Unravelling the mystery of Egypt's Karnak Temple: Ancient complex was built 4,000 years ago as a place of worship for the supreme and powerful god Amun-Ra, study reveals

• READ MORE: Archaeologists find the earliest evidence of mummification

By JONATHAN CHADWICK, ASSISTANT SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

Egypt's Karnak Temple must be one of the ancient world's most magnificent wonders. 

Located about 300 miles south of capital Cairo, the UNESCO World Heritage site welcomes millions of tourists every year. 

It's described as Ancient Egypt's most important religious complex, but the origins of the site has long been a mystery – until now.

Scientists at the University of Southampton have carried out the most comprehensive geoarchaeological survey of the Karnak Temple.

They say it was built some 4,000 years ago by a group of elites as a place of worship for the supreme and powerful god Amun-Ra.

This merged deity, worshipped throughout Egypt, was at the time a newly-created fusion of the 'invisible' god of the air Amun and the sun god Ra. 

Study author Dr Ben Pennington, an archaeologist at the University of Southampton, called Karnak the 'most important temple' in the north African country. 

'This new research provides unprecedented detail on the evolution of Karnak Temple, from a small island to one of the defining institutions of Ancient Egypt,' he said.

Karnak Temple (pictured) is a UNESCO World Heritage site welcoming millions of tourists every year - but its original date of occupation has long been unclear 

It is Ancient Egypt's most important religious complex, but the earliest occupation of the site has long been subject to debate.

Pictured, mighty columns at Karnak

Egypt's Karnak Temple comprises a vast mix of individual temples, pylons, chapels and other buildings in the form of a village or 'complex'. 

The stunning structures made of sandstone, limestone and granite spread across 200 acres and are 'extremely well preserved', Dr Pennington said. 

Archaeological investigations have been ongoing at the site for about 150 years, but the age of earliest occupation has long been debated. 

To learn more, Dr Pennington and colleagues analysed 61 sediment cores and tens of thousands of ceramic fragments from within and around the temple site. 

This allowed them to map out how the landscape around the site changed throughout its history and gather new evidence about the age of Karnak Temple. 

According to the team, led by archaeologist Dr Angus Graham at Uppsala University in Sweden, the site would have been unsuitable for permanent occupation before about 2520 BC as it would've been regularly flooded by fast-flowing water from the Nile.

Instead, the researchers estimate the earliest occupation at Karnak would have likely been during the Old Kingdom (c.2591–2152 BC), a result of evolving river channels. 

Ceramic fragments found at the site corroborate this finding, with the earliest dating from sometime between c.2305 to 1980 BC. 

Egypt's Karnak Temple is located about 300 miles south of capital Cairo and very close to the River Nile. This map also shows the location with the Red Sea to the east

Pictured, landscape reconstruction at Karnak: a) beginning of the Middle Kingdom (1980 BC); b) end of the Middle Kingdom (1760 BC); c) start of the New Kingdom (1539 BC); d) middle of the New Kingdom (1350 BC); e) end of the Third Intermediate Period (664 BC); f ) end of the Macedonian/Ptolemaic period (30 BC) 

Pictured, core samples - roughly cylindrical pieces of subsurface material - being extracted from the ground at Karnak

According to the experts, their findings settle a 'hotly contested' debate surrounding Karnak Temple's earliest occupation and construction. 

'There have been two main competing arguments – first that the temple may have been of a very early age, around 3000 BC,' Dr Pennington told the Daily Mail. 

'And the second that it probably dated later, to the First Intermediate period or perhaps just before, about 2000 BC. 

'We have found that an earlier date is not viable and the later date is supported by the evidence.' 

Karnak Temple is located less than half a mile (500 metres) east of the present-day River Nile near Luxor, at the Ancient Egyptian religious capital of Thebes, just over from the famous Valley of the Kings. 

Researchers say the land on which it was founded was formed when river channels cut into their beds to the west and east, creating an island of elevated ground surrounded by water. 

This emerging island, slightly higher than the surrounding land, would have been an apt choice in that it was likely linked to its religious significance. 

Ancient Egyptian texts of the Old Kingdom say that the creator god Amun-Ra manifested as high ground, emerging from 'the lake'. 

The stunning structures made of sandstone, limestone and granite spread across 200 acres and are 'extremely well preserved', Dr Pennington said 

Over subsequent centuries and millennia, the river channels either side of the site diverged further, creating more space for the temple complex to develop. 

The new study, published in the journal Antiquity, summarizes the evolution of Karnak as 'from a small island to one of the defining institutions of Ancient Egypt'. 

'Activity there demonstrates a coupling between the natural environment and the religious, functional and constructional aspects of the temple,' authors conclude. 

'As at other places in the Nile Valley, the natural riverine landscapes at Karnak appear strongly connected to cultural dynamics. 

'They can be linked to the religious and cosmogonical views of the inhabitants, who also opportunistically adapted to changes in their physical environment.' 

The team are now planning and carrying out work at other major sites in the area, to further understand the landscapes and waterscapes of the whole Ancient Egyptian religious capital zone. 

WHAT IS EGYPT'S VALLEY OF THE KINGS?

The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country's main tourist attractions and is the famous burial ground of many deceased pharaohs.

It is located near the ancient city of Luxor on the banks of the river Nile in eastern Egypt - 300 miles (500km) away from the pyramids of Giza, near Cairo.

The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock.

The royal tombs are decorated with scenes from Egyptian mythology and give clues as to the beliefs and funerary rituals of the period.

The majority of the pharaohs of the 18th to 20th dynasties, who ruled from 1550 to 1069 BC, rested in the tombs which were cut into the local rock. Pictured are statues of goddesses at the site

Almost all of the tombs were opened and looted centuries ago, but the sites still give an idea of the opulence and power of the Pharaohs.

The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922.

Preserved to this day, in the tomb are original decorations of sacred imagery from, among others, the Book of Gates or the Book of Caverns.

These are among the most important funeral texts found on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs.

The Valley of the Kings in upper Egypt is one of the country's main tourist attractions. The most famous pharaoh at the site is Tutankhamun, whose tomb was discovered in 1922

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The first supermoon of the YEAR rises tonight – here's the best time to see the Harvest Moon

• READ MORE: NASA boss reveals plans for a VILLAGE on the moon by 2035

By WILIAM HUNTER, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

If you're a keen stargazer, you won't want to miss out on this rare spectacle. 

The stunning full Harvest Moon, also known as the Hunter's Moon, will rise tonight.

This year's event will be a special treat – as it will also be the first supermoon of the year.

That means the Harvest Moon will appear up to 14 per cent larger and 30 per cent brighter than normal.

This will be the first supermoon since November last year, and kicks off a run of three consecutive supermoons in the coming months.

The moon will technically be at its fullest on the night of September 7, but will appear full to the naked eye from this evening.  

It should be visible from anywhere in the UK with a good view of the night's sky, but weather conditions could make a big difference.

So, here's how you can get the best chance of seeing tonight's spectacular lunar display.

Tonight, the Harvest Moon will rise in the biggest and brightest full moon of the year. Here's how you can see it. Pictured: The Harvest Moon over New York yesterday evening

What is the Harvest Moon and why is it special?

The Harvest Moon is the full moon which rises closest to the Autumn Equinox, the point at which day and night are the same length.

It usually falls in September, but this year the equinox came on September 22 – making the October full moon this year's Harvest Moon.

All the full moons in the year have their own unique names and associated traditions, but the Harvest Moon is special for a scientific reason.

Due to the shape of the moon's orbit around Earth, the moon rises at almost exactly the same time during the nights surrounding the Harvest Moon. 

That means there are a few nights near the equinox when there is consistent, bright moonlight every evening.

That allowed farmers to harvest their crops at night before the start of the colder months. 

This was also a great help to hunters who would be looking to stock up on meat and supplies ahead of winter, giving it the alternative name of the Hunter's Moon. 

This year, the Harvest Moon is also the first supermoon of the year, meaning it could appear up to 30 per cent brighter and 14 per cent larger than normal. Pictured: The Harvest Moon rising in California yesterday

But for modern–day stargazers, this consistency also makes the Harvest Moon one of the easiest full moons to watch rise since the timing is so consistent. 

Excitingly, this year's Harvest Moon happens to fall at the same time as a supermoon.

Since the moon's orbit around Earth is oval rather than round, our lunar satellite is closer or further away during different parts of the month. 

A supermoon refers to a full moon which happens while the moon is within 90 per cent of its closest point to Earth, known as a perigee.

Typically, the moon orbits the Earth at an average distance of 252,000 miles (405,500 km) from Earth.

However, at its perigee, the moon can reach a distance of around 226,000 miles (363,300 km). 

That means the moon appears to be brighter and larger than normal, although it can be difficult to see the difference with the naked eye. 

How to see tonight's Harvest Supermoon

Supermoons occur when the moon is at its closest point to Earth, known as the perigee. At this point, the moon can be around 30,000 miles closer than average 

The good news for any keen space fans is that you don't need any special equipment or even to travel out of town to see the supermoon tonight.

The moon will rise in the East at 18:13 BST, which should be just around sunset, and will set in the West around dawn.

As long as you can see the sky, you'll be able to get a good look at the bright full moon at any point during the evening.

However, there are also a few simple steps you can take to get the best possible viewing experience.

If possible, find a place with a clear view of the Eastern horizon and try to see the moon while it is as low as possible.

Although it won't actually be larger, a phenomenon called the 'moon illusion' means the full moon will appear to be bigger when it's just above the horizon.

Scientists still aren't quite sure why this is the case, but it does lead to much more spectacular views. 

If you can wait a bit longer, until around 19:00 BST, you will also have the opportunity to see the moon alongside another celestial body.

Looking Southeast tonight after sunset, there will also be a great opportunity to view the moon next to the planet Saturn. Saturn will be visible to the naked eye all evening, but you won't be able to make out its rings 

As the moon climbs higher into the sky, you should see a bright 'star' just to the right.

This star is actually the planet Saturn, which is currently visible to the naked eye from sunset until sunrise.

Saturn has just passed a point called 'opposition', arriving on the opposite side of Earth from the sun and making the planet especially easy to see. 

Just like any stargazing, to get the best views, you'll want to get away from street lights and other sources of light pollution.

Make sure to give your eyes at least half an hour to adjust to the dark while making sure not to look at your phone, which would ruin your night vision.

Unfortunately, local weather will have a big impact on your viewing conditions, and there is a good chance of cloud over large parts of the UK.

If you miss the moon tonight, conditions may have improved by tomorrow, when the moon will be even fuller.  

A Met Office spokesperson told Daily Mail: 'Visibility for the supermoon on Tuesday night looks to be best in Scotland, with patchy cloud in the South and cloudier conditions in the North.'

Unfortunately, weather conditions may not be ideal for viewing the moon tonight, with cloud forecast over much of Northern England, Wales, and Scotland from sunset onwards 

However, if clouds do ruin your chances of seeing this month's supermoon, there is no need to worry.

The Harvest Moon is just the first in a run of three supermoons coming through October, November, and December.

The November supermoon, also known as the Beaver Moon, will rise on November 5.

The December supermoon, appropriately called the Cold Moon, will follow on December 4 and will come alongside a great opportunity to see the planet Jupiter. 

The phases of the moon

Like Earth, the Moon has a day side and a night side, which change as the Moon rotates. 

The Sun always illuminates half of the Moon while the other half remains dark, but how much we are able to see of that illuminated half changes as the Moon travels through its orbit.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the phases of the moon are:

1. New Moon

This is the invisible phase of the Moon, with the illuminated side of the Moon facing the Sun and the night side facing Earth.

2. Waxing crescent

This silver sliver of a Moon occurs when the illuminated half of the Moon faces mostly away from Earth, with only a tiny portion visible to us from our planet.

3. First Quarter 

The Moon is now a quarter of the way through its monthly journey and you see half of its illuminated side. 

4. Waxing Gibbous

Now most of the Moon's dayside has come into view, and the Moon appears brighter in the sky. 

5. Full Moon

This is as close as we come to seeing the Sun's illumination of the entire day side of the Moon.

6. Waning Gibbous

As the Moon begins its journey back toward the Sun, the opposite side of the Moon now reflects the Moon’s light. 

7. Last Quarter

The Moon looks like it’s half illuminated from the perspective of Earth, but really you’re seeing half of the half of the Moon that’s illuminated by the Sun ― or a quarter. 

8. Waning Crescent

The Moon is nearly back to the point in its orbit where its dayside directly faces the Sun, and all that we see from our perspective is a thin curve. 

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Secret Chinese Space Shuttle Caught in Satellite Photo

This article is a work of speculative investigative journalism. It examines rumors surrounding a supposed “secret Chinese space shuttle” captured in a satellite photograph. It does not claim that such a vehicle exists or that the image is authentic or verified. Instead, it analyzes how satellite imagery, geopolitics, and media narratives intersect to produce compelling but often misleading stories. Readers are invited to consider how such claims arise, how they could be verified or debunked, and what the broader implications would be if genuine evidence emerged.

A rumor in orbit: the lure of a secret shuttle In the era of high-resolution commercial satellites, a single image can ignite a wildfire of speculation. A blurred silhouette on the edge of a high-orbit photo, or a shot of a gleaming, winged vehicle tucked among cargo ships and desert scrub, can spark headlines and a rush of social media activity. The strongest appeals of such a story lie not in the photograph alone, but in the political imagination it awakens: national pride, strategic superiority, the possibility of a silent, unseen asset in space that could alter the balance of power. When a claim is framed as “secret” or “hidden from public view,” it hits a nerve for readers who suspect that their government or rival powers are withholding information that would matter to global security.

Yet the mechanics of proving a claim about a “secret shuttle” are notoriously difficult. Space programs—whether manned or unmanned—are complex, with layers of public documentation, procurement pipelines, and visible milestones. A legitimate breakthrough typically produces a traceable record: launch manifests, design reviews, and sometimes even education and contractor announcements. When a claim rests on a single satellite image, the burden of proof shifts toward multiple corroborating signals: verifiable satellite metadata, independent corroboration by other sensors, and, ideally, official acknowledgement or a public leak that is subsequently corroborated. In the absence of these, an image becomes a symptom of speculation, a retouched rumor, or a misunderstanding of ordinary space hardware.

The anatomy of a persuasive image What makes a satellite photo compelling is not just its content but the context in which it is presented. Analysts look for certain cues:

• Resolution and sensor characteristics: A genuine image will carry metadata—satellite name, orbit altitude, and timestamp—that can be cross-checked. If the metadata is missing or inconsistent, the claim becomes dubious, though not automatically false, since metadata can be stripped or manipulated.
• Known hardware silhouettes: Engineers and space historians develop intuition for what is feasible given the known capabilities of current launch vehicles, orbital stages, or reusable systems. A “secret shuttle” would require a highly unusual combination of propulsion, airframe design, and thermal protection that would, plausibly, have visible features detectable in other data streams.
• Telemetry and corroboration: If multiple independent satellites capture the same object from different perspectives, the picture grows stronger. If only a single image exists, it remains vulnerable to manipulation or misinterpretation.
• Production quality: A convincing image can still be a hoax, but the more professional the image, the greater the temptation for interest groups to seed misinformation, either for political gain or to test the public’s willingness to believe sensational claims.

The historical parallel: past “secret” projects and the danger of confirmation bias There is a long history of rumors about secret space hardware. Projects that were officially disclosed later often turned out to be less sensational than rumored, while some genuine advances remained classified for longer than the public could easily verify. The cautious approach is to place any current claim within that historical frame: the fact that a claim exists does not equate to its truth; the absence of official confirmation is not confirmation of falsehood either—but it does set a high bar for credibility.

How to evaluate a satellite photograph claim responsibly If a journalist, researcher, or policy analyst encounters a claim about a “secret Chinese space shuttle” in a satellite image, a responsible approach involves a structured verification process:

1. Source assessment: Where did the image come from? What is the chain of custody? Are there independent confirmations of the image’s authenticity?

2. Metadata and sensor analysis: Can the image’s metadata be recovered? What satellite captured it? What is the ground resolution, radiometric quality, and atmospheric conditions at the time of capture?

3. Cross-comparison: Are there other images or sensor data (optical, radar, infrared) that show the same object? Do other sites report similar observations?

4. Historical consistency: Does the image fit within what is publicly known about that country’s space program, its launch cadence, and its reusability efforts? Are there any recent official statements or budget announcements that would align with or contradict the claim?

5. Expert consultation: Aerospace engineers, satellite image analysts, and space policy scholars can help parse whether a silhouette could realistically be a shuttle-like vehicle, a test platform, a payload, or a misidentified object such as a standard booster, a debris fragment, or cloud shadows.

China's Proposed Cargo Shuttle, the Haolong

Why a secret shuttle claim stands out in the Chinese context China’s space program has consistently demonstrated rapid progress and ambitious goals, including crewed missions, lunar exploration, and plans for a space station. This environment can create fertile ground for rumors about concealed capabilities. Three features shape the discourse:

• Strategic signaling: A claim about a “secret shuttle” is, in part, a narrative device—an indicator that a power is moving beyond conventional boundaries, potentially changing deterrence calculations and alliance dynamics.
• Domestic transparency vs. international scrutiny: Chinese space ventures, like those of many nations, operate within a broader political framework. When a story surfaces in international media or on social platforms, it can be read through the lens of competition and credibility, regardless of the factual basis.
• Media ecosystems and misinformation: In the digital age, stories spread quickly across disparate platforms, amplified by sensational wording and dramatic visuals. The same image can be repurposed to serve different agendas, from geopolitical posturing to commercial satire.

Image: CCTV

What would count as credible evidence? To elevate the claim beyond speculation, several conditions would need to be met:

• Independent verification: Multiple reputable organizations or agencies would need to confirm the existence of a vehicle that resembles a shuttle, preferably with disclosed technical plans or mission objectives.
• Official acknowledgment or leakage with corroboration: An official statement from the country’s space agency, or an authenticated leak from a credible insider, would move the needle significantly.
• Technical feasibility and public policy alignment: The claimed design should be plausible within known technical constraints and align with the country’s publicly stated space ambitions, budgets, and timelines.

The ethics of publishing unverified claims Journalists and researchers bear responsibility for how they present unverified claims. Labeling something as rumor, framing it as a possibility rather than a confirmed fact, and clearly distinguishing between image analysis, speculation, and reporting are essential. The temptation to publish dramatic headlines for clicks must be resisted when it risks spreading misinformation or stoking geopolitical tensions. Responsible reporting involves seeking corroboration, explaining uncertainties, and avoiding sensationalism that could damage diplomatic relations or public perception.

What if the claim were true? hypothetical implications If, in a hypothetical scenario, credible, independently verified evidence of a secret space shuttle were released, the implications would be wide-ranging:

• Strategic balance and defense policy: Verification of a secret operational asset would trigger reassessments of space defense doctrines, arms control considerations, and alliance commitments. It would prompt questions about transparency norms in space security discussions.
• International norms and transparency: A breakthrough or secret capability would likely spur calls for new treaties or confidence-building measures to prevent misunderstandings in a crowded orbital environment.
• Economic and technical ripple effects: The disclosure could reframe national industrial policy, accelerate investment in related technologies, and influence global supply chains for space hardware and software.

This undated photo shows a model of China's Haoloong space cargo shuttle which will debut at the 15th China International Aviation and Aerospace Exhibition, also known as Airshow China, in Zhuhai, South China's Guangdong province.

(PHOTO / XINHUA)

A constructive path forward for readers For readers who encounter sensational claims about space hardware, a practical path is to approach with healthy skepticism, engage with primary sources, and seek out expert analyses. Consider the following steps:

• Check the provenance of the image and any accompanying metadata.
• Look for independent verification from credible aerospace or space policy sources.
• Assess whether the story relies on a single image or multiple corroborating data streams.
• Read across different perspectives, including official statements, independent researchers, and security analysts.
• Distinguish between legitimate curiosity and speculative sensationalism, especially when geopolitical stakes are high.

A closing reflection: the power and perils of a single photograph In the end, a single satellite image can illuminate possibilities, but it cannot alone prove or disprove a sweeping claim about secret space programs. The human appetite for dramatic discoveries—especially in space, a realm associated with wonder and national pride—will continue to generate headlines fueled by curiosity, suspicion, and occasionally, mischief. The best journalism in this space, as in any other, will blend disciplined verification with thoughtful context, clarify uncertainties, and resist the lure of narratives that require us to suspend critical thinking.

{ PETER2011 }

International Space Week: waarnemingen van Ufo's in de geschiedenis - PART I

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

De hype rond ufo's is terug van (nooit) weggeweest
Sinds het Pentagon afgelopen mei toegaf dat het sinds 2004 minstens 400 waarnemingen van 'ongeïdentificeerde vliegende objecten' heeft geregistreerd in de Verenigde Staten, is de publieke belangstelling voor dit fenomeen toegenomen.

©The Daily Digest

Een "frequent” fenomeen
Het was 50 jaar geleden dat de ufo-kwestie voor het laatst in het Congres werd besproken. Maar dit jaar was de verrassing nog groter, omdat de adjunct-directeur van de inlichtingendienst van de marine in de VS, Scott Bray, verzekerde dat ufo-waarnemingen "frequent en aanhoudend" zijn.

©The Daily Digest

Foto: Albert Antony/Unsplash

Ufo-waarnemingen in andere landen
Andere landen zoals Frankrijk (in 2007), of het Verenigd Koninkrijk (in 2011) hebben nationale dossiers over ufo's gedeclassificeerd. Japan kondigde in 2020 zelfs een nieuw actieprotocol aan voor zijn leger in het geval van waarnemingen.

©The Daily Digest

Historische waarnemingen
Als we teruggaan in de tijd, zijn er veel momenten rond het ufo-fenomeen die de geschiedenis zijn ingegaan. Laten we eens kijken naar de beroemdste gevallen ...

©The Daily Digest

Kenneth Arnold: de eerste waarneming?
De eerste geregistreerde waarneming van een ufo dateert van 24 juni 1947. De Amerikaanse piloot Kenneth Arnold (in het midden op de foto) aanschouwde wat als de eerste ufo-waarneming kan worden beschouwd. Hoewel er eerdere soortgelijke gevallen werden gemeld, kreeg deze waarneming veel publiciteit en aandacht.

©The Daily Digest

Onregelmatig, helder en snel
Arnold verklaarde dat, terwijl hij op zoek was naar een vermist vliegtuig, hij boven Mount Rainier (Washington) niet minder dan negen objecten met abnormale bewegingen zag die samen in een lijn vlogen. Hij beschreef ze als "extreem heldere objecten", met een "onregelmatige vliegwijze" die zich met "enorme snelheid" verplaatsten.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Vliegende schotels
Het is door deze waarneming dat de mythe van de ovaalvormige ufo is ontstaan en de term 'vliegende schotel' begon te worden gebruikt, aangezien, in zijn eigen woorden, "ze onregelmatig 

©The Daily Digest

Een vonk in de wolken
Anderen gaan echter veel verder terug in de tijd. In het Zuid-Amerikaanse Chili werden in de 19e eeuw verschillende vreemde dingen gezien. Zo meldde Maria Graham in haar boek 'Journal of a Residence in Chile' (1822) dat ze een reeks vreemde lichten boven de zee had gezien. Ook zag commandant Buenaventura Martínez Díaz in 1853 dat hij en voorwerp had gezien dat "de wolken doorkruiste in de vorm van een vonk."

©The Daily Digest

Foto: Stephen Leopardi/Unsplash

Een alien in Talca
En op 15 mei 1861 berichtte de Chileense krant La Esperanza over de dagen van verschrikking die de inwoners van de stad Talca beleefden. Niet vanwege een ufo, maar vanwege de aanwezigheid van een wezen dat van een andere planeet leek te komen.

©The Daily Digest

De ufo's van Copiacó
In die Chileense precedenten springen "drie onverklaarbare luchtverschijnselen" het meest in het oog. De krant El Constituente had het over drie waarnemingen in maart, juli en november 1868. Ze waren allemaal in Copiacó, een stad waar vele jaren later, in 2013, nog eens een waarneming werd gemeld.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Duizenden ufo-waarnemingen
Sindsdien zijn er duizenden ufo-waarnemingen gemeld, door strijdkrachten van verschillende landen, vliegtuigpiloten of gewone mensen. Waarnemingen die in veel gevallen een wetenschappelijke verklaring hebben, maar die in andere gevallen verontrustend mysterieus blijven.

©The Daily Digest

Project Blue Book
Van 1948 tot 1969 werd in de Verenigde Staten Project Blue Book gelanceerd, een overheidsinitiatief om ufo's te onderzoeken als een mogelijke bedreiging voor de nationale veiligheid. Dit alles in een tijd waarin de luchtmacht 12.618 waarnemingen rapporteerde, waarvan er vandaag de dag nog 701 ongeïdentificeerd blijven.

©The Daily Digest

Geen bewijs dat ufo's buitenaards waren
Project Blue Book werd in 1969 afgesloten vanwege de hoge kosten. De conclusie van het onderzoek luidde dat de ufo's geen bedreiging vormden voor de nationale veiligheid en dat er geen bewijs was dat het om buitenaardse vaartuigen ging, noch om technologische ontwikkelingen die de moderne wetenschap te boven gaan.

©The Daily Digest

Het Roswell-incident
In 1947, hetzelfde jaar van de waarneming van Kenneth Arnold, vond ook een van de meest legendarische ufo-gebeurtenissen plaats: het Roswell-incident. Een ongeïdentificeerd vliegend object stortte neer in een veld in deze stad in New Mexico, en onmiddellijk daarna volgde een ontmoeting met buitenaardse wezens.

©The Daily Digest

Velen geloven nog steeds dat het een ufo was
De Amerikaanse regering probeerde de commotie rond het Roswell-incident te sussen door te beweren dat het om een weerballon ging en niet om een vliegende schotel, zoals velen aanvankelijk beweerden. Volgens een opiniepeiling van CNN uit 1997 denkt echter bijna twee derde van de Amerikanen nog steeds dat het een ufo was die er was neergestort.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Betrouwbare getuigen?
Er waren vermeende getuigen die toen verklaarden dat ze hadden gezien hoe militairen het ongeïdentificeerde object en de lichamen van de buitenaardse wezens uit het gebied van het incident hadden weggehaald. Toch was er geen echt bewijs.

©The Daily Digest

Ufo-toerisme
Momenteel leeft Roswell van het toerisme van ufo- en alien-liefhebbers uit de hele wereld die blijven zoeken naar antwoorden. De stad heeft zelfs een drukbezocht 'UFO Museum'.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Area 51
En als Roswell een mythische plek is binnen het ufo-fenomeen, dan wat gezegd van Area 51, een gebied midden in de Nevadawoestijn? Velen geloven dat de Amerikaanse regering er zowel ufo's als lichamen van aliens verbergt.

©The Daily Digest

Programma's tegen de Sovjets
In 2013 declasseerde de CIA documenten waarin officieel werd erkend dat Area 51 een geheime militaire basis was waar niets buitenaards werd verborgen, maar dat het werd gebruikt om de luchtbewakingsprogramma's U-2 en OXCART te testen tegen de Sovjets tijdens de Koude Oorlog.

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Ufo's en kernwapens
Zeven voormalige leden van de luchtmacht van de Verenigde Staten beweerden in 2010 dat ze tussen de jaren zestig en tachtig ufo's hadden waargenomen in de buurt van kernwapeninstallaties.

©The Daily Digest

Gedeactiveerde raketten
Over een van de waargenomen ufo's zei Robert Salas, een voormalige kapitein van de luchtmacht: "Onze raketten begonnen in wat men een niet-actieve toestand noemt te komen; ze konden niet worden gelanceerd. Ze werden gewoon gedeactiveerd, terwijl dit object om ons heen was."

©Aangeboden door The Daily Digest

Buitenaardse interesse in kernwapens
Ufoloog Robert Hastings, die de persconferentie organiseerde waarop deze waarnemingen werden gemeld, zei: "Deze heren geloven dat de planeet wordt bezocht door wezens uit een andere wereld, die geïnteresseerd zijn in de geschiedenis van nucleaire wapens die begon aan het einde van de Tweede Wereldoorlog."

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Bevolen om een ufo neer te halen
Op 20 mei 1957 kregen volgens de krant The Times twee Amerikaanse piloten het bevel een ufo neer te halen die boven het Engelse platteland zweefde. Enkele veteranen van het leger, zoals die op de afbeelding, hebben het verhaal publiekelijk verteld.

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De ufo die de piloten achtervolgden
Volgens Milton Torres (een van de betrokken piloten) bewoog het object "onregelmatig". Bovendien was het zo groot als "een vliegend vliegdekschip" en "hing het enkele ogenblikken in de lucht voordat het verdween met een geschatte snelheid van 12.000 kilometer per uur."

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Het ufo-incident in Shag Harbour
Shag Harbour is een klein dorpje op het schiereiland Nova Scotia in Canada, waar een groep vissers op 4 oktober 1967 een lichtgevend object zagen dat uiteindelijk neerstortte in de Atlantische Oceaan. Aanvankelijk dacht men dat het een vliegtuig was, maar er werden nooit stoffelijke resten gevonden.

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International Space Week: waarnemingen van Ufo's in de geschiedenis - PART II

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Een ontvoering in Chili
Door de zaak van korporaal Armando Valdés kwam de Chileense ufologie wereldwijd onder de aandacht. Armando zag in 1977 samen met zeven andere soldaten een ufo. Ze zagen vreemde lichten in de lucht en daarna verdween Armando gedurende 15 minuten.

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Hij herinnert zich de ontvoering niet
In een interview met Agence France Presse in november 1978 zei Armando dat hij zes of zeven stappen zette weg van de groep, richting het licht, en dat hij geen idee had wat er daarna gebeurde. Hij zei: "Iets trok me aan. Het was als een interne communicatie met het licht."

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Foto: age barros/Unsplash

Het onverklaarbare verstrijken van de tijd
Korporaal Armando, die zich de vorige dag had geschoren, had een baard van vijf tot zes dagen. Bovendien duidde zijn polshorloge de datum 30 april aan in plaats van 26, en liep de klok 15 minuten achter.

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Het ufo-incident in Voronezh
Op 27 september 1989 meldde het persbureau TASS dat voetballende jongens in een stadspark in Voronezh (Rusland) een roze gloed in de lucht zagen, een dieprode bal die zweefde, en een alien met drie ogen. De kinderen waren de enige getuigen, maar een politieagent meldde dat hij "een object in de lucht zag vliegen".

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De Phoenix Lights
De Phoenix Lights (soms ook wel de 'Lichten boven Phoenix' genoemd) waren een reeks op grote schaal waargenomen ufo's boven Arizona, Nevada en de Mexicaanse staat Sonora, op 13 maart 1997. Er werden verschillende soorten lichten gezien door duizenden mensen.

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Een deltavorming schip
Fife Symington, de voormalige gouverneur van Arizona en een voormalig luchtmachtofficier, verklaarde op CNN: "Ik zag een enorm deltavormig schip stilletjes over Squaw Peak vliegen, een bergketen in Phoenix. Het was echt indrukwekkend. Ik was stomverbaasd, omdat ik me naar het westen keerde op zoek naar de Phoenix Lights in de verte."

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Waarnemingen van Chileense piloten
In 2007 onthulde het Chileense leger tijdens een bijeenkomst van ufologen in Viña del Mar dat enkele van zijn piloten ufo's hadden waargenomen. Kapitein Rodrigo Bravo omschreef het volgens het persbureau EFE als "spectaculaire ervaringen op verschillende plaatsen".

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Winston Churchill hield ufo-waarnemingen geheim
In 2010 werd via de BBC en na enkele door het Ministerie van Defensie openbaar gemaakte rapporten onthuld dat de voormalige Britse premier Winston Churchill de opdracht gaf om vermeende ufo-waarnemingen door de luchtmacht vijftig jaar lang verborgen zodat er geen paniek zou ontstaan onder de bevolking.

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Vernietigd ufo-bewijsmateriaal

Wetenschapper Nick Pope verklaarde aan de BBC dat "Churchill en Eisenhower besloten om de buitengewone waarnemingen van ufo's geheim te houden". Hij merkte ook op dat "het meeste archiefmateriaal uit de jaren vijftig werd vernietigd".

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Oumuamua: een asteroïde of een buitenaards ruimteschip?
Oumuamua was een mysterieus object dat in 2017 door het zonnestelsel trok en werd ontdekt en drie dagen lang gevolgd door verschillende telescopen tot het verdween. Het incident veroorzaakte een groot debat in de wereld van de wetenschap. De meesten verzekerden dat het om een zeldzame asteroïde of komeet ging, maar anderen beweerden dat het misschien een enorm buitenaards ruimteschip was.

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Kenmerken van het meest controversiële object
Volgens de gemaakte berekeningen was Oumuamua ongeveer 400 meter lang en 40 meter breed, en had het een roodachtig oppervlak. Het meest verrassende kenmerk was dat de baan ervan niet lineair was, maar eerder chaotisch, zeer snel draaiend en met zeer uitgesproken richtingsveranderingen.

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Doelbewust gestuurd door aliens?
Volgens astronomen Shmuel Bialy en Abraham Loeb (foto) is Oumuamua mogelijk een volledig operationele sonde die opzettelijk door een buitenaardse beschaving naar de buurt van de aarde is gestuurd.

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Een nooit eerder gezien opject
Loeb is een groot verdediger van het feit dat Oumuamua het eerste ontdekte object in het zonnestelsel is dat daarbuiten is ontstaan. Hij herinnerde ons in een interview met de BBC eraan dat het ongewone kenmerken heeft die het tot een nooit eerder gezien zeldzaam object maken.

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Buitenaardse bezoeken tijdens de pandemie
De laatste vermeende waarnemingen deden zich voor en namen exponentieel toe tijdens de maandenlange lockdown van de COVID-19-pandemie. Plots was − volgens de getuigenissen op sociale media met foto's en video's − het luchtruim gevuld met ufo's.

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Andere gemelde waarnemingen
Om enkele historische waarnemingen te noemen in de wereld: de waarneming op Antarctica (1965); het ufo-incident in Teheran (1976); die van Manises (1979), de Canarische Eilanden (1976-1979) en Ochate (1981), alle drie in Spanje; het Colares-incident in 1977 (Brazilië) ...

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Beroemdheden en ufo's
De Republikeinse kandidaat voor het Congres in Miami, Bettina Rodríguez, heeft gezegd dat ze in 2009 werd ontvoerd door aliens. Ook de Argentijnse artiest Andrés Calamaro heeft bevestigd dat hij een ufo zag in de jaren tachtig, toen hij op tournee was met zijn groep Los Plateros.

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Foto: Unintended Concept / Unsplash

Zijn we echt alleen in het heelal?
Het ufo-fenomeen is nog steeds zeer interessant en bevat, zoals alle regeringen toegeven, mysteries. Voor veel van deze incidenten is er geen wetenschappelijke verklaring, al kan dat zijn omdat we niet over alle gegevens beschikken. Hoe dan ook: vliegende schotels zijn iconische, literaire en cinematografische elementen.

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This Scientist Claims Apollo Mission Brought Back “Metals” from Moon Made by Advanced Machines and Structures on Mars and Moon Possibly 50,000 Years Old from Our Past

For people in ancient Mesopotamia, heaven was described as having three layers. The lowest layer was the home of the stars, the middle layer was where the younger gods, the Igigi, lived, and the highest layer belonged to An, the sky god.

Other researchers have also made surprising claims connected to these ideas. Dr. Ken Johnston, a former aerospace engineer, said that NASA already knows astronauts discovered ancient alien structures and remains of advanced machinery on the Moon. He claimed some of these technologies had the power to control gravity.

Dr. Ralph Kennedy Johnston Sr., often known as Ken Johnston, was born in 1942 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He worked as one of four Civilian Astronaut Consultant Pilots at NASA and helped train Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins for the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon.

Johnston is also a retired U.S. Marine and has become known as a “NASA whistleblower,” though he rejects the name. He said he only wanted to share information that the public deserved to know.

Read also:

• This Man, Who Worked on the Voyager Missions, Said He Discovered Enormous, Living, Electromagnetic Vehicles Inhabiting Saturn’s Rings
• Jesse Michels Told Joe Rogan That He believes Anti-Gravity Tech Existed Before the ’80s and May Have Been Developed Under a Never-Disclosed Branch of Science
• This Man Says NASA Asked for Help After Astronauts Encountered Orbs Containing 125-Foot Winged Angelic Beings That Smiled at Them

In addition, some people connect his claims with stories told by Ingo Swann, a well-known remote viewer, who said he psychically saw strange structures on the Moon. Swann described domes, tall towers, cross-shaped buildings, long tunnels, and signs of mining activity. He thought that either someone or something had secretly built these bases on the Moon.

Swann also said he saw human-like figures on the Moon digging into a cliff. The strange part, he added, was that they all appeared completely naked.

During this remote-viewing experiment, a man named Axelrod supervised Swann. Suddenly, Axelrod stopped the session and seemed alarmed, explaining that the beings on the Moon might have become aware they were being watched, which could be dangerous.

After that, Axelrod asked Swann if he knew a man named George Leonard. Swann said no. Around that same time, Leonard was writing a book titled Somebody Else Is on the Moon.

That book, published in 1977, described reports of mysterious, unnatural structures on the Moon — the very kind of things Axelrod seemed to worry about. Leonard’s work suggested that these lunar structures could not have been formed naturally and looked as though someone had built them.

Over time, Swann and Axelrod met secretly to discuss more of these strange observations. These secret meetings, which Swann later compared to scenes from a spy movie, suddenly ended in 1977 without explanation. Swann was left confused about the truth.

He wondered if his psychic vision had detected an extraterrestrial base built long ago. Yet because the people he saw looked completely human, he also considered the idea that it could have been a hidden Earth-based project. He thought maybe Axelrod wanted him to discover something without revealing the government’s involvement.

Despite decades passing, the mystery is still unresolved. The strange lunar structures described by Leonard, Swann, and Johnston continue to raise questions about whether the Moon hides evidence of advanced civilizations.

The idea that aliens might be secretly using the Moon reminds many of similar theories claiming aliens could be operating on Earth itself. Some people think those “ancient visitors” who might have built advanced cities or shared secret technology could have played a role in shaping human evolution and culture.

Al Worden’s comments about humans being the real aliens connect strangely well with these later stories. If humans came from somewhere else long ago, as he suggested, it might explain why ancient cultures around the world have myths about gods descending from the sky, teaching knowledge, and building great cities before disappearing.

Worden, unlike most astronauts, remained open to such possibilities until his last years. He said exploring space was not just about science but also about finding the truth of where we came from. Many found his words mysterious, but others thought he raised an interesting point — that our search for life beyond Earth might end with us discovering our own distant origin among the stars.

{ https://howandwhys.com/ }

Background: What are Ammonites?

Belonging to the Phylum Mollusca, these extinct marine invertebrates resemble a nautilus, complete with a spiral shell. Ammonites lived around 408-65 million years ago in Earth’s ancient seas, and because these creatures are related to cuttlefish, nautilus, octopus, and squid, their soft bodies did not fossilize well, leaving mainly their shells behind for scientists to study.

These shells have helped scientists date other fossils, as well as tell scientists the approximate locations of Earth’s ancient oceans. However, there are still mysteries surrounding these creatures, especially when it comes to how they moved and why their shells were such particular shapes. 

Analysis: Building Robotic Ammonites

To study ammonite movement, researchers at the University of Utah created robotic ammonites out of 3D-printed materials. The robots helped the researchers to better understand how the ammonites maneuvered through the water as well as the best shell shape for balanced movement. According to David Peterman, a postdoctoral Fellow at the University of Utah, “These results reiterate that there is no single optimum shell shape…My broader research goal is to provide a better understanding of these enigmatic animals, their ecosystem roles, and the evolutionary processes that shaped them.”

The researchers built three different robotic ammonites with designs based on nautilus shells and ammonite fossils. The three robots were tested in the water by doing laps. This helped the researchers see the pros and cons of each shell type. “Throughout their evolution, externally shelled cephalopods navigated their physical limitations by endlessly experimenting with variations on the shape of their coiled shells,” explained Peterman. This was illustrated in the differences in the fossils, as the spirals of the shells shifted into something similar to the ones we have today.

Outlook: Using Robots to Study the Past

While this study helped the researchers to better understand the evolutionary process behind ammonite movement and shell shape, it also illustrated the utility of using robotics to study the past. Robotics can help to bring fossils to life, allowing scientists to better understand the possible movements of these ancient animals. With other advanced technology like AI and virtual reality (VR), recreating the past will be easier than ever.

AI is already helping us to determine our ancient human roots, and with the help of virtual reality, we are closing in on recreating lifelike representations of extinct animals like mammoths in a virtual setting. In the years ahead, such advances may prove to be key assets for scientists in the years ahead, who will now have access to a clearer idea of how these extinct animals once thrived on our planet. 

• Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is a staff writer at the Debrief and the Science Communicator at JILA (a partnership between the University of Colorado Boulder and NIST). She focuses on deep tech, the metaverse, and quantum technology. You can find more of her work at her website: https://kennacastleberry.com/

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

Former US Army Colonel: ‘Aliens Destroyed Couple Of Nuclear Weapons That Were Sent To Space’

During the Cold War, the United States conducted the largest nuclear test in outer space, 400 km above the Northern Pacific Ocean. The results were devastating. More such testing would have destroyed Earth’s magnetic field, that is why outer-space nuclear testing was banned. Moreover, some accounts of the US military personnel including NASA astronauts convey that the extraterrestrials were behind the nuclear missile testing in outer space, and they even put surveillance on the nuclear facilities on Earth.

In the “Sirius Documentary,” hosted by UFOlogist Steven Greer, US Air Force retired Colonel Ross Dedrickson testified that he observed UFOs over the nuclear facilities in which he was assigned. Besides, he said the extraterrestrials were not allowing nuclear weapons in space. They stopped the nuclear missile that was sent to detonate on the Lunar surface. The US was urged to demonstrate its power to the Soviets.

Col. Ross Dedrickson was assigned to the US Atomic Energy Commission. A long service with the Energy Commission between 1950-1958 included contract administration duties at Nevada test sites, Pacific Nuclear Test Area west of Hawaii, nuclear weapon manufacturing and quality assurance in Albuquerque, and inspection of nuclear and non-nuclear facilities throughout the country. He served with the 5th Air Force in Japan and later as a ranking Colonel, Officer in Charge of the Pacific Unified Command (TM)s alternate “command and control center” in Hawaii. In 1962, he was transferred and served as Deputy for Material for the 832 Air Division at Canon Air Force Base, Clovis, New Mexico. He retired from the USAF in 1964.

“A couple of nuclear weapons that were sent to space were destroyed by the extraterrestrials. Our government sent nuclear weapons for the explosion on the moon’s surface. It was intended to, as I understand it, assess some scientific data and reactions and so forth. The idea of an explosion in space by any Earth government was not acceptable to the extraterrestrials, and that has been demonstrated over and over,” Colonel said.

He is one of hundreds of military whistleblowers with verified backgrounds to have been brought forth by Dr. Steven Greer’s Disclosure Project. His testimony about UFOs — specifically about UFOs and nuclear weapons — can be corroborated by a wealth of information and evidence that’s now available within the public domain.

UFO Shot Down Missile In 1964

For 18 years, Robert Jacobs had been participating in the official United States Government-ordered UFO coverup. He claimed that he had been ridiculed by his colleagues for writing about this cover-up that appeared in The National Enquirer. The cover-up was about the UFO shooting down one of the ballistic missiles back in 1964 in Big Sur, California. (Click here to read the full article)

Retired USAF Lieutenant Robert Jacobs had been an officer in charge of optical instrumentation at the 1369th Photo Squadron at Vandenberg from 1963 to 1966. His job was to establish a long-range tracking site at Big Sur, California. Those days, ballistic missiles used to blow upon launch, and Dr. Jacobs’ duty was to determine the reason behind every missile failure at the Western Test Range. As the missiles had to carry a nuclear weapon to a specific target, they were monitoring the dummy warhead to find the reason behind their blow.

Dr. Jacobs recalled that the UFO incident had most probably been associated with the launch of an Atlas missile happened either September 2nd, 3rd, or 15th, 1964.

Dr. Jacobs explained: “Because of the length of the telescope as the Atlas missile entered the frame, we could see the whole third stage which has two rocket nozzles like this and one in the center or gimballed one in the center fill in our frame from one hundred and about 160 miles it was pretty exciting optics we watched that stage burnout we watched the second stage burnout we watch a third stage burnout and into the frame came something else it flew into the frame.”

According to him, the warhead was approached by a UFO, fired a beam of light at it from different directions. Subsequently, the warhead malfunctioned and tumbled out of sub orbit hundreds of miles short of its target. “This… unidentified flying… thing had apparently shot down an American dummy atomic warhead,” Dr. Jacobs said.

Read also:

• Four US Intelligence Directors Hint That UFOs Are Alien Spaceships & Believe There Are Ot her Dimensions
• Russian Scientists Stated In 1970 That Moon Is Artificial Space Object
• Ex-Pentagon UFO Official Luis Elizondo Embraces ‘Zoo Hypothesis,’ Earth As Alien Prison
• Does This FBI Document Suggest That Nikola Tesla Was An Alien From Venus?

Nuclear-adjacent sightings go back decades, said Robert Hastings, a UFO researcher and author of the book “UFOs and Nukes: Extraordinary Encounters at Nuclear Weapons Sites.” Hastings said he interviewed more than 160 veterans who witnessed strange things in the skies around nuclear sites.

UFO deactivated Malmstrom AFB Nuke System

Former US Air Force Captain Robert Salas mentioned an incident that took place on March 16, 1967. He was at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana in an underground capsule when he was told by the security forces that a red glowing object had been seen at the front gate of the base. (Click here to read the full article)

One of the airmen was enjoying the clear morning sky when suddenly a star appeared, moving in a zig-zag manner. Then another light came. He called the Flight Security Controller (FSC), and they both watched the movement of those strange lights. They reported to Salas and he asked them to keep an eye on those lights.

Firstly, it did not concern Salas because he thought that his colleagues were possibly joking. In some time, he was called by the controller again, and he (FSC) was frightened and shouting. They were watching a UFO, hovering outside the front gate.

“I can’t really describe it. It’s glowing red. What are we supposed to do? Make sure the site is secure and I’ll phone the Command Post. Sir, I have to go now, one of the guys just got injured.”

After that, Salas lost communication with the airman and security guard. He immediately contacted his commander Lt. Fred Meiwald, who was sleeping at that time. While he was on the call with Lt. Meiwald, a security alarm rang, indicating a problem within the missile system. He checked the matter and found there was a “No-Go” light on, and two red security lights were lit. He was just trying to understand what went wrong, consecutively several alarms went off and they lost “entire flight of ten ICBMs to a ‘No-Go’ (inoperable) condition.”

Astronaut Leaked Email

In 2016, Wikileaks revealed thousands of emails that were allegedly linked to Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta. The emails unfolded secret information shared with Podesta about UFOs and ETs. (Click here to read the full article)

In 2015, Podesta received emails from Mitchell that expressed his concern about the weaponization of space and its impact on the ETI (extraterrestrial intelligence). Despite the fact that aliens might be violent as shown in various sci-fi, the notable astronaut called them nonviolent in an email.

In January 2015, he sent an email to Podesta, asking him to have an urgent meeting to discuss Disclosure and Zero Point Energy (ZPE). He was concerned about the peace in space.

Mitchell wrote: “My Catholic colleague Terri Mansfield will be there too, to bring us up to date on the Vatican’s awareness of ETI. Another colleague is working on a new Space Treaty, citing involvement with Russia and China. However with Russia’s extreme interference in Ukraine, I believe we must pursue another route for peace in space and ZPE on Earth.”

Mitchell emailed Podesta again on September 18, 2015. He wrote: “Because the War in Space race is heating up, I felt you should be aware of several factors as you and I schedule our Skype talk. Remember, our nonviolent ETI from the contiguous universe are helping us bring zero point energy to Earth. They will not tolerate any forms of military violence on Earth or in space.”

It was confirmed by one of Mitchell’s collaborators that the meeting between Podesta and him never took place. During the 2016 election campaign, Podesta declared he would convince Clinton to declassify as many UFO files as possible. In 2014, he tweeted that his biggest failure during the Obama administration was not to ask them for the release of UFO files.

Apollo astronaut Edgar Mitchell died in 2016 but for his entire life, he was a pacifist and a promoter of ETI reality. According to him, ZPE is the ultimate energy source from which all matter derives.

{ https://howandwhys.com/ }

Here’s what you’ll learn in this story:

• A Congressional hearing recently looked at a mysterious orb that a U.S. military missile seemed to bounce off in midair. Speculation ran rampant that it was a UAP—traditionally known as a UFO—after the blurry video was released.
• In reality, the UAP was likely a balloon that was drifting in the wind, reportedly in the air near Yemen. Its pieces continued drifting after a Hellfire missile tore into it.
• The U.S. Army is not releasing information about the event, or about how the military decides to deploy a missile, but a missile physics expert explains what probably happened.

Few people could make sense of it: a video played at a recent Congressional hearing concerning “unidentified anomalous phenomena,” or UAP, seems to show a U.S. military missile bouncing off a mysterious orb in mid-air. The blurry and short clip, appearing as if filmed from a point above the intersecting objects, was released at a House Oversight transparency hearing on Sept. 9. It attracted national attention, but what many people thought they saw was an illusion.

So, what was it, really?

An Expert on Missile Physics Weighs In

A U.S. Army spokesperson said in an email that while the hearing and video are in the public record, the newly renamed Department of War “has not authenticated the video, or issued a substantive confirmation about the event. Press reports reflect no Pentagon verification.”

So we asked a missile physics expert for some help. Fred Lamb, PhD, a theoretical astrophysicist at the University of Illinois, chaired a ballistic missile report earlier this year for the American Physical Society. He cautioned by e-mail that any analysis requires “many, many assumptions” for experts such as himself who have “no independent knowledge of the event,” but said he would do his best proceeding on assumptions.

Lamb’s conclusion—based on the evidence below—was that the object was likely a high-altitude balloon being cut up mid-air by a special variant of a U.S. missile designed to eject blades. He emphasized that this type of missile strike is not what the public would expect to see from watching Hollywood movies or TV series of ballistic explosions. “The main reason for this is to make the movie or TV event loud, dramatic, and exciting—not because that is what the destruction of a target, such as a balloon, would look like in reality,” he said.

What We See Doesn’t Always Reflect the Facts

Press reports from the hearing suggested that the event occurred in the air near Yemen and involved a variant of the 100-pound-scale “Hellfire” missile. Generally speaking, the U.S. Army uses these AGM-114 missiles, the spokesperson said—primarily a laser-guided variant called “Romeo” for its serial number, AGM-114R.

But there are at least 10 variants of Hellfire, Lamb said. His video analysis assumes one of these variants was fired from an MQ-9 Reaper drone, based on media reports, and that the camera that took the footage was flying on a second drone far above, using a “very high magnification thermal imaging camera,” he said. This drone type has a reported operational altitude of 25,000 feet, a little lower than typical commercial airliner flight routes, he said.

Lamb named the altitude and the camera specifically to highlight all the uncertainties the public is working with: the distance from the camera to the background, what the background is (might be ocean or cloud cover), the path of the presumed missile, the distance from the camera to the target, and the direction the camera is pointing towards (relative to the ground.)

“We don’t know any of these things,” he emphasized, which means an untrained observer might make conclusions, such as assuming “that the missile and the target are both moving in the same plane,” or “that the camera is not rotating,” among other misperceptions.

So we can’t say what we are looking at for sure.

However, Lamb said one possibility is that the camera is zooming far down to the intersecting objects, creating an optical illusion known as “parallax motion.” In a restricted field of view such as a camera lens, the target may be appearing to move very quickly—and that would especially be the case when there are few background objects with which to judge the motion.

Other UAPs that have appeared to be moving very rapidly have been found to be moving not under their own volition, but only because a wind was pushing them along, Lamb said. He therefore suggested it is plausible—but not a slam dunk—that the “target” might be a balloon high in the air reflecting sunlight, which “appears to be moving rapidly mostly because of ‘parallax motion,’ but also because it is being carried along by a high-altitude wind.”

What Happens When You Fire on a Balloon?

Assuming it is a balloon, who makes the decision to fire on the object? When asked if it is a pilot, a commanding officer or somebody else, the U.S. Army said it was unable to release that information “due to operational considerations.” Lamb added that generally, “There are many possible reasons why the U.S. military might want to bring down a balloon that was floating in an area where a conflict is ongoing.”

Assuming the missile hit a balloon, the video shows what appears to be a number of pieces—flying away in parallel—after the missile strike. “The missile continues on its way, indicating that the missile was not significantly deflected by its interaction with the target,” Lamb added of what he could plausibly see. “This indicates that there was not much interaction, and/or that the mass of the target was small, consistent with the target being a balloon.”

More evidence for the target being a balloon includes “the fact that once the target is intersected, the resulting pieces of the target move apart slowly, as they would if they are drifting apart while continuing to be carried by a wind.” The camera’s optics, he noted, likely couldn’t pick up all the debris—what was visible were pieces that “all seem to have the same noncircular shapes and the same orientation.”

As for why the missile continued and did not appear to explode? Lamb said there are a couple of possibilities. Perhaps the Hellfire’s warhead did not detonate. Or more likely, it is a “type of Hellfire missile that … did not have a substantial explosive warhead—but could nevertheless cut or tear the balloon.” The most likely example would be the AGM-114R9X, he added, which pops out sharp blades with only a small amount of explosive.

Hellfire missiles have been used in multiple operations and by different branches of the military, according to the U.S. Army. They were deployed during the 1991 Gulf War operations—also known as “Desert Storm” in the U.S., and continue to be used through the ongoing “War on Terror.” Hellfire missiles have been launched from both drones and helicopters.

While the nature of the video means we cannot know if a Hellfire missile was ripping up a balloon—or draw any detailed conclusions about what was shown—it’s an opportunity for all of us to realize that sometimes, what we think we’re seeing in a visual recording may not be what’s actually in front of us.

👉 Dive Deeper

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{ https://www.popularmechanics.com/science/ }