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https://x.com/RogerJStoneJr/status/1841601669588779277
October’s Night Sky Notes: Catch Andromeda Rising!
Oct 01, 2024
If you’re thinking of a galaxy, the image in your head is probably the Andromeda Galaxy!
Studies of this massive neighboring galaxy, also called M31, have played an incredibly important role in shaping modern astronomy.
As a bonus for stargazers, the Andromeda Galaxy is also a beautiful sight.
Have you heard that all the stars you see at night are part of our Milky Way galaxy?
While that is mostly true, one star-like object located near the border between the constellations of Andromeda and Cassiopeia appears fuzzy to unaided eyes.
That’s because it’s not a star, but the Andromeda Galaxy, its trillion stars appearing to our eyes as a 3.4 magnitude patch of haze.
Why so dim? Distance! It’s outside our galaxy, around 2.5 million light years distant - so far away that the light you see left M31’s stars when our earliest ancestors figured out stone tools.
Binoculars show more detail: M31’s bright core stands out, along with a bit of its wispy, saucer-shaped disc.
Telescopes bring out greater detail but often can’t view the entire galaxy at once.
Depending on the quality of your skies and your magnification, you may be able to make out individual globular clusters, structure, and at least two of its orbiting dwarf galaxies: M110 and M32.
Light pollution and thin clouds, smoke, or haze will severely hamper observing fainter detail, as they will for any “faint fuzzy.”
Surprisingly, persistent stargazers can still spot M31’s core from areas of moderate light pollution as long as skies are otherwise clear.
Modern astronomy was greatly shaped by studies of the Andromeda Galaxy.
A hundred years ago, the idea that there were other galaxies beside our own was not widely accepted, and so M31 was called the “Andromeda Nebula.”
Increasingly detailed observations of M31 caused astronomers to question its place in our universe – was M31 its own “island universe,” and not part of our Milky Way?
Harlow Shapley and Heber Curtis engaged in the “Great Debate” of 1920 over its nature.
Curtis argued forcefully from his observations of dimmer than expected nova, dust lanes, and other oddities that the “nebula” was in fact an entirely different galaxy from our own.
A few years later, Edwin Hubble, building on Henrietta Leavitt’s work on Cepheid variable stars as a “standard candle” for distance measurement, concluded that M31 was indeed another galaxy after he observed Cepheids in photos of Andromeda, and estimated M31’s distance as far outside our galaxy’s boundaries.
And so, the Andromeda Nebula became known as the Andromeda Galaxy.
These discoveries inspire astronomers to this day, who continue to observe M31 and many other galaxies for hints about the nature of our universe.
One of the Hubble Space Telescope’s longest-running observing campaigns was a study of M31: the Panchromatic Hubble Andromeda Treasury (PHAT).
Dig into NASA’s latest discoveries about the Andromeda Galaxy, on their Messier 31 page.
https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/night-sky-network/catch-andromeda-rising/
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-31
NASA Asteroid Alert: Two asteroids to fly by earth today – Here's what we know
October 3, 2024
NASA is tracking two asteroids set to fly by Earth today. One of the asteroids is the size of an airplane, while the other is comparable to a bus, according to the US space agency.
The first asteroid, named 2024 TE, is approximately the size of a bus, and the closest it will come to Earth is 1.3 million kilometers.
The second asteroid, named 2024 SD3, will fly by Earth at a distance of 1.49 million kilometers and is roughly the size of an airplane.
NASA's Asteroid Watch dashboard tracks asteroids and comets that will make relatively close approaches to Earth.
The dashboard provides information on the date of closest approach, the approximate size of the object, and its distance from Earth.
The dashboard tracks the next five Earth approaches within 4.6 million miles (7.5 million kilometers), which is 19.5 times the distance to the moon.
Any object larger than about 150 meters that comes within this range is classified as a potentially hazardous object.
For context, the average distance between Earth and the moon is about 239,000 miles (385,000 kilometers).
In addition, a rare celestial event is unfolding: Earth has temporarily captured a second "moon."
The asteroid, named 2024 PT5, has been pulled into Earth’s orbit, making it a temporary moon or "mini-moon."
Measuring approximately 37 feet (10 meters) in diameter, it is significantly smaller than Earth’s natural moon, which has a diameter of 3,476 kilometers.
Discovered on August 7, 2024, by the Asteroid Terrestrial-Impact Last Alert System (ATLAS), 2024 PT5 originates from the Arjuna asteroid belt.
Despite its temporary status, this mini-moon will only circle Earth for 57 days before continuing its journey through space.
https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/techandscience/nasa-asteroid-alert-two-asteroids-to-fly-by-earth-today-here-s-what-we-know/ar-AA1rCERx
Launching hydrogen fired into space in a rocket: The project that could save humanity, underway
10/03/2024
As civilization explores the universe, the necessity for environmental technologies in space increases.
Both the French Space Agency (CNES) as well as the European Space Agency (ESA) are tackling this necessity with a spectacular $40.5 million initiative at the Guiana Space Centre to generate hydrogen through electrolysis which are solar-powered.
This project signifies a major change in the industry of rocket fuel as the Ariane 6 rocket advances its original flight.
Fueling Ariane 6: CNES and ESA invest in ecological hydrogen generation
Usually, hydrogen generation at the Guiana Space Centre depended on steam reforming of methanol, a technique which, while effective, produces greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide along with carbon monoxide.
Nevertheless, with the increase of solar technology, both the ESA as well as the CNES have initiated Project Hyguane, concentrating on employing renewable energy for the generation of hydrogen.
The development requires constructing a solar farm together with the required infrastructure to enable electrolysis, a procedure that separates water into hydrogen as well as oxygen utilizing electricity.
The dedication of finances is supported by extra assistance from the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) who have promised €10 million to the project.
The establishment, one running, is presumed to provide 12% of the hydrogen required for the yearly nine flights of the Ariane 6 efficiently decreasing more than 3,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Not only does this sustainable method fit in with global attempts to fight climate change it also sets an example for ecological practices in the exploration of space.
Created for various space assignments: Ariane 6 modifying latest frontiers
In the Ariane rocket lineup, the Ariane 6 is the current development, following the Ariane 5.
Engineered for adaptability, the Ariane 6 is expected to manage a wide variety of assignments, right from initiating satellites into the low-Earth trajectory to transporting payloads on space exploration assignments which are deep.
Accompanied with a height of 56 m – 62 m, based on its setup, the Ariane 6 is higher than the Leaning Tower of Pisa and the weight if it is around 900,000 kg when it is completely loaded.
The characteristic of the rocket is a component-based structure, allowing there to be two different models customized to assignment needs: the Ariane 62 as well as the Ariane 64.
Two P120C solid rocket boosters are utilized by the Ariane 62, whereas there are four solid rocket boosters used in the Ariane 64 which offers improved drive for larger payloads.
The Vulcain 2.1 engine, fuels the rocket’s core, which is the main stage while using liquid oxygen together with hydrogen to produce an impressive 138 tonnes of drive.
The Vulcain 2.1 engine is a noteworthy upgrade from its forerunner, integrating progressive welding methods as well as materials to improve performance while decreasing total weight.
Increasing effectiveness: Ariane 6’s advanced green design
An exciting characteristic of the Ariane 6 is the design which is reusable.
Once the Ariane 6 is done with its assignment, the main stage disconnects from the upper stage After completing its mission, the main stage separates from the upper stage, that remains circling the payload.
Fueled by the new Vinci Engine, the upper stage of the Ariane 6, can restart numerous times, enabling enhanced adaptability in implementing payloads to numerous orbits.
With this design, space waste is reduced, and effectiveness is amplified, this design minimizes space debris and maximizes efficiency, turning it into a fundamental progress in rocket technology.
The covering of the rocket, which is made carbon-glass fiber combination, provides a light but strong solution for the protection of payloads during takeoff.
The design of the covering facilitates adaptability in assignment size, obliging multiple payload setups.
With lesser parts in the construction, the formation procedure becomes a lot more effective, substantially decreasing expenses along with production time.
The alliance between the ESA, together with the CNES, as well as other associates to generate sustainable hydrogen production amenities represents a key milestone toward ecological space travel.
With Ariane 6 ready to take off these advancements sets the stage for future assignments, encouraging a cleaner, greener tactic to investigating the ultimate frontier.
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/hydrogen-rocket-ariane-6-nasa/7183/
https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/BepiColombo/Mercury_s_magnetic_landscape_mapped_in_30_minutes
https://www.nature.com/articles/s42005-024-01766-8
Mercury’s magnetic landscape mapped in 30 minutes
03/10/2024
Like Earth, Mercury has a magnetic field, albeit one hundred times weaker at the surface of the planet. Nonetheless, this magnetic field carves out a bubble in space, called a magnetosphere, which acts as a buffer to the continuous flow of particles blown out by the Sun as the solar wind.
Because Mercury orbits so close to the Sun, the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere and even the surface of the planet is a lot more intense than at Earth.
Exploring the dynamics of this bubble and the properties of the particles contained within it is one of the main aims of BepiColombo’s mission.
BepiColombo is set to arrive at Mercury in 2026 using flybys of Earth, Venus and Mercury itself to adjust its speed and trajectory to allow it to be captured into orbit around the planet.
The currently ‘stacked’ spacecraft will separate and deploy two science orbiters – the ESA-led Mercury Planetary Orbiter (MPO) and the JAXA-led Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO, or Mio) – into complementary orbits to enable the essential dual-spacecraft measurements needed to paint a complete picture of Mercury’s dynamic environment.
As the spacecraft speeds past Mercury during the flybys, many of its science instruments are able to sneak a preview of the exciting science to come.
Moreover, the flybys provide unique insights from regions around the planet that won’t be directly accessible from orbit.
Lina Hadid, a former ESA Research Fellow now at the Laboratoire de Physique des Plasmas at Paris Observatory, used the Mercury Plasma Particle Experiment (MPPE) suite of instruments active on Mio during the 19 June 2023 flyby, BepiColombo’s third of six Mercury gravity assists, to build up an impressive picture of the planet’s magnetic landscape in a very short period of time.
“These flybys are fast; we crossed Mercury’s magnetosphere in about 30 minutes, moving from dusk to dawn and at a closest approach of just 235 km above the planet’s surface,” she describes.
“We sampled the type of particles, how hot they are, and how they move, enabling us to clearly plot the magnetic landscape during this brief period.”
Combining BepiColombo’s measurements with computer modelling to determine the origin of the detected particles based on their motion enabled Lina and her colleagues to sketch out the various features encountered in the magnetosphere.
“We saw expected structures like the ‘shock’ boundary between the free-flowing solar wind and the magnetosphere, and we also passed through the ‘horns’ flanking the plasma sheet, a region of hotter, denser electrically charged gas that streams out like a tail in the direction away from the Sun. But we also had some surprises."
Lina is the lead co-investigator of MPPE and lead of one of its instruments, the Mass Spectrum Analyser.
She worked on the paper presenting the results with former instrument lead Dominique Delcourt.
“We detected a so-called low-latitude boundary layer defined by a region of turbulent plasma at the edge of the magnetosphere, and here we observed particles with a much wider range of energies than we’ve ever seen before at Mercury, in large thanks to the sensitivity of the Mass Spectrum Analyser designed especially for Mercury’s complex environment,” he says.
“BepiColombo will be able to determine the ion composition of Mercury’s magnetosphere in greater detail than ever.”
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“We also observed energetic hot ions near the equatorial plane and at low latitude trapped in the magnetosphere, and we think the only way to explain that is by a ring current, either a partial or complete ring, but this is an area that is much debated,” adds Lina.
A ring current is an electric current carried by charged particles trapped in the magnetosphere. Earth has a well-understood ring current located tens of thousands of kilometres from its surface.
At Mercury it is less clear how the particles can stay trapped within a few hundred kilometres of the planet, especially as the magnetosphere is squashed against the planet’s surface.
This debate will likely be settled once MPO and Mio are collecting data full-time.
Lina and her colleagues also observed the direct interaction of the spacecraft with the surrounding space plasma.
When the spacecraft is heated by the Sun it cannot detect the colder, heavy ions because the spacecraft itself gets electrically charged and repels them.
But as the spacecraft moves through the planet’s nightside shadow, the charging is different, and suddenly a sea of cold plasma ions become visible.
For example, it detected ions of oxygen, sodium and potassium, which were likely sent flying from the planet’s surface by micro-meteorite strikes or through interactions with the solar wind.
“It’s like we’re suddenly seeing the surface composition ‘exploded’ in 3D through the planet’s very thin atmosphere, known as its exosphere,” remarks Dominique.
“It’s really exciting to start seeing the link between the planet’s surface and the plasma environment.”
“In this rare dusk-to-dawn sweep through the large-scale structure of Mercury’s magnetosphere we’ve tasted the promise of future discoveries,” says Go Murakami JAXA’s BepiColombo project scientist.
“The observations emphasise the need for the two orbiters and their complementary instruments to tell us the full story and build up a complete picture of how the magnetic and plasma environment changes over time and in space,” adds Geraint Jones, ESA BepiColombo project scientist.
“We can’t wait to see how BepiColombo will impact our broader understanding of planetary magnetospheres.”
Meanwhile, scientists are already digging into the data snatched during last month’s fourth close Mercury flyby while flight controllers are readying for the final two back-to-back flybys slated for 1 December 2024 and 8 January 2025, respectively.
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Biggest solar flare since 2017 erupts from sun and Earth is in the firing line
October 3, 2024
The sun has just unleashed its most powerful solar flare this cycle, a colossal X-class eruption.
The X9.05 solar flare peaked at 8:10 a.m. EDT (1210 GMT), triggering shortwave radio blackouts over Africa and Europe, the sunlit portion of Earth at the time of eruption.
The solar flare emanated from the sunspot group AR3842, which has made headlines before. On Oct. 1, the same sunspot region fired off a powerful X7.1 solar flare and unleashed a coronal mass ejection (CME) — a plume of plasma and magnetic field — which is currently barreling toward Earth.
The incoming CME is expected to hit Earth between Oct. 3 and Oct. 5, possibly triggering widespread auroras.
Did this morning's X9 eruption also unleash a CME? Preliminary reports suggest that a likely Earth-directed CME did indeed follow the monster flare.
We are still waiting for more data and models to confirm, but it looks promising.
This could be excellent news for aurora chasers, as CMEs can trigger geomagnetic storms, which in turn can result in dramatically boosted auroral displays.
CMEs carry electrically charged particles known as ions, and when these collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms.
During these storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light.
This phenomenon is recognized as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and as the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere.
We will have to wait and see if a CME will hit Earth and if a geomagnetic storm is indeed triggered.
Space weather is fickle and unpredictable, so it certainly keeps the forecasters on their toes.
One thing we know that did accompany the major X flare was a radio blackout.
The shortwave radio blackouts experienced over Europe and Africa were a result of the radiation from the solar flare reaching Earth and ionizing the upper atmosphere upon arrival.
This ionization creates a denser environment for high-frequency shortwave radio signals, which facilitate long-distance communication, to travel through.
As these radio waves pass through ionized (electrically charged) layers, they lose energy due to increased collisions with electrons, which can weaken or entirely absorb the radio signals.
Today's record-breaking solar flare was the most powerful one in this solar cycle so far. In fact, it was the most powerful solar flare in over seven years!
Back in September 2017, two colossal flares measuring X13.3 and X11.8 were reported in the declining phase of the previous solar cycle. (Solar activity waxes and wanes over the course of an 11-year cycle.)
Solar flares are classified by size into different classes, with X-class flares being the most powerful. M-class flares are 10 times less powerful than X-class, followed by C-class flares, which are 10 times weaker than M-class.
B-class flares are 10 times weaker than C-class, and A-class flares are 10 times weaker than B-class and have no noticeable impact on Earth.
Each class is further divided by numbers from 1 to 10 (and beyond for X-class flares) to indicate the flare's relative strength.
If you're interested in tracking space weather and knowing when and where to spot auroras, I suggest downloading a space weather app that provides forecasts based on your location.
One option I use is "My Aurora Forecast & Alerts," available for both iOS and Android.
However, any similar app should work well. I also use the "Space Weather Live" app, which is available on iOS and Android, to get a deeper understanding of whether the current space weather conditions are favorable for aurora sightings.
https://www.space.com/most-powerful-solar-flare-this-solar-cycle-x-9-earth-firing-line
Aurora alert: Possible geomagnetic storm could spark northern lights as far south as Illinois and Oregon tonight
October 3, 2024
Aurora chasers get those cameras on charge!
Due to heightened solar activity, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center has issued a geomagnetic storm warning for Oct. 3 through to Oct.5.
This is great news for those wishing to see the northern lights because if the predicted G3 conditions are reached we could witness auroras deep into mid-latitudes (around 50°) and as far south as Illinois and Oregon.
The culprit? A large plume of plasma and magnetic field known as a coronal mass ejection (CME) fired off from the sun during a recent explosive X-class solar flare on Oct. 1.
When CMEs interact with Earth's magnetosphere, they bring electrically charged particles called ions that collide with Earth's magnetic field.
These collisions can spark geomagnetic storms. During such storms, ions slam into atmospheric gases, releasing energy that appears as light.
This phenomenon is observed as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, in the Northern Hemisphere, and the southern lights, or aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere.
Geomagnetic storms are classified by NOAA using a G-scale to measure the intensity of geomagnetic storms.
They range from G5, the most extreme class to G1 minor class storms. The recent geomagnetic storm watch issued by NOAA is currently classified as a G1 to G3 class.
When will the geomagnetic storm occur?
Current forecasts predict possible G3 conditions between Oct. 3 and Oct. 5. Check out NOAA's 3-day forecast for the latest timings.
But remember, space weather is similar to Earth's weather in that it is unpredictable and challenging to forecast.
While geomagnetic storm warnings of this level are uncommon, they can still sometimes fizzle to nothing.
https://www.space.com/aurora-alert-northern-lights-far-south-illinois-oregon-g3-geomagnetic-storm-predicted
In photos: Annular solar eclipse 2024 delights with stunning 'ring of fire' display
October 3, 2024
On Oct. 2, an annular solar eclipse swept across parts of the Pacific Ocean, southern Chile and southern Argentina, putting on a dramatic display and turning the sun into a "ring of fire."
Only about 175,000 people live within the path of annularity — the 165-mile- to 206-mile-wide (265-kilometer- to 331-kilometer-wide) route along which moon covered up to about 93% of the sun's disk — making the "ring of fire" a rather rare sight to behold. Here we explore some of the best photos of the annular solar eclipse coming from skywatchers who caught a glimpse of the spectacular ring of fire as well as those who saw the moon take a "bite" out of the sun during the partial eclipse phase.
During a solar eclipse, the moon passes between the sun and Earth and casts a shadow on our planet.
As the moon's orbit around Earth is slightly elliptical, sometimes the moon is closer to us (known as perigee) and sometimes it is farther away (known as apogee).
An annular eclipse occurs when the moon is at apogee, meaning appears slightly smaller than usual and therefore does not fully cover the sun's disk.
As such, we are left with an impressive "ring of fire."
Award-winning photographer Josh Dury traveled to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) for the annular solar eclipse and captured a truly breathtaking composite image.
"I am overwhelmed to experience this eclipse with Martín Tuki, our guide and descendant of the island, and my mum.
That's a wrap for 312 years," Dury told Space.com. Eclipse expert and Space.com contributor Jamie Carter also headed to Rapa Nui for the annular solar eclipse.
Carter sent us some jaw-dropping close-up views of the sun during the event.
In the partial phase, you can also make out sunspots which are dark, planet-size regions of strong magnetic fields on the surface of the sun.
They can spawn eruptive disturbances such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
"Well, that was incredible. The tension! A cloud left the sun just 10 seconds before the Baily's beads appeared, and another appeared a minute after the ring ended.
We were so lucky," Carter told Space.com.
"It felt incredible to actually see the ring, knowing I had no more than a 50-50 chance. It was so cold in the minutes before annularity," Carter added.
Photographer Jonathan Martins captured the entire sequence of the annular solar eclipse from Rapa Nui in the Pacific Ocean.
cont.
https://www.space.com/annular-solar-eclipse-2024-best-photos
Gold Fields adopts space technology to boost exploration in Chile
October 2, 2024 | 7:55 am
Gold Fields (JSE, NYSE: GFI) is set to leverage cutting-edge space technology from Australia’s Fleet Space Technologies to boost exploration efforts at its recently opened Salares Norte gold mine in northern Chile.
The South African miner, which took 13 years to develop the project from exploration to production, is bringing 3D subsurface imaging to the Brecha Principal and Agua Amarga resource areas of Salares Norte.
The goal is to uncover new exploration targets within the mine’s vicinity by using Fleet Space’s solution.
Fleet Space Technologies’ ExoSphere, which integrates satellite connectivity, 3D multiphysics, and artificial intelligence (AI), is expected to unify the end-to-end exploration journey and deliver more sustainable outcomes at scale on the path to discovery, said co-founder and chief executive Flavia Tata Nardini.
“We are proud to deploy ExoSphere to further Gold Fields’ data-driven exploration and ESG targets, reinforcing their position on the forefront of innovation and supporting the development of their world-class operation in Chile,” she said.
Located in the Maricunga Belt of the Andes Mountains, between 3,900 and 4,700 meters above sea level, Salares Norte presents challenges due to its remote location, rugged terrain, extreme seasonal conditions and even the presence of a handful of endangered rodents.
First gold was poured in March 2024, marking a significant milestone for Gold Fields.
To maintain progress in such challenging conditions, Gold Fields adopted Fleet Space’s ExoSphere solution following its success at their St. Ives operation in Australia.
The system’s smart seismic sensors, called Geodes, offer low-impact, rapid 3D subsurface imaging, making ExoSphere a logical choice to support sustainable exploration at Salares Norte.
Gold Fields previously applied ExoSphere technology at its St. Ives gold mine in Australia, where it reached near-zero surface impact from Fleet Space’s smart seismic sensors (called Geodes).
By streamlining the data acquisition and processing steps of exploration, ExoSphere offers immediate, actionable insights for onsite teams, dramatically improving the efficiency of operations and reducing the environmental impact of traditional exploration methods.
Fleet Space’s innovations have earned it global recognition, including the 2024 Climate Technology Impact Award at the Banksia Foundation’s National Sustainability Awards.
Salares Norte has incorporated other critical new technologies, including filtered tailings, a method to optimize water use by recirculating over 86% of the resource.
This is also a safer technology as it replaces a conventional tailings storage facility.
The mine will also have a solar plant on site, which is expected to cut its annual carbon footprint by over 10,000 tonnes of CO2, Gold Fields said in March.
https://www.mining.com/gold-fields-adopts-space-technology-to-boost-exploration-in-chile/
Alien-like fungus 'Devil's Fingers' with smell of rotten flesh makes rare appearance in UK
Updated: Oct 03, 2024, 07:52 PM IST
An alien-like fungus - called 'Devil's Fingers' - has made a rare appearance in the New Forest, United Kingdom.
The fungus smells "like rotting flesh" and has a ghoulish hand-like appearance which appears to be coming straight out of the grave.
It was discovered by a retired teacher Julia Rosser, as reported by The Daily Mail. The 67-year-old said, "This one looked more like a hand than any I have ever seen before. It looked like it was reaching out from beyond the grave. It looked very creepy."
This fungus is generally found in late October but it has made appearance early because of the wet weather.
"I found Devil's Fingers in roughly the same area last year so I was on the lookout for them.
They burst out of the ground with these red tentacles or fingers," said Rosser.
This strange-looking fungus also has other names like "octopus stinkhorn" or "octopus fungus".
All about Devil's Fingers
The fungus is native to New Zealand and Australia and is believed to have been carried to France as part of the military supplies during the First World War.
"The species is from the southern hemisphere and was first discovered in Britain in 1914," explained Wildlife Trusts.
According to experts, the fungus gets hatched from an "egg" which is slimy and gelatinous in nature and its tentacle-like arms start protruding as it grows.
Also Read: NASA wants to 'grow' fungus and algae houses on Moon for astronauts
It is easy to spot because of its bright red colour, however, it is very rare in the United Kingdom.
"About 5cm high, tentacles can be up to 7cm long. Usually, there are at least 3 or 4 tentacles.
Often found amongst leaf litter under trees or in parks and gardens," stated Wildlife Trusts.
"This fungus smells like rotting flesh which attracts insects to arms where the spores are found.
The spores are then spread by the visiting insects," they added.
https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-like-fungus-devils-fingers-with-smell-of-rotten-flesh-makes-rare-appearance-in-uk-764218
‘Reality Check’: UAP researchers’ work catches attention of FBI | Morning in America
Updated: Oct 3, 2024 / 06:43 AM CDT
NewsNation’s Ross Coulthart sits down with Gerry Tedesco, John Tedesco and Donna Lee Nardo of Nightcrawler Research, a data-centric UAP research team whose work has caught the attention of the FBI.
Coulthart joins “Morning in America” to preview the work the research group detailed in the latest episode of the “Reality Check” podcast.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/reality-check-uap-researchers-work-catches-attention-of-fbi-morning-in-america/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_srfowbF48