For several years now, the Perseverance rover has been exploring a river delta that once flowed into Jezero Crater. Scientists say that these sedimentary deposits may be the very place where life on this planet remains hidden to this day.

Sedimentary rocks in Jezero crater. Source: phys.org

Discovery of an ancient delta in the Jezero crater

Further evidence has emerged that water once flowed on Mars, thanks to the discovery of an ancient river delta deep beneath the surface. NASA’s Perseverance rover detected it more than 35 meters below the surface of Jezero Crater using ground-penetrating radar. Perseverance was launched in 2020 to search for signs of ancient life on Mars. Since landing in February 2021, it has been exploring Jezero Crater and collecting rock samples.

The crater, which is approximately 45 kilometers in diameter, is located north of the Martian equator, resulting from an asteroid impact nearly 4 billion years ago. NASA chose this site for exploration because numerous geological features indicate the presence of water in the past, which may have supported ancient life, particularly in a part of the crater known as the Margin Unit. This region is filled with carbonates, which on Earth typically form in stable aquatic environments, such as shallow seas or lakes.

Detection using radar

The rover used an instrument called RIMFAX (Radar Imager for Mars’ Subsurface Experiment) to peer nearly twice as deep as any previous radar survey of the crater. A team led by Emily Cardarelli of the University of California, Los Angeles, combined this radar data with satellite imagery and the rover’s GPS receiver to create a 3D map of the ancient layers beneath the dusty red surface. 

The radar detected numerous fan-shaped features and inclined layers of sedimentary rock characteristic of deltas. These structures form when a river flows into a body of standing water, such as a lake, and deposits sand and silt. According to the researchers, this buried delta formed between 3.7 and 4.2 billion years ago and predates the fan-shaped deposit visible at the bottom of the crater, known as the Western Delta.

More opportunities to discover Martian life?

Perseverance’s latest discovery suggests that a much older river system existed in the same location millions of years ago. “RIMFAX has revealed an earlier subsurface deltaic environment under the present-day delta, thereby extending the period of potential habitability for Jezero back further in time,” the research team wrote in their paper.

The discovery of the delta may indicate that water flowed on Mars much earlier than previously thought, which could well increase our chances of finding preserved evidence of ancient Martian life.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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

As US forces step up their bombardment of Iranian defences, the battered regime appears to have found a counter to one of America's most feared weapons.

Iran's military claims to have hit an F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet with anti–aircraft artillery.

This would be the very first time that an American F–35 has been struck in combat by enemy fire.

Now, experts reveal that the $100million state–of–the–art fighter jet might not be as invisible as the US would like to think.

US Central Command confirmed that the fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing while 'flying a combat mission over Iran.'

'The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,' Captain Tim Hawkins said. It is unclear if the pilot, who landed at a US base in the Middle East, was injured.

The F–35's stealth technology should render it all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, making the hit enormously unlikely. 

However, researchers say that Iranian air defences aren't relying on radar alone to keep tabs on America's invisible fighters – with a 'passive infrared' system also being used.

Iran's military claims to have scored a direct hit on a US F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter, marking the first time an American F–35 has been hit by enemy fire  

The F–35 (pictured) should be all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, but experts claim it is not entirely 'invisible' 

What gives the F–35 its stealth ability?

The F–35 Lightning II is a fifth–generation stealth fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin and used extensively by the United States and Israel.

What makes this long–range fighter so deadly is its ability to avoid or confound enemy radar systems, letting it strike targets without being hit back.

Radar systems work by sending out bursts of electromagnetic signals and listening carefully for how those waves bounce back – like a bat hunting by echolocation.

To avoid detection, the F–35 is specially shaped so that radar signals deflect off its surface like light on a slanted mirror.

The fighter also has the capacity to keep its weapons inside the body of the plane, safely protected by its radar–baffling panels. 

This breaks up the plane's radar signature, making it significantly harder for enemy systems to spot.

To further enhance this effect, the entire plane is coated with a radar–absorbing material that soaks up incoming electromagnetic signals rather than bouncing them back.

The F–35's specially shaped panels and radar–absorbing coating mean that it only has the radar cross section of a small bird, making it extremely hard to detect and hit 

Although the F–35's physical wingspan is 35 feet (10.7 metres), its radar cross–section is about the size of a small bird.

How invisible is the F–35?

Although stealth technology is often compared to an 'invisibility cloak', this greatly exaggerates the F–35's abilities.

Dr Can Kasapoğlu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Daily Mail: 'The F–35 is not invisible; it is low observable. 

'It is designed to delay detection, degrade tracking, and avoid engagement zones rather than eliminate detection entirely.'

Dr Kasapoğlu adds: 'Any aircraft can be detected under the right conditions; the key issue is when and with what quality.'

Certain types of radar, such as very–high frequency (VHF) and ultra–high frequency (UHF) systems, can beat most stealth systems.

However, the key is that these detections aren't 'weapons grade' – meaning they aren't high enough quality to guide a missile to impact.

Even as early as 2023, Iran claimed it had the capacity to detect American F–35s flying over the Gulf. 

However, this doesn't mean that Iran had the ability to shoot down American stealth fighters, only to roughly know where they are.

A more plausible explanation for the reported hit on an F–35 is that the Iranian military was using a 'passive infrared' system.

Instead of actively sending out radar signals to spot jets, infrared systems scan the sky for the telltale heat signature of a fighter's engine.

Even though the F–35's engine is specially designed to reduce its infrared signature, it isn't enough to prevent short–range detection.

This means that the Iranian attack was more likely to have been an opportunistic close–range ambush rather than a deliberate long–range strike.

Dr Kasapoğlu suggests that the Iranian 358 loitering munition is a 'natural culprit'.

This nine–feet–long (2.7 m) surface–to–air missile flies slowly in a figure of eight over the battlefield, waiting to spot a target with its infrared detector.

Experts say the F–35 might have been hit by an Iranian 358 loitering munition (pictured). These missiles use a passive infrared detection system rather than radar, allowing them to beat the F–35's stealth technology at short range

If an F–35 had got close enough, it could have been struck with almost no warning as the 358 locked on to its engine signature. 

In Yemen last year, Houthi rebels demonstrated how even relatively crude infrared systems could be used to great effect to counter stealth technology.

US F–35s flying against Houthi air defences were forced to take evasive actions to avoid being hit by surface–to–air missiles, with one pilot reportedly dodging several attacks.

However, Dr Kasapoğlu maintains that this is a one–off, unattributed case that doesn't require the US to radically change its strategy.

If passive infrared detectors are being used, they are likely part of a 'layered detection approach' rather than a standalone capacity.

This means the F–35's ability to strike targets long before it is detected will still be a valuable asset.

'No fundamental shift is required for now. It reinforces the need for disciplined mission planning and continuous suppression of enemy air defences in complex environments,' Dr Kasapoğlu says.

'The F–35 remains a reliable fifth–generation platform and a cornerstone of US airpower.'

RELATED VIDEOS

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

As US forces step up their bombardment of Iranian defences, the battered regime appears to have found a counter to one of America's most feared weapons.

Iran's military claims to have hit an F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter jet with anti–aircraft artillery.

This would be the very first time that an American F–35 has been struck in combat by enemy fire.

Now, experts reveal that the $100million state–of–the–art fighter jet might not be as invisible as the US would like to think.

US Central Command confirmed that the fighter jet was forced to make an emergency landing while 'flying a combat mission over Iran.'

'The aircraft landed safely, and the pilot is in stable condition,' Captain Tim Hawkins said. It is unclear if the pilot, who landed at a US base in the Middle East, was injured.

The F–35's stealth technology should render it all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, making the hit enormously unlikely. 

However, researchers say that Iranian air defences aren't relying on radar alone to keep tabs on America's invisible fighters – with a 'passive infrared' system also being used.

Iran's military claims to have scored a direct hit on a US F–35 Lightning II stealth fighter, marking the first time an American F–35 has been hit by enemy fire  

The F–35 (pictured) should be all but undetectable by conventional military radar systems, but experts claim it is not entirely 'invisible' 

What gives the F–35 its stealth ability?

The F–35 Lightning II is a fifth–generation stealth fighter jet developed by Lockheed Martin and used extensively by the United States and Israel.

What makes this long–range fighter so deadly is its ability to avoid or confound enemy radar systems, letting it strike targets without being hit back.

Radar systems work by sending out bursts of electromagnetic signals and listening carefully for how those waves bounce back – like a bat hunting by echolocation.

To avoid detection, the F–35 is specially shaped so that radar signals deflect off its surface like light on a slanted mirror.

The fighter also has the capacity to keep its weapons inside the body of the plane, safely protected by its radar–baffling panels. 

This breaks up the plane's radar signature, making it significantly harder for enemy systems to spot.

To further enhance this effect, the entire plane is coated with a radar–absorbing material that soaks up incoming electromagnetic signals rather than bouncing them back.

The F–35's specially shaped panels and radar–absorbing coating mean that it only has the radar cross section of a small bird, making it extremely hard to detect and hit 

Although the F–35's physical wingspan is 35 feet (10.7 metres), its radar cross–section is about the size of a small bird.

How invisible is the F–35?

Although stealth technology is often compared to an 'invisibility cloak', this greatly exaggerates the F–35's abilities.

Dr Can Kasapoğlu, senior fellow at the Hudson Institute, told the Daily Mail: 'The F–35 is not invisible; it is low observable. 

'It is designed to delay detection, degrade tracking, and avoid engagement zones rather than eliminate detection entirely.'

Dr Kasapoğlu adds: 'Any aircraft can be detected under the right conditions; the key issue is when and with what quality.'

Certain types of radar, such as very–high frequency (VHF) and ultra–high frequency (UHF) systems, can beat most stealth systems.

However, the key is that these detections aren't 'weapons grade' – meaning they aren't high enough quality to guide a missile to impact.

Even as early as 2023, Iran claimed it had the capacity to detect American F–35s flying over the Gulf. 

However, this doesn't mean that Iran had the ability to shoot down American stealth fighters, only to roughly know where they are.

A more plausible explanation for the reported hit on an F–35 is that the Iranian military was using a 'passive infrared' system.

Instead of actively sending out radar signals to spot jets, infrared systems scan the sky for the telltale heat signature of a fighter's engine.

Even though the F–35's engine is specially designed to reduce its infrared signature, it isn't enough to prevent short–range detection.

This means that the Iranian attack was more likely to have been an opportunistic close–range ambush rather than a deliberate long–range strike.

Dr Kasapoğlu suggests that the Iranian 358 loitering munition is a 'natural culprit'.

This nine–feet–long (2.7 m) surface–to–air missile flies slowly in a figure of eight over the battlefield, waiting to spot a target with its infrared detector.

Experts say the F–35 might have been hit by an Iranian 358 loitering munition (pictured). These missiles use a passive infrared detection system rather than radar, allowing them to beat the F–35's stealth technology at short range

If an F–35 had got close enough, it could have been struck with almost no warning as the 358 locked on to its engine signature. 

In Yemen last year, Houthi rebels demonstrated how even relatively crude infrared systems could be used to great effect to counter stealth technology.

US F–35s flying against Houthi air defences were forced to take evasive actions to avoid being hit by surface–to–air missiles, with one pilot reportedly dodging several attacks.

However, Dr Kasapoğlu maintains that this is a one–off, unattributed case that doesn't require the US to radically change its strategy.

If passive infrared detectors are being used, they are likely part of a 'layered detection approach' rather than a standalone capacity.

This means the F–35's ability to strike targets long before it is detected will still be a valuable asset.

'No fundamental shift is required for now. It reinforces the need for disciplined mission planning and continuous suppression of enemy air defences in complex environments,' Dr Kasapoğlu says.

'The F–35 remains a reliable fifth–generation platform and a cornerstone of US airpower.'

RELATED VIDEOS

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

“The surface of Mars hosts widespread evidence of ancient flowing water and paleolakes,” the research team explained, adding that orbital and in situ spacecraft observations have also confirmed the presence of ‘aqueous alteration minerals’ on the planet’s surface.

Still, the initial scans indicating the presence of ancient waterways only penetrated a few inches beneath the Martian surface, limiting the amount of dispositive data that could be collected from them. Now, the rover has performed a new set of ground-penetrating radar scans that provide further support for the presence of an ancient river near Jezero crater.

Scans reveal numerous subsurface features consistent with an ancient river

According to a statement announcing the discovery, the study’s leader, UCLA’s Emily Cardarelli, focused on scans detailing features found in a currently submerged sedimentary deposit called the Margin unit. Because this region is rich in magnesium carbonates, the study authors said the site preserves a record of the planet’s ancient, wet climate.

“We analyze the depositional setting of the Margin unit, a major magnesium-carbonate deposit near the fluvial inlet to Jezero crater using ground penetrating radar data collected by the Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Radar Imager for Mars Subsurface Experiment (RIMFAX) instrument,” they write.

Along with its mineral composition, the Margin unit site was chosen because previous studies had revealed features “indicative of paleolakes and river deltas.” This includes a prominent feature that appears to have been shaped by flowing water, called the Western Delta.

Unlike earlier scans, the researchers said the RIMFAX ground-penetrating scans reached depths of “greater than 35 meters.” For comparison, the team notes that this is approximately 1.75 times as deep as “other Jezero geologic units explored to date.” The team also noted that the new scans were collected during an “approximately 6.1-km rover traverse.”

In the Margin Unit, strongly reflecting layers appear dark, and weakly reflecting lithologies appear light. The projected radargram is shown alongside HiRISE digital elevation model data, and layers are traced (cyan dotted lines) from the subsurface to their corresponding surficial topographic features.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/UCLA/UiO/ETH Zurich.

After examining the new scans, the researchers discovered “numerous subsurface features” consistent with an ancient river. These features were revealed by scans taken at “submeter to hundred-meter scale layering,” offering a small- and large-scale view of the ancient Martian river. The team said they inferred that the features they located “are consistent with buried fluvial features and deltaic foresets, which have experienced multiple erosional-depositional episodes.”

“This work illuminates a well-preserved paleolandscape wherein a deltaic environment developed prior to the formation of the Jezero Western Delta, as early as the Noachian (~4.2 to 3.7 billion years ago),” they explained

Discovery “Improves the Chances of Finding Evidence for Past Life”

When discussing potential implications of an ancient Martian river delta hidden beneath the red planet’s surface, the team noted that the ground penetrating power of RIMFAX provided them with “a unique perspective into the shallow Martian subsurface.

The team also noted the work “may have implications for the preservation of potential biosignatures and habitability in the subsurface of Jezero crater,” by providing a potential window into habitable conditions on Mars. This includes widening the window of opportunity for ancient Martian lifeforms to take hold.

“RIMFAX has revealed an earlier subsurface deltaic environment under the present-day delta, thereby extending the period of potential habitability for Jezero back further in time,” the study authors explained. “This work also improves the chances of finding evidence for past life.”

The study “Ground penetrating radar observations of ancient large-scale deltaic structures in Jezero crater, Mars” was published in Science Advances.

• 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.

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

A lawmaker has made bold claims that NASA is 'lying' about UFOs, alleging the agency holds classified files on the matter.

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett, a member of the House Oversight Committee that has reviewed UFO reports, made the remarks during an appearance on One America News on Tuesday, where he claimed to have attended meetings with the space agency about extraterrestrial craft.

'The lying that goes on in these departments,' he said. 'NASA saying, 'We don't have any of this' or 'We haven't studied any of this.' 

'I have been in meetings with them, or they've told me they studied it and that they have stuff that is classified that they can't share with the public.'

Burchett was also asked why more whistleblowers have not come forward, responding: 'I think they're afraid of being disappeared… I think being murdered is what they're afraid of. I think some of them truly are because of things they've seen.'

When Daily Mail contacted NASA for comment, the agency responded with a link to an X post from its press secretary, Bethany Stevens, which said: 'We continue to make all NASA data publicly available and welcome public participation using our data.

'As the NASA Administrator has said, there are certainly things he's come across in the job that he can't explain… but they relate more to unnecessarily costly programs than they do to extraterrestrial life.'

However, Burchett added that he was informed during a meeting that President Donald Trump receives information strictly on a need-to-know basis. 

A lawmaker has slammed NASA in a new interview, claiming the agency is covering up UFOs

Burchett has long been a supporter of UFO disclosure, while also making claims that 'non-human intelligences' may be operating from multiple, potentially five or six, underwater bases located off the US coastline.

He also believes that the Pentagon is engaging in a cover-up, claiming they have 'non-human' technology, and has criticized the Department of Defense for not passing audits while spending money on these matters. 

The lawmaker made the comments while speaking on the Matt Gaetz Show, where he said: 'I think it is a big cover-up. I think there are too many directions it is going.'

He claimed to have spoken with Trump about the matter this week to 'be forthcoming and bring this stuff out.'

'The problem is you have this arrogance... These people are so above the law on everything, they think that we're not fit to handle it,' Burchett added.

When asked how Trump reacted to his urging this week, the lawmaker avoided saying the president did not grasp it, but was 'on a lot of other things.'

Trump had ordered the release of all government files relating to UFOs and extraterrestrial life on February 19.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth issued an update about five days later, saying: 'We've got our people working on it right now. I don't want to oversell how much time it will take, right?

Tennessee Congressman Tim Burchett, a member of the House Oversight Committee that has reviewed UFO reports, made the remarks during an appearance on One America News on Tuesday, where he claimed to have attended meetings with the space agency about extraterrestrial craft

'We're digging in. We're going to be in full compliance with that executive order, eager to provide that for the president.'

Hegseth didn't have an estimate of how long it would take for the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies to release every piece of information on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), which have been widely reported throughout the US since the 1940s.

Asked if he believes aliens exist, Hegseth replied: 'We'll see. I get to do the review and find out along with all of you.'

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who was put in charge of the House Oversight Committee's task force on declassifying secret records on UAPs, revealed that all of the incoming documents will be housed on the US National Archives' website.

Burchett's interview came just days before the White House registered the domain 'aliens.gov.'

The domain, linked to the Executive Office of the President, was flagged on Wednesday by an automated tracker of federal websites.

However, it is also listed in the government's official .gov registry maintained by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Registry records show it was recently added under the White House Office alongside other official government sites, confirming it as a legitimate federal web address, though its purpose has not been publicly disclosed.

The website is not currently live, but the domain has been reserved.

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

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

• READ MORE: Aliens may have been trying to contact us for DECADES

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

It's one of the biggest unanswered questions in science – do aliens exist, and if so, where are they?

Now, scientists have taken a massive leap towards answering these queries once and for all. 

Experts from the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University have pinpointed 45 Earth–like planets that could have perfect conditions for aliens. 

The planets all lie within the so–called habitable zone – an area not too close to a host star that it's too hot, and not too far away that it's too cold. 

Being in this zone raises the tantalising possibility that a planet has water at its surface, which is a key ingredient for life. 

Excitingly, some of these worlds are only tens of light–years away, suggesting we might be able to reach them in the future. 

'Life might be much more versatile than we currently imagine, so figuring out which of the 6,000 known exoplanets would be most likely to host extraterrestrials could prove critical,' said Professor Lisa Kaltenegger, an author of the study. 

'Our paper reveals where you should travel to find life.'

Experts from the Carl Sagan Institute at Cornell University have pinpointed 45 Earth–like planets that could have perfect conditions for aliens

Scientists have already discovered more than 6,000 exoplanets, but until now, exactly which of these have the potential for life has remained a mystery. 

In their new study, the team pinpointed 45 of these planets that may support life in the habitable zone, and another 24 in a narrower 3D habitable zone. 

The worlds includes some you might have heard of before, such as Proxima Centauri b, TRAPPIST–1f and Kepler 186f. 

Meanwhile, some of the others are not so well known, such as TOI–715 b – a planet located 137 light–years away that was spotted by the TESS satellite just three years ago. 

According to the researchers, the most interesting planets are TRAPPIST–1 d, e, f and g, which are just 40 light–years from Earth. 

Unfortunately, NASA says that it would currently take at least 800,000 years to reach the TRAPPIST–1 system. 

However, as spacecraft begin to use more modern technologies like nuclear pulse propulsion, we could potentially reduce this time to a few centuries.

Meanwhile, the researchers are also interested in the planets that get light from their stars most similar to what Earth receives from the Sun today. 

The planets all lie within the so–called habitable zone – an area not too close to a host star that it's too hot, and not too far away that it's too cold. Pictured: An artist's impression of a theoretical planet orbiting a redder star

According to the researchers, the most interesting planets are TRAPPIST–1 d, e, f and g, which are just 40 light–years from Earth

These are TRAPPIST–1 e, TOI–715 b, Kepler–1652 b, Kepler–442 b, Kepler–1544 b and the planets Proxima Centauri b, GJ 1061 d, GJ 1002 b, and Wolf 1069 b. 

While the planets well within their habitable zones raise hopes of finding aliens, the researchers also hope the planets on the edge of the habitable zone will shed light on exactly where habitability ends. 

'While it's hard to say what makes something more likely to have life, identifying where to look is the first key step,' explained study author Gillis Lowry.

'So the goal of our project was to say "here are the best targets for observation". 

As part of the study, the team also pinpointed the best techniques for observing the 45 planets. 

This includes the James Webb Space Telescope, the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope (set to launch in 2027), and the Extremely Large Telescope (set to see first light in 2029). 

While this study focused on exoplanets, scientists have previously revealed how aliens could be hiding in our very own solar system. 

Dr David Armstrong, an expert on exoplanet detection from the University of Warwick, told the Daily Mail: 'On Earth, we find life almost everywhere there is liquid water, so the easiest place to look for extraterrestrial life is the same.

An artist's impression of a planetary system around a slightly hotter star than our Sun. In prior research, Carl Sagan Institute scientists have theorised that organisms could evolve biofluorescence to protect themselves from a more intense star 

'The most likely place to find it would be in the subsurface oceans of some of the moons orbiting Saturn and Jupiter.'

READ MORE

• Where are all the aliens? As President Obama rules out Area 51, scientists reveal the best candidates for extraterrestrials - including inside our own solar system

Saturn's moon Enceladus is seen as a particularly promising candidate to look for extraterrestrial life because of plumes of liquid water constantly spewing from its South Pole. 

Meanwhile, Titan, another of Saturn's icy moons, has also been put forward as a strong candidate in the search for extraterrestrial life. 

The 45 Earth–like planets that could have perfect conditions for ALIENS

1. GJ 1002 b
2. GJ 1002 c
3. GJ 1061 c
4. GJ 1061 d
5. GJ 251 c
6. GJ 273 b
7. GJ 3323 b
8. GJ 667 C c
9. GJ 667 C e
10. GJ 667 C f
11. GJ 682 b
12. K2–239 d
13. K2–288 B b
14. K2–3 d
15. K2–72 e
16. Kepler–1229 b
17. Kepler–1410 b
18. Kepler–1544 b
19. Kepler–1606 b
20. Kepler–1649 c
21. Kepler–1652 b
22. Kepler–186 f
23. Kepler–296 e
24. Kepler–296 f
25. Kepler–441 b
26. Kepler–442 b
27. Kepler–452 b
28. Kepler–62 e
29. Kepler–62 f
30. L 98–59 f
31. LHS 1140 b
32. LP 890–9 c
33. Proxima Centauri b
34. Ross 508 b
35. TOI–1266 d
36. TOI–700 d
37. TOI–700 e
38. TOI–715 b
39. TRAPPIST–1 d
40. TRAPPIST–1 e
41. TRAPPIST–1 f
42. TRAPPIST–1 g
43. Teegarden's Star c
44. Wolf 1061 c
45. Wolf 1069 b

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

6,000-Year-Old Underwater ‘Lost City’ Discovered Off the Coast of Cuba Stuns Scientists

A 6,000-year-old underwater city discovered off the coast of Cuba has scientists questioning human history.

© Image credit: YouTube/Ancient Architects

A discovery made more than two decades ago by Canadian marine engineers Paulina Zelitsky and Paul Weinzweig has resurfaced in recent discussions, sparking renewed interest and controversy. In 2001, while conducting an expedition to map the ocean floor near Cuba, the pair uncovered what they believed to be the remains of a long-lost city submerged over 2,000 feet underwater. The sonar scans revealed structures resembling pyramids, roads, and other buildings that suggested a sophisticated urban center. According to the DailyMail, this submerged city is believed to be more than 6,000 years old, potentially older than the Egyptian pyramids, and its discovery could reshape human history. However, since the initial findings, the site has been largely ignored, leaving many unanswered questions. The discovery has triggered debates about its authenticity, with experts divided on whether the site is a natural formation or evidence of an ancient civilization.

However, the initial excitement soon gave way to skepticism from other scientists. One of the primary challenges to the authenticity of the discovery is the location itself: the structures are located over 2,000 feet underwater, far deeper than one might expect for a city that could have been submerged merely thousands of years ago. Skeptics argue that it would have taken much longer—possibly tens of thousands of years—for the area to sink to its current depth due to shifting tectonic plates.

“It would be totally irresponsible to say what it was before we have evidence,” Zelitsky added in a 2001 interview with the BBC, highlighting the complexity of interpreting the findings without more substantial data. Despite the initial reports, no follow-up research has been conducted to gather more concrete evidence to either confirm or debunk the theory that the site was an ancient city.

Sonar scans uncovered massive stone structures on the seabed near the Guanahacabibes Peninsula, resembling pyramids, circular formations, and large blocks.

Credit: ADC via Morien Institute.

Skepticism from Experts: Could the Structures Be Natural?

Among the loudest voices of skepticism is Cuban geologist Manuel Iturralde-Vinent, who has repeatedly dismissed the claim that the structures are man-made. “It’s strange, it’s weird; we’ve never seen something like this before, and we don’t have an explanation for it,” Iturralde told The Washington Post, acknowledging the unusual nature of the discovery, but also stressing the need for caution in interpreting the findings.

Iturralde and other experts have pointed out that the underwater formations could very well be the result of natural geological processes rather than the work of ancient civilizations. According to these critics, the regularity of the formations and their apparent symmetry could be coincidental, and not necessarily indicative of an artificial construction. Given the depth at which the ruins were found, some researchers suggest that the ocean currents and tectonic activity in the area might have shaped the stones in ways that mimic human-made structures.

The debate over the true nature of the site continues to rage, with some proposing that the discovery might be more evidence of ancient civilizations that were once lost to history, while others contend that the site is simply an odd but natural formation. The lack of conclusive evidence has led to an ongoing divide in the scientific community.

A Global Debate: Could This City Rewrite Human History?

While the mystery of the Cuban underwater city remains unsolved, it brings to the forefront one of the most intriguing questions in archaeology: How far back do human civilizations truly date? If the submerged ruins are indeed evidence of an ancient city, it could rewrite the conventional understanding of human history and civilization. Many believe that the discovery, if confirmed, would challenge the currently accepted timeline of human development, suggesting that advanced urban centers existed long before the Egyptians.

Michael Faught, a specialist in underwater archaeology at Florida State University, was among the experts expressing doubt about the authenticity of the ruins. “It would be cool if Zelitsky and Weinzweig were right, but it would be really advanced for anything we would see in the New World for that time frame. The structures are out of time and out of place,” Faught told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, referencing the complexity of the structures that would have been unprecedented in the Americas at the time.

Despite these doubts, the possibility of rewriting human history remains an enticing prospect for many. Archaeological discoveries like Göbekli Tepe in Turkey, which predates the Egyptian pyramids by over 5,000 years, challenge our understanding of early human societies and their capabilities. Could the Cuban ruins be part of a similar, yet still undiscovered, civilization?

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Mysterieuze 'vuurballen' gezien? Het was de raket van Elon Musk

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Mysterieuze 'vuurballen' gezien? Het was de raket van Elon Musk
Uit diverse plaatsen in ons land kwamen meldingen over vreemde vuurballen in de nachtelijke hemel. De lichtgevende bollen waren rond 04:45 uur zichtbaar. Het gaat vermoedelijk om ruimteafval van SpaceX, het ruimtetransportbedrijf van Elon Musk. Volgens sterrenkundige Theo Jurriens is het mogelijk de tweede trap van draagraket Falcon 9 geweest, die op 1 januari 22 satellieten heeft gelanceerd.

Het heelal is een enorme en uitgestrekte plek, gevuld met de meest bizarre dingen die zelfs de verbeelding van de meest creatieve personen op de proef kunnen stellen. Van losgeslagen planeten die doelloos door de kosmos zwerven tot mysterieuze signalen die dromen over buitenaardse beschavingen veroorzaken, de hemel is gevuld met anomalieën die elke verklaring weerstaan. Deze vreemde en wonderlijke objecten bieden een blik in het onbekende en slepen ons dieper mee in het kosmische mysterie.Nieuwsgierig? Klik door deze galerij om enkele van de mysterieuze krachten, eigenaardige structuren en buitenaardse spektakels van het universum te zien die ons begrip uitdagen en onze verbeelding aanwakkeren.

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Mysterieuze radiosignalen
Sinds 2007 hebben onderzoekers fast radio bursts (FRB's) gedetecteerd, intense radiosignalen die slechts milliseconden duren en op miljarden lichtjaren afstand ontstaan. Onlangs werd een zich herhalende FRB vastgelegd die zes keer flitste, maar het mysterie achter deze signalen is nog steeds niet opgelost.

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Nucleaire pasta
De sterkste stof in het heelal ontstaat uit de overblijfselen van een dode ster, waar extreme zwaartekracht protonen en neutronen samenperst tot een warrig, linguini-achtig materiaal. Simulaties wijzen erop dat deze stof slechts zou breken onder 10 miljard keer de kracht die nodig is om staal te versplinteren.

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De ringen van Haumea
Haumea, een dwergplaneet in de Kuipergordel, is uniek met zijn langgerekte vorm, twee manen en snelle rotatie van vier uur. In 2017 ontdekten astronomen dunne ringen rond Haumea, waarschijnlijk veroorzaakt door een botsing in het verleden, wat deze planeet nog bijzonderder maakt.

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Donkere materie
De onzichtbare kracht die bekend staat als donkere materie maakt 85% uit van de inhoud van het heelal en is raadselachtig maar alomtegenwoordig. In maart 2018 ontdekten astronomen een sterrenstelsel dat donkere materie leek te missen. Later onderzoek bevestigde de aanwezigheid ervan, en astronomen blijven verbijsterd!

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De meest bizarre ster
Astronome Tabetha Boyajian en haar team waren verbaasd over KIC 846285, of Tabby's ster, die onregelmatige en aanzienlijke dips in helderheid vertoonde. Terwijl sommigen speculeerden over een buitenaardse megastructuur rondom de ster, geloven de meesten nu dat het dimmen wordt veroorzaakt door een ongebruikelijke ring van stof rondom de ster.

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Zeer elektrische Hyperion
Hyperion, de maan van Saturnus (met zijn puimachtige, onregelmatige vorm en vele kraters), behoort tot de vreemdste manen in het zonnestelsel. NASA's Cassini-ruimtevaartuig, dat tussen 2004 en 2017 Saturnus verkende, ontdekte ook dat Hyperion een “deeltjesstraal” van statische elektriciteit de ruimte in stuurt, wat de maan nóg vreemder maakt.

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Een leidende neutrino
Een hoogenergetisch neutrino (in feite een klein spookdeeltje) trof de aarde op 22 september 2017, wat op zich niet ongewoon was, maar het was wél de eerste met voldoende gegevens om de oorsprong ervan te achterhalen. Astronomen stelden vast dat het vier miljard jaar geleden werd weggeblazen door een vlammende blazar, een superzwaar zwart gat dat nabijgelegen materiaal opslokt.

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Het levende fossiele sterrenstelsel
Een sterrenstelsel dat bekend staat als DGSAT I werd in 2016 ontdekt. Het is net zo groot als de Melkweg, maar bijna onzichtbaar vanwege de dun gespreide sterren. In tegenstelling tot typische sterrenstelsels in clusters, staat DGSAT I alleen. De eigenschappen doen vermoeden dat het ongeveer een miljard jaar na de oerknal is gevormd, waardoor het eigenlijk een levend fossiel is.

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Afbeelding: NASA Hubble ruimtetelescoop, Tommaso Treu/UCLA

Dubbel quasarbeeld
Massieve objecten kunnen licht krommen, waardoor het beeld van objecten erachter wordt vervormd. Met behulp van de Hubble-ruimtetelescoop namen onderzoekers een quasar (een lichtgevend sterrenstelsel) uit het vroege heelal waar en ontdekten dat het heelal nu sneller uitdijt dan toen. Natuurkundigen moeten nu vaststellen of hun theorieën niet kloppen of dat er iets ongewoons aan de hand is.

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Infraroodstroom
Neutronensterren zijn dichte overblijfselen van dode sterren, die meestal radiogolven of röntgenstraling uitzenden. In september van 2018 ontdekten astronomen een ongebruikelijke stroom van infrarood licht van een neutronenster op 800 lichtjaar afstand, iets wat nog niet eerder was voorgekomen. Ze vermoeden dat een omringende stofschijf dit zou kunnen veroorzaken, maar de precieze verklaring blijft onbekend.

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Solitaire planeet met aurora's
Solitaire planeten die door de zwaartekracht van hun moederster worden geworpen, zwerven zonder baan door het melkwegstelsel. Een object ter grootte van een planeet (genaamd SIMP J01365663+0933473 en gelegen op 200 lichtjaar afstand) valt op met een magnetisch veld dat meer dan 200 keer sterker is dan dat van Jupiter. Dit krachtige veld creëert flitsende aurora's die zichtbaar zijn met een radiotelescooop.

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Zwart gat Sagittarius A*
In het centrum van de Melkweg bevindt zich een superzwaar zwart gat, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), dat vier miljoen zonsmassa's bevat. In tegenstelling tot actievere zwarte gaten in andere sterrenstelsels is Sgr A* ongewoon rustig, verborgen achter gas en stof maar wel detecteerbaar via radiogolven. De extreme dichtheid van dit zwarte gat blijft een mysterie en vormt een uitdaging voor ons begrip van natuurkunde.

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Pulsars
De eerste planeten die buiten ons zonnestelsel werden ontdekt, werden in 1992 gevonden, niet rondom een normale ster, maar rond een milliseconde pulsar op 980 lichtjaar afstand. Pulsars zijn neutronensterren, ongelooflijk dichte objecten die snel ronddraaien en elektromagnetische energie uitzenden als de lichtstralen van een vuurtoren. Hoewel de planeten rond de pulsar cirkelen, is deze niet groter dan 32 kilometer breed.

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Hoag’s Object
In 1950 ontdekte astronoom Arthur Hoag een sterrenstelsel met een centrale gele kern, gescheiden door 70.000 lichtjaar bijna-leegte van een buitenste ring van sterren, gas en stof. Het sterrenstelsel, dat bekend staat als Hoag's Object, heeft een kern en een buitenste ring die elk even groot zijn als delen van de Melkweg, waardoor het één van de meest merkwaardige galactische structuren van het heelal is.

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Afbeelding: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Fermi-bubbels
In november 2010 hebben astronomen twee enorme bubbels gammastraling ontdekt die uit het centrum van de Melkweg komen. Deze bubbels, die zich uitbreiden met 2,2 miljoen km/u (3,5 miljoen km/u), vormen een zandlopervorm. Deze vreemde structuur wordt toegevoegd aan de groeiende lijst van mysterieuze fenomenen in de kosmos.

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Magnetars
Magnetars zijn een soort neutronensterren met ongelooflijk sterke magnetische velden, ongeveer een quadriljoen keer sterker dan het magnetische veld van de aarde. Deze magnetars zijn vreemd omdat ze zogenaamde “sterbevingen” kunnen veroorzaken door de verschuiving van hun magnetische veld. Hierbij komen enorme hoeveelheden energie vrij in intense uitbarstingen van stralingen die vanaf de aarde kunnen worden waargenomen.

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Gat van Boötes
Het Gat van Boötes is een enorm, bijna leeg gebied in de ruimte met een doorsnede van ongeveer 700 miljoen lichtjaar en weinig sterrenstelsels erin. Zijn grootte en leegte zijn behoorlijk vreemd, omdat zulke leegtes zeldzaam zijn in het heelal, dat grotendeels gevuld is met sterrenstelsels en materie.

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De Grote Aantrekker
De Grote Aantrekker is een zwaartekrachtanomalie die sterrenstelsels, inclusief onze eigen Melkweg, met ongelooflijke snelheden naar zich toe lijkt te trekken. Het bevindt zich op een vreemde plek in een deel van de hemel dat verborgen is door het stof van ons sterrenstelsel, waardoor hij moeilijk direct waar te nemen is. We weten dat het bestaat, maar zijn precieze eigenschappen blijven een mysterie.

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De koude vlek
De koude vlek is een ongewoon koud gebied in de kosmische microgolfachtergrond (CMB) die door het heelal is opgenomen in de nasleep van de oerknal. Het is te zien in het midden van de afbeelding, en de temperatuur is aanzienlijk lager dan het omringende gebied. Maar wetenschappers weten niet zeker waarom. Het blijft één van de grootste raadsels in de sterrenkunde.

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‘Oumuamua
'Oumuamua was een langwerpig, sigaarvormig object dat in 2017 door ons zonnestelsel raasde en het eerste bekende interstellaire object was dat werd gedetecteerd. Zijn vreemde vorm, hoge snelheid en het feit dat het zich niet als een typische komeet of asteroïde gedroeg, hebben geleid tot speculaties over zijn oorsprong. Sommige wetenschappers hebben zelfs gesuggereerd dat het een buitenaardse sonde zou kunnen zijn.

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Hanny's Voorwerp
Hanny's Voorwerp is een vreemd, gloeiend en groenachtig object waarvan wordt gedacht dat het een gaswolk is die wordt verlicht door een quasar die sindsdien inactief is. Het vreemde is dat het nog steeds gloeit, lang nadat de energie-output van de quasar zou moeten zijn vervaagd. Dit suggereert dat quasars echo's van hun activiteit kunnen achterlaten en de ruimte nog miljoenen jaren kunnen verlichten.

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Hypersnelle sterren
Wanneer sterren met zo'n hoge snelheid door de ruimte bewegen dat ze helemaal uit hun melkwegstelsel kunnen ontsnappen, worden ze hypersnelle sterren genoemd. De meeste sterren in sterrenstelsels draaien met relatief stabiele snelheden, maar van deze sterren wordt aangenomen dat ze zijn uitgestoten na een wisselwerking met superzware zwarte gaten.

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Wormgaten
Wormgaten zijn theoretische doorgangen door ruimtetijd die verre delen van het universum of zelfs verschillende universa met elkaar zouden kunnen verbinden. Hoewel ze nog nooit zijn waargenomen, komen ze voort uit oplossingen van de algemene relativiteitsvergelijkingen van Albert Einstein. Door er doorheen te reizen zou je sneller dan het licht kunnen reizen en mogelijk zelfs door de tijd kunnen reizen.

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Het Wow!-signaal
In 1977 werd 72 seconden lang een sterk smalbandig radiosignaal waargenomen voordat het verdween. Het was afkomstig van de constellatie Boogschutter en is tot op de dag van vandaag onverklaard gebleven. De plotselinge verschijning van het signaal en het feit dat het nooit meer werd gedetecteerd, hebben geleid tot wilde speculaties, waaronder de mogelijkheid dat het een transmissie was van een buitenaardse beschaving.

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Galactisch kannibalisme
Galactisch kannibalisme is een verschijnsel waarbij een groter sterrenstelsel een kleiner stelsel opslokt door het door zwaartekracht uit elkaar te trekken en zijn sterren, gas en stof op te nemen. Sterrenstelsels (die stabiele, op zichzelf staande systemen lijken te zijn) kunnen in werkelijkheid samensmelten en elkaar verslinden in kosmische botsingen die leiden tot grotere, zwaardere sterrenstelsels.

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Blauwe achterblijvers
Blauwe achterblijvers zijn sterren die jonger en zwaarder lijken dan de andere sterren in hun cluster, ondanks het feit dat ze van hetzelfde materiaal zijn gemaakt. Ze zijn vreemd omdat ze de verwachte levenscyclus van sterren tarten. Hoewel deze sterren al uitgebrand zouden moeten zijn, blijven ze helder en heet en reizen ze onvermoeibaar door het heelal.

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Phoenix Cluster
De Phoenix Cluster is een enorme cluster van melkwegstelsels met een ongewoon hoog tempo van stervorming en activiteit van zwarte gaten. In de meeste melkwegclusters is de stervorming aanzienlijk vertraagd, maar in de Phoenix Cluster worden in hoog tempo sterren gevormd en groeit het superzware zwarte gat in het centrum veel sneller dan verwacht.

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Hexagoon van Saturnus
Op de noordpool van Saturnus bevindt zich een vreemde, standvastige wolkenformatie in de vorm van een zeshoek. Dit geometrische weerpatroon is bizar en onverklaarbaar, omdat de meeste stormen of atmosferische verschijnselen op planeten cirkelvormig of onregelmatig van vorm zijn. De zeshoek is meer dan 30.000 kilometer breed en kent winden tot 320 km/u.

Bronnen:

• (Live Science)
• (Astronomy Magazine)
• (Smithsonian Magazine)
• (Britannica)
• (NASA Science)

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