TYB
NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
June 1, 2025
UGC 1810: Wildly Interacting Galaxy from Hubble
What's happening to this spiral galaxy? Although details remain uncertain, it surely has to do with an ongoing battle with its smaller galactic neighbor. The featured galaxy is labelled UGC 1810 by itself, but together with its collisional partner is known as Arp 273. The overall shape of UGC 1810 in particular its blue outer ring is likely a result of wild and violent gravitational interactions. This ring's blue color is caused by massive stars that are blue hot and have formed only in the past few million years. The inner galaxy appears older, redder, and threaded with cool filamentary dust. A few bright stars appear well in the foreground, unrelated to UGC 1810, while several galaxies are visible well in the background. Arp 273 lies about 300 million light years away toward the constellation of Andromeda. Quite likely, UGC 1810 will devour its galactic sidekick over the next billion years and settle into a classic spiral form.
https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Trump pulls NASA nomination of Musk-backed Jared Isaacman in surprise move
June 1, 2025
In a surprising decision, President Donald Trump has withdrawn Jared Isaacman’s nomination to lead NASA, ending the billionaire astronaut’s bid just days before a Senate confirmation vote.
Trump announced the decision on Saturday, stating he would soon name a new nominee who is “mission aligned” and committed to putting “America First in space.”
Isaacman, founder of Shift4 and a close ally of Elon Musk, was widely seen as Musk’s favored pick to lead the space agency. His nomination had stirred debate but seemed on track for approval.
However, without offering specific reasons, the White House suddenly rescinded the nomination, catching many in the space and political communities off guard.
Responding to the news, Isaacman posted a statement on X (formerly Twitter), saying he remained grateful for the support he received.
“There are many competent, dedicated people who love this country and care deeply about NASA’s mission,” he wrote. “I am incredibly grateful to President Trump, the Senate, and everyone who supported me.”
The move comes just days after Elon Musk stepped down from his controversial role as director of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a post he held within Trump’s administration.
Musk’s exit reportedly caused internal tensions, and some analysts see Isaacman’s removal as part of a broader reshuffle within Trump’s circle.
Elon Musk has not publicly commented on the decision, but a person close to him said he was “disappointed” by the outcome.
Musk later posted praise for Isaacman, calling him “competent and good-hearted” and commending his performance during the confirmation hearing.
While Trump has promised to announce a new NASA nominee soon, experts say the surprise decision could delay key space initiatives.
With Isaacman out of the running, it remains to be seen who will take the reins at America’s top space agency.
https://dailytimes.com.pk/1309692/trump-pulls-nasa-nomination-of-musk-backed-jared-isaacman-in-surprise-move/
https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114605559474286180
Jared Isaacman statement after Trump withdraws nomination to lead NASA: ‘I have not flown my last mission’
June 1, 2025 at 5:00 AM EDT
Lehigh Valley tech billionaire Jared Isaacman has issued his first statement after President Donald Trump announced he was withdrawing his nomination to lead NASA.
Trump made the announcement late Saturday night, saying he reached the decision after a “thorough review” of Isaacman’s “prior associations.”
It was unclear what Trump meant and the White House did not immediately respond to an emailed request for an explanation.
Shortly after Trump’s announcement, Isaacman took to X and issued his own statement. In it, he thanked Trump for the opportunity and stayed upbeat.
Isaacman, 42, who lives in Northampton County with his family, has been a close collaborator with Elon Musk ever since buying his first chartered flight on Musk’s SpaceX company in 2021.
He is the CEO and founder of Upper Saucon Township-based Shift4, a credit card processing company. He also bought a series of spaceflights from SpaceX and conducted the first private spacewalk.
“I am incredibly grateful to President Trump @POTUS, the Senate and all those who supported me throughout this journey.
The past six months have been enlightening and, honestly, a bit thrilling. I have gained a much deeper appreciation for the complexities of government and the weight our political leaders carry.
“It may not always be obvious through the discourse and turbulence, but there are many competent, dedicated people who love this country and care deeply about the mission.
That was on full display during my hearing, where leaders on both sides of the aisle made clear they’re willing to fight for the world’s most accomplished space agency.
“The President, NASA and the American people deserve the very best–an Administrator ready to reorganize, rebuild and rally the best and brightest minds to deliver the world-changing headlines NASA was built to create.
“I have not flown my last mission—whatever form that may ultimately take–but I remain incredibly optimistic that humanity’s greatest spacefaring days lie ahead.
I’ll always be grateful for this opportunity and cheering on our President and NASA as they lead us on the greatest adventure in human history.”
https://www.mcall.com/2025/06/01/jared-isaacman-statement-after-trump-withdraws-nomination-nasa/
https://x.com/rookisaacman/status/1928995338729435432
Black Astronaut Made Space History in 1995. Now He's Getting Inducted into Hall of Fame (Exclusive)
May 31, 2025 08:05AM EDT
Dr. Bernard Harris Jr. grew up in Texas as NASA was developing and always had an interest in science — but once he watched man land on the moon, even at 13, he began to have astronaut dreams.
“I knew what I wanted to do,” he tells PEOPLE. “I wanted to follow the footsteps of these great men, human beings, that had done something for the very first time in human history.”
That’s exactly what he did.
Now Harris — who became the first Black person to perform a spacewalk and recently released his second book, Embracing Infinite Possibilities — will be inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame on Saturday, May 31.
Before going to college at the University of Houston, Harris, now 68, tells PEOPLE he realized he wanted to become a doctor so he could practice medicine on Earth — and in space.
Following his residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, Harris pursued a fellowship in endocrinology because he was “advised to find the most critical aspect of humans in space that needed to be solved” — and one of those is bone loss.
(Astronauts lose 1% of bone per month in space, he says.)
By 1990, Harris applied and spent a year of astronaut basic training. About three weeks later, he was assigned to his first mission: the STS-55 on Space Shuttle Columbia in 1993.
During that trip, Harris says he did the first medical examination in space and even the first intravenous line.
“It was only natural for me to say, ‘Okay, if we're going to be in space for long periods of time, how do we ensure that humans can survive up there?’ " he recalls.
For his second mission, STS-63 on Space Shuttle Discovery in 1995, Harris completed his historic spacewalk. That mission was also notable because Eileen Collins made history as the first female space commander.
“To be part of the foundation for what we're doing in space now is really fulfilling,” he says, adding that he loves to see younger astronauts taking over — and having longer stays in space.
Speaking of those longer stays, although the International Space Station wasn't built during his career as an astronaut, some of the devices that crews use today were originally developed in his laboratory.
After his two space missions — which included logging 438 hours and traveling over 7.2 million miles — he ventured into philanthropy with the launch of his nonprofit, which supports youth programs in math and science education and crime prevention.
Then it was time to go after his dream of becoming an entrepreneur — and his work has always been a bit ahead of the curve.
As CEO and managing partner of Vesalius Ventures, Harris focused on telemedicine before many even knew how that would work and was previously hired by Spacehab (now the Astrotech Corporation), one of the first commercial private space companies.
“That was way ahead of SpaceX and Blue Origin, and what we're doing now," he adds.
As for the future of space tourism and where he believes the space program is headed, Harris says he continues to be excited that there are more avenues to get to space.
“There'll be tremendous opportunities on the moon. And I think that when we then take that bigger leap to go to Mars,” he believes.
He ultimately sees the continued progress as a way to unify.
“When I was out on my spacewalk," he says, “looking back at the earth, [I realized] how important this spaceship that we live on planet Earth is to us all.
From that distance, you can't see the divisions that divide us here on earth. And my hope is that space will be an opportunity for us to come together as a people."
https://people.com/black-astronaut-made-space-history-in-1995-now-hes-getting-inducted-into-hall-of-fame-exclusive-11742575
Severe G4 geomagnetic storm sparks northern lights across US and beyond
June 1, 2025
Wow, what a show!
Our planet is currently reverberating from the impact of a powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) that struck Earth head-on in the early hours of June 1 — and the resulting auroras were absolutely stunning.
The CME erupted during an M8.2 class solar flare eruption on May 30 at 8:05 p.m. EDT (00:05 GMT on May 31) and has been racing toward Earth at nearly 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph.
When it slammed into Earth's magnetic field, the impact triggered a severe (G4) geomagnetic storm, which in turn led to striking auroras deep into mid-latitudes.
CMEs carry electrically charged atoms, known as ions. When these ions collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms — major disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere.
During such storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light.
This light 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 using a G-scale that measures their intensity, ranging from G1 for minor storms to G5, the most extreme.
The severe geomagnetic storm conditions reached last night were relished by aurora chasers in both the Northern and Southern hemispheres (those who were still awake anyway).
It's likely that the active geomagnetic storm conditions will continue for some time, which is good news for those in Europe, where the sun was already up when this G4 storm began.
"G4 storm conditions reached! We are still in the early part of the CME and the ongoing geomagnetic storm, more to come. 12 hours to go for Europe," aurora chaser Jure Atanackov wrote in a post on X.
While we wait to see what's in store for tonight, let's first sit back, relax and enjoy the stunning show from last night captured by avid aurora chasers around the world.
cont.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/severe-g4-geomagnetic-storm-sparks-northern-lights-across-us-and-beyond-photos
Aurora alert: Ongoing powerful geomagnetic storm could spark more northern lights across the US tonight
June 1, 2025
Good news, aurora chasers — round two could be on the way tonight!
If you missed last night's severe G4 geomagnetic storm last night or just can’t get enough of the northern lights, stay alert: geomagnetic storm conditions are expected to continue, so keep your eyes on the skies and your aurora alerts switched on.
Active geomagnetic storm conditions may persist into early June 2, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center, as Earth's magnetic field reverberates from the coronal mass ejection (CME) impact in the early hours of June 1.
It is also being buffeted by high-speed solar wind from coronal holes and another CME could strike late on June 2.
The speedy solar storm that struck Earth on June 1 was travelling around 1,938 km/s or 4.3 million mph.
It's complex and made up of material from multiple CMEs, so we could continue to feel the effects of this impact for another 24 hours.
"We just entered what looks to be the "core" of the first structure," space weather physicist Tamitha Skov told Space.com.
"Considering this storm is comprised of material from multiple CMEs all compressed into one composite structure, there is a chance we will see more than one "core" signature.
So, there is a chance this could still give us a waning show 24 hours from now." And that's not all! We have another, albeit smaller, CME heading toward Earth, which could stir up geomagnetic activity again around June 2 or June 3.
"This storm is expected to arrive late on June 2, so we could see storming through June 3 UTC time," Skov told Space.com.
"That being said, expect the aurora chances to be weaker than they are now. Likely, we will only be at a G1-G2 level storm by midday June 3."
If G2 levels are reached, we could see auroras stretch as far south as New York and Idaho (typically 55° geomagnetic lat.)
How do CMEs cause geomagnetic storms and auroras?
CMEs carry electrically charged atoms, known as ions. When these ions collide with Earth's magnetosphere, they can trigger geomagnetic storms — major disturbances in Earth's magnetosphere.
During such storms, the ions interact with gases in Earth's atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light.
This light 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 using a G-scale that measures their intensity, ranging from G1 for minor storms to G5, the most extreme.
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/aurora-alert-ongoing-powerful-geomagnetic-storm-could-spark-more-northern-lights-across-the-us-tonight
https://www.space.com/stargazing/auroras/northern-lights-may-be-visible-in-these-23-us-states-tonight-june-1
https://www.swpc.noaa.gov/news/g4-severe-conditions-observed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVheScvyHZM (Level 4 Solar Storm, Level 2 Proton Storm | S0 News Jun.1.2025)
Musk explains his black eye
31 May, 2025 15:41
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk raised a lot of eyebrows when he appeared at a press conference with US President Donald Trump at the Oval Office on Friday with what appeared to be a black eye.
The event was dedicated to the tech billionaire’s departure from his leadership role in the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a task force aimed at cutting wasteful US federal spending.
When asked about what had happened to his eye by journalists, Musk replied that he had been “horsing around” with his son, “Lil X.”
“I said go ahead and punch me in the face and he did,” the entrepreneur recalled. “I did not really feel much at the time, and then I guess it bruises up.”
Trump said that he did not notice Musk’s black eye until it was mentioned by the journalists. “X could do it. If you knew X, he could do it,” the president added.
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO also joked that he “was not anywhere near France” when his injury happened, in a nod to an incident earlier this week in which France’s First Lady, Brigitte Macron, slapped President Emmanuel Macron in the face in front of cameras as the pair was about to exit a plane during a visit to Vietnam.
On Thursday, the New York Times published a report, citing unnamed sources, who claimed that Musk has been consuming an alarming amount of drugs, including taking ketamine “often, sometimes daily” and mixing it with other drugs, as well as using ecstasy and psychedelic mushrooms.
When asked about the article, the tech billionaire dismissed the NYT, pointing out that it is “the same publication that got a Pulitzer Prize for false reporting on Russiagate.”
Trump thanked Musk for his work in charge of DOGE, while the Tesla and SpaceX CEO assured that his departure is “not the end” of the agency.
“I will continue to be visiting here and be a friend and adviser to the president,” Musk said.
https://www.rt.com/news/618401-musk-black-eye-trump/
Collapses of two bridges in Russia were sabotage – investigators
1 Jun, 2025 09:12
The collapses of two bridges that caused train derailments in Russia’s Bryansk and Kursk Regions were due to sabotage, the national Investigative Committee has said.
On Saturday evening, a bridge fell in front of a moving train in Bryansk Region, killing seven people and injuring 71 others.
Several hours later, early on Sunday, a railway bridge collapsed under a moving freight train in Kursk Region, leaving the driver and two of his assistants wounded.
The Investigative Committee said in a statement on Sunday that the bridges had been “blown up” in both incidents.
Criminal cases have been launched over the bridge collapses and will be investigated by experts from the agency’s Main Investigations Directorate, it said.
Representatives of the Investigative Committee are currently working at the sites of the two derailments in order to establish all of the circumstances, the agency added.
Earlier in the day, the acting governor of Kursk, Aleksandr Khinshteyn, said that a railway bridge in the region had gone down as a freight train was crossing it.
Some of the train cars fell onto a highway passing under the bridge, while most of the train remained on the tracks, he said.
The locomotive also caught fire, but the blaze was swiftly extinguished, the acting governor added.
According to Khinshteyn, one of the train drivers suffered leg injuries, and he and other crew members were hospitalized.
Speaking about the derailment in Bryansk Region, Russian Senator Andrey Klishas blamed Kiev and branded Ukraine “a terrorist enclave, without borders, legitimate authorities or laws.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/618435-two-regions-bridges-blown/
>Spaceboy got a golden key
>Trump talking about the golden dome
and then Isaacman's nomination for nasa was pulled
Ukrainian drones hit over 40 Russian strategic bombers in stun attack far beyond frontlines
01.06.2025 14:22
Russian strategic bombers are in flames in Russia’s rear as a result of a special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine.
That’s according to Ukrinform’s sources in the agency.
Right now, the Security Service of Ukraine is conducting a large-scale special operation to destroy enemy bombers in Russia’s rear.
SBU drones are engaging warplanes that bomb Ukrainian cities every night. Currently, more than 40 aircraft are known to have been hit, including models such as an A-50, a Tu-95 and a Tu-22 M3.
The Belaya airfield is under attack, according to the source.
The one-of-a-kind special operation has been codenamed "Spider Web".
As per tentative estimates, the enemy has already suffered at least $2 billion worth of damaged equipment.
As Ukrinform reported, on the night of May 28, long-range SBU drones hit Russia’s Raduga strategic defense enterprise located in the city of Dubna, 130 km north of Moscow.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-ato/3999411-ukrainian-drones-hit-over-40-russian-strategic-bombers-in-stun-attack-far-beyond-frontlines.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgzbYZe0NC0
Russia launches record 500 drones in overnight attack on Ukraine
Sun, June 01, 2025 - 15:40
Russia has set a new record for the number of drones launched against Ukraine.
On the night of June 1, the occupiers launched 472 unmanned aerial vehicles, according to the Ukrainian Air Force on Telegram.
During the night, the enemy attacked Ukraine with:
472 strike UAVs of the Shahed type and other types of decoy drones launched from directions including Millerovo, Shatalovo, Kursk, Orel, Bryansk, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk;
three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Kursk and Voronezh regions;
four cruise missiles of air and ground launch types: Kh-101 and Iskander-K.
The main directions of the air assault targeted the Kharkiv, Sumy, Zhytomyr, Odesa, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk regions and Zaporizhzhia.
The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units and unmanned systems, as well as mobile fire groups of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
Air defense forces neutralized 385 aerial threats. Specifically: 210 enemy Shahed-type drones (and other UAVs), three Kh-101/Iskander-K cruise missiles over the east, south, north, west, and central parts of the country.
Of these, 213 were shot down by firepower, and 172 were suppressed or lost through electronic warfare.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, strikes were recorded in 18 locations.
As a reminder, the previous record for the number of drones was set on May 26, when Russia launched 355 UAVs of various types against Ukraine.
Massive attack on Ukraine
On the night of June 1, Russia launched another large-scale combined strike on Ukraine using drones, ballistic, and cruise missiles. In the northern, eastern, and some central regions, air raid alerts lasted over 10–13 hours.
Kyiv and the region, Zaporizhzhia, as well as the Odesa, Zhytomyr, and Kharkiv regions came under attack. The strikes resulted in destruction and civilian casualties.
More details about the consequences of Russia’s massive attack can be found in the report by RBC-Ukraine.
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/russia-launches-record-500-drones-in-overnight-1748780656.html
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/massive-russian-attack-targets-kyiv-zaporizhzhia-1748768170.html
‘They Blew Up Half of Saransk’: Ukrainian Drone Strike Cuts Internet, Sparks Chaos – Intercepted Call Reveals
June 1, 2025, 12:22 pm
A Russian woman confirms the success of a Ukrainian drone strike on a defense factory in Saransk, almost 600 kilometers from the border, in a call intercepted by Ukraine’s Military Intelligence (HUR) on Saturday, May 31.
“They hit the factory. They f**cking blew up half of Saransk,” she says in a panicked voice.
On the morning of Wednesday, May 7, Ukrainian authorities reported that the strike targeted a plant in Saransk, Republic of Mordovia — over 550 kilometers from Ukraine — which produces fiber-optic systems.
The plant is a key part of Russia’s defense industry, manufacturing cables and communication equipment for the Russian army, including drones that rely on fiber-optic links.
The woman describes that following the attack, internet service in Saransk and across Mordovia was cut off repeatedly, leaving residents without information.
“The Ministry of Emergency Situations sent a message about the drone attack,” she says. “But the internet is down again – it’s not working today. No one knows what’s going on.”
She recalls how her relative, Azamat, went to Saransk and how the strikes have become “massive” and “frequent.”
“The internet was turned off. We have no news. F*ck knows what’s happening,” she adds.
Earlier last year, Kyiv Post interviewed Maria* who works as one of Ukrainian intelligence’s professional eavesdroppers and spoke about the shocking things she hears.
Russia regularly dismisses the content of intercepted calls published by Ukraine, saying they are fake, a claim Kyiv Post put to Maria*.
She said: “They are all are real even though they might seem insane. Sometimes I can’t believe the words I’m hearing myself, but we have what we have.”
Kyiv Post regularly reposts some of the most revealing and shocking intercepted conversations. Check out more intercepted conversations:
cont.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/53744
Canada looking into Ukrainian drones to protect Arctic - ambassador
01.06.2025 12:53
Amid growing geopolitical tensions around the Arctic, Canada is studying Ukrainian technologies that could be useful for ensuring the security in the region.
This was stated by the Ambassador of Canada to Ukraine, Natalka Cmoc, who spoke in an interview with Ukrinform.
“Some of the technologies that Ukraine is developing, I think, will be very useful in terms of the Canadian Arctic and protecting the Canadian Arctic or everyone's Arctic,” the ambassador said.
In her opinion, this includes underwater and surface drones.
The ambassador emphasized that the Arctic is a priority for Canada from a security perspective.
The Nordic nations are actively cooperating to maintain such security, Cmoc said, recalling the work of the Arctic Council.
"And also we understand from an environmental perspective that it needs to be protected.
An unhealthy Arctic will impact global environment as well," the ambassador noted.
As Ukrinform reported, Canada seeks to officially join the European Union's ReArm Europe program this summer.
According to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, currently 75% of Canada's capital expenditures on defense goes toward the United States.
In his opinion, this is not wise as it is better to spend more at home and develop diversified partnerships.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-defense/3999371-canada-looking-into-ukrainian-drones-to-protect-arctic-ambassador.html
Dragon-like drone slinks its way through the air
May 31, 2025
In Japanese mythology, dragons aren't the fire-breathing, treasure-hoarding monsters you'll find in Tolkien, Martin, et al.
Instead, they're wise, serpentine creatures who control rain, fly through the clouds, and protect sacred areas.
Engineers at the University of Tokyo JSK Robotics Laboratory had been working on a drone that represents the latter called the "Dual-Rotor embedded multilink robot with the Ability of multi-deGree-of-freedom aerial transformatiON" – a mouthful, so just DRAGON for short.
It was the first of its kind shown to the world in 2018. It had a modular body, with each "link" having two ducted fans on gimbals for flight and 2 degrees of freedom (DoF) for articulation per link.
It could curl, wind, slither, and unfurl again – all while in stable flight, squeezing through tight gaps in the air like a flying serpent.
By August 2022, DRAGON was faster and more stable. It was also capable of not only carrying payloads but also manipulating objects. Pinching, pushing, pulling, and even rotating (to open and close valves) purely with vectored thrust.
Typical flying drones like quadcopters may be able to carry loads from above decently well, but DRAGON can approach objects from nearly any angle: above, below, or next to in order to interact with them.
Think: disaster relief with a collapsed building with very small passageways where DRAGON could snake its way through narrow openings to find the emergency off valve for a gas line.
It weighs a hefty 16.7 lb (7.6 kg) but can haul nearly half its weight at 7.5 lb (3.4 kg) – for about three minutes on a full charge.
Still, the innovative DRAGON remained very much a research prototype without really ever getting its wings.
Assistant Professor Moju Zhao says the next step to conserve battery and extend the mission would be to give it the ability to walk. A three-minute flight time is hardly enough time to do anything useful.
This was DRAGON from 2018 through 2022. When trying to track down any recent updates (newer than August 30, 2022) to the DRAGON drone, New Atlas found that DRAGON did indeed evolve – sort of.
It can now "walk" about 8 inches (.2 meters) per step. But it's not exactly a DRAGON any longer.
It's the University's latest hybrid drone project called "Sensing, Processing, and Intelligent Dynamics for Aerial-ground Robot," or SPIDAR for short. I guess it sort of looks the part.
Zhao's SPIDAR is an entirely new design that no longer has the slithery DRAGON form. Instead, it's a multi-link, four-legged flying machine that can walk OR fly using thrust vectoring.
It's still capable of carrying significant payloads above or below it, but no longer does it have that slinky-like maneuverability to articulate its way through aerial gaps.
The purpose of SPIDAR is to achieve multimodal locomotion, particularly for difficult terrain with limited accessibility; the usual disaster relief type scenario.
The latest update the University has on SPIDAR was less than two weeks ago, demonstrating the robot's yoga ball prowess, so we know it's not a seemingly abandoned project like DRAGON.
Maybe as battery tech evolves, the DRAGON drone will return as the envy of all drones, snaking its way through the skies, turning on and off industrial water valves everywhere.
Even if DRAGON ended up being completely useless, it still looks cool.
https://newatlas.com/drones/dragon-drone-spidar-university-of-tokyo/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uje6iUBbkwM
Armed police swarm residential street in Stockton as drone spotted overhead
Updated22:01, 31 MAY 2025
Armed police appear to have surrounded a property in Stockton, UK.
Cleveland Police officers are in attendance at an incident near Parliament Walk, Stockton, on Saturday evening.
Photographs from the scene show six armed officers as they appear to surround a building in the street.
Witnesses say a drone has also been in use above the area on Saturday, May 31. Four police cars have been spotted parked up on the residential street, which is off Parliament Road.
Armed police activity appears to be centred around a block of flats off a grassed area. Teesside Live has contacted Cleveland Police for details on the ongoing incident.
https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/news/teesside-news/armed-police-parliament-walk-stockton-31763270
Rendelsham UFO film set for Raindance Festival
June 1, 2025
A documentary charting one of the most famous purported UFO sightings in history is to be shown at a film festival.
"The Rendlesham UFO – The British Roswell" investigated reports made by US airmen who claimed to have witnessed a UFO in Rendlesham Forest, Suffolk, in December 1980.
Mark Lee, co-director of the documentary, said the aim was "to create a conversation, as I am getting hundreds of people a week sending sightings and videos".
It will premiere at the Raindance Film Festival in London on 24 and 25 June.
On 26 December 1980, several United States Air Force (USAF) security personnel stationed at RAF Woodbridge, reported that they investigated "lights" in the surrounding forest.
The sighting became headline news in the UK and sparked a host of books, dramas, documentaries and websites, suggesting it was either an actual alien visit, a secret military aircraft, a misinterpretation of natural lights or the beam of Orfordness Lighthouse - or a hoax.
According to the creators of the documentary, it will feature exclusive interviews and never-before-seen footage of recent sightings in the forest.
The Rendlesham Forest story has been dubbed the "British Roswell" after the 1947 Roswell Incident in New Mexico, USA.
The documentary follows Mr Lee and co-investigator Guy Thompson searching for the truth armed with metal detectors and dowsing rods.
The film has been described as a "sensational UFO road trip movie".
'Open mind'
Mr Lee, who has a science degree, said: "There is something unexplained there and there are so many credible witnesses to the event."
The 54-year-old from St Albans co-directed the film with Roderick Godman.
"I am more of the ideas and production - and Roderick made the film," he said.
"There had been sightings of UFOs leading up to the 1980 sighting, and going back in through the decades."
He added that he had an "open mind" about what the sightings were.
Narrating the documentary is William B. Davis, best known for starring in The X-Files.
Mr Lee said he was really excited to work with Davis, who recorded the voiceover in Vancouver, Canada.
He added that he only got into the film making industry five years ago, and it "was a dream come true" as he was nominated for best director.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx2e3p99nxxo
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt35380387/
Defence says it's had no UFO briefings from the US. These newly revealed emails show otherwise
May 31 2025 - 4:07pm
Australia has been receiving high-level briefings from the United States' UFO task force for years, despite the repeated denials of the top military brass, leaked emails reveal.
F of information documents from December 2021 show US officials discussing a briefing regarding Unidentified Aerial Phenomenon (UAPs) - the modern term for UFOs - with its Five Eyes allies.
The email chain included officials from the United States UAP Task Force (UAPTF) and an Australian defence representative, using a US Department of Defence email address.
"Re tomorrow's UAP briefing, I received confirmation from Australia and Canada they will be here…and of course UK," a UAPTF official wrote.
However, a scheduling conflict led to the meeting being rescheduled for early January, 2022, much to the annoyance of the Office Under the Secretary of Defense for Intelligence & Security (OUSD).
"I recall you and your team said last week that you wanted to come in today to brief the other partners. Because of this I urged the partners to build time into their schedules and come in for the brief," the OUSD official wrote.
"The last thing we want to do is be dismissive of our allies and their time," a UAPTF official replied.
"We definitely would like to continue this conversation with the partners, and now have an obligation to do so for multiple reasons."
The former Chief of Air Force - and now Vice Chief of Defence - Air Marshal Robert Chipman twice told senators during an estimates hearing that Australia had not been briefed on UAPs after the email exchange and rescheduled Five Eyes briefing.
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8980722/australia-receiving-ufo-briefings-for-years-despite-denials/
https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/8973196/new-emails-expose-australias-hidden-us-briefings-on-uaps/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1l071bl/leaked_emails_australia_receiving_ufo_briefings/
https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-07/Defence-FOI-957-2324-Documents-for-release.pdf
https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/what-the-u-s-military-now-says-about-ttsas-anomalous-artifact/
https://www.theblackvault.com/documentarchive/u-s-army-releases-crada-with-to-the-stars-academy-of-arts-science/
https://docs.google.com/viewerng/viewer?url=https://documents2.theblackvault.com/documents/army/19-15.pdf&hl=en
What the U.S. Military Now Says About TTSA’s Anomalous Artifact
May 29, 2025
The U.S. Army has officially closed out its Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science (TTSA), ending a five-year government-backed investigation into alleged anomalous materials that once captured headlines for their rumored connection to unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).
The final close-out report, obtained via the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and now published by The Black Vault (available below), provides an inside look into the results from the U.S. Army’s point of view.
The CRADA, designated Agreement #19-15 and titled “Novel & Emerging Technology Exploitation (NETE),” was initiated in 2019 between TTSA and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command (DEVCOM) Ground Vehicle Systems Center (GVSC). The project focused on analyzing a metallic sample referred to in the documents as “Artifact A1” which was provided by TTSA. The company claimed the material held promise for defense applications, including the potential to act as an electromagnetic (EM) waveguide based on theoretical designs published by Podolskiy et al. in Journal of Modern Optics.
It should be noted that the only sample provided by TTSA for testing under the CRADA was the Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth Artifact designated as “A1.”
No additional samples such as an A2, A3, etc. were submitted for analysis during the five-year partnership, despite TTSA’s previous public assertions that it had acquired multiple alleged artifacts from various witnesses and caretakers/investigators of exotic materials. Despite the organization’s broad claims about possessing a collection of anomalous items, the Army’s documentation confirms that only a single artifact was ever made available for government evaluation.
The Army, in partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), conducted structural, compositional, and isotopic testing over a five-year span.
Despite TTSA’s initial claims, the final verdict was clear: “The USG found that the physical and elemental properties of the A1 are incompatible in its current state to serve as an EM wave guide,” the report states.
While the sample contained the right constituent materials, it lacked the necessary structure to function as theorized.
The artifact was ultimately assessed as “likely a test object, a manufacturing product or byproduct, or a material component of aerospace performance studies to evaluate the properties of Mg alloys.”
Significantly, the Army’s close-out report contains no mention of UAPs, UFOs, or extraterrestrial origins — all terms that fueled widespread speculation when TTSA first announced the agreement.
Instead, the report limits its scope to potential applications for “ground vehicle survivability and protection.”
The Army categorized the effort as scientifically worthwhile, stating the research “advanced the knowledge and science regarding novel materials of national security interest.”
It also credited the effort for developing relationships between defense agencies, private industry, and legislative stakeholders.
However, the Army concluded there was “no military or ground vehicle application” for the sample, and “no joint intellectual property” was generated.
AARO and Oak Ridge Publish Supporting Scientific Findings
The Army’s close-out report refers readers to the AARO website for additional documentation of the analysis.
One key document now publicly accessible is titled “Synopsis of Analysis of a Metallic Specimen Conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)” and was authored by AARO.
According to the AARO synopsis, ORNL received the sample in June 2021 and subjected it to a comprehensive suite of analytical methods, including light and scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, and other techniques.
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The findings align with those summarized in the Army’s close-out report. ORNL concluded that the sample was composed of magnesium, zinc, and bismuth in a layered structure.
However, the scientific review emphasized that while such materials have been of theoretical interest in metamaterials research, the sample lacked uniformity and precision manufacturing that would be required for it to function as a practical waveguide or exhibit anomalous behavior.
“The sample likely was made using commercial techniques,” the ORNL report states, noting “the interfaces between the layers were inconsistent and likely formed through basic casting or rolling methods.”
Furthermore, the report states there was no indication that the object had properties beyond what is commonly achievable through known industrial processes.
The ORNL analysis echoes the Army’s position that the material was “not of unknown origin” and did not exhibit exotic capabilities.
It categorizes the object as consistent with test materials used in conventional aerospace or academic research contexts.
Transparency Gap Between Army and TTSA
While the Army and AARO have now made available both the contractual documentation and supporting scientific findings, TTSA, which is now known as “To The Stars” (TTS), has offered only limited public response.
In two brief press releases, TTS acknowledged the ORNL and AARO findings and defended its role in facilitating the analysis.
However, beyond those posts, the organization has remained largely silent on the broader results of the CRADA and has not released any technical data or in-depth assessment of Artifact A1 from its own perspective.
Once promoted as a scientific and transparency-driven enterprise, TTSA has since shifted its public focus toward entertainment and media ventures, offering little to no substantive updates on the other alleged materials it once claimed to possess.
Despite having acquired artifacts from various witnesses and custodians, the organization has not disclosed whether any further testing has occurred or if additional samples were ever evaluated independently.
Ironically, the very government entities TTSA once challenged for secrecy, namely the U.S. Army and AARO, have proven more transparent in this case.
From the release of the full CRADA agreement to the final close-out report and supporting laboratory findings, the government has now provided the most comprehensive public record of the project.
Even so, the Army expressed appreciation for the collaboration, calling TTS “an excellent partner” and endorsing the potential for future work with AARO given their “mutual interests, aims and ends.”
But the final conclusion is clear. The lone material analyzed under the TTSA CRADA did not exhibit any exotic functionality, yielded no new military applications, and was assessed as a conventional industrial or aerospace sample… not evidence of a recovered anomalous vehicle.
###
Correction 5/29/25 – 4:15PM Pacific: This article was updated to reflect that To The Stars (TTS) did publish limited commentary on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and AARO findings in early 2025.
While the original text stated the organization had remained silent, TTS did acknowledge the results in two brief press releases.
However, the organization has not released technical data or substantive updates regarding any additional materials it once claimed to possess. The Black Vault regrets the mischaracterization.
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https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14707225/sedona-arizona-town-residents-roswell-ufo-sightings.html
Funky little Arizona town is hailed the 'new Roswell' after strange UFO sightings
Updated: 16:42 EDT, 31 May 2025
An Arizona town with fewer than 10,000 residents is being dubbed the new Roswell after becoming one of the top spots in the US for UFO sightings.
The desert town of Sedona, which is located approximately 180 miles outside of Phoenix, sits in both Coconino and Yavapai Counties, which had a combined 484 UFO sightings between 2000 and 2023, according to an Axios report.
These numbers put the area well above the national average of 34 people per 100,000.
Psychic and UFO tour guide John Polk, 56, told DailyMail.com that he sees extraterrestrial activity nightly from his home in Sedona, where he's lived for the last eight years.
The native Floridian told DailyMail.com: 'There's tons of activity. It's easy to see it.'
He believes Sedona is such a high-traffic area for UFOs due to the vortexes the city is known for.
Sedona is also a very spiritual place and is known as the 'door to the world' due to vortexes that are believed to open portals to other dimensions and provide healing energy.
Polk said Sedona has quartz along the ley lines - invisible gridlines that often fall into triangles that are believed to carry powerful energy - that help build electromagnetic energy that creates electricity, and ultimately, a pathway for ETs.
'I believe that's what's happening in Sedona,' Polk told DailyMail.com. 'They're traveling over the gridlines.
'The better the energy, the more you'll see.'
The Daytona Beach native also noticed a lot of UFOs seem to appear and then suddenly disappear in thin air and he believes that's due to the mythical ley lines and that aliens are using them to slip between dimensions.
He explained it like turning stations on a radio, which is done by change frequency and vibrations. 'I think that's what they can do,' he said. 'Everything is about vibrations and frequency.'
Polk regularly leads tour groups of 20 to 50 people and prepares for a tour by meditating to bring the best results. He says that UFOs 'seem to follow' him.
'You'd see stuff whether I was here or not. But when I am there, you see a lot more because I know how to work the energy out there,' he said.
For Polk, who moved to the city to live with his aunt who had breast cancer, he's always believed in UFOs and had his first encounter when he was around 15 or 16.
While in his bed in Florida, he saw something that looked like the moon but was moving over the ocean.
After blacking out, he claims he awoke to find three four-foot creatures standing on his balcony peering into the glass.
They eventually came into his room before he blacked out again.
'I totally believed in them my whole life,' Polk said.
His mother, who is also a psychic, believed in aliens too and he says she worked adjacently to the FBI for many years.
She was privy to confidential information and a lot of what she told him growing up then came true, he claimed.
His father, a university president, was always a skeptic, but that hasn't stopped Polk from inviting ETs in with 'love, light and consciousness'.
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Sedona has been likened to Roswell, New Mexico, which has the most famous potential alien spotting area in the US.
An extraterrestrial spacecraft allegedly crashed there in July 1947 and many conspiracy theorists believe aliens were captured by the government and the military attempted to cover up the incident.
The area is a hotspot for UFO sightings, with 92 residents per 100,000 spotting one between 2000 and 2023, according to Axios.
There have also been claims that Sedona has an 'alien base' hidden just outside the town in a desolate area, The Daily Express reported.
'There's a base there where the crafts are, there's a number of them high in the mountains in remote areas of the planet and they're here now and they're extraordinarily distressed about the state of affairs [of humanity],' lawyer Danny Sheehan, who has worked on UFO whistleblowers cases, told The Express.
He claimed 'huge, seven feet tall, extraordinarily skinny, thin, kind of bowed over and reminding people of a praying mantis' people live inside the base.
The paranormal was not associated with Sedona until the 1970s when psychic Paige Bryant visited the town and declared certain places were vortexes.
'She was not drawing from anything other than what she said she intuited from the land and she described these as places that had a spiritual or mystical type of energy emanating from specific spots in around Sedona,' McGivney told radio show KJZZ.
'And, you know, coincidentally, she was not like a wilderness backpacker. So all the vortexes are conveniently almost…within one mile from the road.'
She was not the first person to feel the special power of Sedona, but she was the first to name the experience.
Before her the psychic researcher Dick Sutphen brought groups of people to the town for spiritual retreats to help them experience the psychic energy emitting from the place.
Dennis Andres and his mother visited the city when he was moving to studying at the Thunderbird School of Global Management, he told Arizona State University.
When they came across a rock formation in Bell Rock, he found himself getting out of the car to climb and as he went higher, he felt better.
'We asked people if something was happening in Sedona. And they would always respond it is the vortex,' he told the university.
'Sedona is a place of spiritual energy. We cannot measure it with mechanical devices; we can only measure it with the human body.
I can explain why some people feel this energy and others do not. You do not have to believe in it, and you do not have to reject it either.'
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Space Academy - Sector Earth
CLASS 006 - Are We Alone in the Universe? Are Governments Hiding the Truth?
May 15, 2025
Are we alone in the universe? Are ETs real? 👽 The truth about extraterrestrial life, UFOs & government secrets revealed, according to what we know in Space Academy.
In this thought-provoking video, we dive into one of humanity’s biggest mysteries: Are extraterrestrials real? Are world governments hiding the truth about so-called aliens?
Have we been misled about what’s really out there? This video is just the beginning to unravel the truth and break you out of the terrestrial Matrix.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMe-rgqFkLg
CLASS 007 - Extraterrestrial People That Look Just Like Us | ET Disclosure 2025
May 31, 2025
Are We Alone in the Universe? Discover the Truth About Extraterrestrial Life and Humanoid ET Races 👽✨ Are extraterrestrials real?
In the previous episode, we established that intelligent ET life exists, and we left off at one of the most fascinating and important revelations: extraterrestrial humanoid people.
Yes, biological, human-like extraterrestrials, people who look and act surprisingly like us! You will be surprised to find out that they are among the most widespread civilizations in the galaxy.
It’s time for humanity to awaken to the truth: we are not alone. There are countless advanced stellar civilizations out there, and a lot of them just like us.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA93BKNwH6I
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCrsNlNmiPF76jwFZov6Ofu7ibUJPQV27
ECETIs BEST FOOTAGE OF 2025
May 31, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFBmcToY4sU
https://www.eceti.org/
JFK & UFOs: Who Actually Killed Our President? (Ft. Danny Sheehan & Jeremy Rys)
May 31, 2025
The conversation delves into the complexities surrounding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, exploring the recent release of declassified files, the involvement of the CIA, and the covert operations that led to the assassination.
We discuss the confusion generated by the released documents, the historical context of the assassination, and the political machinations involving Nixon, the Mafia, and the Bay of Pigs invasion.
We also touch on Kennedy's evolving policies, particularly regarding Cuba and nuclear disarmament, and the influence of figures like Mary Meyer on his transformation.
This conversation delves into the intricate web of political maneuvering surrounding JFK's presidency, focusing on his vision for a joint US-Soviet space program, the challenges of nuclear disarmament, and the conspiracy theories surrounding his assassination.
The discussion highlights the roles of key figures like Dulles and Oswald, the implications of the S-Force, and the potential connections to covert UFO programs, revealing a complex narrative of power, secrecy, and geopolitical strategy.
Themes include the impact of fossil fuels on national security, the hidden treasures of the Philippines, and the intersection of UFOs with government operations.
It explores the potential of telepathic communication with extraterrestrial beings and the Church of Scientology's involvement in UFO-related activities.
| Danny Sheehan |
YouTube ➤ / @newparadigminstitute
Website ➤ https://newparadigminstitute.org/
| Jeremy Rys |
YouTube ➤ / @alienscientist
Website ➤ https://alienscientist.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4rSj5Aum7w