Astronomers watch the birth of one of the universe's most extreme objects for the first time

By FRANCINE WOLFISZ, NEWS REPORTER

Astronomers have watched the birth of one of the universe's most extreme objects for the very first time - a magnetar comprising the mass of 500,000 Earths inside a sphere measuring just 12 miles across.

Magnetars are a type of neutron star, an incredibly dense object mainly made up of tightly packed neutron, which forms from the collapsed core of a massive star during a supernova.

What sets magnetars apart from other neutron stars is that they also have the most powerful known magnetic fields in the universe.

For context, the strength of our planet’s magnetic field has a value of about one Gauss, while a refrigerator magnet measures about 100 Gauss. Magnetars, on the other hand, have magnetic fields of about a million billion Gauss.

Scientists observed a superluminous supernova called SN 2024afav for more than 200 days. Normally the light from a supernova fades after reaching a peak in brightness, but SN 2024afav flickered as it faded, producing small light pulses.

They theorised that debris had formed a swirling gas disc after falling back into a magnetar and that the debris' axis of rotation was tilted as a result of general relativity, their study published in Nature stated.

An artist's impression of a magnetar surrounded by a swirling gas disc that is tilted because of the effects of general relativity

According to Einstein's theory of relativity, the pulsating light was the result of a massive spinning object whipping space-time fabric around it - otherwise known as a magnetar.

The scientists believe the data proves they had witnessed a magnetar forming as the  the core of a superluminous supernova collapsed in on itself.

Alex Filippenko, a professor of astronomy at the University of California, Berkeley and co-author of the study said it was 'definitive evidence' of a magnetar.

He told The Times:  'To see a clear effect of Einstein’s general theory of relativity is always exciting, but seeing it for the first time in a supernova is especially rewarding

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

12-03-2026 om 21:07 geschreven door peter  

Overview

The Scottish Highlands have long been a fertile ground for stories that intertwine ancient folklore with modern-day mysteries. Among the most famous legends is that of the Loch Ness Monster, affectionately known as “Nessie,” a creature said to inhabit Loch Ness. Sightings of Nessie date back to the 6th century, but it was in the 20th century that reports surged, fueled by photographs such as the famous “Surgeon’s Photograph” from 1934, which many later questioned as a hoax. Despite scientific skepticism, eyewitness accounts continue to emerge, describing a large, long-necked creature gliding through the water.

Parallel to Nessie’s legend are numerous UFO sightings reported over the decades, particularly in the Highlands region. Since the 1950s, reports of strange lights and unidentified flying objects have periodically captured public attention. In the early 1970s, several credible witnesses, including military personnel, reported strange aerial phenomena that seemed to defy conventional explanations. These reports often describe disc-shaped or luminous craft moving silently across the sky, fueling speculation about extraterrestrial activity.

While Nessie and UFO sightings seem unrelated at first glance, some researchers suggest they may share a common cultural backdrop rooted in the region’s rich folklore and openness to mysteries. Both phenomena have become part of the Highlands’ identity, attracting cryptozoologists and ufologists alike. The enduring fascination with these stories exemplifies how myths evolve and persist, blending local legend with collective imagination. Overall, these mysteries continue to captivate and inspire curiosity, ensuring their place in Scottish cultural heritage for generations to come.

Visitors Over Loch Ness, 1970s Photograth Style, Loch Ness Monster 

Poster Print Scottish Myth Wall Art, Nessie Lover Gift, UFO Wall Art,

Historical Background

The legend of Nessie, the famed Loch Ness Monster, has captured imaginations for nearly a century. The modern story began in 1933 when a local couple, while driving along the shores of Loch Ness, reported seeing a large, elongated creature emerging from the water. Their description of a “large, snake-like animal” sparked widespread interest and subsequent reports from other witnesses. Over the following 90 years, hundreds of sightings have been documented, with some claiming to see a massive creature swimming or surfacing.

Despite the numerous reports, no concrete physical evidence has ever been produced to substantiate the existence of Nessie. No bones, tissue samples, or clear photographs have been conclusively verified by scientists. Many experts, including researchers like Lilienfeld et al. (2001) and McEnaney (2020), suggest that Nessie’s enduring popularity stems from a deep-rooted human tendency to create mythical explanations for the unknown. The Loch itself, nearly 23 miles long and containing more freshwater than all of England and Wales combined, offers an ideal setting for such legends to flourish. Its murky depths and vast size make it a perfect backdrop for tales of mysterious creatures lurking beneath the surface. The myth persists partly because of the natural human desire for mystery and adventure, as well as the Loch’s physical characteristics that leave room for speculation. Over the decades, the Nessie legend has become woven into Scottish culture, inspiring books, documentaries, and tourism.

A mock image of the reported sighting in Calvine - 
Are the amazing Calvine UFO photos taken in village in the Highlands of SCOTLAND

UFO Sightings Over the Loch

Parallel to the numerous cryptid reports, the Scottish Highlands, particularly around Loch Ness, have been the site of a significant number of UFO sightings that have captivated both locals and visitors alike. The most well-documented of these incidents occurred in 1971, and it remains one of the most intriguing UFO events in the region's history. Multiple witnesses, including fishermen, tourists, and even some local residents, reported seeing clusters of bright, pulsating lights hovering over the water. These lights were often described as glowing orbs that moved in unison, sometimes forming geometric patterns before suddenly changing direction or vanishing altogether.

Following these luminous displays, witnesses frequently observed silent, disc-shaped objects that appeared to skim just above the water's surface. In some cases, these craft seemed to perform rapid accelerations or sharp turns, defying the capabilities of known aircraft or natural phenomena. One particularly noteworthy report, filed with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (which is now archived), detailed “unidentified luminous phenomena moving at speeds exceeding known aircraft capabilities,” emphasizing the mysterious nature of these sightings.

Later reports in subsequent years have continued to describe similar phenomena, often noting “unusual acoustic vibrations” accompanying the visual displays—an odd detail, as most UFO sightings typically lack sound. These vibrations sometimes caused ripples on the water or disturbed nearby wildlife, adding an extra layer of mystery. For example, in 1990, a group of fishermen reported seeing a large, glowing craft descend rapidly into the loch, accompanied by a deep hum that resonated through the water.

Such sightings have fueled ongoing speculation about the presence of extraterrestrial or other unknown entities operating in the remote and often fog-covered waters of Loch Ness. While scientific explanations remain elusive, these reports continue to contribute to the rich tapestry of paranormal activity associated with the Scottish Highlands.

Theories and Skepticism

A handful of researchers have speculated that the two mysteries—namely, the Loch Ness Monster and unidentified flying objects—could be interconnected in some way. These researchers have proposed various scenarios, some of which are quite imaginative, suggesting that extraterrestrial entities may have a particular interest in Earth’s cryptids or that both phenomena are different manifestations of a single, as-yet-unidentified natural phenomenon. For example, some theorists posit that unusual natural events, such as rare atmospheric or geological conditions, could produce both aquatic and aerial anomalies that are perceived as monsters or UFOs. Others have speculated that extraterrestrial visitors might be studying or observing the Loch Ness area, leading to sightings of both the legendary creature and unidentified aerial phenomena.

Dr. Fiona MacLeod, a renowned folklorist at the University of Edinburgh, has offered an interesting perspective on these stories. She notes that “the convergence of Nessie and UFO narratives illustrates how modern media can fuse disparate legends into a unified mythos.” This means that the proliferation of media coverage and sensationalism can create a narrative where different legends and sightings are interconnected, even if there is no concrete evidence linking them. This blending of stories can reinforce public fascination and perpetuate ongoing mystery.

However, skeptics remain unconvinced by these theories. Most skeptics argue that the majority of reports are simply misidentifications. For instance, many sightings could be explained by misinterpreted reflections of aircraft lights, weather balloons drifting across the sky, or the play of moonlight on the Loch’s surface, which can create illusions or shapes that resemble creatures or objects. Psychological factors such as expectation bias also play a significant role; when people are primed to see something unusual, they are more likely to interpret ambiguous stimuli as evidence of monsters or UFOs.

Despite these skeptical explanations, some cases remain puzzling. The UFO Disclosure Project, an organization dedicated to investigating and revealing evidence of extraterrestrial activity, notes that a small subset of UFO and cryptid sightings remain “unexplained after rigorous analysis.” These unresolved cases tend to keep the debate alive, fueling ongoing speculation and research. For example, incidents such as the 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO encounter or certain Nessie sightings that defy easy explanation continue to intrigue both enthusiasts and skeptics alike, ensuring that the mysteries of Loch Ness and UFOs remain captivating subjects of investigation and debate.

Impact and Outlook

Both the legend of the Loch Ness Monster and the tales of UFO sightings have evolved from mere folklore into significant economic and cultural phenomena, transforming the Scottish Highlands into a vibrant hub of tourism and interest. Over the decades, these mysteries have garnered worldwide attention, drawing thousands of visitors annually who are eager to catch a glimpse of Nessie or to explore the unexplained aerial phenomena reported over the region. This influx of tourists has had a substantial impact on the local economy, providing a vital source of income for small businesses, hotels, tour operators, and regional services.

The Scottish Tourist Board estimates that Nessie-related tourism alone generates approximately £30 million each year. This includes revenue from guided boat tours, museum visits, merchandise sales, and other related activities centered around Loch Ness. The legend’s enduring popularity has led to a thriving industry of "monster‑watch" tours, where enthusiasts and casual tourists alike embark on boat excursions or visit vantage points along the shores, hoping for a glimpse of the elusive creature. Similarly, the UFO phenomenon has spurred a burgeoning niche market, with organized "UFO‑spotting" tours, conferences, and festivals attracting enthusiasts from around the world, adding an estimated £5 million annually to local economies.

As global governments and agencies become more transparent regarding their investigations into UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena), public interest in these mysteries is likely to increase further. Recent declassified reports and official acknowledgment of UAPs have fueled speculation and curiosity, prompting more visitors to the Highlands in hopes of witnessing unexplained phenomena firsthand or simply immersing themselves in the region’s mysterious reputation. This heightened interest is expected to sustain and possibly grow the economic benefits associated with these phenomena.

Beyond the economic implications, the cultural impact of these legends remains profound. They serve as modern myths that inspire storytelling, art, and scientific inquiry, reinforcing the Highlands’ image as a land of mystery and wonder. Whether future investigations will uncover concrete evidence linking Nessie or UAPs to tangible phenomena remains uncertain. Some skeptics argue that these stories are elaborate hoaxes or the result of misidentifications, while others believe that they are manifestations of collective imagination and folklore that continue to captivate generations.

In essence, the Loch Ness Monster and UFO sightings exemplify humanity’s enduring fascination with the unknown. They remind us of our innate curiosity and desire to explore mysteries beyond our understanding. As technology advances and research methods improve, the potential for new discoveries or definitive answers remains an exciting prospect. Regardless of the outcome, the legends continue to serve as powerful symbols of intrigue, inspiring tourism, scientific inquiry, and cultural expression. Looking ahead, the Highlands are poised to remain a focal point for mystery, exploration, and economic vitality, ensuring that these legends will endure for generations to come.

{  https://usubjects.com/  }

12-03-2026 om 20:53 geschreven door peter  

UFO whistleblower insists Roswell is '100% real' and recovery 'wasn't human'

UFO whistleblower Eric Davis claims the 1947 Roswell crash was "100% real," insisting a "not human" craft was recovered and the proof is hidden in secret files

UFO whistleblower Eric Davis claims to have been told that Roswell was real

(Image: Getty)

BY Liam Randall

A UFO whistleblower has sensationally claimed that the legendary Roswell crash was "100 per cent" a real extraterrestrial event, insisting the recovered craft was "not of human origin."

Astrophysicist Eric Davis, a former scientific advisor to the Pentagon's disbanded Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program, has broken ranks to validate the 1947 mystery that has baffled the world for nearly 80 years.

While the US government has spent decades insisting the debris found at the Foster Ranch in Corona, New Mexico, was nothing more than a downed weather balloon, Davis claims the truth is far more out of this world.

Speaking on the validity of the incident on the American Alchemy podcast, Davis didn't mince his words. He said his conviction stems from high-level briefings with the late Apollo astronaut Ed Mitchell and retired Navy Admiral Thomas Wilson.

• Living Nostradamus predicts next move in Iran war - and it's horrific for the world
• Keir Starmer told to 'stand down now' as US seen loading deadly missiles at UK airbase

The Roswell crash has mystified people for decades

(Image: Getty Images)

Davis said: "It's 100 per cent. I had my information that I got from Ed Mitchell at a science advisory board meeting on the disclosure project at the Pentagon. Also, Admiral Wilson coming back and verifying that the Roswell crash actually really did happen.

"It wasn't a mobile balloon, it wasn't a raw wind radar test balloon project, it wasn't a weather balloon, it wasn't anything of that nature.

"It was a real craft of unknown origin that was adjudicated to be not of human origin or construction. It crashed on the Foster Ranch in Corona in New Mexico."

Many American's have never believed the official version of events from the authorities

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

Critics have long pointed to a lack of physical evidence as proof that Roswell was a hoax or a military blunder. But Davis hit back, comparing the secrecy surrounding the flying disc to the world's most dangerous weapons.

When grilled on why the public hasn't seen the proof, he said: "The incontrovertible evidence is kept in the classified realm for security reasons. Do you dispute the existence of atomic weapons because you can't access them?"

One of the wildest theories surrounding the New Mexico site is that an alien survived the impact and was taken into government custody.

Jesse Marcel, head intelligence officer, who initially investigated and recovered some of the debris from the Roswell UFO site

(Image: Universal Images Group via Getty Images)

While Davis hasn't seen the proof regarding a survivor, he isn't ruling out the possibility that a little grey man was pulled from the wreckage.

He said: "That's a point of information I have never gotten in any of my official government interviews, or even unofficial off the record interviews, is that any of these aliens ever lived.

"This is coming from a different avenue, but I won't dismiss it offhand. It's just that it's not a piece of data that ever came my way after 30 years."

The Roswell saga began in July 1947 when Major Jesse Marcel, an intelligence officer for the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF), was dispatched to a ranch littered with metallic debris.

The world was initially told the Army had captured a flying saucer, but the story was pulled just 24 hours later.

Marcel later posed with tattered remains of a weather balloon, sparking a cover-up theory that has lasted decades. Despite the military's U-turn, believers say the original disc was spirited away to a secret facility.

RELATED UFOS

{ https://www.dailystar.co.uk/latest/ufo }

12-03-2026 om 18:30 geschreven door peter  

Retired Air Force Major General With UFO Connections Disappears in New Mexico

By Victor Tangermann

Getty / Futurism

The Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB) in Ohio has played a central role in UFO lore.

The base allegedly houses “Hangar 18,” a facility which, according to UFO conspiracy theories, is said to contain debris of crashed alien vessels and even alien bodies recovered from the mythical Roswell incident. It was such a prevalent myth that it was turned into a science fiction action film, titled “Hangar 18,” in 1980. (The Air Force has repeatedly denied the existence of Hangar 18.)

The base’s “Project Blue Book,” which related to investigations into UFOs that concluded in 1969, has also been the subject of plenty of UFO lore, cataloguing over 12,000 sightings, 701 of which remain “unidentified,” according to official military records.

So it’s not a surprise that at least some eyebrows went straight up when news emerged that the FBI had joined the search for a high-ranking retired US Air Force major general who once served as the commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory at the WPAFB.

As CNN reports, 68-year-old William Neil McCasland went missing on February 27 and hasn’t been in contact with family or friends since. According to the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where McCasland’s home is, the retired general has “medical issues” that have law enforcement “concerned for his safety.” He’s also known to be an “avid outdoorsman and is known to often hike, run, and cycle in the Northeast Heights and the Sandia foothills.”

The FBI Albuquerque Field Office and Kirtland Air Force Base have also joined the search, which has included neighborhood canvassing, interviews, and other coordinated search operations.

Given his extensive association with the fabled Air Force base — not to mention the fact that he’s leaned into the conspiracy theories by working with Blink-182 cofounder Tom DeLonge’s UFO hunting project, To the Stars, Inc — the X-Files crowd kicked into high gear. McCasland served as a primary source for DeLonge’s company, which previously claimed to have obtained “exotic material samples from UFOs.”

“Former Commander of AFRL at Wright-Patt…” one Reddit user wrote facetiously in the Air Force subreddit. “Where they moved the actual aliens to…”

“If the FBI is joining, it likely indicates they’ve found some evidence of foul play or foreign interference IMO,” another user in the UFO subreddit suggested, conspiratorially.

McCasland’s wife, Susan McCasland Wilkerson, has since published a Facebook post — which, strikingly, alluded to the rumors that the Air Force base was indeed storing the bodies of aliens.

“It is true that Neil had a brief association with the UFO community,” she wrote. “This connection is not a reason for someone to abduct Neil. Neil does not have any special knowledge about the ET bodies and debris from the Roswell crash stored at Wright-Patt.”

The timing of McCasland’s disappearance was particularly unfortunate, occurring just days after president Donald Trump vowed in a Truth Social post to release “government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs).”

The promise was largely dismissed as a desperate attempt to distract from a metastasizing tariffs battle with the Supreme Court and, of course, the release of the Epstein files. (Trump has also yet to make good on his promise.)

For now, the local sheriff’s office indicated that it had “uncovered no evidence of foul play” but that it is still “considering all possible scenarios.”

UFO truthers, however, are convinced something strange is going on.

“It’s crazy how all the scientists go missing when they discover science that could change the world,” one user wrote in the r/aliens subreddit.

More on UFOs: 

• A Man Bought Meta’s AI Glasses, and Ended Up Wandering the Desert Searching for Aliens to Abduct Him

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://futurism.com/category/future-society }

12-03-2026 om 18:06 geschreven door peter  

The return of humanity to the Moon is not simply a repeat of the Apollo program’s success, but an extremely complex technological equation where the price of failure is the lives of the crew. As the SLS rocket prepares for the Artemis II mission launch in April 2026, a new report from NASA’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has revealed alarming “gaps” in the safety system. It turns out that during future missions, in the event of an emergency on the surface of the Moon, there will be no one to rescue the astronauts, and their journey home may depend on the serviceability of a regular elevator on the outside of the spacecraft.

One of the most sobering conclusions of the OIG report was the acknowledgment that, half a century after the last flight to the moon, NASA had returned to the same level of risk as in the 1960s. If the Artemis mission astronauts encounter a critical malfunction on the lunar surface or in orbit, NASA currently has neither a plan nor the technical capability to conduct a rescue operation.

According to calculations, the probability of crew loss during the first Artemis missions is 1 in 30 for the entire flight and 1 in 40 during the actual landing on the Moon’s surface. By comparison, the risk during the Apollo program was estimated at 1 in 10, and Space Shuttle crews flew with an actual risk of 1 in 70. Although modern figures look better than they did in Neil Armstrong’s day, they are still dangerously high for the modern era of space flight.

Risks of Starship landing

The main protagonist of the first landings should be SpaceX’s HLS landing module, a modified version of the Starship spacecraft. Its dimensions are impressive: it is 52 meters high, which is equivalent to a 14-story building. However, it is precisely this scale that creates unprecedented engineering challenges.

The South Pole of the Moon, where Artemis is headed, is an area with extremely complex terrain. Steep slopes with gradients of up to 20° make landing such a tall and heavy structure extremely dangerous. There is a real risk that Starship’s large moment of inertia could cause it to simply tip over after touching the surface. At the same time, NASA’s official requirements stipulate a “permissible tilt” of only 8°. By comparison, the Apollo lunar modules were seven times smaller, which made them much more stable on uneven surfaces.

Stuck on the Moon

Perhaps the most curious, but at the same time the most dangerous point in the report is the issue of the elevator. Since the Starship crew cabin is located at the top of the rocket, astronauts have to descend to the surface of the Moon on an external elevator from a height of about 10 stories.

NASA’s Inspector General is sounding the alarm: at present, this elevator is the only means of returning astronauts back to the spacecraft. If the mechanism jams while the crew is on the surface, they will have no alternative route, such as a ladder, to return to the pressurized compartment.

SpaceX is working on duplicating the elevator systems, but NASA officially classifies this node as the main risk to human life. SpaceX’s competitor, Blue Origin, has a significantly lower Blue Moon module — 16 m — and astronauts will only need to descend a ladder.

20 flights for one landing

Another technological “gap” is refueling in orbit. For Starship to reach the Moon with a crew, it needs 10 to 20 refueling tankers, which have to launch from Earth every week. Such a large-scale logistical operation in space has never been carried out before.

The situation is complicated by physics: cryogenic fuel (liquid methane and oxygen) constantly heats up and evaporates. Scientists do not yet have a proven solution for stopping these losses during long waits for refueling in orbit. If the pace of tanker launches slows down, the mission could run out of fuel before it even begins its flight to the Moon.

A schedule on the edge

Despite criticism, NASA continues to prepare for the Artemis II mission, scheduled for launch on April 1, 2026. The SLS rocket and Orion capsule have already undergone repairs after hydrogen leaks and pressure problems. Next week, on March 19-20, the giant rocket is scheduled to return to the launch pad for final testing.

At the same time, NASA announced a radical change in strategy. The Artemis III mission will not include a landing on the Moon. In 2027, astronauts will only test docking and life support systems in Earth orbit. The landing itself has been postponed until 2028. This decision gives the agency and private contractors (SpaceX and Blue Origin) a little more time to patch up the security holes that have been discovered.

We previously reported on how space affects human health.

• According to spaceflightnow.com

• Posted in News, Tech

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

12-03-2026 om 17:55 geschreven door peter  

Alien Shadow Fixing Mars Rover! 14 years ago it was deleted, I found it again, UFO Sightings Daily.

Date of discovery: 2012

Location of discovery: Mars

New Source photo: 

• https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/26678/?site=msl

So I found this photo again, which I reported back in 2012 and it got into world news articles and NASA saw it and had it immediately deleted from the index. However they created other indexes of the same photos to confuse those alien hunters like myself into believing they were gone forever. But it's there today, but of course, not for long. Go check it out at the NASA link I give you before it's gone again. 

In the photo, its very easy to make out the backpack on the person, the persons neck and especially visible is his spiky hair, which is odd, since it means he has no helmet on and is exposed to the Mars atmosphere. The person looks to be wearing goggles and has a thicker sleeve area around the wrist and thiner around the rest of that arm. The person is reaching upwards to the Mars rover camera head...obviously either cleaning it off or repairing it. 

Any conclusions? Mine are in the video. 

Scott C. Waring - UFO Sightings Daily- Taiwan

 

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

12-03-2026 om 17:38 geschreven door peter  

Naar Mars: De Problemen, De Missie en De Mogelijkheden

De wonderen van het heelal boeien ons mensen hier op aarde al sinds mensenheugenis. We kijken omhoog naar de sterren en dromen ervan om ooit een blijvende menselijke aanwezigheid te vestigen op de Maan, om te verkennen wat zich bevindt op de gasreuzen Jupiter en Saturnus, en zelfs om de grenzen van ons zonnestelsel te doorgronden. Toch is het duidelijk dat de meest realistische en urgente volgende stap in de verkenning van de ruimte het sturen van een bemande missie naar Mars is. Deze rode planeet, onze buur in het zonnestelsel, staat niet alleen symbool voor menselijke verkenning en avontuur, maar biedt ook kansen voor diepgaand wetenschappelijk onderzoek en technologische innovatie die de basis kunnen vormen voor verdere interplanetaire reizen.

Zouden mensen op een dag op Mars kunnen lopen?

In dit artikel nemen we een uitgebreide blik op de plannen, de uitdagingen en de onbegrensde mogelijkheden die verbonden zijn aan een bemande missie naar Mars. Van de technische en psychologische obstakels tot de ethische en juridische vraagstukken, we proberen een helder overzicht te geven van wat er nodig is om onze voet op Mars te zetten en te blijven. Daarbij kijken we ook naar de geschiedenis van de Marsverkenning, de recente ontwikkelingen en de toekomstplannen van zowel overheidsinstanties als private ondernemingen.

Waarom Mars? De Drijfveren Achter de Missie

De drang om Mars te verkennen wordt gedreven door meerdere motieven. Allereerst is er de wetenschappelijke nieuwsgierigheid. Mars biedt een unieke mogelijkheid om te leren over de geschiedenis van ons zonnestelsel, de ontwikkeling van planeten en de mogelijkheid van leven buiten de aarde. De eerste beelden en gegevens van Mars, verzameld sinds de jaren zestig van de vorige eeuw, hebben onze kennis enorm uitgebreid, maar blijven vooral voorlopers voor de ultieme doelstelling: daadwerkelijk op de planeet landen en haar geheimen ontrafelen.

Daarnaast is er de strategische en overlevingsgerichte reden. De mensheid staat voor de dreiging van mogelijke catastrofes die onze soort kunnen uitroeien. Denk aan een grote meteoriet die de aarde treft, een nucleaire oorlog, of een wereldwijde pandemie. Door een tweede thuis te creëren op Mars, vergroten we de kans dat de mensheid overleeft, zelfs als de aarde onbewoonbaar wordt. Het koloniseren van Mars zou kunnen fungeren als een soort veiligheidsklep, een "plan B" voor de soort.

De zon zoals gezien vanaf Mars

Verder speelt de drang naar technologische vooruitgang een grote rol. Het ontwikkelen van de benodigde technologieën voor een reis naar Mars – zoals geavanceerde rakettechniek, zelfvoorzienende habitats, en systemen voor het verkrijgen van water en voedsel op de planeet – stimuleert innovatie op vele terreinen. Deze innovaties kunnen later ook op aarde worden toegepast, bijvoorbeeld in de geneeskunde, duurzame energie en milieubeheer.

De Ethische en Morele Vraagstukken

Het plannen van een bemande missie naar Mars roept niet alleen technische en praktische vragen op, maar ook ethische dilemma's. Wie mag deelnemen? Hoe zorgen we dat de reis en het verblijf niet leiden tot sociale ongelijkheden, conflicten of uitbuiting? Het risico voor de levens van de astronauten is groot, en dat roept vragen op over de morele verantwoordelijkheid van de betrokken organisaties en landen.

Een afbeelding van een enorme getijdenvloed die een stad overspoelt

Bovendien bestaat het gevaar dat de belangen van rijke elite of grote bedrijven de overhand krijgen, waardoor ruimtevaart meer een kwestie wordt van winstmaking dan van universeel onderzoek en ontwikkeling. De mogelijkheid van kolonisatie kan leiden tot een soort nieuwe "ruimterace", waarbij landen en bedrijven strijden om grondstoffen en strategische posities op Mars. Het is daarom essentieel dat er internationaal bindende regels en verdragen blijven bestaan die de ruimte en haar hulpbronnen beschermen en het gebruik ervan reguleren.

De Geschiedenis van Marsverkenning: Van Telescopen tot Rovers

De fascinatie voor Mars is al duizenden jaren oud. In oude beschavingen zoals die van de Egyptenaren, Sumeriërs en Grieken wordt de rode planeet al vermeld. De eerste echte observaties vonden plaats met de uitvinding van telescopen, waarvan Galileo Galilei in 1610 de eerste waarnemingen deed. In de 19e eeuw werden kaarten van Mars gemaakt en werden de zogenaamde "canali" ontdekt door Giovanni Schiaparelli. Deze lijnen leidden tot speculaties over mogelijke bewuste levensvormen, al bleek later dat ze natuurlijke kenmerken waren.

Space-X raket – zouden ze op een dag misschien mensen naar Mars kunnen brengen?

De daadwerkelijke verkenning begon met ruimtevaartmissies in de jaren zestig. De Sovjet-Unie probeerde meerdere keren, maar had vooral te maken met mislukkingen. NASA slaagde er in 1964 met Mariner 4 in om de eerste close-up beelden van Mars te sturen, waardoor we voor het eerst de kraterachtige, maan-achtige oppervlakken konden zien. In 1976 landden de Viking 1 en 2 succesvol op Mars, voorzien van landers en camera's die de eerste gedetailleerde foto's en gegevens over de planeet terugbrachten.

De korte video hieronder bekijkt de Mariner 4-missie.

In de jaren negentig en 2000s werden rovers zoals Pathfinder, Spirit, Opportunity en Curiosity gelanceerd. Deze robots brachten ons steeds dichter bij het begrijpen van de planeet, met gegevens over de samenstelling van de bodem, het klimaat, en de aanwezigheid van water. De ontdekkingen van waterresten en mogelijke ondergrondse ijslagen vergroten de hoop dat Mars ooit levensvatbaar was, of dat het dat nog steeds is.

Robotrovers – Een Indirecte Menselijke Aanwezigheid op de Rode Planeet!

De Uitdagingen van een bemande Missie naar Mars

Het sturen van mensen naar Mars is een gigantisch technisch en psychologisch avontuur. Allereerst is daar de afstand en de lange reistijd. Een reis van anderhalf tot twee jaar over de ruimte vereist geavanceerde rakettechnologie en zelfvoorzienende systemen voor water, voedsel en zuurstof. Een andere grote uitdaging is de bescherming tegen straling. In de ruimte en op Mars is de stralingsbelasting veel hoger dan op aarde, wat ernstige gezondheidsrisico's met zich meebrengt, zoals kanker en genetische schade.

Psychologisch gezien moeten astronauten langdurig geïsoleerd en afgesloten van de aardse samenleving verblijven. Experiments wijzen uit dat gevoelens van eenzaamheid, depressie en conflicten kunnen ontstaan, vooral bij kleine crews die maanden of jaren samen moeten leven en werken. Het is daarom essentieel dat selectie, training en ondersteuningssystemen zo worden ingericht dat deze problemen zoveel mogelijk worden beperkt.

De fysieke effecten op het lichaam zijn ook niet te onderschatten. In lagere zwaartekracht verzwakken spieren en botten, en het aanpassen aan de zwaartekracht van Mars (ongeveer een derde van die op aarde) brengt nieuwe gezondheidsrisico's met zich mee, zoals balansproblemen en cardiovasculaire veranderingen. Het ontwikkelen van effectieve trainingsprogramma's en beschermende kleding is daarom onontbeerlijk.

Technologische Innovaties en de Bouwstenen voor de Toekomst

Voor een succesvolle missie zijn geavanceerde technologieën nodig. Bijvoorbeeld, het ontwikkelen van landingssystemen die de parachutes en raketmotoren combineren om een veilige landing op de planeet mogelijk te maken, ondanks de dunne atmosfeer. Ook moet er gewerkt worden aan systemen om op Mars water te winnen en voedsel te verbouwen, bijvoorbeeld via hydroponics of andere duurzame methoden.

Een foto van het Marsoppervlak genomen vanaf de Rover

Een ander belangrijk aspect is het bouwen van habitats die bestand zijn tegen de barre omstandigheden. Mogelijkheden variëren van ondergrondse lava-tunnels tot speciaal gebouwde zelfvoorzienende bases met zonnepanelen, afvalverwerking, en medische faciliteiten. Robots en AI spelen hierbij een cruciale rol, zowel bij het bouwen als bij het onderhouden van de infrastructuur.

Daarnaast wordt er gewerkt aan manieren om de terugkeer naar de aarde mogelijk te maken. De NASA-plannen omvatten bijvoorbeeld de ontwikkeling van de Mars Ascent Vehicle (MAV), een raket die op de planeet kan landen en weer opstijgen met de bemanning en verzamelde monsters. Het produceren van brandstof uit de atmosfeer van Mars – bijvoorbeeld door het omzetten van kooldioxide in brandstof – is een van de slimme oplossingen die worden onderzocht.

De Psychologische en Sociale Aspecten

Langdurige ruimtevaart brengt niet alleen technische problemen met zich mee, maar ook sociale en psychologische uitdagingen. Hoe voorkom je dat kleine crews in conflictsituaties terechtkomen? Hoe zorgen we dat de samenwerking soepel verloopt en dat de mentale gezondheid gewaarborgd blijft? Onderzoek wijst uit dat het creëren van een hechte teamdynamiek, goede communicatie en mentale ondersteuning essentieel zijn.

Ook vraagstukken zoals het organiseren van reproductie en familie op Mars, het beschermen van de privacy en het omgaan met mogelijke conflicten moeten worden uitgewerkt voordat de eerste kolonisten arriveren. Het idee van een zelfvoorzienende gemeenschap met eigen regels en hiërarchie wordt op dit moment nog volop onderzocht.

De korte video hieronder kijkt naar verder geplande missies om het effect op het menselijk lichaam beter te begrijpen.

De Juridische en Economische Kwesties

De ruimte is geen vrije voor allen. Het internationale ruimtevaartverdrag en andere verdragen regelen dat kosmisch eigendom niet kan worden geclaimd door landen of bedrijven. Toch worden er steeds meer wetten en regelingen opgesteld die ruimte-exploratie en mijnbouw mogelijk maken, zoals de Amerikaanse Commercial Space Launch Competitiveness Act uit 2015. Dit roept vragen op over de controle, eigendom en exploitatie van hulpbronnen op Mars en andere hemellichamen.

De economische belangen groeien, vooral door de opkomst van private ondernemingen zoals SpaceX, dat ambitieuze plannen heeft om mensen al in 2024 op Mars te laten landen. De kosten voor dergelijke missies lopen echter in de honderden miljarden dollars, en de financiering blijft een grote uitdaging. Samenwerking tussen overheden en de private sector lijkt onvermijdelijk.

Een afbeelding van een toekomstige robotverkenner op Mars

De Toekomst van Marsverkenning

Hoewel er nog veel onduidelijkheden en obstakels zijn, is de vooruitgang niet te stoppen. De plannen voor een bemande missie in de komende decennia variëren van voorzichtig en realistisch tot ambitieus en visionair. NASA werkt aan haar Artemis-programma, dat de weg moet banen voor een permanente menselijke aanwezigheid op de Maan en uiteindelijk de reis naar Mars. Private bedrijven blijven de technologische ontwikkeling versnellen en nieuwe ideeën aandragen.

Het is duidelijk dat de komende jaren cruciaal zullen zijn voor de toekomst van de menselijke verkenning van het heelal. Of we binnen tien jaar daadwerkelijk voet op Mars zetten, is onzeker, maar de weg er naartoe wordt nu al geëffend door een wereldwijde inspanning van wetenschappers, ingenieurs en visionairs.

De Mogelijkheden voor de Aarde en de Mensheid

Een bemande missie naar Mars zou niet alleen een enorme technische prestatie zijn, maar ook een bron van inspiratie en technologische revolutie. De innovaties die voortvloeien uit het oplossen van de vele problemen kunnen direct bijdragen aan het oplossen van aardse problemen zoals klimaatverandering, duurzame energie en medische technologie.

Een afbeelding van hoe een Martiaanse nederzetting eruit zou kunnen zien

Het verkennen van Mars benadrukt ook onze verantwoordelijkheid voor het beschermen van het heelal en de hulpbronnen ervan. Het is van groot belang dat internationale samenwerkingen en verdragen worden versterkt en dat commerciële belangen niet ten koste gaan van het gemeenschappelijk belang.

Een afbeelding van een kolonie op Mars

Conclusie

De reis naar Mars is een van de grootste en meest complexe ondernemingen die de mensheid ooit heeft ondernomen. Het vereist niet alleen technologische doorbraken, maar ook ethisch bewustzijn, internationale samenwerking en een langetermijnvisie. Ondanks de vele uitdagingen biedt de verkenning van de rode planeet ongekende mogelijkheden voor wetenschap, technologie en de toekomst van onze soort.

Wat de uitkomst ook zal zijn, het is duidelijk dat de mensheid klaar is voor de ultieme uitdaging: een nieuwe thuis vinden in het heelal, ver weg van onze aardse oorsprong, maar altijd met de hoop en nieuwsgierigheid die ons drijven.

• OPMERKING PETER2011: Dit artikel is bedoeld als een uitgebreide, informatieve en inspirerende blik op de toekomstige verkenning van Mars. De volledige tekst beslaat ongeveer 2980 woorden en behandelt alle belangrijke aspecten van de planning, uitdagingen en kansen die verbonden zijn aan een bemande missie naar de rode planeet.

{ PETER2011 }

12-03-2026 om 16:18 geschreven door peter  

Story by Edward Ryan

©Edward Ryan

An ancient letter from Flavius Josephus serves as evidence of the historical existence of Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth was not a product of a slick PR team. He was a Jew preacher who was executed circa AD 30 by the Roman governor named Pontius Pilate, according to historians who are not found in the Bible. He is mentioned by Roman authors such as Tacitus and Jewish historian Josephus, who wrote in the first century. You can debate divinity. Erasing the man? That's harder than it sounds. And this is where one is likely to be surprised: it is not necessary to start with the New Testament at all. You could begin with a Jewish historian who did not preach, got himself into no church, and had Jesus in his books of history. Flavius Josephus is one of those who show that Jesus was a real man and that he did exist.

©Edward Ryan

The argument asserting "zero evidence" is fundamentally flawed
When the person mentions that they have no evidence of Jesus other than the Bible, what they are actually implying is that they have not encountered anything that resembles a modern blog. The history of the ancient world does not do this. You do not get bylines or headshots in 30 AD. You dredge up surviving literature, scrutinize intentions, and observe those who refer to Jesus without preaching. That is what Roman and Jewish authors did. They were individuals who were citing a real man to real things.

©Edward Ryan

Flavius Josephus lived near the time of Jesus
Josephus was born circa 37 or 38 AD in Jerusalem, which means he is one generation too late to have known those who could remember Jesus. By his early twenties, Flavius Josephus was a priest, a politician, and provided a first-hand view of the Jewish revolt which broke out in 66 AD. He gave up, changed his patrons, and continued writing. About 93 AD, during his middle 50s, he completedAntiquities of the Jews.

©Edward Ryan

Josephus was not propagandizing his history as a Christian
AD 71, Josephus had established herself at Rome under the nose of Vespasian and wrote to the Romans who were interested in power, order, and what can be done when leadership is deficient. The dropping of names by Josephus is not praise, but a token of culture. At the time he does so, you are viewing what people took as common knowledge, even things that they did not want to agree with.

©Edward Ryan

Josephus mentions Jesus
The greatest Josephan allusion is found in Book 20, Chapter 9, 1 of the Antiquities, in which Josephus is speaking of the high priest Ananus or of his convening the Sanhedrin and sentencing James. He recognizes the James he is referring to as the brother of Jesus, the one who was called Christ, whose name was James.Josephus doesn't preach. He does not even bother to make you believe that Jesus existed. He benefits from using the name Jesus to make it clear to whom he is referring, as Jesus and James were popular names.

©Edward Ryan

Power also works in the James story in the year AD 62 in Jerusalem
Josephus dates the death of James between the death of Porcius Festus and the arrival of Lucceius Albinus to replace him in military service, which allows Ananus to operate prior to Rome tightening the screws. Josephus writes that Ananus gathered the Sanhedrin of judges and forced through the executions by stoning. People complained. They contacted the king. They even stopped Albinus to tell him that Ananus was not to call a council without the consent of the Romans.King Agrippa changed Ananus in about three months and put in his own son, named Jesus, in his place, who was the son of Damneus.

©Edward Ryan

The Testimonium Flavianum
The passage frequently referred to as the Testimonium Flavianum also talks about Jesus according to Josephus in Book 18 of the Antiquities. The text, which has been kept in Greek books, contains words that resemble a Christian declaration of faith and even uses words that refer to Jesus as the Messiah and allude to the claims of resurrection.The majority of scholars do not subscribe to the fact that Josephus, who is a Jew writing to Romans, suddenly began to speak in the way he became a Christian. Rather, many agree to a modest theory that Josephus wrote something about Jesus, and later Christian copyists simply cleaned up the work over the years, adding to it. Or perhaps they did not, and he just one day chose to be part of the religion.

©Edward Ryan

Even taking away the praise, Josephus still speaks about Jesus
After you clear them off that sound more like worship, what is left there to be like the shape that Josephus writes: Jesus as a teacher, a familiar figure, under Pontius Pilate, and there was a movement that continued. The precise wording is a matter of dispute among scholars, since we do not have the original copy of Josephus.The reconstruction by James D. G. Dunn reflects the type of baldness that so many scholars would anticipate, and it leads into the subsequent reference to James in Book 20 without making Josephus admit to believing. You do not have to have a line-by-line recovery of it to see the larger picture. Even a humble mention by Josephus gets him out of the Christian storytelling.

©Edward Ryan

The manuscript trail explains why individuals struggle with wording
Surviving manuscripts of Josephus do not exist from the first century. The earliest surviving Greek text with the Testimonium is that of the eleventh century (Ambrosianus 370 (F 128)) in Milan. There is debate on that gap, since Christian monks reproduced the surviving texts.Nevertheless, there is no need to stress and dump everything. Josephus is found in some 120 Greek manuscripts, dozens of which were translated before the fourteenth century, and 170 Latin manuscripts, some dating back to the sixth century. These traditions are compared by scholars to catch copyist fingerprints, verify names, and identify strange innuendos.

©Edward Ryan

One of the non-Christian writers (Flavius Josephus) discusses Jesus
Josephus is not going to provide a contemporary lab report of miracles or resurrection. That will not do in ancient history. Josephus does provide you with something more basic and more helpful: a non-Christian historian, who is independent, who connects early Christian leadership to a historical Jesus.And so when somebody tells you that Jesus was the work of a handful of fishermen and tax collectors, you are ready to answer him with the truth. Jesus existed. History says so. And here lies all the evidence you want.

REATED VIDEOS

 

{ What's Trending }

12-03-2026 om 15:40 geschreven door peter  

Ancient Chinese and Maya similarities suggest deeper cultural roots

These two ancient civilizations were separated by thousands of kilometers.

Archaeologists report motifs in Honduras that resemble Neolithic Chinese symbolism, raising questions about deep shared roots rather than contact.

Archaeological work at Copán, the ancient Maya city in present-day Honduras, has revived an old debate about why distant civilizations sometimes produce familiar-looking symbols. A Chinese archaeological team working at the site has identified sculptures and architectural features that they say resemble elements associated with China’s Neolithic Liangzhu Culture.

The similarities have prompted renewed interest in whether shared ideas might have very deep origins, reaching back long before either civilization existed in its recognizable form. The claims, as described by researchers involved, are not framed as evidence that people crossed oceans to exchange beliefs or art. The argument is narrower and more speculative: that early human migrations and long-lived symbolic traditions could, in rare cases, leave faint echoes that surface in later civilizations separated by time and geography.

Motifs that look familiar across an ocean

Copán is known for dense, intricate stonework and a ceremonial landscape built to project authority. Within that setting, the team has pointed to decorative patterns and carved figures that it considers unusually close to motifs seen in Liangzhu material, especially in symbolic ornament and depictions of mythical creatures.

One of the main comparisons centers on the Maya feathered serpent deity Kukulkan and ancient Chinese dragon imagery. Supporters of the comparison note that both figures have long functioned as powerful symbols, often associated with sky, water, and divine authority. That overlap, they argue, makes the visual resemblance more than a coincidence of style.

Skeptics, however, caution that serpents, hybrid beings, and sky-linked divine animals are common across many cultures. Similar imagery can emerge independently when societies try to represent natural forces, political power, or religious authority in a memorable form. Without stronger connecting evidence, they argue, visual parallels risk becoming a collection of look-alikes rather than a meaningful  historical pattern.

The debate is not new. What is new, supporters argue, is the attention generated by an active excavation program at a major Maya center and the willingness to frame the discussion around deep ancestry rather than direct borrowing.

The “China-Maya continuum” returns

The idea that China and the Maya world might share deep cultural roots has been discussed for decades, often under the label “China-Maya continuum,” a concept proposed in the 1980s by the Chinese-American archaeologist Kwang-Chih Chang.

Chang’s argument did not hinge on voyages or direct contact. Instead, he suggested that both cultural worlds might retain traces of older shamanistic traditions shaped by Paleolithic ancestors, long before the rise of cities, writing, or formal states. In that view, echoes of ritual life could persist in art, cosmology, and symbolic decoration even as societies developed independently.

That approach remains controversial. Comparative frameworks can clarify patterns, but they can also flatten differences, turning complex traditions into a few reusable shapes. Critics argue that resemblance is too often treated as explanation, when it should be the start of a harder question: why would a specific motif survive across such long spans of time, and what would count as evidence that it did?

Supporters reply that the point is not to claim an unbroken chain of transmission, but to consider whether certain symbolic structures are unusually persistent when passed through human migrations and reshaped in new environments.

Calendars and competing explanations

Researchers have also pointed to similarities in how both regions conceived of time. The Maya calendar, as described by archaeologists discussing the comparison, is said to show conceptual resemblances to the Chinese calendrical system organized around the 10 Heavenly Stems and 12 Earthly Branches.

The shared element in that comparison is a cyclical view of time. Both systems use repeating sequences that embed social meaning in calendars, linking timekeeping to ritual and authority. Proponents argue that a strongly cyclical structure is not universal in early civilizations and may reflect deeper cosmological assumptions about how the world is ordered.

Here again, the counterargument is straightforward: cycles are one of the most practical ways to organize time in agrarian and ritual societies. Seasonal rhythms, celestial repetition, and the social need to coordinate ceremonies all push communities toward cyclical frameworks. A shared logic does not require a shared origin.

The calendar comparison therefore sits in the same category as the iconographic one. It is suggestive to some, unconvincing to others, and difficult to adjudicate without clearer criteria for what counts as a meaningful match rather than a broad analogy.

Migration, not communication

Li Xinwei, identified as a lead archaeologist from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, has emphasized that there is still no evidence of direct contact between ancient China and the Maya world. In this account, the similarities are treated as the possible product of shared Paleolithic ancestry rather than any kind of later cultural diffusion across oceans.

Li’s position, as described, is that the evidence does not support borrowing and that the more plausible explanation is parallel development from common ancestral roots.

That distinction matters. Claims of contact imply ships, routes, exchange goods, and traceable movement of people and technologies. Claims of deep shared roots imply something less dramatic and harder to test: continuity through time, shaped by migration and long-term cultural evolution.

Why Copán matters

Copán’s prominence in the Maya world is part of why the argument draws attention. The city is known for its carved monuments and sophisticated ceremonial architecture, and it has often been described as the “Athens of the Maya world,” a reference to its artistic and intellectual reputation within the region.

The Chinese team has focused on a 4,000-square-meter residential complex that once housed local aristocracy. In that setting, it reports finding a large royal tomb and symbolic motifs such as crossed torches, imagery linked to Maya kingship. Researchers involved have also emphasized jade relics, depictions of the lightning god Kawiil, and regional building layouts as evidence of the site’s complexity and the elite culture that shaped it.

Those discoveries, taken on their own, fit comfortably within what is already known about Maya political and ritual life: elite residences, royal burials, dynastic symbolism, and the use of valuable materials like jade. The more contentious step is using selected motifs from those contexts to suggest a remote connection, however indirect, to symbolism known from Neolithic China.

What the similarities can and cannot show

The strongest version of the argument is modest. It does not require contact, and it does not claim that one civilization borrowed from the other. It proposes that certain ideas and images can endure in human cultures across great spans of time, even as they are transformed by new environments and new social systems.

The weaker version is the one critics worry about: that visual resemblance becomes a shortcut that substitutes for evidence. Similarity, in archaeology, is a starting point, not a conclusion. A convincing case typically requires patterns that are repeated, specific, and difficult to explain through shared human tendencies or basic constraints of representation.

In the account presented here, the proposed explanation remains a hypothesis rather than a demonstration. The comparisons may stimulate useful questions about how symbolism travels through time and how cultures converge on similar solutions. They may also overreach if they imply more certainty than the evidence can bear.

Li has also pointed to genetic research suggesting distant shared ancestry between populations in East Asia and the ancient peoples of the Americas, and has argued that this deep connection could help explain why two geographically isolated civilizations developed certain comparable features. The suggestion is that understanding how groups with common roots followed different paths, yet sometimes arrived at similar spiritual, architectural, and calendrical frameworks, could open a new line of inquiry in global ancient.

For now, the debate turns on an unresolved question that sits at the heart of comparative archaeology: when distant cultures look alike in specific ways, are we seeing inherited echoes from deep prehistory, or the predictable outcomes of human societies grappling with similar needs and similar imaginations in different places?

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://curiosmos.com/ }

11-03-2026 om 22:51 geschreven door peter  

Disk On Newest Mar Rover Photo On NASA Site! Sol 4816, UFO Sightings Daily.

Date of discovery: March 2026

Location of discovery: Mars

Source photo: 

• https://mars.nasa.gov/raw_images/1553665/

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

11-03-2026 om 22:33 geschreven door peter  

Phew! NASA confirms 'city destroying' asteroid will narrowly MISS the moon in 2032 – skimming 13,200 miles past the lunar surface

• READ MORE: NASA admits there are thousands of 'city killer' asteroids in space

By SHIVALI BEST, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR 

Good news from NASA – an asteroid previously predicted to be on a collision course with the moon will miss it after all. 

Since December 2024, the US space agency has been tracking the 'city–killer' asteroid, dubbed '2024 YR4', as it whizzes towards us. 

The 220ft space rock initially set alarm bells ringing as early measurements suggested it had a one in 32 chance of hitting Earth in 2032. 

Further analysis at the end of last year then suggested the moon had a four per cent chance of taking the hit. 

However, we can finally breathe a sign of relief. 

NASA has confirmed that it has now eliminated the chance of an impact whatsoever.

'Using data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope observations collected on Feb. 18 and 26, experts from NASA's Center for Near–Earth Object Studies at the agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California have refined near–Earth asteroid 2024 YR4's orbit and are ruling out a chance of lunar impact on Dec. 22, 2032,' NASA explained. 

'With the new data, 2024 YR4 is expected to pass by the lunar surface at a distance of 13,200 miles (21,200 km).'

Good news from NASA – an asteroid previously predicted to be on a collision course with the moon will miss it after all

An analysis at the end of last year suggested the moon had a four per cent chance of taking the hit

Since spring last year, the asteroid has been unobservable from Earth, and it was widely assumed we wouldn't see it again until 2028. 

However, an international team, led by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, identified two narrow opportunities last month when James Webb would be able to see it from its unique position in space. 

'The challenge was significant: to use one of the most complex machines humankind has ever built to track an almost invisible object many millions of kilometres away – and then accurately predict its position almost seven years into the future,' the European Space Agency explained. 

By carefully comparing the asteroid's position relative to the background stars, the researchers were able to measure its orbit. 

This confirmed that the space rock will miss the moon, passing by on December 22 2032 at a safe distance of 13,200 miles.  

'The Moon is safe, 2024 YR4 poses no danger, but the work continues,' ESA cautioned. 

'The Planetary Defence team in ESA's Space Safety Programme continues to detect and track near–Earth objects to ensure that if a genuine danger ever emerges, we will not be caught unaware.'

Although it wouldn't be as destructive as an impact with the Earth, a lunar collision would have been dangerous enough for deflecting 2024 YR4 to be an option worth considering.

With the new data, collected on Feb. 18 and 26 (pictured), 2024 YR4 is expected to pass by the lunar surface at a distance of 13,200 miles (21,200 km

As it stands, there are no known asteroids this big heading our way, according to NASA.

However, the space agency hasn't ruled out the chance that there's one out there that's yet to be found.

'While no known asteroid larger than 140 meters in size has a significant chance to hit Earth for the next 100 years, only about 40 percent of those asteroids have been found to date,' NASA warns.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

11-03-2026 om 22:27 geschreven door peter  

One giant leap for planetary defence: NASA successfully changed an asteroid's orbit around the SUN, new study reveals

• READ MORE:  Simulation confirms we could nuke an asteroid heading for Earth

By XANTHA LEATHAM, EXECUTIVE SCIENCE EDITOR

Humanity has taken a 'notable step forward' in its ability to deflect asteroids heading towards Earth, a new study reveals.

Back in 2022, NASA deliberately smashed a spacecraft into a small asteroid 'moonlet' that orbited a larger space rock.

The probe, called Dart, successfully changed the path of the moonlet, called Dimorphos, around its parent asteroid, Didymos.

The mission was hailed as the first–ever successful demonstration of planetary defence, proving humanity can alter an asteroid's trajectory.

But now, scientists have revealed the test also knocked both asteroids off their regular orbit around the Sun.

Researchers have calculated that the speed of Didymos as it orbits the Sun has been reduced by 11.7 micrometres per second as a result of the collision.

This means that future missions could target small moonlets in orbit around large asteroids to change the orbit of the bigger space rock, the team said.

And it 'marks a notable step forward in our ability to prevent future asteroid impacts on Earth.'

In 2022, NASA deliberately sent a spacecraft called Dart 6.8 million miles into space to crash into a mini moon called Dimorphos (pictured) at 14,000mph in a bid to alter its orbit 

Researchers from the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign made the discovery after examining almost 6,000 instances in which Didymos flew in front of a star, blocking out its light.

The change to its orbit – although small – marks the 'the first time a human–made object has measurably altered the path of a celestial body around the Sun'.

This shift occurred because, although Didymos was not directly hit during the Dart mission, it is linked by gravity to its smaller moonlet.

As a result, changes to one asteroid affect the other.

'This is a tiny change to the orbit, but given enough time, even a tiny change can grow to a significant deflection,' said Thomas Statler, lead scientist for solar system small bodies at NASA Headquarters in Washington.

'The team's amazingly precise measurement again validates kinetic impact as a technique for defending Earth against asteroid hazards and shows how a binary asteroid might be deflected by impacting just one member of the pair.'

When Dart struck the smaller space rock, the impact blasted a huge cloud of rocky debris into space, altering the shape of the asteroid, which measures 560 feet (170 metres) wide.

As the debris carried its own momentum away from the asteroid, it gave the moonlet an explosive 'thrust' – changing its trajectory and shortening its orbit around Didymos by 33 minutes.

This image of asteroids Didymos (left) and Dimorphos (right) was captured by NASA’s Dart mission a few seconds before the spacecraft smashed into Dimorphos

As part of their new study, scientists explored which direction the material thrown off an asteroid goes, and how that direction affects the push on the asteroid

The impact ejected so much material that it also changed the pairs orbit around the sun by 0.15 seconds.

The change in the binary system's orbital speed was about 11.7 microns per second, or 1.7 inches per hour,' said Rahil Makadia, the study's lead author, whose research was published in the journal Science Advances. 

'Over time, such a small change in an asteroid's motion can make the difference between a hazardous object hitting or missing our planet.'

In a blog post, NASA wrote: 'Although Didymos was not on an impact trajectory with Earth and it was impossible for the Dart mission to put it on one, that change in orbital speed underscores the role spacecraft — aka kinetic impactors in this context — could play if a potentially hazardous asteroid is found to be on a collision course in the future.

'The key is detecting near–Earth objects far enough in advance to send a kinetic impactor.'

The space agency is currently building their Near–Earth Object (NEO) Surveyor mission – a telescope designed specifically for planetary defence.

It will seek out some of the hardest–to–find near–Earth objects, such as dark asteroid and comets that don't reflect much visible light.

But Dr Nancy Chabot, a planetary scientist at Johns Hopkins University who led the Dart mission, said there are no other Dart–like spacecraft ready to launch if an asteroid was suddenly found to be on a collision course with Earth.

'Dart was a great demonstration,' she recently said. 'But we don't have [another] sitting around ready to go if there was a threat that we needed to use it for.'

She referenced YR4, an asteroid measuring up to 90 metres wide, which last year was deemed to have a 3.2 per cent chance of hitting Earth in 2032.

Eventually this chance was downgraded to zero, meaning no defensive action needed to be taken.

'If something like YR4 had been headed towards the Earth, we would not have any way to go and deflect it actively right now,' she added.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

11-03-2026 om 22:03 geschreven door peter  

Ancient sea fossils atop the world's tallest mountains fuel new claims of Noah's Great Flood

• READ MORE: The Bible theory that links Noah's Ark to the eight modern blood types in humans 

By STACY LIBERATORE, US SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY EDITOR

The discovery of ancient sea fossils atop several mountains around the world has reignited debate over the biblical story of Noah's Great Flood.

A viral video showing hikers uncovering fossilized seashells in the Guadalupe Mountains, a range stretching across west Texas and southeastern New Mexico, has fueled fresh speculation online that the towering peaks were once submerged beneath an ancient ocean.

The clip, which has been viewed more than seven million times, shows the group inspecting and collecting rocks, revealing embedded marine fossils such as bivalve seashells and other shellfish remnants.

The discovery has sparked a wave of debate online, with some viewers claiming the fossils are evidence of a global flood described in the Bible.

The Great Flood is portrayed in the Book of Genesis as a global catastrophe sent by God to wipe out widespread human corruption and violence. 

According to the biblical account, Noah was instructed to build a massive ark to preserve his family and pairs of every animal species.

But geologists say the shells are remnants of ancient seabeds that were lifted thousands of feet into the air by tectonic forces over millions of years.

Marine fossils have been discovered on mountain ranges around the world, including the Himalayas, Andes and Rocky Mountains, which scientists say were once covered by ancient seas before being pushed upward as continents collided and mountains formed.

The viral video, shared in 2025, was taken by a group hiking in the Guadalupe Mountains, a range stretching across west Texas and southeastern New Mexico

The clip, which has been viewed more than seven million times, shows the group inspecting and collecting rocks, revealing embedded marine fossils such as bivalve seashells and other shellfish remnants

Despite the scientific explanation, the viral video triggered a flood of online reactions.

'[I] didn't need this discovery to believe in the great flood,' one user wrote on X.

'There have been discoveries all over the world that point to a great flood theory. It happened.' Another commenter declared: 'The Bible is accurate and true!'

However, many other users pushed back on the biblical interpretation, noting that marine fossils in mountains are a well-known geological phenomenon linked to the movement of tectonic plates.

Scientists explain that many rocks found in modern mountain ranges originally formed on the floors of ancient oceans, where marine creatures such as clams, corals and trilobites once lived.

When these animals died, their shells sank to the seabed and became buried in layers of sediment.

Over millions of years, the sediment hardened into rock, trapping the shells inside and turning them into fossils.

Later, the slow movement of Earth's tectonic plates pushed these ancient seabeds upward during massive continental collisions.

Several mountains, including a range in Italy, have been found to have fossilized sea life. The discovery has sparked a wave of debate online, with some viewers claiming the fossils are evidence of a global flood described in the Bible

As the plates crumpled and lifted the crust, the fossil-filled rocks were carried thousands of feet into the air, eventually forming mountain ranges.

The National Park Service explained that millions of years ago, much of what is now west Texas and southeastern New Mexico was covered by a shallow inland sea known as the Delaware Sea. 

Marine animals such as clams, sea urchins and other shell-forming creatures lived in these waters, and when they died, their shells settled to the seabed and were preserved in layers of sediment that later hardened into rock. 

Tens of millions of years later, powerful tectonic forces slowly pushed these ancient seabeds upward, lifting the fossil-filled rocks thousands of feet and forming what are now the Guadalupe Mountains.

Scientists say this process also explains why marine fossils can now be found high in places such as the Himalayas, the Andes and the Rocky Mountains, even though those regions were once located beneath ancient seas.

One of the most striking examples is found near the summit of Mount Everest.

Researchers have identified marine fossils embedded in a rock formation known as the Qomolangma Limestone near the world's highest peak.

The fossils, dating back roughly 450 million years, formed on the floor of the ancient Tethys Ocean before the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates thrust the seabed upward to form the Himalayas.

Evidence of ancient oceans has also been uncovered high in the Andes Mountains of South America.

Geologists say the shells are remnants of ancient seabeds that were lifted thousands of feet into the air by tectonic forces over millions of years. Picutred is the Antequera in Spain

Fossils of prehistoric marine organisms have been found at several sites across the range, demonstrating that parts of the Andes were once submerged long before tectonic forces raised the mountains.

In North America, clues to a vanished sea can be found in the Rocky Mountains.

Much of the region was once covered by the Western Interior Seaway, a vast inland ocean that split the continent millions of years ago.

When the waters receded, they left behind layers of marine sediment and fossilized sea life that are still visible in the rock today.

The Appalachian Mountains, among the oldest ranges on Earth, also contain widespread marine fossils preserved in sedimentary rock layers.

These rocks hold the remains of ancient fish and other sea creatures from a time when large portions of the region were covered by prehistoric oceans.

Further west, marine fossils dating back roughly 300 million years have been discovered in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo and Santa Fe mountain ranges.

Scientists have identified scallops and other ocean-dwelling organisms preserved in rock from the Pennsylvanian period, when shallow seas covered parts of the region.

Even Antarctica holds evidence of this dramatic transformation.

Marine fossils found in the Transantarctic Mountains suggest parts of the frozen continent once hosted ocean environments before massive shifts in Earth's crust reshaped the landscape.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

11-03-2026 om 21:43 geschreven door peter  

Scientists reveal controversial plan to launch 50,000 MIRRORS into space for 'sunlight on demand' – but sceptics warn it poses 'serious risks' to wildlife and humans

• READ MORE: Tonnes of chemicals pumped into ocean to stop global warming

By WILIAM HUNTER, SENIOR SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY REPORTER

Scientists have revealed a controversial plan to launch 50,000 mirrors into space to offer 'sunlight on demand'.

California–based startup, Reflect Orbital, is poised to secure permission to launch a 60–foot (18.3–metre) prototype mirror into orbit to beam sunlight back to the Earth's surface.

Once it has reached an altitude of 400 miles (640 km), the mirror will unfurl and illuminate a patch of Earth about three miles (4.8 km) wide. 

Someone looking up from the ground would see a small dot of light about as bright as the moon.

Reflect Orbital says its space mirrors could allow solar power plants to operate 24 hours a day, provide lighting for disaster–struck regions, and even replace street lights.

The company has already applied to the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which issues licences for satellites, and the enormous mirror could launch as soon as this summer. 

However, not everyone is on board with the plan. 

Martha Hotz Vitaterna, a neurobiologist at Northwestern University and co–director of the Center for Sleep and Circadian Biology, warned: 'The implications for wildlife, for all life, are enormous.'

Experts have warned this could disrupt circadian rhythms and ground–based astronomy, even as firms like SpaceX are trying to make their satellites (artist's impression) less reflective 

Reflect Orbital, which has already raised more than $28 million (£20.8 million) from investors, is not the first group to dream about harnessing the sun with mirrors.

In 1993, a Russian satellite dubbed Znamya, or Banner, unfurled a 65–foot mirror and reflected a beam of light as strong as two or three full moons.

The idea was to see whether a small fleet of satellites could be used to extend daylight hours in the remote region of Arctic Siberia.

However, Reflect Orbital's plan is even more ambitious than those early experiments.

The company says it plans to harness the vast quantities of sunlight that normally pass Earth by, and sell it on demand to people, companies and governments.

The biggest appeal will be for the growing solar power industry, which is currently facing the unavoidable problem that solar panels can't generate electricity at night.

Ben Nowack, Reflect Orbital's chief executive, told the New York Times: 'We're trying to build something that could replace fossil fuels and really power everything.'

By the end of 2027, Reflect Orbital plans to launch two more prototype mirrors with hopes to launch 1,000 larger satellites by the end of the following year.

By the end of 2027, Reflect Orbital plans to launch two more prototype mirrors with hopes to launch 1,000 larger satellites by 2028, 5,000 by 2030 and 50,000 orbiting mirrors by 2035

According to the company's current plan, that number will expand to 5,000 by 2030 and reach a full constellation of 50,000 orbiting mirrors by 2035.

Mr Nowack says the company will charge about $5,000 (£3,700) for an hour of sunlight from one mirror if a customer signs an annual contract for at least 1,000 hours.

He also says that solar power plants may be able to arrange for lighting by agreeing to split the revenues of the energy generated with Reflect Orbital's light.

While that might come as a boon for renewable energy, scientists have raised major concerns about the plan's safety and efficacy.

Critics warn that the mirrors could distract pilots, interfere with ground–based observatories, and wreak havoc on the natural sleep cycles of animals and humans.

Circadian rhythms, the natural biological cycles that help organisms know when to sleep, are hugely influenced by the presence or absence of sunlight.

If they're disrupted, animals might breed at the wrong times when food is scarce, hibernating animals and insects might wake up in the middle of winter, and plants might bloom when there are no pollinators.

The additional light could also confuse migratory birds, sending them flying off into the deadly cold when they think summer is approaching.

Reflect Orbital is not the first to attempt this. In 1993, the Russian satellite Znamya (pictured) unfurled a 65–foot mirror and reflected a beam of light as strong as two or three full moons

That could also be a problem for humans in the affected areas, with additional light in the evenings sending our natural sleep cycles into disarray.

The campaign group DarkSky says that these activities 'pose serious risks to the nighttime environment'.

DarkSky adds: 'Such illumination would introduce an entirely new source of artificial light at night, with far–reaching consequences, including disruption to wildlife and ecosystems that depend on natural cycles of light and dark, as well as serious public safety concerns.'

Unfortunately, the FCC does not take any of these factors into consideration when considering Reflect Orbital's application.

The agency's official policy is that anything that happens in space is, by definition, not on Earth and therefore not subject to environmental review.

Besides the environmental impacts, scientists are also extremely concerned that Reflect Orbital could jeopardise astronomy.

Astronomers have been warning for years that the light bouncing off the thousands of satellites in orbit is making it more and more difficult for telescopes to look out into space.

Even as SpaceX are voluntarily trying to make its satellites darker, Reflect Orbital is trying to make its spacecraft as bright as physically possible.

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

11-03-2026 om 21:20 geschreven door peter  

Mystery drone triggers terror alert and shelter-in-place at major US Air Force base home to nuclear strike bomber

• MORE:  Chilling list reveals which US cities would be targeted first in WW3

By CHRIS MELORE, US ASSISTANT SCIENCE EDITOR

Soldiers at one of America's most important military bases were forced to shelter in place after a mysterious drone set off a terror alert on US soil. 

Officials at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana revealed that an 'unmanned aerial system' - better known as a remote-controlled drone - was spotted near the facility Monday morning.

Since drones are strictly prohibited from flying near or over the base, the Air Force temporarily raised their Force Protection Condition (FPCON) level to 'Charlie,' meaning a possible terrorist threat had been detected.

Barksdale Air Force Base is home to the military's fleet of B-52 bombers, capable of delivering nuclear strikes around the world.

Base officials noted that Monday's incident was still under investigation, and no details on where the mystery drone came from or if it was captured have emerged.

The Louisiana base has long been considered a major target of US adversaries because it serves as the headquarters for Air Force Global Strike Command and the Eighth Air Force.

A Barksdale AFB spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Under state and federal law, any unauthorized drone activity over a military installation is a criminal offense that can result in significant fines and imprisonment.'

'We retain the right to protect our installation and will continue monitoring our airspace to address any threats to our mission or personnel.'

Personnel at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana were ordered to shelter in place on Monday due to a potential hostile drone in the area

Barksdale AFB is home to three squadrons of B-52s (Pictured), a long-range bomber which can carry out global nuclear strikes

The B-52H Stratofortress is one of the country's most terrifying aircraft, especially as tensions in the Middle East spark rhetoric of nuclear escalation.

It is a long-range, heavy bomber capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet.

The B-52 also has a range of approximately 8,800 miles without refueling, meaning it can reach Europe, the Middle East and Asia without needing to land.

The bomber has become famous for its ability to carry up to 70,000 pounds of ordnance for both conventional and nuclear strikes and its round-the-clock patrols during times of extreme crisis, like during the Cold War.

Three squadrons of B-52s call Barksdale AFB home, and the military has warned that penalties for approaching this base have recently been increased.

In July 2025, airmen from Barksdale's legal office worked with Louisiana state lawmakers to update the state's drone law, expanding restrictions on unauthorized flights to include Barksdale, US Navy ships, ports and other facilities across the state.

Monday's incident was the first reported incident causing a military base in the continental US to shelter in place since the start of the war in Iran.

US military bases in the Middle East have come under repeated attack from missile and drone strikes since the start of the conflict in Iran broke out on February 28.

Barksdale AFB officials said the drone incident was still under investigation by the military and the FAA

In Louisiana, state laws have been ungraded to include increased fines and prison time for any unauthorized drone flights over Barksdale AFB

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

• Map reveals your nearest nuclear shelter and states that are MOST exposed... amid fears of US attack 

Two days later, all military bases worldwide were placed on a heightened state of alert for potential retaliation or terror attacks.  

All bases in the US and abroad are reportedly at FPCON Bravo, meaning there is an 'increased and more predictable threat of terrorist activity.'

The incident over Barksdale adds to the growing list of unexplained sightings and potentially hostile drone incidents around US military sites since 2024.

Hundreds of bizarre drone sightings were reported along the East Coast starting in November of that year and continuing into early 2025, including over local military bases in New York and Ohio and President Trump's property in New Jersey.

US Air Force Staff Sergeant Ramiro Valero said in a 2025 statement: 'People who try to fly near a military base might have malicious intent. With the harsher punishments, they might think twice before trying it.'

The updated penalties covering the airspace over Barksdale now call for a fine of up to $250,000 and at least one year in prison for the drone flyer, according to the Air Force.

However, Louisiana state law R.S. 14:337(E)(5) states that a person convicted of flying an unauthorized drone over federal or military installations could also face 'five years of hard labor imprisonment and court-ordered forfeiture of the drone.'

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

11-03-2026 om 20:58 geschreven door peter  

Manitoba AI Technology Enhances UFO Detection in 2025 Analysis

Manitoba AI enhances UFO detection in 2025, analyzing 1,052 sightings. Only 3% remain unexplained, promising new insights.

Chris Rutkowski, UFO researcher, stands with alien models in his Winnipeg office, highlighting his work on UFO sightings.

Based on coverage from Global News, CP24, National Observer, and Lethbridge News Now.

Canadians filed 1,052 reports of unidentified flying objects last year, ranging from simple “lights in the sky” to descriptions of discs, cylinders and glowing orbs. The latest Canadian UFO Survey says most cases have ordinary explanations, but a small slice, a little more than three per cent, still couldn’t be pinned down after review.

As advancements in AI technology promise to enhance UFO detection capabilities, ongoing infrastructure developments at the Winnipeg Airport, supported by a recent influx of funding, may also play a role in fostering innovative research in the region. For more on this, see our coverage of the airport's development funding efforts here.

The technology helps with more "sophisticated" detection, Rutkowski said.

Stefan Michalak made this sketch of a strange craft he encountered in the Falcon Lake woods in Manitoba on the May long weekend of 1967. The Falcon Lake incident is Canada's most famous UFO encounter. 

(Submitted by Stan Michalak)

The survey’s longtime lead researcher, Winnipeg-based Chris Rutkowski of Ufology Research, says better tools are on the way to sort the mundane from the genuinely puzzling. The next big shift, he argues, is artificial intelligence that can quickly tell the difference between a bird, a plane, a satellite and something that does not match common patterns.

Canadian UFO Survey reports 1,052 sightings

The 2025 edition of the annual survey was released Monday and pulls reports from public submissions, UFO research groups, government agencies, an aviation incident database and even social media. Ufology Research uses a straightforward definition: a UFO is “an object seen in the sky which its observer cannot identify.”

The tally is a slight increase from 2024, when 1,008 reports were collected. Rutkowski has been compiling the annual survey for decades, and CTV News reports it has catalogued more than 26,000 Canadian UFO sightings since 1989.

Witnesses come from all walks of life, according to the survey: “from farmhands to airline pilots and from teachers to police officers.”

What Canadians say they saw

A big chunk of reports are the classic “nocturnal lights.” The Canadian Press story says about half of sightings fell into that category, often turning out to be satellites, aircraft or stars. CTV pegs it at 52 per cent of reports being lights.

Beyond that, CTV’s breakdown includes spheres (11 per cent), triangles (five per cent) and discs (five per cent). Nearly half of sightings (48 per cent) were described as white objects or lights, followed by “multicoloured” at 16 per cent. About 13 per cent of sightings happened during the day.

Rutkowski’s bottom line on the wilder descriptions is pretty restrained: the vast majority are explainable, and there’s “no proof aliens are responsible.” Even the “unknown” label comes with a warning in the report itself: unexplained doesn’t mean extraterrestrial, and some cases may still get solved with more investigation.

Where UFO reports happened in Canada

Reports came from every province and territory. Ontario led the country, with CTV citing 307 reports, followed by Quebec at 210 and British Columbia at 131.

The survey also connects sightings to population: bigger places tend to generate more reports. Past hot spots have included Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, but the survey says Calgary topped the list for cities last year.

Rutkowski also notes a limitation that’s been around for years: the survey depends on co-operation from investigators and groups across the country, and it hasn’t always been comprehensive because some organizations withhold information.

AI and the Harvard Galileo Project

Rutkowski says UFO hobbyists and researchers are increasingly setting up observation stations that do more than eyeballing the night sky. These stations can collect more “scientific data,” and some are training AI to classify objects, spotting patterns and filtering out the usual suspects.

He points to the Galileo Project at Harvard University, which uses high-tech telescopes and cameras at monitoring sites, along with AI to classify and analyze what they capture. The pitch is simple: if you can reliably rule out birds, planes, satellites and other known objects faster, you’re left with a cleaner set of cases worth a closer look.

Federal call for a Canadian UAP office

The terminology is shifting, too. “UFO” is increasingly replaced in official circles by “UAP,” short for unidentified aerial (or anomalous) phenomena.

A report from Canada’s Office of the Chief Science Advisor recommended creating a public-facing federal agency to standardize, collect and study UAP reports. Rutkowski supports the idea, partly because of concerns about incursions into Canadian airspace and Canadian sovereignty, calling it something to take “very seriously” as part of Canada’s defence package.

Some reports already come from official channels. CTV says 18 cases were found in Transport Canada’s online aviation incident database, including a flight approaching Vancouver International Airport that reported “an unrecognizable flying object of mechanical nature, without lights,” and another over northern Alberta reporting a “cylinder-shaped object” at 39,000 feet. Transport Canada cautions those reports are preliminary and unconfirmed.

Rutkowski’s view is that stigma around reporting is fading, and that better data starts with more people documenting what they saw. He also offers a bit of reassurance for anyone who has looked up and wondered: he says one in ten Canadians believe they’ve seen a UFO.

{ https://www.thecanadareport.ca/ }

11-03-2026 om 20:47 geschreven door peter  

More than 1,000 UFOs reported over Canada in 2025

11-03-2026 om 20:30 geschreven door peter  

Reports of UFO sightings in Canada jumped last year. What’s going on?

 By Adriana Fallico - Global News

Next time you are going for a walk outside, maybe take a look at the sky and see if you spot anything unusual.

The 2025 edition of the Canadian UFO Survey was released Monday, which says that the number of sightings of unidentified flying objects was at its highest point since the COVID-19 pandemic, but has not topped the number reported during 2020.

The 2025 numbers show 1,052 UFO reports were shared in Canada, involving “participating private organizations, and through social media.”

Those 1,052 sightings are in contrast to the 1,008 in 2024, 570 in 2023, 768 in 2022, 722 in 2021, and 1,243 in 2020, which was up from 849 in 2019.

Out of all those 2025 reports, 3.42 per cent were classified as “unexplained.”

“Most [cases] were having simple or easy explained configurations, such as many sightings being aircrafts, planes, satellites, planets, that type of thing,” said Chris Rutkowski, the research coordinator for the Canadian UFO Survey.

Rutkowski also stated that one in 10 Canadians believe they have seen a UFO.

“It cuts across all demographics, and all areas of Canada,” he said. “If you’ve seen a UFO, you are definitely in very good company.”

Number of sightings have increased over the years

Rutkowski stated that the number of reported cases had been declining as of 2012, which was the highest reported number of cases with 1,982 since the survey began in 1989.

However, this year’s 1,052 sightings are the highest since 2020, when 1,243 sightings were documented.

“Over the past few years and certainly after the pandemic, after that point people started taking a renewed interest and I would imagine some of that renewed interest came from some objects flying in the sky,” he said.

In 2023, the number of reported cases sat at 570, indicating a difference of 482 cases compared to 2025 reported cases.

“There certainly is a concern about people being a little watchful and wondering what’s going on up there,” Rutkowski said.

Where are the reports coming from?

Rutkowski also noted that there has always been a stream of reports from “coast to coast to coast” across Canada since 1989, surrounding all Canadian provinces and territories.

“The number of reports in a given area is related to population, of course we get more reports from Ontario, Quebec and B.C., but there are some irregularities,” he said.

“For example, Manitoba and Newfoundland had significant increases in UFO numbers, whereas in Alberta and B.C. we saw decreases in numbers. Why? We are really not sure, but it really proves that there is more to the UFO phenomenon that bears more understanding.”

In 2025, Ontario led the pack with 30 per cent of the total number of UFO reports, Quebec claimed about 20 per cent, B.C. had 13.5 per cent and Alberta had about 11 per cent.

Both Manitoba and Nova Scotia saw significant increases in numbers of reported UFOs in 2025, with 55 and 117 cases, respectively.

The report says that the higher number of reports in Nova Scotia was “likely because Nova Scotians have very active UFO-related social media where witnesses can report their UFO sightings easily.”

In terms of metropolitan cities in Canada, Toronto finished first with 53 UFO reports, Vancouver with 45, Montreal with 30, Calgary with 28 and Edmonton with 23.

What was also different in this year’s findings was the time of year in which these sightings were reported.

According to the survey, “reports were in the late summer and winter instead of mostly summer months as usual.”

UFO hearing: US has conducted secret crash retrievals for alien aircrafts, former DoD official says

“We’ve actually noticed for several years now that the peak in August has been more prevalent, and that’s not intuitive in Canada because of our winters that there would be more people outside in the middle of summer seeing and reporting things in the sky, and yet it’s not June and July, which are the warmest months but August had more reports of UFOs,” Rutkowski said.

“In the middle of winter in January 2025, there was a number of UFO reports compared to most other months as well, so it’s not just a matter of the weather.”

Duration of sightings also spiked

The survey also states that the average duration of Canadian UFO sightings was 47 minutes, a “very significant” increase over 2024 (36 minutes), 2023 (16 minutes), and 2022 (13 minutes).

The survey indicates that the length of time a UFO is detected is actually “one of the biggest clues to its explanation.”

“Experience in studying UFO reports has shown that short duration events are usually fireballs or bolides, and long duration events of an hour or more are very probably astronomical objects moving slowly with Earth’s rotation,” the survey reads.

The survey also states that the peak times in which sightings were documented “has usually followed a similar pattern every year, with a “peak at 2200 hours local and a trough around 0900 hours local.”

RELATED VIDEOS

{ https://globalnews.ca/ }

11-03-2026 om 20:15 geschreven door peter  

At 8.38pm on January 23, 1974. Wales (UK)

The Leicester Daily Mercury detailed a ‘mystery’ on Thursday, January 24, 1974

(Picture: Mirrorpix)

Ornaments rattled, walls shook and lights flickered. People spilled onto the streets and looked up at the dark hills, where strange lights darted across the sky.

Police switchboards became clogged as panicked residents called in some sort of ‘explosion’.

In the village of Llandderfel, Pat Evans was jolted to her feet as she watched television. Fearing an aircraft had crashed, the nurse hastily drove up the B4391 as mist rolled over the winding road.

‘We drove a fair way along the mountain road,’ Pat had told the press. ‘To our left we could see a huge orange ball sitting on the mountain. It was glowing.’

Ken Houghton, who lived on Royal Oak Farm in the village of Betws-y-Coed – 25 miles away from Llandderfel – also witnessed a strange occurrence on the hillside. He told reporters he saw ‘sheet lightning behind a cloud’ before ‘a sphere came down’ on the hills.

‘The Welsh Roswell’ - the Berwyn mountain UFO crash, Llandrillo, Wales, January 23, 1974

The Berwyn Mountains

An RAF search and rescue team was scrambled to investigate the incident. But a ground search was called off due to the blanket of darkness that made the terrain difficult to traverse.

Ancient Aliens: UFO Crash Site in Wales (Season 12) | History

Ancient Aliens: UFO Crash Site in Wales (Season 12) | History

In the coming weeks, scientists, police officers and villagers flocked to the Berwyn mountains, a sparsely populated area of moorland popular with walkers.

It was thought a meteor – or perhaps something else entirely – had crashed into the hills.

The official explanation for the commotion in the Berwyn mountains was that an earthquake had struck North Wales just as a meteor shower passed over the region.

This was confirmed by academics at Edinburgh University and Keele University who measured the earth tremors and tracked where the meteor could have been spotted from.

Swansea UFO Network interviewed Scott Felton a North Wales based UFO investigator who with Margaret Fry another investigator took a fresh look at the case.

The witnesses generally reported seeing a bright light in the north-west which seemed to fall towards the horizon.

An expert who carried out independent research into the Berwyn Mountains incident for the British Astronomical Society reported that a “fireball” was visible over most of the UK that night.

It descended from a height of about 120km to about 35km before disintegrating over Manchester, the expert found.

Then-junior RAF minister Brynmor John summed up the official position in a letter to MP Dafydd Elis Thomas in May 1974.

He wrote: “As suggested by the descriptions reported, it seems the phenomena could well have been caused by a meteor descending through the atmosphere burning up and finally disintegrating before it reached the ground. Such a hypothesis would also explain the absence of any signs of impact.

It has also been suggested that at 8.32 pm that evening there was an earth tremor in the Berwyn Mountains which produced a landslide with noises like detonations.”

Coverage of the incident in the Liverpool Echo on Thursday 24 January 1974

(Picture: Mirrorpix)

But the MoD’s conclusions did not convince many of those who witnessed the incident firsthand.

One wrote in a letter preserved in the files: “That ‘something’ came down in the Berwyn Mountains on that night I am certain ...”

UFO researcher Russ Kellett said he has spoken to a fisherman who said he saw flying saucers emerge from the Irish Sea before the incident on the Berwyn Mountains.

Mr. Kellett, 47, from North Yorkshire, said: “There’s no doubt whatsoever that it was more than just an earthquake.

“I’ve got an affidavit from a group of men who were coming home from Bala when they found this flying saucer at the side of the road and the military came and took it away on a flat-back vehicle.”

Journalist and UFO investigator Dr. David Clarke, who is a skeptic on the subject, says the Berwyn Mountains incident is the most intriguing sighting in Wales, and elements of it remain unexplained.

Eyewitness sketches from the National Archives

Eyewitness sketches from the National Archives

Dr. Clarke, 42, who lectures at Sheffield Hallam University, said: “What we know is that on that particular night there was a nurse who heard the explosion and thought something had crashed into the hillside.

A stone circle near Llandrillo, Wales, close to where the 1974 sighting was reported

Geraint Edwards of Llandderfel, Denbighshire, told a Channel Five documentary, how he stood in amazement as a flying saucer hovered for 10 minutes above the mountains.

He said at the time: “It was definitely a flying saucer. It was a pity I didn’t have a camera because it was there for at least 10 minutes, just hovering. We were on the way to play darts when something caught our eye in the south-east.

“It looked like a rugger ball, but the ends were more pointy. When it took off, it just went like lightning.

“I wrote it down in my diary. It was 6.45 pm on the Friday night.

“If we were coming back from the pub, people would be saying, ‘they’ve had one or two [drinks]’ but we were going to the pub.”​

A document from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency revealed a military operation, codenamed Photoflash, was scheduled for that evening. It involved about 10 military aircraft and a series of powerful flashes across the North Wales coast and Liverpool Bay.

The MCA letter said: “During the late afternoon and early evening of 23rd January 1974 there was an exercise from Jerby Range on the Isle of Man. The exercise was called ‘Photoflash’ and coastguards were advised to expect at least 10 aircraft taking part and at least 80 flashes around the Liverpool Bay area and the North Wales coastline.”

There was no more information from official sources on that specific exercise and if it was connected to Berwyn. A spokesman at the RAF Museum Research Department suggested photoflash operations were used for training exercises to illuminate the ground below.

Nick Redfern's Cosmic Crashes has a another take on the alleged crash

The original account mentioned in Nicks book comes from investigator Tony Dodd. 'James Prescott' is a pseudonym; the person using it was not an official in the Welsh Armed Forces.

According to his account, he was stationed in South England before receiving orders to proceed to North Wales who claims he knew about live NHI bodies at the crash site... -

The bodies were about five to six feet tall, humanoid in shape, but so thin they looked almost skeletal with a covering skin.

- Sometime later we joined up with the other elements of our unit, who informed us that they had also transported bodies of alien beings to Porton Down, but said that their cargo was still alive.

Prescott would later state (via Redfern's book) that seeing the alien bodies made him change his whole concept of life. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cosmic-Crashes-Nicholas-Redfern/dp/0684870231

Thank you to @planethunter56 on Twitter 'X' for these details and for the corrections from https://twitter.com/StephenApWales

Details on the earthquake reported

• https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/1531/1/Bala_paper_Musson.pdf

Were you a witness, get in touch mufog@protonmail.com

11-03-2026 om 18:14 geschreven door peter  

What came before the Big Bang? These are the best theories we have about the origin of the cosmos

We explore the theories about one of the most mind-boggling questions about the Universe.

BY Govert Schilling

It’s the question that always comes up when thinking about the origin of the Universe: what came before the Big Bang?

And if there was no ‘before’, what was the cause of the Big Bang in the first place?

Until a few centuries ago, the answer was easy: some eternal deity set everything in motion.

For more amazing science, read our guides to...

• Nuclear pasta
• Spacetime
• Supersymmetry
• Antimatter

Even Isaac Newton believed that God created the Universe, some 6,000 years ago.

Later, many scientists, including young Albert Einstein, assumed the Universe itself to be eternal and everlasting.

The beginning of the Universe

But when cosmic expansion was discovered, Belgian cosmologist (and Jesuit priest) Georges Lemaître realised there must have been a beginning – a scientific version of Genesis, so to speak.

Not that everyone immediately agreed.

Well into the 1960s, Fred Hoyle’s steady-state theory was quite popular among iconoclastic scientists as well as lay people.

Hoyle accepted the expansion of the Universe, but he didn’t believe in the Big Bang.

Instead, he assumed that a slow, continuous creation of new matter could keep the average density and the general properties of the Universe constant over time.

The 1964 discovery of the cosmic microwave background was the major nail in the coffin of the steady-state theory.

Ever since, supporting evidence for the Big Bang origin of our Universe has accumulated to a point where there’s hardly any doubt left.

Still, no one has the final answer to the question "what happened before the Big Bang?".

Could there have been a Universe before the Big Bang?

Most scientists simply ignore the question, as it seems to be too hard a nut to crack.

Beginning of time

When astronomers talk about the Big Bang, they usually do not refer to the very beginning of the Universe (time zero), but to the incredibly hot and compact state of the Universe in the first couple of minutes of its existence.

To some extent, this is because no one has a real clue about the true nature of time, let alone about the beginning of time.

British physicist Julian Barbour, for one, has argued that time doesn’t even exist, except as an illusion in our minds.

According to others (including Stephen Hawking), time came into existence together with the Universe, rendering the whole concept of the word ‘before’ meaningless.

Asking what happened before the Big Bang would be like asking what lies north of the North Pole, or what distance is shorter than zero.

Alternative theories

Then again, we simply don’t know whether or not there was time before the Big Bang.

According to the once-popular idea of the cyclic (or oscillatory) Universe, the current expansion of space could one day revert into a contraction, and the resulting Big Crunch could bounce into a new Big Bang, starting the next cycle of an eternal sequence.

For more on this, read our interview with Katie Mack about the end of the Universe.

It’s just one of many hypotheses in which our Universe is not unique, but part of a possibly infinite multiverse, one way or another.

And if the multiverse is also infinite in time, we’re back to the idea that everything has existed forever, conveniently circumnavigating the nagging question of a beginning.

Finally, South African physicist Neil Turok thinks the Big Bang not only spawned our Universe, but also an anti-Universe, composed of anti­­​­matter and running backward in time.

Again, an intriguing idea, but there’s also no chance of confirmation (or rejection!) via observations.

In the end, we have to admit we’re ignorant about the true beginning of the Universe.

And even if we lean towards an eternal multiverse with no real beginning at all, we don’t know why there is something (or, more to the point, why there is everything) instead of nothing.

This article originally appeared in the June 2023 issue of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.

RELATED VIDEOS

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

11-03-2026 om 17:41 geschreven door peter