Dark matter is seen for the first time: Eerie image shows first direct evidence of the elusive substance that makes up 25% of the universe

• READ MORE: Scientist explains what happens if you walked into a black hole 

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Scientists have captured the first–ever direct evidence for dark matter, the elusive substance that makes up more than a quarter of the universe.

Using NASA's Fermi telescope, researchers have detected powerful gamma–ray radiation emerging from a 'halo–like' structure surrounding the Milky Way.

Its frequency and intensity suggest that this could be dark matter.  

According to the study's author, Professor Tomonori Totani of the University of Tokyo, this eerie image is the first time that humanity has been able to 'see' the mysterious substance. 

For almost two decades, scientists have known that there is a glow of gamma–ray radiation coming from the heart of the Milky Way called the galactic centre (GC) excess.

However, the so–called 'halo signature' surrounding our galaxy is something that no scientist has ever seen before.

Speaking to Daily Mail, Professor Totani explained: 'While the GC excess is concentrated at the very centre of the Galaxy, my halo signal is thinly spread across the halo region.

'I believe it strongly suggests radiation from dark matter.'

Scientists have captured the first–ever direct evidence for dark matter, the elusive substance that makes up more than a quarter of the universe 

The invisible influence of dark matter helps explain everything from the rotation of galaxies to the expansion of the universe.

But, despite its enormous importance to modern physics, scientists have only been able to observe dark matter indirectly by measuring its gravitational effects.

Now, Professor Totani believes he has finally found a way to change this.

Many scientists believe that dark matter is made up of something called weakly interacting massive particles, or WIMPs.

WIMPS are much larger than normal particles like protons, but don't interact with conventional matter – making them almost impossible to detect.

However, when two WIMPs collide, they are annihilated and release a burst of photons in the form of gamma–ray radiation.

Using 15 years of data from NASA's Fermi Gamma–ray Space Telescope, Professor Totani looked at a region of the galaxy where dark matter was thought to collect.

There, he found that gamma rays with an 'extremely large amount of energy' extend in a large halo–like structure, emerging from the galactic centre.

Scientists have known for almost two decades that there is a glow of gamma radiation emerging from the centre of the galaxy. Now, a scientist has found an even more powerful signal that could be caused by dark matter 

Even after blocking out the glow of the galactic centre, data from NASA's Fermi telescope shows a 'halo–like' region of powerful gamma ray radiation that could be caused by colliding particles of dark matter 

What is dark matter?

Dark matter outweighs visible matter roughly six to one, making up about 27 per cent of the universe. 

Unlike normal matter, dark matter does not interact with the electromagnetic force. 

This means it does not absorb, reflect or emit light, making it extremely hard to spot.

In fact, researchers have been able to infer the existence of dark matter only from the gravitational effect it seems to have on visible matter. 

Source: CERN 

This energy was emerging from the exact place where previous studies had predicted dark matter would be most concentrated.

Even more excitingly, this energy level is exactly what some scientists had predicted colliding particles of dark matter should produce.

This could very well be the first time that scientists have found a way of looking at dark matter itself.

Professor Totani told Daily Mail: 'Since we are directly observing the gamma rays emitted by dark matter, I personally believe it can be considered "direct observation".'

Importantly, the halo signature is completely distinct from previous observations of the GC excess.

Not only is the halo signature more spread out, but it is also 10 times more powerful than the gamma radiation found in the GC excess.

This is critical because there are no known types of stars or black holes which produce this type of energy.

Dr Moorts Muru, a dark matter expert from the Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics who was not involved in the study, told Daily Mail: 'None of the known stellar objects radiates energy at such high levels, and thus, Totani leans strongly towards the dark matter hypothesis.'

The energy produced by this halo signal is 10 times more powerful than the gamma–ray radiation coming from the galactic centre, and matches the signal researchers expected to find from dark matter (illustrated). The red and blue lines show the predicted signal from dark matter, while the circles show the data points collected by Fermi

While Dr Muru says this is not 'definitive proof', he adds that it is a 'significant boost to understanding dark matter'.

However, not everyone is convinced.

Professor Joe Silk, a dark matter researcher from Johns Hopkins University who was not involved in the study, told Daily Mail he thinks the claim of dark matter detection is 'premature'.

Firstly, Professor Totani's predictions for how much energy a WIMP should produce are much higher than some scientists' calculations.

'Of course, our predictions could be wrong, but if he is correct, we should have seen a gamma ray signal from nearby dwarf galaxies that are dark matter–dominated,' says Professor Silk.

Additionally, Professor Silk argues that these strong gamma rays could be the product of a huge explosion that emanated from the galaxy's central black hole about 10 billion years ago.

This explosion created the massive structures known as the 'Fermi bubbles' that extend on either side of the galaxy, but could have also started a powerful chain reaction.

Professor Silk says: 'What he did not consider is the fact that such an explosion that caused the Fermi bubbles is associated with violent shock fronts with turbulent magnetic fields that are known to be giant particle accelerators.

Not everyone is convinced by these findings, as some scientists suggest the gamma ray radiation could be emerging from 'energetic particles' trapped in the 'Fermi bubble' (highlighted) that emerges above and below the galactic plane 

Read More

• The Milky Way as you've NEVER seen it: Scientists reveal largest low-frequency radio colour image 

'So they could have injected many energetic particles whose subsequent diffusion and interaction with the ambient gas would have generated an additional gamma ray glow. In which case, we have no evidence for dark matter.'

In his paper, published in the Journal of Cosmology and Astroparticle Physics, Professor Totani acknowledges that more observations will be needed to prove this really is dark matter.

If other regions that should have lots of dark matter, like nearby dwarf galaxies, have similar gamma–ray signatures, it would be strong evidence for his claim.

However, the researcher remains confident that more data in the future will only provide more evidence that gamma–rays originate from dark matter.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

Internet Puzzled by “Jellyfish” UFO Video

By Victor Tangermann

Image: Jeremy Corbell via YouTube

Jellyfish and Chandelier

A video of what has since been dubbed a “jellyfish” UFO is making the rounds online.

The footage, shared by journalist Jeremy Corbell earlier this week, shows a mysterious object that appears to have dangling tendrils, and which appears to smoothly float over the roofs of a military base in Iraq. According to Corbell, the UFO footage dates back to October 2018.

According to Cincoski, the footage was taken from an aerostat, a big balloon observatory that was floating over the base to detect any incoming threats.

“Toward the end, it seemingly continued off into the distance,” he told NewsNation, but refuted Corbell’s claims that it ever dropped “into the lake or shoot into the sky.”

“It ended up being the ghost story of the base,” Cincoski added.

Critics, however, say both the “jellyfish” and “chandelier” had much simpler explanations than some outlandish alien theories would suggest.

“The ‘Chandelier’ UFO appears to be a diffraction artifact,” tweeted writer and noted UFO debunker Mick West. “Basically, a glare from a very bright/hot source, like a missile rocket/engine.”

And the jellyfish was likely “two different balloon-like entities” moving about 12 kilometers apart, West added, that appear to be moving at the same speed as the wind — a strong clue that instead of an alien visitor, it’s just a balloon.

More on UFOs: 

• Congress Receiving Mysterious Classified Briefing About UFOs

{ https://futurism.com/ }

The FBI Just Quietly Revealed That It Has a Real-Life UFO Office

By Noor Al-Sibai

Image: Fox / Liaison via Getty / Futurism

Amid the Pentagon’s years-long probes into the unexplained and unidentified, the FBI has been quietly running its own secret office investigating so-called “unidentified anomalous phenomena.”

Yes, let’s get this out of the way: that’s basically the plot of the 90s television show “The X-Files.” But buried in a new Politico story about concerns that UFO-hunting agents may soon be caught up in a purge is a jarring revelation: that such an office exists within the bureau —the “existence” of which had “not been disclosed publicly before,” per the outlet’s reporting.

{ https://futurism.com/ }

NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977, continues to operate and set records. It is already the first man-made object to reach interstellar space and is currently the furthest spacecraft from Earth. But at the end of 2026, it will reach a new milestone: traveling one light-day away from our planet.

Illustration of the Voyager 1 spacecraft. Source: NASA

One light day is the distance that light or a radio signal travels in 24 hours. Voyager 1 is currently more than 25 billion km away, and a signal from Earth takes almost 23.5 hours to reach it. According to NASA calculations, in a year, on November 15, 2026, the spacecraft will reach a distance of 25.9 billion km. At that point, each transmission from our antennas will take exactly 24 hours to reach it.

Unique mission and challenges

Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 are the longest-running missions in NASA history. It is remarkable that their equipment has millions of times less memory and computing power than modern smartphones. However, outdated electronics do not prevent them from continuing to help science. It was Voyager 1 that took the iconic photo of Earth – “Pale Blue Dot” – showing our planet as a tiny speck in the vastness of space.

But at such great distances, communication with the spacecraft becomes increasingly difficult. It takes a whole day for a command from Earth to reach it, and another day for the response to return. Its nuclear power source will only last for a few more years. But even when the Voyagers fall silent, they will forever remain humanity’s first messengers in interstellar space.

Earlier, we reported on how NASA named this year the “death” of the Voyager probes.

• According to Interesting Engineering

• Posted in News, Tech

RELATED VIDEOS

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

Researchers at the University of Tokyo have announced the discovery of gamma rays produced by the annihilation of dark matter particles. If confirmed, this will be the first time that humanity has “seen” this mysterious substance.

The hidden mass of the Universe

Back in the early 1930s, astronomer Fritz Zwicky discovered an anomaly in the motion of galaxies, which could be explained by the fact that their actual mass was much greater than the mass of the observable matter. This led him to conclude that there must be some invisible structure—dark matter—holding the galaxies together.

Simulation of dark matter structures in the Universe. Source: MARK GARLICK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY via Getty Images

Almost a century after Zwicky’s discovery, dark matter remains largely a mystery. Until now, scientists have only been able to observe it indirectly, by studying its effects on observable matter. For example, through its ability to generate enough gravity to hold galaxies together. The reason why dark matter cannot be observed directly is that the particles it consists of do not interact with electromagnetic radiation and do not emit it. In other words, dark matter does not absorb, reflect, or emit light.

Annihilation of dark matter

There are many hypotheses explaining the nature of dark matter. According to one of the most popular theories, it consists of so-called WIMPs (weakly interacting massive particles), which are heavier than protons but interact very little with other matter. Despite the lack of interaction, when two such particles collide, they annihilate each other and release other particles, including gamma-ray photons.

Map of gamma-ray intensity in the Milky Way. The horizontal gray stripe in the central region corresponds to the galactic plane, which was excluded from the analysis to avoid strong astrophysical radiation. Source: Tomonori Totani, The University of Tokyo

For many years, scientists have been trying to find these specific gamma rays, focusing on areas where dark matter is believed to be most concentrated. According to Professor Tomonori Totani of the Department of Astronomy at the University of Tokyo, he has finally succeeded in solving this problem. After analyzing the latest data from the Fermi space telescope, he has found gamma rays whose characteristics match those predicted.

“We detected gamma rays with a photon energy of 20 gigaelectronvolts (or 20 billion electronvolts, which is an extremely high energy) propagating in a halo-like structure toward the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The gamma-ray component corresponds exactly to the shape expected from a dark matter halo,” said Totani.

Energy spectrum of gamma radiation detected by the Fermi telescope. Source: Tomonori Totani, The University of Tokyo

The observed energy spectrum, or gamma-ray intensity range, corresponds to the radiation predicted as a result of the annihilation of hypothetical WIMPs, whose mass is approximately 500 times greater than that of a proton. The annihilation rate, estimated from the measured gamma-ray intensity, is also within the range of theoretical predictions.

“If this is true, then, as far as I know, this will be the first time that humanity has ‘seen’ dark matter. And it turns out that dark matter is a new particle not included in the current standard model of particle physics. This represents a significant breakthrough in astronomy and physics.”

Although Totani is confident that his gamma-ray measurements detect dark matter particles, his results must be verified by independent analysis by other researchers. Even with this confirmation, scientists will need additional evidence that this radiation is indeed the result of dark matter annihilation and not coming from some other astronomical phenomenon.

Additional evidence of collisions in other locations with high concentrations of dark matter would support these initial findings. For example, the detection of gamma rays of the same energy from dwarf galaxies in the Milky Way halo would confirm the results of the study.

• According to UTokyo

• Posted in News, Science

RELATED VIDEOS

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

Overview

On November 21, 2025, a noteworthy documentary titled “The Age of Disclosure” was premiered on Capitol Hill, bringing significant attention to a series of recently declassified Pentagon recordings related to unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs. Produced by Vulture, the online entertainment arm of New York Magazine, this 84-minute film aims to shed light on official government data that has largely been kept concealed from the public. The documentary combines authentic footage, firsthand witness testimonies, and archival materials to argue that the U.S. government is gradually becoming more transparent regarding its knowledge of unexplained aerial sightings. The organizers framed this screening as a “call for greater transparency,” emphasizing the importance of allowing citizens and policymakers alike access to credible evidence of UAP encounters.

The goal is to foster a shift in public perception and to motivate lawmakers to push for systematic reporting and scientific investigation of these phenomena. This event marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing push for openness and accountability related to UFO mysteries, highlighting how the government’s stance is evolving from secrecy to limited disclosure. As the documentary gains attention, it stokes a broader debate about national security, scientific curiosity, and governmental transparency surrounding aerial phenomena that defy current technological understanding.

Dan Farah. Photograph: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Documentary Content

"The Age of Disclosure" intricately weaves three core elements to build its narrative. First, it showcases a series of declassified videos released by the Department of Defense between 2020 and 2024. These include high-profile clips like the “Gimbal” and “GoFast” videos, which depict unidentified objects performing extraordinary maneuvers that challenge known principles of aerospace physics. Second, the film features interviews with credible witnesses such as military pilots, radar operators, and intelligence analysts, all sharing personal accounts of observing unexplained objects during combat and reconnaissance missions.

Their detailed descriptions lend credibility to the argument that these sightings are real and not fabricated or misreported. Third, aerospace technology scholars contribute contextual analysis, emphasizing that the observed phenomena surpass current human engineering capabilities, thus raising questions about their origin—whether advanced foreign technology or something entirely different. Director Megan Alvarez explained that the documentary’s goal isn’t to prove extraterrestrial life but to stress that government-verified footage exists and warrants serious public discussion. By showcasing this compelling evidence, the film seeks to shift the narrative from skepticism to curiosity and acknowledgment of unexplainable phenomena that demand further scientific exploration.

Pentagon Releases and Official Context

The documentary’s core materials are rooted in the Pentagon’s ongoing transparency efforts, which have gradually declassified and released UAP-related footage since 2020. The initial releases of three Navy-recorded videos marked a turning point, confirming the existence of unexplained aerial objects captured by military sensors and pilots. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) followed up in 2022 with a preliminary assessment acknowledging that that most sightings remain unexplained, emphasizing the need for continued data collection and analysis. This document suggested that some phenomena could pose national security risks, thereby elevating their significance in government priorities. More recently, in August 2025, the Department of Defense released a set of high-resolution infrared recordings obtained through the Advanced Aerial Reconnaissance System (AARS).

These videos display objects that execute maneuvers at speeds and accelerations well beyond known human engineering capabilities, strengthening the case for serious scientific inquiry. While these releases are partial—often heavily redacted—they symbolize an increasing willingness within the government to acknowledge and share evidence. These steps have been praised by some members of Congress for providing potential avenues for research, though critics argue that the redactions hinder full understanding and transparency. Overall, these official disclosures reflect an incremental but pivotal move toward open discussion of UAP phenomena at the highest levels of government.

Political Reaction

The premier of “The Age of Disclosure” on Capitol Hill triggered diverse political responses. Republican Representative James Whitfield of Ohio expressed optimistic support, calling the documentary “a catalyst for accountability” and urging the House Armed Services Committee to convene hearings to scrutinize the ODNI’s findings more thoroughly. His stance underscores a proactive approach to addressing national security implications of UAP reports. On the other side, Democratic Senator Lisa Cheng from California cautioned against jumping to conclusions based solely on visual evidence. She emphasized the importance of proper context and scientific validation, advocating for a bipartisan task force to evaluate the data more comprehensively before any policy shifts occur.

Several of the highly placed officials who appear in the film.

Farah Films/photo by Vincent Wrenn

The event attracted a wide array of attendees, including lawmakers from both parties, defense officials, and scientific experts, reflecting a bipartisan curiosity and concern regarding UAP issues. The timing coincided with debate over the FY2026 defense appropriations bill, in which funding for an expanded UAP research office is expected to be a significant point of discussion. This bipartisan interest indicates a growing recognition of the importance of systematically investigating unidentified aerial phenomena, potentially leading to formal governmental oversight and more sustained inquiry.

Implications for Transparency

While “The Age of Disclosure” does not uncover new classified information, its compilation of existing declassified material and expert testimonials highlights an important shift in U.S. government transparency regarding UAPs. Analysts from the Congressional Research Service note that sustained public pressure and political interest could lead to the establishment of a permanent oversight body—similar to those overseeing emerging technologies like hypersonic weapons—that ensures consistent, transparent monitoring of unexplained phenomena. The film’s emphasis on visual evidence aims to bridge the often vast gap between highly classified briefings and the democratic accountability that citizens and their representatives require.

Advocates hope that increased public access to credible footage and expert analysis will push policymakers to allocate more resources and support for systematic scientific investigation of UAPs. However, questions remain about the scope of future disclosures and whether top officials will fully embrace transparency or continue to withhold sensitive information. Nevertheless, this moment signifies a cultural and political shift—an acknowledgment that mysteries lingering in the sky warrant open discussion, scientific rigor, and potentially, policy action to address the implications of these unexplained phenomena for both national security and human understanding.

RELATED VIDEOS

{ PETER2011 }

What About All Those USO Sightings since August in the Media? The REAL Story!

By Bob Spearing, MUFON Director of International Development

On November 2, 2025, Fox News reported that since August, a UAP reporting agency called Enigma Labs has documented 9,000 reports of objects within 10 miles of the American coastlines. The article mentioned that the states with the highest amount of these craft or anomalies near the coast were California & Florida, with 389 and 306, respectively.

Google AI generated that, “A UFO reporting app called Enigma has logged over 9,000 USO sightings since August 2025 within 10 miles of U.S. shoreline or other major bodies of water.” and “This data has raised concerns for national security analysts.” Google AI used a publication called Matine Technology News as its source.

In the Fox article, Retired Navy Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet stated that, "The fact that unidentified objects with unexplainable characteristics are entering US waterspace and the [Department of War] is not raising a giant red flag is a sign that the government is not sharing all it knows about all-domain anomalous phenomena.”

Kent Heckenlively, a UFO book author, was also interviewed by Fox and said, "​​What is really interesting to me is the reports that we receive about [United States] underwater vessels detecting craft moving at exceptionally high speeds underwater."

This image is from a longer video in MUFON Case # 137607 out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has made the news rounds frequently this month. But what is actually being seen here? Is it a genuine series of 2 USOs, or is it scuba divers with underwater lighting? The jury is still out, but the media pounces on this as legitimate proof of USOs. It is confirmatory of NOTHING! The source of the lights remains unidentified, but claiming this photo shows “legitimate alien or other paranormal activity under our waterways” would be inconsistent with MUFON’s high investigative values.

The Mutual UFO Network would like to ask some questions here because we do not necessarily believe the entire story is being laid out by Enigma, Gallaudet and Heckenlively.

First, Google AI suggests FALSELY that anything within 10 miles of a coast is a USO. Enigma implies that. That acronym USO stands for Unidentified Submersible Object. A UFO/UAP cannot be considered a USO simply because it is within 10 miles of a coastline. This is deceiving. If this is Enigma’s methodology for what constitutes a USO, it is flawed.

Second, the Fox article, at one point, states that only 150 objects in Enigma’s database were seen going into or out of water. This is a big drop for 9,000 reports down to 150 that actually are seen in, below or above a body of water. What gives? What is truth, then? Are classifications bendable when necessary for a news release?

The newest classification for an object capable of being in air, land or underwater is called a trans-

medium vehicle as they can operate in 3 different environments. Our media today is trying to portray this as a new phenomenon. Actually, it has been going on for thousands of years.

Third, the idea that suddenly there are these incredibly fast-moving underwater objects is also a new phenomenon, is inaccurate. MUFON’s 145,000-case database has reports of fast-moving submersibles circling our warships as far back as WWII. MUFON’s own Chief Photo Analyst, Marc D’Antonio, hitched a ride back in 2017 on an unnamed USN submarine, and, being in the right place at the right time, caught an interaction between the sub’s commander and his radar operator using the term “fast mover” concerning a very fast-moving object in proximity to the sub. Right now, the Chinese are developing this underwater technology, where soon their subs may transit the Pacific from Shanghai to San Francisco in hours instead of days. Aliens? Or Chinese tech, maybe?

BUT HERE IS THE MAJOR POINT!

There is a lot of disinformation on the UFO Street right now on several items, such as Hellfire

Missiles taking out UFOs off the coast of Yemen, which was most likely a CCP spy balloon. The 3i/Atlas affair is almost to the point of hysteria for no good reason. It’s almost seeming like an experiment to gauge population gullibility. Just look at the 3i/Atlas cesspool on Facebook.

There is a difference between Enigma and MUFON. A big difference! MUFON investigates! Enigma

doesn’t. Just because there are 9,000 Enigma reports of “purported USO objects” within 10 miles of coastline and 150 directly in or over bodies of water, doesn’t necessarily mean these statistics are in any way reliable. How many of these 9,000 objects have been investigated by Enigma, Fox, or anyone else, for that matter? BINGO! Where are the investigation reports forthcoming from Enigma and Fox? Don’t hold your breath.

MUFON, The MUTUAL UFO Network, has 4,000 members currently, and of that number, 700 are trained, certified Field Investigators, most with previous forensic backgrounds. We investigate all 145,000 cases in our database. Enigma does not investigate anything as far as we can tell. And here is the point….MUFON and other UFO Agencies, over the decades, have seen a pretty steady statistic about UFO reports.

Basically, 90% of those reports, if investigated, ultimately end up as being in the “IDENTIFIED” category. So, Enigma’s 9,000 reports since August of arbitrarily classified USOs, most likely are identifiable if they were actually investigated. Roughly 900 may be hard to figure out. Their 30,000 reports they have accrued since 2022 may turn out to be, if they were actually investigated, 3,000 that may need further consideration. What we believe is happening is sensationalism of the phenomenon. Clickbait even for media exposure. Yellow Journalism in the finest 19th-century fashion! It used to sell newspapers, right?

Who suffers because of this? The person who wants to believe. That’s who! Cruel! They are being fed a steady stream of FEAR by our media and people who are sensationalizing every report as if FACT.

Shame on them! It’s grotesque!

If you see something or if you feel you have been abducted, you can report it to MUFON at mufon.com. Click on the red report buttons in the upper right corner of our website. We will investigate. More importantly, we have an Experiencer Resource Team to help abductees cope with their experience.

MUFON is a 501c3 non-profit organization. We have been doing the Air Force’s business since 1969, when Blue Book ended. We are a free, open, grassroots team of UFO Investigators staffed by dedicated volunteers only! We are not funded by billionaires.

{ mufon.com }

Beneath the idyllic resort towns of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, daring explorers have uncovered a hidden world of grand chambers and twisting tunnels.

The Ox Bel Ha, Mayan for 'Three Paths of Water', is a sprawling water 'web' that makes up the world's longest underwater cave system.

In this vast network, researchers have found giant sink holes, huge crystal chambers known as ice palaces, and 38 unique species of cave–dwelling animals.

Cave divers have mapped out 325.6 miles (524 kilometres) of subterranean tunnels, but believe there could be even more yet to explore.

Since 2018 alone, divers have squeezed their way through 108 more miles (175 kilometres) of unexplored cave.

Research group, El Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Quintana Roo (CINDAQ), believes it may find more than 373 miles (600 kilometres) of cave before its investigations are done.

The Ox Bel Ha is the second–longest explored cave in the world, and is only beaten by Kentucky's Mammoth Caves, which run for at least 426 miles (686 km).

The big difference is that every metre of Mexico's cavernous network is submerged in a mixture of salt and freshwater.

The Ox Bel Ha is the world's largest cave network, extending at least 325 miles beneath Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 

Scientists believe that the incredible complexity of Ox Bel Ha is due to the unusual way in which it formed.

Millions of years ago, rainwater and dissolved carbon dioxide filtered through a thick layer of limestone on the Yucatan Peninsula.

As this acidic solution filtered through the rock, it reacted with the limestone and carved out vast channels and tunnels.

Then, approximately 18,000 years ago, severe climate changes caused ocean levels to rise and flood the caves – sealing the underground landscape exactly as it is found today.

Rather uniquely, this is also one of the few underwater caves in Mexico which connect directly to the sea.

This means that there is a layer of faster–flowing fresh water sitting on top of a nearly static saltwater layer.

This creates what scientists call a 'halocline', a layer where salt and fresh water mix, which makes exploration even trickier.

Exploration only began on the Ox Bel Ha cave network in 1996, when explorers found an entrance inside one of the area's natural sink holes, known as cenotes.

The leading research group, El Centro Investigador del Sistema Acuífero de Quintana Roo (CINDAQ), believes they may find more than 373 miles (600 kilometres) of cave before their investigations are done

Exploration is continuously uncovering new chambers and tunnels as explorers find more connections between different sections of the cave

The only cave system longer than Ox Bel Ha is Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (pictured), which extends for at least 426 miles (686 km)

Exploring a dry cave network, such as Mammoth Cave, is already dangerous and difficult.

Cavers must force themselves into narrow passages known as constrictions in the hope that they will open up enough to turn around further on.

Becoming trapped or lost can easily result in the caver's death if they are not able to call for help.

Underwater, these difficulties are all massively increased by the fact that explorers must also manage their limited oxygen supply.

Cave divers must balance the amount of gas they bring with them against the fact that they may need to pull that equipment through some tight squeezes.

This makes long dives extending deep underground extremely challenging, and something that can only be attempted by the most skilled divers.

However, over the last 30 years, explorers have gradually managed to piece together a map of the Ox Bel Ha.

As the divers explore, they trail a line of cable behind them that allows them to find their way back, and also to assess how long the cave network is.

Ox Bel Ha is home to huge sink holes, 38 species of unique cave–dwelling animals, and a series of crystal–coated chambers known as an 'ice palace' (pictured) 

Since 2018 alone, divers have squeezed their way through 108 more miles (175 kilometres) of unexplored cave

And, as divers have repeatedly resurveyed old sections of cable, they are still finding entirely new sections of tunnel to explore.

For example, in 2022, a group of divers were following an old cable about two miles deep into the cave when they discovered that it had been overlooked by earlier dives.

The divers told In Depth Magazine at the time: 'To our surprise it looked like we were the first ones there.'

By undertaking mammoth six–to eight–hour dives, the explorers pushed up to 6,370 metres into the cave and uncovered 6.2 miles (10.1 kilometres) of new passageways.

Read More

• Are YOU brave enough to go inside Nutty Putty cave? Recreation lets you experience what it was like 

However, the efforts to map the extent of Ox Bel Ha have not been without fatalities.

In April 2022, an experienced Russian diver who had been mapping the cave for six months set out on a dive from sinkhole Cenote Odyssey and never returned.

Investigators found the diver floating face down within arm's reach of a spare gas tank, with his own tank drained empty.

It is believed that the diver became trapped in a cloud of silt while exploring a new crack, panicked, and used up the remainder of their air supplies faster than they had been prepared for.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

Mystery over strange crash near Area 51 deepens as FBI opens investigation

• MORE: World's most secretive jet spotted over Area 51

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

The US Air Force has sparked a mystery near the top-secret base Area 51 after admitting the FBI was investigating a recent crash near the facility. 

In a statement on October 4, officials at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada said that an aircraft 'was involved in an incident,' crashing in the desert just miles from the restricted zone around Area 51 on September 23.

The infamous base has been tied to extraterrestrial lore for decades, with UFO researchers and conspiracy theorists claiming that secret government projects have been conducted at Area 51 since the 1950s.

While the Air Force said that the craft was assigned to the base as part of the 432nd Wing, some on social media pointed out that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a temporary flight restriction around the area for an entire week.

The reason for the shutdown was simply noted as 'national security' with no other explanation given by the FAA.

The location of the flight restriction placed the crash roughly 12 miles east of the security boundary around Area 51, and about 24 miles from the base itself.

However, the Air Force has revealed that even more strange activity took place after military personnel cleaned up the site, leaving nothing for the public to find.

Officials at Creech said investigators found an 'inert training bomb body' and a piece of an unidentified aircraft at the same crash site on October 3, prompting the military to get the FBI involved.

Area 51, an area of more than 2.9 million acres, is located at the Nevada Test and Training Range

A temporary flight restriction was issued by the FAA shortly after the US Air Force announced the crash of a military aircraft near Area 51

According to the Air Force statement, officials believe someone intentionally altered the scene of the secretive crash after the military left the desert.

An inert training bomb body is a practice explosive that's not rigged to explode.

Meanwhile, the Air Force said the aircraft piece was likely a panel from a plane, but admitted that it came from an 'unknown origin.'

Joerg Arnu, a long-time Area 51 researcher and host of the website Dreamland Resort, visited the site of the crash on September 27, finding nothing but a completely cleared area and several tire tracks, likely from military vehicles that combed the desert for wreckage.

'They really tore up the ground so it's impossible to find the impact mark,' Arnu said in a video taken from the alleged crash.

The researchers noted that there was no debris left in the area, but something could still be there underground, adding that desert rains often wash hidden objects back up to the surface.

The Air Force noted that 'no further details are available at this time,' but did say that there were no injuries or fatalities during the unexplained incident.

Creech Air Force Base is less than 60 miles from the alleged crash site and is home to the 432nd Wing, which operates MQ-9 Reaper armed drones, RQ-170 Sentinel stealth drones, and other craft used for intelligence, surveillance, and combat missions.

Area 51 researcher Joerg Arnu captured video of the supposed crash site after the military had finished recovering the object

The crash reportedly took place just 12 miles from the security area surrounding Area 51, a base tied to UFO encounters for decades

According to online defense news site The War Zone, Reapers are the main type of aircraft housed at the base, used for spying, watching targets, and even firing missiles from far away.

They've been in use for two decades, and it's not uncommon for them to crash under certain circumstances, including user error and mechanical failures with the uncrewed, remote-controlled drones.

Conspiracy theorists online pointed out that it would be incredibly unusual for the federal officials to keep a Reaper drone crash so secret.

They noted the fact that federal investigators showed up so quickly, searched for planted fake evidence, and kept the incident completely under wraps for over two weeks were signs that the aircraft was no ordinary drone.

Recently, the US Air Force's top-secret RAT55 jet was also spotted soaring over Area 51, confirming rumors that the enigmatic radar plane operated from the clandestine Groom Lake facility.

Area 51 has also been involved in the development and testing of other revolutionary and experimental aircraft over the years, including the F-117 Nighthawk, America's first stealth bomber.

RELATED VIDEOS

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