NASA has let Axiom Space make four visits to the International Space Station and in January 2026 awarded it the right for the fifth visit next year, but on Feb. 12, the agency announced a new company would be allowed a private mission as well.
|
|
||
|
In some quantum materials, which are materials governed by quantum mechanical effects, interactions between charged particles (i.e., electrons) can prompt the creation of quasiparticles called anyons, which carry only a fraction of an electron’s charge (i.e., fractional charge) and fractional quantum statistics.
Despite being riddled with impurities and defects, solution-processed lead-halide perovskites are surprisingly efficient at converting solar energy into electricity. Their efficiency is approaching that of silicon-based solar cells, the industry standard. In a new study published in Nature Communications, physicists at the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA) present a comprehensive explanation of the mechanism behind perovskite efficiency that has long perplexed researchers.
Lava tubes on Mars could provide shelter for astronauts, according to a new study. Earlier studies have suggested the same could apply to the Moon. An Army Intelligence Officer and Combat Veteran turned Ufologist and Astrophysicist, Antonio Paris, and other researchers have published a study suggesting astronauts could live in relative safety underground on Mars. Astronauts may arrive on Mars sooner than we think, with missions beginning in the 2030s. However, human survival would be impossible without shelter from cosmic radiation. Unlike Earth, Mars has no atmosphere to protect life. In areas where the ground has caved in, scientists have seen expansive structures that could serve as “ready-built” homes, reported BGR. Enormous Lava Tubes on Mars and the MoonThere is evidence of enormous lava tubes near Mar’s surface up to 1,000 times wider than lava tubes on Earth. In some cases, the tubes could be longer than 25 miles, reported CNN in 2019. Here on Earth, similar structures range from 33 to 98 feet in diameter. They can be found in Hawaii, Australia, Iceland, and the Canary Islands. Furthermore, the Moon may have lunar caves that reach one kilometer in diameter. To give you some idea, this would be large enough to hold the tallest buildings on Earth. A study coauthor that year suggested all of Padua, Italy’s city center, could fit inside a lava tube on the Moon. Moreover, the study authors suggested astronauts could access lunar lava tubes and that they might hold water ice reservoirs.
Scientists discovered the lava tubes after spotting “skylights,” holes that revealed the caverns beneath. In the distant past, asteroid impacts created the skylights, revealing the recesses beneath. Unlike on Earth, low gravity conditions may prevent the huge caves from collapsing. Since the tubes provide shelter from micrometeorites and Radiation, they could serve as niches for hosting life. Since 2012, the European Space Agency’s CAVES and Pangaea programs have trained astronauts how to explore underground caves safely. See more about how these lava tubes form from NASA: Martian Caves Could Block 80% of RadiationIn recent years, Paris and the researchers studied analogous lava tubes on Earth in Mojave, CA, El Malpais, NM, and Flagstaff, AZ. After taking radiation measurements inside and outside the tubes, they compared the findings to what is known about Mars.
Although radiation would remain higher than on Earth, it could make long-term missions possible. The Hellas Planitia on MarsAs part of the recent study, Antonio Paris and the other researchers chose to focus on the Hellas Planitia in Mars’ southern hemisphere. Its name translates to “Greek plain.” NASA notes the area is “one of the largest impact craters in the solar system.” Recently, scientists found evidence of an ancient river system in the area. In 2017, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter found strange “squiggles” on the surface, possibly the “result of this dry ice breaking apart into blocks.”
At the Hellas Planitia, there is less cosmic and solar radiation, reports Popular Mechanics. Paris believes the site may be ideal for astronauts to seek shelter. Also, he says the lava tubes would be an ideal spot to search for any signs of ancient microbial life. Today, NASA’s Perseverance Rover is exploring the Jezero Crater, north of the Martian equator. So, it won’t be exploring the Hellas Planitia, unfortunately. In the meantime, Paris is hoping to travel to the Moon. As an interesting (and bizarre) sidenote, recently, former Israeli space security chief Haim Eshed stated there has long been “a secret underground base on Mars, where there are American and alien representatives.” Notably, Eshed was head of Israel’s space program for nearly 30 years and is a three-time recipient of the Israel Security Award. So, who knows what might be down there in the lava tubes on Mars and the Moon? Related: Megaflood on Mars: Another Sign of Life on the Red Planet More about the Hellas Planitia via Amaze Lab: Featured image: Image by Pexels via Pixabay, Pixabay License The atmospheres of exoplanets have been a focal point of the field lately, with the James Webb Space Telescope taking a look at as many as it can manage. But time on the world’s most powerful space telescope is valuable, and getting a complete picture of any such atmosphere is difficult without that significant time commitment. So a multidisciplinary team of researchers have come up with an alternative mission that is very specialized at capturing as much information as they can about exoplanet atmospheres, but also with a fraction of the budget of flagship missions like JWST. The mission, known as the EXoplanet Climate Infrared TElescope (EXCITE), has one feature the JWST doesn’t though—a gondola.
YouTube Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/16SySpAWDpQ?start=4&feature=oembed Scientists have found new important clues about the first domesticated wolves and dogs. A small cave in Germany contained numerous ancient canine fossils. They could point to a possible origin of all modern dogs. However, researchers stress this remains open to debate and further evidence. Dogs are considered the oldest domesticated animal in human history well before humans transitioned from hunter-gatherers to agriculture around 10,000 years ago. Gnirshöhle CaveA small cave called Gnirshöhle in the Hegau Jura region of southern Germany contained a wealth of canine fossils. Some date back to between 17,000 and 12,000 years old. Thus, they predate other ancient canine fossils found in Europe by 3,000 years. Scientists conducted DNA analysis on the fossils, which included dogs, wolves and fox remains. The fossils revealed clues about the animals’ diets. Humans were apparently feeding the canines a low protein diet. Dr. Chris Baumann of the University of Tübingen said:
Previous studies have found domesticated canines in two places: Asia and Europe. Eventually, dogs from Asia migrated with humans, largely replacing the western domesticated wolves. Researchers discuss the study below: Early Site of Domesticated WolvesThe study suggests that the Hegau Jura was a “potential center of early European wolf domestication.”
By studying the dog and domesticated wolf haplotypes, the authors traced the last common ancestor. Amazingly, this ancestor existed 135,000 years ago in the Pleistocene. Could this suggest a possible “upper limit” for the first domestications? Experts have long suggested that the first dogs may have diverged from wolves as long as 100,000 years ago. However, it’s generally agreed the first domesticated dogs emerged about 16,000 years ago in Europe and Siberia, reports Science Alert. Obviously, there’s a big stretch between 100,000 and 16,000 years. Thus, much remains to be learned about domesticate wolves. Siberian Wolf HybridsSo far, the oldest found fossil considered a possible dog ancestor comes from Siberia and dates to 30,000 years ago. Found in a cave in the Altai Mountains of Siberia, the fossil resembled a wolf’s teeth with a shortened dog’s snout, a hybrid wolf. DNA analysis found the skull most closely resembled Tibetian Mastiffs, Newfoundlands, and Siberian Huskies. However, scientists suspect the Siberian dog might have gone extinct due to advancing glacial periods 26,000 years ago. Thus, independent domestication elsewhere may have ultimately led to the dogs we know today. On the other hand, a Siberian animal could have migrated instead of going extinct. In 2019, a Siberian man found a perfectly preserved Ice Age wolf head in the permafrost of the Arctic region of Yakutia. The head was 40,000 years old and may have been a subspecies that went extinct along with the mammoths. Judging by the head, it may have been 25% bigger than today’s wolves. See more from Bloomberg Quicktake: Now: Dogor the Prehistoric PuppyAlso in 2019, researchers exploring Yakutsk, Siberia found a perfectly preserved 18,000-year-old puppy. Scientists were baffled by the specimen, which they named Dogor. Interestingly, DNA tests could not show whether the animal was a dog or a wolf.
Due to climate change, more prehistoric creatures are being found in the permafrost all the time. See more from Amazing Facts: Oldest Undisputed Dog FossilThe oldest undisputed dog fossil dates back to 14,000 years. It’s called the Bonn-Oberkassel dog found near Bonn, Germany. In 1914, workers found a grave that contained a puppy, a woman, and a man. It was the oldest known grave where humans and dogs were buried together, dating to the Paleolithic. Analysis of the grave indicated the puppy was well-cared for. Thus, it became one of the first examples of early pet-human bonding. Evidence suggests humans were caring for the sick puppy for weeks, which may have died from canine distemper. Ancient Singing DogsRecently, we shared the story about the rediscovery of wild New Guinea Singing Dogs. Although considered extinct, DNA testing revealed the dogs were surviving in Papua New Guinea. For years, residents considered them feral strays. Hiding out in the rugged highlands of the island, they remained elusive. New Guinea Singing Dogs are cat-like and sing with vocalizations compared to whales. The dogs have genomic variants different from all other dogs today. Singing Dogs could be relatives of Australian dingoes and Asian dogs that humans brought to Oceania around 3,500 years ago. New Guinea Singing Dogs may share a common ancestor with the Akita and Shiba Inu breeds. As you can see, the story of how domesticated wolves led to modern dogs is highly complex. As you might expect, given our bonds today, ancient humans and canines developed tight bonds in many places. Now the question is, did people first domesticate wolves, or did they decide to tame us? Featured image: Image by Thomas Bohlen via Pixabay, Pixabay License Astronomers want to collect as much data as possible using as many systems as possible. Sometimes that requires coordination between instruments. The teams that run the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the upcoming Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey (Ariel) missions will have plenty of opportunity for that once both telescopes are online in the early 2030s. A new paper, available in pre-print on arXiv, from the Ariel-JWST Synergy Working Group details just how exactly the two systems can work together to better analyze exoplanets.
Two or more graphene layers that are stacked with a small twist angle in relation to each other form a so-called moiré lattice. This characteristic pattern influences the movement of electrons inside materials, which can give rise to strongly correlated states, such as superconductivity.
Tiny highly uniform magnetic fields are known to pervade the universe, influencing various cosmological processes. To date, however, the physical mechanisms underpinning the generation of these fields remain poorly understood. Recently, researchers at McGill University and ETH Zurich have described a novel mechanism that may lead to the generation of cosmological magnetic fields. This mechanism, outlined in a paper published in Physical Review Letters, involves a (pseudo-scalar) quantum field that may give rise to the existence of ultralight dark matter consisting of particles with extremely low mass that interact with ordinary matter only very weakly.
It’s well established that the universe is expanding, but there’s serious disagreement among scientists over how fast it’s happening.
YouTube Video Here: https://www.youtube.com/embed/LNfOx8SKfBo?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1
 The idea of air travel by sky car or flying saucer has been around for decades, with patents by Alexander Weygers and Nikola Tesla from the Roaring Twenties. Now, numerous inventors are hoping to make the dream a reality at last, with plans for vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (VTOL) vehicles. In a few years, owning your own saucer-like personal aircraft may finally become accessible, at least for a wealthy few. Flying Saucer-Like ‘Skyriders’???A Canadian company called Daymak has introduced a lineup of electric vehicles as part of an eco-friendly campaign called Green Army. The vehicles are called the Avvenire Series and include:
There, tucked in on the end of the lineup at left is the flying saucer-like Skyrider.
To be sure, one would think the Skyrider would be front and center. Maybe featuring a flying saucer prominently would overshadow an also-exciting lineup of eco-friendly ground vehicles? On the website, the company highlights what the Skyrider means, “No more traffic jams. Your personal flying vehicle. We are all meant to fly.” If we are all meant to fly, then maybe one day it will become affordable for anyone to own a personal flying vehicle? We can hope! Specs for a Flying SaucerFinally, we now have the specs for a saucer-like craft that you can buy yourself. Of course, it’s not going to compare with UFOs’ abilities, as seen in recent Navy footage. No, these flying saucers are operating at speeds topping out at 186 miles per hour (300 km/h). Thus, they won’t be flying with anti-gravity lift or exhibiting instantaneous acceleration to 3,600 miles an hour. Nevertheless, having a personal flying saucer that can fly for 62 miles per battery charge is impressive for earthbound people. Instead of fancy anti-gravity, it flies similar to a drone, with a flying saucer-like look.
Using fully autonomous flight, one doesn’t need to be a pilot to use this aircraft. A 4G/5G network communicates with a control center, enabling remote control. Complete with Cup HolderToday, the company is taking deposits for the Skyrider, with deliveries expected by 2025. Order details show an ultimate package with heated seats, solar charging, and finger scan keys. Would a genuine Tic Tac UFO have a cup holder? Well, this one has it, as well as air conditioning and optional branded keychain and coffee mug. Presently, the cost is estimated around the price of a high-end sports car or small McMansion. You can see what the Skyrider looks like in the tweet below. Electric Flying CadillacEarly last month, General Motors debuted its futuristic concept for an electric flying taxi. Like the Skyrider, it’s a giant-sized self-driving drone geared for the luxury market. In design, it’s sleek and futurist. Best of all, it could save people time hopping from rooftops rather than getting stuck in congested traffic on the ground. That would be so beneath anyone with this Cadillac. Traveling at 55 miles per hour, the sky Cadillac holds one passenger at a time. From PC Mag:
Inside, the cabin has wraparound lounge seating, biometric sensors, voice control, and hand gesture recognition, reports Reuters. Previously, several other car manufacturers showed concept aerial vehicles. See the Cadillac VTOL below from SMG Consulting LLC: Flying Cars on the HorizonJoining the Skyrider and flying Cadillac, plans for flying cars with open-air cockpits are in the works. An Austin, Texas startup has designs for a “flying car” called HEXA by LIFT Aircraft. It doesn’t look anything like the DeLorean from Back to the Future and is more of a huge drone than a car really. From the Austin Business Journal:
The multi-copter is a joint effort by aerospace manufacturers from Vermont, California, and Austin. Together, they are building electric charging stations and simulators where pilots can learn how to fly. Notably, a joystick operation allows pilots to guide the HEXA with relative ease. Hey, maybe all those video games could pay off after all?
See the HEXA in action below: Featured image: Screenshot via YouTube Four men were stranded in the bay about three miles from the Pinconning Boat Launch after one of their four-wheelers broke through the ice, according to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office
The International Space Station returned to full strength with Saturday’s arrival of four new astronauts to replace colleagues who bailed early because of health concerns.
Late NYPD Det. Steven McDonald was shot while on duty during his second year on the job, causing instant paralysis; he was known for publicly forgiving his shooter
 Russia’s Dyatlov Pass Incident is one of the creepiest, most mysterious true stories ever told. In January 1959, during the height of the Cold War, nine young Urals Polytechnic Institute students in their 20s and 30s went hiking in the Ural Mountains. All were experienced hikers and skiers, but none were prepared for what was about to happen. Their goal was to reach the mountain Gora Otorten. It was to be a 200-mile adventure in all. On February 1, the group set up their tent on the slopes of the Kholat Syakhl. In the Indigenous Mansi people’s language, the words roughly translate to “Dead Mountain.” After weeks, parents and the university started looking for them, but no one would see them alive again. Diaries and cameral rolls left behind in the tent reveal clues about their final moments. Unknown Compelling ForceWeeks later, investigators find their tent flattened and their bodies scattered widely in the surrounding area. Sadly, the seven men and two women all suffered a forever unexplained end. Official list the cause of death as “an unknown compelling force” and “the spontaneous power of nature.” It was as if some of them had been struck with the force of a car. Otherwise, there weren’t any outward signs of violence. Notably, only their footprints were found, and no signs of animals or intruders. The spacing of the footprints indicated they were walking at a normal pace. A Search for MonthsIt took over two months to find all the hikers. First, two bodies were found near a cedar tree, naked apart from underwear, with temperatures as low as -40 degrees. Some of the bodies were wearing pieces of clothing belonging to other hikers. Days later, more bodies were found, in varying stages of undress. Even stranger, they suffered from unexplainable injuries, internal fractures, broken ribs, and discolored skin. Finally, after two months and warming temperatures, searchers found the last of the bodies, buried beneath 13 feet of snow. Mysterious CluesThe student who found the tent said it “was half torn down and covered with snow. It was empty, and all the group’s belongings and shoes had been left behind.” A camping stove was still unassembled as if they had never been able to use it. An unknown force caused massive chest and skull fractures. Two of the bodies were missing their eyes, and one had no tongue or lips. For some reason, there was radioactive material on some of the clothes. At the funerals, attendants noticed their loved ones’ skin had turned orange, and their hair was gray. Wild Theories AboundSince then, nobody has explained what killed the hikers, with theories varying from:
In 2019, on the 60th anniversary of the deaths, Expedition Unknown shared the story. Host Josh Gates discusses a document showing Soviet investigators may have known about the hikers’ deaths by February 6. But supposedly, they didn’t find the tent until February 26? According to National Geographic, “Soviet bureaucracy kept the case quiet.” Recently, Russian authorities reopened the investigation. (see below) See the clip from Expedition Unkown below: Flying Orbs and AircraftWitnesses who were mountain climbers claimed to see orange orbs flying in the area the night of the incident. Area residents, meteorologists, and soldiers confirmed the orb sightings. Some victims’ relatives believed some unknown military testing could have caused the deaths. A June 29, 2020 petition to the prosecutor general Dyatlov Case, some believed the deaths were due to “negligence on behalf of the rocket engineers who made a mistake in the design of the hull or engine of the aircraft, unsuccessful launch, and sabotage.” Official Cause: Avalanche and Poor VisibilityAfter reopening the case in 2019, Russian authorities once again ruled the cause for the mysterious deaths was an avalanche and poor visibility. The avalanche “forced the group out of their tents to shelter under a nearby ridge. Lack of visibility then prevented their return.”
After the avalanche forced them to leave the tent, they huddled in a nearby mountain ridge. From there, some of the group tried to return to the tent but got lost and froze to death, according to the official report by Andrey Kuryakov, deputy head of the regional prosecutor’s office. However, many questions remain, including why they were in a state of undress and what caused the massive internal injuries? If it was an avalanche, the typical death is due to asphyxiation. Although an avalanche supposedly hit, the tent was near the surface, sticking out of the snow. Further, there was no sign of an avalanche at the location. According to Heavy, “in over 100 expeditions to the region since the incident, no one has reported conditions creating an avalanche.” The slope seemed too mild to have been the site of an avalanche. See more from House of History: Computer Models Suggest Freak AvalancheToday, after 62 years, scientists offer new explanations for the Dyatlov Pass Incident. Most recently, National Geographic suggests science has the answer after using computer models to run avalanche simulations. Strangely, the models use animation from the movie Frozen and car crash experiments. Two Swiss researchers used the film’s snow animation code, avalanche simulation models, and car crash impact models. They found that a small avalanche merely 16 feet across could have caused the traumatic injuries seen in the victims. It would be a very rare perfect storm, at an “exact spot, at that exact moment, during that one very wintery night.”
Thus, a swift-moving slab of snow hit the campers as they slept. Three people were severely injured in the avalanche while the others tried to move them to safety. Lost in the dark, they had no chance to survive. Further ExplanationsFurther explanations suggest the hiker’s state of undress may have been caused by paradoxical undressing. Clothing left with radioactive traces may have been caused by camping lanterns containing thorium. Animals may have scavenged the bodies, resulting in missing eyes and tongue. Thus, the experienced hikers were caught off guard by a freakish avalanche, unaware the seemingly gentle slope was treacherous beneath their campsite. Was it a small freakish avalanche that caused the hikers’ death that night? Nobody knows for sure, but one of the researchers involved, Alexander Puzrin, says for him, “This is a story of courage and friendship.” More from Expedition Unkown below: Featured images: Screenshots via YouTube |
||
|
Copyright © 2026 Paranormal News Network - All Rights Reserved Powered by WordPress & Atahualpa 99 queries. 0.689 seconds. |
||