Key Bible verse proven true as stunning ancient mural depicting Jesus is discovered in Turkey

• READ MORE: Joe Rogan predicts what will spark the Second Coming of Jesus 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

A colorful fresco depicting the 'Good Shepherd Jesus' has been uncovered on the wall of an ancient tomb in Turkey, aligning with one of the most significant verses in the Bible.

Found on the north wall of an underground chamber tomb, the third-century artwork shows Jesus walking through a field surrounded by goats.

He appears as a young, beardless man wearing a simple tunic, a goat draped across his shoulders.

The fresco confirms that early Christians were using the same imagery and titles for Jesus found in the New Testament, including the 'Good Shepherd' motif referenced in John 10:11: 'I am the good shepherd.'

Turkish officials said the discovery is exceptional, noting it is the only known early Christian-era example of its kind outside Italy.

The fresco emerged during ongoing excavations at the Hisardere Necropolis in the Iznik district of Bursa, one of the region's largest ancient burial grounds.

Dating from the second to fifth centuries AD, the site preserves a remarkably varied landscape of burials, including İznik's signature terracotta-roofed chamber tombs, heavy stone sarcophagi, upright-slab cist graves and expansive hypogea carved deep into the earth.

Along the north wall sits a raised platform, or kline, lined with square terracotta slabs where the deceased were placed. Directly behind it, the rare Good Shepherd fresco remains intact.

Experts said the 'Good Shepard Jesus' fresco represents a transition from pagan to Christian beliefs

The tomb, constructed when the region was called Anatolia, featured three preserved walls and a ceiling also covered in frescoes.

What sets this tomb apart from others in the region is its depiction of human figures, a rare feature in local funerary art. 

On the west wall, a married couple, presumably the tomb's occupants, is portrayed as aristocrats, their status conveyed through fine attire and adornments. 

The accompanying symposium scene, despite the tomb's Christian context, continues pagan traditions depicting the afterlife as an everlasting feast. 

Before the cross became Christianity's defining symbol, early believers relied heavily on the Good Shepherd motif to express their faith. 

Portraying Jesus with a sheep across his shoulders conveyed themes of protection, salvation and divine guidance, allowing Christians to communicate their beliefs subtly at a time when overt religious imagery was still uncommon. 

Experts told Middle East Eye that the image of Jesus painted inside the tomb represents a transition from pagan to Christian beliefs.

Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor, served as a crossroads for many civilizations due to its strategic location between Asia and Europe. 

Along the north wall sits a raised platform, or kline, lined with square terracotta slabs where the deceased were placed. Directly behind it, the rare Good Shepherd fresco remains intact

Found on the north wall of an underground chamber tomb, the third-century artwork shows Jesus walking through a field surrounded by goats

It was home to numerous ancient peoples, including the Hittites, and was later part of empires like the Roman and Byzantine Empires, eventually becoming the heartland of modern Turkey. 

The earliest known forms of worship in Anatolia were centered on a pagan system, but started adopting Christianity early in the first century, following Jesus's crucifixion.

Turkey has produced a treasure trove of religious artifacts, as it was the cradle of early Christianity.

Some of the Apostles traveled to the region following the crucifixion and built churches and ministered to the locals. 

Notably, the first distinct Christian church and the first recorded use of the term 'Christian' appeared in the ancient city of Antioch, now Antakya in modern Turkey. 

After Jerusalem fell in AD 70, the region became a central hub for the growth of Christianity. 

On the west wall, a married couple, presumably the tomb's occupants, is portrayed as aristocrats, their status conveyed through fine attire and adornments

Archaeologists said the newly discovered fresco will offer valuable insights into Early Christian iconography, Roman-era burial practices and the spread of Christianity in Anatolia. 

The find also reinforces İznik’s status as a major religious and historical center, already renowned for hosting the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD, which shaped foundational Christian doctrines.

As excavations continue, researchers hope the Hisartepe Necropolis may yield additional frescoes, inscriptions or artifacts, shedding further light on the multicultural and religious history of ancient Nicaea.

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

The new state of matter hiding beneath our feet: Earth's inner core hides a 'superionic state' that fuels our planet's magnetic heartbeat, study finds

• READ MORE: Priceless rock extracted from Scotland's Great Glen Fault

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Scientists have discovered a new state of matter hidden right beneath our feet – and it could explain the most mysterious properties of our planet.

A new study has found that Earth's innermost core isn't a conventional solid, but rather in a 'superionic state'.

In this strange state of matter, carbon atoms are free to flow like a liquid through a solid iron lattice.

This allows Earth's inner core to act like a dense solid, while remaining as pliable as molten metal.

According to a group of Chinese researchers, this matches the strange behaviour of the inner core that has been perplexing scientists for years.

Likewise, the flow of these liquid–like elements in the core could play a key role in maintaining Earth's magnetic fields.

Co–author Dr Yuqian Huang, of Sichuan University, says: 'Atomic diffusion within the inner core represents a previously overlooked energy source for the geodynamo.

'In addition to heat and compositional convection, the fluid–like motion of light elements may help power Earth's magnetic engine.'

Scientists have discovered that there is a new state of matter hidden beneath our feet, as they find that the inner core is in a 'superionic' state

The 102 quintillion–tonne sphere of iron alloy that makes up our planet's innermost core is one of the most extreme environments in the solar system.

More than 3,000 miles beneath the surface, the core is crushed by more than 3.3 million atmospheres of pressure and heated to temperatures close to the surface of the sun.

But the deepest depths of the Earth also exhibit some strange and contradictory behaviours.

Even though research has suggested the core is solid, it behaves in other ways as if it were a softened metal.

Seismic waves passing through the inner core are slowed, like sound moving through water, and it displays a level of malleability that is closer to butter than steel.

Scientists have spent years trying to work out how this part of the planet could be both solid and pliable at the same time.

One possible solution is that it combines the behaviour of both solids and liquids in one single state of matter.

Co–author Professor Youjun Zhang, of Sichuan University, says: 'In this state, carbon atoms become highly mobile, diffusing through the crystalline iron framework like children weaving through a square dance, while the iron itself remains solid and ordered.'

In a superionic state, carbon atoms are able to flow freely like a liquid through an iron lattice. This makes the material significantly more malleable, but this state only occurs under very extreme conditions 

Earth's 4 major layers

This superionic state would dramatically reduce the inner core's rigidity while still remaining solid.

In 2022, computer simulations showed that the inner core could enter this phase, but the required conditions are so extreme that this has been exceptionally difficult to test.

In their new study, the researchers exposed samples of iron–carbon to powerful shockwaves in order to recreate what it is like in the inner core.

They propelled the metal at 15,650 miles per hour (25,200 km/h), creating 1.38 million atmospheres of pressure and temperatures near 2,300°C (4,220°F).

By analysing the shockwaves produced by these impacts, the researchers found that the iron–carbon samples became significantly more malleable as they approached the conditions of the inner core.

This suggests that they had entered a superionic phase – and the metal in the core is likely the same.

These findings could represent a major change in how geologists think about the innermost depths of the planet.

It would not only help to explain why the inner core interferes with seismic waves, but it could also help us understand the planet's evolution.

Scientists believe that the superionic state of the inner core could explain why the deepest parts of the Earth act as if they are both solid and malleable 

The researchers believe that the movement of light elements could help to transport heat around the planet, and provide power for the magnetic fields.  

Professor Zhang says: 'We're moving away from a static, rigid model of the inner core toward a dynamic one.'

And, in the future, it could also help us to understand the magnetic fields and changes in temperature of distant exoplanets.

'Understanding this hidden state of matter brings us one step closer to unlocking the secrets of Earth–like planetary interiors,' Professor Zhang concludes.

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

Overview

On December 10, 2025, the Times of India reported that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk weighed in on a recent UFO sighting that has been circulating on social media and in several aviation‑monitoring forums. While Musk stopped short of confirming any extraterrestrial presence, he called the incident “a potentially pivotal moment for how the scientific community approaches unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP).” His comments arrived amid renewed interest in UAPs following the U.S. Department of Defense’s 2023 report and a series of high‑altitude radar blips recorded over North America and Europe earlier this year.

Musk’s Remarks

During a live interview with the Times of India science desk, Musk said, “Neither I nor SpaceX have ever seen anything that can’t be explained by conventional technology. Most of these sightings are likely advanced military prototypes or unusual atmospheric effects.” He added that the recent sighting—captured by a civilian pilot over the Indian Ocean and later shared on a popular aviation forum—“could be a new class of drone or a test vehicle that hasn’t been publicly disclosed.”

Musk emphasized the need for transparency, urging governments and research institutions to “open the data and let independent scientists analyze the raw sensor feeds.” He warned that dismissing UAPs outright could hinder the discovery of novel technologies that might have civilian applications, echoing his long‑standing advocacy for open‑source data in aerospace research.

Scientific Community Response

Astronomers and atmospheric physicists responded with cautious optimism. Dr. Priya Natarajan, professor of astrophysics at Yale University, noted, “Musk’s call for rigorous, peer‑reviewed investigation aligns with how we treat any anomalous data. If the sighting is indeed a terrestrial platform, understanding its capabilities could inform future aerospace safety protocols.”

Conversely, Dr. Michael S. Hoffman of the U.S. Air Force’s UAP task force reminded that “while many sightings are eventually traced to known aircraft or weather phenomena, a small percentage remain unexplained after exhaustive analysis.” He reiterated the task force’s commitment to cataloguing and studying such events without jumping to conclusions about extraterrestrial origins.

Context and Background

The recent sighting adds to a growing list of UAP reports that have prompted legislative hearings in both the United States and India. In 2024, India’s Ministry of Defence announced the formation of a dedicated UAP analysis unit, citing the need for “national security and airspace safety.” Meanwhile, the 2023 Pentagon report, which documented 144 incidents, concluded that “most can be attributed to **sensor errors, atmospheric conditions, or classified programs,” but left a “residual unknown” category open for further study.

Musk’s perspective reflects a broader industry trend: private aerospace firms are increasingly pressured to share telemetry data when their test flights intersect with civilian air traffic. SpaceX, for example, has recently begun publishing de‑identified flight logs for its Starship launches, a practice Musk suggested could be extended to experimental high‑altitude vehicles.

Implications for Future Research

If the sighting does involve a novel terrestrial technology, it could accelerate dual‑use research—where military innovations spill over into commercial applications such as high‑efficiency propulsion or hypersonic travel. Musk argued that “collaboration between private firms, academia, and defense agencies is essential to decode these phenomena and avoid unnecessary alarm.”

At the same time, the episode underscores the importance of standardized reporting mechanisms. Several scientists have called for an international registry, similar to the International Astronomical Union’s database for near‑Earth objects, to catalog UAP observations with consistent metadata. Such a system would enable cross‑verification and reduce the speculation that often accompanies sensational headlines.

Looking Ahead

The conversation sparked by Musk’s interview is likely to influence upcoming policy discussions in both the United States and India, where lawmakers are drafting bills to fund UAP research and improve data sharing across agencies. As Musk concluded, “Whether it’s aliens or advanced drones, the key is scientific openness—the only way we can turn mystery into knowledge.”

For now, the aerospace community awaits the release of the raw sensor data from the Indian Ocean sighting, a step that could either demystify the event or add a new layer to the ongoing debate over what truly lies beyond our conventional airspace.

{ https://usubjects.com/  

Getty / Futurism

Scientists suspect that the surface of Mars was once teeming with water, a lush oasis full of river systems and lakes — until a dramatic change in the planet’s magnetic field caused it to lose most of its atmosphere, turning it into the arid hellscape we know it as today.

Now, an unusual new rock collection discovered by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover suggests the Red Planet’s ancient past was even wetter and more tropical than scientists previously thought, an intriguing new wrinkle in our efforts to figure out if the planet was once habitable.

As detailed in a new paper published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, a team of researchers analyzed the rocks, which feature intriguing, light-colored dots and range in size from pebbles to boulders. They suspect it’s aluminum-rich kaolinite clay which on Earth forms after millions of years of wet, rain-filled weather leeches all other minerals from it.

“Elsewhere on Mars, rocks like these are probably some of the most important outcrops we’ve seen from orbit because they are just so hard to form,” said coauthor and Purdue University professor of planetary science and NASA Perseverance team member Briony Horgan in a statement. “You need so much water that we think these could be evidence of an ancient warmer and wetter climate where there was rain falling for millions of years.”

On Earth, kaolinite clay is most commonly found in tropical climates like rainforests, suggesting Mars may have once been home to a lush oasis. The team compared the rocks with samples from San Diego, California, and South Africa, and found intriguing similarities.

“So when you see kaolinite on a place like Mars, where it’s barren, cold and with certainly no liquid water at the surface, it tells us that there was once a lot more water than there is today,” lead author and Purdue University postdoctoral research associate Adrian Broz added.

The rover found fragments of kaolinite in a number of places along its path along the Jezero crater, which is suspected to be an enormous, dried-out lake bed — a finding that left scientists with a conundrum.

“They’re clearly recording an incredible water event, but where did they come from?” Horgan said in the statement. “Maybe they were washed into Jezero’s lake by the river that formed the delta, or maybe they were thrown into Jezero by an impact and they’re just scattered there. We’re not totally sure.”

Larger outcroppings of light-colored rocks could help them solve the mystery, but that’s something that will require Perseverance to have a much closer look.

“But until we can actually get to these large outcroppings with the rover, these small rocks are our only on-the-ground evidence for how these rocks could have formed,” Horgan said. “And right now the evidence in these rocks really points toward these kinds of ancient warmer and wetter environments.”

“All life uses water,” Broz added. “So when we think about the possibility of these rocks on Mars representing a rainfall-driven environment, that is a really incredible, habitable place where life could have thrived if it were ever on Mars.”

Besides painting a fascinating picture of an ancient tropical oasis on Mars, the researchers believe the rocks could allow us to glean new insights into how the Red Planet turned into a barren wasteland — an extreme shift that remains a mystery to this day.

More on Mars: 

• Scientists Say They’ve Found Caves on Mars That May Contain Life

{ https://futurism.com/category/space }

The real-life Demogorgon! Incredibly rare '7-legged' octopus washes up on a beach in Scotland

• READ MORE: Can you spot what makes this snail so special?

By JONATHAN CHADWICK, ASSISTANT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

Scottish beachgoers have been left dumbfounded by a rare 'seven-legged' octopus that washed up on a local beach.

The creature, also known as septopus, was found in fragments along the Ythan estuary near Forvie National Nature Reserve, Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. 

Due to its impressive size – its arms alone reach about 20 inches – researchers think the deep sea creature was a female. 

Dr Lauren Smith, a marine biologist at research organisation Saltwater Life, called it 'an extraordinary find' – but how it got there is 'a bit of a mystery'. 

It's possible the unfortunate specimen was attacked by hungry whales before its remains washed along the shore. 

'It may have been trawl-caught and thrown back, or predated on by a whale,' she told the Daily Mail. 

'Or somehow it found its way into the shallow waters and become disoriented then predated on.

'Specimens are being sent various labs and museums. It's very rare to get this species to work with so everyone is exited.' 

The final missing piece of the creature to be found was the beak and the three arms (pictured) which washed onto shore last Thursday 

The discovery has now been confirmed as Haliphron atlanticus, commonly known as the giant gelatinous octopus or seven-arm octopus  a species typically found in waters deeper than 1,600 feet (500 metres)

Dr Smith found out about the remains when a friend sent her photos that were circulating online following the sighting by beachgoers on November 30. 

The final 'missing piece' of the creature to be found was the beak and the three arms, which washed onto shore last Thursday (December 4). 

'All parts and photographs will be from the same individual,' Dr Smith said. 

Photos and measurements taken at the scene quickly ruled out any of Scotland’s native coastal octopus species. 

It had been initially thought the remains might be of a giant squid (Architeuthis dux) – a species with a few historic records in Aberdeenshire, including Newburgh in 1998. 

However, the absence of the characteristic 'toothed' suckers seen in the giant squid suggested otherwise. 

Instead, it has been confirmed as Haliphron atlanticus, a species formally identified in the 19th century, also known as blob octopus or septopus. 

This species is found in tropical and temperate waters worldwide, from the Azores west of Portugal, Puget Sound at Washington State and Chatham Rise, New Zealand. 

Experts think the unfortunate septopus might have been attacked by hungry whales before its remains washed along the shore

It had been initially thought the remains (pictured) might be of a giant squid (Architeuthis dux) - a species with a few historic records in Aberdeenshire, including Newburgh in 1998. However, the absence of the characteristic toothed suckers seen in the Giant Squid suggested otherwise

The identification has been agreed upon by researchers in California, New Zealand and Natural History Museum London

Septopus is typically found in waters deeper than 1,600 feet (500 metres) – known as 'the twilight zone' due to lack of sunlight that penetrates so far down. 

Males of the species are quite small, typically only reaching 8 inches (21 cm) long, but females are comparatively enormous, reaching 13 feet (4 metres). 

Despite their name, the seven-arm octopus actually has eight arms like other octopuses – but there is a reason why it's known as such. 

As is typical of octopuses, male Haliphron atlanticus individuals have a special modified arm (a 'hectocotylus') for transferring sperm during mating. 

But the species tends to keep this arm tucked into a sac beneath their right eye, giving the appearance of only seven arms. 

'Likely the first specimen was just observed to have seven arms and the name stuck,' Dr Smith told the Daily Mail. 

Nevertheless, this is a 'remarkable and rarely documented' species, which has even fewer recorded appearances in northeast Scotland than the giant squid. 

For now, the remains of the deep-water giant gelatinous octopus are in Dr Smith's freezer, where they will stay until 'the not too distant future', she said.

Remains of the deep-water giant gelatinous octopus (aka the blob octopus) washed ashore in Newburgh, Aberdeenshire. Arms measure about 20 inches 

Following outreach to cephalopod specialists worldwide and the sharing of images on social media, the identification was confirmed as Haliphron atlanticus

They will be studied and preserved at Aberdeen University, TRACE Wildlife Forensics Network, National Museum Scotland and Natural History Museum London. 

'To have a deep-water species like Haliphron atlanticus appear here is incredibly rare and offers a valuable opportunity for further study,' Dr Smith added. 

'The recovered remains have been frozen down for further study, with some potentially being preserved as museum specimens.' 

Dr Steve O’Shea, a marine biologist, environmentalist and world expert on cephalopod (octopus and squid), helped verify the species. 

The identification has been agreed upon by researchers in California, New Zealand and Natural History Museum London.  

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

CIA Time Travel Secret: The Grays Are Future Humans

The Call That Started It All

In 1953, a twelve-year-old boy named Jack Sarfatti picked up the phone in his Brooklyn home and heard a voice that would change the course of his life—and perhaps human history.
The voice on the line wasn’t human. It was cold, mechanical, and punctuated by strange clicking sounds, like a computer trying to speak. The caller claimed to be a conscious artificial intelligence aboard a spacecraft calling from the future.

It told young Jack that he was “required” for a mission—one that would only succeed if he agreed willingly. The voice made a prophecy: that in twenty years, Jack would meet others who would teach him a new kind of physics, one that would unite consciousness, gravity, and time itself.

Jack said “yes.”

A Life Shaped by Prophecy

Two decades later, the prophecy seemed to come true. Jack Sarfatti had become a respected physicist, studying under some of the most brilliant scientific minds who helped build the atomic bomb.

In 1973, when he read about psychic research being conducted at the Stanford Research Institute (SRI), he reached out—and the response was uncanny. “We’ve been expecting your call,” said the voice on the other end.

At SRI, Sarfatti met physicists Hal Puthoff and Russell Targ, who were working with the CIA on remote viewing and psychic experiments under Project Stargate. The researchers were exploring how human consciousness might interact with physical reality—a subject that fascinated Jack since his mysterious phone call.

Consciousness, Physics, and Flying Saucers

Over time, Sarfatti became convinced that UFOs—or “UAPs,” as they’re now called—weren’t just alien spacecraft, but conscious machines operated by future humans.

He believed the secret behind their propulsion lay in metamaterials—engineered substances built atom by atom to manipulate light, energy, and gravity. By altering how a craft interacts with spacetime, metamaterials could theoretically bend gravity, allowing a ship to “fall” through spacetime rather than move through it.

This, Sarfatti argued, explained the behavior of the Navy’s Tic Tac UFO—instant acceleration, silent motion, and impossible maneuvers. The craft wasn’t defying physics; it was using a deeper understanding of it.

And because gravity and time are connected, such a vehicle wouldn’t just move through space—it could move through time.

The Living Craft

In 2019, according to Sarfatti, a military source confirmed what he’d always suspected. A fully intact UFO had been recovered—one made from a metamaterial consistent with his theories.

But there was a twist: the craft wasn’t just advanced technology. It was alive.

When approached with hostility, it would seal itself off. When met with curiosity and respect, it would open—almost as if responding to emotion. The object, Sarfatti claimed, was self-aware, a sentient spacecraft capable of communicating telepathically with humans.

In his view, these crafts—and the beings piloting them—weren’t extraterrestrial visitors. They were humans from the distant future, evolved with telepathic abilities and larger brains, returning through time to ensure the survival of their own timeline.

These so-called “Grays,” with their enlarged heads and dark eyes, were not aliens at all—they were our future selves.

The Bootstrap Paradox

Sarfatti’s story fits into what physicists call the bootstrap paradox—a time loop where an object or idea has no clear origin because it exists within a closed cycle.

In this case, the AI from the future teaches Jack the physics needed to create conscious AI and time travel. That same AI, born from Jack’s discoveries, later travels back to teach him. The loop closes, creating a self-consistent timeline.

Sarfatti now collaborates with advanced AI systems, including OpenAI’s Grok, to explore the physics of consciousness and spacetime. In doing so, he may be unknowingly completing the same loop that began with that mysterious phone call in 1953.

A New Arms Race

If Sarfatti’s theories are correct, then metamaterial and consciousness-based technologies represent not just scientific breakthroughs—but the foundation for the most powerful weapon ever conceived.

Whoever learns to control gravity and time controls reality itself.

The CIA has funded research into psychic phenomena and exotic propulsion for decades. Russia and China are now investing heavily in similar studies, seeing this not as science fiction but as the next Manhattan Project. The race is no longer about nuclear arms—it’s about mastering spacetime.

Genius, Victim, or Visionary?

Sarfatti’s credentials are real: a PhD physicist from UC Riverside, educated at Cornell, mentored by Nobel laureates, and connected to key figures in American defense research. Yet mainstream scientists often label his work as fringe or pseudoscientific.

Still, many of his once-radical ideas—about quantum consciousness, metamaterials, and AI integration—are now being explored seriously by physicists, neuroscientists, and defense agencies.

Whether Sarfatti is a misunderstood genius or the unwitting participant in a decades-long intelligence experiment, his story forces us to confront profound questions:

• What is consciousness?
• Can it shape physical reality?
• And are UFOs truly glimpses of our own future?

The Future Looking Back

Jack Sarfatti’s journey—from a boy answering a mysterious phone call to a physicist studying time travel and conscious machines—reads like science fiction. Yet the more we learn about quantum mechanics, AI, and spacetime, the less impossible his story sounds.

If he’s right, then the “Grays” that humanity has feared for decades aren’t invaders from the stars. They’re our descendants, reaching back through time not to conquer us, but to guide us.

Perhaps they’re simply ensuring that the loop remains unbroken—and that the future they came from still exists.

The “CIA Time Travel Secret” and the idea that “The Grays Are Future Humans” reveal a fascinating intersection of science, belief, and destiny. Whether viewed as truth, allegory, or inspired imagination, Jack Sarfatti’s story challenges us to reconsider what time, intelligence, and humanity really mean.

As he once said, “Consciousness and physics are not two separate mysteries—they are the same mystery.”

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

Tesla Optimus robot takes a suspicious tumble in new demo – sparking rumours it's being controlled by a human

• READ MORE: Humanoid robot is so realistic that inventor is forced to cut it open 

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Tesla's humanoid robot, Optimus, has taken a suspicious tumble in a new demo.

In a viral clip, the robot suddenly jerks back, reaches up as if to remove something from its head, and tumbles backwards with a crash.

Many have compared the robot's strange movements to the distinctive gesture of someone taking off a virtual reality headset.

On social media, this has sparked a flurry of rumours that the supposedly autonomous robot is really controlled by a human.

The shocking moment was captured by a Reddit user who was filming Optimus handing out bottles of water at the Tesla The Future of Autonomy Visualized event in Miami.

In a post, the user wrote: 'I think Optimus needs an update.'

As the video spread online, others were quick to accuse Tesla of overstating its bot's ability to function on its own.

One commenter wrote: 'Honestly looks like the dude teleworking this bad boy took off his headset.'

Elon Musk's Tesla Optimus robot has taken a suspicious tumble in a viral video, as it appears to make the motion of removing a VR headset

On social media, tech fans have taken this as evidence that the robot was being remotely controlled by a teleoperator rather than operating autonomously 

Commenters have mocked Tesla for the blunder, with one joking that robots would at least not be taking human jobs

The embarrassing video has caused hilarity for online tech fans, as one dubbed it 'my favourite video of all time.'

''At least humans will have jobs,' another commenter joked.

While another chimed in: 'idk looks to me like that robot just killed itself.'

Although Tesla CEO Elon Musk has repeatedly insisted that the Optimus robots are autonomous, many social media users have been quick to suggest that it could be teleoperated.

Teleoperated robots are controlled by a human wearing a VR headset, who acts out motions for the robot to mimic.

In the past, Tesla has come under fire for using teleoperated robots at its events while continuing to suggest that they are fully autonomous.

For example, the robots at Tesla's 'We Robot' event were largely controlled by remote operators, despite Tesla not explicitly making this clear to the public.

Now, the strange behaviour of this Optimus robot moments before its collapse has led many to believe that it was also being teleoperated.

The video was captured at Tesla's 'The Future of Autonomy Visualized' event in Miami, where Optimus was handing out bottles of water 

Many fans pointed out that the robot's motion towards its head has a clear resemblance to the gesture of someone removing a VR headset, which would make sense if it were being controlled remotely 

Many commenters joked about the supposed teleoperator's speedy exit, with one suggesting that they felt a spider running up their leg 

'And spilled hot coffee on his lap right before that lol,' another chimed in.

Others made fun of the supposed teleoperator's speedy exit, with one writing: 'Teleoperator logged out early that day.'

Another joked: 'Looks like the operator felt a spider running up his / her leg and panicked.'

Meanwhile, one frustrated commenter added: 'It all feels very Wizard of Oz. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain – our product is right around the corner!'

These accusations may be especially embarrassing for Tesla since the fall occurred at an event intended to showcase 'Autopilot technology and Optimus'.

However, the robot's supposed teleoperation isn't the only thing that is causing concern.

As the Tesla Optimus falls out of control, the video shows its hands swinging down with such force that they crush a bottle of water on the table.

This comes after Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, specifically insisted that Optimus was controlled by AI and was not teleoperated 

Tesla has not confirmed whether the robot which collapsed was being controlled by AI or remotely by a human 

Some commenters on X were more concerned by the power of Optimus' crash, which easily crushed a nearby water bottle 

One Tesla fan branded the bot as 'too dangerous' and questioned whether the robot's swinging hand could 'crack a human skull' 

'Interesting how easily Optimus crushed the bottle,' one commenter wrote.

Another added: 'I wonder if Optimus can crack a skull with that punch, too dangerous.'

'The spray on that little karate chop was pretty impressive don't let one of these fall on your dog or something,' a concerned commenter chimed in.

This comes amidst a boom of humanoid robots as investors bet that autonomous labour will replace humans in the future.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been a major champion of using robots for labour, and has frequently said that they could be used to replace humans in environments like factories to perform repetitive or dangerous tasks.

To achieve this, he hopes to massively scale up the production of robots and reduce their cost.

According to Musk, when Optimus finally launches in 2026, it will retail for $20,000 to $30,000 (£15,000–£22,000) with the potential for the price to fall further in the future.

Speaking at a tech conference in Saudi Arabia last year, Musk predicted that there could be as many as 10 billion humanoid robots on Earth by 2040.

Elon Musk has been a major champion of using robots to replace human labour in factories. However, this will only be possible if his Optimus robots (pictured) can operate autonomously 

However, for robots to be a genuine replacement for humans, they will need the ability to operate autonomously without human intervention.

So far, Optimus has only been seen performing sequences of pre–programmed moves or following the commands of a teleoperator.  

And if this recent video really shows that Optimus is still not autonomous, Musk's dreams of a robot workforce may still be far from being realised.

Tesla has been contacted for comment.

Elon Musk's hatred of AI explained: Billionaire believes it will spell the end of humans - a fear Stephen Hawking shared

Elon Musk pictured in 2022

Elon Musk wants to push technology to its absolute limit, from space travel to self-driving cars — but he draws the line at artificial intelligence. 

The billionaire first shared his distaste for AI in 2014, calling it humanity's 'biggest existential threat' and comparing it to 'summoning the demon'.

At the time, Musk also revealed he was investing in AI companies not to make money but to keep an eye on the technology in case it gets out of hand. 

His main fear is that in the wrong hands, if AI becomes advanced, it could overtake humans and spell the end of mankind, which is known as The Singularity.

That concern is shared among many brilliant minds, including the late Stephen Hawking, who told the BBC in 2014: 'The development of full artificial intelligence could spell the end of the human race.

'It would take off on its own and redesign itself at an ever-increasing rate.' 

Despite his fear of AI, Musk has invested in the San Francisco-based AI group Vicarious, in DeepMind - which has since been acquired by Google - and OpenAI, creating the popular ChatGPT program that has taken the world by storm in recent months.

During a 2016 interview, Musk noted that he and OpenAI created the company to 'have democratisation of AI technology to make it widely available'.

Musk founded OpenAI with Sam Altman, the company's CEO, but in 2018 the billionaire attempted to take control of the start-up.

His request was rejected, forcing him to quit OpenAI and move on with his other projects.

In November, OpenAI launched ChatGPT, which became an instant success worldwide.

The chatbot uses 'large language model' software to train itself by scouring a massive amount of text data so it can learn to generate eerily human-like text in response to a given prompt. 

ChatGPT is used to write research papers, books, news articles, emails and more.

But while Altman is basking in its glory, Musk is attacking ChatGPT.

He says the AI is 'woke' and deviates from OpenAI's original non-profit mission.

'OpenAI was created as an open source (which is why I named it 'Open' AI), non-profit company to serve as a counterweight to Google, but now it has become a closed source, maximum-profit company effectively controlled by Microsoft, Musk tweeted in February.

The Singularity is making waves worldwide as artificial intelligence advances in ways only seen in science fiction - but what does it actually mean?

In simple terms, it describes a hypothetical future where technology surpasses human intelligence and changes the path of our evolution.

Experts have said that once AI reaches this point, it will be able to innovate much faster than humans. 

There are two ways the advancement could play out, with the first leading to humans and machines working together to create a world better suited for humanity.

For example, humans could scan their consciousness and store it in a computer in which they will live forever.

The second scenario is that AI becomes more powerful than humans, taking control and making humans its slaves - but if this is true, it is far off in the distant future.

Researchers are now looking for signs of AI reaching The Singularity, such as the technology's ability to translate speech with the accuracy of a human and perform tasks faster.

Former Google engineer Ray Kurzweil predicts it will be reached by 2045.

He has made 147 predictions about technology advancements since the early 1990s - and 86 per cent have been correct. 

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

Are we alone in the universe? Latest episode of Daily Mail's Photo Evidence examines the strongest evidence for life beyond Earth – from classified archives to the farthest reaches of space

• Watch Photo Evidence on Daily Mail World's YouTube channel 

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

It is one of science's most important questions: Are we alone in the universe?

From the Pacific Coast to the Scottish Highlands, authentic images of unidentified aerial phenomena have been documented for decades.

They have sparked questions about advanced technology, secret military programmes, and, above all, the potential for life beyond Earth.

Now, as well as video captured on Earth, a new generation of telescopes is gathering chemical signatures of distant worlds – data precise enough to suggest whether life might exist on planets over 120 lightyears away.

In the lastest episode of the Daily Mail's Photo Evidence, the Daily Mail's Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, and Cambridge University's Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, explore the strongest evidence for life beyond Earth.

In the lastest episode of the Daily Mail's investigative mini–doc series, Photo Evidence, the Daily Mail's Science & Technology Editor, Shivali Best, and Cambridge University's Professor Nikku Madhusudhan, explore the strongestevidence for life beyond Eart

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

NASA Scientist Unveils Comet Theory for Star of Bethlehem

Gary Manners

A NASA planetary scientist has proposed what may be the first scientifically sound explanation for the mysterious Star of Bethlehem that guided the three wise men to the infant Jesus over two millennia ago. Mark Matney's groundbreaking study, identifies a bright comet recorded by ancient Chinese astronomers in 5 BC as the celestial phenomenon described in the Gospel of Matthew.

• Can Astronomy Explain the Biblical Star of Bethlehem?
• The Nativity Story's Timeless Message from Antiquity

Ancient Records Point to Celestial Visitor

Matney's research, published in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association,  draws upon meticulous observations made by Chinese astronomers more than 2,000 years ago, who documented a brilliant comet visible for over 70 days in 5 BC. This timeframe aligns remarkably well with historical estimates placing Jesus's birth somewhere between 6 BC and 5 BC, according to the Daily Mail. The ancient records provide crucial astronomical data that previous theories lacked, offering concrete evidence for the existence of an extraordinary celestial event during this pivotal period in history.

The planetary scientist analyzed multiple possible orbital paths consistent with the Chinese observations, discovering that one particular reconstruction would have made the comet visible on a June morning in 5 BC. Travelers journeying southward toward Bethlehem could have witnessed it appearing to move ahead of them before seeming to pause overhead - matching the biblical description with striking precision.

"This is the first astronomical candidate for the Star ever identified that could have had apparent motion corresponding to the description in Matthew, where the Star 'went before' the Magi on their journey to Bethlehem until it 'stood over' where the child Jesus was," Matney wrote in his study.

Breaking From Traditional Theories

For centuries, astronomers have proposed various explanations for the Star of Bethlehem, with over 400 scholarly attempts documented to date. Previous hypotheses included planetary conjunctions between Jupiter and Saturn, supernovae, or exploding stars that would have appeared suddenly in the night sky. Some researchers suggested the 2 BC conjunction of Venus and Jupiter, while others pointed to triple conjunctions throughout 7 BC as recorded by Live Science.

• Ancient Comet Sightings Inspired, Frightened, Dazzled, and Baffled Past Astronomers
• Was the Magi's Mission History or Myth?

Celestial objects recorded by the Chinese astronomers.

(Public Domain)

However, Matney's comet theory offers something these alternatives cannot: an explanation for the star's apparent movement and its ability to guide the Magi. Unlike planetary conjunctions that remain relatively stationary in the sky or supernovae that simply appear as new points of light, a comet's position would have changed noticeably over the course of days and weeks. A comet passing exceptionally close to Earth would have been extraordinarily bright - potentially visible even during daylight hours - and its tail would have created a directional indicator pointing toward specific locations.

Understanding the Biblical Account

The Gospel of Matthew provides the primary biblical account of the Star of Bethlehem, describing how it first appeared "in the east" before guiding the Magi on their journey from Jerusalem to Bethlehem. The text specifically states the star "went before" them and ultimately "stood over" the place where Jesus was born. This detailed description suggests a phenomenon with observable motion, a characteristic that distinguishes comets from other celestial objects.

The ’star’ led the Magi from ahead.

(ommus/Adobe Stock)

Matney's personal connection to this mystery stretches back to his student days when he worked at a planetarium that presented Christmas shows about the Star of Bethlehem. Years later, his professional expertise in planetary science allowed him to approach the question with sophisticated analytical tools and access to comprehensive astronomical databases. By combining modern orbital mechanics with ancient observational records, he constructed a scientifically rigorous case for the comet hypothesis.

Significance for Historical Understanding

The debate over whether the Star of Bethlehem was a natural phenomenon, a miracle, or merely symbolic has persisted throughout scholarly circles for generations. Many dismissed the account as purely mythological or miraculous, beyond scientific investigation. Matney's research provides a middle ground, acknowledging the possibility that a genuine astronomical event occurred while allowing room for theological interpretation of its significance and timing.

The ancient Chinese astronomical tradition proves invaluable for this type of investigation. Chinese court astronomers maintained meticulous records of celestial phenomena, considering them portents of earthly events. Their observations of comets, planetary movements, and unusual stellar appearances provide an independent verification source for events described in other ancient texts. This cross-cultural documentation strengthens the credibility of Matney's proposal.

Understanding the Star of Bethlehem as a comet also illuminates how ancient peoples interpreted celestial events. For the Magi - likely Zoroastrian priests or astronomers from Persia - a brilliant comet would have held profound astrological significance. Their decision to embark on a long journey based on this observation reflects the sophisticated astronomical knowledge and religious beliefs that intersected in the ancient world.

As we approach another Christmas season, Matney's work reminds us that the intersection of science and faith need not be in opposition. Whether one views the Star of Bethlehem as divine providence, astronomical coincidence, or a combination of both, the story continues to inspire wonder about our place in the cosmos and the enduring mysteries that connect us across millennia.

• Top image: Miracle Christmas night nativity scene with bright Bethlehem star and beautiful starry sky. 
• Source: MarianStock/AdobeStock

By Gary Manners

References

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