New Discoveries on Mars and What They Say About Habitability and Life

By Nathalie A. Cabrol, Astrobiologist & Science Director, Carl Sagan Center, SETI Institute.

  

Gale crater: These pea-sized nodules were formed by minerals left behind as groundwater was drying out on Mars billions of years ago.

(Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS)

At a Glance:

New Discoveries on Mars and What They Say About Habitability and Life
Nathalie A. Cabrol, SETI Institute

Two NASA rovers have strengthened the case that ancient Mars may have supported life.

• Curiosity (Gale Crater) detected the largest organic molecules yet found on Mars—long carbon chains consistent with fragments of fatty acids.
• These molecules were preserved in rocks altered by ancient groundwater, suggesting long-lived subsurface water activity.
• Perseverance (Jezero Crater) identified silica-rich rocks, including quartz, minerals known on Earth for preserving biosignatures.
• The rover also found kaolinite clay, evidence of sustained water–rock interaction and potentially habitable conditions.

Why it matters:
While not evidence of life, these discoveries show that ancient Mars had complex organic chemistry, long-lasting water systems, and mineral environments capable of preserving potential signs of life—making the search more compelling and increasingly testable.

Mars dominates the planetary news with exciting reports. Two NASA rovers, working nearly 3,700 kilometers apart, made discoveries that addressed the question: how far did Mars come toward conditions that, on Earth, supported life?

On one side of the planet, new studies confirm last summer’s hint that Curiosity detected the largest organic molecules yet identified on Mars. These include decane, undecane, and dodecane found in the ancient Cumberland mudstone of Gale Crater. These C10–C12 carbon chains are consistent with the kinds of fragments you might expect from fatty acids, which are molecules that, on Earth, sit close to biology because they are basic building blocks of membranes and metabolic chemistry. But it now seems that these compounds were in sediments later modified by groundwater-driven diagenesis (when sediments turn into rocks), documented by Curiosity’s mineralogical and geochemical measurements. On the other side, Perseverance has identified silica-rich rocks in Jezero Crater, including opal/chalcedony and, critically, well-crystallized quartz, detected with SuperCam spectroscopy. Why does it matter? Silica-rich phases on Earth are famously good at preserving biosignatures, from molecular residues to microtextures. And we just learned that Perseverance also identified kaolinite in altered igneous rocks on the crater floor. This comes from combined SuperCam infrared spectroscopy and PIXL elemental chemistry, consistent with a feldspar-to-kaolinite transformation under sustained water activity. If both findings are mineralogical firsts, they are also a lot more than that. They point to abundant ancient groundwater–rock interaction and likely hydrothermal processes.

Taken together, these are not “We discovered life on Mars” headlines. They are subtler and, in many ways, more important. This is a strengthening of the case that ancient Mars had both (i) an organic carbon inventory and (ii) environments capable of concentrating, processing, and preserving chemical traces – and these environments were diverse and long-lasting, and that’s good news for the search for life on Mars.

Organic Molecules and Ancient Groundwater at Gale

The findings at Gale are exciting because they push Martian organic chemistry into a higher tier of complexity. Long carbon chains do not automatically mean biology, but they do mean that Mars can make, or at least retain, molecules that are closer to the chemical scaffolding of life than the simple organics we often discuss. On Earth, fatty acids are associated with life, but they are not exclusive to it. Abiotic pathways exist, including hydrothermal synthesis and Fischer–Tropsch-type reactions (chemical reactions on hot mineral surfaces that can build organic molecules capable of supporting life). Mars has the rocks, the heat sources (past and still some today), the CO/CO₂ and H₂ chemistry, and time, lots of it.

What now makes the Cumberlands organics particularly compelling is their geological context. Curiosity has shown that these mudstones underwent multiple episodes of groundwater circulation after burial. These episodes have been recorded in mineral veins, diagenetic textures, and chemical redistribution measured by CheMin and APXS. The organics detected by SAM therefore reside in rocks that remained chemically open systems for extended periods. That matters a lot because groundwater does more than wet rocks. It transports carbon, redistributes redox couples (paired chemicals that exchange electrons), and creates microenvironments where organic molecules can be synthesized, altered, concentrated, or shielded from oxidation. Subsurface aqueous systems are also among the most stable habitable niches on Earth, persisting long after surface environments become hostile. In Gale, this implies that potential habitable conditions did not end with the lake that deposited the mudstone but continued underground, in circulating water, for geologically meaningful timescales.

What nudged this discovery into deeper interest is not the mere detection of the molecules, but the attempt to ask whether known non-biological sources plausibly account for their abundance. A follow-on analysis reported by NASA describes a study arguing that the non-biological sources they evaluated (for example, delivery by meteorites) could not fully explain the measured abundance, making it “reasonable to hypothesize” that biology could have contributed, while stressing that this remains unresolved.

Jezero: Hot Springs, Clay, and Life-Friendly Environments

The Jezero quartz story is exciting for different reasons. It is less about “life ingredients” and more about environmental opportunity. Quartz and its silica cousins (opal, chalcedony) typically form under conditions that mobilize silica in water and precipitate it, often in hydrothermal settings. The Jezero detections are interpreted as part of a common hydrothermal system, potentially triggered by the impact that formed Jezero, with different silica phases representing precipitation at different depths and temperatures. Why does that matter with respect to habitability? Because hydrothermal systems are among the most compelling natural laboratories for prebiotic chemistry and microbial ecosystems. They supply heat, chemical gradients, and mineral surfaces that can drive synthesis and catalysis. And if life ever gained a foothold, hydrothermal circulation can both sustain it and entomb its traces. Silica-rich deposits are also preservation jackpots. On Earth, cherts and other siliceous rocks can lock away molecular organics and microscopic structures over immense timescales. The Jezero team explicitly frames these silica-rich rocks, especially opaline silica, as key targets for sampling and return, precisely because of their preservation potential.

That, in itself, is already a tremendous finding, but there is more. The identification of kaolinite announced a few days ago now expands the picture from hydrothermal pulses to prolonged water alteration. Kaolinite typically forms when feldspar-rich igneous rocks interact with liquid water over extended periods under relatively moderate temperatures and pH conditions. Its presence in Jezero’s altered crust indicates sustained water-rock interaction. Critically, Perseverance observes kaolinite spatially associated with silica-bearing alteration zones. Together, these minerals outline a continuum of water environments, from hydrothermal circulation to longer-lived alteration in percolating or standing waters. This kind of mineralogical diversity is exactly what on Earth correlates with habitable geochemical gradients and long-term fluid activity.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers bleached kaolinite rocks on Mars, revealing clues of ancient climate conditions in Jezero Crater.

What Makes a Biosignature?

Here is the key: neither discovery stands alone. Organic molecules, by themselves, are not proof of life. Quartz, by itself, is not proof of life. Even both together are not proof of life. But they add weight to an accumulating argument that ancient Mars wasn’t merely “wet once,” or “chemically interesting in theory.” It was active, carbon cycling through environments, water moving through rocks, hydrothermal systems likely operating, and complex organics being produced, delivered, preserved, or all the above. The addition of groundwater-altered sediments at Gale and clay-forming alteration at Jezero further suggests that habitable conditions were not confined to short-lived surface lakes or impact events but extended into subsurface and long-duration aqueous systems across different regions of the planet. This is why astrobiology relies so heavily on context and the ladder of life-detection principles. The same molecule means different things in different rocks. The same mineral means different things in different settings. A signature of life is convincing only when it cannot be explained by the environment alone. What is not helping either is that we still do not have a universal definition of life that can be cleanly adopted for alien worlds. We recognize life on Earth because Earth is saturated with it and because we understand its biochemistry here. On Mars, we are forced to adopt a more cautious approach, inferring possibilities and building confidence only when multiple independent clues converge.

The Significance of these Discoveries

Gale’s organics grow the chemical inventory. Gale’s groundwater history and Jezero’s kaolinite now extend both inventories in time and environmental range, indicating that water activity and alteration persisted beyond the initial lake and impact phases, and occurred in multiple geochemical regimes. Together, they help narrow the space of plausible histories for Mars, histories in which complex carbon chemistry had time and place to unfold, and in which traces of life, if they ever existed, might still be readable. Ancient Mars, increasingly, looks less like a planet that was briefly habitable and more like one that sustained habitable settings in different places, at different depths, and for much longer than once thought. These findings do not tell us that life was present on Mars, but they tell us the question remains scientifically… alive and increasingly testable. And in Mars exploration, that is a very big deal.

NASA May Have Finally Found Life on Mars!

{ https://www.seti.org/ }

28-02-2026 om 21:47 geschreven door peter  

Story by David Miller

©David Miller

What NASA’s Newest Discovery On Mars Means
Mars has always been our neighbor in the universe but remained distant enough to remain a secret. Whenever NASA releases a new finding, people are curious once again. The latest findings about the Red Planet are not an exception. Although the details are still under research by scientists, there are good indications that there is something that could alter the way we mentally process Mars and its past in a rather gentle way. It does not suggest any dramatic conclusions or immediate answers. Rather, it initiates a philosophical debate on the possibility, the patience, and the gradual yet constant manner in which science proceeds. And that perhaps could be the most interesting of all.

©David Miller

A closer look at the Martian surface
New information seems to point out strange surface patterns not evidently perceived previously. These structures might have been formed in the course of time. Although the researchers are cautious, the shapes and textures may provide some new information regarding the changes in the environment on Mars.

©David Miller

Hints of ancient water activity
According to some experts, the new findings may be related to evidence of the movement of water in the past. In the event that that happens to be the case, it may support previous theories that Mars was once in wetter conditions. Nonetheless, it will take a greater analysis and time to be validated.

©David Miller

What the soil samples could reveal
The samples of the soil collected can have traces of chemicals that assist the scientists in knowing the past of the planet. Minute combinations of minerals could indicate certain ecological factors. Nevertheless, the interpretation of these signals is complicated and not always easy.

©David Miller

Technology is making it possible
This discovery has been made possible by advanced instruments on rovers and orbiters. These instruments are meant to screen finer details that could have been overlooked by the older missions. All the reading, however, should be carefully checked.

©David Miller

The role of rover exploration
Missionary vehicles such as the Perseverance rover are still relaying useful information. They have mobility and are able to learn various terrains. The recent developments could be a component of the ongoing research on the selectively chosen areas.

©David Miller

Why location matters on Mars
What is discovered might not be any more important than the location of the discovery. Some areas are more historical about geology than others. Scientists tend to concentrate on the locations that could have been water-bearing in the past.

©David Miller

The question of past life
Life is always something that people are inquiring about whenever Mars unveils something new. Although this finding does not validate anything, it could be used to provide background for the bigger search. Researchers are rather slow in addressing such possibilities.

©David Miller

Learning the history of martian climate
Climate significantly contributes to the formation of any planet. The new information may give an indication of the way Mars evolved millions of years ago. It may imply changes in temperature or atmosphere, but further studies are required.

©David Miller

Why scientists avoid quick conclusions
Scientific findings do not often give immediate solutions. Any discovery has to be put to the test, scrutiny, and argument. This cautious approach prevents confusion. The latest find on Mars is bound to take the same deliberate direction

{ EvenOut }

28-02-2026 om 20:55 geschreven door peter  

Story by James Felton

Infrared light emitted by organic molecules (left) and water (right) from 3I/ATLAS.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech© IFL Science

Interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS is soon to have a potentially course-altering encounter, before it heads out of our Solar System for good in the direction of the Gemini constellation.

Last year, the Solar System received its third confirmed interstellar object, in the form of interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS. This comet has traversed the galaxy for billions of years, and is likely older than the Solar System it is currently passing through.

The object has already had its closest encounters with Mars, Earth, and the Sun. The encounter with the Sun saw 3I/ATLAS change dramatically, with a massive release of organic molecules, while the approaches to Earth and Mars weren't close enough to have a large effect on the comet.

The Sun Just Cracked Open 3I/ATLAS Revealing New Surprises

Open the Youtube video

But before our interstellar visitor leaves us for good, it has one last close encounter to go, and it's possible it might be a course-altering close shave. On March 16, the object's path will take it close to our largest gas giant. On that day, it will pass within 0.35832 astronomical units (AU) of Jupiter, with one AU being the average distance between Earth and the Sun.

Why is that significant? It is incredibly close to Jupiter's "Hill radius" or "Hill sphere". This is the region around a massive body where its gravity dominates over more distant objects like the Sun. Jupiter's Hill radius is around 0.355 AU, or around 53 million kilometers (33 million miles).

• Related video: “We’ve never seen anything like this before” - and it’s moving through our solar system (The Space Race)

"The comet 3I will definitely suffer the perturbation from both Mars and Jupiter at their respective close approach epochs," the authors of one preprint study (a paper that has yet to be peer-reviewed), which used dynamic simulations to map 3I/ATLAS's path, explained ahead of the close encounter with Mars.

"The effect of Jupiter will be larger due to the fact that the comet is passing very close to the Hill radius of Jupiter," the team wrote.

Whether this encounter will significantly affect the course of 3I/ATLAS, however, depends on the non-gravitational acceleration of the object. Though this sounds kind of spaceshippy, all it means is the acceleration that isn't due to gravitational interactions alone, but factors such as outgassing and radiation pressure from the Sun.

"We find that the major effects on comet 3I’s orbit are seen when the nongravitational acceleration is of the order of 10 to 10 auday," the authors explained. "The non-gravitational acceleration of 10 auday and lower has negligible effect on the various parameters."

Mapping the comet's path back and forward over longer timescales, the team found that it likely came from the direction of the Sagittarius constellation, and it will depart in the direction of Gemini. Before that, we will have another opportunity to study the object as it approaches Jupiter. So long, very old friend.

The study is posted to preprint server arXiv.

{ iflscience.com }

 

28-02-2026 om 17:43 geschreven door peter  

UFOs and U.S. presidents: A 200-year history of sightings and secrets

Sean Sterling

On Feb. 14, former President Barack Obama was asked a question during an interview with political podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen. “Are aliens real?”

“They’re real,” Obama replied, “but I haven’t seen them. They’re not being kept in, what is it, Area 51. There’s no underground facility. Unless ... There’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid from the President of the United States.”

The internet went bananas.

Two days later, Obama clarified on Instagram. “Since it’s gotten attention let me clarify. Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there. But the distances between solar systems are so great that the chances we’ve been visited by aliens is low, and I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!”

When asked for comment on Obama’s declaration, President Donald Trump said, “He’s not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake, he took it out of classified information.” Trump then continued with a slightly stifled smirk, “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying.”

Social media exploded again.

The conspiracy minded wondered whether Trump’s statement itself confirmed classified information.

Hours later, Trump posted on Truth Social that he was directing the Pentagon to identify and release government files “related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”

The Pentagon has reported hundreds of UAP cases in recent years. Twenty-one of those reports have been tagged as needing further analysis due to “anomalous characteristics.” None, officials say, demonstrate extraterrestrial activity.

Presidential commentary on UFOs didn’t begin in the age of podcasts and social media. For more than 200 years, the question of extraterrestrial life has brushed up against the Oval Office.

Multiple presidents have joked, speculated, investigated, promised disclosure, and occasionally claimed personal sightings of UFOS. Some have remained mysteriously silent. Others have been dragged into some serious tall-sounding tales.

Whether extraterrestrial contact has been secretly made with our government or not, it’s still fun to reflect on how much influence the Commander-in-Chiefs have had on UFO conspiracy culture throughout the years.

Thomas Jefferson (1801–1809)

In 1800, while serving as Vice President, Thomas Jefferson recorded a “singular phenomenon” reported by the naturalist and astronomer William Dunbar. Dunbar described “a fast-moving, crimson-red, cigar-shaped, luminous object, roughly 70–80 feet long, traveling about 200 yards above the ground.”

This account appeared in the Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 6 and is the earliest known reference by a U.S. President to unexplained objects in the sky.

Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)

In 1947, pilot Kenneth Arnold reported a sighting of fast-moving objects near Mount Rainier which ignited public fascination with UFOs. That same year, an Air Force balloon crashed near a New Mexico ranch and sparked the Roswell Incident, a conspiracy theory claiming the debris was a government cover-up of an alien spacecraft and crew.

Amidst the media frenzy, Truman was asked whether he had seen any flying saucers himself. “Only in the newspapers,” he quipped.

Behind the humor, his administration treated the sightings as national security concerns, launching investigations that evolved into Project Blue Book, the U.S. Air Force’s official program designed to investigate, analyze, and document reports of Unidentified Flying Objects.

The program ran from 1952 to 1969.

John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)

No verified public statement shows JFK discussing alien life.

However, conspiracy theorists point to an alleged 1963 memo written by JFK and addressed to the CIA in which the president requests confidential information about UFOs.

NBC News noted that the memo was surfaced in 2011 by author William Lester.

Its authenticity is heavily disputed and widely considered a likely forgery... but it keeps JFK in the conversation.

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969)

LBJ rarely commented publicly on UFOs. However, he presided during intense Cold War aerospace development, when many sightings were likely tied to experimental aircraft. Under his presidency, the U.S. Air Force briefed officials that in 20 years of studying 11,000+ sightings, there was no evidence that UFOs posed a threat or were extraterrestrial. This report set the stage for closing Project Blue Book.

Richard Nixon (1969–1974)

Keep in mind, this story was first reported in the National Enquirer and is based on secondhand accounts.

According to an urban legend, not official documentation, Nixon allegedly took comedian Jackie Gleason to Homestead Air Force Base in Florida to view alien bodies in 1973. Gleason reportedly told friends he was deeply disturbed by what he saw.

It remains lore, not official history.

Gerald Ford (1974–1977)

Before becoming president, Ford demanded answers about UFO sightings in Michigan, calling for congressional investigation. Unlike many presidents, he publicly pushed for transparency.

Jimmy Carter (1977–1981)

Carter reported seeing a UFO in 1969 near Leary, Georgia, with at least ten witnesses. In 1973, he filed a report with the International UFO Bureau.

As a 1976 candidate, he pledged:“If I become President, I’ll make every piece of information this country has about UFO sightings available to the public and to scientists.”

Yet once in office, Carter cited potential defense implications and did not release classified files.

Carter may not have released UFO files, but he sent ‘humanity’s hello’ to anything listening in the universe. In 1977, Carter placed a message within the Voyager spacecrafts ‘Golden Records’. Along with Carter’s message, the disks contained 116 images, 55 language greetings, natural/human sounds, and 90 minutes of music, intended as peaceful salutations to possible extraterrestrial civilizations.

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)

Reagan said he witnessed a UFO during a 1974 plane flight while governor of California, a story that was corroborated by his pilot, Bill Paynter.

Reagan also flet that humanity might unite in the face of “some outside, universal threat.” He famously told the United Nations in 1987, “I occasionally think how quickly our differences worldwide would vanish if we were facing an alien threat from outside this world.”

George H.W. Bush (1989–1993)

Before the presidency, Bush ran the CIA. That alone fuels speculation. If anyone had access, conspiracy theorists argue, it would’ve been him.

That said, he never publicly entertained UFO conspiracy theories.

Bill Clinton (1993–2001)

In a 2014 interview with Jimmy Kimmel, Clinton admitted he “had people go look at the records on Area 51 to make sure there was no alien down there.”

He concluded, “There are no aliens there”.

“If we were visited someday, I wouldn’t be surprised,” he added , “I just hope it’s not like Independence Day.“

He also explained that the rumors surrounding Roswell and Area 51 were likely due to secrecy around stealth technology testing.

George W. Bush (2001–2009)

George W. Bush also addressed UFO questions on Jimmy Kimmel Live by jokingly refusing to share information, saying “I’m not telling you nothing” when asked if he reviewed secret files.

No disclosures. Just smiles.

Are we alone?

Those who have sat in the Oval Office have responded to that question in many different ways. Some have denied it, others have sidestepped it, others left it open for personal contemplation. One thing remains certain, if extraterrestrial beings decide to reveal their existence to the world, the Commander in Chief will undoubtedly have a statement or two about it.

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27-02-2026 om 22:58 geschreven door peter  

Presidents and UFOs: A history of secrecy and speculation

LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — Following President Obama’s comments on his belief in aliens and President Trump’s subsequent call to release government files on UFOs, it may seem like disclosure of potential extra-terrestrial life is a modern question for politicians.

However, since at least World War 2, certain American presidents have dealt with questions surrounding the declassification of such information in different ways.

President Harry Truman is accused of covering up the infamous 1947 Roswell incident, but also credited with creating the Majestic 12 committee to study the phenomenon.

Some UFO people point to the John F. Kennedy assassination as an example of government agents attempting to prevent a president from releasing information on aliens (though many more popular theories exist). Kennedy certainly pushed for some of the most advanced space technology that would eventually help humans land on the moon.

President Reagan created a big stir in 1987 when he alluded to alien forces five different times in a speech to the United Nations, part of which is quoted below:

“I’ve often wondered, what if all of us in the world discovered that we were threatened by an outer … a power from outer space, from another planet? Wouldn’t we all of a sudden find that we didn’t have any differences between us at all?”

The presidencies of the Bush family were also illuminating. As former head of the CIA, George H.W. Bush would know more about any secretive UFO programs than presidents before or after him. The dissolution of the Soviet Union also occurred during his presidency and brought with it information previously unable to cross Cold War borders.

Dr. Eric Davis claims President George W. Bush not only oversaw secretive programs but even had a meeting with Davis where they discussed disclosing aliens to the general public.

The answer may be as simple as presidents not knowing as much as we think they do about the subject. The recent statements from President Obama and President Trump, however, suggest modern presidents are much more aware of the issue and the ramifications of disclosure.

{ https://www.8newsnow.com/mystery-wire/ }

27-02-2026 om 22:22 geschreven door peter  

Trump Promises Declassification of Long-Hidden UFO Files After Blasting Obama Over Alien Comments

A late-night social media post just set Washington on fire. President Trump says he’s moving to release classified UFO and extraterrestrial files, hours after blasting Obama over alien remarks.

Written by Arezki Amiri

© Trump Vows To Open Classified Ufo Records

The president of the United States used his social media account on Thursday evening to announce he would direct the Department of Defense to begin releasing classified records on unidentified flying objects. The post promised government files on “alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena, and unidentified flying objects.”

Hours earlier, the same president had accused his predecessor of committing a security violation by discussing the existence of extraterrestrial life during a podcast interview. The convergence of these two events has placed the Pentagon‘s long-running investigations into unexplained aerial encounters at the intersection of presidential politics and classification policy.

No administration in American history has formally committed to a systematic release of government records pertaining to potential non-human intelligence. The White House has not specified which documents might be made public, when any release might occur, or whether the review will encompass material from previous administrations dating back decades.

A Social Media Post, a Podcast, and a Political Crossfire

President Trump posted on his Truth Social platform on February 19 that he would be “directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters.”

The full text of the directive on Truth Social remains accessible on the president’s account. The post cited “the tremendous interest shown” as the basis for the directive. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt amplified the message on X, calling the announcement “OUT OF THIS WORLD NEWS.” Officials confirmed no timeline has been established for when any documents might be reviewed or made available to the public.

The president’s announcement followed his criticism of former President Barack Obama over comments Obama made during an appearance on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, released February 15. On the program, Obama said: “They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States.”

Obama subsequently clarified his remarks in an Instagram post, explaining that he meant “the odds are good there’s life out there” and stated he had seen “no evidence” of alien existence during his term in office. The exchange between the two presidents was covered by Sky News, which detailed Trump’s accusation that Obama had leaked classified information.

When Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked President Trump about Obama’s comments on February 19, Trump responded: “He’s not supposed to be doing that. He made a big mistake.” Asked whether he personally believes aliens are real, Trump said: “I don’t know if they’re real or not. I don’t have an opinion on it. I never talk about it. A lot of people do. A lot of people believe it.” Trump later told Doocy: “I may get him out of trouble by declassifying.”

The discussion surrounding potential disclosure took an additional turn when Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, suggested on the Pod Force One podcast that Trump has prepared remarks on extraterrestrial life. “I’ve heard kind of around, I think my father-in-law has actually said it, that there is some speech that he has, that I guess at the right time, I don’t know when the right time is, he’s going to break out and talk about and it has to do with maybe some sort of extraterrestrial life,” she said. Leavitt responded to the claim on February 19, telling reporters: “A speech on aliens would be news to me.”

What the Government Already Said, What It Keeps Quiet, and What Happens Next

The House Oversight Committee held a hearing in July 2023 featuring David Grusch, a former military intelligence officer and whistleblower. Grusch alleged that the Pentagon and other agencies operated a “multi-decade” effort to reverse engineer nonhuman technology recovered from crash sites. He claimed direct involvement in retrieval programs. The Pentagon has denied these allegations. In 2022, a House Intelligence subcommittee convened the first congressional hearing on UFOs in more than 50 years. Officials overseeing a Pentagon task force investigating UAPs testified before lawmakers at that session.

The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, established in 2022, continues to investigate reported incidents. Its 2024 historical report, mandated by Congress, concluded that no investigation had confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial technology or recovered materials.

The report attributed most unresolved cases to sensor anomalies, misidentification, or insufficient data. The AARO’s most recent quarterly update, released in January 2026, indicated that 87 percent of newly reported UAP cases had been attributed to ordinary objects including drones, birds, weather balloons, and airborne debris. The remaining cases remain under active investigation due to insufficient data.

Federal declassification requires originating agencies to review documents for information protected under national security exemptions, including intelligence sources and methods, nuclear weapons data, or information that could compromise ongoing operations. The Presidential Records Act governs the release of documents from previous administrations, though former presidents retain certain privileges over their records.

Pentagon records on UAP date back to the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book, which investigated 12,618 reported sightings between 1947 and 1969. Of those, 701 cases remained officially classified as “unidentified” when the project closed. More recent records include observations documented by Navy and Air Force pilots between 2014 and the present, some of which have been confirmed in declassified videos released by the Pentagon between 2017 and 2020.

{ https://dailygalaxy.com/category/news/ }

27-02-2026 om 22:00 geschreven door peter  

Scientists Unearth Over 200 Fossilized Eggs Found in a Single Block in China, and What They Found Inside Is Rare

A massive cluster of fossilized eggs has just been opened in China, revealing what was happening before one species ever took to the skies.

Written by Melissa Ait Lounis

© The Daily Galaxy -- Great Discoveries Channel

Scientists Unearth Over 200 Fossilized Eggs Found in a Single Block in China, and What They Found Inside Is Rare

More than 200 fossilized eggs belonging to the flying reptile Hamipterus tianshanensis have been unearthed in northwestern China. The discovery includes at least 16 partial embryos, several preserved in three dimensions.

The find, reported in Science, marks one of the largest collections of pterosaur eggs ever documented. According to the research team led by Xiaolin Wangof the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the eggs date back roughly 120 million years to the early Cretaceous period.

Until now, pterosaur reproduction had remained largely mysterious. Only a handful of eggs had previously been identified worldwide, five from the same Chinese site and two from Argentina, one of which contained a flattened but well-preserved embryo. This new concentration changes the scale of available evidence and allows researchers to move beyond isolated specimens.

A Rock Containing 215 Eggs

The eggs were recovered from a sandstone block measuring about three meters square. According to the study published in Science, at least 215 eggs were identified, all attributed to Hamipterus tianshanensis, a species that lived in what is now Xinjiang, China.

“The specimens can be attributed to Hamipterus tianshanensis, the sole species in this bonebed. The most important section is a sandstone block (3.28 m²) that yielded 215 eggs, but up to 300 may be present, because several more appear to be buried under the exposed ones,” said Xiaolin Wang.

Earlier discoveries at the site had yielded only five eggs, as previously reported in Science News. The new excavation dramatically expands the sample size. Researchers confirmed that at least 16 of the eggs contain partial embryos, some of them preserved in three dimensions rather than flattened.

Such preservation is unusual. Pterosaur eggs had soft, thin shells, more similar to those of modern lizards than to the rigid shells of dinosaurs or birds. That softness often led to deformation during fossilization, which helps explain why intact embryos are so rare.

Preserved by Flood and Rapid Burial

The eggs were not found in their original nesting positions. According to Alexander Kellner of the Museu Nacional/Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, co-author of the study, they appear to have been jumbled and deformed after being transported by floodwaters during an intense storm.

Sediment carried by the water likely buried the eggs quickly. Kellner explained that rapid burial was necessary for preservation because the soft-shelled ones would otherwise have decomposed. The sandstone block itself suggests a high energy event capable of moving and concentrating the clutch.

Embryos Suggest Walking Before Flight

Researchers used computerized tomography to scan the find and examine their contents without damaging them. Two of the best-preserved embryos provided key anatomical details.

A wing structure known as the deltopectoral crest, critical for anchoring flight muscles, was not fully developed, even in an embryo interpreted as nearly at term. In contrast, the femur was well developed. Researchers behind the study sayid that:

“computed tomography scanning, osteohistology, and micropreparation reveal that some bones lack extensive ossification in potentially late-term embryos, suggesting that hatchlings might have been flightless and less precocious than previously assumed.”

That interpretation has drawn caution. D. Charles Deeming of the University of Lincoln, who was not involved in the research, noted in a column published in the same issue that determining whether an embryo was truly near term is difficult. He warned of “a real danger of overinterpretation.”

Still, the unusually large sample offers new opportunities. With hundreds of eggs available for measurement, researchers can now examine variation in size and shape.

{ https://dailygalaxy.com/category/science/ }

27-02-2026 om 21:01 geschreven door peter  

© US Air Force Drone Captured Three 'Orb' UFOs Over the Persian Gulf. The Pentagon Hid the Footage in a 'Non-Human' Archive 

© United States Air Force

The footage was captured on August 23, 2012, by an MQ-9 Reaper drone operated by the United States Air Force. The infrared sensors on the military aircraft recorded the objects just after 6pm local time as they moved through airspace between Saudi Arabia and Iran. The region has since become recognized as a significant hotspot for unexplained aerial phenomena, with personnel on US Navy vessels reporting multiple encounters with bright objects in the sky.

What makes this particular sighting stand apart from countless other UFO videos is its origin. This is not smartphone footage shot by an excited amateur but military-grade sensor data officially designated as UAP, which stands for Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena. Investigative journalist Jeremy Corbell, who obtained and released the footage along with colleague George Knapp on their WEAPONIZED podcast, noted that the Department of War, formerly the Department of Defence, reportedly placed this recording in a separate archive specifically reserved for evidence considered non-human.

Three Lights That Move Like Nothing We’ve Built

The footage shows three distinct points of light moving across the drone’s field of view in what observers immediately recognized as a coordinated triangular formation. For most of the recording, the objects maintain equal distances from one another, holding their positions with a precision that suggested either intelligent control or an unknown physical connection. The visual presentation initially created the impression of a single triangular craft with lights at each corner.

George Knapp addressed this directly during the podcast analysis, explaining that what looks like one large triangular vehicle with three dots on the ends is clearly not what the footage actually shows. Watching the full sequence makes it evident that three separate objects are moving together rather than one unified structure. The military’s own classification described them as orbs flying in formation, according to Unilad, confirming the interpretation that multiple objects were involved.

Throughout the entire sequence, none of the objects displayed any visible wings, tails, fins, or engine exhaust. These are features that would be unavoidable on any conventional aircraft, yet the infrared sensors detected nothing of the sort. The objects simply existed as three points of light moving through the air with apparent disregard for how things normally fly.

A Playful Maneuver That Broke the Formation

The most intriguing moment arrives about halfway through the minute-long recording. One of the three lights suddenly drops back, breaking the perfect triangle it had maintained with the other two objects. It hangs behind for a brief moment before surging forward again, rejoining the formation and resuming its original position as if nothing unusual had happened.

Jeremy Corbell emphasized during the WEAPONIZED episode that this movement appeared almost playful in nature. He suggested the objects seemed aware of one another and were coordinating intelligently, maintaining equal distances throughout most of the flight. The way the orb dropped back and then came forward again seemed deliberate, almost as if demonstrating awareness and control rather than simply following a predetermined path.

The video of the orbs was taken by a US Air Force Reaper drone between Saudi Arabia and Iran 

© United States Air Force

According to the Daily Mail, Corbell pointed out that this particular behavior matches one of the five observables often associated with UFO encounters, unusual flight movements that appear to violate basic physical laws. The orb showed clear signs of instant acceleration without any visible thrust, something no known aircraft can accomplish. There were no exhaust plumes, no engine glow, no heat signatures that would typically accompany such rapid movement in the atmosphere.

Why Military Footage Carries More Weight

The credibility of this observation rests heavily on the equipment that captured it. Military sensors, particularly those mounted on Reaper drones, accumulate far more data than standard cameras or commercial recording devices. They detect heat, track movement across multiple spectral bands, and maintain precise timing information that allows analysts to calculate speed and acceleration with high accuracy.

George Knapp argued during the podcast that this technological advantage makes military recordings inherently more reliable than civilian footage when evaluating claims of extraordinary performance. A military recorded sensor-generated image carries weight that someone’s shaky phone video simply cannot match. The objects were captured by equipment designed to track and identify potential threats, not by accident or through someone hoping to see something strange.

Congressman Eric Burlison of Missouri revealed video of a US military drone striking an orb-shaped UFO with a missile, which bounced off and did not stop the craft 

© GOP Oversight / YouTube

Corbell made a point of telling listeners that their government designated this footage as depicting unidentified phenomena and that the public was never supposed to see it at all. The classification suggests ongoing official acknowledgment that some encounters remain genuinely unexplained, even if public statements continue to maintain otherwise.

Archived Separately as Potentially Non-Human

Perhaps the most significant detail to emerge involves how the military reportedly categorized the recording after its initial analysis. According to information obtained by Corbell and Knapp, this video was not filed alongside routine sightings of weather balloons, aircraft, or wildlife. Instead, it was placed in a separate archive specifically designated for evidence of non-human craft or objects.

This distinction matters because it indicates that whoever reviewed the original footage concluded that conventional explanations did not apply. The objects were not birds, not balloons, not atmospheric phenomena, and not known aircraft. They were something else entirely, something that merited special handling and restricted access. The existence of such an archive, if confirmed, would suggest the military encounters enough truly unexplained objects to require dedicated storage.

The Persian Gulf region has produced multiple such encounters over the years. One particularly dramatic incident occurred not far from where the 2012 drone footage was captured, off the coast of Yemen approximately one thousand miles away. During a congressional UAP hearing last year, Missouri Congressman Eric Burlison released never-before-seen footage from October 30, 2024, showing a military drone strike on an orb-shaped object similar to those seen in the Persian Gulf.

That black-and-white video captured a Hellfire missile, a hundred-pound class air-to-ground precision weapon, striking what appeared to be a similar object. The missile did not destroy the target. It bounced off. The orb continued traveling at extreme speed as if nothing had happened. Former Air Force military police officer Jeffrey Nuccetelli, who served for sixteen years, described that outcome as exceptional evidence supporting the reality of UFO existence.

{ https://indiandefencereview.com/category/trends/ }

27-02-2026 om 18:41 geschreven door peter  

It’s like something out of a Hollywood blockbuster: an astronaut looks out the window and suddenly notices a thin crack running across the glass, separating him from the deadly vacuum by just a few centimeters. But what happened to the crew of the Chinese Shenzhou-20 mission last November was not a movie, but a harsh reality that nearly led to a catastrophe in orbit.

Commander Chen Dong was the first to notice the danger. What at first appeared to him to be ordinary trash or a leaf stuck to the glass turned out to be much more sinister. A triangular mark was clearly visible on the inner surface of the window — a crack left by a collision with an unknown object.

“I went out to inspect it, and my eye immediately noticed this anomaly,” recalled the commander. In an instant, realization came with a chill of fear: their station had been attacked by a piece of space debris. Scientists still do not know its origin, but they assume that the deadly guest was no larger than a millimeter. This proved sufficient to break through the spacecraft’s strong defenses.

Don’t panic

Despite the dramatic nature of the situation, there was no panic on board. Taikonaut Wang Jie, who was responsible for safety, handled the incident with professional calm. He explained that the design of the porthole was not just simple glass, but a complex engineering system.

“The outer layer is just a protective screen, a kind of ‘shield’. The main pressure is held by two inner sealed layers,” he reassured the audience. For detailed analysis, the astronauts used a special microscope that looked like a pen. They were shocked by what they saw: a network of cracks, some relatively long, others shorter, but the most dangerous thing was that some of them went right through the material.

Rescue operation

Unlike in movies, where everything is decided in seconds, the real drama unfolded over several days. However, the consequences could have been catastrophic. The damaged Shenzhou-20 could no longer be used to return the crew home. The risk of depressurization during descent was too great.

The Chinese flight control center quickly developed a rescue plan. The crew of Shenzhou-20 was forced to abandon their spacecraft and temporarily “move” to the station. They returned home in the Shenzhou-21 capsule, which was originally intended for their replacements. This created a new problem: the new crew was left in orbit without a vehicle.

The situation was saved by the fact that the empty emergency Shenzhou-20 was later successfully undocked and returned to Earth in automatic mode.

Warning for the future

This incident is not just a story about successfully avoiding disaster. This is a stern warning to all those who are exploring near-Earth space today. Our orbit has turned into a crowded garbage dump, where thousands of objects are hurtling around at breakneck speed.

We will never know what exactly hit Shenzhou-20 — a microscopic fragment of an old rocket or paint from another satellite. But scientists unanimously warn that a chain reaction of collisions (Kessler syndrome) could render space unsuitable for flights for decades.

Earlier, we explained what kind of event could destroy the entire orbital infrastructure in 2.8 days.

• According to Live Science

• Posted in News, Tech

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

27-02-2026 om 18:09 geschreven door peter  

The Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has outlined plans to standardize the collection and analysis of reports on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), marking a shift toward greater collaboration with civilian researchers and more structured public data sharing.

The plans were conveyed in a new report that appeared on AARO’s website earlier this month, detailing an August 2025 private meeting with experts from government, academia, and civilian research organizations convened in the Washington, D.C., area.

Coordinated by AARO and hosted by Associated Universities, Inc. (AUI), the workshop marked a significant step in AARO’s engagement with civilian and independent research groups. The meeting sought to establish a more collaborative and professional process for standardizing the study of UAP within the Department of War (DoW), while potentially increasing transparency compared with previous years.

Topics discussed at the 2025 Workshop

Traditionally, many UAP gatherings involving academics or government officials have focused on presenting findings, historical analysis, or scientific data. The AARO workshop took a different approach, forming breakout groups to address a foundational challenge: how to collect, manage, integrate, and analyze UAP data using rigorous scientific methods—both internally at AARO and in collaboration with civilian datasets.

Areas that the August 2025 workshop focused on included:

• Assessing the current landscape of UAP reporting systems and data repositories;
• Identifying key challenges and gaps in UAP data collection, standardization, and accessibility;
• Exploring methodologies for data analysis and pattern recognition in UAP reports.
• Nurturing trust and collaboration among researchers, government agencies, and civilian organizations; and
• Proposing recommendations for developing a robust UAP data infrastructure.

UAP Report Collection

UAP reports originate from a wide array of sources, including military logs, pilot reports, civilian testimony, archival records, social media posts, and sensor-based systems such as radar and imagery platforms.

In the past, challenges with UAP data collection have ranged from fragmentation and inconsistent formatting to the lack of standardized metadata and limited cross-correlation between datasets. Classification restrictions, language differences, social stigma, and inconsistent retention policies have further complicated access for both government and civilian researchers.

According to the report, participants in the 2025 workshop emphasized that progress in UAP research depends on building a shared data infrastructure between government and civilian researchers. One major recommendation was the development of standardized metadata templates that combine human expertise with AI tools, leverage existing infrastructure, support case triage, and integrate interviews and historical reports, while prioritizing new high-quality data.

These templates would record contextual information such as time, location, morphology, provenance, and environmental conditions.

Clear metadata standards would also make it easier for agencies and independent researchers to share datasets while protecting sensitive information and privacy. The white paper notes AARO seeks a “multi-disciplinary and community-engaged approach to UAP narrative data,” which may influence future sensor deployment strategies.

The white paper identifies artificial intelligence as both a potential solution and a potential hazard. AI could assist with transcription, clustering, and large-scale pattern detection, but also risks introducing bias, amplifying hoaxes, or producing inaccurate results—the classic “garbage in, garbage out” problem. The workshop strongly endorsed a hybrid human-AI model with human oversight.

Privacy First

The AARO whitepaper emphasizes that privacy was a central priority for the workshop. “Participant privacy was an important consideration throughout workshop planning, and Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval governed data collection and security for the workshop,” the report states.

Workshop participants were asked to adhere to the “Chatham House Rules,” and not to take photos or attribute statements to individuals without permission. Given these circumstances, civilian participants who attended the workshop and later spoke with The Debrief did so on background.

“Civilian participants were given genuine opportunities to contribute perspectives and technical insights, and there appeared to be a shared commitment—on the part of both AARO personnel and external researchers—to improving the quality and rigor of UAP data collection,” one participant told The Debrief. “The discussions and presentations were conducted in a constructive, solutions-oriented atmosphere that encouraged collaboration on best practices for future observational and analytical efforts.”

The breakout sessions also emphasized balancing quantitative data with qualitative witness narratives and incorporating cultural and experiential perspectives while allowing multiple analytical approaches to coexist.

“I was pleasantly surprised that AARO did a good job of getting a cross-section, not only of the UAP community, right, but also of people from other federal groups or agencies that attended. None of the three-letter agencies, at least none that I knew of, were represented,” said one participant who spoke with The Debrief.

“There was definitely more transparency compared to their public statements and postings,” another participant said. “I think that was attributed to the level of trust they had with their select invitees in a private session. ”

The Importance of Public Reporting 

Improving reporting systems was another major priority discussed at the workshop. Recommendations included open-ended narrative submissions followed by AI-assisted structuring that witnesses could review; improved geolocation tools; standardized time inputs; flexible units; and optional metadata fields. Participants also encouraged the release of de-identified public data to build public trust and reduce stigma.

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

27-02-2026 om 16:22 geschreven door peter  

Al het complexe leven op aarde deelt een gemeenschappelijke oorsprong. Maar hoe meercellig leven exact is ontstaan uit eencelligen, was lange tijd een raadsel.

Diep in de zee leven microscopisch kleine organismen die Asgard-archaea heten. De beestjes zijn vernoemd naar de mythologische wereld van de Noorse goden. Deze oeroude microben zijn de verre voorouders van alle complexe levensvormen, inclusief wijzelf. Wetenschappers van de Universiteit van Texas hebben deze microben bestudeerd en hebben zo een oeroude vraag beantwoord.

Hoe werden twee onverenigbare microben één?

Neem even een stap terug. Alle planten, dieren en schimmels (wetenschappelijk samengevat als eukaryoten, alle organismen waarvan de cellen een celkern hebben) zijn vermoedelijk ontstaan doordat twee totaal verschillende microben samensmolten. Eén daarvan was een Asgard-archaeon, de andere een bacterie. Die bacterie leefde uiteindelijk verder als het mitochondrium, vandaag de dag het mini-orgaantje in onze cellen dat energie aanmaakt.

Het grote probleem waar wetenschappers hun hersenen over kraakten was dat de Asgard-archaea altijd werden gevonden op plekken zonder zuurstof, bijvoorbeeld op de bodem van de diepe oceaan. De bacterie waarmee ze samensmolten had echter zuurstof nodig om te overleven. Hoe kwamen die twee dan ooit bij elkaar?

“De oorsprong van eukaryoten is een van de langlopende mysteries binnen de biologie”, vertelt Kathryn Appler, postdoctoraal onderzoeker aan het Institut Pasteur in Parijs en medeauteur van de studie, aan Scientias.nl. “Welke microbiële afstammingslijnen betrokken waren, wat hun samenwerking op gang bracht en waar dit precies plaatsvond: dat waren allemaal nog openstaande vragen.”

Een verrassende vondst

Voor het onderzoek verzamelde het team enorme hoeveelheden genetisch materiaal van microben uit allerlei omgevingen. Uit die data konden ze meer dan 13.000 nieuwe microbiële genomen in kaart brengen. Een genoom is de complete genetische blauwdruk van een organisme. Daarmee konden ze het aantal bekende Asgard-genomen bijna verdubbelden.

En uit de data bleek iets onverwachts: de Asgard-archaea die het nauwst verwant zijn aan eukaryoten en dus het meest op onze gemeenschappelijke voorouder lijken, werden aangetroffen in ondiepe kustgebieden, waar wél zuurstof aanwezig is dus. Sterker nog, hun genen wijzen erop dat ze zuurstof actief kunnen gebruiken bij hun stofwisseling.

“We waren verrast dat een meerderheid van de genomen uit bepaalde Asgard-groepen afkomstig was uit ondiepe kustomgevingen”, zegt Appler. “De meeste eerdere studies suggereerden dat Asgard-archaea geen zuurstof verdroegen.”

Zuurstof als sleutel tot complex leven?

De timing van deze bevinding sluit aan op wat geologen al wisten. Zo’n 1,7 miljard jaar geleden maakte de aardatmosfeer een radicale omslag door: zuurstofniveaus schoten toen omhoog. Kort daarna verschenen de eerste sporen van eukaryoten in het fossielenarchief. Dat is geen toeval, zo blijkt nu.

Appler is voorzichtig in haar conclusies: “Het is mogelijk dat zuurstof de omgeving vormgaf waarin eukaryoten ontstonden. Ik kijk uit naar verdere gesprekken met geologen terwijl we de omgevingscontext van deze cruciale evolutionaire stap verder ontrafelen.”

Wat mogen we hier wel en niet uit concluderen?

De studie lost misschien een belangrijk raadsel op, maar Appler zegt wel dat voorzichtigheid geboden blijft. “Het is belangrijk te benadrukken dat het om moderne nakomelingen gaat en dat wij als wetenschappelijke gemeenschap proberen een gebeurtenis te reconstrueren die miljarden jaren geleden plaatsvond.” En dat vergt de nodige bescheidenheid.

We schreven vaker over dit onderwerp, lees bijvoorbeeld ook Eerste meercellige dieren ontstonden heel anders dan gedacht en Stokoude biologische sporen onthullen vroegste leven op aarde meer dan 3 miljard jaar geleden. Of lees dit artikel: Hoe nagemaakt ruimtepuin ons iets vertelt over het ontstaan van het leven op aarde.

Uitgelezen? Luister ook eens naar de Scientias Podcast: 

{https://scientias.nl/nieuws/astronomie-ruimtevaart/ }

27-02-2026 om 15:53 geschreven door peter  

We didn't find answers in 2025, but UFO researchers say the search continues

A photo taken at the recent US Congressional UAP hearing on September 9. 

(Image credit: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images staff)

After years of making headlines, air vehicles of nameless origin, unknown intent, and seemingly odd capabilities are still being reported within America's national airspace, allegedly flying over sensitive facilities and interfering with commercial air traffic.

All of this aerial weirdness involves unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP for short. Whatever they are, UAP continue to be seen, reported and even documented through various sensor technologies. However, despite years of whistleblowers testifying before Congress, there seems to have been a bottleneck in getting to the bottom of the UAP issue in 2025. Why so?

Key specialists appraising the issue UAP have yet to untangle the mystery, but do appear to agree on what needs to be done now to further resolve what UAP are and from where they might originate.

{ https://www.space.com/space-exploration }

27-02-2026 om 15:29 geschreven door peter  

The Pentagon's UFO office former chief has revealed unexplained objects were detected in space – and that some performed maneuvers defying anything in America's known aerospace arsenal.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Phillips, who was acting director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) until last April, told the Daily Mail that while most cases involved objects in the air, some detections extended beyond the atmosphere.

A still from a video reportedly showing a "transmedium" UAP that appears to travel between air and water and split in half. During testimony on Nov. 19, the head of the Pentagon's UFO office says it actually shows an infrared camera's inability to tell two objects' temperature apart from the ocean behind them. 

(Image credit: AARO/DOD)

'I would say probably 90 percent of our cases, if not higher, were always in the air domain,' Phillips said.

'Most of these were in the atmosphere, but there were things in space.'

AARO, a team within the Department of War, is tasked with collecting and investigating UFO cases, with a focus on data-backed reports from skilled military members like fighter pilots or radar operators.

Phillips described reports from 'highly qualified observers' who witnessed these objects displaying capabilities beyond anything the US government is known to have.

He said the object had the 'ability to stop very, very quickly, accelerate quickly, right angle turns – the things that aircraft and spacecraft we know don't behave that way.'

Out of thousands of reports reviewed by AARO, fewer than 50 remained completely unresolved, even after examination by some of the world's leading experts, he said.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Phillips, former acting director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) until last April, said that 'highly qualified observers' reported unexplained objects in space performing maneuvers beyond the capabilities of known US aircraft or spacecraft 

Of thousands of reports reviewed by AARO, fewer than 50 remain completely unresolved, even after scrutiny by some of the world’s leading experts

The lieutenant colonel also told the Daily Mail that while most cases involved objects in the air, some sightings extended beyond the atmosphere 

But those few dozen reports kept the experts scratching their heads.

'We're talking some of the best and brightest in the world couldn't explain what it is,' Phillips said.

His office was also able to rule out the possibility that the objects belonged to any known US or foreign program.

'We were able to conclusively prove it wasn't a known system, either adversary or friendly,' he said.

Despite the extraordinary nature of some sightings, Phillips told the Daily Mail that the objects never appeared to pose a direct threat.

'We never saw any hostile behavior,' he said. 'I couldn't speak to the intent, but we saw them in sensitive locations sometimes.'

He also noted that some objects appeared to actively avoid detection.

'We saw their attempt not to be surveyed, and in other cases they didn't seem to care,' Phillips said.

The drone managed to record the moment when the object suddenly disappears, appearing as a faint white streak as it moved to the right

Between May 1, 2023, and June 1, 2024, UAPs where reported frequently in US airspace

 

Phillips was quick to stress that many dramatic sightings turn out to be misidentified classified US programs or objects mistaken for balloons, satellites, aircraft and birds

Read More

• Leaked Pentagon footage shows UFO making 'impossible' moves before going supersonic speeds 

That language echoes the Office of the Director of National Intelligence's landmark 2021 UFO assessment, which noted data appearing to show objects demonstrating 'acceleration or a degree of signature management', a term used to describe active attempts to avoid detection.

Phillips was also quick to stress that many dramatic sightings turn out to be misidentified classified US programs.

In one striking case, he described a witness who accurately reported what they saw – but drew the wrong conclusion entirely.

'We looked into it and there was a spaceship being tested, but it wasn't an alien spaceship. It's one of ours,' he said.

A still from a video captured by a U.S.-operated drone in 2018 while flying above Mt. Etna appears to show an anomalous object, but the Pentagon's UFO chief says his office was able to solve the case. 

(Image credit: AARO/DOD)

Phillips has publicly thrown cold water on expectations of any dramatic revelations.

In a LinkedIn post, he wrote: 'UFO believers will be disappointed by what is disclosed; there is no US Government evidence for beings or their craft visiting earth.'

But his statements on space detections, extraordinary flight performance, and dozens of unexplained cases despite analysis by top experts, are sure to stoke the debate.

He spoke to the Daily Mail in the wake of a shock announcement by President Donald Trump that he had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to release any government UFO files still kept secret.

President Donald Trump shockingly announced on Truth Social that he had directed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to release any remaining government UFO files 

'I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant departments and agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters,' Trump posted on Truth Social on February 19.

'We've got our people working on it right now,' Hegseth told reporters Monday. 'I don't want to oversell how much time it will take, but we're digging in.'

Former President Barack Obama also weighed in on the topic this month, telling podcast host Brian Tyler Cohen that he believes aliens are real.

'They're real, but I haven't seen them, and they're not being kept in Area 51,' Obama said.

President Trump, asked about Obama's remarks aboard Air Force One on February 19, said his predecessor had made 'a big mistake'.

'He took it out of classified information... He's not supposed to be doing that,' Trump said.

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

27-02-2026 om 14:34 geschreven door peter  

Overview

Veteran NASA engineer Gentry Lee – a former project manager for the Mars Pathfinder and a key figure in the development of the Mars rovers – told reporters on 24 February 2026 that, while the existence of extraterrestrial life is “almost inevitable,” there is no credible evidence that any such life has ever visited Earth. Lee’s remarks come amid renewed public interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP) and a series of high‑profile congressional hearings on the topic. He cautioned that “UFO believers have been misled by sensational claims that lack scientific rigor,” and emphasized that NASA’s current focus remains on systematic, data‑driven searches for life beyond our planet.

Lee’s Perspective

In his interview with a media outlet in London, Lee emphasized the significant role that the vastness of the universe plays in supporting the possibility of extraterrestrial life. He explained that the sheer scale of the cosmos makes the likelihood that Earth is the only planet with life incredibly small. With billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars, the probability that Earth is uniquely suited for life is astronomically low. This concept is rooted in the principle of statistical probability; given the enormity of space, it would be extraordinary if no other planets harbored life forms. However, Lee also underscored a crucial distinction: while the chances of microbial life existing elsewhere are high, the leap from simple organisms to intelligent, technologically advanced civilizations capable of interstellar travel is immense. Currently, there is no concrete evidence to support the existence of such civilizations. Despite numerous claims and sightings, scientists like Lee point out that no signals, artifacts, or physical traces have been definitively linked to extraterrestrial intelligence.

This cautious stance reflects the scientific community’s consensus, which remains skeptical until verifiable proof is presented. Lee’s perspective balances curiosity with scientific rigor, advocating for a measured approach grounded in empirical evidence rather than speculation. He acknowledges the excitement surrounding potential alien encounters but emphasizes that extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof. Until such evidence emerges, the scientific approach remains focused on exploring the universe for signs of life through systematic research rather than sensationalism.

Context Within the UFO Debate

The current UFO debate has evolved significantly over recent years, especially with the United States government taking steps to declassify and study unexplained aerial phenomena. Several videos capturing unidentified flying objects (UFOs), now often referred to as Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), have been released to the public, fueling both curiosity and skepticism. The establishment of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) signifies a formal effort to investigate these sightings and assess any potential threats to national security. While these initiatives lend credibility to the study of unexplained aerial phenomena, scientists like Lee caution against jumping to conclusions. He warns that the public’s fascination with aliens can sometimes overshadow the importance of scientific rigor, leading to sensationalism. Many UFO reports are often the result of misinterpretations of natural atmospheric phenomena, astronomical events, or human-made objects. Some claims are hoaxes or deliberate fabrications aimed at garnering attention.

Lee advocates for a clear distinction between genuine scientific investigation and myth-making, emphasizing that credible research must be based on solid evidence rather than rumors or sensational stories. He hopes that the focus remains on collecting verifiable data and applying rigorous scientific methods to understand these phenomena, rather than succumbing to hype or unfounded speculation about alien life.

Ongoing Scientific Efforts

The scientific community is actively engaged in multiple projects aimed at discovering signs of extraterrestrial life, aligning with Lee’s call for disciplined inquiry. NASA’s current missions are designed to explore potential habitats beyond Earth systematically. The James Webb Space Telescope, for example, is analyzing the atmospheres of exoplanets, searching for biosignature gases such as oxygen, methane, and phosphine—indicators that could suggest the presence of life or habitable conditions. These gases are considered potential markers because they can be produced by biological processes. Meanwhile, the upcoming Europa Clipper mission, scheduled for launch in 2027, aims to study Jupiter’s icy moon Europa.

This moon is believed to harbor a subsurface ocean beneath its icy crust, and scientists hope to detect chemical signs of habitability or even microbial life within this hidden ocean. Additionally, on Mars, the Perseverance rover and its Ingenuity helicopter continue to collect rock and soil samples, searching for organic molecules and other biological markers. These samples may eventually be returned to Earth for detailed analysis. The overarching goal of these missions is to follow a logical, step-by-step approach: first, identify environments that could support life, then look for biological indicators, and finally, investigate the possibility of technological signatures—technosignatures—that could indicate intelligent life.

These efforts exemplify a cautious yet promising approach, grounded in scientific methodology, to answering one of humanity’s most profound questions: are we alone in the universe?

Implications for the Public and Policy

Lee’s remarks carry significant implications for both policymakers and the general public. His message underscores that the search for extraterrestrial life is a long-term scientific pursuit, rather than a quick fix for sensational headlines or entertainment. The recent declassification of UAP videos by the U.S. government has sparked widespread interest, but Lee stresses the importance of maintaining scientific discipline. Transparent, peer-reviewed research programs are essential to ensure that any claims about alien life are based on reliable and reproducible data. Policymakers are encouraged to support sustained investment in scientific missions and research that adhere to rigorous standards, rather than succumbing to the allure of sensational stories that lack empirical backing.

Lee also highlights the broader philosophical implications of discovering extraterrestrial life. If humanity were to find evidence of an advanced civilization, it would fundamentally alter our understanding of our place in the universe—potentially challenging long-held beliefs and sparking profound societal and scientific shifts. Until such a discovery is made, Lee advocates for patience, rigor, and reliance on data. He concludes that the pursuit of knowledge about extraterrestrial life must be driven by scientific integrity, ensuring that any breakthroughs are meaningful and credible. Ultimately, maintaining a disciplined approach will serve humanity best as we continue to explore the cosmos and seek answers to one of the most compelling questions: are we alone?

{ https://usubjects.com/  }

26-02-2026 om 22:44 geschreven door peter  

In early January, NASA unexpectedly announced it had been forced to delay a scheduled spacewalk involving two crewmates on board the International Space Station, citing a “medical situation” that “involved a single crew member who is stable.”

Two days later, the agency announced the first-ever medical evacuation in the space station’s 25 years of continuous human occupation, a historic moment highlighting the possible severity of the situation.

The affected crew members of the Crew-11 mission — NASA astronauts Mike Fincke and Zena Cardman, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov — safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of southern California on January 15 and were promptly helicoptered to the nearby Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego, leaving us with far more questions than answers.

Now, seven weeks later, Fincke has voluntarily stepped forward, announcing in a NASA statement that it was he who had “experienced a medical event that required immediate attention from my incredible crewmates.”

Fincke is a retired US Air Force colonel and was selected to be an astronaut back in 1996. The Crew-11 mission, which launched in August, was his fourth trip to space. He was also initially selected in 2019 to pilot Boeing’s much-troubled Starliner spacecraft, but — perhaps fortunately — never got the chance.

“Thanks to their quick response and the guidance of our NASA flight surgeons, my status quickly stabilized,” Fincke said. “I am deeply grateful to my fellow Expedition 74 members… as well as the entire NASA team, SpaceX, and the medical professionals at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla near San Diego.”

But beyond revealing a “carefully coordinated plan to be able to take advantage of advanced medical imaging not available on the space station,” we still don’t know what caused the space station’s first medical evacuation in history, leaving us with the simple question: why come forward without revealing what happened?

In a statement to Futurism, NASA press secretary Bethany Stevens said it was Fincke’s choice to identify himself as the crew member who had the medical incident, not NASA.

“Given medical privacy laws and the overall sensitivity of the situation, this decision was entirely up to the individual involved,” Stevens wrote. “We know now, that in this case, that was Mike Fincke, because he self-identified.”

Stevens also suggested that Fincke may have chosen to protect his fellow crew members from being the subject of speculation and unfounded conspiracy theories.

“I can’t speak to Mike’s motivations in self-identifying, but given the scrutiny and speculation, I would guess he is hopeful that his brave step forward will decrease the conspiracies online that target his crewmates,” Stevens added in her statement to Futurism.

Needless to say, it’s a delicate matter. Fincke could have a litany of personal reasons not to publicize any details regarding his earlier condition that required an evacuation, and he’s entirely within his rights to withhold that information.

But given the extremely public nature of his employment as a NASA astronaut, questions are bound to arise, especially given it’s the first-ever medical evacuation of its kind.

It’s ultimately up to Fincke to tell the likely harrowing tale. But when or if that will happen remains unclear.

More on the situation:

• Astronauts Helicoptered to Hospital After Mystery Evacuation From Space Station

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{ https://futurism.com/category/science-energy }

26-02-2026 om 22:22 geschreven door peter  

K2-18b is a so-called Habitable Zone planet located 124 light-years away from us. In terms of mass, the planet is somewhere between Earth and a small gas giant. Researchers are interested in whether extraterrestrial life could exist on it.

Primary goal for SETI

If you have been following exoplanet research over the past few years, you have probably heard of K2-18b. Located 124 light-years away in the constellation Leo, it has attracted a lot of attention because it is right in the habitable zone of its red dwarf star, and measurements from the James Webb Space Telescope show that its atmosphere is rich in carbon dioxide and methane. It is one of the leading candidates for the title of “hydrogen world” — a world where a dense atmosphere rich in hydrogen covers a global ocean of liquid water.

This is such an interesting target for researchers from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) project that they have directed two of the world’s most powerful radio telescopes to observe the K2-18b system. A recent article available on the arXiv preprint server shows that, despite millions of potential matches, this planet is unlikely to be sending out artificial narrowband radio signals equivalent to our level of technology.

Listening with radio telescopes

To collect the data needed for processing, both the Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico and the MeerKAT radio telescope in South Africa were used. These are the two most powerful radio telescopes on the planet, and their coordination within the observation campaign is an extremely rare occurrence.

But physical equipment was not the only important factor for this work. The “data transfer channel,” as astronomers call the software filters and logic applied after data collection, is no less important, especially in radio astronomy. Signals from Earth are the source of the vast majority of radio signals received by these telescopes, and modern filtering algorithms, such as the Commensal Open-Source Multi-Mode Interferometer Cluster system used by the VLA, and the Breakthrough Listen User Supplied Equipment (BLUSE) system used by MeerKAT, are important elements of any modern radio astronomy program.

Radio signal filtering system

However, the logic behind such filtering remains the responsibility of the people involved in the process, and the article describes five different restrictions they impose on the data for selecting potential alien technosignatures. The first step was to mask radio frequency interference — essentially, they removed all data from signals falling within frequency ranges known to be heavily contaminated by terrestrial interference. If aliens communicated through these channels, we would have to use some other method — such as a radio telescope on the far side of the Moon — to hear them.

Doppler effects, such as the changing sound of an ambulance siren as it approaches or passes you, are even more noticeable when the signal travels between planets. Any signal with virtually no Doppler effect was immediately rejected, as it could only have originated from Earth. Perhaps the most controversial logical filtering choice was to exclude all signals with a signal-to-noise ratio of less than 10 or greater than 100. Although this allowed for the exclusion of extremely weak false positives, as well as strong instrumental data artifacts typically observed in only one antenna, it could also exclude.

Another filtering technique is the use of multi-beam analysis. In this case, the telescopes formed coherent beams across the sky, one of which was directed directly at K2-18b, and the other at a different location. In such cases, the signal coming from the exoplanet would only appear in the beam directed directly at it, while terrestrial interference penetrates several beams simultaneously. The final check, which was not necessary due to the timing of the study, is transit filtering. Any signal coming from K2-18b should disappear when the planet passes in front of its parent star, but since no such “secondary transit” occurred during the observation, filtering was not necessary.

Positive test result in any case

In short, despite millions of potential signals throughout the observation period, none of them passed these filters. No unambiguous technosignatures were detected in the narrowband radio spectrum from K2-18b. Although this may seem disappointing, it is precisely this kind of thing that science needs in order to progress. By carefully scanning the planet and finding nothing, they can establish the “upper limits” of the transmitter’s power from this system — in terms of power, it would be equivalent to the destroyed Arecibo radar in Puerto Rico. If there is civilization there, it certainly does not scream at us from anything greater than this level of radio telescope.

However, perhaps the most important result is the confirmation of the concept of their automated filtering system. Processing millions of signals detected by two telescopes manually would be virtually impossible. So, when even larger radio telescopes such as the Square Kilometer Array appear, these technologies will be ready to help other research projects make sense of the mass of data collected. Although planet K2-18b may be quiet today, we will continue to improve our ability to listen if it ever begins to communicate with us.

• According to phys.org

• Posted in News, Science

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{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

26-02-2026 om 22:05 geschreven door peter  

On the night of February 24-25, US President Donald Trump made history by giving the longest speech on the state of the nation — it lasted 107 minutes. The main topics were economic successes, criticism of the Democrats, and the fight against illegal immigration. However, amid the political statements, an event worthy of special attention has been overlooked: the country is preparing to send a human into deep space for the first time since the legendary Apollo program. 

The most ironic thing is that the main characters of the upcoming space breakthrough went unnoticed, even though they were sitting in the front row. The astronauts of the Artemis II mission — Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch from NASA, and Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency — were guests of honor of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. These four brave souls are about to embark on a journey to the Moon that no human being has undertaken in more than fifty years.

Their 10-day flight will be more than just a symbolic gesture. This will be the farthest human expedition in the history of space exploration, taking the Orion spacecraft into orbit around our natural satellite.

The Trump administration’s vision

The Artemis II mission is intended to lay the foundation for a “golden age of American space leadership” — a phrase that the Trump administration uses quite often. However, the president limited himself to brief references to Apollo’s glorious past and boastful statements about the creation of the US Space Force, proudly calling it “his brainchild.”

However, the significance of Artemis II extends far beyond political ambitions. This is a critically important test phase: for the first time, the super-heavy Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and the Orion spacecraft will be tested with a crew on board. The success of the mission should confirm the US’s ability not only to return to the Moon, but also to make long-term plans for expeditions to Mars.

Space race gains momentum

The importance of the program is reinforced by the international context. China is actively developing its own manned lunar program, adding an element of healthy competition and urgency to American efforts. Maintaining NASA’s technological supremacy is not only a matter of prestige, but also of national security and scientific leadership.

However, despite its historical context and geopolitical significance, the mission faces an unexpected enemy — public indifference. Even among space enthusiasts, interest is beginning to wane due to technical problems. It was recently announced that SLS and Orion are returning to the hangar, postponing the likely launch until at least April.

A missed opportunity to unite the nation

The problem of lack of attention is not just a matter of NASA’s “public relations.” Without broad public support, multi-billion-dollar space programs become vulnerable targets for budget cuts. Trump had a unique opportunity to draw the attention of a 300 million-strong audience to the titanic feat that his compatriots are preparing to accomplish for the first time in half a century. He could present the astronauts sitting in the hall and explain the significance of their mission for the future of humanity.

Instead, time was spent on political tirades. By failing to seize this opportunity, the president did more than simply ignore an important event — he dealt a blow to his own space policy, depriving it of potential public support at a time when it needs it most.

Earlier, we reported on whether Trump is hiding something about aliens.

• According to Gizmodo

• Posted in Business, News

{ https://universemagazine.com/en/articles-en/ }

26-02-2026 om 21:56 geschreven door peter  

Did people report seeing UFOs before the 20th century?

Did earlier civilizations report seeing UFOs? 

(Image credit: Aaron Foster via Getty Images)

The phenomenon of unidentified flying objects, or UFOs, has long fascinated humanity. From ancient times to the modern era, countless individuals across different cultures and eras have reported strange sightings in the sky. While the term "UFO" and the contemporary scientific approach to these phenomena are relatively modern inventions, accounts of mysterious aerial objects and unexplained lights have existed for centuries. This article explores whether people before the 20th century reported seeing UFOs, examining historical records, cultural interpretations, and the evolution of the phenomenon over time.

Ancient and Medieval Accounts of Unexplained Aerial Phenomena

Long before the advent of modern aviation, humans looked up at the sky and interpreted unusual sights through the lens of their cultural, religious, and mythological frameworks. Many ancient texts and artworks contain references that can be interpreted as descriptions of strange aerial phenomena.

Ancient Civilizations and Sky Phenomena

• Mesopotamia:
  The cradle of civilization, Mesopotamian cultures such as the Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians, and Assyrians, left behind a rich tapestry of mythological texts and cuneiform inscriptions. Some of these writings mention celestial objects and phenomena that appear to be beyond natural explanation. For example, the "Epic of Gilgamesh" references celestial lights and unusual skies, though these are often interpreted symbolically or mythologically rather than as sightings of physical objects.
• Ancient Egypt:
  Egyptian hieroglyphs and texts frequently depict the sky as populated with gods, stars, and otherworldly entities. Some scholars have suggested that certain images of flying chariots or celestial ships could be interpreted as early UFO sightings. For example, depictions of solar barques and celestial boats in tombs and temples may symbolize divine journeys, but some interpret them as possible representations of aerial phenomena.
• Ancient China:
  Chinese historical texts from thousands of years ago record numerous accounts of unusual sky phenomena, such as "guest stars" (novae and supernovae), comets, and mysterious lights. The "Book of Han" (2nd century CE) describes strange objects in the sky, which to ancient observers might have appeared as flying crafts or celestial visitors.
• Ancient Greece and Rome:
  Classical writers such as Pliny the Elder, Cicero, and Lucian of Samosata mention strange lights and flying objects. For example, Pliny’s "Natural History" describes fiery chariots and luminous bodies in the sky. Lucian’s satirical texts mention "chariots of the gods" and "flying shields," which may reflect observations of atmospheric phenomena or mythological allegories.

Medieval and Renaissance Reports

During the Middle Ages, reports of unusual aerial phenomena persisted, often intertwined with religious and superstitious interpretations.

Medieval Europe

• Fireballs and mysterious lights:
  Medieval chronicles often mention "fiery disks" or "balls of fire" seen in the sky, sometimes associated with omens or divine signs. For example, the "Annales of Saint-Bertin" (9th century) record sightings of strange lights during battles or significant events.
• The "Mysterious Flying Shields":
  In 14th-century Europe, some accounts describe "flying shields" or "phantoms" seen in the sky, which contemporary scholars sometimes interpret as atmospheric reflections or natural phenomena, but which could also have been early reports of unidentified aerial objects.

Renaissance and Early Modern Period

The Renaissance brought a renewed interest in astronomy and natural phenomena. However, the period also saw reports of strange lights and craft.

• The Nuremberg Celestial Phenomenon (1561):
  One of the most famous pre-20th-century UFO reports is the "Nuremberg Celestial Phenomenon," documented in a broadsheet newspaper published in 1561. It describes a sky filled with numerous orbs, crosses, and other shapes engaging in a celestial battle. Witnesses reported seeing "many globes" moving across the sky, changing colors, and interacting in strange ways. While some interpret this as a natural atmospheric event or a religious allegory, others see it as an early sighting of unidentified flying objects.
• The Kepler Incident (1594):
  The astronomer Johannes Kepler recorded an unusual sighting involving a "small, bright, and moving star" that appeared in the sky and then disappeared. While likely a meteor or atmospheric phenomenon, such accounts contribute to the long history of strange sky sightings.

The 17th and 18th Centuries

As scientific understanding of the cosmos expanded, so did the recording of unusual sightings, often with more detailed descriptions.

• The Aurora Borealis:
  Northern lights have been observed for centuries and often mistaken for mysterious aerial displays. In many historical accounts, the aurora was seen as a divine or supernatural sign, but to modern observers, it is understood as a natural atmospheric phenomenon.
• Unidentified Lights and Apparitions:
  Throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, reports of strange lights persisted. For instance, in 1719, a report from the English coast described "bright, moving lights" in the sky, which could have been early observations of meteors, atmospheric reflections, or unexplained craft.
• Ball Lightning and Other Natural Phenomena:
  Many reports of strange aerial phenomena during this period have been attributed to natural causes like ball lightning, meteors, or atmospheric reflections. However, some reports remained unexplained and could be considered early UFO sightings.

19th Century: The Precursors to Modern UFO Sightings

The 19th century saw a surge in reports of strange aerial phenomena, coinciding with advances in scientific instrumentation, increased observations, and a growing public interest in science and exploration.

Early Ballooning and Aerial Experiments

• Hot Air Balloons:
  The advent of balloon flight in the late 18th and early 19th centuries introduced new aerial phenomena that observers sometimes misinterpreted. Balloons drifting across the sky appeared strange to those unfamiliar with the technology, leading to reports of mysterious "flying ships" or "aircraft."
• Aerial Spectacles and Phenomena:
  In 1804, the "Great Moon Hoax" in New York newspapers captivated the public with stories of life on the moon, but also reflected the fascination with celestial and aerial phenomena. Similarly, the rise of aviation experiments, including early gliders and aircraft, led to more reports of unidentified flying objects.

Notable 19th Century Sightings

• The Vevay, Indiana, Sightings (1800s):
  Multiple reports from the early 1800s describe strange lights and disks seen over Indiana. Such sightings were often dismissed at the time as natural or atmospheric phenomena.
• The Aurora and Unexplained Lights:
  Throughout the 19th century, reports of luminous objects in the sky, including the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis, were common. While natural, some reports involved shapes and movements that puzzled observers.
• The Mount Washington UFO (1800s):
  In the late 19th century, there are reports of strange lights and disks over Mount Washington in New Hampshire, which some interpret as early UFOs.

The 20th Century and the Birth of Modern UFO Phenomenon

While the question focuses on whether people reported seeing UFOs before the 20th century, it is impossible to ignore the pivotal role that early 20th-century sightings played in shaping modern perceptions of UFOs. The famous 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting, which gave rise to the term "flying saucers," was preceded by a long history of similar reports.

• Cultural and Interpretative Variations

Throughout history, interpretations of strange sky phenomena have varied widely depending on cultural context.

• Religious Interpretations:
  Many ancient and medieval reports framed mysterious aerial phenomena as divine signs, celestial battles, or messages from gods. These interpretations reflect the worldview of the time, often seeing such phenomena as supernatural or divine rather than unexplained natural or technological events.
• Mythological and Allegorical Accounts:
  Stories of flying chariots, celestial ships, and divine messengers often served as allegories for spiritual or moral lessons, but they also may encode observations of natural phenomena.

Natural Explanations vs. Unexplained Sightings:
Many historical accounts are now understood as natural phenomena—meteors, atmospheric reflections, planets, or atmospheric optical effects. However, some reports remain unexplained, especially when descriptions are vague or sensational.

Limitations and Challenges in Interpreting Historical Accounts

Interpreting pre-20th-century sky sightings as UFO reports is complicated by several factors:

• Lack of Verification: Many accounts are anecdotal, lacking corroboration or detailed descriptions.
• Cultural Filters: Interpretations are heavily influenced by contemporary beliefs, religious views, and scientific understanding.
• Terminology: The language used in historical texts often differs from modern descriptions, making it challenging to classify sightings accurately.
• Natural Phenomena: Many sightings are likely natural atmospheric or celestial phenomena misinterpreted due to limited scientific knowledge.

Conclusion: Were There Reports of UFOs Before the 20th Century?

Based on historical records, cultural narratives, and scientific analysis, it is clear that humans have reported strange aerial phenomena for millennia. These accounts, spanning from ancient civilizations to the Renaissance, often described lights, craft-like objects, or strange shapes in the sky, which today could be considered early UFO sightings.

While many of these reports can be explained by natural phenomena or mythological symbolism, some remain unexplained or ambiguous, suggesting that the phenomenon of unidentified aerial observations is as old as human civilization itself. The interpretations of these sightings have evolved over time—from divine signs and mythic symbols to potential evidence of extraterrestrial visitation.

In essence, yes, people before the 20th century did report seeing objects or phenomena in the sky that they could not readily explain. Whether these were actual physical objects, atmospheric effects, or cultural expressions, they contribute to the long and complex history of humanity’s fascination with the skies and the mysterious entities that inhabit them.

References & Further Reading:

• Clodd, Edward. The Story of the Heavens. (1913)
• Keel, John. The Mysterious Universe. (1977)
• Ruppelt, Edward. The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects. (1956)
• Hynek, J. Allen. The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry. (1972)
• McNeill, William H. The Shape of the Sky: An Introduction to the History of Astronomy. (1984)
• Historical newspapers and chronicles, including the Nuremberg Celestial Phenomenon (1561)

Final thoughts:
The phenomenon of UFO sightings is deeply rooted in human history. While the context and interpretations have shifted over centuries, the fundamental human curiosity about the unknown in the skies remains unchanged. Recognizing these ancient accounts enriches our understanding of the longstanding human engagement with unexplained aerial phenomena.

{PETER2011 }

26-02-2026 om 21:46 geschreven door peter  

James Webb telescope spots giant auroras rolling through Uranus' atmosphere

JWST observed Uranus rotating for 15 hours in January 2025, showing bright auroral bands (in white) near the planet's magnetic poles. 

(Image credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, STScI, P. Tiranti, H. Melin, M. Zamani (ESA/Webb))

Scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope just mapped the mysterious upper atmosphere of Uranus for the first time, revealing strange new features of the planet's mysterious magnetic field and glowing auroras.

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observed Uranus rotating for 15 hours (nearly a full Uranian day) to learn more about how ice giants distribute energy in the upper layers of their atmospheres and to investigate how the planet's auroras operate.

Uranus' magnetic field is unique among the big planets of our solar system in that its magnetic pole is tilted by 60 degrees relative to its geographic pole. That tilt produces auroras that extend far beyond the poles of Uranus, unlike auroras on Earth.

To learn more, scientists used JWST to study Uranus' magnetosphere — the region of space around Uranus that's dominated by the planet's magnetic field.

"Uranus's magnetosphere is one of the strangest in the solar system," study lead author Paola Tiranti, a doctoral student at Northumbria University in the U.K., said in a European Space Agency (ESA) statement. "Webb has now shown us how deeply those effects reach into the atmosphere."

Strange lights on Uranus

JWST charted "the most detailed portrait yet" of how particles in Uranus' upper atmosphere are energized (ionized) by interactions with the sun, ESA officials said in the statement. The study, published Feb. 19 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, aimed to measure ion temperature and density as far as 3,100 miles (5,000 kilometers) above the cloud tops of Uranus.

Temperature and density do not peak at the same altitude, JWST showed. Ions were the warmest between roughly 2,500 and 3,100 miles (4,000 and 5,000 km) but the densest at about 600 miles (1,000 km). This is because of the "complex geometry" of the planet's magnetic field, ESA officials said in the statement.

That geometry also produced two bright bands of auroras near Uranus' magnetic poles. In between the aurora belts, however, there is a "depletion" in both ion density and auroral emissions — an effect likely produced by transitions between the planet's magnetic-field lines, the scientists said. Observations at Jupiter's upper atmosphere have shown similar transition regions.

In addition to charting Uranus' upper atmosphere in three dimensions for the first time, JWST confirmed findings from previous studies that suggested the planet's upper atmosphere has been cooling steadily since the early 1990s. The telescope showed the average temperature of Uranus' atmosphere is about 307 degrees Fahrenheit (153 degrees Celsius), which is lower than the temperature measurements from other spacecraft and ground-based telescopes.

"By revealing Uranus's vertical structure in such detail, Webb is helping us understand the energy balance of the ice giants," Tiranti said. "This is a crucial step towards characterizing giant planets beyond our solar system."

{ https://www.livescience.com/space }

26-02-2026 om 21:12 geschreven door peter  

US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has finally addressed the president's announcement to release all government files related to UFOs and aliens.

Speaking at an event for the Department of War’s 'Arsenal of Freedom' tour on Monday, Hegseth, 45, said he intends to find out if aliens really exist, and the American people will learn the truth at the same time.

Although he admitted he never envisioned being the person put in charge of potentially revealing alien life to the world, Hegseth declared that the Department of War would fully comply with the president's orders.

'I did not have that on my bingo card at all,' Hegseth said.

'We've got our people working on it right now. I don't want to oversell how much time it will take, right? We're digging in. We're going to be in full compliance with that executive order, eager to provide that for the president.'

Hegseth didn't have an estimate of how long it would take for the Pentagon and US intelligence agencies to release every piece of information on unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), which have been widely reported throughout the US since the 1940s.

Asked if he believes aliens exist, Hegseth replied: 'We'll see. I get to do the review and find out along with all of you.'

Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who was put in charge of the House Oversight Committee's task force on declassifying secret records on UAPs, revealed that all of the incoming documents will be housed on the US National Archives' website.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (Pictured) said the Pentagon plans to be in 'full compliance' with President Trump's order to release all UFO-related files

Trump's February 19 order to disclose any and all information on alien life came hours after he scolded former President Obama for saying in an interview that aliens were real

Until now, the Pentagon has maintained for decades that no physical evidence of extraterrestrial life has ever been found by the US, and videos capturing suspected UFOs have never been confirmed to be of a non-human origin. 

Hegseth's comments came after a whirlwind week of stunning UFO-related claims made by Trump and former President Barack Obama.

On February 14, a podcast interview between Obama and Brian Tyler Cohen sent shockwaves through the US after the 44th president declared aliens were real, but they weren't being kept at Area 51.

Obama tried to walk back the comments a day later, posting on social media that he gave a short and direct answer to Cohen's rapid-fire questions 'to stick with the spirit of the speed round.'

'Statistically, the universe is so vast that the odds are good there’s life out there,' he wrote on February 15.

However, President Trump seized on the comments, declaring that Obama had actually committed a serious violation by speaking on the matter, calling the topic 'classified information.' 

'I don't know if they're real or not,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on February 19 when asked about alien life and his predecessor's comments.

'I can tell you he gave classified information. He made a big mistake,' the president added.

President Trump (Pictured) allegedly has a speech written which discusses the existence of UFOs and extraterrestrial life, a claim later confirmed by his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump

The US government has claimed there is no physical proof extraterrestrial spacecraft or alien life exist and have visited Earth, despite countless videos capturing UFOs

Read More

• Top UFO experts reveal 'whistleblower activity' will finally bring disclosure in 2026 

Just hours later, Trump became the first president in history to issue a broad executive directive ordering government agencies to make any information on unidentified spacecraft and non-human life public information.

The president has also reportedly granted a key US congressman access to the most famous military base - Area 51.

In a recent interview, Representative Eric Burlison of Missouri claimed his request to visit the top-secret Nevada facility and other locations allegedly connected to UFOs was approved by the White House.

Burlison is a member of the congressional oversight committee involved in the ongoing investigation into UAPs, more commonly known as UFOs.

Although the US government has continued to deny that crashed UFOs and alien bodies have been recovered, Congress has heard from multiple whistleblowers claiming secret programs have covered up the truth for 80 years.

Seeking physical evidence of these encounters, Burlison told the ALN Podcast that the Trump Administration has ordered Hegseth and the Department of War (formerly the Department of Defense) to 'make it happen.'

'The extent to which they've been involved is literally just saying to the Department of Defense that "we're backing his request. Do what you can to make it happen,"' Burlison explained during the January 30 interview.

Trump has previously said he didn't believe UFOs or aliens exist, but revealed that military pilots have personally told him about their mid-air encounters with unexplainable craft which defied the laws of gravity.

When asked if he would declassify the files about aliens on the Lex Fridman Podcast in September 2024, then-candidate Trump said: 'Sure, I’ll do that. I would do that. I’d love to do that. I have to do that.'

The president's daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, has claimed he already has a written speech prepared, which discusses the topic of UFOs and alien life visiting Earth.

White House insiders and UFO researchers have claimed this speech is scheduled to be given this year, possibly coinciding with the Roswell UFO incident's 79th anniversary on July 8 or at the United Nations General Assembly in September.

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

26-02-2026 om 20:50 geschreven door peter