TYB
she couldn't resist the moves of his Batusi
Ukrainian drone strikes residential building in Russia
14 Aug, 2025 10:48
A wave of Ukrainian drones struck residential buildings in Russia’s Rostov-on-Don, a bustling city of over 1 million people some 250 kilometers from the conflict frontline, early Thursday. At least 13 people sustained injuries in the attack, local authorities have reported.
Rostov Region Governor Yuri Slyusar stated in a Telegram post on Thursday morning that the drone strikes damaged 10 multi-story buildings and several vehicles. Six people were hospitalized, two children were among the victims, the governor added.
A video of a drone slamming into an apartment complex has been widely circulated online. The plane-type UAV can be seen gliding into the city and subsequently crashing into the top of the building, causing a loud explosion and raising a column of smoke.
Other images from the scene of the attack have shown broken glass and damaged balconies in the apartment complex. Slyusar reported that 212 people have been evacuated from their homes and taken to a temporary accommodation center after the attack.
A municipal commission will begin to assess the damage when experts have finished working at the scene, the governor said.
Ukrainian forces have intensified their long-range drone operations, targeting residential areas and key civilian infrastructure across Russia.
Moscow has responded with high-precision strikes on Ukrainian military-related facilities, maintaining that its operations are never directed at civilians.
The latest Ukrainian attacks come just ahead of Friday’s summit in Alaska between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump where a peace deal for the country is set to be discussed.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622878-rostov-on-don-drone-strike/
Russian border region hit by new wave of Ukrainian drone attacks
14 Aug, 2025 12:28
he southern Russian border region of Belgorod has faced a new wave of Ukrainian drone attacks, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Thursday, adding that several people have been injured.
The city of Belgorod was also targeted by UAVs on Wednesday.
Gladkov stated on his official Telegram channel that Belgorod residents were experiencing “something that they have not yet lived through in modern history,” describing repeated strikes on the regional government building.
He said drones had hit the upper floors, damaging his office and the floors of the regional Duma. According to the governor, only a small number of staff remain in the building while the rest have been evacuated and instructed to work from home.
The governor shared a video of a drone striking a passenger car in the city. Three people were reported to have been injured in the incident.
One man was hospitalized in serious condition with shrapnel wounds, a woman sustained a burn to her forearm, and another man suffered a leg wound and barotrauma.
Other drone attacks caused damage to several residential buildings, a store, and six vehicles.
Another attack took place in the village of Razumnoye in the Belgorod district, Gladkov said, adding that a woman was injured when a Ukrainian UAV struck her home.
On Wednesday, the governor also reported that drones had attacked the city and Belgorod district, injuring eight civilians and five members of the ‘Orlan’ state enterprise.
Belgorod authorities have ordered all state institutions to switch to remote work on Thursday and Friday. Large shopping centers will remain closed until Saturday, and outdoor events have been canceled until Sunday.
Parks, beaches, and other public gathering places will be shut for the next two days. Authorities have urged private businesses to follow the same measures and advised residents to minimize time outdoors.
Russia’s Investigative Committee has launched criminal cases under the articles for terrorism over the attack on Belgorod as well as Thursday’s drone raid on the southern city of Rostov-on-Don.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622880-russia-belgorod-drone-strikes/
Russia derails Ukraine’s Western-backed missile program – FSB
14 Aug, 2025 07:00
Russian forces have struck four Ukrainian defense industrial facilities producing long-range missile systems, causing “colossal” damage and stalling Kiev’s domestic missile program, the Federal Security Service (FSB) has said.
In a statement on Thursday, the FSB said the operation mounted by the agency and the Russian Defense Ministry targeted chemical and mechanical plants in Pavlograd, Dneptropetrovsk Region, as well as the ‘Zvezda’ plant and State Scientific Research Institute of Chemical Products in Shostka, Sumy Region.
The impact of the strikes has been confirmed by satellite imagery and open-source intelligence, it added.
The FSB said that Ukraine, with NATO’s permission, had planned to use Sapsan long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory.
“Thanks to the joint efforts of the FSB and Russian Armed Forces, Ukraine’s missile program plans have been thwarted,” the statement added.
The agency described the damage to Ukraine’s military industrial complex as “colossal,” and said it far surpassed Kiev’s “Spiderweb” operation that targeted strategic Russian aviation in early June.
Moscow said that the Ukrainian attack, which involved dozens of drones, damaged several aircraft but dismissed Kiev’s claims that approximately 40 warplanes were destroyed.
An unnamed FSB official told TASS that the Sapsan missile systems were developed with financial support from Germany and assistance from foreign specialists.
The Sapsan is a Ukrainian tactical ballistic missile with a warhead weighing around 480kg. The missile can travel at speeds over 6,000kph and has a range estimated of up to 700km.
The FSB published a map outlining the Sapsan’s range, with a large part of Western Russia – including Moscow – being within the kill zone.
In May, Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany would fund Ukraine’s domestic production of long-range missiles, although he did not specify the type of weapon.
The German Defense Ministry also stated at the time that investing in Ukraine’s production would enable Kiev to have a “substantial” number of long-range weapons this year.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky has since threatened new long-range strikes deep into Russia, saying Kiev will “do everything possible to bring the war onto Russian territory.”
https://www.rt.com/russia/622868-russia-derails-ukraine-missile-program/
Russia and Ukraine conduct new POW swap
14 Aug, 2025 14:33
Russia and Ukraine exchanged more prisoners of war on Thursday, with 84 captives swapped on each side, the Defense Ministry in Moscow has announced.
The Russian servicemen involved in the swap are receiving psychological and medical assistance in Belarus and will soon be sent home for treatment and rehabilitation, the ministry said.
Ukraine’s Vladimir Zelensky confirmed the exchange, writing on social media that 84 Ukrainian POWs were released.
Russia and Ukraine have carried out a series of swaps since Kiev’s return to direct talks this year.
Following the third round of peace negotiations in Türkiye last month, Moscow’s chief negotiator, Vladimir Medinsky, said Russia had proposed a new swap involving at least 1,200 POWs from each side.
He later accused Kiev of stalling the exchange, saying it refused to take back around 1,000 of its soldiers held by Russia.
Earlier this month, RT launched a website listing about 1,000 Ukrainian citizens abandoned by Zelensky’s administration, despite its claims to seek “all-for-all” prisoner swaps.
The POWs told RT their names had been repeatedly removed from exchange lists, questioning whether they were really needed in Ukraine.
Russia has submitted all 1,000 names for previous POW swaps, but Kiev reportedly rejected them.
In response, the group sent a collective petition to Zelensky demanding inclusion in future exchanges, with all the captives signing their names, call signs, and ranks.
Commenting on the latest swap, Medinsky wrote on Telegram that Ukraine accepted only two captured soldiers from the list, naming both men.
The exchange comes ahead of Friday’s summit in Alaska between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, which will focus on settling the Ukraine conflict.
https://www.rt.com/russia/622882-russia-ukraine-pows-swap/
Violence erupts during nationwide protests in Serbia
14 Aug, 2025 11:31
Violent clashes have broken out across Serbia between anti-government protesters and ruling party supporters, leaving dozens injured.
The Balkan country has been wracked by unrest for months. Activists are demanding early parliamentary elections and accountability for the deadly collapse of a railway station canopy late last year.
The fiercest standoff took place on Wednesday in the city of Novi Sad, where protesters gathered around the office of the ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS).
The party’s supporters and protesters threw flares and other objects at each other, with demonstrators also smashing the building’s windows.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said that 64 people were injured at the premises of SNS in Novi Sad alone.
He claimed that the protesters “approached from the rear with sticks, cannon shots, [and] attacked,” adding that the pro-government activists “will not retreat, they opposed the beaters and blockaders” whom he called “thugs.”
The president added that 16 police officers who intervened were also injured while accusing unnamed foreign powers of orchestrating the unrest.
“Persons who violated the law will be apprehended… Tonight, we have averted a catastrophic scenario planned by someone from abroad,” he said.
The opposition Move-Change movement, however, accused pro-government activists of attacking protesters with pyrotechnic devices.
Similar scenes unfolded in the capital city of Belgrade, where riot police deployed tear gas to disperse protesters near a park by the parliament building.
Demonstrators were blocked from advancing further toward the SNS offices.
Clashes were also reported in Kraljevo, Kragujevac, Nis, and Cacak, with police moving to separate opposing sides in several towns.
The protests were ignited in November after a concrete canopy at the newly renovated railway station in Novi Sad collapsed, killing 16 people, with protesters – which were mainly students – accusing the government of corruption and cover-up.
The demands later extended to educational reforms and holding snap parliamentary elections.
Vucic has on several occasions labeled the protesters “terrorists” who are seeking to “bring down the state,” suggesting they have been acting under foreign influence.
Several Serbian ministers, including Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, resigned in the wake of the unrest. The government has published documents related to the canopy collapse.
https://www.rt.com/news/622879-violence-erupts-serbia-protests/
https://t.me/Serbia/95167
Ukraine and UK Meet Ahead of Alaska Summit to Advance Security, Defense, and Drone Cooperation
Aug 14, 2025 15:48
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London to discuss security guarantees, defense cooperation, and investment in Ukraine’s drone production.
According to Zelenskyy, the talks continued coordination ahead of the upcoming meeting between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump in Alaska, focusing on possible outcomes and strategies within the coalition of partner states.
“A good, productive meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. We continue to coordinate our positions,” Zelenskyy said.
He noted that discussions included potential outcomes of the Alaska meeting and the possibility of achieving lasting peace if the United States succeeds in pressuring Russia to end hostilities and engage in meaningful diplomacy.
The leaders also discussed continuing programs supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces and defense industry. Zelenskyy invited the UK to join the PURL program as an additional channel for arms supply.
They reviewed progress on the long-term bilateral partnership, with Ukraine preparing to ratify the “century-long” agreement in August, after which an expanded Ukraine–UK meeting is expected.
A separate agenda item focused on investment in Ukrainian drone production. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine has the capacity to significantly increase production volumes but requires urgent funding.
He stressed that drones play a decisive role on the front line and that expanding production could have a strategic impact on the course of the war.
Earlier, The Times reported that UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed a shift in Britain’s proposed Ukraine peacekeeping mission—from a planned 30,000-troop deployment to a smaller operation focused on air policing over western Ukraine, Black Sea mine clearance, and training support—following concerns among European partners over escalation risks.
https://united24media.com/latest-news/ukraine-and-uk-meet-ahead-of-alaska-summit-to-advance-security-defense-and-drone-cooperation-10753
https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1955950892470960274
Juneau, Alaska sees record glacier-related flooding, prompting evacuations
August 14, 2025
Evacuations are underway in parts of Alaska’s capital of Juneau after a glacial outburst sent water rushing down the Mendenhall River into areas in the region, which is expected to cause major flooding.
The flooding is being caused by a “glacier-dammed lake outburst” (GLOF) which occurs when a lake dammed by ice or a glacial deposit gives way and releases heavy amounts of water into river systems further downstream.
The city and borough of Juneau announced that it “is aware of the presence of water in certain areas” and that anyone within the flood zone of the Mendenhall River should evacuate the area.
A Facebook post read: “A glacial outburst has occurred at Suicide Basin. The basin is releasing and flooding is expected along the Mendenhall Lake and River.”
Officials have recommended that residents within the 17-foot lake level inundation zone evacuate the area until the water recedes and an “All Clear” message is sent via the wireless emergency alert system.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) also issued a temporary flight restriction (TFR) around the area.
The National Weather Service (NWS) office in Juneau issued a Flood Warning for the Mendenhall River and said that as of early Wednesday morning, the river was over 15 feet and was continuing to rise:
“Our forecast right now, we’re starting to think that we’re going to crest, we were messaging 8 a.m. though 12 p.m., we’re thinking our crest might be closer to 8 in the morning and might be closer to the higher end of the spectrum,” with forecasters estimating that the river was expected to crest between 16.25 feet and 16.75 feet.
Suicide Basin is a side basin of the Mendenhall Glacier above Juneau.
Since 2011, the NWS said Suicide Basin has released glacial lake outburst floods that caused inundation along Mendenhall Lake and River annually with a record flooding event taking place on Aug. 6, 2024, that had caused the river to reach a then-record level of 15.99 feet.
As of 10 a.m. EDT Wednesday, the river had already reached 16.17 feet and was still rising. The flood warning is scheduled to remain in effect until 12 p.m. EDT on Thursday.
https://wabcradio.com/2025/08/14/juneau-alaska-sees-record-glacier-related-flooding-prompting-evacuations/
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/juneau-flooding-latest-new-barriers-prevented-severe-damage-to-city-amid-glacial-outburst/ar-AA1Krlxy
IDF evacuates training base after power outages in scorching heat
August 14, 2025 11:22 am
The IDF evacuated a training base in the southern Negev Desert this morning after the facility suffered power outages amid a record-setting heatwave, the military says.
Soldiers at the Sayarim Base — close to Eilat — which houses the Border Defense Corps school, endured temperatures of 48° C (118° F) without air conditioning for hours yesterday due to the blackouts.
The IDF says it expedited the release of the trainees for their weekend furlough, sending them home this morning instead of tomorrow, as the power issue has not yet been fixed on the entire base.
The army says that to secure the base, it has left behind a company of troops who are stationed in air-conditioned rooms where the electricity was repaired.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-evacuates-training-base-after-power-outages-in-scorching-heat/
IDF downs latest Houthi ballistic missile; no sirens sound
August 14, 2025 7:59 am
A ballistic missile launched by the Houthis in Yemen at Israel early Thursday morning was intercepted by air defenses, the Israel Defense Forces said.
The missile, which was detected shortly after 4 a.m., did not set off any warning sirens in Israel.
The military said no alerts were activated “according to protocol,” as the projectile was downed far from the country’s borders.
There were no reports of injuries or damage.
In a statement, the Houthis claimed to have targeted Ben Gurion Airport.
Thursday’s missile fire was the first such incident since the Houthis attempted a drone attack on Israel on Tuesday.
In a statement Tuesday, the Iran-backed group claimed to have launched six drones at Israel, targeting “vital targets” in Haifa, the Negev Desert, Eilat and Beersheba.
“The operations successfully achieved their objectives, thanks to Allah,” the Houthis claimed.
The IDF reported shooting down one drone off the coast of Eilat, which did not set off sirens in Israel’s southernmost city because it posed no threat.
The other five drones likely fell short before reaching the country’s borders, as many Houthi projectiles have previously.
Last month, Israeli Air Force drones struck Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Hodeida port in response to the Iran-backed group’s continued attacks. It marked the 13th time that Israel had struck in Yemen.
The Houthis — whose slogan calls for “Death to America, Death to Israel, [and] a Curse on the Jews” — began attacking Israel and maritime traffic in November 2023, a month after the October 7 Hamas massacre.
The Houthis held their fire when a ceasefire was reached between Israel and Hamas in January 2025.
By that point, they had fired over 40 ballistic missiles and dozens of attack drones and cruise missiles at Israel, including one that killed a civilian and wounded several others in Tel Aviv in July, prompting Israel’s first strike in Yemen.
Since March 18, when the IDF resumed its offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, the Houthis in Yemen have launched 69 ballistic missiles and at least 22 drones at Israel. Several of the missiles have fallen short.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-downs-latest-houthi-ballistic-missile-no-sirens-sound/
IDF strikes Gaza City, raids Nablus
August 13, 2025
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conducted an airstrike on the home of the Abu Shaaban family in Gaza City, resulting in a number of injuries, Al Jazeera Arabic reported, citing local emergency services.
The IDF conducted a strike targeting the Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City, employing the use of artillery, air bombardment, and heavy gunfire from ground vehicles.
Israeli forces raided the Old City area of central Nablus in the West Bank, according to the Quds News Network.
https://breakingthenews.net/Article/IDF-strikes-Gaza-City-raids-Nablus/64646107
Amazing drone footage shows Nottinghamshire power station's cooling towers demolished in explosions
15:58, 14 AUG 2025
Incredible drone footage shows the moment that eight cooling towers at a decommissioned Nottinghamshire power station came down in a series of dramatic explosions.
Hundreds gathered to watch the spectacle, marking the end of Cottam Power Station, on Thursday (April 14).
The drone footage, shot by Zak Kitchen and shared with Nottinghamshire Live, shows the eight cooling towers falling to earth and initially retaining some of their shape at the top before completely crumpling.
A huge cloud of smoke is thrown up into the air, which lingers long after the explosions finish.
Cottam Power Station was built in the 1960s and decommissioned by EDF Energy in 2019. In the years since the decommissioning, elements of the site, including its colossal chimney stack, have been demolished.
Thursday marked the first Nottinghamshire cooling towers to come down since High Marnham's were demolished in 2012.
Next will be West Burton's towers, with demolition there set to be complete by 2028, followed by Ratcliffe-on-Soar, where the cooling towers are set to be demolished between 2029 and 2030.
Cottam's demolition is set to be completed in early 2026 and the future of the site is slightly uncertain.
A Bassetlaw District Council report from 2020 earmarked the site as a priority area for regeneration, with the authority outlining plans for around 1,500 homes, but there have been no further details on those plans.
Proposals have also been made for a major solar farm to be built on several parcels of land around the power station, with developers claiming it could generate enough electricity to replace 30% of that lost by Cottam's closure.
Below are a selection of pictures showing the towers before, during and after Thursday's historic demolition.
https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/local-news/gallery/amazing-drone-footage-shows-nottinghamshire-10426683
DARPA-Level Breakthrough: Hong Kong–Australian Team Pushes Bio-Inspired Drone Interception Beyond Raytheon and Anduril Benchmarks
August 14, 2025
Agroundbreaking international research collaboration between Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has developed a revolutionary bio-inspired interception system that dramatically improves autonomous defense capabilities against unmanned aerial vehicle threats.
The research, led by Kriuk Boris from HKUST’s Department of Computer and Electronic Engineering and Kriuk Fedor from UTS’s Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology, introduces the “Shepherd Grid Strategy” – a multi-phase coordination framework that achieves near-perfect interception success rates of over 95%, compared to traditional approaches that typically achieve only 65% effectiveness.
Addressing Critical Defense Challenges
Modern unmanned aerial vehicle threats pose unprecedented security challenges across military, civilian, and critical infrastructure domains.
Traditional interception methods—such as single-interceptor models seen in Raytheon’s Coyote or Anduril’s Anvil—rely on centralized command structures and predictable pursuit paths, which can be exploited by sophisticated evasion maneuvers.
“Current defense systems face the dual challenge of maintaining high interception success rates while operating under strict resource constraints and time-critical decision-making requirements,” explained Boris Kriuk.
“Our bio-inspired approach fundamentally changes how autonomous systems coordinate to eliminate these vulnerabilities.”
Revolutionary Bio-Inspired Technology
The Shepherd Grid Strategy draws inspiration from wolf-pack hunting behaviors observed in nature, implementing a four-phase operational model consisting of chase, follow, formation, and engagement phases.
The system employs dynamic role assignment where interceptor units function as specialized “active interceptors” and formation-maintaining “shepherds,” creating a hierarchical structure that maximizes interception probability through coordinated positioning.
“The strategy creates a mobile containment grid that adapts to target movement patterns while maintaining multiple engagement vectors,” noted Fedor Kriuk.
“This eliminates escape opportunities through comprehensive geometric control — even under conditions that cause other systems to fail.”
Exceptional Performance Results
In comparative simulations, Shepherd Grid consistently outperformed conventional pursuit algorithms used across the industry:
Median interception time: 45 seconds, 85 seconds for traditional methods
Performance under jamming: Maintains effectiveness with up to 60% packet loss
Scalability: Sustains ~75% success with 8–12 simultaneous targets, while traditional systems fall below 25% in similar conditions
This level of robustness in contested environments places Shepherd Grid ahead of many current defense solutions, including fixed-installation missile intercept systems such as the Israeli Iron Dome when considering mobility, cost-efficiency, and reusability.
Real-World Applications and Impact
The research addresses critical needs in homeland security, critical infrastructure protection, and military defense systems, offering a reusable and mobile alternative to high-cost missile interceptors.
Its resilience in GPS-denied and spectrum-contested environments positions it as a candidate for next-generation defense deployments where adaptability is essential.
About the Research Institutions
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is a leading international research university renowned for its scientific and technological innovation.
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is recognized for excellence in engineering and information technology research, particularly in autonomous systems and robotics.
University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is a globally respected institution recognized for its innovation in engineering, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Its research in autonomous systems and applied defense technologies has earned it a place among the most forward-leaning universities in the world, with a track record of delivering field-ready solutions for complex security challenges.
Future Development
The research team is exploring applications beyond defense scenarios, including search and rescue operations, environmental monitoring, and autonomous logistics systems.
The fundamental principles of the Shepherd Grid Strategy show potential for broad application in any domain requiring sophisticated multi-agent coordination.
https://ritzherald.com/darpa-level-breakthrough-hong-kong-australian-team-pushes-bio-inspired-drone-interception-beyond-raytheon-and-anduril-benchmarks/
U.S. MQ-9 Drone Just Flew A Mission Deep Into Mexico
Aug 13, 2025 5:59 PM EDT
An MQ-9 Guardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) drone operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) flew deep into Mexico this morning, according to flight tracking data.
What at least appears publicly to be a very rare event comes as the Trump administration has reportedly authorized the military to take action against cartels in Mexico.
The drone, using the call sign TROY701, took off from San Angelo, Texas, at about 4 a.m. Eastern Time and flew more than 800 miles south, including about 600 miles deep into Mexican airspace, according to data provided by FlightRadar24 and shared on X by our friend @thenewarea51.
TROY is a known Department of Homeland Security (DHS) callsign and San Angelo is one of three locations where CBP has MQ-9s.
The military variant of the Guardian is the MQ-9 Reaper, which can employ a variety of weapons in addition to collecting data from a vast array of reconfigurable sensors. CBP’s MQ-9 variants are not armed.
As far as the flight track that is visible to the public, the drone conducted several orbits in an area in the southern state of Mexico, to the west of Mexico City. Sometime after flying over this area, about six hours into the flight, the MQ-9 disappeared off online tracking software.
The drone was operating at the behest of the Mexican government, according to the head of that nation’s Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch.
However, it is unclear at the moment why the MQ-9 had taken this unusual flight path or where it went after going dark. CBP drone operators are fully aware that they can be tracked online with ease when broadcasting with their transponders.
The area they circled over may have been part of an active collection area or it may not have been, with the aircraft moving to more sensitive locales after it stopped transmitting.
We have reached out to CBP and the White House for more details and will update this story with any pertinent information provided.
While we don’t know the flight’s objective, those tracking cartels note that the area where the drone did its orbits is the territory of the notorious La Nueva Familia Michoacana (LNFM) cartel.
The organization was sanctioned by the U.S. under a 2021 Biden executive order for illegally delivering large amounts of Fentanyl and synthetic opioids north of the border, “causing the deaths of tens of thousands of Americans annually.”
In April, two of its leaders were indicted on trafficking charges. Siblings Johnny Hurtado Olascoaga — also known as El Pez, Pescado, and Mojarra — and Jose Alfredo Hurtado Olascoaga — also known as El Fresa, El Feyo, and La Fruta — are both fugitives.
There is a $5 million bounty for the arrest of El Pez and a $3 million bounty for the arrest of his brother.
https://www.twz.com/air/u-s-mq-9-drone-just-flew-a-mission-deep-into-mexico
https://twitter.com/thenewarea51/status/1955622044521185577
https://twitter.com/Borrowed7Time/status/1955628705906376765
https://twitter.com/nmas/status/1955696367898386651
Scientists use Earth's shadow to hunt for alien probes
August 13, 2025
For decades, astronomers have searched for signs of extraterrestrial intelligence using radio telescopes and optical instruments, scanning the skies for artificial signals.
Now, researchers are taking a different approach, this time looking much closer to home for alien artifacts that might already be in our solar system.
A new study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society describes an innovative method for detecting potential extraterrestrial probes near Earth.
Their innovative approach: to use Earth's shadow as a natural filter to eliminate interference from human-made satellites and space debris.
Modern skies are cluttered with thousands of satellites and millions of pieces of reflective debris, making it extremely difficult to spot anything unusual.
This "contamination" poses a major challenge for anyone trying to identify non-human objects in space. Lead researcher Beatriz Villarroel from Stockholm University and her international team needed a way to filter out this noise.
This is why they turned to Earth's shadow. Every night, Earth casts a cone-shaped shadow into space where direct sunlight cannot reflect off satellites or debris.
This creates an ideal "clean" search zone. The shadow's base spans roughly 8–9 degrees for objects at geosynchronous orbit, about 35,700 kilometers above Earth.
Human satellites typically don't carry optical light sources, with rare exceptions like communication lasers or spacecraft thrusters. So any bright flashes or streaks detected within Earth's shadow could potentially indicate something more exotic.
The researchers analyzed images from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF), a telescope in California that systematically surveys the sky for changing objects.
They examined more than 200,000 images, specifically focusing on those captured within Earth's shadow.
Their automated search system, called NEOrion, detected thousands of candidates, including mysterious streaking objects and point source flashes.
Most turned out to be meteors, aircraft, or known asteroids. However, one intriguing case emerged, an uncatalogued object moving much faster than typical asteroids and not found in any existing space object databases.
Sadly however, the team was unable to confirm what it was, so it still remains a mystery.
The study also explores other innovative approaches, including examining pre-1957 astronomical photographs and analyzing the color spectra of suspicious objects to identify materials that have been weathered by long exposure to space.
While this proof-of-concept study didn't definitively identify any alien technology, it demonstrates that systematic searches for extraterrestrial artifacts are now feasible using existing telescopes and new analysis techniques.
The researchers are developing the ExoProbe project, a network of telescopes designed specifically for this type of search, which will use multiple simultaneous observations to determine exact distances to mysterious objects.
https://phys.org/news/2025-08-scientists-earth-shadow-alien-probes.html
https://academic.oup.com/mnras/advance-article/doi/10.1093/mnras/staf1158/8221885