{ https://openminds.tv/ }

30-03-2024 om 17:45 geschreven door peter  

Those heating constraints were one of the Phase I NIAC study’s main focal points in 2020. In particular, this study focused on analyzing the barrel the fuel pellet is released into to see if it could withstand the extreme temperatures created by handling a plasmatized uranium pellet.

To do this modeling, the team at Howe Industries used a modeling software called MCNP6 to check where particles went in the system and thereby calculate how much heat would be collected on other parts of the system where it wasn’t desired. MCNP6 uses a Monte Carlo simulation methodology, which calculates where neutrons will be created from the fission reaction that makes the plasma and where those neutrons will impact the rest of the spacecraft.

Those plasmas would have to be created about once every second, according to the calculations done by Howe Industries, and each pulse must reach an energy level of around 1 keV – much smaller than industrial-level nuclear fission reactors but a relatively high number for a spacecraft propulsion system. That energy is turned into heat, and while some of the heat is effectively used to eject the plasmatized uranium out as a thrust propellant, the rest is absorbed by other parts of the system. 

The barrel was a part of that system that is particularly important in these thermal calculations. The modeled barrel was made out of low-enriched uranium but of a different type than the projectile, allowing the energy to heat the projectile and not the barrel itself. However, a small part of the barrel would be made of highly enriched uranium, allowing for rapid plasma propagation in an otherwise relatively stable system.

That’s not to say that none of the heat generated by the fission reaction would end up in the barrel. Still, by the author’s calculations as part of their final report, an active cooling system should be enough to lower the temperature to a point where at least the barrel itself wouldn’t melt. Other parts of the system, such as the nozzle and a rotating drum that helps handle the fuel pellet, will be modeled in future work.

Additional future work would include building benchtop prototypes of these systems to test them out, though the prospect of working with highly enriched uranium as part of this process seems daunting. However, NIAC hasn’t yet funded a Phase II study of the PPR system, so for now, it is resigned to a nicely modeled project and another step forward in an idea that has plenty of history. Maybe someday, it will find its time to shine.

Learn More:

• Howe et al. – Pulsed plasma rocket- developing a dynamic fission process for high specific impulse and high thrust propulsion
• UT – Magnetic Fusion Plasma Engines Could Carry us Across the Solar System and Into Interstellar Space
• UT – Plasma Thruster Could Dramatically Cut Down Flight Times to the Outer Solar System
• UT – Plasma Rocket Could Help Pick Up Space Trash

Lead Image:

• Model of the PPR design proposed in the paper.
  Credit – Howe et al.

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

30-03-2024 om 17:11 geschreven door peter  

The car-sized Curiosity rover landed in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012, with its mission website displaying that Curiosity has traveled a total of 31.27 kilometers (19.43 miles) as of January 27, 2024, having far surpassed its primary mission timeline of one Martian year, or 687 Earth days. Gale Crater was chosen as the landing site due to a multitude of evidence that it once held liquid water at some point in Mars’ ancient past, as scientists estimate that Gale Crater was formed from an impact between approximately 3.5 to 3.8 billion years ago. During its time in Gale Crater, Curiosity has used its suite of scientific instruments to identify evidence of past liquid water within Gale Crater and evidence that Mars once contained the building blocks for life, including carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur.

The car-sized Perseverance rover landed in Jezero Crater on February 18, 2021, with its mission website displaying that Perseverance has traveled a total of 25.113 kilometers (15.604 miles) as of March 28, 2024. While Perseverance and Curiosity have similar designs, the main upgrade has been the delivery of the Ingenuity helicopter to Mars, which became the first robotic explorer to achieve a powered flight on another world and accomplished dozens of flights before being permanently grounded after damaging one of its rotor blades on what would be its final landing in January 2024. Like Gale Crater for Curiosity, Jezero Crater was chosen as the landing site for Perseverance due to strong evidence that it once held a massive body of liquid water, which is made evident from the enormous fan-delta deposit that was the likely entry point for the liquid water billions of years ago. During its time in Jezero Crater, Perseverance has used its suite of scientific instruments to identify ancient volcanic rocks, sediments from an ancient lakebed, converted carbon dioxide (the primary atmospheric constituent of Mars) to oxygen, and even used its powerful microphones to record the sounds of Mars. Given the incredible science conducted by Curiosity and Perseverance, what are the most significant implications for the MARSE mission?

“The most significant ramification of this trade study is that it should be possible to build a small rover capable of characterizing an unexplored site on Mars,” Longo tells Universe Today. “There have been several proposals for cheap Mars landers, such as SHIELD. MARSE demonstrates that it may be possible to deliver useful scientific payloads with these landers. Each MARSE rover weighs just 15 kilograms and is about the size of a microwave oven. If we can determine how to land similar rovers on Mars, that would help proliferate and democratize Mars exploration. We are already seeing a similar paradigm shift in lunar exploration thanks to the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.”

While Curiosity and Perseverance have successfully explored their respective landing sites in great detail, the cost of each mission was in the billions of dollars (Curiosity: ~$2.5 billion, Perseverance: ~$2.7 billion). Therefore, the cost alone only allows for one rover per mission, and their landings occurred almost seven years apart. As noted, one of the objectives of the MARSE mission concept is to land four rovers at four separate landing sites, which are Columbia Hills, Milankovi? Crater, Mawrth Vallis, and Terra Sirenium, with Coumbia Hills being the landing site for the Spirit rover during its mission from 2004 to 2010, and the others having never been explored by landers or rovers. But how were the landing sites chosen and are other landing sites being considered?

Longo tells Universe Today, “The four landing sites are not an exclusive list. We just wanted to illustrate the range of investigations which can be conducted with this approach. All four of the listed sites have been highlighted in peer-reviewed papers and prior landing site studies, so we know that they have high scientific potential.”

Longo continues by telling Universe Today that SHIELD will be designed to “land at any flat site on Mars below the datum (0 km of elevation on Mars; the equivalent of sea level on Earth), so you could readily swap one or more of them out for locations of your choice”, with Longo noting that one of his personal favorite landing sites would be inside Valles Marineris, which is the largest and deepest canyon in the solar system. Longo discusses the years-long research by Dr. Steven Ruff at Arizona State University, who conducted analog studies comparing hot spring deposits at Columbia Hills on Mars to similar features at the El Tatio hot spring in Chile, concluding that microbial communities could thrive at these locations.

As noted, Curiosity and Perseverance landed on Mars almost nine years apart, 2012 and 2021, respectively, but their respective missions had been in the works almost an entire decade earlier. Both rovers are part of NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, with the Curiosity rover mission having been approved in 2003 and the Perseverance rover mission having been announced in 2012. Once approved, it takes NASA years to design and build each rover, ensuring every aspect of their systems is functioning at their fullest potential before being delivered and loaded onto the launch vehicle. This includes tests designed to analyze the rovers’ endurance, exposure to harsh environments, and longevity, and many others. Therefore, if a MARSE mission were to get the green light, it could still be almost a decade of designs, builds, and tests before their microwave-sized rovers touch the surface of Mars. So, what are the next steps in terms of MARSE being approved for an actual mission?

“Regrettably, the future of MARSE and SHIELD is uncertain,” Longo tells Universe Today. “This concept was developed with the support of the SHIELD team at JPL, led by Lou Giersch and Nathan Barba. They were doing phenomenal, cutting-edge work, and I was grateful for the opportunity to work with them. Unfortunately, JPL was forced to implement massive budget cuts and layoffs last month due to uncertainty over the future of the Mars Sample Return mission, which accounts for the majority of the center’s budget. Because JPL’s future priorities are in flux, we have placed the development of the MARSE concept on hold.”

While uncertainty looms for the MARSE mission, it’s important to note that space exploration missions often take decades to go from a simple concept to real hardware, and then several more years until it’s launched. This is noted by the Curiosity and Perseverance rover missions, as it took almost a decade from the time each was approved until they landed on Mars. Moreover, it is not uncommon for mission proposals to take several attempts before they’re approved, as NASA has very stringent criteria for approving missions, including cost, timelines, science objectives, and long-term implications for science. Despite the outlook, this has not deterred Longo from continuing his work for the MARSE mission concept.

“Developing a mission concept is a rewarding experience, and it was a privilege to work on this concept with the SHIELD team,” Longo tells Universe Today. “Even if it happens a decade from now, I hope that someone will eventually implement a low-cost, multi-rover Mars geology and astrobiology mission. Following the completion of Mars Sample Return, the next logical steps in Mars exploration are to explore more of the planet, to develop a better understanding of its history, and to learn what Mars can teach us about our own planet’s past. If we want to have a thriving space program, we need to be creative and embrace bold ideas, and I love working with the scientists and engineers who are doing just that.”

Will the MARSE mission get to explore the Red Planet in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!

As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

30-03-2024 om 16:59 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious Cattle Mutilations: Extraterrestrial Intrigue or Covert Government Acts?

In the vast stretches of rural America, a perplexing phenomenon has been occurring for decades, leaving farmers, investigators, and the public alike baffled and concerned. Cattle mutilations, characterized by precise and inexplicable surgical-like incisions, removal of organs without any traces of blood, and absence of predator signs, have been reported across various states and even globally. This phenomenon has sparked a flurry of theories attempting to explain the culprits behind these bizarre occurrences, with two primary hypotheses emerging: extraterrestrial involvement and clandestine government operations.

• Alien animal mutilation filmed in October 2020

• https www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLXJ5I1pjI

Alien Theories: A Cosmic Connection?

A significant portion of the speculation surrounding cattle mutilations points towards the involvement of extraterrestrial beings. This theory is bolstered by numerous eyewitness accounts of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unexplained lights seen in the vicinity of mutilation sites. Investigators like Chuck Zukowski have dedicated years to mapping these incidents against UFO sightings, discovering intriguing patterns that suggest a correlation. For instance, many of these events align along the 37-degree latitude, hinting at a potential “paranormal freeway” that intersects with areas reporting the highest UFO activities. This alignment has led some to theorize about the motivations behind these extraterrestrial visits, suggesting that the precise nature of the mutilations indicates a scientific purpose, possibly related to genetic research or the study of terrestrial life forms.

The Government Operation Hypothesis

On the other side of the debate are those who believe that these mutilations are the result of secret government or military experiments. Witnesses have reported seeing unmarked, military-style helicopters in areas where mutilations occurred, raising suspicions about a government-led program. This theory suggests that the government might be conducting covert operations to monitor the health of the livestock population, possibly in response to concerns about diseases such as mad cow disease. The secrecy surrounding these operations could be attributed to the potential panic and societal ramifications that could arise from the public’s awareness of threats within the food chain.

Seeking the Truth Amid Mystery

Despite the multitude of theories, concrete evidence pointing definitively to either extraterrestrial or government activities remains elusive. This lack of clarity only adds to the mystery and fuels further speculation. What is clear, however, is the impact of these incidents on the affected communities. For the farmers who have suffered losses, the phenomenon is not just a subject of curiosity but a direct threat to their livelihoods and well-being.

VIDEO:

• Cattle Mutilations: Aliens or Secret Government Operation? | The Unexplained Files

• https://youtu.be/z4AvBJJRu04

The quest for answers continues as both independent researchers and possibly undisclosed entities delve deeper into this enigma. The implications of discovering the truth behind cattle mutilations are profound, potentially revealing new dimensions of our reality, whether they are rooted in our own world or stem from the far reaches of the cosmos.

As the investigation into this perplexing phenomenon advances, one thing remains certain: the resolution of the cattle mutilation mystery could unravel secrets that challenge our understanding of both the natural and the supernatural, urging us to reconsider what we know about the universe and our place within it.

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

30-03-2024 om 16:36 geschreven door peter  

Wat je moet doen wanneer je een alien ziet?

©Shutterstock

Wat je moet doen wanneer je een alien ziet
De Amerikaanse overheid ontvangt maandelijks tientallen meldingen van UFO's. Hoewel de meesten vals alarm blijken te zijn (van drones tot zwervend afval), kan ongeveer 2-4% van die meldingen niet worden verklaard. Gezien de grootte van ons zonnestelsel is het niet ondenkbaar dat er leven is buiten onze planeet dat nog niet is ontdekt. Voordat we ingaan op de meldingen van mensen die beweren te zijn ontvoerd door buitenaardse wezens, kun je je afvragen: wat moet ik doen als er een buitenaards wezen tevoorschijn komt?

LEES verder om hier antwoord op te krijgen!

©Shutterstock

UFO's
In 2023 hebben buitenaardse wezens in sommige landen tot discussie geleid. Een klokkenluider van de Amerikaanse luchtmacht getuigde over UFO's tijdens een hoorzitting in het Huis van Afgevaardigden.

©Getty Images

Een geheim van de Amerikaanse overheid?
De Amerikaan David Grusch beweerde dat er een geheim programma wordt uitgevoerd door de Amerikaanse federale overheid, die 'niet-menselijke' ruimtevaartuigen en hun 'dode piloten' zou bergen.

©Getty Images

Buitenaardse lijken
In Mexico werden twee gemummificeerde lijken, waarvan werd beweerd dat ze buitenaards waren, door UFO-fanaat Jaime Maussan tentoongesteld in het Mexicaanse Congres. Critici deden ze echter af als 'nep'.

©Shutterstock

Radiogolven
Als er buitenaardse wezens bestaan, zouden ze de aarde makkelijk kunnen vinden. We sturen namelijk al meer dan 100 jaar radiogolven de ruimte in.

©Shutterstock

Kosmische buren?
Als we daadwerkelijk het heelal delen met aliens, zouden ze deze golven waarschijnlijk kunnen oppikken. Dit hangt echter af van de technische ontwikkelingen die ze hebben doorgemaakt en of ze middelen hebben die vergelijkbaar zijn met die van ons, zoals telescopen.

©Shutterstock

Aankomst
Als er een buitenaards wezen bij jou voor de deur stond, hoe zou je dan reageren? Op dit moment bestaan er geen afspraken over wat je moet doen wanneer je een alien tegenkomt.

©Shutterstock

Aankomst
Zonder internationaal protocol dat we dienen te volgen wordt het misschien tijd dat we nadenken over hoe we zouden moeten reageren als er een buitenaards wezen opduikt – voor het geval dat!

©Shutterstock

Een aangekondigde waarschuwing?
Als er aliens zouden arriveren in een enorm luchtschip of UFO, zou dit waarschijnlijk opvallen. Zelfs zonder kunstlicht zou een buitenaards voertuig zonlicht reflecteren.

©Shutterstock

Oumuamua
In oktober 2017 namen twee Pan-STARRS-telescopen op Hawaï de reflectie van een object waar dat Oumuamua werd genoemd, wat in het Hawaïaans 'verkenner' betekent .

©Shutterstock

Oumuamua
De eigenschappen van Oumuamua zijn anders dan andere natuurlijke kometen of asteroïden in ons zonnestelsel, waardoor het mogelijk een resultaat is van buitenaardse technologie.

©Shutterstock

Een lange reis
Het zou Oumuamua 10.000 jaar hebben gekost om ons zonnestelsel te doorkruisen. Als het een middel was geweest die zou zijn gestuurd om ons te bespioneren, dan zou deze te oud geweest zijn en hoogstwaarschijnlijk niet meer functioneren.

©Shutterstock

De slimste jongetjes het heelal?
We kunnen niet weten of we de beste technologie van het heelal tot onze beschikking hebben of dat het dusdanig onontwikkeld is dat onze telescopen kleine, snel bewegende objecten in ons zonnestelsel niet kunnen waarnemen.

©Shutterstock

Communicatie
Stel dat er op een dag aliens op aarde terechtkomen of dat we bewijs vinden van buitenaards leven: hoe zouden we dan taal of andere middelen gebruiken om met elkaar communiceren?

©Shutterstock

Communicatie
Er zijn veel manieren waarop mensen met elkaar communiceren wanneer dat d.m.v. gesproken taal niet mogelijk is. Lichaamstaal zou waarschijnlijk een belangrijk middel zijn, zoals het dat in het verleden ook vaak geweest is.

©Shutterstock

Lichaamstaal
Het gebruik van (hand)gebaren zou een van de manieren kunnen zijn om een gesprek te voeren. Er worden ongeveer 7.100 talen gesproken op aarde, wat zeer verwarrend kan zijn voor buitenaardse wezens!

©Shutterstock

Communicatie met dieren
Die talen worden echter alleen door mensen gesproken. Misschien kan de manier waarop dieren communiceren aantonen hoe buitenaardse wezens dat zouden kunnen doen.

©Shutterstock

Evolutie
Wetenschappers geloven dat de wetten van evolutie universeel zijn en dat de ontwikkeling die het leven op aarde heeft doorgemaakt ook van toepassing zou kunnen zijn op buitenaardse wezens.

©Shutterstock

Evolutie
Als deze theorie klopt, zou dit kunnen betekenen dat alle wezens die in het universum leven en de talen die zij spreken gemeenschappelijke kenmerken hebben.

©Shutterstock

Wetten van de natuurkunde
Communicatie is in het hele universum, voor zover wij weten, onderworpen aan de wetten van de natuurkunde. Dit betekent dat alles, van gebaren tot geluiden, de basis kan vormen een buitenaardse taal.

©Shutterstock

Taalkunde
Sommige taalkundigen hebben gespeculeerd over hoe een niet-menselijke taal zou kunnen klinken. Ze zijn het erover eens dat als er wezens bestaan die goed technisch onderlegd zijn, communicatie tussen hen van groot belang zou zijn.

©Shutterstock

Taalkunde
Hoewel de aard van de menselijke taal kan lijken op welke buitenaardse taal dan ook, betekent dit niet dat er op dezelfde manier gesproken zou worden.

©Shutterstock

Buitenaardse taal
Mensen spreken, schrijven, maken gebaren, trommelen en fluiten om te communiceren. Het is mogelijk dat intelligente aliens communiceren op een manier waarop wij dat niet doen, bijvoorbeeld door gebruik te maken van magnetische velden of feromonen.

©Shutterstock

Vergelijkbare kennis
Je kunt je wel voorstellen dat buitenaardse wezens van een aantal dingen dezelfde kennis zouden hebben als mensen, zoals de chemische bouwstenen van het heelal.

©Shutterstock

Vergelijkbare kennis
Je zou dus misschien een gesprek kunnen voeren over de spiralen die je in de natuur tegenkomt, de waarde van Pi, of de chemische formule voor water als je een manier zou vinden om te kunnen communiceren met buitenaardse wezens.

©Shutterstock

Contact
We kunnen echter niet weten of we een buitenaardse taal zouden kunnen ontcijferen of een gesprek met aliens zouden kunnen voeren zonder in contact te komen met zulke wezens.

©Shutterstock

Speculaties
Tot die tijd kunnen we over de aard van buitenaardse wezens, hun technische ontwikkeling en de mogelijkheid om met mensen te communiceren alleen maar speculeren.

©Shutterstock

MUFON
Het Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) is een Amerikaanse organisatie die onderzoek doet naar UFO's. Dit een voorbeeld van een aanspreekpunt voor mensen die denken dat ze er een hebben gezien.

©Shutterstock

Amerikaanse ministerie van Defensie
Op zijn beurt heeft NASA gezegd dat het de ontvangen meldingen van UFO's naar het Amerikaanse ministerie van Defensie stuurt. Hun onderzoek moet uitwijzen of er ook leven buiten onze planeet is.

©Shutterstock

Verwerpingen
Meldingen van UFO's worden doorgaans verworpen, omdat er in het verleden nooit overtuigend bewijs is geweest dat tekenen van buitenaards leven aantoonde. Er zijn geen duidelijke richtlijnen over wat je moet doen als je een alien tegenkomt; je kunt maar beter hopen dat het een goedaardig wezen is!

Bronnen:

• (BBC Future)
• (NASA)
• (Scientific American)
• (Gizmodo)

{ https://www.msn.com/nl-be/feed?ocid=msedgntp&pc=acts }

30-03-2024 om 16:08 geschreven door peter  

This consisted of the Nova-C spacecraft making its inaugural soft landing on the Moon, the first time an American spacecraft has done so in over 50 years. The IM-1 mission was also the first time a spacecraft used methalox – the combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen (LOX) – to navigate between the Earth and the Moon. While the IM-1 was not expected (or intended) to survive the lunar night, the data acquired by this mission could prove useful as the company continues to improve the lunar landing systems to deliver payloads to the Moon.

One of the company’s main objectives is to develop heat and power sources that can “keep systems from freezing during the lunar night.” This technology will greatly extend the life of lunar surface missions and facilitate the buildup of infrastructure on the Moon’s surface. A second Nova-C lander with the IM-2 mission will launch aboard a Falcon 9 no earlier than December 2024. This mission will land a drill and the Polar Resources Ice Mining Experiment-1 (PRIME-1) mass spectrometer near the south pole of the Moon.

This NASA payload will demonstrate the feasibility of In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and measure the volatile content of subsurface samples. ISRU and the presence of water are vital to the creation of a lunar base and the ability to send crews to the lunar surface well into the foreseeable future. A third mission (IM-3) is scheduled for early 2025, which will carry four NASA payloads to the Reiner Gamma region of the Moon, a rover, a data relay satellite, and secondary payloads to be determined. All three launches were contracted as part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program.

In addition, the IM-1 mission controllers and company managed to have a final farewell with the Odysseus mission before nightfall and the depletion of its battery power. On February 22nd, the lander transmitted a final image (shown below), which mission controllers in Houston received by February 29th. The image, Intuitive Machines said in a statement, “showcases the lunar vista with the crescent Earth in the backdrop, a subtle reminder of humanity’s presence in the universe. Goodnight, Odie. We hope to hear from you again.”

Further Reading: 

• Intuitive Machines

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

29-03-2024 om 23:12 geschreven door peter  

A team of European scientists has created the most detailed geological map of Oxia Planum ever. It took four years to complete and leans heavily on data from orbiters. The detailed map shows 15 units with characteristic geological features that can help decide how the rover explores the area. The map will also help the rover interpret its surroundings and collect evidence of primitive life.

Oxia Planum preserves a record of the forces that shaped the region and that shaped Mars. It’s a transitional region between Chryse Planitia, which contains lower elevation plains from the Amazonian/Hesperian, and Arabia Terra, the heavily cratered Noachian-aged region.

The sediments at Oxia Planum are nearly four billion years old. This will be the oldest site ever visited by a rover.

The new map has its roots in the COVID lockdowns. During that time, the Rosalind Franklin science team trained 80 volunteers to help them map Oxia Planum. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter supplied the data.

The result is a map that shows Oxia Planum’s geology in high detail. It shows types of bedrock and features like ridges and craters. It also shows crater ejecta and windborne dust. The map will not only help the rover navigate through difficult terrain; it’ll inform the choices of where to drill for samples.

“The map represents our current understanding of bedrock units and their relationships prior to Rosalind Franklin’s exploration of this location,” the map creators write in the paper presenting the map.

“The objectives of this map are (i) to identify where the most astrobiologically relevant rocks are likely to be found, (ii) to show where hypotheses about their geological context (within Oxia Planum and in the wider geological history of Mars) can be tested, (iii) to inform both the long-term (hundreds of metres to ~1 km) and the short-term (tens of metres) activity planning for rover exploration, and (iv) to allow the samples analyzed by the rover to be interpreted within their regional geological context,” the authors explain.

You can download the map and explore it here.

“The wider region was extensively modified during the late Noachian and Hesperian periods, as shown by evidence of fluvial and paleo-lake activity, possible shoreline formation, volcanism, and aqueous alteration,” the authors write. The Hesperian is when Mars lost its water and transitioned from a warm, wet environment to a dry, cold environment. Understanding how that happened is a primary goal in Mars science.

The map shows mound materials, different types of bedrock, features like Mensas and crater materials of different ages.

This is the highest-resolution map of the region ever made. With a scale of 1:25,000, each centimetre on the map equals 250 meters on Mars. Since Rosalind Franklin will travel an average of 25 to 50 meters each day, a day’s journey is one or two millimetres on the map.

The making of the map has already provided some benefits to the Rosalind Franklin mission. “The mapping exercise has provided the wider <ExoMars> rover team with a sound knowledge of the landing site and has also helped us to develop new geological hypotheses for the region,” the authors write.

The map is more than just a driving guide. It’s essentially a summary of our hypotheses about Mars. When the rover begins its mission, its initial exploration and drilling will test some of these existing hypotheses for Martian geology and history. Those results will inform the rover team, leading to better decisions about where to drill and explore. That will “… improve the chances of the mission meeting its search for life goals,” the authors explain.

“This map is exciting because it is a guide that shows us where to find the answers. It serves as a visual hypothesis of what we currently know about the different rocks in the landing site. The instruments on Rosalind Franklin will allow us to test our knowledge on the spot when the time comes,” explained Peter Fawdon, one of the lead authors from the Open University.

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

29-03-2024 om 22:40 geschreven door peter  

Blue Cigar-Shaped UFO Captured Over Scottsdale, AZ: A Night to Remember

In the serene night sky of Scottsdale, Arizona, a remarkable event unfolded on March 28, 2024, that has since sparked the curiosity and excitement of UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Amidst the familiar paths of airplanes from the nearby airport, a mysterious blue, cigar-shaped object made an appearance, distinguishing itself with its peculiar movements and sustained presence. This extraordinary sighting, captured on an iPhone 13 Pro, has become the latest sensation in the realm of UFO sightings, adding to the growing archive of unexplained aerial phenomena.

A Witness’s Account: A String in the Sky

The sighting was reported by a local resident of Scottsdale who was out for a routine evening walk with their dog. What was expected to be a typical stroll turned into a captivating encounter with the unknown. The witness described seeing “a strange blue light that looked like a string hanging in the sky.” This luminous entity was observed to move in a manner unlike any aircraft commonly seen in the area—ascending and descending gracefully, yet with an intent that defied simple explanation. For over 30 minutes, this blue, cigar-shaped UFO hovered in the night sky, performing a mesmerizing dance that was both enigmatic and awe-inspiring.

Despite the proximity to an airport, where the sight of planes is an everyday occurrence, the behavior and appearance of this object were distinctly out of the ordinary. It maneuvered at altitudes higher than those of passing aircraft, capturing the witness’s full attention until it eventually descended and vanished from sight.

The Implications of the Sighting

This incident in Scottsdale is not an isolated event but rather a part of a larger pattern of UFO sightings that continue to intrigue and puzzle observers around the world. Each account, including this latest one from Arizona, adds valuable data to the ongoing investigation into UFO phenomena. With every report, the call for a deeper understanding and more thorough exploration of these sightings grows louder, urging both scientific and public communities to ponder the possibilities that lie beyond our current comprehension.

Join the Quest for Answers

For those fascinated by the unknown, this sighting serves as an invitation to join the quest for answers. It encourages us to look up at the sky with curiosity and wonder, to question the nature of the unexplained, and to engage in the broader conversation about what lies beyond the visible spectrum of our everyday lives.

• https://youtu.be/z9c6rYI2foE

As the search for understanding continues, the importance of documenting and sharing observations becomes ever more evident. Whether you’re a seasoned UFO researcher or simply someone who marvels at the mysteries of the universe, your perspective is valuable. The Scottsdale sighting reminds us all of the infinite wonders that await discovery, urging us to keep our minds open and our eyes skyward.

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

29-03-2024 om 22:21 geschreven door peter  

• DailyMail.com has obtained two UFO videos recorded by an Indian police official
• The videos both depict an apparent craft near India's Kudankulam nuclear plant
• Protestors fought the Kudankulam nuclear plant for decades, citing safety issues
• READ MORE: Ukrainian drone films UFO in warzone, soldier asks 'Maybe ram it?'

By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

India's Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has become a UFO hotspot after a police officer reported seeing odd aerial lights above it more than 10 times last summer.

Indian Police Service investigator Syed Abdul Kader shared two videos exclusively with DailyMail.com, which track the bright lights making 'zigzags' above the facility.

Fearing the craft was not manmade, Kader turned to his nation's leading UFO expert, who in 2019 filed a petition to the Supreme Court of India with the backing of former Pentagon officials and US Air Force vets — urging the south Asian nation to take all the unexplained sightings near its nuclear facilities more seriously. 

Kader's UFO encounters add international heft to domestic national security concerns within the US, following detailed Pentagon and civilian research into an eerie correlation between UFO sightings and America's tightly held nuclear arsenal.

While the shape, size and speed of Kader's mystery objects are difficult to discern, his footage shows them making unusual movements at the altitude of an airplane.

'It's shaking when it's moving! It's going up and down,' the confused cop narrates in one video, watching the UFO's bizarre and apparently non-aerodynamic maneuvers.

'The way it's moving,' he opines in the video, 'this could never be an airplane.'

India's Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant has become a UFO hotspot after a police officer reported seeing odd aerial lights above it more than 10 times last summer 

Roughly a dozen or so incidents last summer all involved apparent airborne craft loitering near the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (pictured above) at the southern tip of the subcontinent - as well as the Madras Atomic Power Station near Kalpakkam, along the country's east coast

'It's in a southern direction,' Kader told his wife during the August 8th sighting.

'It's standing [or hovering] in the direction of the Koodankulam Nuclear Power Plant.'

'It is always coming in at this time, when it is not too dark, nor too bright,' Kader's wife can be heard saying. 'I've seen this many times.'

While it is difficult for an outside observer to discern if the UFO is moving, or if Kader's camera is unsteady, DailyMail.com can report that some common prosaic explanations can likely be ruled out.

Such sightings have turned out to be distant planets, like Venus that is the third brightest object in the sky, after the sun and moon.

And the bright 'dog star,' Sirius, as well as the planets Jupiter and Mercury have also been occasionally misreported as UFOs.

However, in Kader's August 8 video, filmed at dusk (7:30PM local time), the eastern direction of the UFO at sunset refutes the notion that a common bright planet or star could explain the mystery's eerie aerial glow.

While the shape, size and speed of Kader's mystery objects are difficult to discern, his footage shows them making unusual movements at the altitude of an airplane 

Syed Abdul Kader shared two of the videos exclusively with DailyMail.com, which show bright lights whizzing up and down above the facility

Police sub-inspector Syed Abdul Kader (right), assigned to the technical wing of the Tirunelveli office - one hour's drive north of the Kudankulam nuclear plant - told UFO expert Sabir Hussain (left) that he filmed two videos of these unusual aerial phenomena or UAP

A sky map for that night and time, geolocated to the Kaders' hometown of Tirunelveli via TheSkyLive.com shows that Venus was completely obscured, below the western horizon and below the sunset. 

Most other bright stars and planets were also not in the eastern sky at that moment. 

At another point in the video, Kader's wife exclaims, 'It's so close. How come no one else is seeing this?'

To which Kader replies, 'No, that's why the DGP [Director General of Police] he, himself, has seen it [the UFOs]. And that's why everybody's talking about this.'

In fact, the Kaders' sightings to the south overlapped with weeks of others in July and August up India's east coast along the Neelankarai-Mahabalipuram shoreline.

That region, near the bustling city of Chennai, is home to the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) in Kalpakkam.

READ MORE: 

• Watch the incredible moment India made history, as its Chandrayaan-3 spacecraft landed on the lunar South Pole for first time [Video]
• 

  India made history by becoming the first nation to land a spacecraft on the moon's south pole August 23, 2023

Kader's mysterious UFO videos were first secured by one of India's foremost UFO investigators, Sabir Hussain, director of the Indian Society for UFO Studies (INSUFOS) based in Chennai.

It was Hussain who petitioned the Supreme Court of India in 2019 warning that casually dismissing reports of UFO activity near the nation's sensitive atomic power sites could risks an unintentional nuclear war between India and its uneasy neighbor Pakistan.

His efforts came with letters endorsing his petition, by former US counterintelligence official and Pentagon UFO investigator Lue Elizondo, US Air Force veteran Robert Salas, and other UFO experts from America and Europe. 

'Syed came to my house,' Hussain told DailyMail.com. 'I debriefed him.'

'He told me that most of the time, [the UFO] was either coming from the direction of Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, going towards it, or stationary in that direction.'

Officer Kader, Hussain told DailyMail.com, also stated that the UFOs were sometimes spotted hovering above the nearby Indian Space Research Organization's (ISRO) Propulsion Complex.

Nestled alongside the mountainous Mahendragiri hill in the state of Tamil Nadu, the ISRO Propulsion Complex tests cryogenically stored rocket fuel among its other space program duties.

The ISRO facility is also approximately one hour's drive south of the Kaders' home, which is in the city of Tirunelveli in Tamil Nadu.  

A vocal advocate on the UFO issue, Hussain once voiced his suspicion that alleged alien occupants of such craft cut communications between ISRO and its Chandrayaan-2's Vikram lander in 2019 — for the south Asian nation's own good. 

'The extra-terrestrials have sent a message to the Indian government to get rid of your nukes before you explore other worlds,' Hussain told the Deccan Chronicle.

'You will not be allowed to land on the moon unless "they" decide to allow you.'

The fate of ISRO's Vikram lander aside, Hussain's new UFO witnesses, sub-inspector Kader and his wife, can at least be heard in their videos discussing the mysterious aerial phenomena's consistent apparent interest in the Kudankulam nuclear plant.

Kader's video-taped sightings, as Hussain told DT Next, 'happened just 10 days after former DGP [Director General of Police] Prateep V. Philip took pictures of a UFO on [the] Muttukadu sea shore near Chennai.'

Philip's rank of DGP is the highest position attainable in the Indian Police Service.

A sky map for that night and time (above), geolocated to the Kaders' hometown of Tirunelveli via TheSkyLive.com, shows Venus was completely obscured, below the western horizon and sunset. Most other bright stars and planets were also not in the eastern sky at that moment 

The Kaders' sightings to the south overlapped with weeks of sightings in July and August up the eastern coast, along the Neelankarai-Mahabalipuram shoreline. That region, near the city of Chennai, is home to the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS) in Kalpakkam (above)

Hypothetical extraterrestrial interest in the Kudankulam nuclear plant, if correct, would join decades of active protests against the plant by concerned local civilians.

Thousands of local residents faced teargas shelling, imprisonment and prosecution under both terrorism and sedition charges by local police for speaking out against the nuclear energy plant. Even children with the protestors faced sedition charges.

In September of 2019 the Kudankulam nuclear plant was discovered to be infected with malware, which one cyber security analyst with CSO attributed to 'a false flag operation using stolen North Korean code to muddle attribution.' 

Hussain told DailyMail.com that the plant has faced corruption charges and safety concerns since before it first became operational a decade ago.

'Kudankulam, which is a focus of our attention,' Hussain said, 'came online only in 2013 after Fukushima disaster happened.'

'Ever since it came online, it has been shutting down once every two months,' he added. 'They are working only to 30 percent of their capacity. So you do the math.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to the Indian government's Nuclear Power Corporation of India, Ltd., which runs the plant, for comment. 

US Air Force ICBM launch officer Robert Salas (pictured left, and as a young man, right) told of his encounter with an orange flying disc that turned off 10 warheads at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana in 1967  

An email shows AARO staff contacted former US Air Force ICBM launch officer Robert Salas to gather information about his encounter. He tweeted his thank you email from AARO 

This time last year, two Air Force veterans revealed to DailyMail.com's Josh Boswell that they had just testified to the Pentagon's UFO-hunting All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) about their experiences witnessing UFOs interfere with US nuclear missiles.

One email showed AARO staff contacting former US Air Force ICBM launch officer Robert Salas to gather information about his chilling encounter with an orange flying disc that inexplicably turned off 10 warheads at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana in 1967.

Another former officer, Dr. Robert Jacobs, also briefed AARO, testifying to a 35mm film he shot for the Air Force in 1964, which allegedly caught a flying saucer shooting a test missile out of the sky.

Although Salas described those early interactions with AARO officials as 'very magnanimous,' this month the disappointed Air Force veteran described the Pentagon office's most recent UFO report as 'a 'Steaming pile of ...' 

'I gave AARO a two hour PowerPoint presentation on the Malmstrom AFB incidents where twenty ICBMs were disabled during UFO encounters,' Salas said on the social media site X, speaking to incidents at the base beyond 1967. 

'The USGOV owes us, the informed public, much more respect on this subject,' he concluded, 'than offered by AARO's steaming pile of insults.' 

Read more:

• INDIA-PAKISTAN AND UFO IGNORANCE – HOW A NEGLECTED FACTOR CAN UNDERMINE U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY — Liberation Times | Reimagining Old News
• UFOs Responsible Behind ISRO Losing Communication With Chandrayaan-2's Vikram Lander? Find Out Here - News Nation English
• Identifying UFOs and UAPs | Night Sky Network
• Star Maps of Venus | TheSkyLive
• ‘UFO visits’ near key nuclear installations in Tamil Nadu baffle experts
• www.jstor.org/st...
• Protests against the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project reach a climax – Digital for Good | RESET.ORG
• Kudankulam protests: Am I a terrorist, asks anti-nuclear activist Udhayakumar
• How a nuclear plant got hacked | CSO Online
• archive.is/chclS
• archive.is/1xRaA
• archive.is/uKnt0
• August 23, 2019 Before the Supreme Court of India - Sabir Hussain - YouTube

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

29-03-2024 om 01:40 geschreven door peter  

Astronauts Have Surprising Ability to Orient Themselves and Gauge Distance Traveled in Space: Study

New research has implications for crew safety in space and could potentially give clues to how aging affects people’s balance systems here on Earth.

Jörges et al. tackled the question of whether body posture influences human perception of self-motion and distance; they found some evidence that the same amount of optic flow can elicit the sensation of having traveled further when supine versus when sitting upright, that is, optic flow is more effective at eliciting a sense of self-motion when supine; this constitutes evidence that visual and non-visual cues are at least partially integrated even when self-motion is presented only visually; however, they did not find any significant differences between performance on Earth and in the microgravity of the ISS, suggesting that vestibular cues play a minor role, if any, in the estimation of visually presented self-motion.

“It has been repeatedly shown that the perception of gravity influences perceptual skill,” said York University’s Professor Laurence Harris, senior author of the study.

“The most profound way of looking at the influence of gravity is to take it away, which is why we took our research into space.”

“We’ve had a steady presence for close to a quarter century in space and with space efforts only increasing as we plan to go back to the moon and beyond, answering health-and-safety questions only becomes more important.”

“Based on our findings it seems as though humans are surprisingly able to compensate adequately for the lack of an Earth-normal environment using vision.

In the research, Professor Harris and colleagues studied a dozen astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits about 400 km from the Earth’s surface.

“Here, Earth’s gravity is approximately cancelled out by centrifugal force generated by the orbiting of the station. In the resulting microgravity, the way people move is more like flying,” Professor Harris said.

“People have previously anecdotally reported that they felt they were moving faster or further than they really were in space, so this provided some motivation to actually record this.”

The authors compared the performance of a dozen astronauts — six men and six women — before, during, and after their year-long missions to the space station and found that their sense of how far they traveled remained largely intact.

Space missions are busy endeavors and it took the researchers several days to connect with the astronauts once they arrived at the space station.

“It’s possible our research was unable to capture early adaptation that may have occurred in those first few days. It’s still a good news message because it says that whatever adaptation happens, happens very quickly,” Professor Harris said.

{ https://www.sci.news/}

29-03-2024 om 00:40 geschreven door peter  

Study: Introduced Tardigrade Proteins Slow Metabolism in Human Cells

New research led by the the University of Wyoming, Laramie, provides additional evidence that tardigrade proteins eventually could be used to make life-saving treatments available to people where refrigeration is not possible and enhance storage of cell-based therapies.

Sanchez-Martinez et al. provide insights into how tardigrades induce reversible biostasis through the self-assembly of labile CAHS gels.

First discovered in 1773, tardigrades are a diverse group of microscopic invertebrates that are best known for their ability to survive extreme conditions.

Also known as water bears or moss piglets, these creatures can live for up to 60 years, and grow to a maximum size of 0.5 mm, best seen under a microscope.

They are able to survive for up to 30 years without food or water, for a few minutes at temperatures as low as minus 272 degrees Celsius (minus 457 degrees Fahrenheit) or as high as 150 degrees Celsius (302 degrees Fahrenheit), and minus 20 degrees Celsius (minus 4 degrees Fahrenheit) for decades.

Tardigrades withstand pressures from virtually 0 atm in space up to 1,200 atm at the bottom of the Marianas Trench, and are also resistant to radiation levels up to 5,000-6,200 Gy.

They survive by entering a state of suspended animation called biostasis, using proteins that form gels inside of cells and slow down life processes.

“Amazingly, when we introduce these proteins into cells, they gel and slow down metabolism, just like in tardigrades,” said Dr. Silvia Sanchez-Martinez, a researcher at the University of Wyoming, Laramie.

“Furthermore, just like tardigrades, when you put human cells that have these proteins into biostasis, they become more resistant to stresses, conferring some of the tardigrades’ abilities to the human cells.”

“Importantly, our research shows that the whole process is reversible,” said Dr. Thomas Boothby, a researcher at the University of Wyoming, Laramie.

“When the stress is relieved, the tardigrade gels dissolve, and the human cells return to their normal metabolism.”

“Our findings provide an avenue for pursuing technologies centered on the induction of biostasis in cells and even whole organisms to slow aging and enhance storage and stability.”

• S. Sanchez-Martinez et al. 2024. Labile assembly of a tardigrade protein induces biostasis. Protein Science 33 (4): e4941; doi: 10.1002/pro.4941

{ https://www.sci.news/}

29-03-2024 om 00:30 geschreven door peter  

UAP Up Close Shoots Past Passenger Jet Windows! March 2024, UFO Sighting News Video.

Date of sighting: March 2024
Location of sighting: New York, New York, USA

 

Watch as a UFO shoots past a passenger jet over New York and gets caught on video. The object is long, dark and has a bright white window area which is the alien pilots cockpit location. It's obvious this UAP shoot past to scan the technology of the plane as well as record the thoughts of its passengers. This is 100% proof that UFOs frequent heavily populated areas. 

Scott C. Waring 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

29-03-2024 om 00:22 geschreven door peter  

UFO Caught On Photo Redondo Beach, California, USA March 10, 2024, UAP Sighting News.

Water UFOs otherwise known as USO are much more common than the US Gov would like you to believe. This UFO is diving so fast it was caught in many locations of the photo as it was diving into the water. The Earth is covered by 75% water, which makes it the ideal location to place an alien base since humans don't frequent the bottom of the ocean floor. This UFO was observing the sailboat and then dived into the water before it was seen. However the camera has a more perfect eye and caught this little fella as it was observing and trying to leave. USO are serious and real craft that even the US Navy talks about under the table. 

Scott C. Waring

 

Source: NUFORC https://nuforc.org 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

28-03-2024 om 23:58 geschreven door peter  

A talk with ChatGPT about a cloud orb I summoned years ago, UFO Sighting News. Taiwan, Sept 17, 2011 - sighting discussed.

Above gif is the closest I can find to what the orb looked like, this is about 70% what I saw, still missing the white clouds within about 10%, the black clouds about 15% and the silver metallic paint moving within which covered 65-75% of the sphere. My sighting took place in Taiwan, on an 8 floor rooftop of my apartment building, on Sept 17, 2011. 

 All the statements by me are 100% true, and I do have a video of it after it shot 50 meters from me...at which time it looked white in the distance. I was curious what AI GPT Chat would say about the sighting and what insights it may have. And I did not expect such fantastic comprehension and advice from GPT Chat. It was both helpful and eye opening. Something that is rare in this field. 

Scott C. Waring

Below is the video...where I grabbed the tripod and flipped it around only to see the orb shot 50 meters away and sat there, watching me. I could not coax it to come back. 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

28-03-2024 om 23:49 geschreven door peter  

POSTED BY MATT WILLIAMS

DART Changed the Shape of Asteroid Dimorphos, not Just its Orbit

On September 26th, 2022, NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) collided with the asteroid Dimorphos, a moonlet that orbits the larger asteroid Didymos. The purpose of this test was to evaluate a potential strategy for planetary defense. The demonstration showed that a kinetic impactor could alter the orbit of an asteroid that could potentially impact Earth someday – aka. Potentially Hazardous Asteroid (PHA). According to a new NASA-led study, the DART mission’s impact not only altered the orbit of the asteroid but also its shape!

The study was led by Shantanu P. Naidu, a navigation engineer with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) at Caltech. He was joined by researchers from the Lowell Observatory, Northern Arizona University (NAU), the University of Colorado Boulder (UCB), the Astronomical Institute of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, and Johns Hopkins University (JHU). Their paper, “Orbital and Physical Characterization of Asteroid Dimorphos Following the DART Impact,” appeared on March 19th in the Planetary Science Journal.

The Didymos double asteroid system consists of an 851-meter-wide (2792 ft) primary orbited by the comparatively small Dimorphos. The latter was selected as the target for DART because any changes in its orbit caused by the impact would be comparatively easy to measure using ground-based telescopes. Before DART impacted with the moonlet, it was an oblate spheroid measuring 170 meters (560 feet) in diameter with virtually no craters. Before impact, the moonlet orbited Didymos with a period of 11 hours and 55 minutes.

Before the encounter, NASA indicated that a 73-second change in Dimorphos’ orbital period was the minimum requirement for success. Early data showed DART surpassed this minimum benchmark by more than 25 times. As Naidu said in a NASA press release, the impact also altered the moonlet’s shape:

“When DART made impact, things got very interesting. Dimorphos’ orbit is no longer circular: Its orbital period is now 33 minutes and 15 seconds shorter. And the entire shape of the asteroid has changed, from a relatively symmetrical object to a ‘triaxial ellipsoid’ – something more like an oblong watermelon.”

Naidu and his team combined three data sources with their computer models to determine what happened to the asteroid after impact. The first was the images DART took of Dimorphos right before impact, which were sent back to Earth via NASA’s Deep Space Network (DSN). These images allowed the team to gauge the dimensions of Didymos and Dimorphos and measure the distance between them. The second source was the Goldstone Solar System Radar (GSSR), part of the DNS network located in California responsible for investigating Solar System objects.

The GSSR was one of several ground-based instruments that precisely measured the position and velocity of Dimorphos relative to Didymos after impact – which indicated how the mission greatly exceeded expectations. The third source was provided by ground-based telescopes worldwide that measured changes in the amount of life reflected (aka. light curves) of both asteroids. Much like how astronomers monitor stars for periodic dips (which could indicate a transiting planet), dips in Didymos’ luminosity are attributable to Dimorphos passing in front of it.

By comparing these light curves from before and after impact, the team learned how DART altered Dimorphos’ motion. Based on these data sources and their models, the team calculated how its orbital period evolved and found that it was now slightly eccentric. Said Steve Chesley, a senior research scientist at JPL and a co-author on the study:

“We used the timing of this precise series of light-curve dips to deduce the shape of the orbit, and because our models were so sensitive, we could also figure out the shape of the asteroid. Before impact, the times of the events occurred regularly, showing a circular orbit. After impact, there were very slight timing differences, showing something was askew. We never expected to get this kind of accuracy.”

According to their results, DART’s impact reduced the average distance between the two asteroids to roughly 1,152 meters (3,780 feet) – closer by about 37 meters (120 feet). It also shortened Dimorphos’ orbital period to 11 hours, 22 minutes, and 3 seconds – a change of 33 minutes and 15 seconds. These results are consistent with other independent studies based on the same data. They will be further tested by the ESA’s Hera mission, scheduled to launch in October 2024, when it makes a flyby of the double-asteroid and conducts a detailed survey.

Further Reading: 

• NASA

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

28-03-2024 om 21:13 geschreven door peter  

Like all scientific fields, cosmochemistry incorporates a myriad of methods and strategies with the goal of answering some of the universe’s most difficult questions, specifically pertaining to how the countless stellar and planetary objects throughout the universe came to be. These methods and strategies primarily include laboratory analyses of meteorites and other physical samples brought back from space, including from the Moon, asteroids, and comets. But what are some of the benefits and challenges of studying cosmochemistry?

“One of the primary benefits of cosmochemistry is the ability to reproduce measurements,” Dr. Ogliore tells Universe Today. “I can measure something in my lab, and somebody else can measure either the same object, or a very similar object, in another lab to confirm my measurements. Only after repeated measurements, by different labs and different techniques, will a given claim be universally accepted by the community. This is difficult to do in astronomy, and also difficult using remote-sensing measurements on spacecraft studying other bodies in the Solar System.”

Apart from the crewed Apollo missions to the Moon, all other samples from space have been returned via robotic spacecraft. While this might seem like an easy process from an outside perspective, collecting samples from space and returning them to Earth is a very daunting and time-consuming series of countless tests, procedures, precise calculations, and hundreds to thousands of scientists and engineers ensuring every little detail is covered to ensure complete mission success, often to only collect a few ounces of material. This massive effort is tasked with not only ensuring successful sample collection, but also ensuring successful storage of the samples to avoid contamination during their journey home, and then retrieving the samples once they land in a capsule back on Earth, where they are properly unpacked, cataloged, and stored for laboratory anal

To demonstrate the difficulty in conducting a sample return mission, only four nations have successfully used robotic explorers to collect samples from another planetary body and returned them to Earth: the former Soviet Union, United States, Japan, and China. The former Soviet Union successfully returned lunar samples to Earth throughout the 1970s; the United States has returned samples from a comet, asteroid, and even solar particles; Japan has successfully returned samples from two asteroids; and most recently, China succeeded in returning 61.1 ounces from the Moon, which is the current record for robotic sample return missions. But even with the difficulty of conducting a successful sample return mission, what can cosmochemistry teach us about finding life beyond Earth?

“Cosmochemistry can tell us about the delivery of the ingredients necessary for life to planets or moons via asteroids or comets,” Dr. Ogliore tells Universe Today. “Since we have both asteroid and comet material in the lab, we can tell if primitive pre-biotic organic compounds may have been delivered by these bodies. Of course, this doesn’t mean life on Earth (or elsewhere) started this way, only that it is one pathway. Detection of life on another world would be one of the biggest discoveries in the history of science. So of course we’d want to be absolutely sure! This requires repeated measurements by different labs using different techniques, which requires a sample on Earth. I think the only way we’d know for sure if there was life on Europa, Enceladus, or Mars is if we bring a sample back to Earth from these places.”

As it turns out, NASA is actively working on the Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission, for which Dr. Ogliore is a member of the MSR Measurement Definition Team. The goal of MSR will be to travel to the Red Planet to collect and return samples of Martian regolith to Earth for the first time in history. The first step of this mission is currently being accomplished by NASA’s Perseverance rover in Jezero Crater, as it is slowly collecting samples and dropping them in tubes across the Martian surface for future retrieval by MSR.

For Europa, while there have been several discussions regarding a sample return mission, including a 2002 study discussing a sample return mission from Europa’s ocean and a 2015 study discussing a potential plume sample return mission, no definitive sample return missions from Europa are currently in the works, possibly due to the enormous distance. Despite this, and while not a life-finding mission, Dr. Ogliore has been tasked to lead a robotic mission to Jupiter’s volcanic moon, Io, to explore its plethora of volcanoes. For Enceladus, the Life Investigation for Enceladus (LIFE) mission has had a number of mission proposals submitted to return samples from Enceladus’ plumes, though it has yet to be accepted. But what is the most exciting aspect about cosmochemistry that Dr. Ogliore has studied during his career?

“In my opinion the most important single measurement in the history of cosmochemistry was the measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition of the Sun,” Dr. Ogliore tells Universe Today. “To do this, we needed to return samples of the solar wind to Earth, which we did with NASA’s Genesis mission. However, the sample return capsule crashed on Earth. But did that stop the cosmochemists?! Hell no! Kevin McKeegan and colleagues at UCLA had built a specialized, enormous, complicated instrument to study these samples. Despite the crash, McKeegan and colleagues analyzed oxygen in the solar wind and found that it was 6% lighter than oxygen found on Earth, and it matched the composition of the oldest known objects in the Solar System: millimeter-sized calcium-aluminum inclusions (CAIs) found in meteorites.”

Dr. Ogliore continues by telling Universe Today about how this result was predicted by Bob Clayton at the University of Chicago, along with crediting his own postdoc, Lionel Vacher, for conducting a research project that built off the Genesis results, noting, “This was a really fun project because it was technically very challenging, and the results put the Solar System in its astrophysical context.”

Like the myriad of scientific disciplines that Universe Today has examined during this series, cosmochemistry is successful due to its multidisciplinary nature that contributes to the goal of answering some of the universe’s most difficult questions. Dr. Ogliore emphasizes that analysis of laboratory samples involves a multitude of scientific backgrounds to understand what the researchers are observing within each sample and the processes responsible for creating them. Additionally, this also includes the aforementioned sample return missions and hundreds to thousands of scientists and engineers who partake in each mission. Therefore, what advice can Dr. Ogliore offer to upcoming students who wish to pursue cosmochemistry?

“Biology, chemistry, geology, physics, math, electronics — you need it all!” Dr. Ogliore tells Universe Today. “If you like learning new things constantly, then planetary science is for you. It is good to get a very broad education. This will serve you well in a number of careers, but it is especially true for planetary science and cosmochemistry. I get to work with people who study volcanoes, and mathematicians working on chaotic motion. How cool is that?!”

All things considered, cosmochemistry is both an enormously challenging and rewarding field of study to try and answer some of the most difficult and longstanding questions regarding the processes responsible for the existence of celestial bodies in the Solar System and beyond, including stars, planets, moons, meteorites, and comets, along with how life emerged on our small, blue world. As noted, cosmochemistry perfectly sums up Carl Sagan’s famous quote, “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the cosmos to know itself.” It is through cosmochemistry and the analysis of meteorites and other returned samples that enable researchers to slowly inch our way to answering what makes life and where we can find it.

“Meteorites are the most spectacular record of nature known to mankind,” Dr. Ogliore tells Universe Today. “We have rocks from Mars, the Moon, volcanic worlds, asteroid Vesta, and dozens of other worlds. Iron meteorites are the cores of broken apart planets. These rocks record processes that occurred four and a half billion years ago and fall to Earth in a blazing fireball traveling at miles per second. You can follow various blogs that track fireballs, and even calculate areas where meteorites might have fallen. If you ever have the opportunity, go try to find one of these freshly fallen meteorites. The odds are long, but it is worth a try. I have not found a meteorite myself yet, but it is a life goal of mine.”

How will cosmochemistry help us better understand our place in the universe in the coming years and decades? Only time will tell, and this is why we science!

• As always, keep doing science & keep looking up!

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

28-03-2024 om 20:59 geschreven door peter  

The Enigma of Nazi UFOs: Unveiling the Third Reich’s Secret Projects

In the annals of World War II’s history, the technological prowess of Nazi Germany has been well-documented, from the V2 rocket to the infamous Enigma machine. However, nestled within these tales of engineering marvels lies a lesser-known, yet equally fascinating narrative: the story of the Nazi UFO projects. This exploration takes us beyond conventional warfare technologies into the realm of science fiction turned purported reality under the aegis of the Third Reic

The Origins of the Nazi UFO Legend

The legend of Nazi UFOs originates from post-war claims and scattered evidence suggesting that the Third Reich embarked on ambitious projects to develop advanced aircraft, often described as “flying saucers” or “foo fighters.” These projects were said to leverage unconventional propulsion systems, potentially including anti-gravity, a concept that was light years ahead of its time.

Historians and enthusiasts have traced the roots of these alleged programs back to pre-war German engineering prowess, coupled with an interest in esoteric and occult knowledge. Figures such as Viktor Schauberger, an Austrian inventor, are often mentioned as being central to these efforts, with his work on vortex propulsion cited as a possible basis for the UFO projects.

Between Fact and Fiction: The Development of Flying Discs

While concrete evidence remains elusive, various accounts suggest that the Nazis did indeed experiment with disc-shaped aircraft. Projects such as the “Die Glocke” (The Bell) have entered the lore, described as an anti-gravity device capable of generating an immense power field. Despite the lack of physical proof, the narrative is bolstered by reports of high-ranking Nazis, including SS officers, taking an intense interest in these technologies.

The involvement of Nazi Germany in researching and potentially attempting to harness energy fields or otherworldly propulsion methods has been a topic of speculation. This interest aligns with the era’s broader fascination with breaking the boundaries of known science, driven by the war’s demands and Hitler’s obsession with achieving technological supremacy.

Post-War Legacy and Allied Interest

The end of World War II did not bury the stories of Nazi UFOs; instead, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. Operation Paperclip, a secret program by the United States, brought over German scientists, engineers, and technicians. Among them were individuals purportedly involved in the Reich’s most secretive projects, including those rumored to be associated with UFO research.

This transfer of knowledge and personnel fed into Cold War era projects and contributed to advancements in aerospace technologies. The specter of Nazi UFOs lingered, morphing into part of the broader UFO phenomenon and conspiracy theories concerning hidden government projects and extraterrestrial contacts.

The Verdict: Myth or Lost Technology?

Deciphering the truth behind Nazi UFOs is challenging, with the line between historical fact and speculative fiction often blurred. While there’s no definitive proof that the Third Reich succeeded in developing operational flying saucers, the numerous accounts and circumstantial evidence suggest a keen interest in transcending conventional aerospace technologies.

Nazi UFOs | Full Documentary

• https://youtu.be/lqPiI4ieqRQ

The legacy of the Nazi UFO projects, whether real or imagined, has significantly impacted popular culture and the UFO community. It represents a fascinating intersection of history, science fiction, and the enduring human desire to push the boundaries of the possible.

In conclusion, the story of Nazi UFOs occupies a unique niche within the tapestry of World War II history. It serves as a testament to the era’s technological ambitions and the lengths to which the Nazi regime would go in its quest for domination. As with many aspects of that tumultuous period, the truth may be stranger than fiction, obscured by the fog of war and the passage of time.

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGs9VxqGbkE

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

28-03-2024 om 20:38 geschreven door peter  

Hidden in plain sight now for decades, the giant volcano, which has undergone extensive erosion over time, somehow remained unnoticed.

The feature has been given the temporary name “Noctis volcano” due to its proximity to the Noctis Labyrinthus, a region noted for its steep valleys that possess a maze-like appearance.

The 29,600-foot-tall volcano covers an area spanning approximately 280 miles and is believed to have remained active for an extended period. However, it is the giant volcano’s proximity to a region where glacier ice is believed to exist that makes the discovery so promising for researchers, who say it offers a location ripe for studies of the Red Planet’s geology and evolution over tim

The location could also be a promising area for future studies involving potential life that may have once existed—or could still exist—on Mars, with its promising combination of warmth from volcanic activity and water made present by the ancient glacier.

Additionally, past studies have revealed the presence of hydrated minerals, which were long believed to point to volcanic activity in the area.

“A volcanic setting for these minerals had long been suspected. So, it may not be too surprising to find a volcano here,” said Sourabh Shubham, one of the study’s co-authors.

“In some sense, this large volcano is a long-sought ‘smoking gun’,” Shubham said.

In addition to the newly discovered volcano, blister-like areas, believed to have been produced by the explosive escape of steam, point to the existence of a “relict glacier” further evidenced by deposits of light-colored sulfates like jarosite, which may represent the most recent past glaciation that affected the giant volcano.

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

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

28-03-2024 om 01:12 geschreven door peter  

This Could Be the Hot New Place to Look for Life on Mars

Noctis Mons has hidden in plain sight for decades, and it may be the perfect home for alien life.

BY KIONA SMITH

 

LEE AT AL. 2024

The newest spot to search for life on Mars could be a collapsed volcano whose layers are sandwiched with the icy remains of ancient glaciers.

Noctis Mons (AKA the Night Mountain, which is an extremely cool name) has been hidden for a long time. Researchers just now recognized the jumbled terrain, in old images from decades of Martian satellites, as the remains of a collapsed volcano. It looks like Noctis Mons was active fairly recently (and it may still erupt again), and its slopes are layered with glacial ice and snow. That may make it the perfect place to search for alien life.

SETI Institute astrobiologist Pascal Lee and his colleagues presented their findings at the recent Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.

FIRE, ICE, AND ALIEN LIFE?

Lee and his colleagues recently realized that the strangle jumble of canyons and gently-sloping mesas in images of the Martian equator were actually the remains of a collapsed volcano, eroded and reshaped by glaciers. Looking closer, they spotted old lava flows, fields of pumice and ash, and minerals left by hydrothermal activity. And beneath the uppermost layer of volcanic debris lies a sheet of ice, which gleams here and there through an eroded hole in the thin blanket of volcanic ash that covers it.

Beneath the crumbling slopes of Noctis Mons, fire and ice may have created the perfect environment for life: warm, with plenty of liquid water and chemical nutrients. And since the volcano appears to have been active for a very long time, life has had plenty of opportunity to evolve from the complex chemistry that happens when water and volcanic rock meet.

All around the slopes of Noctis Mons lies a blanket of pumice and volcanic ash. Based on images from a whole series of Martian satellites, from Mariner 9 to the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, it’s between 3 and 9 feet thick, and it looks strangely blistered. Here on Earth, when hot volcanic ash lands atop ice, it cools quickly, but hot steam bubbled up beneath the surface, creating blister-like mounds. Where some of these mounds have eroded over time, satellite images reveal the telltale gleam of ice beneath a thin layer of minerals. Lee and his colleagues say the whole 1,900 square mile area of Noctis Mons could lie atop a huge ice sheet left over from one of the last glaciers to pass through the area.

That’s 1,900 square miles of ice interacting with the heat of a volcano, creating pockets and streams of liquid water underground, possibly for billions of years. In other words, it’s a huge Martian oasis that’s potentially perfect for life.

Noctis Mons is also an ideal place for rovers or — someday — astronauts to explore. Because it’s collapsed, what was once a tall, forbidding mountain is now “so deeply eroded that you could hike, drive, or fly through it,” says Lee in a recent statement. And all that glacial ice could support future exploration crews or provide the raw material for rocket fuel (assuming it’s not actually a sensitive alien habitat, that is).

In other words, the place is basically a theme park for astrobiologists.

A VOLCANO WITH A MESSY BACKSTORY

We don’t know how long ago Noctis Mons formed, but [authors] say it looks like the volcano has been active for a huge stretch of Martian history, and it’s been active fairly recently. It may even still be active today. Olympus Mons, the largest volcano in our Solar System, formed about 3.5 billion years ago and stayed active for millions of years, longer than any volcano here on Earth, but Noctis Mons may turn out to beat its neighbor’s impressive streak.

Noctis Mons was once a wide, gently-sloping mountain, built up over time from layers of lava and pyroclastic debris (small grains of volcanic ash and larger chunks of pumice). Between those layers of volcanic rock lay sheets of ice: some compacted snow that fell on the volcano’s slopes and some thick glaciers, all buried beneath the next eruption.

At some point, the magma welling up through cracks and fissures in the mountain melted all of that ice, causing the slopes of the volcano to collapse. Today, the summit is now just a partial ring of mesas, which slope gently downward. From above, it looks like a wide ring of broken rock, crossed by lava flows and cut by deep, glacier-carved canyons.

And someday it just might be the place where we discover we’re not alone in the Solar System.

{ https://www.inverse.com/ }

28-03-2024 om 01:00 geschreven door peter  

The Woodlands, Texas

A sensational claim made last year that an ‘alien’ meteorite hit Earth near Papua New Guinea in 2014 got its first in-person airing with the broader scientific community on 12 March. At the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in The Woodlands, Texas, scientists clashed over whether a research team has indeed found fragments of a space rock that came from outside the Solar System.

• 

  An ‘alien meteorite’ probably didn’t slam into Earth — how will we know if one does?

The debate occurred at a packed session featuring Hairuo Fu, a graduate student at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, who is a member of the team that found the fragments. Team leader Avi Loeb, an astrophysicist at Harvard who did not attend the conference, has made other controversial claims about extraterrestrial discoveries. Many scientists have said that they don’t want to spend much of their time analysing and refuting these claims.

During his presentation, Fu described tiny metallic blobs that Loeb’s expedition dredged from the sea floor near Papua New Guinea last year, and said that the spherules have a chemical composition of unknown origin¹. He then faced questions from a long line of scientists sceptical of the implication that the material is extraterrestrial. “At the very least, it is something different from what we know,” Fu responded.

New work questions the team’s findings. In a manuscript posted on the arXiv preprint server on 8 March², ahead of peer review, a researcher argues that the debris collected by Loeb and his co-workers is actually molten blobs generated when an asteroid hit Earth 788,000 years ago.

“What they found has all the characteristics of microtektites — little pieces of melted Earth that came from this impact,” says preprint author Steve Desch, an astrophysicist at Arizona State University in Tempe.

Meanwhile, other studies are challenging different aspects of Loeb’s claim, such as whether the meteor that reportedly produced the fragments was on the trajectory Loeb says it was. Together, the findings show how the broader scientific community is engaging with Loeb’s extraterrestrial claims, in spite of reluctance to do so.

A unique find?

‘Interstellar’ objects remained in the realm of theory until 2017, when astronomers spotted the first known celestial object to be on a trajectory that meant it could only have come from outside the Solar System. Loeb made headlines when he speculated that the object, a comet-like body named ‘Oumuamua, was an artefact sent by an extraterrestrial civilization.

‘Oumuamua passed through the Solar System far from Earth, but Loeb hoped to find another interstellar object that had hit the planet. He later proposed that a bright meteor that appeared in the sky north of Papua New Guinea in January 2014 had an interstellar trajectory and could have scattered debris in the ocean.

In June 2023, Loeb led a privately funded expedition to the site that used magnetic sledges to recover more than 800 metallic spherules from the sea floor. Almost one-quarter of the spherules had chemical compositions indicating that they came from igneous, or once-molten, rocks. Of those, a handful were unusually enriched in the elements beryllium, lanthanum and uranium. The researchers concluded that those spherules are unlike any known materials in the Solar System¹.

However, Desch counters that the spherules could have come from an asteroid impact in southeast Asia. Key to his proposal² is a kind of soil called laterite, which forms in tropical regions when heavy rainfall carries some chemical elements from the topmost layers of soil into deeper ones. This leaves the upper soil enriched in other elements, including beryllium, lanthanum and uranium — similar to the composition of the spherules collected by Loeb and his colleagues. Desch says that an asteroid known to have struck the region around 788,000 years ago³ probably hit lateritic rock and created the molten blobs found by Loeb’s team.

In an e-mail to Nature, Loeb argues that spherules from an impact 788,000 years ago should have been buried by ocean sediments. Desch counters that sedimentation rates are relatively low in the offshore area where the spherules were collected.

But others are sceptical of Desch’s proposal, too. Scientists have yet to find any confirmed tektites from lateritic rock, notes Pierre Rochette, a geoscientist at Aix-Marseille University in Aix-en-Provence, France, who is not affiliated with either team. And very few tektites are magnetic, he says, so it would be difficult for Loeb and his colleagues to have pulled up hundreds from the sea floor.

Fiery critiques

Desch was not the only scientist to challenge Loeb’s work this week.

• 

  How two intruders from interstellar space are upending astronomy

After Fu’s conference presentation, Ben Fernando, a seismologist at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, spoke and took aim at claims concerning the 2014 meteor. Fernando and his colleagues, including Desch, analysed seismic and acoustic data gathered by ground-based sensors at the time the meteor hit the atmosphere⁴. Data from a seismometer on nearby Manus Island, which Loeb and his team studied as they were deciding where to dredge, show no characteristics of a high-altitude fireball — but do indicate a vehicle driving past, Fernando said. “This is almost certainly a truck,” he told the meeting. A second set of observations, made using infrasound sensors that listen for clandestine nuclear tests, seems to have detected the meteor hitting the atmosphere, but suggests it happened around 170 kilometres away from where Loeb’s team calculates.

Loeb told Nature that such critiques do not take into account US Department of Defense data that he says confirm the exact trajectory of that fireball. But because those data are held by the government, they have not been independently cross-checked by other scientists.

As conference-goers poured out of the room after his talk, Fu told Nature that Loeb’s team is working on further analyses, such as isotopic studies, that could shed more light on what the spherules are. After that, Fu said, he is looking forward to graduating and working on a new project — on how the Moon was formed.

• Nature 627, 472-473 (2024)
• doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00774-6

{ https://www.nature.com/ }

28-03-2024 om 00:48 geschreven door peter