Mystery as UFO vault with 3.8 million files is wiped clean hours after Trump demands alien docs released

• MORE:  Mysterious 'vehicle of unknown origin' hidden at US Navy Base raises questions about secret UFO program

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

Greenewald shared the news online, explaining that some server directories had their permissions, the safeguards on who can access or edit them, and the file ownership logs changed without explanation.

Black Vault has become a go-to resource for anyone wanting to see exactly what the government has quietly made public over the last 80 years.

Greenewald has spent three decades organizing information on hidden programs and little-known incidents that suggest the US has been involved in top secret efforts to recover and take advantage of alien technology.

Troves of declassified files the public can freely search through on the Black Vault detail military base reports, witness testimonies, and even CIA directives since the 1940s and 50s which have been unsealed without widespread public knowledge.

The researcher has also publicly revealed every time a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was returned by the CIA, FBI, and other government organizations with little or no response.

The timing of the potential sabotage came just hours after the president's history-making declaration, ordering the Pentagon to disclose anything 'related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).'

Hours after saying Barack Obama acted improperly by allegedly sharing classified information when he said that aliens exist, President Trump ordered the Pentagon to declassify all UFO files

Creator of The Black Vault, John Greenewald Jr, wrote on social media that the website containing 3.8 million declassified files was wiped hours after Trump's UFO order

In a statement released on X, Greenewald said he did not 'fully suspect foul play' but noted that he couldn't rule out the possibility because of the suspicious information he had received from the website hosting provider.

'[They] had no idea what happened, and on their side, they said it was a deletion, not corruption,' the researcher posted on Saturday.

In simpler terms, someone or something intentionally removed every single file from the Black Vault's server, deleting all the records released by the CIA and other groups, without fully shutting down the site so alarms wouldn't go off right away.

Until recently, the US government has flat-out denied that UFOs or extraterrestrial beings existed, maintaining for decades that there has never been any physical evidence recovered that proves something non-human has ever landed on Earth.

However, Trump's February 19 order came after he publicly criticized former President Barack Obama for saying in an interview that aliens were real. Trump claimed the 44th president had revealed 'classified information.'

Greenewald has previously filed over 11,000 FOIA requests with the US government to obtain these documents, including some declassified reports that date back to the alleged UFO crash landing at Roswell in 1947.

His investigations have also provided legitimate paper trails, detailing how former administrations and the intelligence community created secret task forces of high-ranking military and scientific officials to research UFO incidents.

These groups include the Majestic 12 (MJ-12), which was allegedly formed after the Roswell crash and worked for over two decades investigating sightings of alien spacecraft, working with non-human technology, and contacting extraterrestrials.

The Black Vault contains millions of pages of declassified information from the CIA and other sources on UFOs, secret government projects, and investigations into high-profile assassinations

The Black Vault's records stretch back to early files detailing the US government's actions following the alleged crash of a UFO in Roswell, New Mexico in 1947

Luckily for The Black Vault, Greenewald revealed that all of the more than 3.8 million files were backed up in secure locations and the site was restored soon after the mysterious wiping took place.

'It is a stark reminder to us all, me included. Keep backups. Keep them in multiple places. And never be intimidated by anything that comes our way, no matter what we expect may have happened,' the researcher wrote on X. 

The Daily Mail has reached out to Greenewald for comment on the incident, which the researcher called a 'very oddly timed server maintenance.'

'In my honest opinion, I feel it was a very odd-timed server maintenance done by the hosting provider, that went awry,' Greenewald posted Saturday.

'They didn't catch it, and when I did, they didn't take blame, and there was no way to fully prove what happened, and by whom. Could I be wrong? Yes. Could it have been foul play? I can't rule it out.'

Data wipes like this can occur in a few ways, often without it being a malicious attack. However, these file wipes can be done intentionally by bad actors.

The most common problem happens when hosting companies perform routine updates or data cleanups.

If a software glitch, human error, or incompatible changes take place, it could accidentally delete files or alter permissions.

Hardware issues, such as failing hard drives, software bugs, or even power outages, could also corrupt or erase data. However, The Black Vault's host allegedly ruled out corruption, pointing to a deliberate erasing of the declassified files.

That leaves the possibility of hackers breaching the server through vulnerabilities, including weak passwords, outdated software, or phishing attacks.

Once in the system, the attackers might delete files to cause chaos, especially if the site deals with sensitive data that some groups might want suppressed. 

Critics of the Trump Administration's promise to release all files tied to UFOs and extraterrestrial contact have claimed the move is merely a stunt to distract the public from other political controversies and nothing about aliens will actually be learned.

Many on social media have pointed to the previous releases of the documents detailing President Kennedy's assassination and the Jeffrey Epstein files both containing heavily redacted information that provided no definitive 'smoking gun.'

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

23-02-2026 om 23:08 geschreven door peter  

The Strange Story of Kyle Andrew Odom, the Ex-Marine Who Claimed Earth Is Secretly Ruled 

In 2016, Secret Service agents caught this man outside the White House. He was throwing papers and a flash drive over the fence because he believed he had to warn the whole country about aliens from Mars.

30‑year‑old former US Marine Kyle Odom, from Idaho, became wanted for the attempted murder of Pastor Tim Remington in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Witnesses and police said Odom ambushed Remington in the church parking lot after Sunday services, shooting him multiple times in the head, back, hand, and side at close range before fleeing, yet the pastor survived, which his congregation viewed as a “miracle.” (Source)

The day before the shooting, Remington had prayed onstage with US presidential candidate Ted Cruz at a campaign event, which initially led some people to suspect a political motive. Police soon identified Odom as the only suspect and launched a two‑day manhunt.

Two days after the shooting, on a Tuesday evening, Odom appeared unexpectedly at the White House in Washington, D.C., where tourists were taking photos. Secret Service agents saw him throwing items—documents and a flash drive—over the White House fence and detained him.

When they checked his name, they discovered the Idaho arrest warrant for attempted murder, and his arrest in Washington suddenly ended the nationwide search. Investigators then learned that he had driven from northern Idaho to Boise, boarded a flight, and traveled across the country to deliver his message to the US president, even though he was already wanted for the shooting.

At the same time, Odom had mailed or sent a 21‑page or 40‑plus‑page “manifesto” to his parents and several Idaho TV stations, and he also posted on Facebook about aliens from Mars, changing his profile picture to an alien image.

In the manifesto, he introduced himself as a bright, successful person: born and raised in North Idaho, raised in a loving family, joined the Marine Corps after high school, developed a strong interest in science, studied biochemistry at the University of Idaho, won scholarships and awards, and graduated magna cum laude before being invited to Baylor College of Medicine to work on genetics. He insisted that he was “100% sane, 0% crazy,” but the rest of the document clearly showed an increasingly paranoid, delusional state of mind.

Odom wrote that his problems began in spring 2014, during his final semester at the University of Idaho, when he was stressed by a heavy course load and turned to daily meditation to cope. As he practiced more, he believed he was achieving “extreme states of consciousness,” and during one meditation session, he described an out‑of‑body experience: complete darkness, loss of physical awareness, and then a blue light approaching that he interpreted as another being. After this, he felt his classes suddenly became very easy, as if he had tapped into some new power, and he said he performed far beyond what he had before.

Later, Odom accepted a PhD offer in human genetics at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston but quickly decided to leave, claiming the work had become too easy after his “awakening.”

He wrote that the day after deciding to leave, his life turned into “a living hell”: he could not sleep, he felt he was being targeted, and he believed people around him—including classmates—were not real humans but aliens trying to provoke him into becoming “the next school shooter.” Feeling persecuted, he left Texas and returned to his hometown of Coeur d’Alene, convinced that unknown forces were manipulating his life.

During flights and everyday situations, Odom began to think that strangers were sending him secret messages and that newspaper headlines carried hidden meanings directed at him. Because he had applied to several government agencies, he initially thought this strange communication might be some covert government contact method.

Once back in Idaho, he received a text message from John Padula, an outreach pastor from the Altar Church, inviting him to attend services. When he went, he immediately felt that something was terribly wrong, as if his life was in danger inside the church, so he left.

Odom then began receiving text messages from Pastor Tim Remington, which in reality were Bible verses and spiritual encouragement, but he interpreted them as threatening communications from a hidden group. He believed the verses referred to “their power,” that Remington was sending coded warnings, and that the word “angels” in one message was somehow linked to helicopters flying over his house, which he saw as a sign that powerful beings were after him.

Around this time, he began experiencing intense involuntary physical sensations, which he described as feeling as though external forces were affecting his body. He also reported hearing music and later voices in his head.

As his symptoms intensified, the inner voice, which he believed came from aliens, told him he would be “sacrificed like Jesus and beheaded.” When a stranger with a religious pamphlet knocked on his door, he became delirious and convinced that his death was imminent.

He fled on a one‑way flight to visit family in Albuquerque but believed that the man sitting next to him was reading his mind and that, at the baggage claim, he was “surrounded” by aliens identified by their constant sniffing, which he thought was a dominance behavior. He came to believe that these beings were everywhere, disguised as humans but truly giant green frog‑like creatures with a snout‑like proboscis on their heads.

Odom wrote that the aliens kept pressuring him to go outside alone, and when he refused out of fear they would kill him, they allegedly threatened his family. To protect his family, he claimed he agreed to do whatever they wanted, and he believed they responded telepathically by telling him to “Go to church,” which he took as a command to return to the Altar Church.

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At the church, he noticed a smell like “reptile and vinegar” and concluded that whoever he was dealing with was an extraterrestrial species. He admitted that he was hearing voices more often and seeing hallucinations that he intellectually knew were not real, yet he still insisted these were caused by telepathic aliens, not by any mental illness.

A strong adult-themed element ran through his delusions. He described these alleged Martian beings as “hypersexual” and claimed that both male and female entities acted out inappropriate fantasies within his mind.

In one episode, he described being in a grocery store bakery surrounded by older men whom he believed were aliens who mentally stimulated him and instructed him to imagine inappropriate acts. These experiences, along with persistent voices and visions, severely affected his mental health and led him to attempt to take his own life twice.

In one incident, he described trying to harm himself inside his car but later said the perceived entities intervened before he could follow through. Afterward, he admitted himself to a local Veterans Affairs hospital for help. The article notes that it was not immediately confirmed what treatment he received.

After being discharged from the hospital, Odom returned to the Altar Church, where he later said he had a face-to-face meeting with Pastor Remington around August of the year before the shooting. According to Odom’s account, he believed the pastor revealed what he described as a “true” alien form during their conversation. He wrote that the pastor’s appearance seemed to change, with his facial features looking different and his eyes appearing unusual.

Odom later claimed he became convinced that members of the church were involved in a plot against him. He left the church and did not return for some time. In his writings, he described ongoing fears that he was being followed or harassed, including when he attempted to resume his studies.

Odom tried to rebuild his life by studying pharmacology at North Idaho College and said he began to feel some recovery. However, he believed that the aliens followed him into every class, interfered with his ability to study, and harassed him during tests, making it impossible to succeed.

In his view, they targeted him specifically because of his intelligence and his knowledge of genetics, fearing he might spark a “scientific revolution” that would expose them. He wrote that they had trouble controlling his mind because he was “too smart,” so they decided to remove him from society altogether.

After the repeated suicide attempts and ongoing torment, Odom concluded that the only remaining option was to “take action” against the beings he believed were ruining his life. He wrote that his life had been destroyed by “an intelligent species of amphibian‑humanoid from Mars” and said Remington and Pastor Padula were either these aliens themselves or their puppets.

The manifesto did not clearly explain why he chose that specific Sunday to attack, but he openly admitted that he had plotted to shoot Remington. On the day of the attack, he later boasted on Facebook that he had shot the pastor 12 times and claimed no normal human could survive, using this to support his belief that Remington was not human.

In the same manifesto and social‑media posts, Odom expanded his theory into a global conspiracy. He said the world was secretly ruled by an ancient Martian civilization that had infiltrated all levels of human society, and that Pastor Remington was one of them and the reason his life was ruined.

He claimed these Martians are “ubiquitous,” living as both blue‑collar workers and powerful leaders, controlling governments, militaries, and corporations while monitoring every “wild” human like animals in a zoo; he said our freedom is only a carefully crafted illusion. He put together a list of “noteworthy Martians” that included about 50 members of the US Congress from both parties and dozens of Israeli leaders, “every prime minister since 1948,” and he said this list was far from complete.

Part of the manifesto was addressed directly to US President Barack Obama. Odom began by thanking him for his sacrifice to the country, then claimed that aliens were controlling and humiliating the president, boasting to Odom about what they supposedly did to him. He urged Obama to stop letting them humiliate him and framed himself as someone taking a stand to end this nonsense, asking if there could be a better legacy than exposing the Martians. He said his “last resort” was to act to bring all of this to the public’s attention, insisted he was a good and innocent person, and added that the “people” he killed were not what others thought.

After sending his manifesto to family and media and posting online that the world is ruled by an ancient civilization from Mars, Odom traveled to Washington, D.C., to get his information into the president’s hands. When he was arrested at the White House fence, authorities found he had been throwing documents and a flash drive—likely containing the same manifesto—over the fence, and police in Idaho said this document heightened their concern about him during the manhunt.

Not long before his arrest, he had written on Facebook that he was being chased, was sending his story to major news organizations, and had no time left. His capture ended any immediate threat he might pose to the many people he had identified as “Martians” in Congress and elsewhere.

In November 2017, the legal outcome of his actions was decided. In the Idaho state court, then‑32‑year‑old Kyle Odom pleaded guilty to an enhanced aggravated battery charge for shooting Pastor Tim Remington and was sentenced to 25 years in prison, with a requirement that he serve at least 10 years before being eligible for parole.

Remington testified that being shot in the head, hand, and side left him with memory lapses and ongoing health problems that affected every part of his life, yet in court, he publicly forgave Odom, called him the real victim, and said he wished him no harm and would remain his friend despite the attack. (Source)

At sentencing, Odom told the court he was deeply remorseful and explained that, at the time of the shooting, he believed his delusions were real, including the idea that Martians were interfering in his life and controlling people around him. He said he felt like he was dreaming and could not wake up, and that he still sometimes felt that way, emphasizing how lost in his own hallucinations he had been. The judge ordered him to pay more than $216,000 in restitution to cover Remington’s medical expenses, with the possibility of more as new bills came in, reflecting the serious long‑term damage caused by the attack.

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23-02-2026 om 22:52 geschreven door peter  

Impact-formed glass provides evidence of cosmic collision in Brazil about 6 million years ago

by José Tadeu Arantes, FAPESP

For the first time in Brazil, researchers have identified a field of tektites. These are natural glasses formed by the high-energy impact of extraterrestrial bodies against Earth's surface. These structures, named geraisites in honor of the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, where they were first discovered, constitute a new strewn field. This expands the incomplete record of impacts in South America.

The discovery was described in an article published in the journal Geology by a team led by Álvaro Penteado Crósta, a geologist and senior professor at the Institute of Geosciences at the State University of Campinas (IG-UNICAMP). Crósta collaborated with researchers from Brazil, Europe, the Middle East, and Australia.

Until now, only five large tektite fields had been recognized on the planet: in Australasia, Central Europe, the Ivory Coast, North America, and Belize. The Brazilian field now joins this select group.

Where geraisites are found in Brazil

The geraisites were initially located in three municipalities in northern Minas Gerais—Taiobeiras, Curral de Dentro, and São João do Paraíso—in a strip about 90 kilometers long. Since the article was submitted, new occurrences have been recorded in the Brazilian states of Bahia and, more recently, Piauí. According to Crósta, this expands the known area to more than 900 kilometers in length.

"This growth in the area of occurrence is entirely consistent with what is observed in other tektite fields around the world. The size of the field depends directly on the energy of the impact, among other factors," the researcher explains.

By July 2025, the authors had collected approximately 500 specimens, a number that has since grown to over 600 with the most recent findings. The fragments range in size from less than 1 gram to 85.4 grams and reach about 5 centimeters on the longest axis. Their shapes are typical of aerodynamic tektites: spherical, ellipsoidal, drop-shaped, discoid, dumbbell-shaped, or twisted.

Although they appear black and opaque at first, they become translucent under intense light and display a grayish-green color. This color is distinct from that of European moldavites, which have been used in jewelry since the Middle Ages due to their characteristic intense green color. Their dark surfaces are marked by many small cavities.

"These small cavities are traces of gas bubbles that escaped during the rapid cooling of the molten material as it traveled through the atmosphere, a process also observed in volcanic lava but especially characteristic of tektites," says Crósta.

Geochemical fingerprint of geraisites

Geochemical analyses show that geraisites have a high silica (SiO₂) content ranging from 70.3% to 73.7%. The combined content of sodium (Na₂O) and potassium (K₂O) oxides ranges from 5.86% to 8.01%, which is slightly higher than in other tektite fields. Small variations in trace elements, such as chromium (10–48 parts per million) and nickel (9–63 ppm), were identified, indicating that the original material was neither pure nor homogeneous. The presence of rare inclusions of lechatelierite, a form of glassy silica produced at extreme temperatures, further supports an impact origin.

"One of the decisive criteria for classifying the material as a tektite was its very low water content, as measured by infrared spectroscopy: between 71 and 107 ppm. For comparison, volcanic glasses, such as obsidian, usually contain from 700 ppm to 2% water, whereas tektites are notoriously much drier," Crósta points out.

Dating based on the ratio of argon isotopes (⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar) indicates that the event occurred approximately 6.3 million years ago, at the end of the Miocene epoch. Three groups of very similar ages were obtained (6.78 ± 0.02 Ma, 6.40 ± 0.02 Ma, and 6.33 ± 0.02 Ma), which is consistent with a single impact event.

"The age of 6.3 million years should be interpreted as a maximum age since some of the argon may have been inherited from the ancient rocks targeted by the impact," the researcher comments.

Hunt for the missing crater

To date, no associated crater has been identified. According to Crósta, this is not unusual; only three of the six large classical tektite fields have known craters. In the case of the largest field, located in Australasia, the crater is believed to be oceanic. In Brazil, isotopic geochemistry indicates that the molten material originated in Archean continental crust between 3.0 and 3.3 billion years old. This directs the search to the São Francisco craton, an ancient and geologically stable portion of the continental crust and one of the oldest regions of the South American continent.

"The isotopic signature indicates a very ancient continental, granitic source rock. This greatly reduces the universe of candidate areas," says Crósta. In the future, aerogeophysical methods such as magnetic and gravimetric surveys may reveal circular anomalies associated with a buried or eroded crater.

Modeling the impact and its scale

While it is not yet possible to accurately estimate the size of the impacting body, researchers consider it unlikely that it was small. The large amount of molten material and the wide area of dispersion indicate a significant impact event, albeit smaller than the event responsible for the Australasia field, which extends for thousands of kilometers.

The team is currently working on a mathematical model of impacts to estimate parameters such as the energy released, the velocity, the angle of entry, and the volume of molten rock. They are doing this as new data on the spatial distribution of geraisites becomes available. The discovery of the geraisites fills an important gap in the record of impacts in South America. Only about nine large impact structures are known there, and almost all of them are much older and located in Brazil. This discovery also reinforces the idea that tektites may be more common than previously thought, but often go unnoticed or are mistaken for ordinary glass.

To combat sensationalist interpretations of cosmic impacts, Crósta manages the @defesaplanetaria Instagram profile with undergraduate students. The profile is dedicated to scientific dissemination and differentiating real risks from irresponsible speculation about meteorites and asteroids. Impacts were frequent during the formation of the solar system when a large amount of debris was scattered and planetary orbits were undefined. Large bodies migrated from one position to another, projecting smaller bodies in various directions. However, today, with the system stabilized, impacts are incomparably less frequent.

"Understanding these processes is essential to separating science from speculation," the researcher concludes.

{ https://phys.org/space-news/ }

23-02-2026 om 22:35 geschreven door peter  

NASA’s Perseverance rover can now determine its location on the Red Planet independently, using its own “brain” and cameras. This saved it from having to “call” Earth every time to find out where it was. Engineers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) have essentially created a local navigation system for it that operates in real time.

Imagine you find yourself in the middle of a vast desert with no landmarks or maps, and you are only allowed one phone call per day to ask, “Where am I?” This is how JPL robotics expert Vandi Verma describes the many years of work done by rovers.

Blind navigation

Until recently, Perseverance, which has been exploring Jezero Crater for five years, relied on a combination of data: it analyzed images from its own cameras, measured wheel slip in dust, and cross-referenced satellite photos sent from Earth. However, due to the enormous distance of approximately 225 million kilometers, the signal took too long to arrive, so it took an entire Martian day to correct the route. If the rover was unsure of its position, it would simply stop and wait for “permission” from Earth. Over time, navigation errors accumulated and could reach more than 35 meters. 

Space Google Maps

To solve this problem, engineers led by Jeremy Nash and Vandy Verma developed the Mars Global Localization system. It’s a kind of “space Google Maps” for the Mars rover.

How does it work? Perseverance is now taking pictures of the surrounding area, and a built-in algorithm compares them with detailed maps obtained from orbital spacecraft such as the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in just two minutes. The system automatically finds common features in the landscape — rocks, craters, sand dunes — and determines the rover’s coordinates with an accuracy of 25 cm. Human intervention in this process is no longer necessary.

Breakthrough that has been decades in the making

Development of the technology began in 2023. Archival images from 264 rover stops were used to test the algorithm — the system never made a mistake. In early February 2024, the function was successfully applied in practice for the first time in real conditions on Mars.

“We have given the Mars rover a new ability. This has been an open problem in robotics for decades, and it is incredibly exciting to finally see it solved in space,” said Jeremy Nash.

This update came shortly after Perseverance learned to plan routes using generative artificial intelligence. The AI independently assesses the terrain for hazards — boulders, steep slopes — and plots a safe route.

The future of autonomous missions

Now that the rover knows its exact location online, it can move much faster and cover greater distances every day. As scientists note, it was uncertainty about coordinates, rather than the dangers of the landscape, that was the main limitation on its travels. 

This technology opens up a new era in the exploration of the Solar System. According to Vandy Verma, this algorithm is universal: “It can be used by almost any other rover that moves quickly and far.” This means that future missions to Mars and other planets will be able to work more efficiently, spending their time on real scientific discoveries rather than waiting for instructions from Earth.

Earlier, we explained what GPS is and how it has changed the world.

• According to NASA

• Posted in News, Tech

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/news-en/science-en/ {

23-02-2026 om 22:16 geschreven door peter  

Astronomers working with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have published a spectacular new image. It shows the galaxy NGC 5134.

NGC 5134 is located 65 million light-years from Earth in the direction of the constellation Virgo. This is a gigantic figure by human standards — we see the galaxy as it was at the time of the extinction of the dinosaurs. But by cosmological standards, NGC 5134 is quite close to us. And thanks to this relative proximity, JWST was able to see many details of its spiral structure.

JWST conducts observations in the near and mid-infrared range. The main source of “near” infrared waves are stars and star clusters scattered throughout the spiral arms of the galaxy. As for “medium” waves, they are emitted by warm dust, which saturates the gas clouds filling the galaxy. Dust particles consist of complex organic molecules called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. They form flat ring-shaped structures, very similar to honeycombs in beehives. On Earth, they are found in smoke from fires, car exhaust fumes, or, say, burnt toast.

By combining the data collected by JWST, astronomers were able to obtain a portrait of the life cycle of a galaxy. The gas clouds stretching along the spiral arms of NGC 5134 are sites of star formation. Each star that forms gradually depletes the available gas reserves. They are partially replenished in the process of the death of old stars. The largest stars, whose mass exceeds that of the Sun by more than eight times, do so in spectacular ways, as a result of catastrophic supernova explosions, ejecting their matter hundreds of light years away.

Stars similar to the Sun also return some of their material, although not as spectacularly. They become red giants, after which they shed their atmosphere into space, forming planetary nebulae. In the future, this ejected material may become part of a new generation of stars. The same fate awaits our Sun in the future.

• According to Esawebb

• Posted in News, Science

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{ https://universemagazine.com/en/news-en/science-en/ }

23-02-2026 om 22:05 geschreven door peter  

Everyone knows that there are volcanoes on Mars. Everyone knows that there are glaciers on Mars. But now scientists suggest that, at least on some volcanoes on the red planet, glaciers may be hidden under a layer of ash.

Prevalence of glaciers on Mars

When we think of ice on Mars, we usually mean the poles, where it can be seen with probes and even ground-based telescopes. But the poles are difficult to reach, and even more so because of restrictions on research there due to potential biological contamination. Scientists had long hoped to find water closer to the equator, which would make it more accessible to human explorers. There are parts of Mars’ mid-latitudes that look like glaciers covered with thick layers of dust and rocks.

So, do these formations really conceal large reserves of water near the place where humans may first set foot on the Red Planet? Perhaps, yes, according to a new article by M.A. de Pablo and his co-authors, recently published in the journal Icarus.

The key may be a small volcanic peninsula in Antarctica. Known as Deception Island, this volcano covered part of the surrounding huge glaciers with ash and dust from a series of eruptions in the 1960s and 1970s. The authors believe they have found a volcano with a similar history on Mars, known as Hecates Tholus. 

Hecates Tholus. is an ancient shield volcano on Mars that shares many of the same features as the volcano on Deception Island. And since we know that there is ice beneath the debris in Antarctica, this could mean that similar features may be found beneath the debris around Hecates Tholus.

Evidence of a glacier near Hecates Tholus

There is some compelling evidence on Mars that suggests the presence of glacial ice, rather than just loose rock or even rock cemented together with a small amount of ice. First and foremost, there are the crevasses. Any researcher will tell you how absurdly dangerous these features are on Earth, but the key characteristic on Deception Island is their visibility from space, especially near the so-called “headwalls” of the glacier — steep, almost vertical cliffs at the upper end of the glacier.

Such features are visible from space on Hecates Tholus, and such clear, visible fractures would not be noticeable if there were simply rock beneath them. In particular, these fractures mean that the solid ice core is still moving beneath the surface of volcanic debris.

Another direct piece of evidence is the presence of bergschrunds. These are distinct, deep cracks that form at the top of a glacier. Technically, all bergschrunds are a type of crack, although they are significantly larger and are formed by a very specific process compared to ordinary cracks. This process consists of separating movable ice from frozen ice. Some examples of bergschrunds near Hecates Tholus reach lengths of 600 m and are clear evidence that, at least at a certain point in time, there was active ice movement.

The final proof is the bulldozer effect, or, more precisely, the presence of “push moraines” at the bottom of the valleys of both Deception Island and Hecates Tholus. When glaciers move, they act like bulldozers, pushing huge rocks in front of them and leaving hilly terrain behind. Similar formations, such as those seen on Deception Island, are again visible around the volcano, indicating that a glacier once actively existed in this area.

Overview and context of Hecates Tholus, Mars (left) and the terrestrial analog, Deception Island (right).

Credit: Icarus (2026).

DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2026.116966

How to find hidden glaciers?

So if these glaciers really exist, how have they managed to survive for millions of years without evaporating? The authors propose a two-stage process. Initially, when cracks formed, some of the water actually sublimated, but these holes were then covered with dust, protecting the newly exposed water from further sublimation. Ultimately, this led to the formation of shallow “troughs,” which we actually see on Mars instead of real cracks.

One obvious question for people who closely follow Mars exploration is: why didn’t SHARAD see anything there? If there is a subsurface glacier at the equator, then the ground-penetrating radar on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter would undoubtedly be able to detect a signal from it. The physics of SHARAD radar does not work well on the steep slopes of volcanoes, making it difficult to obtain a clear image of what lies beneath the dust and debris. In order to truly understand the situation better, we will need samples from the surface, both from robots and from humans.

Fraser talks about the restriction of exploration missions to the Martian South Pole.

Avoid contamination

If there really are huge glaciers on Mars hidden beneath the dome of Hecate, there may be many others hidden beneath other massive volcanoes. Article IX of the 1967 Outer Space Treaty requires that exploration of other bodies in the Solar System be conducted in such a way as to avoid “harmful contamination” of celestial bodies. Many interpreted this article as a requirement for researchers to avoid the Martian poles, where there is evidence of large amounts of water. If it turns out that there is water all over Mars, hidden under volcanic debris, does that mean that these areas are now also off-limits to researchers?

Only time will tell the answer to this question — we may never know if there is water around these volcanoes unless we send researchers there — everything we can do remotely is limited. There are some proposals for missions that could resolve this question, such as FlyRADAR, but we will have to wait for the final word on whether Martian volcanoes are covered by glaciers — and perhaps look at the deceptive volcano on our own planet in the meantime.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/ }

23-02-2026 om 21:53 geschreven door peter  

Could it be We've Recieved Alien Signals in the Past and Didn't Notice? Not Bloody Likely, According to New Study

By Matthew Williams  

{ https://www.universetoday.com/ }

23-02-2026 om 21:38 geschreven door peter  

Not AGAIN! NASA's Artemis II moon mission is delayed for a second time after several last–minute issues are spotted on the SLS rocket – as furious fans call for SpaceX to step in

• READ MORE: The 5 worst–case scenarios for Artemis II, revealed 

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

NASA's Artemis II moon mission has been delayed for a second time after several last–minute issues were spotted on the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket.

After successfully completing the second wet dress rehearsal last Thursday, hopes had been high that the historic moon mission would launch in March.

However, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman now says the March launch window is 'out of consideration'.

That means Artemis II will not take its crew – Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Jeremy Hansen – around the moon until April 1 at the very earliest.

Mr Isaacman says that the reason for the delay is an 'interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage'.

The system worked during both wet dress rehearsals, but engineers were unable to get helium flow through the vehicle during routine maintenance on Saturday night.

Now, as the long–awaited moon mission is pushed back once again, some frustrated fans have called for Elon Musk's SpaceX to step in with assistance.

Taking to X, one fan vented: 'Time to scrap the 1960s tech and innovate to build next gen space launch vehicles and to stay on par with SpaceX.' 

NASA's Artemis II moon mission has been delayed for the second time, as last–minute technical issues are found in the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket 

NASA administrator Jared Isaacman said that the issue had been caused by an 'interruption in helium flow in the SLS interim cryogenic propulsion stage'

Fed–up space enthusiasts have taken to social media to vent their irritation over the persistent delays.

One commenter wrote: 'At this rate, the Chinese will soundly beat us to the Moon.'

Others explicitly suggested that SpaceX should be called on to lend assistance or even replace the SLS rocket altogether.

On X, which is owned by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, one commenter wrote: '@SpaceX Those guys need a ride to the moon, please help them.'

Another asked: 'When will NASA stop the financial haemorrhaging and turn this program over to SpaceX?'

'Can we get out of this contract and save money with SpaceX,' suggested another.

In particular, a number of space fans suggested that the experimental Starship rocket could make a viable replacement.

Mr Isaacman (left) says that the setback will 'almost assuredly' affect the intended March launch date, ruling out the Artemis II launch until April 

Mr Isaacman says the systems performed well during both wet dress rehearsals, but unexpectedly failed during a 'routine operation'  

On X, frustrated space fans have called for Elon Musk's SpaceX to provide assistance to the Artemis II programme

'I beginning to think that the SpaceX Starship will be launching astronauts to space before the Artemis program,' one commenter suggested.

While one added: 'Time to replace SLS with Falcon Heavy. Might even actually do it faster with Starship.'

For context, SpaceX has been contracted by NASA to provide a modified version of Starship for the lunar landing during the Artemis III mission.

In April 2021, NASA awarded Elon Musk's company a $2.9 billion contract to provide the first crewed lunar lander, but SpaceX is widely expected to miss the 2027 target date.

Last year, acting NASA administrator Sean Duffy threatened to open up the contract to other countries due to persistent delays, saying at the time: 'The problem is, they're behind.'

However, NASA's immediate problems are the ongoing delays afflicting the problem–plagued SLS rocket.

Mr Isaacman says that the source of the problem could be located in one of the filers or quick–disconnect 'umbilicals' that pass gases between the ground and the rocket.

Alternatively, he says that the issue could have been caused by a 'failed check valve onboard the vehicle, which would be consistent with Artemis I'

Angry commenters lamented the costs of the SLS rocket and its persistent delays, arguing that the mission should be turned over to SpaceX

One commenter asked why America could 'get out of this contract' in order to save money with SpaceX

The SLS rocket will now need to roll back to the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Launch Centre for repairs, meaning that another wet dress rehearsal is almost certain 

After problems with the helium system were discovered overnight, NASA has now made the disappointing decision to roll SLS back to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at Kennedy Space Centre.

While the agency has a limited capacity to fix issues at the launch tower, more serious problems need to be addressed in the VAB, which gives engineers better access to the vehicle.

The vibrations caused by rolling the rocket in or out of the VAB risk loosening or disturbing seals and valves, meaning that one or two more wet dress rehearsals are almost certain.

After the success of the second wet dress rehearsal, the Artemis II crew entered quarantine in Houston, Texas, on Friday night.

During quarantine, the crew limit their exposure to other people so that they can stay in good health for the flight.

This procedure usually starts 14 days out from the launch date, but NASA has not said whether the crew will be able to leave quarantine before the April launch date.

Writing on X, Mr Isaacman added: 'I understand people are disappointed by this development. That disappointment is felt most by the team at NASA, who have been working tirelessly to prepare for this great endeavor.'

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

23-02-2026 om 20:36 geschreven door peter  

Scientists are baffled by a rule–breaking black hole that's growing at 13 TIMES the cosmic 'speed limit'

• READ MORE: Animation shows a supergiant collapsing into a black hole

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

An exceptionally hungry black hole from the dawn of the universe is growing at 13 times the cosmic 'speed limit', experts say.

Astronomers have used high–tech telescopes to 'look back in time' to around 12 billion years ago, not long after the universe was born.

There, they spotted something unexpected – a supermassive black hole that already weighed 440 million solar masses.

This means it was growing at an unimaginably fast rate, they said, absorbing gas and dust quicker than it was believed possible.

According to theory, there should be a limit on how fast black holes can grow because the act of 'ingesting' matter creates an opposing force which prevents more matter from being absorbed.

But this cosmic giant, known as ID830, is defying expectations – and could mark the discovery of the fastest–growing supermassive black hole of a similar mass found to date.

Researchers suggest the black hole may have 'collided' with a star or clump of gas, giving it enough energy for this remarkable growth spurt.

'This discovery may bring us closer to understanding how supermassive black holes formed so quickly in the early universe,' lead author Sakiko Obuchi said.

A graph displaying ID830's uniquely brilliant luminosity, compared to previously observed objects. The solid line shows the upper 'limit' of how it should be growing

An artist's impression of a supermassive black hole. Gas accretes onto the central black hole, forming an accretion disk and jets

The team, from Waseda University and Tohoku University in Japan, used the Subaru Telescope to analyse the black hole.

What makes this one even more striking is its multiwavelength behaviour, the researchers, who published their findings in The Astrophysical Journal, said.

When black holes undergo growth spurts, most models predict that their structure changes in ways that can reduce X–ray emissions and that their plasma and radiation jets may be less obvious.

However, this particular black hole shines brightly in both X–rays and radio wavelength.

This unexpected combination suggests scientists still have more to learn about the mechanisms of early black hole growth, the team said.

'Going forward, we hope to explore the mechanisms of X–ray and radio wave emission from this quasar and determine whether there are any similar objects yet to be discovered,' Dr Obuchi said.

They suggest they may have observed the black hole during a short transitional period, possibly following a sudden influx of gas.

This could prompt both the X–ray–emitting corona and the radio jet to become highly energised before the system gradually settles into a more typical mode of growth.

In a press release from the universities, the researchers said: 'Data from the Subaru Telescope show a surprising mix of traits.

'The quasar is pulling in matter at an exceptionally high rate while also emitting intense X–rays and launching a strong radio jet.

READ MORE

• Milky Way may NOT have a supermassive black hole at its centre: Scientists claim our galaxy may be run by an enormous clump of mysterious dark matter

'Many existing theories suggest these features should not appear together, making this object a rare and revealing find.

'The observations provide fresh insight into how supermassive black holes may have grown so quickly in the Universe's early days.'

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

23-02-2026 om 18:13 geschreven door peter  

Background: What You Know About The Foo Fighters May Well Be Wrong

Ask most UFO enthusiasts about the Foo Fighters and you will probably hear vague stories about US Army Air Force night-fighter crews who saw balls of light following their aircraft over Germany during the last months of World War Two. They may cite the Smokey Stover cartoon, popular among aircrew at the time, as the origin of the name “Foo Fighter”. Some may even throw in cases from the Pacific Theatre of Operations, again dating from the final year of the war, when crews watched “balls of fire” pacing their B-29 Superfortresses on missions over Japan.

What is less well known is that Royal Air Force bomber crews had been reporting strange lights, luminous objects, and large “aeroforms” in the skies over Germany since March 1942. The small number of UFO researchers who have looked at the subject in depth have discovered a huge number of sightings spanning the globe from 1942 onwards, although if you look hard enough, there are also reports of strange lights dating back to the time of the German invasion of Belgium in May 1940. Although the American night-fighter crews used the term Foo Fighters, the phenomenon had been known by many other names prior to that phrase being coined. Terms such as “meteors” and “rockets” were often used in official reports, but many RAF pilots simply referred to the phenomenon as “The Light” or “The Thing”. What is also not widely known is that lights were not the only items aircrews reported seeing. Huge cylindrical objects with portholes, inverted “bathtubs” and huge “blankets” were also sighted.

“You guys must be nuts! Nobody up there but your own plane. Aint seeing things, are you?” – Ground radar station reply to American night-fighter pilot after report of strange lights, November 1944

Over the last twelve months, I have been revisiting and re-evaluating the known Foo Fighter cases, and in the course of my research, have also found some new encounters in preparation for a book I am writing on the subject. Much of the information is buried in Air Intelligence files and squadron war diaries, most of which is barely legible due to the ravages of time on the flimsy wartime grade of paper used. However, many cases never saw official recognition, and researchers have to rely upon aircrew logbooks and personal interviews, in many cases conducted decades after the events being recalled. The vast majority of wartime witnesses are now deceased, and a large proportion took the details of their sightings to their graves, electing to keep quiet about their encounters.

There are well over one hundred known Foo Fighter sightings from the three main battlefronts during World War Two (Western Europe, Mediterranean, and Pacific), but strange lights and unidentifiable craft were also witnessed over both North Africa and the Eastern Front. To give an idea of the encounters that transpired during the war, here are three of those cases, all of which occurred long before the traditionally accepted start of the Foo Fighter phenomenon in November 1944.

“Several projectiles seemed to enter the luminous disc, but without result, although the object was well within range, approximately 150 metres.” – March 1942 encounter over the Ruhr Valley, Germany

A Polish-crewed Vickers Wellington bomber was returning from a raid on Essen just before midnight on 25th March 1942 when the aircraft’s rear gunner spotted a bright light approaching their aircraft. However, instead of a Luftwaffe night-fighter, it resembled a large fuzzy copper-colored ball, about the size of the Moon. Approaching within 200 yards of the bomber, the gunner opened fire, watching helplessly as his tracer rounds entered the ball of light to no visible effect. They did not come out the other side, nor did they inflict any appreciable damage. The strange light then shot forward and took up position off the Wellington’s port wingtip.

Now the aircraft’s nose turret guns could be brought to bear on the strange light, and both gunners blazed away at what was still thought to be a Luftwaffe night-fighter. The pilot executed a series of evasive maneuvers but could not shake the ball of light. It remained at the same fixed distance, seemingly undamaged, for several minutes until it finally flew around to a point ahead of the Wellington, remaining in place for a few seconds before shooting off into the distance and disappearing. Another crew flying behind the bomber also had their own encounter with the object but refused to report the incident for fear of ridicule.

“By turning suddenly and steeply, I was able to chase the light around in a circle until I could aim my four 20mm cannons at it. This I did several times until my ammunition was exhausted, but each time I observed, no apparent change in the behaviour of the light.” – RAF fighter pilot’s 1943 sighting

In the spring of 1943 over North Africa, a New Zealand fighter pilot was followed by an orange-red glow, a light that then moved to sit off his wingtip, matching his every turn, including a series of violent evasive maneuvers designed to throw off potential attackers. Taking advantage of an apparent time lag before the object matched his actions, he managed to fire his Hawker Hurricane’s guns at the light on a few occasions, but to no effect. The pilot could not distinguish what kind of aircraft or object was generating the light, as it was so bright. It grew dimmer as they crossed the front line but once beyond the firing it glowed with its original intensity. The RAF pilot’s mysterious companion vanished as he returned to base. He knew of numerous colleagues who also had run-ins with “The Light”. This encounter, similar in many respects to Commander David Fravor’s now-infamous dogfight with the “Tic Tac”, predated that event by more than sixty years.

“He was terrified, as white as a ghost. Something up there sure scared the hell of out him, he was nearly frantic when he got out of his aircraft.” – The effect on an American night-fighter crewman, October 1944

The US Army Air Force’s 422nd Night-Fighter Squadron had its fair share of sightings in late 1944 and early 1945, including a notable event over western Germany during the first week of October 1944 when an extremely rapid object latched onto the tail of one of the unit’s Northrop P-61 Black Widows. The mysterious ball of light followed the crew’s machine as the pilot threw it into a violent set of evasive maneuvers. Despite his best efforts, he could not shake off his pursuer, and in desperation finally dove into a bank of cloud. The ball of light did not follow. Colleagues in the squadron stated that the pilot’s radar observer was badly shaken by the experience and was “still sucking wind 24 hours later”. The mysterious ball of light was officially logged as a Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket-propelled interceptor. There would be many more bizarre encounters with strange lights before the year was out.

Analysis: Were the Foo Fighters Enemy Secret Weapons?

The night skies over the industrial cities of Germany were filled with lights when a raid was in progress. Multi-colored flares were dropped to mark targets and were replaced during attacks as they burned out. The Germans employed decoy flares to distract RAF bomber crews, and Luftwaffe night-fighter crews used “fighter flares” to silhouette enemy aircraft against the clouds, rendering them more visible to their colleagues. Sudden explosive balls of light, accompanied by sparkling lights, were often seen falling slowly towards the ground. RAF crews believed they were German attempts to simulate bombers being shot down in an attempt to lower morale. Nicknamed “Scarecrows”, they featured prominently in intelligence bulletins, and crews were encouraged to believe they were indeed German scare tactics. In reality, they were aircraft being blown out of the sky by flak and night-fighters. However, Allied aircrew had been very familiar with all of these flares and lights. They did not resemble the Foo Fighters in any way, shape, or form.

Because of wartime secrecy and censorship, most reports of strange lights and unconventional flying craft were never publicized due to the possibility that they may have been German secret weapons. Also, individual unit intelligence officers decided whether such reports were officially recorded and then sent up the chain of command for analysis. They frequently dismissed crew testimony and instead asked them whether they had been drinking. If official reports were filed, ribald comments and ribbing from colleagues followed, at least until they too saw something weird and unsettling. The Foo Fighter reports that do exist are a fraction of a much larger number of sightings.

 “[The enemy] have several land service rocket weapons, and the introduction of anti-aircraft rockets seems a likely and logical development.” – 1943 Air Intelligence briefing

Both the British and American Air Intelligence staff were completely flummoxed by the reports of strange flying objects and the balls of fire that followed aircraft without committing hostile acts. The early reports of 1942 and 1943, including “rockets” that altered course when pursuing RAF bombers, plus a 200-foot long object with red lights spaced at regular intervals along its length, were thought to be examples of new German secret weapons. Extra-terrestrials and so-called “flying saucers” were still several years off into the future, and they were never considered as a possible explanation. Most reports of mysterious lights were believed to be sightings of decoy flares, airborne searchlights, or rudimentary surface-to-air missiles, items which the enemy were believed to be developing at that time. With the available information to hand, these were rational and sensible suggestions, but with the benefit of hindsight, and a working knowledge of German wartime weapons research and deployment, these suggestions were actually way off the mark. 

The RAF had experimented with fitting searchlights into night-fighters but found that they blinded their pilots, rendering the scheme useless, and the Germans refused to devote resources to the subject, instead relying on ground-based installations. Several surface-to-air missile projects were being developed in late 1943 and throughout 1944, however frequent engine and guidance problems, together with political interference, prevented any achieving operational status. Most test launches were failures. Air-to-air rocket mortars were fired at B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators on daylight raids over Germany by defending fighters by mid-1943 onwards, although again these weapons were never used at night. The Luftwaffe almost deployed a wire-guided air-to-air missile in early 1945 but the factory producing the rocket motors was destroyed in a bombing raid. 

Once the Luftwaffe started to fly their early jet and rocket-powered interceptors in the autumn of 1944, the strange nocturnal lights were frequently referred to as “jets” in both American and British official records. This, despite the fact that the crews were actually witnessing balls of light, not aircraft, and in any case, the Germans did not operate their jet or rocket types at night at that time. A small number of Messerschmitt Me 262s jet fighters, converted to the night-fighter role, operated in the defense of Berlin from mid-December 1944 but they never flew in areas where Foo Fighters were encountered. The rocket-propelled Me 163 Komet appears in numerous combat reports by RAF night bomber crews, but it was never flown in the dark, as it was almost too dangerous to fly even by day. However, none of these German secret weapons matched the witness reports describing the Foo Fighters’ maneuvers and capabilities.

“Intelligence reports seem to indicate it is radio-controlled from the ground and can keep pace with planes flying 300 miles per hour.” – US newspaper report, 1945

Labeled as new Nazi secret weapons, reports of Foo Fighters started appearing in American newspapers during December 1944, but the armchair experts called upon by editors to comment on the stories were just as clueless as the Air Intelligence staff. As Allied ground forces pushed into Germany during the spring of 1945, the number of sightings dropped almost to zero. When the war finally ended in May 1945, the Foo Fighters seemed to disappear from Western Europe, suggesting that they were indeed German secret weapons. However, scrutiny of captured aircraft factories and testing facilities found nothing that resembled the Foo Fighters. None of the aircraft or missile designs that were discovered, or design plans that were found, matched the tremendous capabilities displayed by the balls of light. Captured scientists and technicians were interviewed but could not shed any light on the matter either. It turned out that the Germans were as much in the dark about the phenomenon as the Allies were.

The focus of the war changed to the Pacific, where similar sightings of strange balls of light, impervious to machine-gun fire, had been witnessed since August 1944, although sporadic reports of odd-looking objects had been filed since the end of 1942. Crews from Major William (“Butch”) Blanchard’s 40th Bomb Group saw mysterious “balloons” over Japan in October 1944, and Blanchard himself would be at the center of the Roswell UFO crash controversy almost three years later. Air Intelligence believed that some sightings in the Pacific were of German technology supplied to the Japanese. Plans for various weapons were indeed donated by Germany towards the end of the war, however, it was too late to put them into production. Once hostilities in the Pacific ended with the dropping of the two atomic bombs, the number of reports dwindled too. Interest in the Foo Fighters waned, and the wartime reports were filed away and forgotten. No one ever managed to put forward an explanation that stood the test of time. The Foo Fighters are as much a mystery to today’s researchers as they were to the intelligence officials of 1944.

Outlook: The More UFOs Change, The More They Stay The Same

Looking back to incidents that occurred nearly eighty years ago may seem like a waste of time to people caught up in the current heady rush of US Navy encounters, UAP photos, and future government briefings. What appears to be forgotten is that the accounts of November 1944 and November 2004 are not too dissimilar when you boil them down to their basics. Drop a P-61 Black Widow pilot into the front seat of a F/A-18F Super Hornet and he might gaze in awe at the new technology on display in front of him. Put him in David Fravor’s position and the P-61 pilot would realize that the “Tic Tac” demonstrates a much higher level of sophistication than the machine he was now flying. Military aircraft may have vastly improved over the intervening sixty years, but whatever our pilots are continuing to come up against during training flights, the mysterious lights and objects are still running rings around them. To this observer at least, it also appears as if those who are supposed to be “in the know” still don’t have a clue what is going on, something else which hasn’t changed since 1944.

“We have encountered a phenomenon which we cannot explain.” – Secret 1945 memo sent from XII Tactical Air Command intelligence staff to the First Tactical Air Force

Trying to ascertain the origin and motives of the Foo Fighters is akin to figuring out what is going on with the current UAP phenomenon. Stories suggest that German pilots also encountered the Foo Fighters during World War Two, but I have not been able to find any reports that stand up to even the briefest scrutiny. Without trying to sound like a debunker, the photographic “evidence” that exists is probably faked, is a film defect, or another mundane occurrence. Pictures that pass these tests subsequently fail in terms of a lack of supporting information. None of the photos I have found in the course of my research have accompanying notes about locations, dates, or names of the aircrew involved, and are therefore treated with a healthy dose of skepticism. Without context, they are practically meaningless. I like to think that if annotated photos exist in a military archive somewhere, they presumably sit on a shelf next to pictures of the crashed Roswell craft and the Kecksburg “Acorn”. 

Despite a lack of photographic evidence, the Foo Fighter phenomenon is redeemed in terms of the sheer number of witness statements, logbooks, and intelligence reports that confirm the existence of strange lights and other odd flying objects during World War Two, if not their nature. Reports of Foo Fighter encounters are compelling but leave plenty of scope for argument and debate over their veracity, origin, and purpose. Fast forward to April 2021 and a quick read through postings on UFO Twitter tells me that nothing has changed in this respect. UAPs remain unidentified, and people continue to argue over what they represent.

If and when the current spate of UAP sightings is explained to the satisfaction of most commentators and onlookers, perhaps the information we receive will help us understand historical encounters such as the Foo Fighters, Roswell, and Socorro. One could argue that the Foo Fighters are still with us. They might have changed their shape and name, but they are still the same elusive phenomenon that has baffled military personnel who have confronted them in the skies for almost eighty years.

• Follow and connect with author Graeme Rendall on Twitter: @Borders750
• Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, to weigh in and share your thoughts. You can also get all the latest  news and exciting feature content from The Debrief on Flipboard, and Pinterest. And subscribe to The Debrief YouTube Channel to check out all of The Debrief’s exciting original shows: The Official Debrief Podcast with Michael Mataluni– DEBRIEFED: Digging Deeper with Cristina Gomez –Rebelliously Curious with Chrissy Newton

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

23-02-2026 om 17:49 geschreven door peter  

Orbs Over Stojeszyn, Lublin Voivodeship, Poland – January 19, 2026 (approx. 5:00 PM) UFO UAP Sighting News.

Date of sighting: Jan 19, 2026

Location of sighting: Stojeszyn, Poland

 

UFOs are constantly being seen around the world, often being mistaken for something else when in reality...it's an alien craft. Here we have several orbs moving about knowing full well that there are people down below watching and recording them. Aliens know the time for full disclosure is very near, and they no longer want to wait. These are alien entities ai technology recording and sometimes controlled by biological entities at an alien base somewhere underground or under the ocean floor. 

Scott C. Waring - Taiwan 

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

23-02-2026 om 17:23 geschreven door peter  

UFO caught in NASA images over moons surface, Apollo 10. UAP Sighting News.

 

Strange UFO Sighting of cone caught in NASA image over moons surface, Apollo 10 Mission.

Location: Moons Surface
Date: May 18 until 26, 1969

While looking over some NASA images in their archives of Apollo 10 moon mission I found these Five interesting photos. Remember the purpose of this mission was to be a "dry run" for the Apollo 11 mission, testing all of the procedures and components of a Moon landing without actually landing on the Moon itself. See the UFO orb on far right? The first and second photos show the module floating near two UFO orbs that apparently came to investigate them. These photos are labeled "flyby sequence" because they are flying over the moon to investigate future landing spots. Now two orbs on right.The third through fifth images shows a UFO that is shaped like an upside-down cone. This giant UFO also seems to have the two orbs flying around it. Notice the orbs position changes in each photo. 

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily

 

 

Source:

• http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/frame/?AS10-27-3864
• http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/frame/?AS10-27-3865
• http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/frame/?AS10-28-3988
• http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/frame/?AS10-28-3989
• http://www.lpi.usra.edu/resources/apollo/frame/?AS10-28-3990
  
  

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

23-02-2026 om 17:06 geschreven door peter  

Onverwachte verschuiving van de magnetische noordpool

©Getty Images

Onverwachte verschuiving van de magnetische noordpool

De magnetische noordpool van de aarde is aan het verschuiven. Hoewel dit eeuwenlang een geleidelijk proces is geweest, hebben recente waarnemingen een verandering in het tempo van de beweging aan het licht gebracht. Maar waarom gebeurt dit en wat zijn de gevolgen voor onze planeet?

Van de manier waarop onze smartphones werken tot de navigatie van vliegtuigen, de verschuivende magnetische noordpool heeft een verrassende invloed op ons dagelijks leven.

Geïntrigeerd? Klik door deze galerij om het zwervende magnetische veld van de aarde en de verrassende implicaties ervan te ontdekken.

©Getty Images

Wat is het magnetische veld van de aarde?
De aarde is een gigantische, bolvormige magneet. De aarde is omgeven door een magnetisch veld dat in de tijd en in de ruimte verschuift. Dit veld is afkomstig van verschillende bronnen binnen en buiten de aarde.

©Getty Image

Als een staafmagneets
Het lijkt erg op het veld dat wordt gecreëerd door een staafmagneet, maar dan geplaatst in het middelpunt van de aarde. Magnetische velden worden gecreëerd door bewegende elektrische ladingen. In een staafmagneet zijn deze ladingen elektronen die rondjes draaien in atomen.

©Shutterstock

Kernelementen
Binnenin de aarde zijn deze bewegende ladingen elektronen die worden meegevoerd door circulerende stromen gesmolten ijzer.

©Getty Images

William Gilbert
Wetenschappers bestuderen het magnetisme van de aarde al eeuwenlang. William Gilbert, een 17e-eeuwse Engelse natuurkundige, was een pionier op dit gebied. Zijn experimenten en het gebruik van termen als 'elektrische kracht' en 'magnetische pool' legden de basis voor de moderne elektriciteit.

©Getty Images

Reuzenmagneet
Gilberts boek uit 1600, 'De Magnete', zorgde voor een revolutie in het begrip van magnetisme. Na uitgebreid onderzoek stelde hij voor dat de aarde zich gedraagt als een reusachtige staafmagneet, wat het gedrag van kompasnaalden en magnetische variaties gekoppeld aan geografische kenmerken verklaart.

©Getty Images

Bevindingen
Hij besprak het magnetisme van de aarde aan de hand van een model: een bolvormig stuk laststeen dat een terrella (kleine aarde) wordt genoemd. Magnetische naalden op een terrella wijzen naar de noordpool (aangeduid als punt A). Zelfs op een oneffen oppervlak, zoals bij punt O, wijzen de naalden nog steeds naar het noorden.

©Getty Images

Vintage uitrusting
In het begin van de 19e eeuw bestudeerden wetenschappers het magnetisme van de aarde met behulp van dipnaalden. Deze maten de hoek van het magnetische veld van de aarde op een willekeurig punt. Naalden staan horizontaal op de evenaar en verticaal op de polen. Wetenschappers gebruikten dompelnaalden op expedities vanaf de 18e eeuw.

©Getty Images

Ontdekking
De Schotse schout-bij-nacht Sir James Clark Ross ontdekte de Noordelijke Magnetische Pool in het noorden van Canada voor het eerst in 1831, na een aantal Arctische expedities.

©Getty Images

Technische vooruitgang
Een beter begrip van de magnetische polen van de aarde leidde tot vooruitgang in de navigatie. De 'True Course Finder', bijvoorbeeld, automatiseerde berekeningen voor zeelieden, waardoor ingewikkelde formules niet meer nodig waren. Vóór deze apparaten konden zeelieden alleen het magnetische noorden bepalen met een kompas, waardoor ze extra berekeningen nodig hadden voor het ware noorden.

©Getty Images

In beweging
Eeuwenlang hebben wetenschappers de magnetische noordpool gevolgd. In tegenstelling tot de stationaire geografische noordpool is de magnetische noordpool voortdurend in beweging. Tussen 1600 en 1900 bewoog hij ongeveer 10-15 kilometer per jaar.

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Siberië-gebonden
In de jaren 1990 dreef het naar de Atlantische Oceaan voordat het versnelde richting Siberië. Aan het begin van de jaren 2000 was de snelheid toegenomen tot ongeveer4 kilometer per jaar.

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Siberië-gebonden
In 2005 probeerden de Canadese geofysicus Larry Newitt en de Franse geoloog Jean-Jacques Orgeval het magnetische veld van de aarde vast te stellen tijdens een expeditie naar het Canadese noordpoolgebied. Ze bevestigden dat de dolende pool internationale wateren was binnengedrongen en op weg was naar Siberië.

©Public Domain

Magnetisch Wereldmodel
Het World Magnetic Model (WMM), gezamenlijk ontwikkeld door het Amerikaanse National Geophysical Data Center en de British Geological Survey (BGS), is een grootschalig model van het magnetisch veld van de aarde dat wordt gebruikt om de locatie van de pool te voorspellen. Het WMM wordt elke vijf jaar bijgewerkt en de nieuwste versie is nu beschikbaar.

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Op de rem
Terwijl de reis richting Rusland doorgaat, is de magnetische migratie van de Noordpool de afgelopen vijf jaar vertraagd tot ongeveer 35 kilometer per jaar. Deze snelheid van vertraging is volgens wetenschappers ongekend.

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Canada vs. Rusland
Een team onder leiding van professor Phil Livermore van de Universiteit van Leeds heeft een verklaring voorgesteld voor het recente gedrag van de magnetische Noordpool. Hij suggereert dat de pool gevangen zit in een touwtrekwedstrijd tussen twee concurrerende magnetische krachten, de ene onder Canada en de andere onder Siberië.

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Canada vs. Rusland
Livermore suggereert dat de Canadese magnetische patch uitgerekt en gesplitst is, waardoor de Siberische patch mogelijk sterker is geworden. Deze verschuiving in het evenwicht zou de verschuiving van de pool naar Rusland kunnen verklaren.

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Wat veroorzaakt de beweging?
De buitenkern van de aarde bestaat voornamelijk uit gesmolten ijzer, een vloeibaar metaal. Als warmte uit de kern ontsnapt, beweegt dit gesmolten ijzer en wordt het magnetische veld van de aarde opgewekt.

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Ronddwarrelend
Onvoorspelbare veranderingen in de wervelende beweging van dit gesmolten ijzer, dat zich ongeveer 3.218 kilometer onder het oppervlak bevindt, beïnvloeden het magnetische veld van de aarde en de positie van de magnetische pool.

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Warme thee
"Het is net een reusachtige kop thee," legt William Brown uit, een wereldwijde modelleur van het aardmagnetisch veld bij de British Geological Survey. "Het is een hete vloeistof met de substantie van water."

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Implicaties voor de echte wereld
De beweging van de noordelijke magnetische pool is cruciaal voor nauwkeurige navigatie. De gegevens die worden verzameld door de beweging te volgen, worden gebruikt om kompassen en andere navigatieapparaten te kalibreren.

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GPS en smartphones
Het speelt een rol in alledaagse GPS-systemen, waaronder de kompasfunctie op onze smartphones.

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Militaire navigatie
Het leger vertrouwt ook op het World Magnetic Model voor nauwkeurige navigatie van onderzeeërs, vooral in moeilijke omgevingen zoals de Noordpool.

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Luchthavens
Landingsbanen van luchthavens zijn genummerd op basis van hun kompasrichting. Als het magnetisch veld van de aarde verschuift, moeten deze nummers worden bijgewerkt. De noordbaan van Berlin Brandenburg Airport veranderde bijvoorbeeld van 25R/07L naar 24R/06L in oktober 2024.

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Constante bewaking
Hoewel het onmogelijk is om exacte bewegingen te voorspellen, blijft de BGS het magnetische veld van de aarde in de gaten houden. Ze gebruiken een netwerk van grondstations en satellieten om het veld op verschillende locaties in kaart te brengen.

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Pool flip?
Wetenschappers weten dat het gesmolten ijzer in de kern van de aarde voortdurend wervelt en dat de magnetische polen altijd bewegen. Is het dan mogelijk dat er een volledige omkering plaatsvindt, waarbij het noorden het zuiden wordt en omgekeerd?

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Magneetveld spiegelen
Hoewel omkeringen van de aardmagnetische polen niet vaak voorkomen, zijn ze in de geschiedenis van de aarde wel voorgekomen.

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Magneetveld spiegelen
De laatste volledige omkering vond 780.000 jaar geleden plaats. Een tijdelijke omkering vond 41.000 jaar geleden plaats, maar die duurde slechts 250 jaar voordat hij terugkeerde naar, de positie waar de polen zich vandaag de dag nog steeds bevinden.

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Geen reden tot zorgen
Hoewel omkeringen van de aardmagnetische polen alarmerend kunnen klinken, vinden ze over een lange periode plaats en vormen ze geen directe bedreiging voor het leven. Wetenschappers hebben bevestigd dat dergelijke gebeurtenissen geen significante kortetermijnveranderingen veroorzaken in het milieu van de aarde.

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{ Stars Insider }

23-02-2026 om 16:11 geschreven door peter  

Ufology: From Fringe to Mainstream to Fringe?

Alittle over eight years ago The New York Times published a story that had profound implications for the way in which the UFO topic was perceived.¹ It also began, at least in the U.S., a process by which the subject became increasingly more mainstream. In this article I want to address three questions:

(1) How did ufology get here?

(2) Where does ufology stand now?

(3) What does the future hold for ufology?

1. How did ufology get here? 

On December 16, 2017, The New York Times broke two related stories. The first was the existence of forward-looking infrared videos of UAP (the U.S. government uses the term UAP—Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon—as opposed to UFO) taken from U.S. Navy jets and confirmed by the Department of Defense as being authentic footage.²

The second part of the story was the existence of a shadowy intelligence program known as the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), that supposedly researched and investigated UAP. This was newsworthy in and of itself, because for years the official position of the U.S. government was that there was no longer any interest in UAP, and that no programs had existed to study the phenomenon since the end of the 1960s, when a long running U.S. Air Force program known as Project Blue Book was terminated. Many people in the UFO community believed this was a lie and that covert programs existed, so it seemed like a clear-cut example of a conspiracy theory that turned out to be true. 

The truth was rather more complex, and there’s still no universally accepted narrative here. Some skeptics say AATIP was more of an unofficial effort undertaken by a group of believers in the Intelligence Community. Whatever its true nature, AATIP was clearly a spin-off of an earlier Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) program called the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP). AAWSAP was demonstrably a genuine program, and some official documents use the terms AAWSAP and AATIP interchangeably.³ In January 2020, Pentagon public affairs spokesperson Susan Gough issued a statement attempting to clear up the confusion. It stated: 

The Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP) was the name of the overall program. The Advanced Aerospace Weapons Systems Application Program (AAWSAP) was the name of the contract that DIA awarded for the production of all technical reports under AATIP. 

I sought further clarification, and on January 13, 2020, Susan Gough followed this up with a statement that: 

DIA managed the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program. All of the work performed under AATIP was done via a single contract vehicle called AAWSAP. The total work effort for AATIP consisted of the 38 technical reports produced under the contract vehicle. DIA was the sole lead for management of AATIP via AAWSAP. Congress was briefed on the total work conducted for AATIP—the aforementioned 38 technical reports. 

The authors of these 38 reports include Hal Puthoff, Eric Davis, and Kit Green—names well-known to those who follow government dabbling in fringe science and the paranormal. 

My personal assessment is that all the euphemistic “advanced aerospace” references were a way of disguising a UFO or paranormal research program as being a program looking at next-generation foreign aerospace weapon threats, to try to protect it from skeptical Pentagon financiers and Congressional oversight folks who would have been horrified to learn that taxpayers’ money was being spent on such matters. This attempt was ultimately unsuccessful, because while $10M was appropriated in FY2008 and a further $12M in FY2010, funding ended in FY2012, after an earlier official review concluded that “the reports were of limited value to DIA.” 

The roots of AAWSAP trace back to Intelligence Community personnel Jay Stratton and James Lacatski, as well as to Skinwalker Ranch in Utah, often portrayed as a hotbed of UFO sightings and paranormal phenomena. Following the DIA’s 2008 issue of a contractual solicitation (carefully worded to focus on breakthrough technologies that might underpin future aerospace weapon systems, while avoiding mention of UFOs or the paranormal), the contract was awarded to Bigelow Aerospace Advanced Space Studies (BAASS).⁴ Billionaire space entrepreneur Robert Bigelow was, at the time, the owner of Skinwalker Ranch. 

Robert Bigelow had a longstanding interest in UFOs and the paranormal, and had previously funded the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS).⁵ The Chairman of the Board was the aforementioned Hal Puthoff, a parapsychologist who’d previously managed (with Russell Targ) a program at the Stanford Research Institute (not affiliated with Stanford University) to investigate paranormal phenomena. This work likely led to the U.S. government’s dabbling in such areas as remote viewing through Project Stargate, run by the DIA and CIA during the Cold War. 

NIDS looked at a range of fringe science topics, and some have argued that AAWSAP was essentially a way to secure government funding for a continuation of the sort of work that had been done by NIDS. Senator Harry Reid (who knew Robert Bigelow) was instrumental in securing official status and funding for AAWSAP. 

The New York Times story was quickly picked up by other mainstream media outlets around the world, and this caught the attention of numerous Congressional representatives and staffers. A key reason for this interest was the fact that aside from Harry Reid and two Senatorial colleagues, there seemed to have been no Congressional knowledge of AAWSAP or AATIP, and certainly no oversight. 

In terms of UFOs, folks in Congress likely aren’t that different from society as a whole, in that there’s a wide range of opinions across the spectrum from skeptic to believer. Furthermore, irrespective of beliefs, it’s hardly surprising that an unknown but clearly significant number of people in Congress saw The New York Times article and thought to themselves something like, “Wait, the government has a UFO program, but didn’t tell us? It was run by Intelligence Community personnel and there’s no Congressional oversight? What are they doing and what have they found out?” 

What followed was multifaceted Congressional interest in and engagement on the topic of UAP, to the extent that a critical mass built up. I believe a key factor here was that this engagement was bipartisan, covered both the Senate and the House, and involved several committees, mainly the Armed Services committees, the Intelligence committees, and the Oversight committees. This Congressional engagement led to classified briefings and public hearings. Witnesses at the public hearings included whistleblowers like Luis Elizondo (a retired counter-intelligence operative prominently featured in The New York Times article and described therein as being the individual who had run AATIP) and David Grusch, a former Intelligence Community member who had been attached to the UAP Task Force under the directorship of Jay Stratton. 

Perhaps the most important part of Congressional UAP engagement was the insertion of multiple UAP-related provisions into several of the recent, annual National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA). In part to meet these legislative remits, the DOD set up an office (the aforementioned UAP Task Force) to handle the response and to lead on the topic across government. This task force published a number of official reports and was eventually replaced by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). AARO’s website hosts a wealth of reports, briefings, and other UAP-related materials, sourced both from the DOD and Congress, that perfectly illustrate both the breadth and depth of Congressional engagement and the government response to this Congressional interest.⁶

As an interesting side note, one of the directors of the UAP Task Force was the aforementioned Jay Stratton, who had previously been involved in AAWSAP and who had an anomalous experience at Skinwalker Ranch. Stratton’s upcoming memoir, apparently to be published in 2026 by HarperCollins, may shed some light on unresolved questions concerning the evolutionary process from NIDS to BAASS to AAWSAP to AATIP, as well as other not-yet-resolved questions. 

Every intelligence analyst on the face of the planet knows the importance of differentiating between what they know and what they think, yet these very people often seem to be blurring the line.

It’s certainly interesting to note the connections between the various individuals involved and to see how the same names pop up repeatedly. This gives some potential insights into who the key players are and what the overall agenda is. The New York Times story, for example, had a long gestation period. The story was shopped around for some months prior to publication, not only to The New York Times, but also to The Washington Times and Politico, both of which were thus able to run fairly detailed stories very shortly after The New York Times got the scoop.

 

Further insights can be gained by looking at the three names that appeared on the byline for The New York Times story: Helene Cooper, Ralph Blumenthal, and Leslie Kean. 

Helene Cooper was a Pentagon correspondent with The New York Times, with no previous UAP interest; The New York Times veteran reporter Ralph Blumenthal’s interest predated the December 2017 article and began with his research into Harvard Professor of Psychiatry John Mack, who had conducted research into the alien abduction mystery. This led to the 2021 publication of Blumenthal’s book on Mack, The Believer. Leslie Kean comes from a wealthy political family and had a prior interest in UAP and alien abductions, illustrated by her previous writings and by the fact that she lived for some years with abduction researcher Budd Hopkins, who first introduced John Mack to the topic. 

It was Leslie Kean who was instrumental in bringing the story to The New York Times. Luis Elizondo had resigned from government service in the fall of 2017, but very shortly before leaving had passed the three best-known U.S. Navy UAP videos to Christopher Mellon, a former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Intelligence. Elizondo believed he had obtained official security clearance for their release, though it seems there was a misunderstanding and that the clearance was not intended to authorize public release. To illustrate this, an April 27, 2020, statement from the DOD referred to “unauthorized releases” of the videos in 2007 and 2017.⁷ In 2007, one of the videos leaked online on the Above Top Secret discussion forum, while 2017 referred to the process that led to The New York Times running the story. 

Mellon and Elizondo then joined an organization called the To The Stars Academy of Arts and Science (TTSA), ostensibly headed by Blink-182 musician Tom DeLonge. TTSA was a sort of collaborative hub for a number of individuals, many with backgrounds in government UAP and fringe science research, including Hal Puthoff and retired CIA officer Jim Semivan. 

It was Christopher Mellon who facilitated a meeting between Kean, Elizondo, and others, which then gave Kean enough to take the story to The New York Times, via Ralph Blumenthal, setting in motion a series of events that was to forever change the field of ufology.⁸

2. Where does ufology stand now? 

This is how ufology in the U.S. went from fringe to mainstream, though it’s a simplified version, and not all the twists and turns of the story are universally agreed upon. If I had to summarize what I think happened and why, my best assessment would be as follows: A loose coalition of believers in UAP and the paranormal, often with backgrounds in government, military, and the Intelligence Community, sought and obtained official funding for their work. When that funding was terminated, they continued the work in a quasi-official capacity. Finally, when they felt they’d taken matters as far as they could without official funding, they decided to go public, successfully gambling that the resultant firestorm would generate other ways to take things forward. The goals may have included funding (TTSA certainly raised some money through a share issue) and Congressional engagement. The latter has clearly been a big success. 

However, eight years into this process, there’s still no smoking gun and we appear to have hit some speed bumps, with several new and parallel events putting things in a rather different light. 

Further ex-government whistleblowers have come forward. This sounds like a good thing, and in one sense, it is, but the unintended consequence has been that this has added to the information overload and created a landscape so complicated that even veteran commentators like myself, who follow the situation very closely, find it difficult to keep up. Furthermore, not all whistleblowers are equal. While one can be reasonably confident that those who have testified to Congress are who they say they are (staffers vet such people fairly thoroughly, not least by quizzing their former employers), others haven’t had their backgrounds investigated in such depth. 

It should also be remembered that even when someone’s government background checks out, their specific role is often harder to pin down and their information can be all but impossible to verify. That’s partly because many of these folks have a background in the military and the Intelligence Community, where issues of classification often arise and where deception was literally in some of these people’s job descriptions. It’s also because much of the information is second hand, but where those concerned don’t make it clear that this is something that somebody else told them. Every intelligence analyst on the face of the planet knows the importance of differentiating between what they know and what they think, yet these very people often seem to be blurring the line. No wonder one occasionally hears some civilian UFO researchers complain that the whole thing is a PSYOP. 

This already murky situation has been further complicated by factional infighting. There’s clearly a struggle for narrative control within the field. Even among the various whistleblowers and other key players, who are ostensibly polite with each other, there are clearly some tensions. By way of a personal anecdote, I’ve had more than one TV producer tell me how Individual A told them he’d appear on a show, provided Individual B wasn’t featured (the requests backfired because producers don’t usually play that game). I’m similarly aware that some of the key players who are ostensibly being polite to me are briefing against me, perhaps seeing my mainstream media platform as a potential threat, especially given that I’m independent in all this and don’t take anybody’s side. Because it so perfectly describes the situation, I can’t resist quoting a lyric from the O’Jays song Back Stabbers: “They smile in your face. All the time they want to take your place.” 

There’s nothing new about infighting in the UFO community. What is new, however, is that folks with a background in military intelligence know a few dirty tricks that their civilian counterparts don’t. Plus, social media has acted as a force multiplier, with 𝕏 in particular having turned into a veritable battlefield between some of the key players, often using proxies and sock puppet accounts. Cliques, harassment, and doxxing seem to be the order of the day. Neither should we sweep under the carpet the uncomfortable truth that some of the people who’ve recently jumped aboard the ufology train clearly have psychological issues, while others sense a money-making opportunity. 

To pick one example of all this infighting, the December 2025 appearance of Jay Anderson on Joe Rogan’s podcast seems to have set off a particularly nasty squabble.⁹ Jay criticized Luis Elizondo (among others), accusing him of orchestrating an aggressive campaign to control the narrative, as well as making reference to what he’s sometimes called a “UFO Hate Group.”¹⁰ In response, a group of Elizondo supporters, sometimes dubbed “the Lue Crew,” hit back against Jay Anderson.¹¹

A related development is that a new generation of influential podcast hosts and YouTube channel owners saw the topic become increasingly mainstream and entered the fray. While many are honest brokers, their podcasts and channels are often the arena in which the struggle for narrative control plays out. Again, despite being a veteran commentator who follows all this closely, I struggle to work out who’s supporting which faction, how many factions there are, and the true nature of their respective agendas. 

What is the result of all this information overload, confusion, and infighting? Speaking personally, I’m fatigued. Moreover, I see from social media that other people are fatigued too. I’m a free speech absolutist, so I’m certainly not advocating any controls on this. I completely reject the idea (which has been floated several times over the years) that ufology should set up some sort of governing body, or somehow police itself. After all, who gets to decide who’s on the governing body, and quis custodiet ipsos custodes? 

There are other developments that give me cause for concern. One of them relates to a couple of narrative shifts that I’ve noticed creeping into the topic. 

Ufology has always been a big tent. In whistleblower David Grusch’s testimony to Congress, and in some of his media interviews, he used the terms “nonhuman” and “non-human intelligence.”¹² In the Schumer-Rounds Amendment (a legislative proposal intended for insertion into FY2024 NDAA, but which did not find its way into the final bill), the term “non-human intelligence” was used multiple times.¹³ Grusch has said that this leaves the door open for other possibilities aside from the extraterrestrial hypothesis. And this has opened the door to some highly speculative discussions about cryptoterrestrials, ultraterrestrials, extratempestrials, and interdimensionals. It’s also led to something a little more on the dark side, with a theological bent. 

The idea that aliens are fallen angels, or demons, isn’t new. But this once-niche theory has gotten a little more traction lately. Luis Elizondo has previously told the story of how, when he lobbied a senior Pentagon official to take more action over UAP, the official told him he should read his Bible. This appeared to reflect a belief that some aspects of UAP are demonic and that to study it would be to give it energy and feed it. 

Such opinions have gained more mainstream traction with Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene expressing the views that aliens could be fallen angels,¹⁴ while high-profile broadcaster Tucker Carlson has also talked about UAP in terms of spiritual forces and entities like angels and demons.¹⁵ All of this plays into a neoreligious interpretation of ufology. Chris Bledsoe—author of UFO of God—talks about how an entity he dubs “The Lady” told him how glowing orbs would intervene to stop the missiles if Israel and Iran go to war. There’s an “end times” theme to a lot of this.¹⁶

Again, as a free speech absolutist, I wouldn’t dream of telling people what they can and can’t say about UAP, let alone what they should believe. Again, I’m merely commenting on the current state of play and expressing a personal opinion that I think some of the current narrative isn’t necessarily healthy or helpful. And I certainly doubt that it holds any validity. 

Another narrative shift is the use of the term “psionics”—the idea that one can use the power of one’s mind to summon UAP. It’s a scientific-sounding term, but is it really that different from Steven Greer’s CE5 (Close Encounter of the Fifth Kind) protocols, whereby one can supposedly use meditation and other techniques to initiate contact with extraterrestrials? The danger, of course, is that certain individuals can then insert themselves as intermediaries; you can access the phenomenon, but only through them, because of their special abilities. Again, there’s a sort of quasi-religious, cultish feel to all this, in which one can only access the divine through the intermediary of the priest. 

3. What does the future hold for ufology? 

Given my assessment that ufology has to some extent moved from fringe to mainstream, but has hit some speed bumps, where do we go from here? I don’t have a crystal ball, but based on statements from a range of people involved in the process, it seems that further Congressional hearings and more whistleblowers would be a fairly good bet. The problem, of course, is that, short of a “smoking gun” (actual evidence and not just more stories), this runs the risk of reinforcing the view that it’s all talk and no action. Where’s the beef? 

The Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets is looking at UAP. There’s considerable overlap between personnel involved with the Task Force and personnel serving on the House Oversight Committee, which has been particularly vociferous on UAP. This brings up a potential problem, because while the Task Force is bipartisan, it skews toward Republicans. Thus, it wouldn’t take much to jeopardize the bipartisan nature of Congressional engagement, which would be a setback. 

If Donald Trump’s presidency ends without disclosure, I’ll be 99.9 percent convinced that there’s nothing to disclose.

The UFO community continues to hope for Disclosure—the official acknowledgement of an extraterrestrial presence. The Age of Disclosure, a documentary produced by Dan Farah and released late in 2025 plays into this.¹⁷ So does Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film Disclosure Day.¹⁸ But it goes further than this, and 2027 is a potential date that’s been frequently mentioned. 

Disclosure in 2027 would mean that Donald Trump would be the Disclosure President. There’s a curious kind of logic in this, because if there truly is a decades-long official cover-up of an extraterrestrial presence, the secret has been scrupulously kept by successive administrations of both political parties. By inference, therefore, the reasons for secrecy must be exceptionally compelling. Perhaps only a populist, maverick, second-term President would disclose in such circumstances—more so, given that Trump will soon be in his 80s and is doubtless mindful of his legacy. I agree that if the U.S. government is aware of an extraterrestrial presence, Trump is more likely than any previous president to spill the beans. President Trump has occasionally hinted that he’s privy to some interesting information about UFOs, but has yet to elaborate on the topic.¹⁹

Some argue that the secret of an extraterrestrial presence is kept even from presidents (perhaps to maintain plausible deniability) and is in the hands of an unelected set of gatekeepers, perhaps in the government, but possibly in the private sector. I find this unconvincing. Most Western governments operate on the basis of what the UK civil service calls the culture of “no surprises,” by which political leaders need to be briefed on all big, impactful issues that might require quick decisions and action. 

If Donald Trump’s presidency ends without Disclosure, I’ll be 99.9 percent convinced that there’s nothing to disclose. I’d have to accept that if extraterrestrials are visiting Earth, nobody in the government is aware of it. The acceptance of such a state of affairs might actually be rather good for ufology. After all, while some conspiracies are real, most conspiracy theories are false, and encourage a negative, accusatory approach. Removing—or at least reducing—this mindset from ufology might lead to a healthier, less aggressive approach. It would also remove a lot of redundant effort, which could be better used elsewhere, such as in encouraging more scientists and academics to engage on the topic. 

As I see it, ufology stands at an interesting crossroads. While some of the details remain disputed, the topic has undoubtedly transitioned from fringe to mainstream in the last few years. However, a mixture of information overload, infighting, and quasi-religious narratives may conspire to undo this progress. Allied to this, mainstream media interest in most topics waxes and wanes. The UFO community can’t expect their current fascination with the subject to last indefinitely. This is particularly true if Congressional engagement falls away, as it may well do if the perception is that the subject is becoming more partisan and more fringe, with the attendant dangers of reputational damage attaching to those Representatives who continue to express an interest. 

Ufology has come out of the fringe and into the mainstream, but I believe there’s a distinct possibility that it will move out of the mainstream and back into the fringe.

22-02-2026 om 23:41 geschreven door peter   0 1 2 3 4 5 - Gemiddelde waardering: 0/5 - (0 Stemmen)
Categorie:LATEST ( UFO ) VIDEO NEWS ( ENG)

UFOs, aliens and ‘little green men’: A primer on everything extraterrestrial

Trump’s announcement of unsealing all files related to possible life beyond Earth has put the spotlight back on one of the most enduring mysteries that has baffled humans for a long time.

22-02-2026 om 23:10 geschreven door peter  

Overview

In a recent opinion column, The New York Times urges the White House to address four foundational questions about unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), commonly known as UFOs. The piece comes amid a surge of congressional hearings, de‑classified Pentagon reports, and mounting public curiosity about objects that appear to defy conventional explanations. By framing the issue as one of transparency, national security, scientific opportunity, and inter‑agency coordination, the column argues that a coherent federal response is now both feasible and necessary.

The Four Core Questions

1. What is the government’s current knowledge of UAPs, and why has it not been fully disclosed?
   The author notes that the Pentagon’s 2023 preliminary assessment acknowledged “a limited amount of data that remains unexplained,” yet the administration has offered only vague briefings. The column asks whether a systematic release of vetted information could restore public trust without compromising sensitive sources.

2. Do UAPs pose a credible threat to national security?
   Recent testimony before the House Intelligence Committee highlighted concerns that foreign adversaries might be using advanced drones or hypersonic platforms. The op‑ed stresses that without a clear risk assessment, policymakers cannot allocate resources or develop counter‑measures effectively.

3. What scientific value do UAP investigations hold, and how can they be integrated into existing research frameworks?
   The piece points to the National Academies’ 2023 report, which called for “rigorous, interdisciplinary study” of anomalous aerial observations. It asks the administration to consider partnerships with civilian research institutions, NASA, and the scientific community at large.

4. How will the government coordinate across agencies to study, track, and respond to UAPs?
   The author cites the establishment of the All‑Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) as a step forward but warns that “fragmented reporting lines risk duplicating effort and obscuring accountability.” A clear chain of command and reporting protocol is presented as essential for a unified response.

Policy Implications

The column underscores that answering these questions is not merely a matter of curiosity; it has tangible policy ramifications. Transparency could mitigate misinformation and reduce the political weaponization of the UFO narrative. A definitive national‑security assessment would guide defense budgeting and inform intelligence priorities. Meanwhile, embracing scientific inquiry could unlock novel data on atmospheric physics, sensor technology, and even potential extraterrestrial phenomena—areas that could yield commercial and academic breakthroughs. Finally, a robust inter‑agency framework would streamline data collection, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and ensure that any credible threat is addressed swiftly.

Congressional and Public Momentum

Lawmakers from both parties have signaled a willingness to move beyond partisan posturing. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Representative Tim Burchett have both called for “full‑scale, bipartisan oversight” of UAP investigations. Public polls show that nearly 70 % of Americans favor greater disclosure, according to a recent Pew Research Center survey. The op‑ed argues that the administration’s response—or lack thereof—will shape public confidence in governmental transparency for years to come.

Recommendations for the White House

The Times piece concludes with a concise set of actions:

• Issue a comprehensive, redacted briefing to the public that outlines what is known, unknown, and the rationale for any classification.
• Commission an independent scientific panel—modeled on the National Academies’ approach—to evaluate data and recommend research pathways.
• Mandate regular reporting from AARO to both the National Security Council and congressional oversight committees.
• Allocate dedicated funding for UAP research, including sensor upgrades and data‑analysis infrastructure, to avoid ad‑hoc budgeting.

By confronting these four questions head‑on, the White House could transform a topic long relegated to the fringe into a structured, accountable element of national policy—balancing security imperatives with the public’s right to know.

{  https://usubjects.com/ }

22-02-2026 om 22:41 geschreven door peter  

What the U.S. government has already revealed about UFOs

Herb Scribner

President Trump's decision to release government files related to aliens and UFOs is reigniting one of America's longest-running mysteries.

The big picture: While it's unclear whether any new significant surprises await, the belief that government secrets may prove extraterrestrial life exists has fueled curiosity and speculation for decades.

• The latest chapter started when former President Obama said last week that aliens are real. He later clarified that he hadn't seen any evidence of aliens making contact with Earth.
• But his remarks prompted Trump to suggest this was classified information and promise to release new records.

Here's what the government has previously shared:

What's confirmed by the government

Between the lines: Much of what's been confirmed has been about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) rather than "UFOs." UAPs are airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable.

• The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) confirmed in a 2021 report that UAPs are real, but there's no confirmation they stem from some extraterrestrial origin.
• The Pentagon has largely maintained that there is no evidence of alien technology nor any hidden programs within the government related to UAPs.

Yes, but: The Pentagon released three declassified UFO videos in 2020 filmed by U.S. Navy pilots in 2004 and 2015.

Congress hearings investigate UAPs

UFOs have been on Congress' radar for years, mostly due to bipartisan concerns about transparency and national security.

• Congress held a series of hearings from 2022 to 2024 as part of an investigation into UAPs and national security.
• Several officials testified that UAP sightings have simple explanations — that they were actually balloons, drones and optical effects.
• Officials also confirmed that hundreds of UAP reports exist, including military cases.

What they said: Sean Kirkpatrick, director of AARO, testified in April 2023 that many sightings involved "metallic orbs" — though he did not confirm extraterrestrial technology.

• Whistleblower David Grusch testified in July 2023 that he believed the government was withholding evidence and information about UAPs.

NASA, Pentagon downplay sightings

Flashback: In 2023, NASA released a report from its UAP study team that found no evidence of aliens.

• However, the government agency said they aren't sure what UAP technically are and that more research could be done into defining the unidentified objects.

An unclassified 2024 Pentagon report gave the public insight into what we know and don't know about UFOs.

• The report mainly found that several of the sightings in the 1950s and '60s were likely caused by tests of advanced U.S. spy planes and other tech.
• The report said there was no evidence of confirmed extraterrestrial activity related to UAPs.

Reported UFO sightings per 100k residents

Jan. 1, 1995, to Feb. 19, 2026; Approximate locations of 140,406 sightings submitted to the National UFO Reporting Center

A U.S. state map of reported UFO sightings per 100,000 residents from 1995 to 2026, as of February 19, 2026. About 140,000 sightings were reported in that time period, with the most sightings relative to population in Vermont (100 per 100,000 residents), Washington (95) and Montana (94).

Oregon

88.7 sightings per 100k residents

3,790 total sightings

Where UFOs are spotted

Americans share reported sightings all the time to the National UFO Reporting Center, which catalogs all reports for the public to read.

• The most recent claim was on Feb. 10, when someone reported seeing a UAP in Cave Junction, Oregon, that was "a shooting star" that made "a zigzag pattern."
• Of course, these reports are unconfirmed and anyone can file them.

By the numbers: The NUFORC collects data on where the most sightings have happened throughout the world.

• California remains the state with the most reported sightings at 17,061 as of February 2026, per NUFORC.
• The NUFORC reports offer varying details of what the unidentified objects look like.
• More than 10,000 people described the UFOs as a "fireball," with 14,000 spotting a "triangle."

The bottom line: The truth is out there, and Trump's order could provide new evidence for believers and skeptics to seize on.

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22-02-2026 om 22:31 geschreven door peter  

Government UFO files would be an avalanche of info: Elizondo

Michael Ramsey

(NewsNation) — President Trump’s promise to disclose any government-held information about UFOs and extraterrestrials will be no simple lift if it comes to fruition, says Luis Elizondo, a former Pentagon insider who has long advocated for the feds to be transparent.

He notes the government has amassed a secret trove of information for more than 80 years and suggests the potential quantity of information could dwarf the millions of documents in the Epstein files.

“Now, the real hard work begins,” Elizondo told “CUOMO” on Friday. “The government has been sitting on this information for so long. There’s so much documentation right now, within our own holdings — within the intelligence community, within the defense communities, within the Department of Energy — that this is going to be a tremendous undertaking.”

First, Elizondo said, Trump will need to sign an executive order that obligates agencies under his control to comply with his transparency directive.

On Thursday, the president said on Truth Social he would direct the Pentagon and other government agencies to release files about “alien and extraterrestrial life”; unidentified anomalous phenomena, aka UAPs; UFOs; and “any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”

Among skeptics who doubt Trump will ultimately make good on his promise is investigative journalist Ross Coultart of NewsNation’s “Reality Check” podcast.

“It’s very important to note Donald Trump is not saying, in what he’s announced to date, that he is going to declassify anything,” he says. “All they are talking about is reviewing records.”

The issue of UFOs — purists prefer the broader term UAP, which includes objects traveling in bodies of water — has gained traction in recent years after several whistleblowers have stepped forward to claim the government has covered up vital information. The whistleblowers include David Grusch, who told lawmakers the federal government is operating a UFO retrieval program.

A widely publicized 2025 documentary, “The Age of Disclosure,” featuring a bipartisan roster of policymakers and officials, suggested the U.S. and rival nations are in a race to reverse-engineer alien tech that has been recovered.

The UAP category can also include drones, which have become increasingly sophisticated.

Public ready for truth on UFOs, extraterrestrials: Journalist

Journalist Marik Von Rennenkampff, a former State Department analyst who writes about UAPs, says Trump’s timing is perfect given the “critical mass” the issue seems to have achieved.

“I think we’re ready for it,” Von Rennenkampff says of the public at large. “I think the big question is what happens the day after — geopolitically, economically, socially and culturally.”

Scientists could help evaluate UFO info: Avi Loeb

The Harvard astrophysicist who made a splash with his study of the comet 3I/ATLAS said the government files, if they see the light of day, could yield higher-quality images than the public is used to seeing when discussions about UFOs come up.

“In addition, there could be some materials that were retrieved and are puzzling,” Avi Loeb told “Jesse Weber Live” on Friday. “The best way to figure things out to share it, if we are sure it’s not coming from adversarial nations.”

 { https://www.newsnationnow.com/ }

22-02-2026 om 22:11 geschreven door peter  

Overview

Chief Investigator George Knapp of 8 News Now has produced an investigative report on a series of unidentified drone swarms that appeared over U.S. civilian and military sites between late 2024 and early 2025. The sightings spanned multiple states—including New Jersey, Nevada, Florida, Texas and California—and affected high‑security installations such as Langley Air Force Base and Wright‑Patterson AFB, where air traffic was briefly halted. While federal officials initially described the events as “no known national‑security threat,” a White House briefing on January 29, 2025 claimed the FAA had authorized the flights for research purposes, a conclusion that Knapp and other analysts say raises further questions about inter‑agency coordination and public disclosure.

George Knapp investigates: Drone swarm mystery and new UAP revelations

The FAA Explanation and Immediate Reactions

National Security Communications Advisor John F. Kirby and other officials asserted that the government could not trace the origin of the craft, prompting criticism from state and local leaders. New Jersey Assemblyman Brian Bergen labeled the response “amateur hour,” and President‑elect Donald Trump suggested the administration was withholding information. The White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt later announced that the “mystery had been solved” by attributing the drones to FAA‑approved research missions. Knapp highlighted a key inconsistency: if the FAA had indeed authorized the flights, why did the FBI, Department of Defense and the FAA jointly issue statements in December 2024 describing the swarms as an unknown phenomenon requiring advanced detection technology?

Historical Context of UAP Incidents

The 2024 drone swarms echo earlier unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) events that have drawn congressional and Pentagon attention. In July 2019, more than 100 unknown objects were reported near ten U.S. Navy warships off the Pacific coast, many appearing as wingless orbs with no detectable propulsion. The June 2021 Pentagon report on 144 UAP incidents concluded that most were not attributable to classified U.S. programs, while leaving open the possibility of foreign or non‑human origins. A separate 2023 incident at Langley AFB saw dozens of objects operating for two weeks despite sophisticated radar and defense systems. These precedents have fueled calls for a permanent, well‑funded UAP investigative body.

Expert Commentary and Legislative Concerns

Rep. Tim Burchett (R‑TN) warned that the drone incursions represent a “test” of America’s air‑space security that the nation is currently failing. Former Nevada Senator Harry Reid, a long‑time advocate for UAP transparency, noted that the government’s admission of “not knowing” what the objects are marks a “significant, albeit preliminary, step.” Former AATIP director Lue Elizondo argued that the technology observed by pilots exceeds known terrestrial capabilities, suggesting a global phenomenon rather than a domestic secret project. Former Navy commander David Fravor added that the persistence of such technology over decades makes it unlikely to be a covert U.S. program, given the difficulty of maintaining secrecy for 15‑20 years.

Conclusion and Outlook

The investigation concludes that the White House’s attribution of the late‑2024 swarms to FAA‑approved research drones does not fully resolve the underlying issues of transparency and inter‑agency communication. Lawmakers and UAP experts continue to press for a permanent, adequately funded investigative office capable of identifying and analyzing objects that demonstrate flight characteristics beyond current human technology. As the public and congressional committees await further clarification, the broader mystery of unidentified aerial phenomena remains open, underscoring the need for systematic, scientifically rigorous study of America’s skies.

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22-02-2026 om 21:52 geschreven door peter  

17 things commonly mistaken for UFOs

Think you've seen a UFO in the sky? Consider the following possibilities...

BY Ezzy Pearson

UFO sightings have a long history. In 1950, the UK Ministry of Defence opened an official desk to investigate every flying saucer report in the UK.

Rather than looking for little green men, however, it was tasked with investigating possible hostile aircraft that may have secretly entered UK airspace.

The desk was closed in November 2009 and after nearly 60 years of reports, not one resulted in a genuine threat to the UK.

But rather than uncovering an extra-terrestrial conspiracy, the last batch of files released by the National Archives revealed that at the time of the closure the MoD had "no opinion" on the existence of extra-terrestrial beings, and seemed a little fed up by the hundreds of reported UFO sightings that they were receiving each year.

The reports do make interesting reading, and can all be accessed online at the National Archive UFO webpage.

But the truth is that the vast majority of UFO sightings have Earthly origins – optical illusions and rare weather among them. Here we'll look at some of the most likely suspects.

So, the next time you see something in the sky and you think it might be a UFO, consider the following possibilities.

• Find out more by reading or watching our interview with psychologist Chris French on why people believe in UFOs and our interview with historian Greg Eghigian on UFO and flying saucer reports.

Military aircraft

Top secret spyplanes like the Blackbird (Lockheed SR-71) were often taken to be UFOs during the Cold War.

In recent years, the triangular-shaped stealth fighter (F-117A Nighthawk) and bomber probably have been, too.

Who knows how many new sightings are down to top-secret craft we don’t even know about – perhaps even saucer-shaped ones?

Meteor fireballs

A yellow-ish object appears out of nowhere, flying fast and silent across the sky and leaving a glowing trail behind it.

The object suddenly breaks into smaller pieces before vanishing into thin air – all in under a minute.

Over-anxious witnesses might run screaming to the media, but astronomers will be content to have seen a spectacular meteor fireball.

Lens flare

If you’ve been observing for a long time you’ll be all too aware that light sometimes bounces off the lens elements in your camera, binoculars or telescope, causing a lens flare.

Some flares can look like solid objects and, if they’re accidentally framed in the right place, a newbie might well mistake them for an unworldly spacecraft.

The Moon

Sometimes all rational thought seems to go out of the window.

In 2007, a woman phoned South Wales Police to report a ‘bright stationary object’ that had been floating in the air for 30 minutes.

Later that evening, the police control room radioed to check what an officer had found.

The officer replied: “It’s the Moon. Over.”

The International Space Station

The International Space Station is larger than Wembley’s football pitch and significantly brighter than most night sky objects.

It moves fast, taking just a few minutes to cross the sky from one horizon to the other.

It’s also silent, perhaps startling and confusing onlookers who are used to the din of aeroplane engines.

If you do want to see it, read our guide on how to see the International Space Station.

Oddly shaped clouds

The closest you’ll get to seeing a classic flying saucer shape is the so-called lenticular cloud (Altocumulus lenticularis).

They form at high altitudes, near or atop mountains that have moist air blowing over them.

Although the wind speeds are high, the clouds remain stationary.

It’s not hard to imagine you’re seeing a hovering UFO, or a saucer concealed inside the cloud.

A SpaceX frozen exhaust plume

Have you just seen a strange, spiral-shaped glowing cloud in the night sky?

The chances are it could be a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket dumping leftover fuel as it launches a satellite into Earth orbit.

This leftover fuel freezes at high altitudes and rotates rapidly due to the movement of the spacecraft.

Sunlight reflects off the spiral cloud and makes it glow, making for a rather strange sight in the night sky.

Sky lanterns

They’ve been used in Asia for centuries, and now sky lanterns are now becoming increasingly popular around the world. Using the heat generated by a small candle, the paper lanterns can rise up to over 1km in altitude – and if there is little wind when they are released, they can appear to hover overhead.

Several lanterns are often released at once, sometimes tied together so they appear to fly in formation. From the ground it’s easy to mistake this for a single solid object. Today, sky lanterns are the number one cause of UFO reports. In 2009, the number of sightings reported to the MoD’s UFO desk tripled, with most eventually being attributed to these floating lights.

Military satellites

In the 1970s, the US Navy launched a series of surveillance satellites to track Russian vessels.

Dubbed NOSS (Naval Ocean Surveillance System) by civilians, these consist of a trio of satellites that orbit in a triangle formation and are sometimes visible to the naked eye.

Venus

Seen either before sunrise or after sunset, Venus is so bright it’s often mistaken for the landing lights of an aeroplane.

Unlike a plane, though, Venus is pretty much stationary, which gives imaginative observers the impression of something ‘hovering’.

Bright, orangey red Jupiter is another planet frequently taken to be a UFO.

Ball lightning

No one is sure what causes this electrical phenomenon, which can measure as much as 1m across. Though often associated with thunderstorms, ball lightning tends to last much longer than a lightning bolt – up to a minute rather then a split-second. It has been reported to move erratically, or hover in place, before either silently fading from view or exploding loudly.

Due to its rare and unpredictable nature there has been little study of ball lightning, but reported sightings date back centuries. There are even reports that the glowing spheres have come into people’s homes down chimneys and through windows.

Space debris

Junk in low Earth-orbit has become a major problem, with inoperable satellites left behind to become what is collectively known as space junk.

Eventually, atmospheric drag slows them down to the point that they fall to Earth, streaking across the sky as huge fireballs that can last for up to a minute.

Different materials in the debris can create brightly coloured trails as they burn up, adding to their otherworldly appearance.

Sometimes pieces can make it to the ground, leaving behind strangely shaped debris, which some mistake as wreckage from spacecraft of a less terrestrial origin.

Weather balloons

Weather stations all around the world release balloons on a daily basis, to monitor current conditions and provide better forecasts. However, an increasing number of weather balloons are being used by members of the public for scientific experiments, educational purposes or simply to capture video from the upper atmosphere.

The balloons can rise to altitudes of 40km, at which point they burst and fall to Earth. From the ground this is often mistaken for an exploding plane or spacecraft. A balloon was responsible for the most famous of all UFO sightings, the 1947 Roswell incident.

Rocket misfires

In the early hours of the morning on 9 December 2009, a strange white spiral appeared in the skies over Norway. It seemed to be emitting a blue beam from its centre. The weird formation was the result of a Russian Bulava missile test, in which the missile malfunctioned high in the atmosphere. The rocket went wild, venting gas from the side, making the craft spin.

Though it was still night for people on the ground, the Sun had reached the upper atmosphere, illuminating the gas as a white spiral. The light also caused fuel leaking from the missile to glow blue, giving the illusion of a ray beam emanating from the spiral.

Flares from aircraft

In 1997, several hundred people saw a V of lights flying over Phoenix, Arizona. It was later revealed that the lights were the result of a routine training exercise run by the Maryland Air National Guard, in which a group of planes flew in formation, dropping flares.

This kind of exercise is commonly undertaken without being noticed, but on clear nights the flares can be seen from up to 50km away. The intense heat from the flares can create currents in the surrounding air, causing them to hover. If the conditions are mild then the flares can hold their formation, creating the optical illusion of a solid object.

Searchlights

Massive searchlights outside clubs, theme parks and festivals are a common sight, sweeping back and forth across the clouds, but when viewed from several miles away they can look like mysterious objects moving in the night. The light

beam is so weak that it cannot be seen, leaving only the bright spots of white light.

These can be mistaken as shining through the clouds, rather than being cast on them. They often appear to be darting back and forth across the sky, but are in reality the work of a lighting technician.

Contrails

Perspective can easily fool the untrained eye. When a plane is flying at right angles towards the horizon and leaving a trail of artificial clouds known as a contrail behind, it can appear to be an object crashing to the ground. The effect of the wind blowing the cloud formations wider emphasises this illusion, and red light from a setting Sun can make them glow red, as if on fire.

Light glinting off the underside of a plane can make it appear as if there is a bright core to the cloud. However the object will appear to be moving very slowly. If something is really falling to Earth, it will move very quickly across the sky, even when seen from a distance.

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

22-02-2026 om 21:36 geschreven door peter