A nod to the Apollo missions

The Artemis II Earthset image is actually a nod back to NASA's earliest moon missions, mirroring the iconic 'Earthrise' photo.

The Earthset image is a nod to the iconic 'Earthrise' photo taken by NASA astronaut Bill Anders during the Apollo 8 mission in 1968

This earlier image, showing a distant Earth rising over the moon's horizon, was taken by the crew of the Apollo 8 mission.

In 1968, Apollo 8 became the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth's gravitational influence and the first time that humans had reached the moon.

Just like the Artemis II mission, the crew of Apollo 8 travelled around the moon and back to Earth, paving the way for future lunar landings.

During their trip, Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders managed to snap an image of the Earth just as their craft emerged from behind the moon.

However, Apollo 8 had a much easier time getting this stunning shot since they orbited the moon 10 times before returning home, while Artemis II only had one opportunity.

3. Taken from a record–breaking distance

The Earthset photo was taken while the Artemis II crew made its record–breaking lunar flyby.

The Orion crew capsule travelled at a height of 41,072 miles (66,098 km) above the lunar surface.

The image of the Earth setting behind the moon was taken just three minutes before the Orion crew capsule lost connection to Mission Control during a planned radio blackout

From this distance, the moon looked about as large as a basketball held at arm's length, so the crew had to use zoom lenses to capture this unique photo.

This flyby also carried the crew to a staggering 252,756 miles (406,771 km) from Earth.

This surpassed the distance achieved by the Apollo missions, meaning the crew of Artemis II reached the furthest from Earth any human has ever been.

4. Lucky timing - three minutes before Orion slipped behind the moon

This photo was taken at 18:41 EDT (23:41 BST) on Monday, April 6.

This was only three minutes before the Orion crew capsule slipped behind the bulk of the moon, entering a planned communications blackout.

With the moon blocking any radio signals from Earth, the astronauts continued along their pre–programmed flight path without real–time guidance from Mission Control, relying entirely on onboard systems.

After 40 minutes of nerve–wracking silence, Christina Koch reestablished contact with Earth and confirmed that all was well.

From this unique perspective, the daytime side of the Earth appears as a thin crescent silhouetted against the blackness of space. What these pictures don't show is that only 20 per cent of the moon was illuminated at this time

This meant that the stunning image captured by the Artemis II crew could only be sent back to Earth after they had passed all the way around the moon.

5. A crescent Earth alongside a crescent moon

In the image, you can see that the Earth is covered by a curved shadow, with half the planet experiencing day and the other half night.

What is harder to see in this image is that the Artemis II crew were also seeing a crescent moon.

As they passed around the moon's far side, only 20 per cent of the lunar surface was illuminated by the sun.

This meant that large parts of the moon were still hidden from view and extremely difficult for the astronauts to observe.

6. The 38–mile–wide Ohm crater

Without any atmosphere to protect it, the moon is constantly battered by a bombardment of meteor impacts.

In the Earthset image, you can see the Ohm crater (pictured). This is a 38–mile–wide (62 km) depression formed by an ancient meteorite impact

This is a massive boon for geologists since, without any wind to erode them, these craters record a detailed history of the moon's evolution.

In the Earthrise image, you can see the 38–mile–wide (62 km) Ohm crater.

This crater features distinctive terraced edges and a central peak, formed by a meteor impact that melted the surface, causing it to splash and rebound.

The image is so clear that you can even make out the system of 'ray' impacts stretching out from the Ohm crater.

These rays are straight lines of smaller craters, created by enormous chunks of moon rock shot out over the surface by the original impact.

7. Earth's smooth horizon contrasted with the moon's bumpy horizon

In this image, you can see the smooth, clean edge of the Earth's horizon silhouetted against the darkness of space.

By contrast, if you look closely, you can see that the moon's horizon is bumpy, jagged, and irregular.

What you are seeing here is actually the rims of thousands of craters that pockmark the far side of the moon more densely than the near side.

These range from small, simple impact craters no more than six to nine miles (10 to 15 km) in diameter, to vast basins over 186 miles (300 km) across formed by catastrophic collisions.

Seen from the low angle of the Orion crew capsule, these overlapping depressions give the moon's horizon a distinctive serrated appearance.

8. A view of Australia and Oceania

As well as giving a wonderful view of the moon, this photo also offers a fantastic perspective on our own planet.

In the daylight portion of Earth, you can see swirling clouds of Australia and Oceania.

9. Earth lit up thanks to its clouds and oceans

It might be surprising that the Earth appears to be so much brighter than the moon, even though the crew were much closer to the lunar surface.

This is because the Earth reflects a lot more light than the moon does, bouncing back about three times more sunlight.

The majority of that light is reflected by clouds and oceans, which the moon lacks, making the Earth seem far brighter in comparison.

10. Earthset is just one of thousands of photos

While the Earthset photo is certainly impressive, it is actually just one of the more than 10,000 photos taken by the Artemis II crew.

Working in shifts and using 17 different handheld cameras, the crew worked to gather as much detail as possible about the moon's far side.

During their training, each member of the team was specifically trained to identify and photograph specific lunar features such as craters and patches of cooled lava.

These images will reveal details that satellite cameras might have missed in stunning levels of detail.

That will help scientists build better maps of the lunar surface and gain a greater understanding of lunar geology.

With NASA planning to establish a permanent lunar outpost by 2030, this information could prove extremely valuable in the coming years.

During their lunar flyby, the Artemis II crew were even able to observe several features that had never before been seen by humans.

This included the vast Mare Orientale basin, a 577-mile-wide (930 km) impact basin in the Moon's southern hemisphere.

Because this crater is so large, previous Apollo missions weren't able to see the structure in its entirety from their low lunar orbit.

Additionally, the Artemis II crew spotted a number of new craters formed by meteors that had hit the lunar surface since the end of the Apollo programme.

Christina Koch told the NASA control room: 'All the really bright, new craters, some of them are super tiny, most of them are pretty small, there's a couple that really stand out, obviously, and what it really looks like is a lampshade with tiny pinprick holes and the light shining through.'

Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen made a special request to NASA mission control to name two of these new craters that they had 'observed, both with our naked eye and with our long lens'.

The first he asked to name Integrity, after the name the astronauts have given to their Orion crew capsule, and the other Carroll, to commemorate Reid Wiseman's late wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

The crew embraced each other after deciding to name a new crater Carroll, to commemorate Reid Wiseman's late wife, who died of cancer in 2020.

Mr Hansen said in an emotional tribute: 'A number of years ago we started this journey... and we lost a loved one and there's a feature on a really neat place on the moon... at certain times of the Moon's transit around Earth we will be able to see this from Earth.'

The announcement prompted the astronauts to embrace, while mission control in Houston fell silent in a rare moment of reflection.

Having passed the moon, the Orion crew capsule will now ride the tug of Earth's gravity back home over the coming days, with splashdown expected on Friday.

Their final ordeal will be a blazing re–entry into the planet's atmosphere, as the capsule hits the atmosphere at around 25,000 miles per hour (40,200 km/h) before deploying its parachutes and landing in the Pacific Ocean.

Thankfully, the latest weather predictions suggest that Artemis II will have favourable conditions for reentry.

According to AccuWeather, the southern coast of California will see winds of only seven to 14 miles per hour (11 to 22 km/h) and waves no larger than five feet.

John Feerick, AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist, says: 'Mission controllers and recovery crews at sea will be watching conditions closely up to splashdown. 

'NASA says there can be no rain or thunderstorms within 30 nautical miles of the recovery site. Waves should be under six feet, and winds need to stay below 25 knots for the recovery boats.'

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The resurrection of Jesus has long been called the central 'mystery of faith,' but scientists have claimed to have found evidence that may prove the biblical event.

Paolo Di Lazzaro, an Italian physicist and chief researcher at the ENEA Research Centre in Frascati in Italy, spent five years attempting to reproduce the body image seen on the Shroud of Turin.

The relic is believed to be the burial cloth that wrapped Jesus after he died on the cross and is said to bear his image left after the resurrection. Di Lazzaro and his team attempted to recreate the image using powerful ultraviolet lasers. 

Researchers fired intense bursts of ultraviolet light at clean linen fabric similar to the shroud, altering the chemical structure of the outer fibers and turning them faintly yellow.

Despite successfully creating small areas of shroud-like discoloration, the team found that recreating the full body image was beyond modern technology.

Their calculations showed that producing a life-sized image would require an enormous burst of ultraviolet energy delivered in an extremely short time, far more than current laser systems can generate.

The findings were recently discussed on the Shaw Ryan Show, where biblical scholar Jeremiah Johnston said Di Lazzaro estimated the process would require extraordinary energy.

He said: 'Paolo told me it would take 34,000 billion watts of energy traveling in one 40th of a billionth of a second to change the chemical makeup of a fine linen shroud to leave that image. 'And he said, "We don't have that power on Earth.'"

Researchers fired intense bursts of ultraviolet light at clean linen fabric similar to the shroud, altering the chemical structure of the outer fibers and turning them faintly yellow

They were able to recreate parts of the image displayed on the shroud, but only faintly 

The Shroud of Turin is a 14-foot-long piece of linen featuring a faint image of the front and back of a man who Christians believe to be Jesus.

The cloth was first presented to the public in the 1350s, when it was exhibited in a small collegiate church in Lirey, a village in northern France. Some believe it to be a medieval fake.

Di Lazzaro published the study in 2010, saying that his laboratory had more than three decades of experience studying how ultraviolet radiation interacts with different materials, including metals, plastics and fabrics. 

Their work has shown that ultraviolet light affects only the outermost surface of materials, rather than penetrating deep inside.

When ultraviolet energy strikes linen, it is absorbed by the very top molecular layers of the fibers. 

This changes the chemical structure only at the surface, without burning or heating the fabric. 

Scientists believe this surface-level reaction is important because the image on the Shroud of Turin is known to be extremely shallow, affecting only the outer fibers.

Beginning in 2005, the team carried out repeated tests using linen cloth woven between 1930 and 1950 that had never been washed or chemically treated, ensuring the material behaved in a predictable way. 

Despite successfully creating small areas of shroud-like discoloration, the team found that recreating the full body image was beyond modern technology 

The relic is believed to be the burial cloth that wrapped Jesus after he died on the cross and is said to bear his image left after the resurrection 

The process involved firing controlled bursts of ultraviolet laser light at the linen, altering the chemical bonds in the cellulose fibers and changing their appearance.

After years of testing, researchers identified a precise combination of laser settings, including pulse duration, energy strength and number of bursts, that produced faint yellow coloring similar to features observed on the Shroud.

The results showed several similarities to the historic cloth, including coloration limited to the tops of threads, adjacent fibers that remained uncolored, reduced fluorescence and a faint negative-style appearance, all characteristics previously documented on the Shroud of Turin.

There is a debate within Christianity as to where Jesus was buried. Some believe it was the Garden Tomb, while others suggest it was the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (pictured)

Scientists cautioned that while the experiments successfully produced linen discoloration similar to some microscopic features of the shroud, the results do not provide definitive proof of how the original image was formed.

Johnston, however, said the image was created through a nuclear event.

'I'm saying that in short form because according to the physicists, the amount of energy it would take because there's no pigment, because there's no dye, because there's no paint,' he explained.

'Science has proven and published that we, science has to ask how this image is there? 

'And there was a chemical change to the shroud that if it had lasted longer than one 40th of a billionth of a second, it would've just, it would've scorched. 

'It would've just burned up. It would've been gone. And so what for the physicist watching this is called power.' 

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Incredible discoveries in city that’s ‘older than the pyramids’ could rewrite history

 Rory McKeown

One of the ancient world’s great urban centres is much older than previously thought, according to new research which could transform our understanding of how civilisation developed.

Fresh excavations at Mohenjo-daro, in present-day Pakistan, suggest its origins date back several centuries earlier than had been previously established.

Situated along the Indus River in Sindh’s Larkana district, Mohenjo-daro covers more than 620 acres and is thought to have supported up to 40,000 people at its peak – making it one of the largest cities of the Bronze Age.

New radiocarbon dating from excavations carried out between 2025 and 2026 indicates that the site was already occupied during the Early Harappan, or Kot Diji, phase between about 3300 and 2600 BC. That makes the city even older than the pyramids.

Researchers say this challenges the long-held view that urban life in the Indus Valley emerged rapidly around 2600 BC, instead pointing to a more gradual process of development.

The project, led by Pakistan’s Dr Asma Ibrahim and Ali Lashari along with Dr Jonathan Mark Kenoyer from the University of Wisconsin focused on an area west of the site’s Stupa Mound.

Archaeologists re-examined a large mudbrick structure first uncovered in 1950 by Mortimer Wheeler, who had interpreted it as a flood-control embankment. New analysis suggests a different conclusion.

Using stratigraphic study and radiocarbon dating, researchers found the structure to be a multi-phase mudbrick city wall, built and expanded over several centuries rather than serving a purely defensive or hydraulic function.

Samples from its lowest levels date its earliest construction to around 2700–2600 BC, towards the end of the Early Harappan period.

Further evidence beneath the wall revealed even earlier settlement activity, including pottery typical of the Kot Diji phase. This indicates the city evolved from an existing community, rather than being constructed from scratch during the later, more developed phase of the civilisation.

Upper levels of the wall show continued construction during the Mature Harappan period, after 2600 BC, when Mohenjo-daro reached its height.

Researchers say the wall was expanded and maintained until at least 2200 BC, suggesting long-term planning and resource management.

Although the latest findings focus on the city’s earliest phases, Mohenjo-daro has continued to yield discoveries from much later periods.

Mohenjo-daro is known for its advanced urban planning, including grid-like streets, standardised baked bricks and sophisticated drainage systems, as well as monumental structures such as the Great Bath.

However, one of its greatest mysteries remains unsolved: the Indus script, found on seals and tablets, has yet to be deciphered. If and when it is, the story of the city’s emergence could become far more accessible.

Without written records, archaeologists rely on physical evidence and scientific techniques to reconstruct the city’s past.

The findings mark a shift in understanding the rise of urban life in the Indus Valley, say researchers.

Rather than a sudden emergence of cities, the evidence suggests a gradual, multi-phase development, with early communities laying the foundations for one of the world’s earliest civilisations.

MORE: 

• Who is Asim Munir, Trump’s favourite Pakistani official who helped the ceasefire?

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• Shipwreck graveyard dating back 2,600 years discovered off ancient Greek island

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• Mystery of the 13 skeletons found sitting up in ancient graves – and their grisly demise

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Mystery surrounds death of NINTH scientist tied to US secrets as disturbing pattern grows

• MORE:  Haunting 911 call reveals new clue in search for missing UFO-linked Air Force general

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

Another scientist with ties to America's space program has now joined the growing list of deaths and disappearances around the US. 

Michael David Hicks, a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), passed away on July 30, 2023 at the age of 59, but the cause of death was never made public, and no record of an autopsy being performed could be found. 

Hicks, who worked at JPL from 1998 to 2022, was credited with publishing over 80 scientific papers and was part of multiple teams helping NASA understand the physical properties of comets and asteroids.

Specifically, Hicks was involved with the DART Project, NASA’s test to see if humans could deflect dangerous asteroids away from Earth. He also worked on the Deep Space 1 Mission, which tested new spacecraft technology that flew by a comet in 2001.

While there have been no public allegations of foul play, Hicks' case marks the ninth person with ties to America's space or nuclear secrets who has died or mysteriously vanished in recent years, which has set off alarm bells among US national security experts.

Moreover, three of these scientists had close ties to Hicks, as all of them worked at the Jet Propulsion Lab or participated in NASA missions there. Monica Reza, JPL's new Director of the Materials Processing Group, vanished without a trace in June 2025, just months after beginning her tenure at the NASA lab.

Two other men with deep ties to JPL died recently, including a long-time coworker of Hicks, Frank Maiwald, who died in July 2024 at age 61, with even less public acknowledgement of his untimely passing.

Meanwhile, astrophysicist Carl Grillmair, 67, was murdered on the front porch of his home on February 16, 2026. The California Institute of Technology researcher's work was heavily supported by NASA's JPL, and Grillmair was personally involved with major space telescope missions led by NASA.

Michael David Hicks (Pictured) was a research scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory prior to his death in 2023

The Daily Mail has reached out to NASA, Hicks' alma mater at the University of Arizona, and the scientist's friends and colleagues for comment on the circumstances surrounding his death. 

Strangely, a series of online obituaries dedicated to Hicks did not mention any health issues before the 59-year-old's death, which appeared to happen suddenly, roughly one year after leaving NASA JPL.

A similar situation unfolded after Maiwald's death on July 4, 2024, when the prominent JPL researcher died in Los Angeles from unknown circumstances. 

Despite Maiwald being a JPL Principal - an award given to scientists 'making outstanding individual contributions' in their fields - there were no public comments from authorities after the esteemed scientist's death, and the only public record marking his passing was a single obituary posted online.

NASA and JPL have not commented on the deaths of Maiwald or Hicks, and did not reply to Daily Mail's inquiries into the nature of the scientists' work before their deaths.

In June 2023, just 13 months before his death, Maiwald was the lead researcher on a breakthrough that could help future space missions detect clear signs of life on other worlds in the solar system and beyond.

As for the other JPL-connected scientist, Grillmair had contributed to the discovery of water on a distant planet, with colleagues calling his work 'ingenious' and adding that the research could point to signs of life less than 160 light-years from Earth.

According to his Caltech profile, he also worked on the NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor, infrared space telescopes that track asteroids. However, experts have also expressed concern that this technology has also been used in advanced missile designs.

Frank Maiwald (Left) and Carl Grillmair (Right) had deep ties to NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in California before both men died within the last two years

Monica Reza (Pictured) went missing during a hike in California in June 2025. Reza had worked on the creation of advanced rocket technology before becoming a director at NASA JPL

The string of deaths and missing person cases has drawn the attention of Congress and members of the US intelligence community, who see a disturbing pattern surrounding experts with knowledge of missiles and rocket engines. 

Former FBI Assistant Director Chris Swecker recently told the Daily Mail: 'You can say these are all suspicious, and these are scientists who have worked in critical technology.'

Swecker claimed that multiple foreign intelligence services, including enemies and allies of the US, have been targeting Americans possessing secrets of the nation's technology for decades.

’China, Russia, even some of our friends – Pakistan, India, Iran, North Korea - they target this type of technology,’ Swecker revealed.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett told the Daily Mail in March: 'There have been several others throughout the country that have disappeared under suspicious circumstances. I think we ought to be paying attention to it.'

Burchett was referencing at least four other investigations around the US in recent months, including the high-profile disappearance of retired Air Force General William Neil McCasland and the murder of respected physicist Nuno Loureiro.

Pictured: NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory Pasadena, California

McCasland, 68, was the latest disappearance, vanishing without a trace on February 27, 2026, after reportedly leaving his home on foot with only a handgun.

The disappearance of McCasland, who reportedly held nuclear and UFO-related secrets, has been tied to Reza and Grillmair through their work on advanced missile or rocket science.

While commanding the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), the general supervised and approved funding for Reza's work to invent a new metal used to create space-age rocket engines.

Meanwhile, Grillmair's work with NEOWISE and NEO Surveyor has also been linked to the Air Force, as the NASA telescopes used the same systems the military relies on to track satellites and hypersonic missiles.

While Loureiro's murder has not been directly connected to the other deaths and disappearances, Burchett, Swecker and independent investigators have noted that his revolutionary work in nuclear fusion may have made him a target of a greater conspiracy against US scientists.

Nuno Loureiro, 47, was assassinated at his home in the Boston suburb of Brookline on December 15, 2025. Authorities said the gunman was Claudio Neves Valente, a former classmate from Portugal.

’It’s been happening since the Cold War,’ Swecker explained. ’Especially when nuclear technology and missile technology were first coming to the forefront.' 

Nuno Loureiro (Pictured) was leading efforts to create fusion energy, a form of clean energy that could upend the multi-trillion-dollar fossil fuel energy

Two others with ties to nuclear research went missing just weeks apart. Anthony Chavez and Melissa Casias, who both worked at the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), vanished from their homes in 2025 under nearly identical circumstances.

Chavez, 79, worked at the nuclear research lab until his retirement in 2017. Casias, 54, was an active administrative assistant at the facility and is believed to have had top security clearance.

Both were last seen leaving their homes in New Mexico on foot, leaving behind their cars, keys, wallets and phones before disappearing without a trace nearly one year ago.

In another mysterious incident, Jason Thomas, a pharmaceutical researcher testing cancer treatments at Novartis, was found dead in a Massachusetts lake on March 17, 2026, after disappearing without a trace three months earlier.

Burchett has blasted the nation's intelligence community, specifically calling out the so-called 'alphabet agencies' such as the FBI, for being unhelpful and frustrating his attempts to find out the truth about what has happened to these scientists.

'The numbers seem very high in these certain areas of research. I think we'd better be paying attention, and I don't think we should trust our government,' he warned.

10 Cases That Continue to Baffle Investigators Today | Unsolved Mysteries of Modern Day

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Real-life 'X-Files' investigator who ran UFO program dies at 60 after cancer battle

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

A famous UFO expert, dubbed a real-life 'X-Files investigator, has died following a battle with cancer. 

Nick Pope, who examined UFO phenomena while employed at the UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD), passed away at the age of 60 on Monday afternoon at his home in Tucson, Arizona.

His wife, Elizabeth Weiss, shared the loss of her husband on X, saying: 'The last few weeks of his life, even as he suffered, he managed to do a few interviews from home. 

'I was so lucky to have met and to have married Nick. He was a wonderful husband. I loved him dearly.'

Pope announced that he had been diagnosed with Stage 4 esophageal cancer, a disease where malignant cells form in the tissue of the esophagus, back in February, noting it had metastasized to his liver.

The former MOD official led Britain's so-called 'UFO Desk' for three years between 1991 and 1994. 

He investigated UFO sightings, analyzed radar data and photos and briefed ministers on whether Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) posed a defense threat. 

During that time, he reviewed case files on some of Britain's most mysterious sightings, including the Rendlesham Forest incident, often dubbed 'Britain's Roswell,' which occurred in 1980.  

His wife, Elizabeth Weiss, shared the loss of her husband on X. 'My heart is breaking,' she said

'A while ago, following some digestive issues, I was diagnosed with esophageal cancer,' Pope wrote on February 12. 'Unfortunately, it's Stage 4 and has metastasized to my liver.

While I know that it's kindness and hope that lead people to suggest healers and supposed miracle cures, and to say things like "fight it" and "you can beat it," I'm afraid my diagnosis and my situation leave no doubt whatsoever: I can't beat it.'

In the message, he reflected on his life, calling it 'an amazing adventure.'

'A 21-year career at the UK Ministry of Defence, where I got involved in subjects ranging from financial policy to counter-terrorism; from military policing to UAP,' Pope continued.

'And I saved six cows; it's a long story. The things I've done, the places I've been, the people I've met, and the secrets I've been privy to. I wouldn't have swapped it for the world.'

After leaving government service, his involvement in UFO investigations brought him to global attention, turning him into a frequent commentator on television news programs and documentaries.

He later worked as a consultant and spokesperson on UFO- and alien-themed films, television series and video games, earning the nickname the 'real-life Fox Mulder' from the 1990s hit series The X-Files.

The sci-fi mystery series, which ran from 1993 to 2002, follows FBI agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully as they investigate unsolved paranormal cases known as the X-Files.

Nick Pope , who examined UFO phenomena while employed at the UK's Ministry of Defence (MOD), passed away at the age of 60 on Monday afternoon at his home in Tucson, Arizona

He earned the nickname the 'real-life Fox Mulder' from the 1990s hit series 'The X-Files'

Pope recalled his wife with such admiration, saying: 'She's a real-life Agent Scully: a scientist, a skeptic and a redhead. 

'We met randomly in the lobby bar of the Fairmont Hotel in downtown San José (she was an anthropology professor at San José State University) in October 2010 and got married three months later.' 

They applied for his Green Card and Elizabeth had him 'shipped to the US, where Pope continued his public work on UFO investigations while appearing at conferences, live events and television productions, including serving as moderator for the touring show 'Ancient Aliens Live.'

He remained active in media appearances and public events until shortly before stepping back from work due to declining health.

Pope concluded the post with: ' It's all been amazing, and I'm grateful for the things I've done, not mournful for the things that I won't now get to do. Per Aspera Ad Astra!'

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