The findings could present complications for NASA’s Artemis program, particularly its third mission which will involve crewed lunar exploration that may use the Moon’s south pole for potential landing sites.

Tom Watters, a Senior Scientist with the Center for Earth and Planetary Studies of the National Air and Space Museum at the Smithsonian Institution, says current models reveal shallow moonquakes resulting from fault activity that could produce violent ground shaking in the Moon’s south pole region.

Watters, an expert on tectonic landforms on the Earth and the Moon and the lead author of a paper detailing the new findings, says the potential thrust fault activity in the region “should be considered when planning the location and stability of permanent outposts on the Moon.”

LRO image depicting the the Wiechert cluster of lobate scarps, as detailed with arrows pointing leftward, located near the lunar south pole

(Credit: NASA/LROC/ASU/Smithsonian Institution)

Currently, thousands of small, relatively new thrust faults have been detected in the lunar crust, as revealed in imagery collected by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). LRO Deputy Project Scientist Maria Banks, also a co-author of the new study, called the imagery “a good demonstration of one of the many ways in which LRO data is being used to assist planning for our return to the Moon.”

According to the team, these thrust faults detected in LRO imagery are the result of contractions driven by factors that include the Moon’s hot interior gradually cooling over time, which breaks the crust and misaligns the separate halves, producing steep banks resembling steps on a staircase.

Shallow moonquakes have also been detected in conjunction with the formation of these thrust faults by seismometers associated with the Apollo Passive Seismic Network, the strongest of which had an epicenter that was traced to the lunar south pole.

Based on models used in the recent study, the formation of a young thrust fault scarp in the de Gerlache Rim 2, a location NASA has identified as a potential landing site for Artemis III, could have been associated with a moonquake of comparable strength.

Also of concern is the potential for regolith landslides that may occur, which the recent study shows could result even from much milder seismic activity.

In the years ahead, NASA aims to work with its international and commercial partners to establish the first long-term human presence on the lunar surface under its Artemis program, in addition to landing the first woman and first person of color on the Moon.

However, Renee Weber with NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center and a co-author of the new study, says that understanding seismic hazards that may potentially impact future human lunar exploration during the Artemis missions, as well as those further in the future, will require additional seismic data from regions around the Moon, and not just its south pole.

“Missions like the upcoming Farside Seismic Suite will expand upon measurements made during Apollo,” Weber said in a statement, “and add to our knowledge of global seismicity.”

The team’s recent paper, “Tectonics and Seismicity of the Lunar South Polar Region,” was published on January 25, 2024, in The Planetary Science Journal.

• Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.

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

28-01-2024 om 21:05 geschreven door peter  

Turkey Kumburgaz UFO Videos Are 100% Real With Clear View Of Alien Entities Sitting Inside Craft

Yalman said he started recording the strange crafts as a hobby to pass his time in the night. Due to the shaky videos, some skeptics claimed that the mysterious objects over the skies of Turkey could have been a US stealth drone or other aircraft. However, numerous experts confirmed that the videos were authentic. Besides, many people witnessed the same unknown crafts in the sky. The sightings gained attention from locals, national media, and even CNN. Several videos were recorded between June 8 and 12, 2009, showing mysterious objects and lights.

Originally, the video was analyzed and made public by the Sirius UFO Space Sciences Research Center led by researcher Haktan Akdoğan. Haktan said the UFOs were often seen by civilians and military pilots during an International UFO Congress in 2009. (Source)

In 2009, after the conference, there were witnesses of 8-10 people including UFOlogist Dr. Roger Leir, who also witnessed and verified the Kumburgaz UFO sighting. Dr. Leir was present during the filming of one video on May 17, 2009, and confirmed that as the UAP turned, it was similar to the “Roswell” shaped craft (more boomerang-shaped) rather than a traditional disc. Dr. Leir discussed this incident that happened with him after the conference on Coast to Coast with George Knapp.

Dr. Leir told Knapp that he, Yalman and others went to Kumburgaz to film UFOs. The group stayed up from midnight to 4 o’clock in the morning to capture any possible sightings. The conditions were ideal, with clear skies and no obstructions. During the filming, they observed a bright object below the full moon, which initially appeared as a potential star or planet. As they focused on this object, they discovered a semi-circular craft with a multitude of lights, possibly shaped like a boomerang or a cylindrical saucer.

Dr. Leir said, 

“You’d think, ‘Well, gee, a bright sky, bright moon, you’re not going to see anything.’ But in this case, the moon was a big help. It essentially lit up the exterior portion of the craft, which initially, when we saw it, looked a bit like a boomerang because we weren’t seeing it straight on, so we couldn’t tell the exact shape of the craft. But then we went to full film on it, and we could see that it was either a boomerang, or we were looking at a certain portion of a cylindrical craft or a saucer.

Till this day, I don’t know, and I don’t know what the analysts said about the shape. But it was either one of the two: either a boomerang shape with a round front or a complete saucer. It did turn a couple of times, so we were able to see the side, and it looked like it could have been saucer-shaped. But then we got the biggest shock of our lives because we could see light that was emanating from the internal portion of the craft in three areas. One was directly in front, and one was on either side.

This was a full-on front view, and folks can look at the Coast website and they can not only see the video but please go to the Chilean analysis because there are some still photos there which show what we saw when we looked in the central portion. That was a big shock to look and see, not a Rorschach-type thing, but actual entities that were, whatever they were doing, looking out the front of the craft, just the same as we were looking at them.”

Video Observation

From 2007 to 2009, Yalman recorded approximately 30 videos. The footage was taken with a MiniDV Canon DM-GR1-A based on the NTSC system with a diaphragm set at a maximum of 1.8. It is a 3CCD 20x optic 100x with a teleconverter mounted on a 58 mm adapter. The tele-objective is a Sony VCL HGD 1758 model lens, x 1.7. [2007 to 2009 Original Raw Footage]

The videos were examined by two influential state-sponsored organizations in Turkey, “The Scientific and Technology Research Board of Turkey” and “The TUG National Observatory.” Their objective was to identify any evidence of forgery, but the results supported the authenticity of the videos. The original film cassettes were also studied by individuals from Japan, Chile, Brazil, and Russia, and despite several attempts, no one has been able to conclusively demonstrate evidence of a hoax, fraud, or manipulation, leaving the case unidentified.

Yalman’s camera was equipped with a zoom option which allowed him to even capture the pilots, sitting in one of the crafts. The image is shaky due to the hand movements while zooming. However, with the editing software, the video was stabilized, and the result shocked everyone. Two humanoid figures could be seen in the image with large black eyes and oversized heads.

Haktan Akdoğan noted that these are the most important images in Turkey and in the world, saying: “After doing all the necessary analysis which went on for several weeks, the board came to a definite conclusion with no doubt that these are 100% genuine videos. The objects sighted in the aforementioned footage that have a structure that is made of specific material are definitely not made up by any kind of computer animation nor are they any form of special effects used for simulation in a studio or for a video effect therefore in conclusion it was decided that the sightings were neither a mock up or hoax. It is concluded that these objects in the sightings that have physical and material structures do not belong in any category such as; planes, helicopters, meteors, Venus, Mars, satellites, fireballs, Chinese lanterns, fireballs, weather balloons, natural or atmospheric phenomenon etc. and but rather fall into the category of UFOs.”

“We see the heads of not only one UFO but also of two beings in the images. This is the first in the world.” He further added that those images would have a great impact on UFOlogy. He had been researching UFOs for 22 years and had never seen something like this. He stated: “These are the most remarkable images taken in Turkish history.”

[In translation] Akdoğan stated that “these beings are generally seen in areas rich with resources, volcanic areas, and historical places. They started to come more frequently after nuclear tests. Maybe the released radiation also harms the cosmic neighbors, we disrupt the balance in the universe. Maybe they observe this dangerous process.” (Source)

According to the report issued by the Scientific and Technology Research Board of Turkey, the examination of these frames has yielded the following results:

• The images were recorded in digital NTSC format by the above-mentioned camera.
• The date on the video indicates that the recordings were made during 2007, 2008, and 2009.
• The footage images of the object that visibly have a certain configuration are not computer animations, special video effects or studio-re-created images or models. The footage is genuine.
• The first observation made from the footage is that some of the images were recorded in the nighttime sky at a certain altitude from the horizon. The footage also covers images of the moon in some parts which proves that the video was shot in the nighttime and open air. But, the fact that digital date displays show AM in certain frames and PM in others, raises suspicion about the validity of the time in which the recordings were made.
• Since in some parts, there is no other object that can be featured as a reference in the close-up frames and no observable differences were found on background examination, the actual location, distance, dimensions and nature of the objects could not have been determined.
• Through the examination of shootings of multiple dates, it is a strong possibility that 2-3 different objects were captured. However, it is difficult to determine whether the objects are moving or not. Their movement is slow even if they do so.
• The reflections of light on the objects are sometimes caused by the moon which was in a convenient location at that time, and sometimes produced by some other sources of light.
• The light reflection from the left side of the object which is seen on the August 10th shootings is not produced by the moon. At that time, the moon was in a phase that was pretty close to the “new moon” phase and located approximately at a 10-degree proximity/angle to the horizon. Moreover, the image processing analysis conducted on some parts of the footage revealed that the center of the object has the same density as its background, namely is of a transparent nature.

Not Debunked

Adam Goldstack of UAP Media UK mentions that many debunkers try to explain the craft as cruise ships but according to former F-16 fighter pilot and researcher Chris Letho, it does not add up. Letho analyzed the videos and case and calculated the object’s size, horizon distance, plus visual angles from the Marmara Sea. He concluded the logistics of a cruise ship did not match the reported UAP. (Source)

Additionally, the triangulation of the UAP in most video cases was calculated to be too high to be a cruise ship or boat, by other researchers. Alternatively, in the fixed/stabilized camera videos (as shown below), we can see that the objects are motionless against a black background in the vast majority of videos. The motionless aspect of the UAP could also discount the “small-boat theory,” given that even on calm waters/oceans floating objects will still move and rock around slightly. Additionally, despite the mass mainstream media coverage in Turkey at the time, no person has ever come forward to state that the objects/boats belonged to them or that they were sailing off the coast in the middle of the night.

Goldstack writes, “From an analytical perspective, the Turkey Kumburgaz UFO case is unique with regards to the clear and multiple video footage obtained. Through this case, we also have sequential data that display behavioral patterns, times, and dates. We see all of the twenty-five video encounters/incidents at night-time/early morning (with one in the late evening), which is in keeping with the wider range of Ufology data that suggests UAP often appears at night-time.

We also see another significant pattern displaying the encounters around water – in this case, the Marmara Sea. The Sea of Marmara itself is a small sea with an area of 11,350 km2 (4,380 sq mi) and with dimensionsea of 280 km × 80 km (174 mi × 50 mi). The sea has a greatest depth of 1,370 m (4,490 ft). How significant the Sea of Marmara is to potential UAP has still not been explained. No connection to nuclr facilities or weapons has been linked in this case.”

Below is the video itself.

LINKS VIDEOS

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXznyjZiOoo
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJIYf62SdEw
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2KBU2HHX1GE

{ https://www.howandwhys.com/ }

28-01-2024 om 20:38 geschreven door peter  

Top 10 Must See UFO Docs

The enigma of Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and the possibility of extraterrestrial life has always fascinated humanity. With countless theories, eyewitness accounts, and unexplained phenomena, the quest for the truth remains a topic of intrigue and debate. For those drawn to the mysteries of the cosmos and the unexplained, here is a curated list of the top 10 must-see UFO documentaries that delve into these perplexing mysteries.

Video:

• Top 10 Must See UFO Docs

• https://youtu.be/fbL0eOFXZ_g

Each of these documentaries offers a unique lens through which we can view the enduring mystery of UFOs. Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or simply curious, these films provide a compelling exploration of one of the most intriguing questions of our time: Are we alone in the universe?

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

28-01-2024 om 19:23 geschreven door peter  

Our Shaky, Shrinking Moon

Moonquakes generally happen within a hundred miles or so of the lunar surface. On Earth, that might result in a fairly mild quake. But, since the Moon’s surface is so brittle, the effects of those “shakes” are much more noticeable. According to Nicholas Schmerr, a co-author of the paper and an associate professor of geology at the University of Maryland, this means that shallow moonquakes can devastate hypothetical human settlements on the Moon.

“You can think of the Moon’s surface as being dry, grounded gravel and dust,” he said. “Over billions of years, the surface has been hit by asteroids and comets, with the resulting angular fragments constantly getting ejected from the impacts,” Schmerr explained. “As a result, the reworked surface material can be micron-sized to boulder-sized, but all very loosely consolidated. Loose sediments make it very possible for shaking and landslides to occur.”

Quakes affect every part of the lunar surface. Global compressional stresses deform the surface, forcing splits and cracks to occur. These scarps—steep slopes and cliffs—exist everywhere there. In their paper, the team suggests that many are close to the epicenters of geologically recent quakes. And the regions where they occurred could still be active today. That includes the lunar South Pole.

Risks to Artemis

The team led by Watters examined data and images of the lunar South Pole and linked faults there to a major moonquake in the 1970s. The region is filled with scarps, which are prime evidence for moonquakes. Although they conclude that some regions in the area are probably safe enough for the Artemis missions, others are not. The team’s computer models show that the most dangerous areas are vulnerable to landslides triggered by seismic shaking. They continue to map the Moon and track its quakes to identify the riskiest areas for Artemis astronauts to land.

That mission could take place by the end of the decade, when NASA hopes to establish long-term habitations for research and exploration. Schmerr points out that the risks to safety from even the slightest quakes can’t be overestimated. “As we get closer to the crewed Artemis mission’s launch date, it’s important to keep our astronauts, our equipment, and infrastructure as safe as possible,” Schmerr said. “This work is helping us prepare for what awaits us on the moon—whether that’s engineering structures that can better withstand lunar seismic activity or protecting people from really dangerous zones.”

The Artemis missions essentially mark NASA’s return to human exploration of the Moon. The idea is to collaborate with both commercial partners and international agencies to make this happen. Teams of lunar astronauts will establish an Artemis Base camp, and depend on a lunar gateway to connect the mission to Earth. Eventually, what they learn there will inform the first human missions to Mars.

For More Information

• The Moon is Shrinking, Causing Landslides and Instability in Lunar South Pole
• Tectonics and Seismicity of the Lunar South Polar Region
  
• Artemis

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

27-01-2024 om 23:57 geschreven door peter  

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

27-01-2024 om 23:34 geschreven door peter  

And on top of it all, our neighborhood in the galaxy, on a small branch of a great spiral arm situated about 25,000 light-years from the center, seems tuned for life: a Galactic Habitable Zone.

Too close to the center and any emerging life must contend with an onslaught of deadly radiation from countless stellar deaths and explosions, a byproduct of the cramped conditions of the core. Yes, stars come and go, quickly building up a lot of the heavy elements needed for life, but stars can be hundreds of times closer together in the core. The Earth has already suffered some extinction events likely triggered by nearby supernovae, and in that environment we simply wouldn’t stand a chance. Explosions would rip away our protective ozone layer, exposing surface life to deadly solar UV radiation, or just rip away our atmosphere altogether.

And beyond our position, at greater galactic radii, we find a deserted wasteland. Yes, stars appear and live their lives in those outskirts, but they are too far and too lonely to effectively spread their elemental ash to create a life-supporting mixture. There simply isn’t enough density of stars to support sufficient levels of mixing and recycling of elements, meaning that it’s difficult to even build a planet out there in the first place.

And so it seems that life would almost inevitably arise here, on this world, around this Sun, in this region of the Milky Way galaxy. There’s little else that we could conceivably call home.

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

27-01-2024 om 23:17 geschreven door peter  

BY MARK THOMPSON

Another Asteroid Discovered Hours Before it Impacts the Earth

Sárneczky only had three observations when he submitted the data but continued to observe and over the course of the following minutes secured four more observations which he passed over realising it was heading straight for Earth. The actions that follow any such discovery like this are that the MPC alert others for follow up observations. Astronomers and automated impact monitoring systems including the European Space Agency’s wonderfully named ‘MeerKAT’ system sprang into action and more observations came in. 

With more data, came more accuracy and thankfully the knowledge the the impactor was only about a metre across and due to impact just west of Berlin in Germany. It is not unusual for asteroids of this size to hit Earth indeed, we get them every couple of weeks but they generally burn up in the atmosphere and pose no threat. Larger asteroids that do pose a threat are thankfully much rarer. Larger objects are also easier to spot so the majority have already been spotted and are already being tracked but there are automated searches and individuals like Sárneczky who are always on the look out.

The asteroid, which is now known as 2024-BX1 hit the Earth’s atmosphere just a few hours after discovery at 01:32 CET (00:32 UT) on Sunday morning the 21st January, 50km to the west of Berlin. It burned up, leaving a fabulous streak across the sky which people witnessed as a fireball even being spotted over here in the UK.

Worryingly it is actually quite an unusual thing for asteroids to have been discovered before they impact our atmosphere. Only eight have been spotted with the first back in 2008. The difficulty of course is to find them early enough to give us time to understand their trajectory and size to understand what level of threat they pose to us. I should add there are no known asteroids on a collision course with Earth  and fortunately there are people like Sárneczky and a number of automated search systems out there on the lookout for the next one. 

Source : 

• Asteroid 2024 BX1 spotted three hours before impact

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

27-01-2024 om 22:56 geschreven door peter  

What are they trying to tell us? Internal Pentagon report warns America is unequipped to defend itself from an ALIEN invasion

• The reported noted that the DoD needs formal policies to identify UAPs 
• The Pentagon watchdogs have made 11 recommendations in the report
• READ MORE: Ex-official weighs in on 'cube in a sphere' UFO at military bases

By STACY LIBERATORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

US officials do not have the capabilities to defend America against a hypothetical alien invasion, internal Pentagon watchdogs have determined.

A newly declassified document found the Department of Defense (DoD) lacks comprehensive or coordinated effort to track and analyze UFOs - which have been rebranded Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) in recent years.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG) made the eerie conclusion that this blindspot in the DoD's defensive capabilities 'poses a threat to military forces and national security.'

To address the issues identified in this report, the OIG has made 11 recommendations, including the enforcement of protection policies and the development of new tools in the event of an extraterrestrial attack.

A newly declassified document determined the Department of Defense (DoD) lacks comprehensive or coordinated effort to track and analyze UAP, such as one spotted by the US Navy in 2004

'DoD efforts to identify and understand UAP has been irregular because of competing priorities, lack of substantive progress, and inconclusive findings,' reads 'Evaluation of the DoD's Actions Regarding Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena', previously issued August 2023.

'However, military pilots have continued to report UAP incidents despite the sporadic efforts of the DoD to identify, report, and analyze the events'

The 2023 report was a collection of evaluations on whether the Pentagon, military branches, defense agencies and counterintelligence organizations conducted actions 'to detect, report, collect, analyze, and identify UAP.'

'The DoD has not issued a comprehensive UAP response plan that identifies roles, responsibilities, requirements, and coordination procedures for detecting, reporting, collecting, analyzing, and identifying UAP incidents,' OIG concluded.

The agency conducted the work for the evaluation from May 2021 through June 2023 and interviewed Presidential and DoD policies, directives and guidance.

Those individuals are tasked with establishing requirements for intelligence gathering, counterintelligence, force protection, and civil liberty protections for 

'As a result, the DoD response to UAP incidents is uncoordinated and concentrated within each Military Department.'

In July 2022, the Pentagon set up the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), to handle reports of UAPs.

AARO is responsible for synchronizing and standardizing the collection, analysis, and identification of UAP incidents.

Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced the declassification of the report on Thursday, noting it was released due to the 'significant public interest in how the DoD is addressing UAPs'

However, OIG has questioned the abilities of the nation to organize and defend itself in a summary of the classified report.

OIG found that due to a lack of DoD-level guidance, AARO has not developed a formal process to detect and report on unidentified object in US skies.

UAPs are designated as 'Special Interest Items' among military officials, who require aircrews to document and report sightings within  24 hours of shutting down the engines of their own aircraft.

Some of those unexplained observations have been sent to AARO, but the reported noted that the DoD does not require military services to do so. 

'DoD Components have largely excluded geographic combatant commands, which are responsible for detecting, deterring, and preventing threats and attacks against the United States and its territories, possessions, and bases in their respective areas of responsibility, in developing UAP policies and procedures,' OIG determined in the 16-page document. 

In July 2022, the Pentagon set up the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), to handle reports of UAPs. AARO is responsible for identification of UAP incidents such as this observation in 2023 above LAX

To address the issues identified in the report, the DoD OIG said they have made eleven recommendations to the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.

For example, OIG recommended that the DoD issue a policy to integrate roles, responsibilities, requirements, and coordination procedures regarding UAP into existing intelligence, counterintelligence, and force protection policies and procedures,' the report reads.

The report also suggested the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff issue guidance to 'the geographic combatant commanders regarding unidentified anomalous phenomena detection, reporting, collection, analysis, and identification within their area of responsibility.

'At a minimum, the guidance should include tools to help commands determine the threats posed by unidentified anomalous phenomena.'

Inspector General Robert P. Storch announced the declassification of the report on Thursday, noting it was released due to the 'significant public interest in how the DoD is addressing UAPs.'

'We are releasing this unclassified summary to be as transparent as possible with the American people about our oversight work on this important issue,' Storch shared in a statement.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

27-01-2024 om 22:35 geschreven door peter  

Fossil of Giant Triassic Amphibian Unearthed in Brazil

by Enrico de Lazaro

A new genus and species of temnospondyl amphibian has been described by a team of paleontologists from the Universidade Federal do Pampa, the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Princeton University and Harvard University.

An artist’s impression of Kwatisuchus rosai.

Image credit: Márcio Castro.

The newly-identified temnospondyl species roamed our planet during the Early Triassic epoch, some 249 million years ago.

Named Kwatisuchus rosai, the ancient animal was approximately 1.5 m (4.9 feet) in length.

It belonged to Benthosuchidae, a small group of giant crocodile-like amphibians that lived during the Triassic.

These creatures were primarily aquatic, living in rivers and lakes. They were up to 2.5 m (8.2 feet) in length and have no direct living relatives.

“Kwatisuchus rosai can be confidently assigned to the Benthosuchidae, a stereospondyl clade with a distribution previously restricted to the East European Platform,” said Universidade Federal do Pampa paleontologist Felipe Pinheiro and his colelagues.

“Phylogenetic analysis confirms the relationship of the new genus to the trematosaurian lineage, being closely related to the genus Benthosuchus.”

The skull of Kwatisuchus rosai.

Image credit: Felipe Pinheiro.

The fossilized skull of Kwatisuchus rosai was found in August 2022 in the Sanga do Cabral Formation, a sedimentary rock formation found in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

“Kwatisuchus rosai was a survivor,” said Dr. Pinheiro, led author of a paper published in The Anatomical Record.

“It lived in an environment devastated by the greatest mass extinction in the history of the planet.”

“Since they were animals adapted to conditions of high environmental stress, temnospondyl amphibians became abundant throughout the world.”

“They help us understand how extinctions affected the planet and how we can understand their effects today.”

“This was the most diverse group of primitive tetrapods, recorded on every continent on Earth,” said Dr. Estevan Eltink, a paleontologist at the Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco.

“Temnospondyls survived the greatest mass extinction of all time.”

“They have a broad record across geological periods, and had several pulses of irradiation over the millions of years of their existence.”

• Felipe L. Pinheiro et al. Interrelationships among Early Triassic faunas of Western Gondwana and Laurasia as illuminated by a new South American benthosuchid temnospondyl. The Anatomical Record, published online January 19, 2024; doi: 10.1002/ar.25384

{ https://www.sci.news/ }

27-01-2024 om 21:58 geschreven door peter  

Professor of Religion Gives Her Take on the UFO Phenomenon

In a recent episode of “The Joe Rogan Experience,” an intriguing dialogue unfolded, featuring Diana Walsh Pasulka, a respected Professor of Religion. The podcast delved into the enigmatic world of UFOs, offering a perspective that bridged the gap between the mystical and the empirical.

Pasulka, known for her in-depth research and scholarly approach, brought a unique lens to the topic. She emphasized the diverse nature of UFO phenomena, suggesting that these experiences, steeped in history, are more than mere sightings; they are interactions with something beyond our conventional understanding.

At the heart of Pasulka’s argument lies the idea of transformation. She posited that encounters with UFOs often lead individuals to seek justice and societal improvement. This pattern, illustrated through anecdotes from her research, points to a profound impact on human behavior and societal structures.

What stands out in Pasulka’s discourse is her holistic approach. She doesn’t shy away from considering interdimensional theories, proposing that some UFOs might be objects existing simultaneously in multiple dimensions. This hypothesis ties into the discussion of historical anomalies like the Shroud of Turin, suggesting a tangible intersection between the material world and unknown realms.

• https://youtu.be/g9ZU-SvOiSU

Pasulka also touched on the role of technology in shaping public perception of UFOs. With the advent of digital platforms, stories and experiences that were once isolated incidents have found a communal space, amplifying the phenomenon’s reach and impact. This digital age, as she notes, has allowed for a viral spread of information, akin to the rapid expansion seen in early religious movements.

In her conversation with Rogan, Pasulka navigated the complex web of government involvement, scientific inquiry, and public discourse surrounding UFOs. She hinted at a possible government acknowledgment of UFOs, a step that could lead to wider engagement in understanding these phenomena.

Moreover, Pasulka’s discussion ventured into the realms of historical parallels and religious implications. She drew connections between modern UFO experiences and esoteric traditions, suggesting a deeper, perhaps spiritual, dimension to these encounters.

Diana Walsh Pasulka’s appearance on “The Joe Rogan Experience” provided a nuanced, scholarly perspective on the UFO phenomenon. Her approach, blending historical insight with contemporary analysis, invites us to consider the broader implications of these mysterious encounters. It’s a conversation that not only piques curiosity but also encourages a thoughtful exploration of the unknown.

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

27-01-2024 om 18:39 geschreven door peter  

Unraveling the Mystery of the Cold War Era ‘Black Knight Satellite’

The Black Knight satellite mystery encapsulates a fascinating period in history where space exploration was in its nascent stages, and the line between science and fiction was often blurred. It serves as a reminder of the lengths nations went to in the name of security and dominance, and how these efforts sparked the human imagination, leading to enduring legends and myths. As we continue to explore the cosmos, stories like that of the Black Knight satellite remind us of our perpetual quest to understand the unknown.

• https://youtu.be/COBFQ3qiWto

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

27-01-2024 om 18:23 geschreven door peter  

{ https://scientias.nl/ }

26-01-2024 om 23:30 geschreven door peter  

Although initially planned as a technology demonstration that would only conduct five test flights, Ingenuity went on to perform a remarkable 72 flights, many of which provided useful aerial reconnaissance for the Perseverance rover in advance of its movement to areas of interest for potential study.

“It is bittersweet that I must announce Ingenuity… has taken its last flight on Mars,” Nelson said in a statement.

Characterizing the small aircraft as “the little helicopter that could,” Nelson said the helicopter sustained damage to one of its rotor blades while attempting a landing.

NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter takes off above Jezero crater

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS).

“At least one of its carbon fiber rotor blades was damaged,” Nelson said. “We’re investigating the possibility that the blade struck the ground.”

The damage occurred during a vertical flight the helicopter performed to determine its location several days ago, following an emergency landing during its previous flight.

Although the aircraft achieved a maximum altitude of 40 feet, hovering for a total of 4.5 seconds before beginning its descent, Ingenuity lost contact with Perseverance before reaching the ground. Several days later the rotor blade damage was revealed.

“What Ingenuity accomplished far exceeds what we thought possible,” Nelson said.

“Ingenuity demonstrated how flight can enhance operational missions, and it’s helping us in the search for life on Mars.”

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

26-01-2024 om 23:22 geschreven door peter  

Laura Kreidberg with the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy in Heidelberg, Germany, called the discovery of water on such a small exoplanet “a landmark discovery.”

Kreidberg, co-principal investigator in the new study that revealed the discovery, said that finding water on GJ 9827D “pushes [astronomers] closer than ever to characterizing truly Earth-like worlds.”

The new discovery represents the first time that an exoplanet of this kind has been found to exist around other stars, an observation made entirely possible through atmospheric detection of water made possible by the Hubble telescope.

“This is an important step toward determining the prevalence and diversity of atmospheres on rocky planets,” said Björn Benneke, an astronomer with the Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets at Université de Montréal, in a statement.

Hubble was used to observe the planet during eleven transits before its host star over three years. As the planet moves in front of its star, the light the stellar body produces is filtered through GJ 9827D’s atmosphere, which allows astronomers the ability to observe key spectra that indicated the presence of water molecules.

Right now, astronomers cannot tell whether the planet is a “water world” with an abundance of liquid, or if the atmospheric detections made possible by Hubble only point to the presence of water vapor in its hydrogen-rich atmosphere.

Pierre-Alexis Roy, also with the University of Montreal’s Trottier Institute for Research on Exoplanets and lead author of a new paper describing the discovery, said either of these scenarios would be exciting, “whether water vapor is dominant or just a tiny species in a hydrogen-dominant atmosphere.”

Although possessing water like Earth, GJ 9827D’s proximity to its star causes it to resemble Venus due more closely to its extreme heat. With temperatures nearing 800 degrees Fahrenheit, it seems unlikely that GJ 9827D would be a place where life could thrive, particularly if an abundance of water vapor exists in its atmosphere.

If, however, the planet still possesses an atmosphere rich in hydrogen but possesses a degree of water vapor, it could also be a mini-Neptune, or even similar to Juputer’s moon Europa, which astronomers have determined to possess roughly twice as much water as Earth has.

If there are equal parts water and rock on GJ 9827D, it could be that the water vapor exists above the planet’s smaller rock body, Benneke explains.

However, Benneke, Roy, and the team also say that if the planet initially formed farther away from its nearest star, then it could be that the water-richness of its atmosphere is residual and that the heating of the planet as it has moved closer to its stellar host has heated the water as the planet receives more radiation over time.

Thomas Greene, astrophysicist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley, likened the observation of water as a “gateway” toward additional discoveries, some of which may be made with NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.

“JWST can see much more with additional infrared observations, including carbon-bearing molecules like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane,” Greene said.

“Once we get a total inventory of a planet’s elements, we can compare those to the star it orbits and understand how it was formed,” Greene added.

The team’s new paper, by Benneke, Roy, et al, titled “Water Absorption in the Transmission Spectrum of the Water World Candidate GJ 9827 d,” appeared in The Astrophysical Journal Letters.

• Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.

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

26-01-2024 om 23:13 geschreven door peter  

David Grusch Reveals Disturbing UFO Secrets to Tucker Carlson: Claims of Death & Physical Harm in Cover-Up

David Grusch, a key figure in the UFO mystery, has participated in consecutive interviews with mainstream media regarding the concealment of UFO information. Grusch has gained prominence following the July 2023 US Congress UAP hearings, thanks to his compelling and assertive testimony about non-human intelligence. He is consistently claiming we have alien crafts in double digits and also possess non-human biologics which implies Earth is in contact with or aware of species from other planets.

With each passing day, David Grusch is making efforts to reach a larger audience and share his story. This drew him to former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, a prominent figure in American media. Carlson, with over 10.9 million followers on Elon Musk’s X (formerly named Twitter), did a bombshell interview with Grusch published on December 14, 2023.

On X, Tucker Carlson posted this 66-minute interview with Grusch with the caption: “It’s becoming obvious that the US government has made contact with nonhuman beings.”

Grusch told Tucker that the U.S. government has retrieved “biologics” (bodies) from crashed UFO sites. When asked about the nature of these biologics, Grusch states that they are “non-human.” He emphasizes that this assessment comes from individuals with direct knowledge who are still part of the program. Grusch also mentions the existence of documentary evidence but suggests that details would need to be discussed in a secure location called a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility).

Tucker expresses surprise at Grusch’s sudden public involvement in the UFO topic, given his extensive background in military intelligence. Grusch recounts how he first became interested in the topic after seeing a New York Times article in 2017 about Lou Elizondo and programs like AATIP and AWASAP. Tucker notes that the government never confirmed or denied Elizondo’s involvement, to which Grusch clarified that he knew about Elizondo’s role. He recalls hearing that Elizondo was considered somewhat erratic by some officials. Grusch’s curiosity deepened when he saw news reports about Elizondo’s involvement in a UFO program, leading him to realize that the program was indeed real.

Grusch explains that it was a unique experience during his time in UAP task force because he started uncovering disturbing facts. He had access to classified archives from previous UFO programs and came across foreign intelligence gathered by clandestine human sources overseas. These sources, according to him, noted that the U.S. had a retrieval and reverse engineering program for UFOs. Notably, these assessments were from other countries.

Tucker questions Grusch about how the Pentagon, an entity that serves elected officials, could deny an elected official access to information. He emphasizes that the Pentagon works for politicians who are accountable to the people and compares Pentagon employees to household staff, highlighting that they’re not an independent entity.

Grsuch acknowledged the issue and pointed out that this is one of the reasons he decided to blow the whistle. He explains that even in the normal black Special Access Program (SAP) community, elected leaders are treated as second-class citizens. He mentions instances where reporting is waived, and Deputy Secretaries of Defense (Dep SecDef) can sign orders limiting briefings to certain committees.

“I can sign an order saying we’re not going to fully brief certain committees on, you see, on programs that are in Public Law 10 US Code Section 119, and that is congressional oversight of SAPS, is the title of that part of Public Law. But the department, which I find in retrospect, very weird, where the legislators authorize and appropriate these programs, but they’re not afforded full access. And occasionally the Gang of Eight will get those kinds of briefings. But literally, they could withhold, besides notifying a program that stood up the entire Congress, that we’re doing some kind of clandestine activity.”

Grsuch mentioned there are approximately 40 people, many with firsthand knowledge, some at the same level as Harry Reid. He explains that after realizing the reality of the situation, he and his team conducted interviews with individuals who had privileged information, even comparable to a high-ranking figure like Harry Reid.

Grsuch recounts a conversation with Harry Reid, where the former senator expressed deep concern about the topic. Reid, then planning to discuss it with President Biden, highlighted the challenges even someone of his stature faced in accessing information. David Grusch emphasizes that past administrations had varying levels of knowledge about these programs, and even presidents were not always briefed on all aspects.

When Tucker specifically asks about any connection between the secrecy surrounding the Manhattan Project (which developed nuclear weapons) and UFO programs, Grusch clarifies that there isn’t an overt connection. However, he speculates that the development of nuclear weapons might have sparked interest in unidentified objects.

David Grusch mentions that he can’t discuss many retrievals, and the only one he has publicly mentioned is the 1933 Italian event. He chose this event to highlight that the UFO phenomenon is not exclusive to the United States but is a worldwide issue.

Grusch explains that the Italian event involved the recovery of an object that looked like an acorn in Magenta, Italy, by the Axis powers (Italy and Germany) in 1933. He notes that information about this event surfaced in the early 2000s through Italian researchers who uncovered documents sent by Mussolini to the Gestapo.

According to a senior intelligence officer who briefed him, the recovered object resembled a lenticular disc, but the edges broke off when it hit the Earth, giving it an acorn or bell shape. The Italians kept custody of the artifact until the end of the war, and then the Americans recovered it. He adds that the Vatican and the OSS (Office of Strategic Services) communicated with FDR about the crash. Grusch said the 1933 Italian event is the only one he has cleared through DoD security.

Read also:

• This Woman Saw a UFO Landing & Three Aliens Abducted Calvin Parker & Charles Hickson
• Ex-US Navy Officer Saw ‘Non-human Entities’ In His Bedroom After ‘Gimbal UFO’ Encounter

Tucker questions Grusch about the timeline of the U.S. government’s knowledge of UFOs, pointing out that David mentioned the government didn’t take custody until the end of the war. David clarifies that this statement specifically refers to a particular case, but the government was aware of the UFO issue in the 1930s.

Tucker then raises a common question: Why do advanced technologies like UFOs crash so often? Grusch suggests that crashes may not necessarily be intentional. He introduces the concept of von Neumann replicating probes, where advanced civilizations might send throwaway probes that could crash accidentally. Grusch emphasizes that this is not just his theory but something discussed by scientists involved in the program.

Tucker follows up by questioning whether these objects truly come from a far distance. Grusch admits the uncertainty, highlighting that even certain directors of government agencies prefer using the term “extraterrestrial.” However, he leans towards the term NHI, meaning non-human intelligence. He notes that this term is also used in the Schumer amendment called the UAP Disclosure Act of 2023. The act is part of the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act and is currently in conference. He underscores that he’s not the only one using terms like “non-human intelligence biologics” and points out that influential figures like Chuck Schumer are pushing for transparency in the matter.

Tucker questions why there is so much secrecy, and David suggests that excessive secrecy hinders national security. He draws a parallel with nuclear physics, explaining that while details about building nuclear weapons are classified, the broader study of nuclear physics is open to the public. David advocates for a similar approach to UFOs, where the subject should be “horizontally protected,” allowing broad academic study and public access to information, with only genuinely dangerous or classified aspects kept confidential. This way, he believes 95% of the subject could be open for study worldwide.

Tucker asks David about the truth behind these abduction claims. David responds by saying that he doesn’t have any first-hand knowledge on the phenomenon of abduction. He notes that, during his interviews, none of the individuals he spoke with had direct experience or knowledge about abductions.

“I don’t know. Nobody I interviewed had any firsthand knowledge of that phenomenon. I certainly believe people have experienced things like that. At least they believe it, because you look at Dr. John Mack, who was a Harvard-trained psychologist and psychiatrist. He examined the phenomenon of abduction in the early 2000s before his death and affirmed that the people he psychoanalyzed certainly experienced something real to them. But what is the abduction phenomenon? I really don’t know. I’m not sure.”

David Grusch tells Tucker Carlson about Rep. Mike Turner’s efforts to block the UAP Disclosure Act and destroy Tim Burchett’s career “Mike Rogers & Mike Turner, two of the dumbest people in Washington. Pure tools of the national security state.” Additionally on Newnation, he said, “Mike Turner probably has no business being the (House Intelligence Committee) Chairman… Mike Turner has never been an intelligence officer. He’s never served in the military.” “We need to get these people out of office.”

Physical Harm

Tucker raises a sensitive issue about the potential harm or killing of individuals connected to the U.S. government’s UFO programs. He specifically asks Grusch if he has reason to believe that the government has hurt or killed anyone, particularly American citizens, in connection to these programs.

Grusch responds by acknowledging concerns that were raised by individuals who approached him, expressing worries about potential harm. He emphasizes that he took these concerns seriously and reported them to the Inspector General of the intelligence community, directing the individuals to law enforcement.

Tucker pushes further, specifically mentioning the allegation of murder, to which Grusch confirms that the concerns included both murder and physical harm. However, he refrains from providing specific details due to the ongoing investigation and potential risks to his safety.

Grusch discloses that he felt his life was in jeopardy, and he reported the threats and surveillance to a counterintelligence element and law enforcement. He reveals that these threats not only affected him but also impacted his wife. He states that he doesn’t know the identity of those involved, ruling out the possibility of it being a foreign entity.

Previously on the Joe Rogan Experience, Grusch talked about the fundamental questions related to UFOs, such as the existence of extraterrestrial life and the nature of human consciousness. Grusch asserted with confidence, based on conversations with high-level individuals like Harry Reid, that we are not alone, and the UFO phenomenon is real.

“You know for humanity. Are we alone or you know what happens when we die? Well, I don’t know about that, but are we alone? Well, the answer is we’re not alone. And I know that with 100% certainty, which as an Intel officer, you never say 100%, but all things pointed towards based on the people I talked to…The phenomenon is real. It’s been going on for thousands of years. People have been seeing strange things and not everybody’s mass hallucinating. So that’s kind of my long diatribe about what’s happening.”

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QASSHna9MWU

{ https://www.howandwhys.com/ }

26-01-2024 om 22:51 geschreven door peter  

The UK Ministry of Defense (MOD) has announced the successful test firing and downing of an aerial target using its high-powered DragonFire laser weapon. The exact power and range of the combat laser remain classified, but an official statement says DragonFire can hit a £1 coin-sized object from a kilometer away.

While there are no immediate plans to deliver the laser system to troops, the MoD says they are currently evaluating DragonFire and that this successful test was a critical next step toward actual deployment.

DRAGONFIRE JOINS GROWING LIST OF DIRECTED ENERGY WEAPONS

In the 1980s and 1990s, using lasers to down aerial targets remained firmly in the realm of science fiction. The U.S. Defense Department first tested a combat laser prototype in 1995, but that system required numerous buildings to operate and had limited target-destroying power.

In subsequent years more systems have been developed, with many sporting power ranges in the tens of kilowatts. Ranging from truck-mounted lasers and aircraft-mounted lasers to larger systems mounted directly on U.S. Navy ships, these lasers are not powerful enough to blast targets out of the sky. Instead, they have to stay locked on an incoming drone long enough to fry their electronics or burn off a wing.

More recently, advances in optical technology have allowed contractors like Raytheon and Lockheed Martin to steadily increase the power of these systems, with the most powerful coming in at 300kW. Dubbed the most powerful combat laser ever built, that system is currently undergoing an upgrade that will bring it up to as much as 500kW. It is possible that such a weapon could be strong enough to take down cruise missiles, something that smaller laser systems cannot do.

Perhaps the most well-known combat laser is employed by the Israeli armed forces. Dubbed Iron Beam, that system is mounted on the Israeli border to complement their Iron Dome system that uses conventional missiles to take down incoming drones and mortars. At 100kW, Iron Beam is the most potent combat laser in deployment anywhere in the world.

Now, it appears that the UK is joining the march toward adding lasers and other directed energy weapons that include powerful microwave emitters that can fry the electronics of a drone or missile to their arsenal. Along with the accuracy of these systems, the MoD is also hoping that laser systems can dramatically reduce costs.

SUCCESSFUL TEST SHOWS DRAGONFIRE IS MOVING CLOSER TO DEPLOYMENT

According to an official statement from the MoD, DragonFire is being led by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) as well as industry partners. MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ.

DragonFire Combat Laser.

Image Credit: UK Ministry of Defense

In that same statement, the MoD says, “This milestone demonstrated the ability to engage aerial targets at relevant ranges and is a major step in bringing this technology into service.” The latest test also builds on previous work that showed how DragonFire can effectively track both air and sea targets “effectively and at range.”

“These trials have seen us take a huge step forward in realising the potential opportunities and understanding the threats posed by directed energy weapons,” said Dstl’s Chief Executive, Dr. Paul Hollinshead.

The MoD also notes the potential financial advantages of using lasers instead of missiles, which can cost as much as 100,000 pounds, to counter the increasing use of low-cost drones.

“Firing it for 10 seconds is the cost equivalent of using a regular heater for just an hour,” they explain. “Therefore, it has the potential to be a long-term, low-cost alternative to certain tasks missiles currently carry out. The cost of operating the laser is typically less than £10 per shot.”

MOD FUNDING MULTI-MILLION POUND PROGRAM TO MAKE DRAGONFIRE READY FOR THE BATTLEFIELD

Following the successful downing of an aerial threat, the MoD says they are moving ahead with funding a multi-million-pound program “to transition the technology from the research environment to the battlefield.” They also say that both the Army and navy are evaluating using DragonFire and similar technologies as part of their future Air Defense capabilities.

“With our decades of knowledge, skills, and operational experience, Dstl’s expertise is critical to helping the armed forces prepare for the future,” said Hollinshead.

“The DragonFire trials at the Hebrides demonstrated that our world-leading technology can track and engage high-end effects at range,” added Shimon Fhima, Director of Strategic Programmes for the MOD. “In a world of evolving threats, we know that our focus must be on getting capability to the warfighter, and we will look to accelerate this next phase of activity.”

• Christopher Plain is a Science Fiction and Fantasy novelist and Head Science Writer at The Debrief. Follow and connect with him on X, learn about his books at plainfiction.com, or email him directly at christopher@thedebrief.org.

LINKS VIDEOS

• https://youtu.be/azpFwRgnz0w
• https://youtu.be/sJ7zRAogXFk

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

26-01-2024 om 18:29 geschreven door peter  

(NASA)

The LRO registered light from its laser bouncing back off a tiny NASA retroreflector positioned on Vikram, confirming that the technique was a success.

Xiaoli Sun with NASA Goddard, who led the team that developed the retroreflector placed on Vikram, was enthusiastic about the achievement resulting from the cooperation between the two space agencies.

“We’ve [shown] that we can locate our retroreflector on the surface from the Moon’s orbit,” Sun said.

NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) successfully targeted a retroreflector on the exterior of the ISRO’s Vikram lander on December 12, 2023

(Credit: NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center/Arizona State University).

In principle, firing lasers at an object and measuring the time required for the light to bounce back to its point of origin is nothing new, and is commonly utilized for tracking Earth-orbiting satellites using ground-based laser systems.

However, the technique NASA recently demonstrated reverses this process, firing a laser from a moving satellite at a stationary object—in this case, on the surface of the Moon—and determining its precise location.

FIRING A LASER AT A COOKIE-SIZED RETROREFLECTOR

The special retroreflector NASA designed is tiny, at just two inches across. Roughly the size of an Oreo cookie, the device is formally known as a Laser Retroreflector Array and features a pattern of eight prisms fitted within an aluminum frame shaped like a tiny dome, which allows for a simple, but effective means of reflecting light coming from almost any direction.

The device also requires no power either, meaning that its durable design allows it to function for up to several decades.

This is not the first time NASA has used retroreflectors in novel ways. Since 1969, a technique known as Lunar Laser Ranging (LLR) has been used to measure the Moon’s distance from Earth-based observatories using retroreflectors that were placed on the Moon’s surface during the Apollo missions, as well as the Soviet Luna program.

However, more advanced retroreflector designs currently in use allow for a greater range of potential applications than their Apollo-era predecessors. Today, the devices are also fitted to the exterior of the International Space Station (ISS), which allows cargo-delivery spacecraft to measure their distance while approaching and autonomously dock with it.

In the years ahead, they may also provide several useful applications for Artemis astronauts working in locations where low light conditions would otherwise make landing next to existing spacecraft on the lunar surface difficult.

Right now there are plans for NASA retroreflectors to be carried to space on board several public and private Moon landers, including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) SLIM lander, which powered down within just three hours of making its historic landing on the Moon over the weekend.

A LOOK AT THE LUNAR RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER’S LOLA

One problem that arises from the more widespread use of this technology in space exploration is that the LRO’s altimeter—currently the only laser instrument orbiting the Moon that could be used for such applications—has been operating for thirteen years longer than its original mission intended and was never designed for such applications. Because of this, the LRO’s instrument required eight attempts before it could successfully contact the retroreflector on the Vikram lander.

The laser in question is the LRO’s Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA). This instrument is primarily designed for precision measurements of topographic features on the lunar surface, which has helped NASA produce models of the Moon that are crucial for planning safe landings and lunar exploration, as well as increasing our understanding of the lunar environment overall.

LOLA functions with a small array of five laser beams, which are fired toward the Moon. The time required for each beam to bounce back to the LRO is measured, allowing the instrument to gauge the elevation of features on the lunar surface below.

Although LOLA’s capabilities are ideal for mapping the Moon’s surface features, there are large gaps between the beams it produces, meaning that the chances of hitting a cookie-sized target are fairly slim, especially when the beam is required to strike within one-hundredth of a degree of the retroreflector.

In the future, NASA plans to produce a laser that produces no gaps in coverage, and which can continuously beam against the lunar surface as it passes to ensure that it strikes any retroreflectors with maximum precision.

Until such lasers come into use, NASA’s best—and only—bet remains the simpler laser altimeter currently on board the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which the December experiment has already shown to be successful when used in this manner, although it may also require a bit of trial and error.

“The next step is to improve the technique,” Xiaoli Sun said in a statement, “so that it can become routine for missions that want to use these retroreflectors in the future.”

• Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.

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

26-01-2024 om 18:06 geschreven door peter  

A Potential Source of the Milky Way’s Highest-Energy Rays Is Mystifying Physicists

Some high-energy cosmic rays may come from twin jets of matter being ejected from a smallish black hole.

BY KIONA SMITH

 

Some of the most energetic cosmic rays in the galaxy may come from a surprisingly small source.

If Max Planck Institute for Astrophysics researcher Laura Olivera-Nieto and her colleagues are right, they may have just pinpointed one of the sources of the high-energy cosmic rays that occasionally zip past Earth from the far reaches of the universe. Astrophysicists have spent years puzzling over the origin of these particles: protons carrying thousands of trillions of electron volts of energy (yes, cosmic rays are actually particles; early physicists thought they were radiation, and the name stuck). Some cosmic rays seem to come from supernova remnants, but it turns out that at least some high-energy cosmic rays may come from the twin jets of matter being ejected from a smallish black hole.

Olivera-Nieto and her colleagues published their work in the journal Science.

A COSMIC RAY CULPRIT

The astronomers used a telescope called the High Energy Stereoscopic System, or HESS, to observe gamma ray jets from SS 433, a black hole orbiting a mid-sized star at the heart of the Manatee Nebula.

Like most actively feeding black holes (whether the small ones left behind after the collapse of dying stars or the cosmic leviathans at the heart of galaxies like our Milky Way), SS 433 is ejecting twin jets of matter at nearly a quarter the speed of light. These jets glow brightly with x-rays, which is how astronomers first spotted them several years ago. But about a light year away from the black hole, in both directions, the x-ray jets seem to fade away only to reappear with a vengeance about 75 light-years away.

When Olivera-Nieto and her colleagues examined the black hole in the even shorter wavelengths of gamma rays, they saw that twin gamma ray jets flared to life at exactly the points where the x-ray jets reappeared. In other words, it looked like the jets were fizzling out somewhere between 1 and 75 light years from the black hole, and then something revved them up again.

That something, the researchers surmise, seems to be a shock wave in the gassy interstellar medium of the nebula. Shock waves act like giant cosmic versions of the Large Hadron Collider, accelerating electrons in the jets to ludicrous speeds.

The jets glow with x-rays and gamma rays because electrons crash into lower-energy photons. When that happens, the electron gives the photon part of its energy, which ramps low-energy infrared light up to the high-energy x-rays and gamma rays that light up the black hole’s jets. The faster the electrons are moving, the more energy they transfer to the photons — so fast electrons make x-rays, and even faster electrons make gamma rays.

More importantly, at least for the mystery of cosmic rays, the jets may also be accelerating protons, and even whole atomic nuclei, to the absurdly high energy that turns them into cosmic rays.

Researchers have known for a long time that “the jets of SS 433 do, in fact, contain nuclei [of elements] such as iron or nickel. And the shock that accelerates electrons would accelerate them in the same way,” Olivera-Nieto tells Inverse. However, the protons could potentially be accelerated to even higher energies than the electrons because they’re too big to shed energy in collision with photons.

Astronomers just can’t actually see these high-energy protons and nuclei because, unlike electrons, protons release radiation when they bump into dense matter, not stray photons, and there’s not a big pile of dense matter in the black hole’s jets.

A QUEST FOR MICROQUASARS

Despite having shed light on this cosmic ray mystery, black hole SS 433 isn’t actually the source of any of the cosmic rays physicists here on Earth have detected. It hasn’t been blasting its relativistic jets out into space long enough for any particles from those jets to have reached Earth. But someday, in the distant future, there’s a chance some of the protons and atomic nuclei being accelerated in those jets could reach our planet.

Meanwhile, Olivera-Nieto and her colleagues say other similar objects, called microquasars, could still be among the sources of cosmic rays that do reach Earth.

“Microquasars are intermittent sources, meaning that it is very likely that other systems were active in the past and made a contribution to what we now see,” says Olivera-Nieto.

Looking for those sources is the next step.

“Detecting gamma-ray emission from other microquasar systems and understanding how acceleration takes place in them will be critical because it will allow us to understand how common such systems are,” says Olivera-Nieto. “Answering this question will constrain how much can microquasars as a whole contribute as sources of very-high-energy cosmic rays.”

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

26-01-2024 om 17:43 geschreven door peter  

LOOK: JAPAN’S SLIM LANDER SENT BACK THESE CHARMING IMAGES BEFORE POWERING OFF

JAXA released new images that show how SLIM is situated in its new home.

BY DORIS ELÍN URRUTIA

 

JAXA/Takara Tomy/Sony Group Corporation/Doshisha University

Last week, Japan became the fifth nation to successfully land on the Moon without crashing. Unfortunately, the historic touchdown left the Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) positioned like a toy after a toddler is done playing with it: planted face down on the ground.

This less-than-ideal situation forced the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) to power down the lander and save precious battery life. But before it did, SLIM was able to send some data back to Earth. Today, JAXA released new images that show how SLIM is situated in its new home.

The new data also confirmed Japan’s biggest hope for its SLIM project: a precise landing on the Moon within 100 meters of its target, confirming proof of concept.

SLIM was designed to last just a few Earth days, JAXA officials wrote in a statement. But the mission will be drawn out for a month at least, to see if the angle of sunlight changes over time and perhaps strike SLIM’s landing site to sufficiently power its solar cells from its unintended westward orientation. The sunlight does a sort of angular reset on the Moon each Earth month (a day on the Moon lasts about one month on Earth).

While JAXA awaits those solar-cell results, SLIM’s Multi-Band Camera took a slanted image of Moon rocks nearby. In an annotated image, their names appear and seem to follow a canine theme. They have names like “St. Bernard,” “Bulldog,” “Toy Poodle,” plus Japanese breed-inspired names like “KAIKEN,” “AKITAINU,” “SHIBAINU.”

There’ll be more, hopefully, if SLIM’s solar cells absorb enough energy, JAXA officials wrote. “Based on this landscape image, the team is sorting out rocks of interest, assigning a nickname to each of them, with the intent of communicating their relative sizes smoothly by the names,” the space agency shared. JAXA added that preparations are underway to “promptly conduct” high-resolution spectroscopy, a technique that extracts information from light, of Moon rocks once “SLIM recovers by the power generated by the solar array.”

SLIM’s peculiar position on the Moon’s surface appeared in imagery from one of its two tiny robotic passengers. Photo evidence came from JAXA’s collaboration with toy company Takara Tomy. Along with two other partners, Sony and Doshisha University in Kyoto, they created Lunar Excursion Vehicle 2 (LEV-2).

Also known as SORA-Q, LEV-2 looks like a rolling ball. It comes from the minds behind the popular toy Transformers and would easily sit in the palm of your hand. This small robot and SLIM’s other rover, LEV-1, are Japan’s first rovers on the Moon. LEV-1 also has other laurels, too. It achieved successful direct communication with Earth from the Moon, according to JAXA. “This is considered as the world's smallest and lightest case of direct data transmission from approximately 380,000 kilometers away,” space agency officials wrote in a recent statement.

JAXA will likely publish more updates in the near future to report the ongoing saga of SLIM’s solar cells.

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

26-01-2024 om 17:35 geschreven door peter  

US Congressmen Claim Bible Has ‘Pretty Clear’ Evidence of UFOs: Vatican Knows Aliens Are 

The Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) is not what many think it is. The reality of UAPs goes beyond mere flying machines and space aliens; it is turning into a rabbit hole. Every year, UFO enthusiasts and whistleblowers put more effort into unveiling the secrecy. However, instead of revealing the truth, a new branch of mystery unfolds, adding another chapter to the UFO enigma.

Missouri Republican Eric Burlison attended a classified UAP briefing this month but mentioned that it did not change his beliefs. He said, “There’s nothing that’s been said that’s changed my worldview.” He also added that he believes the claims of people who testified in public but thinks there might be more to the story.

Rep. Burlison has said that UFOs might be angels sent by God. Burlison, who heard secret information about UFOs, shared this idea on “That UFO Podcast.” He said, “They may not fit exactly the Biblical narrative, but whenever I use the term ‘angels,’ to me, it’s synonymous with an extradimensional being.”

In a podcast, Burlison shared his thoughts on UFOs, offering a detailed perspective on various theories surrounding these unidentified phenomena. Burlison discussed a theory he read in a public report by UFO whistleblower David Grusch who alleged that the government secretly recovered alien spacecraft and even dead “pilots” inside them. According to Grusch’s report, one theory suggests that what we are encountering might be beings that exist in higher dimensions, beyond our normal understanding of space and time.

Burlison used the analogy of living on a two-dimensional surface and being encountered by a three-dimensional object to explain the idea of encountering something from a higher dimension. In this case, he suggested that we live in a three-dimensional environment and could be encountering something from a higher dimension, where traditional concepts of distance might become irrelevant.

He expressed skepticism about the probability of being visited by an alien race from a distant planet, emphasizing the vast distances involved. Burlison questioned the likelihood of an advanced alien race traveling such long distances only to crash upon arrival on Earth. He leaned towards the idea that these phenomena are more likely to be extradimensional, existing beyond our usual understanding of dimensions.

Burlison explained that various scriptures, including the Bible, describe messengers of God or angels as existing in dimensions beyond our own. While acknowledging the visual evidence and testimony from pilots regarding UFO sightings, Burlison emphasized the most likely explanation, in his opinion:

“I don’t discount the visual recordings or the testimonies from pilots – I believe they are genuinely witnessing something. There is substantial evidence of these unidentified objects, and although we don’t know what they are, I think the most probable explanation might not be what everyone hopes to hear. It could very well be advanced technology under development and research, possibly involving new propulsion technology.

When discussing this topic, I often refer to the discovery of the Higgs boson particle about ten years ago. We identified the Higgs field, which essentially relates to gravity, and the particle is a wave function within that field. Looking back, shortly after the discovery of nuclear vision, scientists developed the nuclear bomb. This illustrates how scientific theories can be transformed into practical functions. I find it hard to believe that we haven’t capitalized on our knowledge of the Higgs field. It seems likely that our private sector industry and the scientific community have been working to find ways to manipulate the Higgs field for various purposes, potentially including advancements in propulsion technology.”

Burlison is not the only one suggesting a link between UFOs and religious texts. Representative Tim Burchett claimed in 2021 that UFOs were in the Bible, referring to the book of Ezekiel.

According to Mystery Wire, Rep. Burchett talked about UFOs being written about in the Bible, pointing specifically to Ezekiel. This reference is for Ezekiel 1:4-28, in which there is a description of seeing “an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings.”

“When the living creatures moved, the wheels beside them moved; and when the living creatures rose from the ground, the wheels also rose. Wherever the spirit would go, they would go, and the wheels would rise along with them, because the spirit of the living creatures was in the wheels.” [Ezekiel 1:4-28, Ezekiel 10]

While Grusch has publicly discussed theories on UAPs that might originate from the higher-order dimensions theorized by physicists, those concepts do not appear in the unclassified version of his complaint.

The ‘extradimensional or interdimensional‘ hypothesis also does not appear in what has been made public from Grusch’s written statements first submitted for approval to the Pentagon’s Defense Office of Prepublication and Security Review (DOPSR).

But Grusch did talk about this theory when he was under oath, answering questions from Rep. Burlison during a public UAP hearing in July 2023.

Rep. Burlison said at the hearing, “It’s a bit hard to believe that an alien species advanced enough to travel billions of light years would come here and somehow not be able to survive.” He then asked Grusch about the “interdimensional potential,” saying, “Could you explain that?”

Grusch said, “No matter how smart you are, accidents happen, like plane crashes and car crashes. A small percentage of missions may fail, as we say in the Air Force.” Talking about multidimensionality, Grusch mentioned the holographic principle. It comes from general relativity and quantum mechanics. He explained it as imagining a 3D object casting a shadow onto a 2D surface.

He said, “You can be projected, sort of projected, from higher dimensional space to lower dimensional space… It’s a scientific idea that you can actually cross dimensions, as far as I understand. But there are probably people with PhDs who could argue about that.”

There has been some speculation about UFOs being connected to religious visits or interdimensional beings since the early 20th century. This idea became more famous with the book “Passport to Magonia: from Folklore to Flying Saucers” by Jacques Vallée in 1969. Vallée later inspired a character in Steven Spielberg’s UFO movie “Close Encounters of the Third Kind.” He spent years studying ancient texts for his book.

Vallée states that UFOs and related events of a paranormal nature involve visitations from other “realities” or “dimensions.” The idea proposes that these alternate realities exist separately yet parallel to our own. In 1975’s The Edge of Reality, Vallée and Hynek considered the possibility of what they call “interlocking universes.”

Read also:

• Ex-US Marine Saw Massive UFO Being Loaded With Weapons By Secret Military In Indonesia Jungle
• Aerospace Billionaire Claims UAPs & Consciousness Are Linked; G-LOC Makes Human Soul Enter Another Dimension

Daniel Sheehan, a public interest lawyer and activist who was a former Chief Council for the United States Jesuit order, revealed intriguing details about his conversations with the head of the Vatican archives regarding the Vatican’s knowledge of extraterrestrial life. He shed light on his involvement in a groundbreaking initiative to address the theological and philosophical implications of the discovery of extraterrestrial intelligence. (Click here to read the full article)

He proposed the formation of a task force involving all 54 major religious denominations to address the issue from a theological perspective. However, at that time, there was insufficient consensus, and the proposal was declined. Sheehan is currently working through his New Paradigm Institute to organize a global summit conference involving world religious leaders to discuss the recent recovery of an extraterrestrial spacecraft.

“The United States government is in possession of biological evidence and has actually taken into custody alive an extraterrestrial person. They’re keeping this secret, interrogating the being, and distorting the information to justify massive expenditures on weapon development under the guise of a perceived threat.” – Daniel Sheehan

Sheehan highlighted the Vatican’s acknowledgment of the possibility of extraterrestrial life. He referenced a formal statement issued by the Catholic Church on November 10, 2009, authorized by Pope Benedict. The statement, issued by Father Jose Gabriel Alfuz, a director of the Pontifical Observatory in Rome, recognized the increasing discovery of exoplanets and called for a global discussion on the philosophical and theological implications of the imminent discovery of extraterrestrial life.

Sheehan disclosed that the government was telepathically interrogating the extraterrestrial biological entity (EBO) in custody. Despite acknowledging the bizarre nature of the revelation, Sheehan stood by the credibility of the information, having interviewed individuals directly involved in the process. The EBO allegedly conveyed that a coalition of star systems in our galaxy monitors the evolution of life on different planets, including Earth.

“Pope Benedict had a formal statement issued by the Catholic Church, saying that with the discovery of more exoplanets, it has become clear that we will be discovering life elsewhere in the universe. This prompted the need for a global discussion on the philosophical and theological questions posed by the discovery of extraterrestrial life.” – Daniel Sheehan

Since the translation of the Book of Enoch from the ancient texts discovered in Ethiopia in 1768, it has created a stir in the history of mankind that has been told for years. The Book of Enoch tells the story of the Fallen Angels called the Nephilims or the Anunnaki; it is attributed to Enoch, the great-grandfather of Noah.

It is no wonder why the Book of Enoch was not included in the modern biblical version, since its content speaks of wicked angels who became fond of mortal women and mated with them, giving birth to the hybrid race of giant humanoids known throughout secular and Biblical history as the Nephilims.

The Nephilims then taught humans great technologies that made us greedy and awful until God destroyed them with a great flood in order to prevent further harm to creation. This is a massively oversimplified summary, but given these themes, the Book of Enoch has understandably grown in popularity in recent years.

So, what are UFOs? Jeremy Corbell says, “UFOs appear to be part of a larger phenomenon, meaning UFOs are kind of an auxiliary implication of a much larger reality. So this idea that what we’re seeing are machines from other planets. I’m unconvinced what we may be seeing is an alternate reality. You know, maybe it is something closer to dimensional travel.”

Former CIA officer Jim Semivan says, “Yes, there is a force out there that can control our environment.” The UFO phenomenon can be shocking, especially to children.

“You know for humanity. Are we alone or, you know, what happens when we die? Well, I don’t know about that, but are we alone? Well, the answer is we’re not alone. And I know that with 100% certainty, which as an Intel officer, you never say 100%, but all things pointed towards, based on the people I talked to… The phenomenon is real. It’s been going on for thousands of years. People have been seeing strange things, and not everybody’s mass hallucinating. So that’s kind of my long diatribe about what’s happening.”– David Grusch

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26-01-2024 om 13:21 geschreven door peter