Dit is ons nieuw hondje Kira, een kruising van een waterhond en een Podenko. Ze is sinds 7 februari 2024 bij ons en druk bezig ons hart te veroveren. Het is een lief, aanhankelijk hondje, dat zich op een week snel aan ons heeft aangepast. Ze is heel vinnig en nieuwsgierig, een heel ander hondje dan Noleke.
This is our new dog Kira, a cross between a water dog and a Podenko. She has been with us since February 7, 2024 and is busy winning our hearts. She is a sweet, affectionate dog who quickly adapted to us within a week. She is very quick and curious, a very different dog than Noleke.
DEAR VISITOR,
MY BLOG EXISTS ALREADY 12 YEARS AND 10 MONTHS.
ON 06/04/2024 MORE THAN 1.951.050
VISITORS FROM 134 DIFFERENT NATIONS ALREADY FOUND THEIR WAY TO MY BLOG.
THAT IS AN AVERAGE OF 400GUESTS PER DAY.
THANK YOU FOR VISITING MY BLOG AND HOPE YOU ENJOY EACH TIME.
The purpose of this blog is the creation of an open, international, independent and free forum, where every UFO-researcher can publish the results of his/her research. The languagues, used for this blog, are Dutch, English and French.You can find the articles of a collegue by selecting his category. Each author stays resposable for the continue of his articles. As blogmaster I have the right to refuse an addition or an article, when it attacks other collegues or UFO-groupes.
Druk op onderstaande knop om te reageren in mijn forum
Zoeken in blog
Deze blog is opgedragen aan mijn overleden echtgenote Lucienne.
In 2012 verloor ze haar moedige strijd tegen kanker!
In 2011 startte ik deze blog, omdat ik niet mocht stoppen met mijn UFO-onderzoek.
BEDANKT!!!
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UFO'S of UAP'S, ASTRONOMIE, RUIMTEVAART, ARCHEOLOGIE, OUDHEIDKUNDE, SF-SNUFJES EN ANDERE ESOTERISCHE WETENSCHAPPEN - DE ALLERLAATSTE NIEUWTJES
UFO's of UAP'S in België en de rest van de wereld In België had je vooral BUFON of het Belgisch UFO-Netwerk, dat zich met UFO's bezighoudt. BEZOEK DUS ZEKER VOOR ALLE OBJECTIEVE INFORMATIE , enkel nog beschikbaar via Facebook en deze blog.
Verder heb je ook het Belgisch-Ufo-meldpunt en Caelestia, die prachtig, doch ZEER kritisch werk leveren, ja soms zelfs héél sceptisch...
Voor Nederland kan je de mooie site www.ufowijzer.nl bezoeken van Paul Harmans. Een mooie site met veel informatie en artikels.
MUFON of het Mutual UFO Network Inc is een Amerikaanse UFO-vereniging met afdelingen in alle USA-staten en diverse landen.
MUFON's mission is the analytical and scientific investigation of the UFO- Phenomenon for the benefit of humanity...
Je kan ook hun site bekijken onder www.mufon.com.
Ze geven een maandelijks tijdschrift uit, namelijk The MUFON UFO-Journal.
Since 02/01/2020 is Pieter ex-president (=voorzitter) of BUFON, but also ex-National Director MUFON / Flanders and the Netherlands. We work together with the French MUFON Reseau MUFON/EUROP.
ER IS EEN NIEUWE GROEPERING DIE ZICH BUFON NOEMT, MAAR DIE HEBBEN NIETS MET ONZE GROEP TE MAKEN. DEZE COLLEGA'S GEBRUIKEN DE NAAM BUFON VOOR HUN SITE... Ik wens hen veel succes met de verdere uitbouw van hun groep. Zij kunnen de naam BUFON wel geregistreerd hebben, maar het rijke verleden van BUFON kunnen ze niet wegnemen...
Een reis naar lokale legendes over de hele wereld Etherische figuren, die doen denken aan eeuwenoude legendes, komen op subtiele wijze tevoorschijn uit het tapijt van culturen en wenken nieuwsgierigen en dapperen om de blijvende kracht van folklore te ontdekken. Deze verhalen zijn het gefluister van generaties, die de essentie van het mysterieuze en magische vastleggen, en in deze galerij worden ze gevierd als de schatten van ons gedeelde menselijke erfgoed.
Klik door de galerij-foto's om de verhalen van weleer te ontdekken!
Het fluisterende bamboe (China) In het hart van het oude China fluistert een verhaal over twee geliefden, getransformeerd in bamboe, voor altijd samen zwaaiend in de wind. Deze legende, diep geworteld in de Chinese folklore, spreekt over de blijvende kracht van de liefde die echoot door de ritselende bamboebladeren. Het is een herinnering aan de veerkracht van de liefde en de eeuwige aanwezigheid in de natuur.
Anansi's Web (West-Afrika) Onder de Afrikaanse hemel weeft Anansi de Spin meer dan alleen maar webben; hij weeft verhalen over wijsheid. Deze bedrieger, een prominent figuur in West-Afrikaanse verhalen, leert levenslessen door zijn sluwe en avontuurlijke heldendaden. Elke streng van zijn web symboliseert de complexiteit van de beslissingen in het leven en de wijsheid die hij door ervaring verkrijgt.
Het noorderlicht (Scandinavië) Terwijl je in de Scandinavische nacht staart, ben je getuige van de etherische dans van de Aurora Borealis. Folklore vertelt over deze lichten als een hemels fenomeen, waar de geesten van de overledenen in de hemel spelen, verhalen van verwondering weven en het aardse rijk overbruggen met het mystieke.
Het monster van Loch Ness (Schotland) Gehuld in de mist van de Schotse folklore ligt Loch Ness, de thuisbasis van Nessie, het ongrijpbare monster. Deze legende geeft de essentie weer van de enigmatische charme van Schotland, waarbij Nessie de mysteries symboliseert die op de loer liggen in de diepten van onze verbeelding en in de donkere wateren van het meer.
Baba Yaga's Hut (Rusland) In het hart van de Russische folklore staat de hut van Baba Yaga, een bijzondere verblijfplaats op kippenpoten. De enigmatische heks, die vaak een cruciale rol speelt in verhalen over heldendom en speurtochten, belichaamt de dualiteit van de natuur – soms een helper, soms een belemmering, maar altijd een belangrijke figuur in het rijke tapijtwerk van de Slavische mythologie.
De Feniks (Midden-Oosten) Uit de as van oude verhalen uit het Midden-Oosten rijst de Feniks op, een prachtige vogel die vernieuwing en het eeuwige leven symboliseert. Dit mythische wezen, helder brandend en herboren uit zijn eigen ondergang, vertegenwoordigt de eindeloze cyclus van leven, dood en wedergeboorte, een krachtig embleem van veerkracht en hoop in de folklore.
Kraken (Noordse Zee) In de diepe, koude wateren van de Noordse Zeeën schuilt de Kraken, een legendarisch zeemonster dat gevreesd wordt door zeilers. Dit enorme wezen, vaak vergeleken met een reuzeninktvis, belichaamt de mysteries en verschrikkingen van de oceaan, een bewijs van de eeuwenoude fascinatie en angst van de mensheid voor de onbekende diepten van de zee.
El Dorado (Zuid-Amerika) Diep in het hart van Zuid-Amerika fascineert de legende van El Dorado, de stad van goud, ontdekkingsreizigers al eeuwenlang. Dit prikkelende verhaal spreekt over grenzeloze rijkdom en ambitie en weerspiegelt de eindeloze zoektocht van de mensheid naar ontdekkingen en de ongrijpbare aard van onze grootste verlangens.
De Banshee (Ierland) In de Ierse folklore is het treurige gejammer van de Banshee onder het maanlicht een voorbode van de dood. Deze spookachtige figuur, gehuld in mysterie, belichaamt de Keltische eerbied voor de overgang van leven naar dood, een aangrijpende herinnering aan de dunne sluier tussen het levende en het spirituele rijk.
Tengu (Japan) Hoog in de Japanse bergen wonen de Tengu: mystieke wezens die deels mens en deels vogel zijn. Deze wezens staan bekend als zowel beschermers als bedriegers van de bossen en symboliseren de complexiteit van de natuur en menselijke interactie, waarbij ze kattenkwaad en wijsheid vermengen in het rijke tapijtwerk van de Japanse folklore.
Bigfoot (Noord-Amerika) In de uitgestrekte, onbekende bossen van Noord-Amerika roept de legende van Bigfoot, een mysterieuze reus, nieuwsgierigheid en debat op. Dit ongrijpbare wezen, vaak omschreven als een torenhoge, harige figuur, belichaamt de wilde en onbekende aspecten van de natuur. Bigfoot dient als symbool voor de mysteries die nog steeds verborgen liggen in de afgelegen wildernis.
De regenboogslang (Australië) Centraal in de Aboriginal mythologie wordt de Regenboogslang vereerd als een krachtige scheppende godheid. Dit levendige, slangachtige wezen, geassocieerd met water en leven, weeft door de verhalen van de inheemse bevolking en symboliseert de schepping, vruchtbaarheid en de onderlinge verbondenheid van alle levende wezens.
La Llorona (Mexico) Het verhaal van La Llorona, gefluisterd langs de rivieroevers, spreekt over een spookachtige vrouw, die eeuwig rouwt om haar verdronken kinderen. Dit aangrijpende verhaal, doordrenkt van Mexicaanse folklore, dient als een waarschuwend verhaal over liefde, verlies en de gevolgen van iemands daden, dat door de eeuwen heen weerklinkt.
De Djinn (Midden-Oosten) In verhalen uit het Midden-Oosten zijn de Djinn bovennatuurlijke wezens, noch geheel goed, noch slecht. Deze raadselachtige wezens worden vaak geassocieerd met het vervullen van wensen en weerspiegelen de dubbele aard van menselijke verlangens en de complexe gevolgen die de vervulling ervan met zich meebrengt.
De Krampus (AlpenEuropa) In de ijskoude Alpengebieden vormt de Krampus een schril contrast met de feestelijke vreugde van Kerstmis. Deze gehoornde figuur, bekend om het straffen van zich misdragende kinderen tijdens de kerstperiode, belichaamt de oude gebruiken en duistere aspecten van wintervieringen en herinnert aan de balans tussen welwillendheid en discipline.
De Chupacabra (Latijns-Amerika) In het hart van de Latijns-Amerikaanse folklore wordt gezegd dat de Chupacabra, een mysterieus wezen, op vee jaagt. Deze legende vat de menselijke angst voor het onbekende en het onverklaarde samen, terwijl verhalen over de waarnemingen nieuwsgierigheid en speculatie blijven aanwakkeren.
Māui en de zon (Polynesië) Māui, de Polynesische halfgod, wordt gevierd vanwege zijn gedurfde prestatie om de zon te vertragen. Dit verhaal benadrukt het menselijk vernuft en de moed, waarbij Māui wordt afgebeeld als een bedrieger en culturele held die de loop van de dag veranderde ten behoeve van zijn volk.
De Yeti (Himalaya) De Yeti, of de Verschrikkelijke Sneeuwman, is een mysterieus wezen waarvan wordt aangenomen dat het op de besneeuwde toppen van de Himalaya leeft. De legende van de Yeti, die de ongetemde en onontdekte aspecten van onze wereld symboliseert, blijft tot de verbeelding spreken en vertegenwoordigt de mysteries die nog steeds in de uitgestrekte, afgelegen bergen hangen.
Pegasus (Griekenland) In de Griekse mythologie symboliseert Pegasus, het majestueuze gevleugelde paard geboren uit Medusa's bloed, de hoogten van inspiratie en vrijheid. Het verhaal van Pegasus is verweven met verhalen over helden en goden, waardoor de grenzeloze mogelijkheden van de verbeelding en het vermogen van de menselijke geest tot verwondering worden benadrukt.
Huidlopers (Navajo) In de Navajo-cultuur zijn Skinwalkers vormveranderende heksen, die een complexe relatie tussen mensen en het bovennatuurlijke belichamen. Deze wezens, die in verschillende dieren kunnen veranderen, vertegenwoordigen de dualiteit van de natuur en de diepgewortelde culturele overtuigingen over de kracht van transformatie en de mysteries van de natuurlijke wereld.
Sirenes (Griekse mythologie) In de verleidelijke maar gevaarlijke wateren van het oude Griekenland belichamen sirenes met hun betoverende muziek de verleiding. Deze wezens, half vogel en half vrouw, lokten zeelieden naar hun ondergang en belichaamden de aantrekkingskracht en gevaren van het onbekende.
De fontein van de jeugd (Europa) De legendarische Fontein van de Jeugd, een mythische bron, zou de jeugd herstellen bij iedereen die het water drinkt. Deze blijvende mythe spreekt over het universele menselijke verlangen naar verjonging en de tijdloze zoektocht naar eeuwig leven en vitaliteit.
De Ruiter zonder Hoofd (Verenigde Staten) De Headless Horseman galoppeert door de pagina's van Washington Irving's 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' en is een spookachtige ruiter op zoek naar zijn vermiste hoofd. Deze iconische figuur weerspiegelt de griezelige en mysterieuze sfeer van de vroege Amerikaanse folklore.
Kabouters (Ierland) In de weelderige groene landschappen van Ierland staan Leprechauns, ondeugende feeën, bekend om hun verborgen potten met goud. Deze ongrijpbare wezens, onderdeel van de Ierse folklore, symboliseren geluk, fortuin en de speelse aard van de Ierse geest.
Valkyries (Noorse mythologie) In de Noorse mythologie kozen Walkuren, goddelijke vrouwelijke figuren, het lot van krijgers in de strijd. Deze krachtige wezens, die door de lucht vliegen, vertegenwoordigen de concepten van het lot en het hiernamaals, een integraal onderdeel van de Viking-overtuigingen en -cultuur
De rattenvanger (Duitsland) De rattenvanger, een mysterieuze figuur uit de Duitse folklore, staat erom bekend een stad van ratten te bevrijden en later zijn kinderen weg te lokken. Zijn verhaal is een waarschuwend verhaal over beloften en gevolgen, dat door de eeuwen heen weerklank vindt.
De Nian (China) Het angstaanjagende beest Nian zou in de Chinese folklore zijn verslagen met behulp van rode lantaarns en vuurwerk. Deze legende symboliseert de triomf over angst en tegenspoed, gevierd tijdens het Chinese Nieuwjaar.
De Golem (Joodse folklore) In de Joodse folklore werd de Golem, een tot leven gewekt kleifiguur, gecreëerd om de gemeenschap te beschermen. Dit krachtige verhaal onderzoekt thema's als creatie, controle en de onbedoelde gevolgen van onze acties.
Kappa (Japan) De Kappa, waterwezens uit de Japanse folklore, staan bekend om hun kattenkwaad, maar toch zijn ze gebonden aan een beleefdheidscode. Deze wezens symboliseren de genuanceerde relatie tussen mensen en de natuurlijke wereld en weerspiegelen het delicate evenwicht van co-existentie.
The Selkie's Secret (Schotse en Ierse folklore) Selkies, zeehondenmensen uit de Schotse en Ierse overlevering, belichamen de thema's identiteit en vrijheid. Hun verhalen, vaak romantisch en tragisch, spreken over de transformerende aard van selkies en hun diepe verbinding met zowel land als zee, en reflecteren op het universele verlangen naar iemands ware thuis.
Odysseus Moon Lander Sends More Pictures — and We Know Where It Is
The Odysseus lander captured this image about 35 seconds after pitching over during its approach to the lunar landing site. The ultra-wide-angle view shows Odysseus and its landing legs at the bottom of the frame. (Credit: Intuitive Machines)
The ultra-wide-angle images confirm that the lander is continuing to communicate with flight controllers, even though it’s lying in an awkward angle that limits how much data its antennas can transmit.
Meanwhile, images from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter have identified Odysseus’ landing spot, within a mile (1.5 kilometers) of its intended target near a crater called Malapert A in the moon’s south polar region. The bad news is that the solar-powered lander may have to go dark sooner than anticipated.
This low-resolution, ultra-wide-angle image from the Odysseus lander shows the lunar terrain with a scrunched view of the lander itself off to the right side of the frame. (Credit: Intuitive Machines)
The lander is the first-ever commercial spacecraft to survive a descent to the moon, and the first U.S-built spacecraft to do so since NASA’s Apollo 17 mission in 1972. NASA is paying Intuitive Machines $118 million to deliver six science payloads to the surface, and there are another six private-sector payloads on board.
Odysseus’ descent wasn’t easy: Just hours before the landing, the Nova Control team had to reprogram the lander to work around a disabled laser range-finding system. The spacecraft instead made use of one of the NASA payloads, an experimental laser range-finding system. Fortunately, the work-around worked.
The lander also hit the dirt faster than originally planned, with a lateral motion that’s thought to have tripped up one of Odysseus’ landing legs. As a result, the spacecraft is lying on its side. Mission managers say that doesn’t seem likely to affect data collection, but it is affecting data transmission.
An overhead image from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter shows the location of the Odysseus lander, highlighted by the blue-bordered inset. (Credit: NASA / Goddard / Arizona State University)
“After traveling more than 600,000 miles, Odysseus landed within 1.5 km of its intended Malapert A landing site, using a contingent laser range-finding system patched hours before landing,” Intuitive Machines said in today’s update.
But Intuitive Machines also suggested that Odysseus won’t be able to remain in operation for the week to 10 days that mission managers had hoped for. “Flight controllers intend to collect data until the lander’s solar panels are no longer exposed to light,” according to the update. “Based on Earth and moon positioning, we believe flight controllers will continue to communicate with Odysseus until Tuesday morning.”
Maybe Odysseus and its controllers will have to hope for an unexpected revival similar to what the team behind another off-kilter moon lander, Japan’s SLIM spacecraft, experienced this weekend.
Electrodes in Spacesuits Could Protect Astronauts from Harmful Dust on Mars
To quote NASA associate administrator Jim Reuter, sending crewed missions to Mars by 2040 is an “audacious goal.” The challenges include the distance involved, which can take up to six months to traverse using conventional propulsion methods. Then there’s the hazard posed by radiation, which includes increased exposure to solar particles, flares, and galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). And then there’s the time the crews will spend in microgravity during transits, which can take a serious toll on human health, physiology, and psychology.
But what about the challenges of living and working on Mars for several months at a time? While elevated radiation and lower gravity are a concern, so is Martian regolith. Like lunar regolith, dust on Mars will adhere to astronauts’ spacesuits and inflict wear on their equipment. However, it also contains harmful particles that must be removed to prevent contaminating habitats. In a recent study, a team of aerospace engineers tested a new electrostatic system for removing Martian regolith from spacesuits that could potentially remove harmful dust with up to 98% efficiency.
The new system was designed by Benjamin M. Griggs and Lucinda Berthoud, a Master’s engineering student and Professor of Space Systems Engineering (respectively) with the Department of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol, UK. The paper that describes the system and the verification process recently appeared in the journal Acta Astronautica. As they explain, the Electrostatic Removal System (ERS) they propose utilizes the phenomenon of dielectrophoresis (DEP) to remove Martian dust from spacesuit fabrics.
Dust flies from the tires of a moon buggy, driven by Apollo 17 astronaut Gene Cernan. These “rooster-tails” of dust caused problems. Credit: NASA
Much like its lunar counterpart, Martian regolith is expected to be electrostatically charged due to exposure to cosmic radiation. But on Mars, there’s also the contribution made by dust devils and storms, which have been known to generate electrostatic discharges (aka. lightning). During the Apollo missions, astronauts reported how the lunar regolith would adhere to their suits and get tracked back into their Lunar Modules. Once inside, it would similarly stick to everything and get into their eyes and lungs, causing irritation and respiratory problems.
Given their plans to return astronauts to the Moon through the Artemis Program, NASA is investigating several methods to prevent regolith from getting into habitation modules – like coating technology for spacesuits and electron beams for cleaning them. While Martian dust is expected to inflict similar wear on spacesuits, the situation is made worse because it may contain toxic particles. As Griggs explained to Universe Today via email:
“Beyond having an abrasive effect on spacesuits themselves, Martian regolith is also expected to present health issues to astronauts. It is known to contain a range of harmful particles which may be carcinogenic or cause respiratory issues, and data from the Pathfinder missionshowed the presence of toxic particles such as chromium. Martian regolith will therefore require removal from spacesuits prior to entry into habitation zones on Mars to prevent contact between astronauts and regolith particles.”
The principle behind the device, dielectrophoresis (DEP), refers to the movement of neutral particles when subjected to a nonuniform electric field. Their proposed Electrostatic Removal System (ERS) comprises two components: a High Voltage Waveform Generator (HVWG) used to produce square waves of varying frequencies and amplitudes up to 1000 volts and an Electrostatic Removal Device (ERD) consisting of an array of parallel copper electrodes. When the square waves are applied across the electrodes in the ERD, a large and varying electric field is generated. As Griggs summarized:
“Therefore, when dust particles are incident on the surface of the ERD, the dust particles are displaced through a combination of electrostatic and dielectrophoretic forces (due to the large electric field), which acts on charged and uncharged particles respectively within the dust. This acts to displace dust particles in a direction perpendicular to the electrodes, resulting in the clearing of the ERD surface.”
Microspheroids containing mostly aluminum and chlorine overgrow the mineral surface of synthetic Mars regolith. Credit: Tetyana Milojevic
To evaluate the performance of their proposed system, Griggs and Prof. Berthoud developed an experiment to investigate several key variables. This included the frequency and amplitude of square waves, the spacing between the electrodes, the incline of the surface of the ERD, the distance between the electrodes and the dust layer, and the material of the surface from which dust is removed. The first step was to produce analytical models, which was an extremely complex task for this system, and previous numerical models were not particularly useful.
“For this work, a simpler model was therefore derived using Couloumb’s law and the law of dielectrophoresis for a preliminary prediction of the effect of parameters including the square wave amplitude, electrode spacing, and dust-electrode separation (the actual distance between the electrodes and the dust particles they are acting to remove) on system performance,” said Griggs. The next step was to prepare an experiment that would quantify the optimum performance and behavior of the proposed system and measure its effects. As Griggs described:
“Two metrics were developed for quantifying and comparing the system performance during testing: clearing performance (% of the surface that was clear did not contain dust particles), and clearing rate (a normalised rate of clearing based on the time taken to go from 5% to 60% of final clearing performance). A wide range of parameters were experimentally explored, including the frequency and amplitude of square wave applied across the electrodes. The system was then applied to removing dust from the outer layer of spacesuits by integrating a layer of Ortho-fabric (the outer layer of spacesuits) between the system and a layer of dust particles.”
From their tests, they found that the system achieved an optimum clearing performance of 98% when integrated directly below a layer of dust particles. However, this dropped off significantly when the outer layer was introduced due to the increased distance between the system and dust particles. As a result, they conclude that this system would likely need to be integrated directly into the outer layer of spacesuits to increase performance, possibly woven into the fabric itself. The system offers a non-abrasive method for dust removal, which is essential to future Mars missions.
A recent dust devil on Mars captured by NASA’s High Resolution Imaging Experiment (HiRISE) camera. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UArizona
However, as Griggs summarized, further refinements are required before the technology can be used on future missions. In addition, the potential benefits reach beyond astronaut health and removing dust from spacesuits:
“This concept has already been explored with success, though by its very nature it compromises the integrity of the outer layer of spacesuit. The technology therefore requires refinement before application on future Mars missions. The technology provides a suitable alternative to the mechanical methods of dust removal used on the short-length Apollo missions (brushing and vacuuming), which are unsuitable for longer Martian missions due to their abrasive effect on the spacesuits. It is therefore also a very promising technology for dust removal in other applications such as dust removal from solar panels or optical devices, which will be essential in future Mars missions.”
“The Passion of the Christ” is a movie directed by Mel Gibson in 2004. It focuses on the final twelve hours of Jesus’ life, including when he comes back to life. This film is special because it’s in Latin and Aramaic, trying to show Jesus’ life in a different way. However, some people didn’t like it because it strongly emphasizes religion and shows biblical events in a dramatic way. Even though it made a lot of money worldwide, more than $400 million, some criticized it for its violent scenes and said it posed a negative view of Jewish people.
Jim Caviezel, who portrayed Jesus in the movie, faced several challenges during its production. He attributed a series of unfortunate events to the film, claiming that offers for other roles dwindled, and he became an outcast in Hollywood. The challenges on set included filming in extremely cold conditions, leading to near-hypothermia, as well as suffering from pneumonia and a lung infection. Caviezel also endured injuries during the filming of the whipping scene, where a hidden post caused him pain, and he dislocated his shoulder while carrying a heavy crucifix.
In one scene, a heavy cross weighing 130 pounds fell on Caviezel’s shoulder, causing a separation. The scene remained in the movie. The cross was very heavy, perhaps more than half the weight of an average Jewish man. Jesus had already gone through a lot, such as being whipped, hit on the head, and having thorns pressed into his head. All his friends had left him. Caviezel acted with a separated shoulder. While filming almost naked in frigid conditions, the actor nearly suffered hypothermia and succeeded in getting a lung infection and pneumonia.
A study found that about 240,000 people get struck by lightning every year. This doesn’t happen very often. But in 2003, during the making of The Passion of the Christ, it happened three times.
The lead actor, Jim Caviezel, said that he felt like a Christmas tree when he got struck by lightning while filming the Sermon on the Mount scene. He even knew it was going to happen about four seconds before it did. He shared this experience with The 700 Club, saying, “I thought, ‘I’m going to get hit.’ And when it happened, I saw the extras grab the ground.”
Caviezel said that after the lightning hit him, fire came out of his head, and his body glowed. The cameras hadn’t reached him yet. “When the cameras reached me,” Caviezel remembered, “I heard Mel shouting, ‘What happened to his hair?’ I looked like I had gone to see Don King’s hair stylist.”
Caviezel was not the only person who got hit by lightning while filming The Passion. “After I got hit, Jon Mikalini, an assistant, came over and asked if I was okay. Then, he got hit too. The difference was that they saw the lightning hit Jon. All I felt was a big slap on my ears and saw pink and red static in front of my eyes for a few seconds.”
Surprisingly, it wasn’t the first time the assistant director got hit while working. According to BBC News, Mikalini had been struck by lightning before when it hit his umbrella. Thankfully, he only got minor burns on his fingertips. Can you believe the chances of that happening? It’s extremely rare, with odds of 1 in 11,728,889,000,000 if you live in the United States.
During the filming of The Passion of the Christ, they had a hidden whipping post set up behind Jim Caviezel. However, there was a problem. One of the actors who was supposed to be whipping Jim didn’t have a great aim when swinging the whip. Jim Caviezel explained that the lash went beyond the board and hit him really hard, making it difficult for him to breathe. He said it felt like having the wind knocked out of him, and the pain was so bad that he couldn’t catch his breath.
Caviezel was not happy. He said, “I turned around and looked at the guy, and I tell you, I may be playing Jesus, but I felt like Satan at that moment… a couple of bad words came out of my mouth.” Unfortunately, shortly after that, Caviezel accidentally got another hit. Playing the role of Jesus isn’t as easy as it seems.
Caviezel had a tough time making the movie. He got hit by lightning, got a few lashes in the wrong place, and even hurt his shoulder while carrying a really heavy cross in the film. The cross he had to carry weighed 150 pounds, and it felt even heavier as the day went on, according to Caviezel.
Miracles that happened on set
Mel Gibson talked a lot about weird incidents that happened while making the movie. In an interview, Gibson said some unusual events occurred on set. Some of the amazing things that happened were people getting better from illnesses, getting their sight and hearing back, and most importantly, finding salvation. There was a little six-year-old girl, whose parent worked on the movie crew. She had epilepsy since she was born and used to have up to 50 seizures every day. After the movie came out, she seemed to be almost cured. She didn’t have any seizures for more than a month. It was also said that she was dealing with her condition much better.
Filming the movie “The Passion of the Christ” had a significant effect on many people involved. The set of the film became a place where people talked about their faith. Father John Bartunek, a priest on set, said that everyone felt comfortable discussing spiritual things. He compared himself to a lightning rod for these conversations, but he didn’t actually get struck by lightning.
Because of their experiences during the making of the film, many actors and crew members decided to become Christians (specifically, Catholics) after the movie was done. Even an Atheist actor, Luca Lionello, who played the role of Judas Iscariot, converted to Christianity.
Being in a film and playing a character with a lot of flaws, like Judas, can lead to finding salvation. The impact of the finished movie on those who watch it could be significant, making a positive difference in their lives.
An actor named Luca Lionello, who used to call himself an “angry atheist,” changed his beliefs while working on a film. He played the role of Judas. Towards the end of making the movie, Lionello started considering the film’s main character as his lord and savior. He even went for confession, and it seems the whole experience had a big impact on him. He baptized his children, made his marriage sacred, and returned to the Church.
Mel Gibson wanted to make a sequel called ‘The Passion of the Christ: Resurrection,’ even though there were some challenges. It was supposed to be released in 2022. The actor Caviezel, who was in the first movie, also said he will be in the next part. He believed it would be the “biggest film in history” and hinted that it would be done in a unique and special way.
Gibson, however, faced personal controversies. He faced legal problems because of issues with alcohol, and in 2006, he was arrested for driving under the influence. He also made comments that offended Jewish people and said bad things about the LGBT community, which made people criticize him even more. The film was already causing controversy because of its violent scenes, historical mistakes, and accusations of being anti-Jewish.
Now, there’s talk about a sequel to the movie that will explore a question about the three days before Jesus came back to life. This has the potential to create more controversy. Some people wonder if Gibson’s personal beliefs affected the first movie, making it controversial.
The Passion of the Christ was criticized for not being accurate to the Bible, having historical errors, and portraying Jewish characters in a bad way. Some say the violence in the film was too much and distracted from its message about redemption. People have different opinions on whether accidents on the movie set were just accidents or if something more mysterious was happening.
As everyone waits for the sequel, the controversies from the first movie are still being talked about. People discuss faith, how art is interpreted, and whether personal beliefs should affect movies. We’ll have to see if the sequel faces similar challenges, adding more mystery to this interesting Hollywood story.
Cigar-shaped UFO filmed above Ukraine's front line
Cigar-shaped UFO filmed above Ukraine's front line
During standard surveillance operations, a drone under the command of the 406th Battalion has recorded footage of a cigar-shaped UFO hovering above Ukraine's front line.
The object lacks wings or apparent means of propulsion, distinguishing it from conventional aircraft like airplanes or helicopters.
Speculation suggests it could be a reconnaissance balloon or drone or eventually an extraterrestrial craft observing activities in the area.
The brief 17-second recording of the strange object has stirred curiosity among viewers and experts alike, adding an additional layer of intrigue to the ongoing situation in Ukraine.
Surviving an Alien Encounter: Insights from Harvard’s Avi Loeb
Surviving an Alien Encounter: Insights from Harvard’s Avi Loeb
In a world where the possibility of extraterrestrial life captivates the imagination of many, the question of how humanity would fare in the face of an alien invasion remains a topic of intense speculation and debate. Avi Loeb, a renowned astrophysicist from Harvard University, offers a perspective that challenges conventional narratives surrounding this speculative scenario.
The Foundation of Fear and Fascination
Public interest in aliens often oscillates between curiosity and apprehension, reflecting a deep-seated fear of the unknown. A poll conducted by Loeb revealed a predominant belief that contact with extraterrestrial beings could have catastrophic consequences for humanity. This sentiment, according to Loeb, is rooted in the human tendency to anticipate negative outcomes from unfamiliar situations, a psychological artifact of our evolutionary history.
Tribalism in the Cosmic Context
Loeb draws parallels between the fear of alien encounters and the tribalism that characterizes human social interactions. Just as individuals align themselves with groups that share their views, thereby ostracizing those who do not, humanity as a whole tends to view potential extraterrestrial beings through a lens of suspicion and hostility. This instinct, while beneficial in a world of limited resources, may not serve us well in the vast expanse of space, where resources are abundant and the potential for collaboration with advanced civilizations could be transformative.
A Learning Opportunity, Not a Threat
Contrary to the popular narrative of doom, Loeb views the prospect of encountering advanced alien civilizations as an unparalleled opportunity for learning and growth. Given the immense distances involved in interstellar travel, any civilization capable of reaching Earth would likely possess technology far beyond our current understanding. Rather than posing a threat, these civilizations could offer insights and knowledge that propel human technology and society forward in leaps and bounds.
Rethinking Our Place in the Universe
The discovery of extraterrestrial life would inevitably force humanity to reconsider its place in the universe. Loeb suggests that this could be a humbling yet enlightening experience, pushing us to abandon our tribalistic tendencies in favor of a more unified view of humanity as part of a larger cosmic community. This shift in perspective could lead to a more cooperative and peaceful existence, both among ourselves and with any neighbors we might encounter in the galaxy.
VIDEO:
Could Humanity Survive an Alien Invasion? Harvard’s Avi Loeb Offers His Perspective
Avi Loeb’s perspective on the potential for human-alien interaction is a beacon of optimism in a field often overshadowed by fear and pessimism. By advocating for curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn from the unknown, Loeb encourages us to view the possibility of extraterrestrial encounters not as a threat, but as an opportunity to advance our understanding of the universe and our place within it. As we continue to explore the cosmos, keeping an open mind about the potential for alien life could be the key to unlocking a future of unprecedented growth and cooperation.
Na twee weken maannacht is de Japanse maanlander SLIM opnieuw geactiveerd, meldt het Japanse ruimtevaartprogramma Jaxa.
De term maannacht verwijst naar een periode waarin het naar de aarde gekeerde deel van de maan geen zonlicht krijgt en de temperaturen dan ook navenant zakken. Een maannacht duurt ongeveer 15 dagen en de temperaturen kunnen zakken tot onder -160 graden Celsius.
"De voorbije nacht is een commando gestuurd naar SLIM en is een antwoord ontvangen, wat bevestigt dat het toestel de maannacht overleefd heeft en zijn vermogen om te communiceren behouden heeft", schrijft Jaxa op X, het voormalige Twitter. "De communicatie met SLIM werd na korte tijd afgebroken, omdat het nog steeds middag was op de maan en de temperatuur van de communicatietemperatuur erg hoog was. Er worden voorbereidingen getroffen om de operaties te hervatten wanneer de temperaturen van de instrumenten voldoende zijn afgekoeld", vervolgt Jaxa.
De Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) landde op 20 januari op 55 meter van zijn oorspronkelijke doel op de maan. Dat maakte van Japan het vijfde land dat met succes landde op de maan, na de Verenigde Staten, de Sovjet-Unie, China en India. Door een motorprobleem in de laatste meters van de afdaling landde SLIM in een hoek, waardoor zijn naar het westen gerichte fotovoltaïsche cellen geen zonlicht konden opvangen. SLIM kwam in een kleine krater, genaamd Shioli, terecht. Voor het toestel werd uitgeschakeld, laadde het twee minirovers uit, die analyses zullen uitvoeren op gesteente uit de interne structuur van de maan, de maanmantel.
Japanse maanlander SLIM heeft onverwacht donkere en ijskoude maannacht overleefd
Het onbemande ruimtetuig kon opnieuw communiceren en zijn wetenschappelijke opdracht hervatten: onderzoek naar maangesteente. Dat moet duidelijk maken of onder het oppervlakte water, zuurstof en/of brandstoffen aanwezig zijn, cruciaal als mensen in de toekomst een station op de maan willen vestigen.
Nu blijkt dat SLIM de maannacht heeft doorstaan. Volgens de Japanse luchtvaartorganisatie JAXA is de maanlander niet gebouwd om een lange donkere periode en temperaturen tot -150 graden Celsius te overleven.
Microplastics zijn overal. Ze zijn op de meest afgelegen plaatsen gevonden; bij zeedieren die in de diepste loopgraven van de oceaan leven, begraven in zee-ijs op Antarctica, en in drinkwater over de hele wereld. Deze fragmenten worden via een aantal verschillende kanalen verspreid en nu worden ze ook in het menselijk lichaam aangetroffen. Nu besmetting onvermijdelijk wordt, is het tijd om de effecten van deze vervuilende stof op zowel het milieu als onze fysieke gezondheid te leren kennen en volledig te begrijpen.
Bekijk de volgende galerij-foto's en ontdekt de waarheid over microplasticvervuiling .
Kleine stukjes plastic Uit een onlangs vrijgegeven onderzoek is gebleken dat flessenwater honderdduizenden ‘nanoplastics’ bevat. Deze kleine fragmenten zijn slechts 100 nanometer (of minder) groot.
Nanoplastics Nanoplastics zijn alomtegenwoordig in stedelijke wateren. Ze hebben verschillende kenmerken in vergelijking met microplastics, en vanwege hun omvang is het zelfs nog moeilijker om ze te analyseren.
Flessen water Een gemiddelde liter plastic fles water bevat volgens onderzoekers van Columbia en Rutgers in de VS bijna een kwart miljoen nanoplasticfragmenten.
Onderzoek De onderzoekers ontdekten dat een groot deel van de consumptie uit de waterfles zelf kwam, en het is onbekend of dit een ernstig risico voor de volksgezondheid met zich meebrengt.
WHO-bevindingen In 2019 concludeerde de Wereldgezondheidsorganisatie dat er niet genoeg bewijs was om aan te tonen dat de consumptie of het inademen van microplastics een risico vormde.
WHO-bevindingen Ze waarschuwden echter dat deeltjes die kleiner zijn dan 10 micrometer meer dan waarschijnlijk biologisch zullen worden opgenomen, en riepen op tot een vermindering van de plasticvervuiling.
Microplastics in voedsel Maar onze blootstelling aan microplastics beperkt zich niet alleen tot het water dat we drinken. Ze worden ook verspreid op landbouwgrond, om uiteindelijk in het voedsel dat we eten terecht te komen.
Microplastics in landbouwgrond Uit een analyse uit 2022 bleek dat het rioolslib dat wordt gebruikt om gewassen te bemesten bijna 20 miljoen hectare Amerikaanse landbouwgrond heeft vervuild.
Riolering Het is ook bewezen dat de 'forever chemicaliën', oftewel PFA's (per- en polyfluoralkylstoffen), en microplastics die in het slib worden aangetroffen, elk jaar de Europese landbouwgronden vervuilen.
Plastic in elke hap Of we het ons nu realiseren of niet, elke hap die we nemen kan microplastics bevatten. Plastic lijkt zich het meest op te hopen in de wortels van groenten, dus wortelen, radijsjes en rapen kunnen grotere hoeveelheden bevatten dan bijvoorbeeld groene bladgroenten.
Microplastics in de longen In 2022 ontdekten wetenschappers voor het eerst microdeeltjes in menselijke longen en bloed. De ontdekking onderstreepte de urgentie van de noodzaak om alternatieven voor plastic te vinden.
Consumentenproducten De bron van de microplastics die in het menselijk lichaam worden aangetroffen varieert, maar consumentenproducten zoals plastic flessen, textielvezels (vooral in polyester) en voedselverpakkingen die in de oceaan, de lucht, zeevruchten en zelfs zout worden aangetroffen, zijn de meest waarschijnlijke bronnen.
Consumptie Er wordt aangenomen dat Amerikanen dagelijks ongeveer 126 deeltjes microplastics consumeren en 132 deeltjes microplastics inademen. Terwijl de meeste hiervan door de darmen gaan en het lichaam verlaten, blijven andere in kleine hoeveelheden achter en hopen zich op.
Afbraak van microplastics Microplastics zijn gemaakt van giftige, schadelijke verbindingen zoals weekmakers, stabilisatoren, vulstoffen en smeermiddelen die tientallen jaren lang niet worden afgebroken.
Afbraak van microplastics Er wordt uitgebreid onderzoek gedaan om te bepalen wat de langetermijneffecten van deze microplastics in het lichaam zullen zijn, gezien hun langzaam afbrekende karakter.
BPA BPA, een veel voorkomende chemische stof die in plastic wordt gebruikt, is een bekende hormoonontregelaar (hormoonsysteemverstoorder), en veel bedrijven produceren nu BPA-vrij plastic. Maar het is niet de enige.
Kankerverwekkend Veel andere chemicaliën in kunststoffen zijn ook hormoonontregelaars en kankerverwekkend. Chronische ziekten zoals hartziekten en diabetes houden verband met de uitstoot van deze chemicaliën.
Sterk bewerkte voedingsmiddelen Microplastics breken af van grotere stukken plastic en komen via het productie- en opslagproces in voedsel terecht. Hoe beter het voedsel is bewerkt, hoe groter de hoeveelheid microplastics die erin zit.
Onvermijdelijk? Hoewel er stappen zijn die we als individu kunnen nemen om onze consumptie van microplastics terug te dringen, maakt de populatie microplastics het consumeren ervan in een of andere vorm onvermijdelijk.
Productiebedrijven Miljoenen tonnen microplastics worden geproduceerd door productiebedrijven, om vervolgens in watermassa’s te belanden die over de hele wereld circuleren
Plastic vervuiling Grotere kunststoffen die in waterlichamen worden aangetroffen, worden door de zon afgebroken tot kleine kunststoffen die in de drinkwatervoorziening terecht kunnen komen.
De waarheid over recycling Het merendeel van het plastic dat voor recycling wordt verzonden, wordt niet gerecycled. Veel van de plastic flessen en tassen die worden verzonden, belanden uiteindelijk op een stortplaats.
Overmatig gebruik van plastic In het dagelijks leven is onze afhankelijkheid van plastic verpakkingen verbazingwekkend. Vooral voedselverpakkingen zijn overbodig: groenten en fruit hoeven niet in plastic verpakt te worden, maar vaak wel.
Regulatie In de VS is de afgelopen jaren bezuinigd op de regelgeving en het milieubeschermingsbeleid. Deze zullen van invloed zijn op de toekomst van de consumptie van microplastics.
Kleren Een andere mogelijke manier waarop microplastics door het lichaam kunnen worden opgenomen, is via kleding. Vaak zal goedkoper gemaakte kleding een hoger gehalte aan synthetische materialen bevatten. Hierdoor lopen mensen met een lager inkomen een groter risico op dit soort besmettingen.
Biologisch afbreekbare kunststoffen Het kan lang duren voordat biologisch afbreekbare kunststoffen uiteenvallen, zelfs jaren. Meestal vallen ze uiteen in kleinere stukjes, in plaats van chemische componenten. Dit soort producten zou het plasticprobleem kunnen verergeren.
Glazen flessen Glas is gemaakt van silica, dat een grotere ecologische voetafdruk heeft dan drankkartons en aluminium blikjes. Hoewel hun recyclingpercentage hoger is, is het een complexe kwestie: de productie van glas kan leiden tot landverslechtering en verlies aan biodiversiteit.
De toekomst? Onderzoekers hebben gekeken naar bacteriën en schimmels die zich voeden met plastic en deze materialen kunnen afbreken. Er is een soort keverlarve gevonden die polystyreen verslindt. Ook worden chemische behandelingen en waterfiltratiesystemen onderzocht die microplastics kunnen verwijderen.
An invisible world exists beneath our feet, full of thriving organisms that few human eyes will ever see. Now, researchers have found that as global temperatures steadily rise, previously dormant bacteria are coming alive, which could further complicate worsening climate conditions on Earth.
A longstanding challenge in the study of climate change involves how it impacts the microbiome within Earth’s soil, which plays a significant role in helping researchers calculate global climate models. This is partly due to the role microorganisms play in the regulation of carbon fluxes that have a significant impact on climate.
With warming temperatures, some scientists warn that an increase in microbial activity in Earth’s soil could impact carbon stocks, which are especially prevalent in soils at higher latitudes where the activity of these organisms had once been limited by cooler temperatures.
Now, as more microorganisms awaken with rising temperatures, the carbon stocks within these soils are becoming more susceptible to decomposition and could lead to increases in the release of carbon into the atmosphere.
The findings were the result of a new study by researchers at the University of Vienna’s Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science (CeMESS).
According to the team behind the study, their findings represent a potentially major shift in how scientists view microbial activity in our soil, and the role these organisms play in the global carbon cycle, as well as its relationship to Earth’s climate.
Previously, it had been assumed that the release of carbon into the atmosphere was due to the accelerated growth of existing microbes due to warmer temperatures, although the new findings confirm the primary mechanism to be the activation of dormant bacteria.
Andreas Richter, lead author of the study and professor at the University’s Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, says soils are the planet’s most significant supply of organic carbon, and the microorganisms within them govern the Earth’s carbon cycle as they break down materials, releasing carbon dioxide in the process.
Of particular concern to researchers is what is called soil carbon-climate feedback, which is the cycle that arises from the proportional emission of carbon dioxide by microorganisms that awaken as temperatures rise, thereby contributing to overall global warming trends.
As part of their research, Richter and his colleagues traveled to a region of Iceland where elevated soil temperatures compared with nearby areas were especially significant.
Dennis Metze Ph.D., the study’s lead author, said that increased microbial growth was evident in areas that had seen more than half a century of consistent soil warming.
“But remarkably, the growth rates of microbes in warmer soils were indistinguishable to those at normal temperatures,” Metze added, noting that the key difference the researchers found was bacterial diversity, in that warmer soils had a much greater variety of different active microbes.
The team made these discoveries through the collection of soil cores, and the application of state-of-the-art isotope probing capabilities.
Christina Kaiser, an associate professor involved with the study, likened the complexity of soil’s microbiomes and their response to climate “a ‘black box’ in climate modeling.”
The team says their findings will likely assist in the generation of more accurate models going forward and could help to unravel some of the existing mysteries involving how microbial communities respond to warmer temperatures, and their relationship to the overall carbon cycle going forward.
The team’s new study, “Soil warming increases the number of growing bacterial taxa but not their growth rates,” was published in the journal Science Advances on February 23, 2024.
Hundreds of thousands of icy rocks lurk around in the Kuiper Belt, a place discovered just a few decades ago, and exists far beyond Neptune. As a NASA spacecraft sojourns deeper into space, it has encountered a puzzling finding in this cosmic hinterland: The Kuiper Belt may be much bigger than expected.
Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter formed billions of years ago and their gravitational influence may have cleared out the middle of the Solar System of the objects that now live in the Kuiper Belt. Now, after having been slingshotted into the dark and frigid outer edges of the Solar System, these planetary building blocks are coming into the spotlight with missions like NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft.
An artist’s concept of a collision between two objects in the Kuiper Belt.
To give an idea of how far away New Horizons currently is, it has been almost nine years since the spacecraft visited Pluto. It’s now about 60 times farther away than the distance between the Sun and the Earth, or 60 astronomical units (AU).
During the three years it took to go from 45 to 55 AUs, its Venetia Burney Student Dust Counter (SDC) instrument found something unusual. The Kuiper Belt showed higher levels of dust than models suggested. The dust is a symptom of its environment and could mean several things that the New Horizons team hopes to one day answer.
NASA officials announced on Tuesday, adding that the work is detailed in a study published in late January in the journal Astrophysical Journal Letters.
NASA says the new data contributes to “a growing body of evidence that suggests the outer edge of the main Kuiper Belt could extend billions of miles farther than current estimates — or that there could even be a second belt beyond the one we already know.”
Pluto is undeniably a frigid place, this image shows. According to NASA, this is the most accurate natural color images of Pluto from the space agency’s New Horizons spacecraft. Now located about 60 AU from the Sun, the spacecraft flew past the dwarf planet at a distance of around 39 AU from the Sun in 2015.
Telescopes on Earth have discovered several Kuiper Belt Objects that exist far beyond the traditional outer edge of the belt, around 50 AU. This, plus the New Horizons dust readings, highlights the scope of this icy population. The dust can be made when two objects smash into each other.
If earlier science models were accurate, New Horizons should have sailed beyond the Kuiper Belt about 10 AU ago. Now there are new ideas about the region's size.
The outer edge could be located at 80 AU, which, if Neptune’s orbit is considered where the belt starts (around 30 AU), means that the Kuiper Belt, on its own, is about 10 times bigger than the distance between the Sun and Jupiter.
New Horizons has notched 5 billion miles over 18 years. NASA says it has a lot of life left in it. According to the agency, the spacecraft should have enough propellant to carry it beyond 100 AU from the Sun and to operate through the 2040s.
One day, when it’s even farther away than it is now, the SDC instrument may sense the dominance of interstellar particles. If and when that happens, astronomy from the edge of our cosmic backyard won’t ever be the same.
A Planetary Disk in the Orion Nebula is Destroying and Replenishing Oceans of Water Every Month
A closeup of the inner region of the Orion Nebula as seen by JWST. There's a protoplanetary disk there that is recycling an Earth's ocean-full of water each month. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, PDRs4All ERS Team; Salomé Fuenmayor image
A Planetary Disk in the Orion Nebula is Destroying and Replenishing Oceans of Water Every Month
Planet-forming disks are places of chaotic activity. Not only do planetesimals slam together to form larger worlds, but it now appears that the process involves the destructive recycling of water within a disk. That’s the conclusion from scientists studying JWST data from a planetary birth crèche called d203-506 in the Orion Nebula.
The data they studied suggest that an amount of water equivalent to all of Earth’s oceans is created and replenished in a relatively short period—about a month. According to study co-lead Els Peeters at Western University in Canada, it was relatively easy to discover this process in the protoplanetary disk. “This discovery was based on a tiny fraction of our spectroscopic data,” she said. “It is exciting that we have so much more data to mine and I can’t wait to see what else we can find.”
The Orion Nebula is a vast active star- and planet-forming region and the d203-506 protoplanetary disk lies within it at a distance of about 1,350 light-years away from Earth. Astronomers study the nebula to understand all aspects of star birth since there are so many newborn stars there. In addition, many are surrounded by disks of gas and dust, called protoplanetary disks (proplyds, for short). Those regions are excellent places to observe planet-formation processes, and particularly the interplay between the young stars and their disks.
The Orion Nebula is one of the most studied objects in the sky. Many of its protostars and their planetary disks likely contain water in some form. Image: NASA
The Water Cycle of a Proplyd
We all know that water is an important ingredient for life. It certainly played a role in creating and sustaining life on our planet. As it turns out, water is a significant fraction of the materials in a proplyd. In the infant Solar System, water existed throughout our proplyd long before any of the planets formed, largely in their icy form, either as icy bodies or locked into asteroids and planetesimals. It also exists in interstellar space.
This view of Earth’s horizon by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the International Space Station. A new study suggests that Earth’s water didn’t all come from comets, but likely also came from water-rich planetesimals. Credit: NASA
Most of Earth’s water got delivered to the forming planet over millions of years. It melted or outgassed to form the oceans, rivers, and lakes we see today. But, some fraction of the water in our system’s birth disk probably went through a “freeze-thaw” cycle within the disk. That happened when the Solar System was still just a disk of gas and dust. The water was essentially destroyed and then re-formed at higher temperatures.
We can’t see that effect anymore in our system. But, astronomers can point telescopes at other proplyds to see if the same process happens there. That’s what Peeters and her team did. They used JWST to look at d203-506. There, bright young stars flood the nearby regions in the proplyd with intense ultraviolet radiation. The UV breaks up water molecules to form hydroxyl molecules and that process also releases infrared light. JWST can search out that light and report back on how much hydroxyl is in the birth cloud. The team estimates that the process in d203-506 regularly destroys and replenishes about an Earth oceans-full of water each month.
Formation of the Solar System Implications
The d203-506 system is currently forming new worlds, but it began as a cloud of gas and dust without a star. That’s exactly how our own Solar System began—as a cloud of gas and dust more than 4.5 billion years ago. The cloud it formed from was a cold, dark nebula containing some amount of water ice, or water-rich material. Something nudged the cloud to coalesce into a region of higher density, and that continued to shrink in on itself under the force of gravity. Temperatures rose, and eventually, a protostar began to form. Ultraviolet from the Sun irradiated the birth cloud, and that led to a similar water-destroying and replenishing activity. Heat and radiation from the Sun also forced lighter elements to migrate out to cooler regions in the system.
So, d203-506 makes a great analog to study the water cycle in the infant Solar System. Based on this JWST data, it’s very likely that water in Earth’s oceans went through this same process. Eventually, that water made its way to the planetesimals and icy bodies that helped form the worlds of the Solar System.
The icy bodies of the outer solar system probably didn’t experience the same extremes of heating, destruction, and replenishment. That’s because they migrated out to (or already existed at) great enough distances that the irradiation from the Sun didn’t have the same effect. That’s one reason planetary scientists are also interested in sampling those distant bodies. Their “primordial” water ices are a good sample of what conditions were like in the original nebula before it coalesced to form the Sun and planets.
Intuitive Machines’ Odysseus Lander Sends Faint Signal From the Moon
Intuitive Machines‘ Odysseus lander made space history today — becoming the first commercial spacecraft to survive a descent to the moon, and the first U.S.-built spacecraft to do so since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. But it wasn’t a trouble-free landing.
Ground controllers had a hard time establishing contact with the robotic lander just after the scheduled touchdown time of 6:23 p.m. ET (2323 UTC). Several minutes passed, and then Intuitive Machines mission director Tim Crain reported that there was a faint signal coming from Odysseus’ high-gain antenna.
“We’re not dead yet,” he said.
A few minutes later, the IM-1 mission team decided that the signal was evidence enough that Odysseus was still operating.
“What we can confirm without a doubt is our equipment is on the surface of the moon, and we are transmitting,” Crain said. “So, congratulations, IM team, we’ll see how much more we can get from that.”
As mission team members applauded, Intuitive Machines CEO Steve Altemus radioed in with his congratulations. “I know this was a nail-biter, but we are on the surface and we are transmitting,” he said. “Welcome to the moon.”
“Houston, Odysseus has found his new home,” Crain replied.
What Odysseus was designed to do
Odysseus, which is named after a seafaring hero in Greek mythology, was launched from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on Feb. 15. The mission’s objective was to deliver payloads from NASA and commercial customers to a spot near Malapert A crater in the lunar south polar region. That area of the moon is of high interest because its cratered terrain is thought to hold resources of water ice that could be eventually be used to supply crewed outposts.
NASA is paying Houston-based Intuitive Machines $118 million for the delivery under the terms of its Commercial Lunar Payload Services initiative.
The space agency’s payloads include a camera system that was designed to document the plumes of dust kicked up by the landing, an experimental radio navigation beacon, a radio-based fuel gauge, a laser range finder, a set of laser reflectors and a sensor that will study the moon’s electron plasma environment. Data from the experiments could help NASA plan for the Artemis program’s crewed lunar landings, which could start happening as soon as 2026.
The commercial payloads range from a box of 125 marble-sized moon sculptures and a digital data storage device to a mini-observatory that could capture pictures of the lunar surface and the Milky Way above. There’s also a camera system that was designed to be dropped off during the descent to take “selfie” pictures of the touchdown.
Backup systems come into play
Odysseus reached lunar orbit on Feb. 21, and went through a series of maneuvers today to descend from an altitude of 92 kilometers (57 miles).
NASA’s laser range finder, known as the Navigation Doppler Lidar or NDL, ended up playing a crucial backup role in guiding the descent. Just a couple of hours before landing, Intuitive Machines reported that controllers couldn’t get Odysseus’ own laser range finders to work — so they reprogrammed the lander to use NASA’s NDL system instead.
In the wake of the landing, Intuitive Machines’ mission control team went through a series of procedures aimed at resetting equipment and boosting the signal from Odysseus.
“After troubleshooting communications, flight controllers have confirmed Odysseus is upright and starting to send data,” Intuitive Machines reported in a posting to X / Twitter. “Right now, we are working to downlink the first images from the lunar surface.”
There’s a chance that Odysseus went off track during the final stages of the descent and ended up landing askew. That’s what happened a month ago when Japan’s SLIM spacecraft tumbled into an awkward position on its lunar landing site. SLIM’s off-kilter solar arrays were able to soak up enough power for an abbreviated round of science observations.
Even under the best of circumstances, the solar-powered Odysseus lander is expected to be in operation on the lunar surface for only seven days. The mission is slated to end when the sun drops below the lunar horizon and the circuit-chilling lunar night begins.
Past and future lunar robots
NASA’s deputy associate administrator for exploration, Joel Kearns, noted in advance of the landing that the odds for a completely successful commercial moon landing were slim.
“This is not an easy thing we’ve asked these companies to do, but if they’re successful, the up side for American exploration is just so great we have to try it,” Kearns said.
Still more commercial moon landing attempts are on NASA’s calendar: Intuitive Machines is already working on another lander that will drill for ice in the moon’s south polar region. Meanwhile, Astrobotic is getting set to send NASA’s VIPER rover to a spot near the south pole, and Firefly Aerospace is due to deliver 10 NASA payloads to Mare Crisium aboard its Blue Ghost lander.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson accentuated the positive in a pre-recorded video message that was released on the assumption that Odysseus survived its descent to the surface.
“Today, for the first time in more than half a century, the U.S. has returned to the moon,” Nelson said. “Today, for the first time in the history of humanity, a commercial company, an American company, launched and led the voyage up there. Today is a day that shows the power and promise of NASA’s commercial partnerships. … This feat is a giant leap forward for all of humanity. Stay tuned.”
A Mysterious Encounter: The 406th Battalion’s UFO Sighting Over Ukraine
A Mysterious Encounter: The 406th Battalion’s UFO Sighting Over Ukraine
In an age where the sky is no longer the limit, a recent video capturing an unidentified flying object (UFO) has reignited the curiosity and speculation surrounding extraterrestrial phenomena. Filmed earlier this year, the intriguing footage was obtained by the 406th Battalion using a drone, as it hovered over the tumultuous front lines of Ukraine. This 17-second clip, viewed through a laptop, has become a focal point for both believers and skeptics of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs).
The Encounter Unfolded
The video begins in an ordinary setting, with soldiers operating a drone, unaware of the astonishing discovery they are about to make. The atmosphere shifts dramatically as the drone camera captures an enigmatic object, prompting a flurry of bewildered reactions from the soldiers. Their dialogue, a mix of incredulity and humor, underscores the surreal nature of the encounter:
“Why can’t he fire missiles at us? What do you mean?”
“Holy f*ck… f*ck…”
“What the f*ck is this?”
“I’m telling you it’s a UFO for sure it standing still.”
“Zoom in more.”
“It’s standing still, do you see?”
“Can’t see anything on the thermal cameras?”
“Maybe ram it?” [as a joke]
These words, laced with astonishment and disbelief, capture the raw emotion of the moment. The object, described as stationary and elusive to thermal detection, presents characteristics often associated with UFO sightings. The suggestion to “maybe ram it” adds a light-hearted twist to an otherwise tense observation, hinting at the human tendency to find humor even in the most mysterious situations.
What Makes This Sighting Stand Out?
What sets this sighting apart is not just the visual evidence, but the context in which it was captured. The front lines of a conflict zone are unlikely settings for deliberate fabrications of UFO footage, lending a layer of credibility to the encounter. The 406th Battalion, engaged in the day-to-day realities of military operations, inadvertently stumbled upon a phenomenon that defies easy explanation.
The Significance of This Sighting
This sighting contributes to the growing archive of UAP encounters, prompting discussions about the nature and origin of these objects. While skeptics may attribute such phenomena to drones or other explainable entities, the characteristics displayed in this video—such as the object’s immobility and invisibility to thermal cameras—challenge conventional explanations.
Source states:
This Exclusive footage was sent in by a unit we fundraise for over at UkraineFreedomNews. 406th battalion UAF captured some kind of UAP on their drone while surveilling the frontline.
A Call to Explore the Unknown
The 406th Battalion’s UFO sighting is a reminder of the vast, uncharted territories that exist not only in the cosmos but within our own atmosphere. It invites enthusiasts, experts, and the curious to ponder the possibilities of what lies beyond our understanding. As technology advances and more eyes turn skyward, the search for answers continues.
For those intrigued by the mysteries of the universe, this video serves as a compelling piece of evidence in the ongoing investigation into UFO sightings. It underscores the reality that, sometimes, the truth is not only out there but also hovering above us, waiting to be discovered.
Whether this video will become a cornerstone piece of evidence in UFOlogy or a curious footnote in the history of aerial phenomena remains to be seen. However, its impact on the conversation around UFO sightings—capturing the imagination of millions and perhaps encouraging a more serious consideration of the unexplained—is undeniable. The skies above Ukraine have offered up a new mystery, fueling the human quest for knowledge and the eternal question: are we truly alone in the universe?
Mystery of Massachusetts' 'Monsterland' - a five-mile stretch of unchartered woods where locals claim they've seen flying saucers, glowing orange orbs and BIG FOOT
Mystery of Massachusetts' 'Monsterland' - a five-mile stretch of unchartered woods where locals claim they've seen flying saucers, glowing orange orbs and BIG FOOT
The woods that line the small city of Leominster, near Boston in central Massachusetts, are a supernatural hotbed
For decades there have been rumored sightings of UFOs, strange glowing orbs and even Bigfoot - earning the area its ominous nickname
Others claim cars mysteriously break down and residents have been abducted
Deep in the heart of Massachusetts is a spooky place known as 'Monsterland' - a five-mile stretch famed for its paranormal activity.
For centuries, the eerie woods that line the small city of Leominster, near Boston, have been a hotbed for rumored sightings ofUFOs, strange glowing orbs and even BigFoot himself.
Some say these mysterious tales first began surfacing in the New England town in the 1800s, with locals sharing stories about a berry-eating beast.
But suspicions really took off in the 50s after a man claimed in a local bar that he had encountered a 'monster' - before vanishing when he left to track it down.
Since then there reported supernatural sightings have only increased, earning the area its ominous nickname and attracting Big Foot hunters from all over the country.
Scroll down for video:
The area known as 'Monsterland' - a five-mile stretch of forest-surrounded Leominster famed for paranormal activity - is seen here
For decades there have been rumored sightings of UFOs, strange glowing orbs, and even Bigfoot. Pictured: A part of the area and the surrounding Leominster State Forest
Claims of apelike creatures, glowing orange orbs and car engines suddenly giving out in the area are now rife. Pictured is a cast of a 'humanoid print' found in the forest in 2010
Ronny Le Blanc, 66, grew up a few hundred yards from Leominster, around the time the sightings first started.
After his first supernatural experience there when he was 11-years-old, he has since made it his mission to get to the bottom of the unexplained activity.
'I think because these things have happened to me personally, it's created this obsession where I need to find out more,' the author of 2016's Monsterland told CBS Boston of his experiences in the now-infamous area.
'The reason it gets its name is there were sightings of Bigfoot creatures going back to the late 1800s,' he explained - before producing a cast of footprints he claims came from the fabled sasquatch.
He further claimed: 'What I started noticing is that there was a lot of activities and stories in and around Leominster State Forest, which connects to Monsterland through the powerlines.'
After that bit of geography, he joked that a lot of locals like himself used to call it 'Monstah-land' - donning a trademark Boston accent to do so.
'It goes back to the '50s,' he continued, '[when] there was a gentleman that supposedly disappeared after seeing a strange creature by Old Mill Road.'
The legend surrounds an unnamed man who entered a Leominster bar one summer night visibly agitated.
When the barkeep asked him what was wrong, the man reportedly responded that he had just seen a 'terrifying monster' on the now notorious Old Mill Road that bleeds into Leominster State Forest and the surrounding areas.
He asked the proprietor to call police but instead of waiting he declared he was going out to go kill the monster himself and bring back the creature's body as proof.
But he was never seen again. When the cops arrived, the bar manager told them what had happened, spurring them to drive down to Old Mill Road.
There they found the man's car parked by the side of the street with its lights on and no one inside.
Balking at the concept of venturing into a largely uncharted 4,300-acre forest at night, the officers decided to wait until morning.
But the man never returned and the case remains a mystery to this day - with the legend helping to earn the street and surrounding area its Monsterland nickname.
Mysterious occurrences can mostly be traced back to the 50s, when a man entered a local bar and claimed he encountered a 'monster' before later disappearing
The small expanse of land where most of the encounters have occurred is centered around the now notorious Old Mill Road. Ronny Le Blanc, 66, grew up a few hundred yards away, and since made it his mission to shine a light on what's happening in the area
Many say the sightings first surfaced in the town in the 1800s, with tales involving a berry-eating beast. Today there are rumored sightings of the legendary BigFoot
Today, that road still stands - and according to Le Blanc and countless others, it is still a hive of unnatural activity.
Claims of apelike creatures, humanoid footprints, and car engines suddenly giving out are now rife - with several, including Le Blanc, spotting strange orbs floating overhead.
He believes the latter and the at-large beast are indelibly linked, citing other reports of people actually spotting the monster holding these 'orange spheres'.
Different objects described as 'flying saucers' have also been reported, with some caught on camera.
Le Blanche suspects they are all related, and claims to have witnessed the floating orbs at least nine times over the years.
Several other sightings have been reported since, including one on July 3 of 2012, and another almost ten years later on April 13, 2022.
Both occurrences were caught on camera, and the orbs in each are eerily identical.
All the more alarming is that the strange orange objects - reminiscent even from afar of fireballs - fit the descriptions of countless Leominster residents over the decades, including several whom have spoke to Le Blanc.
'People have seen Bigfoot holding an orb,' he told the outlet during a tour through the area in 2022. 'They look like a basketball with plasma swirling around and they’re silent. I've just seen them hovering over the sky and just blink out and disappear.'
Several people, including Le Blanc, have spotted strange orbs floating over the forest, such as these recorded by a resident on July 3, 2012
Almost identical objects were filmed nearly a decade later on April 13, 2022, by 52-year-old Corey Tourigny, who recorded them hovering over the area for some 15 minutes, before disappearing one by one
Descriptions offered by others are strikingly similar - with the citizen who spotted three unidentified objects between 8:30pm and 8:45pm in 2022 saying: 'There was no sound as they kept coming from a north west mountain area traveling south east.
'They would all change their direction and head west /south west as if they were programmed to all do it at the same exact time.
'Some were faster than others and some flew lower than others,' he went on, after recording the UFOs over his home in South Leominster near so-called 'Monsterland'.
'My estimation is they were about one hundred feet above tree top level,' he recalled.
'They would pause in formation for a while and then break off and head West as other came over the mountain area.'
After several minutes of hovering in his footage, the objects disappear.
The resident, 52-year-old Corey Tourigny, added: 'I called over [a local police officer that lived next door] to see what these things could possibly be, but he had no explanation as well.'
At least a dozen others who have had alleged encounters with the orbs also had a similar lack of luck in deciphering their significance.
Another unidentified flying object recorded over Leominster on July 24, 2019, is seen here
The footage shows the object bursting into frame like a fireball before suddenly disappearing. Some contend it was a meteor
Le Blanc, however, has a few ideas - referencing the case of late Leominster resident Betty Andreasson, who claimed that on January 25, 1967, she was abducted by extraterrestrial aliens from her South Ashburnham home about a dozen miles from Monsterland.
She also claims to have had a close encounter in 1944 in Leominster - as did several others around the time of time of her second sighting, which somewhat coincides with the clips captured on film.
'There was a huge UFO wave in 1967 in Central Mass,' Le Blanc in 2020 said.
'People were seeing UFOs over ponds and lakes and there was a lady in Fitchburg saying there are UFOs coming out of the reservoir.'
'When I started researching, I found out that Betty Andreasson had this thing happen down on Howard Street (in Leominster)', he added.
'During this time, this area was also getting a wave of Bigfoot sightings and reports from the state police.'
One such case surrounds a couple who saw a UFO over St. Leo's Cemetery in Leominster - a few miles north of Monsterland - in March 1967 and another in the '70s when another pair spotted a rectangular UFO with lights by a hillside in Ashburnham.
'They’re looking at this thing and they’re just dumbfounded how something so large could just be hovering silently there,' Le Blanc said of the Ashburnham incident.
'Flash of light and all of a sudden the UFO is gone and they look at each other and the wife notices that they have missing time, about 20 minutes.
'But, the other thing, now their car is on the opposite side of the road, like they were put back but in the wrong place.'
'This ball of light... this mental telepathy and these gray aliens, [there's] stuff happening in the forests in Westminster and South Ashburnham.'
One couple claim they saw a UFO over St. Leo's Cemetery in Leominster (seen here) in March 1967 - a few miles north of Monsterland. In the '70s another pair said they spotted a rectangular UFO with lights by a hillside in Ashburnham. Pictured Le Blanc at the cemetery
Another Leominster resident claimed that on January 25, 1967, she was abducted by aliens from her home about a dozen miles from 'Monsterland', some of which is seen here
In terms of an explanation, he said: 'There are a lot of different theories... but the reality is something is happening. People are seeing [the UFOs and Bigfoot]. They are leaving tracks.'
Several people claim that have encountered massive humanoid footprints on the footpath at the center of Monsterland, Old Mill Road near the Lancaster border where Walmart and other businesses sit.
One set of prints were found by Bill Penning and his wife, Julie, during an innocent hike in the nearby forest in June 2010.
Le Blanc helped the couple cast the prints two years later, in what may be the only physical evidence of the encounters countless are reporting
'People who have claimed to have a Bigfoot in their sights of the guns said they can’t pull the trigger because they looked too human,' he said, after the Pennings told him they found the prints after investigating sounds and movement coming from the forest.
He continued: 'I always found that fascinating and I feel like for something to be this elusive and so evasive this long, it has to be a more human than animal for it to do that.
Le Blanc added of the nature of the prints and the other sightings: 'This is something more alien, something more interdimensional.
'Ninety-nine percent of these could all be made up. But if you have that one that is legit, this whole thing is real.
'Then it's a game-changer and it's a paradigm shift on how we see the world and how we fit in it in this universe, really,' he concluded.
Le Blanc told CBS Boston: 'There are a lot of different theories... but the reality is something is happening. People are seeing [the UFOs and Bigfoot]. They are leaving tracks'
Le Blanc continued: 'I feel like for something to be this elusive and so evasive this long, it has to be a more human than animal for it to do that'
He added of the nature of the prints and the other sightings: 'This is something more alien, something more interdimensional.
The Pennings, meanwhile, recalled a distinctly eerie feeling after coming across the tracks that made them flee the area.
The sensation was described by the couple in a 2010 interview with the Leominster Champion.
'Where it was early spring there was a lot of brush and berries around us, but not a sound could be heard by anything, no birds, or other animals, just a weird feeling,' Julie told the local paper of how she was overcome.
Bill, meanwhile, recalled feeling disorientated, remembering how he and his wife felt the desperate urge to urge to get out of the woods instead of investigating further.
'I was kind of scared,' he conceded.
Their account is remarkably similar to one described by Le Blanc after a strange encounter behind a local elementary school that still haunts him to this day
While aged 12, he heard a strange sound in the forest Fallbrook Elementary School - near a bridge on Old Mill Road that still stands today.
'Before they put Samoset (Middle School) there, there was a bunch of tracks that would connect to Monsterland that would go to the sand dunes where people would go partying,' he said of the site, adding that there people had 'reported seeing strange things,' such as UFOs, shadow people, and, balls of light.
'There was one particular track I always used to avoid,' he continued. 'It always had a very dark, ominous feeling to it. It would be a beautiful day, and you look down this thing and it looked dark.'
One day, while biking along this trail, Le Blanc was astounded by the stark silence.
'I start going down this trail with my bike and I just could hear the bike squeaking,' he said. 'I noticed there are no other sounds in the forest. Nothing.'
At this point, Le Blanc recalled coming to a stop. Stuck with an uneasy feeling, he stayed silent and looked around.
'At that moment, something crashed through the woods right in front of me,' he continued.
'I could feel it reverberating in the soles of my feet. It was pushing trees and shrubs, went across the trail and onto the other side. But I couldn’t see anything. That’s what was disturbing.'
Le Blanc described a strange encounter while riding his bike on trail behind a local elementary school (seen here) on the edge of Monsterland that still haunts him to this day
Le Blanc said: 'Something crashed through the woods right in front of me. I could feel it reverberating in the soles of my feet. It was pushing trees and shrubs, went across the trail and onto the other side. But I couldn’t see anything. That’s what was disturbing'
Le Blanc compiled stories of the sightings and his research in 2016's Monsterland, seen here during CBS Boston's 2022 feature. He has urged others with similar experiences to come forward. He is still looking for concrete evidence to support residents' claims
Like the Pennings, he fled the area - and more than four decades later, he's still looking for answers.
He maintains that the Bigfoot sightings are linked to the UFOs, citing other sightings across the country that coincide with the unnatural orbs and sounds people are encountering in the forest.
The forest, meanwhile, has a history dating back to the Native Americans, and much of it to this day is officially uncharted.
He told the Telegram of his suspicions that the sightings - here and across the country - are connected.
'As you dig deeper into Bigfoot, you’re start talking about cloaking and the fact that they can vanish before people’s eyes,' he said
'These stories go back hundreds of years where all of a sudden a posse has this creature cornered and the tracks just disappear in open field, like something just came and picked it up and took it away
'All these stories start to intertwine. A lot of these people are talking about these similar encounters that I had'.
'It sounds crazy, like something in science fiction,' he added.
He went on: "Leominster people know what’s going on. People talk. But they also keep their mouths shut and don’t say sh*t either,"
'So, for me to write Monsterland, to actually come forward, was a little bit of a risk and gamble, in the sense people are going to think I’m crazy,' he said of his 2016 tome. 'Whatever.'
Bigfoot believers with similar experiences can contact Le Blanc anonymously on his website, www.ronnyleblanc.com, where he is still hunting evidence to support residents' mysterious claims.
Watch this amazing raw footage on a battlefield in Ukraine fighting back the Russian army. As they are scanning the area in infrared, they notice something odd, hovering over the battlefield in the distance. A UFO is seen on the screen of the computer user as he tries to identify this strange craft to know if it's a Russian enemy or not. Eventually he shrugs it off and calls it a UFO. This is undisputed proof that aliens are highly interested in battlefields and watch and record activities to gather information about the future events that will unfold.
Scott C. Waring
Source states:
This Exclusive footage was sent in by a unit we fundraise for over at UkraineFreedomNews. 406th battalion UAF captured some kind of UAP on their drone while surveilling the frontline.
Mysterie over spectaculaire supernova na 37 jaar eindelijk opgelost (met dank aan James Webb)
Mysterie over spectaculaire supernova na 37 jaar eindelijk opgelost (met dank aan James Webb)
Artikel door Kathleen Heylen
Op 23 februari 1987 ontdekten wetenschappers een supernova in de Grote Magelhaense Wolk, een van de meest nabije sterrenstelsels van onze eigen Melkweg. Een supernova is een gigantische ontploffing van een zware ster aan het einde van zijn leven. Daarbij wordt een enorme hoeveelheid licht uitgestraald. SN 1987A, zoals de supernova werd genoemd, was vanop de aarde zelfs met het blote oog zichtbaar.
En het was maandenlang waarneembaar vanop de aarde: de supernova straalde licht uit met de kracht van 100 miljoen zonnen. Het was de meest dichtstbijzijnde supernova die met het blote oog te zien was in meer dan 400 jaar. Maar vergis je niet, "meest dichtsbijzijnd" is in ruimtetermen nog altijd enorm ver. SN 1987A werd waargenomen op een afstand van 160.000 lichtjaar (één lichtjaar is de afstand die het licht overbrugt in één jaar tijd, red).
Lang voor de eigenlijke ontploffing hadden astronomen al details van de ster in kwestie beschreven. Het ging om een blauwe superreus. Superreuzen zijn de allergrootste en allerzwaarste sterren in het heelal, blauwe superreuzen zijn dan ook nog eens de warmste onder de superreuzen. Deze blauwe superreus had een massa die 20 keer groter was dan die van de zon.
Een van de meest bestudeerde objecten
SN 1987A werd een van de meest bestudeerde objecten in het heelal. Onder meer de beroemde ruimtetelescoop Hubble hielp wetenschappers in hun zoektocht naar hun antwoorden op vele vragen. Heel wat van de huidige astronomische kennis over het wat en hoe van supernova's is gebaseerd op onderzoek naar SN 1987A.
Een van die vragen was: wat rest er van de blauwe superreus na de ontploffing? Na een supernova blijft een klein en compact object over, maar wetenschappers konden bij SN 1987A niet achterhalen wat dat object dan precies was. De supernova was zo krachtig, de wolk van gas en stof zo groot, dat astronomen dat met de voorhanden zijnde instrumenten niet rechtstreeks konden bestuderen.
Beelden van SN 1987A die Hubble in februari 2000 kon vastleggen.
Volgens de huidige theorie ontploffen sterren wanneer ze niet genoeg "brandstof" meer over hebben om hen te doen schijnen. De massa van een ster wordt zo groot (een superreus) dat ze uiteindelijk onder druk van haar eigen zwaartekracht instort. En dan ontstaat ofwel een zwart gat, ofwel een neutronenster.
Een zwart gat is zo krachtig dat niets, zelfs licht niet, eruit kan ontsnappen. Ze kunnen ontstaan als reuzensterren in elkaar storten. Neutronensterren zijn de dode overblijfselen van de ingestorte kern van reuzensterren. Ze zijn de kleinste van alle sterren, maar hebben wel de hoogste dichtheid. Hoe zwaarder de massa van de ster, hoe groter de kans op een zwart gat.
Het onderscheid kunnen maken tussen zwarte gaten en neutronensterren is voor astronomen van belang, omdat bij supernova's chemische elementen vrijkomen zoals koolstof, zuurstof en ijzer. Die maken leven mogelijk. Dé vraag: wat bleef er over na de ontploffing van SN 1987A?
De wonderen van James Webb
Enter de James Webb-telescoop. Die werd op kerstdag 2021 gelanceerd. Met een diameter van 6,5 meter is hij de grootste en meest krachtige telescoop die de mens al de ruimte in gestuurd heeft. James Webb bevindt zich op 1,6 miljoen kilometer van de aarde. Vanaf daar speurt de telescoop naar exoplaneten en het licht van sterren dat al miljarden jaren onderweg is.
Sindsdien laat James Webb niet na om wetenschappers én het grote publiek te imponeren met adembenemende en betekenisvolle beelden van allerlei hoeken en kanten in ons universum. Hij biedt astronomen een schat aan materiaal waarmee ze hun kennis over het heelal kunnen bijstellen. Het zal waarschijnlijk niet verbazen dat het James Webb is die wetenschappers een stap dichter bij een antwoord rond het mysterie van SN 1987A heeft gebracht.
En het antwoord is...
Een internationaal onderzoeksteam geleid door de Zweedse astronoom Claes Fransson van de Universiteit van Stockholm bestudeerde beelden die James Webb maakte van het restant van SN 1987A en van de puinwolk errond. Met de MIRI (Mid-Infra Red Instrument) en de NIRSpec (Near Infra Red Spectrometer) kan James Webb zeer gedetailleerd infraroodstraling in het heelal vastleggen. Vóór James Webb was dat op die manier niet mogelijk.
Wat leverden de James Webb-beelden op? Eenvoudig gezegd: Fransson en zijn team konden in de kern van de explosie licht detecteren dat uitgezonden wordt door sterk geïoniseerde argon- en zwavelgassen. De aanwezigheid van die geïoniseerde gassen kan alleen maar verklaard worden als er een compacte, heldere bron van ultraviolette en röntgenstraling is. En een zwart gat kan daar niet de oorzaak van zijn.
Met andere woorden: het lijkt er heel sterk op dat wat overbleef na de ontploffing van de blauwe superreus in 1987, een neutronenster is.
In het centrum van de ontploffing detecteerden wetenschappers licht dat uitgezonden wordt door sterk geïoniseerd argon- en zwavelgas.
"Het is de eerste keer dat we in staat waren om de kern van de supernova te onderzoeken, en wat daar precies ontstaan is", zegt Claes Fransson. "We weten nu dat er een compacte bron van ioniserende straling aanwezig is, vermoedelijk door een neutronenster. We zijn hiernaar al aan het zoeken sinds de waarneming van de ontploffing in 1987, maar we moesten tot nu wachten om onze vermoedens te kunnen toetsen."
Aan het onderzoek werkten 34 wetenschappers uit 12 landen mee. Een van hen is Joris Blommaert van de Astronomy and Astrophysics Research Group van de VUB. Hij werkt al sinds begin 2000 mee aan de ontwikkeling van MIRI, cruciaal bij dit onderzoek. "Dankzij onze bijdrage aan MIRI kregen we observatietijd op James Webb die eindelijk toeliet om sterke bewijzen te verzamelen voor het bestaan van de neutronenster", klinkt het in een persbericht.
James Webb kon met zijn MIRI en NIRSpec doordringen tot in het centrum van de supernova.
"Hoewel we al onrechtstreekse aanwijzingen hadden, heeft James Webb het eerste rechtstreekse bewijs geleverd dat er een neutronenster is", zegt professor Mike Barlow, fysicus en astronoom aan de Universiteit van Londen. "Het mysterie of er zich een neutronenster schuilhoudt in het stof heeft meer dan 30 jaar aangesleept. Het is opwindend dat we het nu hebben kunnen oplossen."
De komende jaren zullen wetenschappers SN 1987A blijven bestuderen om meer te weten te komen over de exacte details van de explosie. "Als we geluk hebben, krijgen we in de toekomst misschien een duidelijk beeld van de neutronenster zelf", zegt Fransson. Het zou een unieke gelegenheid zijn om een neutronenster van in zijn "babyjaren" op te volgen.
The history of water on Mars is a puzzle that is of interest to planetary scientists as well as the general public. The Red Planet currently has water in the form of ice at the poles, trace amounts of gas in the atmosphere, and an unknown amount beneath the surface as ground water, bound in minerals, and in ice. However, there is strong evidence that ancient Mars may have had long-lived streams, rivers, and lakes. There is still much to learn about what Mars was like and how it transformed over time. One approach is to study the inventory of water at different times. Now, NASA’s Perseverance rover has found hydrated magnesium sulfate (similar to Epsom salts) and dehydrated calcium sulfate that were formed by water flowing through cracks in volcanic rocks at the bottom of the 3.8-billion-year-old Jezero crater. These hydrated minerals trap water within themselves and record the history of how and when they formed. Returning samples of these minerals to Earth would allow researchers to explore the history of Mars’ water and climate, and possibly evidence of ancient life with the most sensitive instruments possible.
Jezero crater, Mars.
Image credit: NASA / Tim Goudge.
Planetary scientists suspect Mars once had long-lived rivers, lakes and streams.
Today, water on Mars is found in ice at the poles and trapped below the Martian surface.
In new research, University of Cincinnati’s Dr. Andy Czaja and his colleagues revealed that the planet also may have had hydrothermal systems based on the hydrated magnesium sulfate the rover identified in the volcanic rocks.
“When those rocks cool off and fracture, they become a habitable environment for life,” Dr. Czaja said.
“We have not found any definitive evidence of life in these deposits yet. But if there were fossil microorganisms trapped in the rocks, they would be too small to see with the rover.”
“These hydrated minerals trap water within themselves and record the history of how and when they formed.”
“Returning samples of these minerals to Earth would allow researchers to explore the history of Mars’ water and climate and possibly evidence of ancient life with the most sensitive instruments possible.”
Perseverance began its deliberate exploration from the floor of the crater to the front of the delta, formed by an ancient river or drainage channel where it encountered sedimentary rocks that often contain trapped minerals and another avenue for evidence of ancient life.
And last year the rover made it to the crater’s margin in what used to be an enormous lake where it is exploring deposits of magnesium carbonate, which can form geologically or biologically from bacteria.
“The decision to send Perseverance to Jezero crater appears to be paying off,” Dr. Czaja said.
“There were other places we could have gone that might have been just as good.”
“You won’t know until you explore them all. But Jezero was picked for good reason and it has been completely justified.”
Next the rover will make its way out of Jezero crater to explore the wider area.
“We are likely to find rocks dating back 4 billion years or more,” Dr. Czaja said.
“And Mars could harbor stromatolites or rocks that contain evidence of ancient layered mats of bacteria visible to the naked eye.”
“On Earth, these rocks are sometimes found in extreme environments such as geyser basins.”
“I hope that Perseverance has just whetted our appetite for more Martian exploration.”
“And bringing back samples will allow us to study Mars and search for evidence of ancient life with instruments that haven’t even been invented yet for years and years to come.”
The results were published in the January 2024 issue of the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.
Sandra Siljeström et al. Evidence of Sulfate-Rich Fluid Alteration in Jezero Crater Floor, Mars. JGR: Planets 129 (1): e2023JE007989; doi: 10.1029/2023JE00798
Townsend Brown: The Unsung Inventor Behind CIA’s UFO Projects
Townsend Brown: The Unsung Inventor Behind CIA’s UFO Projects
In the annals of American history, tales of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and their secretive builders have long captivated the imagination of the public. Among these stories, the account of Bob Lazar stands out as one of the most famous and controversial. Lazar claimed to have worked on reverse engineering alien spacecraft at a secret site near Area 51. However, the narrative of UFO development in the United States encompasses more than just Lazar’s revelations. There exists a lesser-known but equally fascinating figure: Townsend Brown, an inventor whose groundbreaking work in
the mid-20th century may have significantly contributed to the U.S. government’s understanding and potential development of UFO-like technology.Townsend Brown’s journey into the realm of advanced propulsion began not with extraterrestrial artifacts but with the pursuit of a scientific holy grail: unifying the forces of electromagnetism and gravity. Unlike Lazar, whose story is filled with claims of alien technology, Brown’s work was grounded in experimental physics. He explored the potential of high-voltage electrostatic charges to produce propulsion, a concept that might explain the physics-defying maneuvers reported by witnesses of UFOs.
Brown’s most notable contribution to the field was the development of the Biefeld-Brown effect, an anomalous propulsion phenomenon observed when electric charge is applied to asymmetric capacitors in a vacuum. This effect, which seemed to allow objects to levitate or move without conventional propulsion, suggested a potential method for creating craft capable of extraordinary flight capabilities. Brown’s experiments, conducted from the 1920s onward, attracted the attention of both the U.S. Navy and the newly formed CIA, who were interested in any technology that could offer a strategic advantage during the Cold War.
Despite the groundbreaking nature of his work, Townsend Brown remained a relatively obscure figure in the history of American aerospace. His contributions were overshadowed by disinformation campaigns and the classified nature of his research. The government’s interest in his inventions was evident, as evidenced by his coordination with key figures in the American intelligence and scientific communities, including William Stephenson (Churchill’s super spy) and Edward Teller (the father of the hydrogen bomb). Brown’s involvement in projects with these high-profile individuals hints at the significance of his work and its potential applications in classified aerospace project
VIDEO:
The Man Who Built UFOs For The CIA (Not Bob Lazar)
One of the most compelling aspects of Townsend Brown’s story is the mystery surrounding the practical application of his research. While public records and acknowledged inventions, like the Ionic Breeze air purifier, are relatively mundane, rumors persist that his more revolutionary work in electrogravitics was absorbed into black aerospace programs. Such programs, beyond the reach of public scrutiny, could potentially explain the advanced propulsion capabilities attributed to UFOs observed by military pilots and civilians alike.
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The notion that Townsend Brown might have experimentally discovered a link between electromagnetism and gravity opens up intriguing possibilities. It suggests a paradigm shift in our understanding of physics and propulsion, one that could have profound implications for aerospace engineering and our conceptualization of interstellar travel. If Brown’s theories and experiments were indeed incorporated into secret aerospace projects, it could mean that the foundation for UFO-like technology has existed for decades, hidden not in alien wreckage but in the work of a visionary American inventor.
In the shadow of more sensational stories like Bob Lazar’s, Townsend Brown’s contributions to the field of unconventional propulsion and his potential role in the development of UFO technology for the CIA deserve a closer examination. His life and work represent a fascinating chapter in the secret history of American innovation, one that challenges our understanding of the boundaries between science fiction and scientific fact.
Mysteries Beneath the Ice: The Enigmatic Secrets of Antarctica and Its UFO Connections
Mysteries Beneath the Ice: The Enigmatic Secrets of Antarctica and Its UFO Connections
Antarctica, the coldest, driest, and windiest continent on Earth, has long been a source of fascination and mystery. Its icy expanses have captured the imagination of scientists, explorers, and enthusiasts of the unexplained alike. Among the most intriguing aspects of this remote wilderness are the persistent rumors and theories connecting it to unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and extraterrestrial visitors. This article delves into the enigmaticsecrets of Antarctica, exploring its connection to UFOs and aliens, and separating the tantalizing myths from the compelling facts.
Historical Context and Early Explorations
Antarctica’s isolation and extreme environment have made it a challenging yet rewarding destination for explorers. The continent’s exploration history is filled with tales of hardship and discovery, laying the groundwork for modern scientific research. However, it is the continent’s lesser-known stories and alleged findings that often capture public interest, particularly those suggesting ancient civilizations or alien activity beneath the ice.
Speculative Theories and Anecdotal Accounts
Among the most captivating theories are those that propose the existence of ancient, advanced civilizations buried under miles of ice. Proponents of these ideas often cite mysterious maps, like the Piri Reis map of 1513, which some claim shows Antarctica free of ice, suggesting ancient knowledge of the continent. Additionally, stories of crashed UFOs and secret Nazi bases have woven a complex tapestry of unverified claims around Antarctica.
Anecdotal accounts from individuals claiming to have witnessed unusual activity or structures in Antarctica add to the mystery. These stories range from encounters with unidentified aerial phenomena to discoveries of alien technology and hidden bases under the ice. While these accounts are compelling, they often lack verifiable evidence and are primarily shared through documentaries and interviews with anonymous sources.
The Scientific Perspective and Environmental Concerns
From a scientific standpoint, Antarctica is a treasure trove of information about Earth’s past climate, biodiversity, and glacial history. Researchers conduct extensive studies on its ice cores, marine life, and geological formations, contributing valuable data to our understanding of climate change and environmental conservation. The continent’s role in global climate patterns and sea-level rise underscores the importance of scientific research over speculative theories.
The environmental changes affecting Antarctica, including ice melt and ecosystem disruption, are of significant concern to scientists. These changes offer a real, observable mystery concerning the future of the continent and its global impact. As the ice recedes, previously inaccessible areas may reveal new discoveries, though likely of a geological or biological nature rather than the remnants of lost civilizations or alien outposts.
UFOs, Aliens, and Official Responses
The connection between UFOs, aliens, and Antarctica is primarily fueled by popular culture and anecdotal tales rather than concrete evidence. Official responses to these theories are scarce, as government and scientific bodies focus on tangible research and exploration efforts. The Antarctic Treaty System, which governs the continent’s use for peaceful purposes and scientific research, restricts military activity and ensures the protection of the environment, further complicating the notion of secret alien bases or covert operations.
VIDEO:
The Why Files – Mysteries Beneath the Ice: The Secrets of Antarctica
Antarctica remains one of the world’s most mysterious and unexplored regions, a true final frontier on Earth. While speculative theories about UFOs, aliens, and ancient civilizations capture the imagination, the real mysteries of Antarctica are being uncovered by scientists dedicated to understanding our planet. The continent’s harsh, pristine environment offers a unique window into Earth’s past and present, holding lessons that are crucial for our future. As we continue to explore and study this enigmatic continent, we may find that the most extraordinary discoveries lie not in the realm of science fiction but in the reality of our natural world.
Sunken ruins of a 11,000-year-old megastructure found in the Baltic Sea
Sunken ruins of a 11,000-year-old megastructure found in the Baltic Sea
A remarkable slice of ancient history has been unearthed beneath the depths of the Baltic Sea, marking a significant milestone in archaeological exploration. This groundbreaking discovery was serendipitously made in Germany’s Bay of Mecklenburg, during a routine student expedition.
Located approximately 10 kilometers (six miles) offshore, the team of researchers stumbled upon an intriguing anomaly using their multi-beam sonar system.
What they found was a sprawling, enigmatic wall extending nearly a kilometer along the seabed, nestled at a depth of 21 meters (69 feet). Detailed analysis has revealed that this colossal structure dates back over 10,000 years, potentially making it the oldest known megastructure built by ancient Europeans.
Comprising approximately 1,670 individual stones meticulously arranged to connect some 300 larger boulders, the structure hints at a deliberate construction, suggesting a specific purpose conceived millennia before being submerged beneath the sea.
Led by geophysicist Jacob Geerson from Kiel University, the research team has dubbed the discovery the "Blinker wall." They propose that it was likely built by Stone Age hunter-gatherers near a lake or marsh, serving as one of the earliest documented man-made hunting structures in history and ranking among Europe's largest Stone Age constructions.
Over millennia, Earth's geography has undergone profound transformations due to sea level fluctuations, erosion, and geological shifts, submerging countless ancient settlements beneath the waves and concealing their secrets. However, advancements in technology continue to unveil these submerged relics, offering invaluable insights into our ancestors' way of life.
While the precise function of the Blinker wall remains elusive, experts speculate it might have functioned as a hunting aid, possibly guiding reindeer herds. The construction's strategic layout suggests the intentional creation of bottlenecks to corral animals, with the potential presence of a second adjacent wall hinted at by the researchers.
Detailed examination of the structure's dimensions, composition, and alignment strongly indicates human involvement, ruling out natural formation. The team's analysis posits the Blinker wall's construction over 10,000 years ago, with submersion occurring around 8,500 years ago.
The significance of the Blinker wall extends beyond its age, promising valuable insights into the socioeconomic complexities of ancient hunter-gatherer societies in the region, illuminating their way of life and interaction with the environment.
The Baltic Sea is full off ancient mysteries, not only the discovery of the ruins of the 11,000-year-old megastructure but also the discovery in June 2011 by Swedish OceanX diving team of an enigmatic anomaly displaying unconventional characteristics sparking speculation that it could be a submerged UFO. Despite the explanation behind the Blinker wall, the UFO-like anomaly continues to baffle experts, shrouded in mystery to this day.
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Over mijzelf
Ik ben Pieter, en gebruik soms ook wel de schuilnaam Peter2011.
Ik ben een man en woon in Linter (België) en mijn beroep is Ik ben op rust..
Ik ben geboren op 18/10/1950 en ben nu dus 73 jaar jong.
Mijn hobby's zijn: Ufologie en andere esoterische onderwerpen.
Op deze blog vind je onder artikels, werk van mezelf. Mijn dank gaat ook naar André, Ingrid, Oliver, Paul, Vincent, Georges Filer en MUFON voor de bijdragen voor de verschillende categorieën...
Veel leesplezier en geef je mening over deze blog.
![Le Blanc told CBS Boston: 'There are a lot of different theories... but the reality is something is happening. People are seeing [the UFOs and Bigfoot]. They are leaving tracks'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/25/12/81545089-13109357-Le_Blanc_told_CBS_Boston_There_are_a_lot_of_different_theories_b-a-536_1708863471972.jpg)
