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US military needs to talk to China on space, cyber issues, officials say
December 19, 2024 03:44 AM ET
The U.S. and China are not having much-needed military discussions about risks in space, cyber, and nuclear defense—even as the relationship between the countries has thawed in the past year, a defense official said Wednesday.
“The expansion of China's nuclear program raises the question of: what are all these nuclear weapons for, exactly, given that they have had this more limited doctrine in the past.
And they haven't answered that question,” Ely Ratner, the Pentagon’s assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said during a Center for Strategic and International Strategy event Wednesday.
Bilateral engagement with the PRC has improved since President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping met in November 2023.
But China has thwarted U.S. attempts to have high-level discussions about certain topics in the past year, Ratner said.
“In terms of defense diplomacy, the State Department, others at the [defense] secretary's level have been trying to better understand and engage in substantive discussions with the [People’s Republic of China] and the [People’s Liberation Army] about their military modernization.
And the answer so far has been no, we are not going to talk about that. Explicit refusal to talk about that. And that's a continued problem,” he said. “That's also true in some of the other emerging domains—space and cyber.
We are not having the level of strategic conversations that we need to be having about risk reduction, and that is absolutely something, looking forward, that will need to mature in the military-to-military relationship.”
Ratner’s comments came as the Defense Department released its annual report Wednesday on China’s military and security developments, which highlights the PLA’s focus on information operations, of which cyber is a key component.
“The PRC presents a significant, persistent cyber-enabled espionage and attack threat to an adversary’s military and critical infrastructure systems,” the report states.
“The PLA is pursuing next-generation combat capabilities based on its vision of future conflict, which it calls ‘intelligentized warfare,’ defined by the expanded use of AI, quantum computing, big data, and other advanced technologies at every level of warfare.”
Moreover, the U.S. recently imposed sanctions on a Chinese cyber firm for a “potentially deadly” 2020 ransomware attack on critical infrastructure.
Earlier this month, U.S. officials attributed a massive phone hacking campaign to the China-backed Salt Typhoon. And China’s national cyber center has accused a U.S. intelligence agency of stealing trade secrets from tech companies.
In the past year, there have been some mid-level talks, such as operational safety talks about risks to U.S. forces, clarifying discussions around terminology, and discussions with the crisis communication and prevention working group, said Michael Chase, deputy assistant secretary of defense for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia.
These talks may not dramatically shift relations, but they can provide clarity, particularly in cyberspace, he said.
“For example, cyber activity, if you think that perhaps it's not being well understood on the other side, or being totally misunderstood how we might respond to a particular activity—to be able to communicate clearly…ahead of time, obviously, it can have an effect in terms of deterring that kind of activity,” Chase said.
But at the very least, make sure that they have a clear understanding of what we're seeing and how we're going to respond to it.”
Keeping the U.S. competition with China from escalating into something more dangerous will require establishing clear lines of communication is key to prevent misunderstanding—an area the incoming Trump administration will now have to navigate.
“Realistically, there are going to be very few areas of genuine cooperation,” Chase said, noting that the PLA is cooperative with the Pentagon’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which is in charge of accounting for missing personnel and prisoners of war, Chase said.
“But when you get beyond that, I think we really look at a relationship that is largely about reducing the risk that competition veers into conflict, that's about trying to reduce the risk of misperception or clarify misperceptions, about trying to make sure that we've got channels of communication that are open so we can so we can do that.”
https://www.defenseone.com/policy/2024/12/us-military-needs-talk-china-space-cyber-issues-officials-say/401780/
https://media.defense.gov/2024/Dec/18/2003615520/-1/-1/0/MILITARY-AND-SECURITY-DEVELOPMENTS-INVOLVING-THE-PEOPLES-REPUBLIC-OF-CHINA-2024.PDF
Watch the sun unleash 'extremely rare' solar storm in explosive eruption
Dec 18, 2024
Dec. 17, the sun fired out an 'extremely rare' farside coronal mass ejection (CME) — a vast plume of plasma and magnetic field.
According to NASA's Space Weather Database of Notifications, Knowledge, Information (DONKI), the ER ('extremely rare') CME clocked in with an estimated speed of around 1,964 miles per second (3,161 km/s!).
The eruption occurred from the sun's farside and has no Earth-directed components. Slower CMEs often take two to three days to arrive whereas if this CME had been Earth-directed it would have arrived in approximately less than 18 hours.
"BOOM! Big and very fast full-halo CME in LASCO imagery this afternoon," aurora and storm chaser Jure Atanackov wrote in a post on X.
This is the fourth farside CME in 10 days, hinting at a very active hidden sunspot, yet to rotate into view, according to Spaceweather.com. We should expect the explosive culprit to rotate toward Earth next week.
But the super speedy CME wasn't the only impressive eruption from our star yesterday. Two prior CMEs erupted during fiery solar filament eruptions on the southeastern limb.
Solar filaments are vast clouds of ionized gas above the solar surface. When they become unstable they either fall back onto the sun or erupt into space, hurling a CME out into space.
When Earth is in the firing line of such eruptions, it can trigger geomagnetic storms — disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere. Although all three eruptions released CMEs, none are predicted to be Earth-directed.
"Two very photogenic eruptions of plasma from the eastern edge of the Sun this morning! Neither are Earth-directed," solar astrophysicist Ryan French wrote in a post on X.
A wider field of view with Lasco coronograph imagery of the sun's corona shows the intricate structure of the two CMEs released from the filament eruptions.
"The second coronal mass ejection in particular shows beautiful structure as it erupts!" French continued.
https://www.space.com/the-universe/sun/watch-sun-fire-out-extremely-rare-coronal-mass-ejection-and-two-spectacular-fiery-filaments
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g1-minor-storm-levels-reached-17-december-2024
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IshrAPS-jyY
Space2Sea Voyage of Legends in Antarctica: Join William Shatner, Neil deGrasse Tyson, former NASA astronauts and more in free webinar on space and science
Dec 18, 2024
Have questions about space you've always wanted to ask an expert?
This Friday (Dec. 20), several cultural and scientific icons including "Star Trek" star William Shatner, astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson, Apollo 16 moonwalker Charlie Duke as well as astronauts Scott Kelly and José Hernández will answer selected questions from an Antarctica-bound luxurious expedition vessel on the Space2Sea Voyage of Legends organized by the FUTURE of SPACE initiative.
Using SpaceX's Starlink internet connectivity, the webinar will stream live from the waters of Drake Passage, and you can tune in here on Friday at 9 a.m. ET (1400 GMT). A YouTube embed will appear on this page at start time.
The luminaries, along with over 200 guests, will set sail to the southernmost continent on Thursday (Dec. 19) from Ushuaia, Argentina.
The 10-day voyage, which includes stops on an island near the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula and several landing zones on the peninsula itself, aims to bridge the wonders of outer space with the pressing challenges we face on Earth, the FUTURE of SPACE initiative, which organized the ongoing expedition, said in a statement to Space.com.
"More than just a physical expedition, it serves as a powerful metaphor for our future — one that calls for global cooperation and shared responsibility for our planet and beyond," the statement read.
The illustrious group onboard will be Canadian actor William Shatner, who is best known for playing Captain James T. Kirk in the original "Star Trek" TV series over half a century ago.
He became the oldest person to travel to space in 2021 at the age of 90, and is expected to share inspiring stories from his journey to space.
Neil deGrasse Tyson will answer questions about the mysteries of the universe, while Charlie Duke, José Hernández and Scott Kelly will answer questions about space travel, according to the event website.
Hernández is also expected to talk about his inspiring journey from working the fields in California to pursuing his dream of flying into space as STS-128 mission specialist on space shuttle Discovery, in 2009. His story was documented in a 2023 biopic "A Million Miles Away."
The stellar line-up of guests also includes ocean conservationist and filmmaker Céline Cousteau and British architectural artist Stephen Wiltshire, ultimately resulting in an event spanning the domains of space, science, art and environmental conservation.
"By bringing together pioneers from different disciplines, we are creating a unique platform for cross-disciplinary dialogue," Daniel Fox, co-founder of the FUTURE of SPACE initiative, said in a news release.
The event has received lots of questions from eager students around the world, Janet Ivey-Duensing, creator of the award-winning children's TV show Janet's Planet, who will be moderating the webinar, told Space.com in an email.
Queries specific to space include a question by Hashim S., a 15-year-old from Karachi, Pakistan for Tyson: "What's one unsolved mystery in space science that keeps you up at night, and what could its answer mean for our understanding of the universe? Are you an alien?"
Ivanna V., a nine-year-old from Monterrey, México, requests advice for girls who want to get into space but aren't U.S. citizens, while Aza O., an 8th grader from Bowen Island, British Columbia, asks Cousteau how our planet is doing.
That the legends will come together to answer these questions and more "feels like a moment where dreams and reality intersect," said Ivey-Duensing.
"I believe that after listening to these amazing humans, we will all be inspired to explore and be even more curious about the vastness of space and the depths of the sea, and also to be better stewards of our precious planet Earth."
https://www.space.com/entertainment/space2sea-voyage-of-legends-in-antarctica-join-william-shatner-neil-degrasse-tyson-former-nasa-astronauts-and-more-in-free-webinar-on-space-and-science
https://www.space2sea.io/webinar/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8NZHUl1UDE
Potentially habitable planet TRAPPIST-1b may have a carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere
Dec 18, 2024
The innermost Earth-like planet in the famous TRAPPIST-1 system might be capable of supporting a thick atmosphere after all, according to new research.
Since the system of seven tightly-packed, Earth-sized worlds was discovered in 2017, huddled in remarkable harmony just 40 light-years from Earth, astronomers have tried to determine whether any support atmosphere, which is critical to harbor life as we know it.
Previous observations from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have suggested all planets in the system would be barren, airless rocks thanks to violent, atmosphere-stripping radiation unleashed by their host star.
However, a fresh analysis of JWST data on the innermost planet, TRAPPIST-1b, suggests that it may have a hazy, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere.
Alternatively, the new measurements also reveal an unexpectedly high temperature for TRAPPIST-1b's surface, potentially indicating that the world is roiling with volcanic activity.
Despite the system being the best-studied planetary system outside of our own solar system, detecting atmospheres on its planets has proven challenging.
That is the result of the unusual characteristics of their tiny and cool host red dwarf star, which can mimic atmospheric signals that are already weak and hard to detect.
Does Trappist-1b resemble Saturn's moon Titan?
Earlier JWST measurements of the planet's radiation at a single wavelength of 15 micrometers suggested a thick carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere was unlikely since carbon dioxide strongly absorbs light at this wavelength and thus would have noticeably reduced the observed radiation.
That led researchers to conclude last year that TRAPPIST-1b is most likely a ball of rock whose dark surface would have been battered to inhospitality by stellar radiation and meteorite impacts.
In contrast, the new measurements, which were gathered at a different wavelength of 12.8 micrometers, suggest not only a thick, carbon dioxide-rich atmosphere but one that includes highly reflective haze, akin to smog seen here on Earth.
That haze, the researchers say, causes the planet's upper atmosphere to be hotter than the layers below, creating an environment where carbon dioxide emits light rather than absorbing it, which could explain the lack of an expected dip in previous observations.
"One plus one is more than two—having two data points for Trappist-1b now allows us to explore alternative scenarios for its atmosphere, whether it exists or not," study co-author Leen Decin of KU Leuven in Belgium said in a recent news release.
Such dynamics are known to occur on Saturn's largest moon Titan, for instance, but "the chemistry in the atmosphere of TRAPPIST-1b is expected to be very different from Titan or any of the solar system's rocky bodies," study co-author Michiel Min of SRON Netherlands Institute for Space Research said in the same statement.
"It is fascinating to think we might be looking at a type of atmosphere we have never seen before."
The researchers are now tracking how heat is redistributed on the planet as it circles the host star, which will aid them in determining the planet’s atmosphere.
"If an atmosphere exists, the heat should be distributed from the day side of the planet to its night side," said Michaël Gillon, an astronomer at the University of Liege in Belgium, who led the international team that discovered the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets.
"Without an atmosphere, the redistribution of heat would be minimal."
https://www.space.com/james-webb-space-telescope-trappist-1b
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-024-02428-z.epdf
https://science.nasa.gov/exoplanet-catalog/trappist-1-b/
Vast signs agreement with SpaceX for private astronaut missions to the ISS
December 19, 2024
Commercial space station developer Vast Space has signed a deal with SpaceX for two private astronaut missions to the International Space Station, pending NASA approval.
Vast announced Dec. 19 that it completed an agreement with SpaceX to fly two Crew Dragon spacecraft to the ISS on what NASA calls private astronaut missions, or PAMs.
These are short-duration missions to the station and serve as a stepping-stone to future commercial space stations.
“Enabling payload and crewed missions to the ISS is a key part of Vast’s strategy, allowing us to further our collaboration with NASA and global space agencies,” Max Haot, chief executive of Vast, said in a statement.
“These missions not only strengthen our expertise in human spaceflight operations and collaboration with NASA but also position Vast as a leading contender to deliver the next-generation successor to the ISS.”
“I am excited to work with Vast as they build more opportunities and destinations for more people to travel amongst the stars,” Gwynne Shotwell, president and chief operating officer of SpaceX, said in the same statement.
Those missions are contingent on winning NASA approval. The agency has to date awarded four PAM opportunities, all to Axiom Space and with little or no competition from other providers.
Axiom has flown three of those missions and is preparing for the fourth, Ax-4, scheduled for launch in the spring of 2025. All of those missions have used Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Haot announced in February Vast’s intent to bid for future PAM opportunities. NASA has yet to issue a solicitation for any future missions, although the agency has previously said it would support up to two PAMs a year.
In practice, the agency has allowed one mission a year so far.
Vast will face competition from Axiom for PAM opportunities.
That company announced Dec. 18 revised plans to assemble its own commercial space station, which previously involved docking a series of habitat and research modules to the ISS that would form the core of a later standalone station.
Axiom now plans to install a power and payload module to the ISS that will not have crew accommodations, later removing it to dock with a habitat module to form a free-flying station.
Axiom executives said in an interview about the plans that they would continue to rely on PAM opportunities to visit the ISS.
“Our plan is to continue to compete for PAM missions as long as they make them available,” said Mark Greeley, chief operating officer of Axiom Space and program manager for Axiom Station.
Vast said its agreement with SpaceX for Crew Dragon missions to the ISS is in addition to an earlier contract with the company for the launch of its Haven-1 module and at least one Crew Dragon mission to it.
Haven-1, scheduled for launch as soon as late 2025, will be able to support up to four short-duration visits, helping Vast test technologies and gain experience for its larger Haven-2 space station it is proposing to NASA’s Commercial Low Earth Orbit Destinations program.
Vast said it is in “active discussions” with government space agencies about participating on any private astronaut missions it flies to the ISS.
It cited as one example the Czech Republic, which signed an agreement with Vast in November to examine potential flight opportunities for Czech astronauts on Vast missions.''
https://spacenews.com/vast-signs-agreement-with-spacex-for-private-astronaut-missions-to-the-iss/
New US Space Force jammers aim to disrupt China’s SATCOM signals
Dec 19, 2024, 07:53 AM
The U.S. Space Force is on track to field its first batch of a new ground-based satellite communications jammer in the coming months — designed to disrupt signals from enemy spacecraft.
Space Operations Command just approved the Remote Modular Terminals for initial fielding, a spokesperson told Defense News Wednesday, adding that the jammers will be in the hands of military users imminently.
The Space Force plans to field 11 systems as part of the first release, giving units a chance to use the system before it’s accepted for operations.
The program has funding to build around 160, and the service expects to need as many as 200 in the coming years.
The Space Rapid Capabilities Office, a fast-moving acquisition team based at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, is the lead for the RMT program.
Space RCO Director Kelly Hammett told reporters last week the small, modular terminals are designed to block adversary communications from satellites that are surveilling U.S. and allies, particularly in the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command.
“We want to be able to disrupt their comms and their kill chains and their targeting links,” Hammett said during a Dec. 11 media briefing at the Spacepower Conference in Orlando, Fla.
“That’s what these systems are intended to do: to block reception going either from, say, sensors that are that are looking at our joint forces and reporting up to a satellite and back to a battle management node, or vice versa.”
The U.S. is particularly concerned about surveillance satellites China has launched in recent years.
The remote systems, called Yaogan, provide continuous, uninterrupted coverage of the Indo-Pacific theater to identify gaps in U.S. and allied forces.
The latest version, Yaogan-41, launched to geostationary orbit late last year and can track car-sized objects, according to a January 2024 report from the Center for Strategic and International Studies.
The RMT jammers will essentially “yell in their ear” so the radars can’t command other systems to attack U.S. assets, according to Hammett.
Hammett declined to say where the first systems will be fielded, but said the initial locations have been identified.
Speaking this fall at a separate Space Industry Days conference in Los Angeles, Hammett said operators will be able to control the systems from locations in the U.S. even as they’re deployed around the world.
The Space RCO awarded contracts for the program just 18 months ago, working with a small, Virginia-based company called Northstrat.
The firm partnered with a larger company, Khaki, to leverage mostly off-the-shelf technology to build the terminals.
The terminals themselves are small, Hammett said, and cost roughly $1.5 million each.
“As far as space electronic warfare goes, you can’t get much better than that,” he said.
https://www.defensenews.com/space/2024/12/19/new-us-space-force-jammers-aim-to-disrupt-chinas-satcom-signals/
Russian refinery in flames after midnight drone attack
December 18, 2024, 10:30 PM
The crude oil distillation unit (CDU) was reportedly hit in an overnight drone attack on an oil refinery in Novoshakhtinsk, Russia’s Rostov Oblast, the Astra Telegram channel wrote shortly after midnight on Dec. 19, posting video of a massive fire.
Residents reported the sounds of flying drones, machine gun fire, and a series of explosions followed by the fire.
According to another Russian Telegram channel, Mash, the fire at the refinery allegedly broke out after the drone debris fell.
The regional governor, Yury Slyusar, claimed that seven drones had been shot down by air defense forces, with no casualties or damage on the ground.
The Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery has been targeted at least four times since Russia's full-scale invasion began, including three times in 2024.
https://english.nv.ua/nation/russia-claims-no-damage-after-drone-triggered-refinery-fire-50475354.html
North Korean troops suffer 100 deaths, struggling in drone warfare, South Korea says
December 18, 20246:54 PM PST
At least 100 North Korean troops deployed to Russia have been killed with another 1,000 injured in combat against Ukrainian forces in intense fighting in the Kursk region, a South Korean lawmaker said on Thursday citing the country's spy agency.
The heavy losses are attributed to the lack of experience by North Korean troops in drone warfare and unfamiliarity with the open terrain where they are taking part in the battle, a member of parliament Lee Seong-kweun told reporters.
Lee was speaking after a closed-door briefing by the National Intelligence Service (NIS) to parliament.
The discrepancy in the estimate of the troops killed from that made by a U.S. military official who cited several hundred casualties is because of the relatively conservative analysis by the NIS, Lee said.
"There was a report that there have been at least 100 deaths and the injured are approaching 1,000," he said.
There are indications that the North is preparing for additional deployment, Lee said, including intelligence of the country's leader Kim Jong Un overseeing training.
The report echoed comments by U.S. and Ukrainian officials that North Korean losses are heavy and that Russia was using them in large numbers in assaults in Kursk, a Russian region where Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion in August.
More than 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to help Russia in the war, according to U.S. and South Korean officials.
Pyongyang has also shipped more than 10,000 containers of artillery rounds, anti-tank rockets as well as mechanised howitzers and rocket launchers.
Neither the North nor Russia have officially acknowledged the troop deployment or the weapons supply.
Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang in June and signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that included a mutual defence pact.
Earlier on Thursday, North Korea said its military alliance with Russia is proving "very effective" in deterring the United States and its "vassal forces," denouncing a recent statement by Washington and allies against ties between Pyongyang and Moscow.
North Korea made no mention of its involvement in the war in Ukraine or casualties.
Instead it denounced a statement by the United States and nine countries and the European Union issued on Monday as "distorting and slandering the essence of the normal cooperative relations" between the North and Russia.
In a statement by an unnamed foreign ministry spokesman, the North blamed Washington and its allies for prolonging the Ukrainian war and destabilising the security situation in Europe and Asia-Pacific.
"It is because of the misguided acts of the U.S. and the West persisting in their structure-destructive, hegemony-oriented and adventuristic military policy," it said.
https://www.reuters.com/world/north-korea-says-its-alliance-with-russia-very-effective-no-mention-troop-losses-2024-12-18/
Increased mystery drone sightings causing concerns in Pittsburgh area
December 18, 2024 at 7:15 pm EST
With thousands of licensed drone operators, it’s not uncommon to have a drone spotting.
Experts shared with Channel 11 News how to spot a drone and what to do next.
Concerns began across the US because of mystery sightings that started November 18 near Morris County, New Jersey, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
This week a viewer sent our station a video of a drone flying near their Pittsburgh home.
The viewer was concerned and asked Channel 11 News what to do.
We worked to get answers.
First, we showed an expert the video to confirm if the object in the night sky was a drone.
“It’s not that high, it’s not flying that fast, it has FAA lights on it, there is almost a certainty that is a drone,” David King, the CEO of Steel City Drones confirmed it was a drone in the video.
From there, King reviewed the drone’s pattern and told us in his opinion the drone was operating within standards and didn’t appear to be hovering over the residency.
“The biggest thing is that drones are not meant to spy on people, or to hover at people’s windows or in their backyards,” King said.
King has been training drone operators for more than a decade and told us that while drone sightings can be unsettling they aren’t uncommon and often aren’t even suspicious.
King said drones are allowed to fly over residential homes if they aren’t capturing surveillance.
“The law states that even if a person owns the air space right directly above their house, they can’t stop a drone operator from flying above it,” King said.
Drone operators have very few restrictions according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Drones cannot fly:
Above 400 feet
Over moving vehicles
Near airports
During live events
“I wouldn’t even be able to turn the motors on if I am like a half a mile away from the airport because it’s locked out,” King said.
King explained drones are programmed with certain safety mechanisms to prevent them from flying in restricted areas or above restricted heights.
According to the FBI in the past few weeks, they have received more than 5,000 reported drone sightings with about 100 leads, but are cautioning residents that with more than one million licensed drone operators there are no privacy laws that prevent them from flying.
Under no circumstance can someone shoot down a drone or try to remove one from the air themselves – that’s illegal.
King said, often when you see a drone in the sky that is not for recreation it is being used in an official capacity.
“Nationwide you have over 500 public safety agencies for clients, construction, utilities, engineering, surveys those are the big markets,” King explained.
Experts said if you have concerns or you see a drone, report it to the Federal Aviation Administration.
https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/increased-drone-sightings-causing-concerns-pittsburgh-area/HPVQMTW5LRAGVIVWJTW2JTU4HA/
Houston residents report increased Drone sightings: A new normal
Updated: December 18, 2024 at 6:55 PM
It seems that drones have become a regular sight in Houston’s skies. Many residents are reporting sightings and sharing footage, prompting curiosity and concern about being observed by unidentified sources.
Last week, after our article was published, numerous readers reached out, eager to share their experiences. One such individual, Christine Pinell, reported seeing a drone while driving home on FM 529 with her daughter-in-law.
Another sighting was documented in the Bellaire area by Carrie Bivins. Her brother-in-law captured footage of a drone with unusually bright green lights, deviating from the typical red and green.
In Cypress, Texas, Raymond shared a compelling video he recorded last night. He described witnessing a rotating octagon of lights, reminiscent of a sighting in New Jersey. The drone moved steadily; slower than the planes he often observes from his backyard and emitted no sound.
While the cause of these sightings remains uncertain, the Federal Aviation Administration has issued a statement, suggesting that what appear to be drones might actually be regular airplane lights.
Will we soon uncover the truth behind these mysterious, vibrant lights in our skies? With continued research, we hope to find answers.
https://www.click2houston.com/features/2024/12/19/houston-residents-report-increased-drone-sightings-a-new-normal/
https://x.com/FAANews/status/1869367131244277797
Sen. Tim Kaine ‘very frustrated’ by lack of answers on drone incursions at Langley Air Force Base
December 18, 2024 5:18pm EST
Nearly one year after mysterious drones hovered near a top-secret military base in Virginia for 17 days, Sen. Tim Kaine says he is "very frustrated" with "so many unanswered questions" that remain.
The Virginia Democrat said his state delegation will get a classified briefing on the situation Thursday.
For more than two weeks in December 2023, the mystery drones flew into restricted airspace over the installation, home to key national security sites and the F-22 Raptor stealth fighters.
The Pentagon has said little about the incidents other than to confirm they occurred after a Wall Street Journal report in October.
If officials know where the drones came from or what they were doing, they haven’t shared it with Congress.
"We're kind of at the year anniversary of these incursions at Langley. And I'm very frustrated with the fact that there's still so many unanswered questions," Kaine told Fox News Digital.
Lack of a standard protocol for such incursions left Langley officials unsure of what to do, other than allow the 20-foot drones to hover near their classified sites.
As defense-minded lawmakers sought more answers, Langley officials referred them to the FBI, who referred them to Northern Command, who referred them to local law enforcement, one congressional source said.
"I'm going to keep pushing the federal agencies to get their act together and have a clear agency that's responsible for answering rather than all pointing their fingers at each other and telling us that you got to go to some other agency to get an answer," said Kaine.
The drones over Langley "don’t appear to be armed, but they are there for at least surveillance purposes. And they interrupted training exercises at Langley."
And during the recent drone phenomenon in New Jersey, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) have been spotted near Picatinny Arsenal and over President-elect Trump's golf club in Bedminster.
Trump said he canceled a trip to his golf club due to the drone sightings.
Drone incursions at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio prompted the base to close its airspace Friday night, and UAS sightings have occurred at U.S. military bases in the United Kingdom and Germany.
A spending bill that must pass before the end of the week includes a reauthorization of the government's counter-drone authorities. But it is a simple reauthorization of a program many drone experts say is outdated.
National security-minded lawmakers and experts have implored Congress to take up legislation that would grant the government greater detection capabilities and give state and local law enforcement the authority to deal with unauthorized drones.
U.S. capabilities offer many different ways to take down a drone, including shooting them, zapping them with heat lasers and jamming the frequencies so they stop working and fall out of the sky.
Whether Congress needs to change laws is a point of contention, but one thing that is clear is incursions like the one at Langley prompt confusion over legal authority.
"This is a little bit of a problem of too many cooks. And it's not clear who is the chef," said Kaine. "The FAA is looking at it. The FBI is looking at it. DOD looking at it.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/virginia-tim-kaine-drones-langley
Rand Paul blocks bill responding to drone sightings: Shouldn't rush to grant 'sweeping surveillance powers'
December 18, 2024 3:59pm EST
Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked a Senate bill Wednesday that would have authorized resources for state and local authorities to track drones that have mystified residents across New Jersey and the Northeast in recent weeks.
Paul objected to the passage of the bill, citing his long-standing concerns over expanding governmental powers.
"This body must not rush to grant sweeping surveillance powers without proper consideration and debate by the committees of jurisdiction," he said.
Paul said the bill would "expand federal authority to intercept communications and disrupt drone activity – powers that raise serious concerns for Americans' privacy, civil liberties, and Fourth Amendment protections against unwarranted search and seizure."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., sought to speed a bipartisan bill through the Senate by seeking unanimous consent on the floor before it was blocked by Paul.
"The people in New York and New Jersey have a lot of questions, and they’re not getting good enough answers," said Schumer.
"The utter confusion surrounding these drone sightings shows that the feds can’t respond all on their own."
In addition to giving local authorities the ability to track drones, the proposed legislation would expand some federal agencies’ authority to start a pilot program to allow states and local authorities to disrupt, disable or seize a drone without prior consent of the operator.
The drone sightings across the Northeast have worried some local and state officials, but the Biden administration has said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference or a public safety threat.
However, they have not determined who is responsible for them.
President-elect Trump last week called for the administration to release information on the drones or shoot them down.
Paul, who has often called for limiting governmental powers, said he objected to the bill because it wasn't clear that urgent action was needed.
"We're being told that this legislation is urgent, that it is needed to address an imminent drone threat," he said. "Yet the government itself admits no such threat exists."
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rand-paul-blocks-bill-responding-drone-sightings-shouldnt-rush-grant-sweeping-surveillance-powers
Aussies freak out after a 'spaceship' suddenly appears in the sky
December 18, 2024
Sydneysiders were left scratching their heads this week after a large cloud that resembled a hovering spaceship suddenly appeared in the sky.
The bizarre natural phenomenon formed over the ocean in Cronulla, in Sydney's southern suburbs, with many sharing snaps and videos of the cloud to social media.
But Weatherzone meteorologist Felix Levesque assured Daily Mail Australia the strange cloud was nothing to be worried about.
Some guessed the 'spaceship' was a lenticular cloud, which the forecaster said is formed when moist winds are forced over a barrier, such as a mountain.
'This rising motion over the barrier causes the air to cool and condense into a stationary cloud,' Mr Levesque explained.
'This stationary cloud will have a smooth oval appearance, hence why it's often mistaken as a UFO.'
Mr Levesque said the Cronulla cloud was in fact a roll cloud, a different species to the lenticular cloud which is caused by a similar process.
'Roll clouds form when a cooler, denser airmass pushes under another airmass, causing this rising and 'rolling' motion on the leading edge of the airmass – hence the name,' he continued.
'Southerly busters, like on Tuesday, can bring roll clouds, and these can occur about three to five times a year in Sydney.'
'A common location for roll clouds is over the Gulf of Carpentaria – so common it's been given the name 'Morning Glory Cloud'', Mr Levesque said.
Social media users were quick to speculation on the cloud's origin, with many joking it was of an extraterrestrial nature.
https://www.msn.com/en-za/news/other/aussies-freak-out-after-a-spaceship-suddenly-appears-in-the-sky/ar-AA1w86zm
Lue Elizondo on drones: ‘Feds have gotta be more open’
Updated: Dec 18, 2024 / 08:50 PM CST
A former senior Pentagon official who led investigations into unidentified aerial phenomena, or UAP, the government’s preferred term for UFOs, is criticizing the Biden administration’s handling of recent drone sightings, saying their assurances of safety lack credibility.
“The federal government is not being honest with the American people,” said Lue Elizondo, who previously ran a secret Pentagon program investigating UFOs.
“If these were legally operated vehicles and aircraft, they would not be shutting down military installations because of drone incursions.”
Elizondo’s comments came as President Joe Biden publicly addressed the mysterious drone sightings for the first time, stating there was “nothing nefarious” occurring.
Meanwhile, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., blocked legislation Wednesday that would have given state and local authorities more power to track the aircraft.
Some reported sightings describe objects “the size of an SUV, possibly the size of a school bus,” with capabilities beyond typical recreational drones, Elizondo said on NewsNation’s “Elizabeth Vargas Reports.”
He noted that operating multiple sophisticated drones across long distances would require significant infrastructure and resources typically available only to state-level actors.
The administration’s response has shifted notably and quickly, Elizondo said, from claiming no knowledge of the drones origins to describing them as routine aircraft within 48 hours.
The situation has drawn heightened congressional attention, with a classified House Intelligence Committee briefing fueling further questions.
“Why are they having these conversations with Congress and not the American people?” Elizondo asked.
The White House National Security Council maintains that after extensive investigation, the aircraft appear to be a combination of law enforcement, commercial and hobby drones.
https://www.newsnationnow.com/politics/lue-elizondo-on-drones-feds-have-gotta-be-more-open/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIGzlGzMSJk
'Extra-terrestrial tracks exist over Athlone,' claims UFO expert
updated: Thu 19 Dec 2024, 9:34 AM
Carl Nally, of UFO and Paranormal Research Ireland (UPRI), has claimed that UFO tracks exist over Athlone.
Speaking to the Westmeath Independent about recent reports of a UFO 'portal' over Athlone, Carl said there had been a major increase in sightings over the past two months.
"We've had a huge number of reports from people in the Midlands who report seeing orb or tic tac shaped UFOs," Carl said.
"The increase has happened over the past two months, and it coincides with the drone or UFO sightings over military bases in the US, Germany, and the UK."
The expert said that the influx in UFO sightings in the Athlone area had been backed up by research by Roscommon native astronomer Dr Eamonn Ansbro and New Zealand airline pilot Dr Bruce Cathie.
"Dr Ansbro and Dr Cathie have developed a theory that UFOs operate on tracks which they can enter and exit the earth from," Carl said.
"They have been working on this theory for the past 12 to 15 years. They have been researching sites where UFOs are most often seen. Their mathematical theory is proven to be 92% accurate."
He named Athlone, Slane, Boyle, Wicklow, and West Cork as points along these tracks which UFOs use to both enter and exit earth.
"They are entering earth at an increasingly rapid pace, and the fact that the entry coincides with sightings over military bases - that is concerning."
Carl concluded by saying it is possible that the increase in sightings is due to a phenomenon called a 'flap' in which groups of UFOs are spotted travelling together.
Such events have historically occurred in Mexico and the US, however it is unprecedented that such 'flaps' would be spotted on this side of the planet.
"The question that everybody is asking is why? And that question is yet to be answered," Carl said.
https://www.westmeathindependent.ie/2024/12/18/extra-terrestrial-tracks-exist-over-athlone-says-ufo-expert/
DRONES! Special MUFON Report
December 19, 2024
This is a special report regarding the drone sightings all around the United States in the world.
MUFON Reporter Skye LaFever has been talking to investigators Robert Spearing, Earl Grey Anderson and more. MUFON Director Dave MacDonald Also chimes in via a news interivew.
Our current opinion is that this is 30% Mystery, 30% Misidentification and 30% Mass Hysteria.
In this report, we investigate some of the possibilities. The story is rapidly unfolding, and we do not know how it will ultimately resolve. Stay with us for updates.
https://mufon.com/ufo-news/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krgC6ngEZo0
https://thedebrief.org/national-science-foundation-hosts-interagency-meeting-on-disruptive-technology-with-uap-in-focus/
National Science Foundation Hosts Interagency Meeting on Disruptive Technology with UAP in Focus
December 18, 2024
The advancement of low Earth orbit technologies and addressing unresolved challenges like unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) were among the issues discussed during a recent meeting hosted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and attended by more than 120 experts.
The interagency working group meeting, held on November 4, 2024, convened to exchange information and explore ways to advance the development of disruptive technology and ‘edge science’ within the U.S. government.
Discussions focused on the complexities of pushing technological boundaries in government projects while navigating the evolving challenges presented by unidentified aerial objects, which have remained a pressing area of scientific inquiry and a national security challenge for many decades.
The U.S. National Low Earth Orbit (LEO) Research and Development Strategy refers to a coordinated effort by various U.S. government agencies to establish policies, programs, and partnerships focused on utilizing, managing, and securing the low-earth orbit environment.
Groups attending the meeting ranged from space economy and advanced manufacturing to experts in human systems, biological sciences, bioengineering, and agriculture, as well as research innovators and entrepreneurs committed to advancing innovation.
With over 120 people in attendance, the November online event was chaired by Anna Brady-Estevez, National Program Director at the National Science Foundation, Co-Chair of US Digital Assets Research and Development Strategy, and Co-Chair of US Interagency Space Economy.
“I am thrilled to see the National Science Foundation participating in this important initiative,” said Nicole Wagner, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of LambdaVision.
Experts like Wagner and others in attendance explored the impact of space, microgravity, and advanced materials at the November meeting, including their potential in biomaterials, semiconductors, and retina development.
“The research and work that is happening in low earth orbit right now has the potential to benefit people on Earth, and these types of interagency conversations and discussions are necessary to lay the foundation for research to come,” Wagner said.
The November meeting brought together thought leaders and experts from diverse fields to discuss the future of space, technology, and their potential applications in advancing national security, aerospace, and scientific discovery.
Speakers included keynotes Charles Chase, Co-Founder of UnLAB, who focused on disruptive technologies that could pave the way for a more abundant future, and Hal Puthoff, President & CEO at the Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin and EarthTech International Inc., who discussed the history and technological development of UAP studies.
Discussions also touched on space-based research and the prediction and prevention of accelerated stem cell aging and cancer evolution, as presented by Cat Jamieson, Ph.D.
Other presentations covered extended electrodynamics, tissue multiplexed staining, and the intersection of UAP phenomena with biological science, as discussed by Mike Fiddy, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, and Stanford professor of pathology Garry Nolan, Ph.D.
Others in attendance included Rhodium Scientific founder Olivia Holzhaus, former fighter pilot and Americans for Safe Aerospace co-founder Ryan Graves, and Jay Stratton, the former Director of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF), who shared perspectives on government engagement with UAP research.
Further presentations included topics on quantum propulsion, space-time distortion, lattice confinement fusion, and advanced sensing.
Experts like American scientist and engineer Travis Taylor, Ph.D, and Dr. Chance Glenn, President of Morningbird Space Corporation, offered their expertise in cutting-edge research areas.
Others who presented included NASA Glenn Research Center scientist Larry Forsley; Stevens Institute of Technology researcher Lou DeChiaro, Ph.D; Sonny White, founder of Limitless Space Institute; Phillip Lentz, founder of UnSpace; Richard Banduric, CEO of Field Propulsion Technologies Inc.; Julia Mossbridge Ph.D Neuroscientist and co-founder of RISE; and Ankur Bhatt, a researcher with UCLA Electrodynamics.
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Ryan Graves, who characterized the meeting as being “ 70 percent edge and deep technology and 30 percent UAP,” said he was there primarily to discuss his personal experiences involving the anomalous phenomena his organization promotes awareness of.
“ I was there to talk about my experiences, both as a pilot and as someone who had to interact with these things (UAPs) for a period of time,” Graves told The Debrief.
Chaired and assembled by Anna Brady-Estevez, a low-profile but influential figure advancing innovation within the National Science Foundation, the event’s coordinator is no stranger to pushing the boundaries and helping to finance disruptive or edge science research.
With a Ph.D in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from Yale University, Brasy-Estevez leads the NSF’s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, managing a national portfolio and investments in chemical, environmental, and distributed ledger technologies (including blockchain and DAGs) and fosters positive relationships, funding, and advancements within the science and technology communities.
Staying Ahead of Foreign Adversaries
Amid modern global challenges involving geopolitical tensions with China, Russia, and the United States, parallels to the Cold War era seem increasingly evident.
During the height of the Cold War and the first modern space race, the U.S. government pursued what some now call ‘edge science’—cutting-edge research that the U.S. aimed to use to help secure global power, technological dominance, and ideological influence.
Throughout that period, the topic of UAPs (then primarily called unidentified flying objects, or UFOs) repeatedly surfaced, drawing attention from key government entities like the CIA, the Air Force, and other federal agencies, whether entirely welcome or not.
The U.S. must continue investing in frontier scientific research and emerging technologies to remain competitive.
Staying at the forefront of edge science is essential for maintaining superiority in critical fields such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, aerospace engineering, and defense technologies.
Falling behind in these areas could jeopardize national security and risk losing technological dominance, particularly in the context of UAPs and advanced aerospace systems.
Moreover, failure to prioritize these innovations could hinder U.S. capabilities in space exploration, military defense, and strategic intelligence.
“I had a long career at Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, where I was a Senior Technical Fellow and led the Revolutionary Technology organization, focusing on developing and transitioning breakthrough technologies,” says Charles Chase, Co-Founder of UnLAB.
“This experience gave me good insight into advanced technologies, military systems, and threats.”
For Chase, the most promising disruptive technologies are those that he says can reduce conflict and its drivers by creating abundance.
“Falling behind could mean that disruptive technologies are developed without regard for peaceful applications, increasing global instability,” Chase said. “Without leadership, the U.S. might lose its ability to shape the ethical use of advanced technologies, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by others.”
However, government policy plays a critical role in how edge science evolves. Determining what comes first—policy adjustments or technological advancements—remains a crucial part of the equation.
“Investing in edge science, or what I call frontier science, is essential to maintaining national security, driving economic growth, and giving the U.S the ability to help shape the future by using technological advancements for good,” said Jay Stratton, former director of the Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Task Force (UAPTF) and Chief Operating Officer with QuantumFrontier, LLC, in a statement provided to The Debrief.
“Whether it’s UAP research or quantum physics, leading in frontier science challenges what we know, pushes innovation forward, and impacts our future,” Stratton said.
“Falling behind risks not only losing our nation’s competitive edge but also leaves critical discoveries in the hands of adversaries, giving them an incredible advantage on both the battlefield of the future and the global stage of technological and economic dominance.”
“I’m committed to helping make sure the United States occupies a position of pre-eminence on the global stage,” Stratton said.
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Often, policies are created retroactively to manage new developments within culture and society, such as the internet, AI, social media, or nuclear weapons.
Ideally, governments would anticipate cultural market trends and scientific and technological advancements to design proactive policies supporting national defense and cultural and economic goals.
“ But the problem with policy is that you can be wrong, right?” Graves says.
“ If we were a very organized government, we would hope that we would have the ability to have an understanding of where the market is going, where the technology is going, what’s capable, and then ideally crafting policy that would allow us to advance any of those particular technology regimes or areas that we,” Graves told The Debrief.
It seems fitting that the UAP subject has been brought to the table again, especially amid the heightened modern-day global tensions.
This demonstrates that government agencies and scientific officials are finally viewing it as a serious field of inquiry and emphasizing its relevance to interagency efforts like those outlined at the November meeting.
While the meeting wasn’t primarily focused on UAPs, the presenters were tackling some of the most complex issues in frontier science. Yet, one consistent point of contention, both within and outside of progressive meetings like these, involves government and private funding.
“The way edge science and technology has been advanced in the past is by dedicated funding that isn’t transitioned to more mainstream work,” explained Julia Mossbrige, Ph.D, in an email to The Debrief.
“For example, the Bial Foundation in Portugal funds mainstream psychophysiology research and also funds PSI research—they have conferences in which the researchers doing this work meet one another and discuss their fields,” Mossbridge said.
“This approach—mainstreaming the edge—is key. But if it is mainstreamed so much that the new edge fails to be explored, that’s a problem.”
Given that these ideas and concepts were, for now, only the subjects of presentations, the obvious next step is to address how all of this will be funded and why funding is so critical to advancing cutting-edge science within the government.
“Dedicated funding allows you to focus on the things that matter without fear of losing access to resources when a funding cycle is over, or an administration changes,” Dr. Chance Glenn observed in an email to The Debrief.
“Science and technology is what has placed the United States firmly in the position of a global leader. It is what will keep us there.
It is what could catapult another nation forward as well. Therefore, bleeding edge science and technology must be supported consistently.”
Although the November meeting was the first of its kind that Graves and the others present had attended, he anticipates that additional promising developments will result from the effort.
“I expect there’ll be more,” Graves told The Debrief.
Indeed, as governments and private technology companies gear up for the new year, a wave of similar edge-science meetings and summits is already on the horizon.
Several groundbreaking discussions are scheduled before the end of the year, and even more are slated for 2025.
Such events, with their diverse participants, aim to push the boundaries of innovation and exploration across a range of important fields in science and technology, not just into the new year but well into the decades to come.
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'Alien plant' fossil discovered near Utah ghost town doesn't belong to any known plant families, living or extinct
December 19, 2024
Scientists have discovered that an "alien plant" first found near a Utah ghost town 55 years ago doesn't appear to be related to any currently living family or genus.
Paleontologists first found fossilized leaf specimens of the plant in 1969 and named it Othniophyton elongatum, which translates to "alien plant."
At the time, they believed the extinct species could be related to ginseng.
A more recent analysis, however, has challenged that hypothesis.
Steven Manchester, curator of paleobotany at the Florida Museum of Natural History and Utah fossil expert, came across an unidentified plant fossil while visiting the University of California, Berkeley paleobotany collection.
This plant fossil was well preserved, and had come from the same area as the alien plant leaves.
Manchester's research team analyzed the fossils and concluded they were from the same plant species, according to their study published Nov. 9 in the journal Annals of Botany.
Both fossil specimens were excavated from the Green River Formation in eastern Utah, near the former town of Rainbow.
Around 47 million years ago, when the plants lived, the region was a huge lake ecosystem near active volcanoes.
Lake sediment and volcanic ash slowed decomposition in fish, reptile, bird and plant remains, enabling some to be extremely well preserved.
The researchers analyzed both fossils' physical features, and searched for living plant families that could be similar.
Unlike the 1969 find, the specimen at UC Berkeley had leaves, flowers and fruits attached, which looked very different from those of plants related to ginseng.
In fact, the researchers couldn't match the fossils to any of the over 400 families of flowering plants living today, and extinct families.
When scientists studied the original fossils in 1969, they were working only with leaves, not with flowers, fruits or branches; based on the arrangement of the leaves' vein patterns, they theorized the leaf structure could be similar to that of plants in the ginseng family.
With the detail provided by the newer fossil, the researchers had a better picture of what the plant would have looked like and discounted the ginseng connection, but still couldn't pinpoint the plant's family.
A few years later, the Florida Museum of Natural History had access to new microscopy and artificial intelligence
technology that enabled even more detailed viewing of the plant fossils. Micro-impressions of small, developing seeds were visible in the fossil's fruits.
The research team could also see stamens — flowers' male reproductive organs — which in most plant species detach after fertilization.
"Usually, stamens will fall away as the fruit develops. And this thing seems unusual in that it's retaining the stamens at the time it has mature fruits with seeds ready to disperse. We haven't seen that in anything modern," Manchester said in a statement.
Comparing these traits to extinct families didn't result in any matches either, but this isn't the only species from the Green River Formation that has stumped scientists.
This region has previously produced other plant fossils, like Bonanzacarpum fruit and Palibinia leaves, that have surprised scientists and ultimately led to the discovery of extinct groups.
https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/plants/alien-plant-fossil-discovered-near-utah-ghost-town-doesnt-belong-to-any-known-plant-families-living-or-extinct
https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/science/this-mysterious-plant-fossil-belongs-to-a-family-that-no-longer-exists/
Scientists discover mysterious 'alien' life forms in human body
Updated: Dec 19, 2024, 02:29:00 PM IST
In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have identified organisms inside the human body that defy everything we thought we knew about life. A Stanford University research team, led by Dr. Ivan Zheludev, has found evidence of peculiar RNA-based life forms in the human microbiome. Published in 2024, the study introduces these organisms as “Obelisks,” which are unlike any known life forms on Earth.
What Are Obelisks?
The researchers analysed RNA sequences from human gut samples using metatranscriptomic analysis. They discovered over 1,000 unusual base pairs that don’t match any known genetic patterns. These Obelisks, present in 10% of microbiome samples, have circular genomes with rod-like structures and produce a novel protein called Oblins. However, the exact role of these proteins remains unknown.
Obelisks appear in multiple parts of the human microbiome, including the gut and oral microbiomes. Surprisingly, while only 7% of stool samples contained Obelisks, they were present in up to 50% of oral samples, suggesting they are more widespread than initially thought. Additionally, some Obelisks were found inside Streptococcus sanguinis, a typically harmless bacterial species. These organisms persist in the body for over 300 days, leaving researchers to question whether they are permanent res ..
Are They Truly Alien?
Though the term "alien" might evoke images of extraterrestrial beings, these organisms are not from another planet. Instead, they are "alien" to life as we know it due to their unique RNA-based structure and self-replicating abilities. This discovery could provide profound insights into the origins of life and evolution.
The question remains: Have these organisms been coexisting with us unnoticed, or do they represent an entirely new chapter in the story of life?
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/science/scientists-discover-mysterious-alien-life-forms-in-human-body/articleshow/116468336.cms