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Woody, Jessie, and Buzz Lightyear Visit NASA Headquarters Ahead of 'Toy Story 5'
June 14, 2026
As anticipation builds for Toy Story 5 opening in theaters on Friday, Pixar’s iconic Toy Story trio paid a visit to NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., in a promotional appearance ahead of the upcoming release.
In a joint Instagram post from Pixar and Toy Story, the core trio of Toy Story heroes – Woody, Buzz, and Jessie – posed outside NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C., in what appears to be a promotional visit ahead of Toy Story 5.
The post description reads:
Some journeys begin with a rocket launch. Others begin with a story.
Buzz Lightyear, Woody, and Jessie stopped by @nasa — a fitting home for characters who have inspired generations to dream bigger.
Catch all the toys in Toy Story 5, in theaters June 19!
The NASA visit may have coincided with an advanced screening of the film in D.C. ahead of its June 19 release.
Apart from his space-faring backstory, Buzz Lightyear also has real history with NASA.
A Buzz Lightyear toy flew to the International Space Station in 2008 through a NASA and Disney-Pixar educational initiative, traveling aboard Space Shuttle Discovery and spending 15 months aboard the ISS.
That space-flown toy is now part of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum collection.
Toy Story 5 continues the franchise nearly 30 years after the original Toy Story debuted in 1995. The story revolves around a “toys meets tech” conflict, with the gang’s role in Bonnie’s life threatened by a new electronic device: Lilypad.
Theater novelties have already been announced ahead of the film’s release, and the film itself has made headlines in recent weeks following the reveal of Taylor Swift’s involvement in the form of her new single for the soundtrack, “I Knew It, I Knew You”.
Toy Story 5 releases in theaters on June 19, 2026. You can check out the final trailer in our earlier coverage, and see the full Instagram post from Pixar below:
https://wdwnt.com/2026/06/woody-jessie-and-buzz-lightyear-visit-nasa-headquarters-ahead-of-toy-story-5/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QftAW9TTmuQ
extra NASA
https://x.com/TimSheehyMT/status/2066315534841356429
https://x.com/AstroPeggy/status/2066522173221593391
https://x.com/Astro_Jessica/status/2066524552318910547
https://x.com/UAPLuigi/status/2065537946347044889
Time's a wastin'
https://www.nasa.gov/social-media/nasa-socials-program/experience-the-launch-of-nasas-roman-space-telescope/
extra extra NASA
https://science.nasa.gov/earth/earth-observatory/pumice-rafts-encroach-on-admiralty-islands/
https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/san-franciscos-patchwork-streets/
https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-astronaut-anil-menon-available-for-prelaunch-virtual-interviews/
https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4515772/air-force-test-pilot-tapped-as-ultimate-wingman-for-artemis-iii/
Experience the Launch of NASA’s Roman Space Telescope
Jun 15, 2026
Are you ready for a new view of the universe? The Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope will reveal distant worlds, dark energy, and the structure of the cosmos, and we want you to be a part of it!
Digital creators and social media users are invited to register to our NASA Social for the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch. Roman is NASA’s next flagship astrophysics mission, designed to explore everything from our outer solar system to the edge of the observable universe.
This mission is scheduled to launch on Aug. 30, 2026, aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Are you passionate about social media and communications? Do you love to create content for an audience? Are you a fan of new, unique experiences? If you said yes, this NASA Social event is for you! This is your opportunity to be on the front lines of this historic mission.
The NASA Social event will take place over two days, including the day of launch. A maximum of 50 digital creators will be selected to attend this two-day event and will be given access similar to news media.
NASA Social participants will have the opportunity to:
Tour NASA’s Kennedy Space Center
Learn directly from astrophysics subject matter experts
Meet fellow digital creators and social media users
Spend time with members of NASA’s social media team
View the launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope
NASA Social events are intended for members of the public. Current or former NASA civil servants, NASA contractors, NASA interns, and individuals or organizations currently under contract to provide products or services to NASA are not eligible to apply or participate in NASA Social events.
NASA Social registration for the Roman launch opens on this page on Monday, June 15 and the deadline to apply is at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 28. All applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Do I need to have a social media account to register?
Yes. This event is designed for people who:
Actively use multiple social networking platforms and tools to disseminate information to a unique audience.
Regularly produce new content that features multimedia elements.
Have the potential to reach a large number of people using digital platforms.
Reach a unique audience, separate and distinctive from traditional news media and/or NASA audiences.
Must have an established history of posting content on social media platforms.
Have previous postings that are highly visible, respected, and widely recognized.
Users are encouraged to follow @NASARoman for Roman updates on X, Facebook, and @NASAGoddard and @NASAUniverse on Instagram. Updates and information about the event will be shared on X via @NASA_Events
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How do I register?
Registration for this event opens Monday, June 15 and closes at 5 p.m. EDT on Sunday, June 28. Registration is for one person only (you) and is non-transferable. Each individual wishing to attend must register separately. Each application will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Can I register if I am not a U.S. citizen?
Yes, this event is open for all to apply.
When will I know if I am selected?
After registrations have been received and processed, an email with confirmation information and additional instructions will be sent to those selected. We expect to send the first notifications on XX and waitlist notifications on XX.
What are NASA Social credentials?
All NASA social applications will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Those chosen must prove through the registration process they meet specific engagement criteria.
If you do not make the registration list for this NASA Social, you still can attend the launch off site and participate in the conversation online. Find out about ways to experience a launch at https://www.nasa.gov/kennedy/see-a-launch-up-close/.
What are the registration requirements?
Registration indicates your intent to travel to NASA Kennedy and attend the two-day event in person. You are responsible for your own expenses for travel, accommodation, food, and other amenities.
The schedule of events and special guest appearances are subject to change without notice. NASA is not responsible for loss or damage incurred as a result of attending. NASA, moreover, is not responsible for loss or damage incurred if the event is canceled with limited or no notice. Please plan accordingly.
Kennedy is a government facility. Those who are selected may need to complete additional steps to receive clearance to enter the secure areas.
IMPORTANT: Those without proper identification cannot be admitted.
For United States Citizens:
You will be required to present a REAL ID compliant identification or valid U.S. passport PLUS one of the following:
Acceptable documents to accompany federal or state identification:
U.S. Passport
Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688A)
Unexpired Employment Authorization Document issued by DHS that contains a photograph (Form I-688B)
Driver’s license or ID card issued by a state or outlying possession of the United States provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
ID card issued by federal, state, or local government agencies or entities, provided it contains a photograph or information such as name, date of birth, gender, height, eye color, and address
School ID card with a photograph
Voter’s Registration Card
Military Dependent’s ID Card
U.S. Military card or draft record
U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Card
Native American Tribal Document
U.S. Social Security Card issued by the Social Security Administration (other than a card stating it is not valid for employment)
Original or Certified copy of birth certificate issued by a state, county, municipal authority, or outlying possessions of the United States bearing an official seal
U.S. Citizen ID Card (Form I-197)
ID Card for use of Resident Citizens of the United States (Form I-179)
Unexpired employment authorization document issued by DHS (other than those listed previously)
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For Foreign Nationals:
Same items required of U.S. Citizens (SSN only when applicable)
Unexpired foreign passport, with I-551 stamp or attached Form I-94 indicating unexpired employment authorization
Passport number and registration date
Citizenship
Driver’s license issued by a Canadian Government authority
For Legal Resident Aliens:
Same items required of U.S. Citizens, and:
Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card with photograph (Form I-551)
Unexpired Temporary Resident Card (Form I-688)
Certification of Birth Abroad issued by the Department of State (Form FS-545 or Form DS-1350)
The REAL ID Act was passed by Congress in 2005 to establish minimum security standards for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards.
All registrants must be at least 18 years old.
What if the launch date changes?
Hundreds of different factors can cause a scheduled launch date to change multiple times. The launch date will not be official until after the Flight Readiness Review.
If the launch date changes prior to the review, NASA may adjust the date of the NASA Social accordingly to coincide with the new target launch date, and will notify registrants of any changes via email.
If the launch is postponed, attendees will be invited to attend a later launch date. If the launch is postponed beyond 72 hours, the NASA Social event may be canceled.
NASA Social attendees are responsible for any additional costs they incur related to any launch delay. We strongly encourage participants to make travel arrangements that are refundable and/or flexible.
What if I cannot come to the Kennedy Space Center?
If you cannot come to NASA Kennedy and attend in person, you should not register for the NASA Social.
Join the conversation by following @NASARoman on X and Facebook, and @NASAGoddard and @NASAUniverse on Instagram. You can watch the launch at nasa.gov/live. NASA will provide regular launch and mission updates on @NASA.
If you cannot make this NASA Social, don’t worry; NASA is planning many other NASA Social events in the near future at various locations! Check for updates on NASA Socials.
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We have 4 fundamental forces of nature. 'Quantum gravity' could help lead us to a mysterious 5th
June 15, 2026
"The first step isn't technical, but mental: convincing yourself that a possible path actually exists."
For decades, scientists have searched for a fifth fundamental force of nature that can explain mysterious aspects of the universe such as dark energy and dark matter.
These are pieces of our cosmos that simply can't be accounted for by the four fundamental forces we know of: gravity and electromagnetism as well as the strong and weak nuclear forces.
In addition, while the hunt for this force has been ongoing, researchers have also been desperately hunting for a theory of quantum gravity.
That's because quantum gravity can unite the best description we have of the universe on large scales — Albert Einstein's theory of general relativity — and the physics of the subatomic, aka quantum mechanics.
Both theories emerged at the start of the 20th century and have been experimentally confirmed time and time again, yet they steadfastly refuse to overlap in a single unified theory.
But now, these two scientific quests have overlapped. New research built a quantum gravity framework — finding that it actually offers clues about potential fifth fundamental forces of nature.
The team's findings reveal that not all potential suggestions for a fifth fundamental force, which would manifest as a small deviation from Isaac Newton's law of gravitation at very small distances and would be described by two parameters: its strength and the range it acts over.
In essence, the research could narrow down the search for a fifth fundamental force.
"One of the main challenges was overcoming a primarily conceptual obstacle: quantum gravity is often seen as an extremely abstract topic, almost impossible to connect to observable phenomena," Alfio Bonanno of the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF) said in an emailed statement translated from Italian.
"In some ways, it's like standing in front of a mountain face that everyone considers unscalable. The first step isn't technical, but mental: convincing yourself that a possible path actually exists.
This work stems precisely from this idea: seeking a concrete connection between the physics of infinitesimally small scales and phenomena potentially observable in the real world."
The framework of quantum gravity explored by the team is called "asymptotic safety," which asserts that gravity can remain consistent and controlled even at high energies thanks to a halting in the strength of gravitational pull.
If this theory is to remain valid at high energy levels, Bonanno and colleagues found that the range and strength of a fifth fundamental force were limited, resulting in an excluded region of these parameters.
"The most exciting aspect is that part of the theoretically excluded region has not yet been explored experimentally," Bonanno said.
"This means that future high-precision measurements of gravitation could directly test — and potentially falsify — this class of quantum gravity-inspired models."
Usually, physicists hypothesize new forces and then determine if they could be detected by experiment; this research takes a different approach by ruling out certain possibilities for the characteristics of a proposed force.
The fact that much of the region excluded by the team hasn't been explored experimentally lays the groundwork for making precise measurements of gravity to test quantum gravity.
"Our study shows that quantum gravity may not only be a valid theory at extreme and unattainable energies, but may also have concrete and testable consequences at much larger scales," Emiliano Glaviano of the INAF said in the statement.
"The physics of infinitesimally small distances could leave observable traces in the macroscopic world: some possible new forces of nature would be ruled out not by experiments, but directly by the fundamental laws of the theory."
This research applies to physics on the tiny scales of quantum physics, where quantum gravity should emerge, to the scales of planetary objects.
Thus, traces of this quantum gravity theory or a fifth fundamental force appearing as deviations from Newton's laws should be testable with a wide range of experiments.
That includes using a technique called atomic interferometry or quantum sensors to make measurements across the solar system, such as lunar laser ranging, or on wider astronomical scales such as measuring the dynamics of planets.
https://www.space.com/astronomy/we-have-4-fundamental-forces-of-nature-quantum-gravity-could-help-lead-us-to-a-mysterious-5th
https://journals.aps.org/prl/abstract/10.1103/q1gq-sgy3
extra general space
https://www.space.com/stargazing/new-moon-of-june-2026-brings-stunning-views-of-mercury-venus-and-jupiter
https://www.spaceforce.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/4517179/cmssf-tour-okinawa-installations-highlights-joint-force-integration/
CMSSF tour Okinawa installations, highlights joint force integration
June 15, 2026
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) – Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna observes Kadena's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities through an engagement with the 319th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron.
The engagement highlighted the critical role intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations play in maintaining regional readiness and deterrence throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Gracelyn Hess)
Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna and his spouse, Cathy Bentivegna, visited military installations across Okinawa, June 12, 2026.
The visit provided an opportunity to gain firsthand insight into how space-enabled capabilities support regional readiness, strengthen partnerships with allies and partners, and enhance the joint force's ability to operate across the Indo-Pacific.
The CMSSF kicked off the Okinawa tour by visiting Camp Kinser and meeting with Guardians from the 161st Electromagnetic Warfare Combat Detachment, where he received briefings on the status of deployed Guardians providing space electromagnetic support to joint and coalition partners by monitoring military satellite communications and identifying potential sources of interference or jamming to help ensure assured communications across the region.
Chief Master Sgt. of the Space Force John Bentivegna, right, poses for a photo alongside U.S. Space Force Guardians assigned to the 53d Space Operations Squadron Detachment 5, at Fort Buckner, Japan, June 11, 2026.
Bentivegna visited the unit to learn more about its mission and the role Guardians play in supporting space operations and joint force integration throughout the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Nathaniel Jackson)
Photo Details / Download Hi-Res
Next, he visited Fort Buckner, where he met with personnel from the 53rd Space Operations Squadron to observe how Guardians deliver and safeguard critical satellite communications that connect combatant commanders and warfighters around the globe.
"Our U.S. Space Force Guardians positioned here in theater are part of the joint force delivering the warfighting edge we need every single day," Bentivegna said.
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While at Kadena, Bentivegna met with Guardians, Airmen and senior leaders and toured operational mission areas that support the installation's role as the Keystone of the Pacific.
The visit highlighted how the installation's diverse missions contribute to the joint force's ability to respond rapidly to challenges across the region.
“We need you to embrace accountability, responsibility, innovation, thinking outside the box, and critical thinking,” Bentivegna added.
“Set the culture, set the standard, set the environment, and take ownership of it. Remain ready and be the deterrence that keeps this region and America safe.”
Bentivegna’s visit included a flight aboard a U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 33rd Rescue Squadron, where he learned more about the unit's personnel recovery mission and its role in supporting joint and coalition operations throughout the region.
During this time, Cathy Bentivegna visited the Kadena Food Pantry, Kadena Youth Center and Military and Family Readiness Center, where she met with staff, volunteers and community members to learn more about programs that support military families, strengthen resilience and enhance mission readiness.
Bentivegna observed Kadena's intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities through an engagement with the 19th Reconnaissance Squadron.
He also met with members of the 353rd Special Operations Wing, where he discussed the wing's unique capabilities and regional partnerships that enable special operations forces to operate throughout the Indo-Pacific.
At the Erwin Professional Military Education Center, Bentivegna met with Airmen and Guardians attending Airman Leadership School to discuss leadership, professional development, and the importance of preparing the next generation of enlisted leaders.
"We were honored to host Chief Master Sgt. Bentivegna and Mrs. Bentivegna and share a firsthand look at the missions being executed across Kadena," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Will Cupp, 18th Wing command chief.
"From airpower to space-enabled operations, this visit provided an opportunity to showcase team Kadena and the critical capabilities we deliver every day to strengthen regional security and support the joint force across the Indo-Pacific."
Across Okinawa, Airmen and Guardians integrate air, space and joint capabilities to project combat power, enable space operations and strengthen alliances throughout the Indo-Pacific.
From satellite command and control and electromagnetic monitoring to rescue, reconnaissance and special operations missions, the capabilities showcased during the visit demonstrate the region's enduring importance to U.S. military readiness and security.
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Absolutely.
Tthe most important part imo is he was a US Army soldier sent on a time travel mission.
T-Minus Barracuda Suffers Anomaly After Launch from Nova Scotia
June 15, 2026
A single-stage sounding rocket launched by Dutch firm T-Minus Engineering from Spaceport Nova Scotia on 10 June suffered an anomaly late in its flight. The anomaly prompted teams to stand down from a second planned flight.
Founded in 2011, T-Minus Engineering develops and operates a range of suborbital rockets for microgravity research and hypersonic experimentation.
The largest of its rockets is the Barracuda, a sounding rocket that stands approximately four metres tall and can carry payloads of up to 40 kilograms to altitudes of around 120 kilometres.
The 10 June flight was launched at 14:51 CET. In addition to validating the rocket’s performance, the flight was intended to enable Maritime Launch Services, the commercial operator of the site, to refine launch procedures and safety and security systems in preparation for the commencement of full-scale operations in the coming years.
According to a 10 June Maritime Launch Services press release, while the single-stage, solid-fuel rocket operated “nominally during the powered phase of flight,” it experienced an “anomaly late in the boost phase.”
European Spaceflight contacted T-Minus Engineering for details about the nature of the anomaly but had not received a response at the time of publication.
A second flight, expected to follow shortly after the first, was abandoned after the anomaly to “review mission data and incorporate lessons learned into future testing activities.”
Despite this, T-Minus Engineering co-founder Roel Eerkens said it was an important step in developing the company’s rocket.
“It moves us closer to providing research institutions and defence organizations with meaningful access to near-space environments and high-performance platforms for testing, training, and technology development,” said Eerkens.
Despite the confidence, last week’s flight was the second consecutive Barracuda launch from Spaceport Nova Scotia to underperform. A November 2025 Barracuda sounding rocket launch was initially described as successful.
However, in a subsequent interview, Maritime Launch Services CEO Stephen Matier said the T-Minus team had hoped the vehicle would reach the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space at an altitude of 100 kilometres, but that it fell short of that target.
Interestingly, Maritime Launch had previously described Barracuda as capable of carrying payloads of up to 40 kilograms to an altitude of 120 kilometres following the November 2025 launch.
In its statement after the 10 June flight, however, the company described the vehicle as capable of carrying the same payload mass to approximately 80 kilometres. The reason for the revised figure was not explained.
https://europeanspaceflight.com/t-minus-barracuda-suffers-anomaly-after-launch-from-nova-scotia/
extra launches
https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202606/1363571.shtml
Starlink Mission
June 15, 2026
On Monday, June 15 at 8:34 a.m. PT, Falcon 9 launched 24 Starlink satellites to low-Earth orbit from Space Launch Complex 4 East (SLC-4E) at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California.
This was the 14th flight for the first stage booster supporting this mission, which previously launched SDA T1TL-B, SDA T1TL-C, Transporter-16, and now 11 Starlink missions Following stage separation, the first stage landed on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship, which was stationed in the Pacific Ocean.
There was a possibility that residents of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura counties may have heard one or more sonic booms during the launch, but what residents experienced depended on weather and other conditions.
https://www.spacex.com/launches/sl-17-54
https://www.esa.int/Applications/Observing_the_Earth/Pacific_warming_signals_El_Nino_has_stirred
extra ESA
https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Space_Transportation/Ariane/Watch_live_bigger_booster_more_powerful_Ariane_6_launch
https://www.esa.int/Education/ESA_Academy_Experiments_programme/Meet_the_Team_STAR-BOTS
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images/2026/06/Arrival_of_MTG-I2_by_boat_at_Europe_s_Spaceport
Pacific warming signals El Niño has stirred
15/06/2026
Satellite measurements are showing a sharp surge in sea-surface temperatures across the tropical Pacific in recent months – the clearest early signal that El Niño is back.
This powerful climate pattern, and its counterpart La Niña, can supercharge weather worldwide, amplifying extremes from heatwaves and droughts to torrential rainfall, floods and disrupted winter storm tracks, all on top of the effects of the already warming climate driven by human activity.
The coupled ocean–atmosphere system of El Niño and La Niña, together known as the El Niño Southern Oscillation, are drivers of significant variations in global temperature and precipitation.
El Niño occurs every few years when the trade winds weaken allowing warm surface waters in the western Pacific Ocean to shift eastwards.
This change in ocean temperature reshapes wind patterns and atmospheric circulation, triggering a cascade of impacts that can influence weather across the globe.
An El Niño event often begins subtly, with unusually warm surface waters developing across the tropical Pacific Ocean – conditions that are being observed now.
The animation below highlights early signs of this developing event by showing sea-surface temperature anomalies from 1–7 June 2026 compared with the 1991–2020 average for the same period.
ESA’s Craig Donlon explained, “We use anomalies – the difference between current conditions and the long-term average because El Niño often begins as a subtle shift from what is considered normal, and these early changes are easier to see against a reference pattern. Although the temperature differences may appear small, the ocean stores and exchanges enormous amounts of heat, so even slight warming can indicate very large changes in the energy flowing between the ocean and the atmosphere.”
That extra heat can strengthen rising motion and rainfall over the tropical Pacific and alter atmospheric circulation far beyond the Tropics.
In some cases, these changes can generate large-scale atmospheric waves that propagate towards higher latitudes and upward into the stratosphere.
This can, under the right conditions, increase the likelihood of a weaker polar vortex or a disrupted European winter circulation pattern.
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If such a disruption occurs, its effects can sometimes work downwards into the lower atmosphere over the following weeks, influencing the jet stream and the likelihood of persistent weather patterns over parts of the North Atlantic and Europe.
This does not mean El Niño directly causes cold winters in Europe, but it can tilt the odds of certain winter patterns, especially when combined with other factors such as the quasi-biennial oscillation, which also affects how easily the polar vortex is disturbed.
Scientists monitor these evolving conditions using satellites, weather balloons and computer models.
No single observation can determine how winter will unfold, but combining these sources helps forecasters assess whether the atmosphere is becoming more prone to large-scale circulation changes.
El Niño is one phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation. Conditions sometimes shift toward La Niña afterwards, but not always, and the timing and strength of that transition vary from event to event.
Measurements of sea-surface temperature from satellite missions such as Copernicus Sentinel-3 are key to keeping an eye on changes in the temperature of the sea surface.
Its sea and land surface temperature radiometer measures global sea-surface temperature, and land-surface temperature for that matter, every day to an accuracy of better than 0.3 K, providing critical data for tracking evolving ocean conditions.
As seawater warms, it also expands, contributing to changes in sea level. Here again, measurements from Copernicus Sentinel-3, its synthetic aperture radar altimeter, provide key information.
The third Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite, Sentinel-3C, is set for launch this autumn to ensure continuity of these kind of data.
The influence of this year’s El Niño on Pacific sea-level anomalies is expected to become more apparent in the coming months using satellite altimetry.
The Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission (the reference mission for satellite altimetry) complemented by two altimeters carried by the current Sentinel-3 satellites provide Europe with unique information on sea level and sea level anomalies.
Satellite measurements from the infrared atmospheric sounding interferometer instrument on the MetOp weather satellites and the recently launched MetOp-Second-Generation-A1 satellite are useful to look at the quasi-biennial oscillation.
Ultimately, scientists emphasise that the strength of modern climate monitoring lies in combining satellite observations with models that integrate multiple lines of evidence, allowing a more complete understanding of the evolving El Niño–Southern Oscillation system.
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Russian MOD confirms strikes on Ukrainian military facilities: What we know so far
15 Jun, 2026 07:35 | Updated 15 Jun, 2026 07:49
A malfunctioning Patriot interceptor fired by Ukrainian air defense forces has struck a historic monastery in Kiev, Moscow says
Ukrainian sources earlier reported attacks in Kiev, Kharkov, and Dnepr, the cities named in the Russian statement.
The Ukrainian military said it had detected 70 incoming missiles and more than 600 drones. Officials also reported a partial power outage in Kiev and disruptions to rail services.
During the barrage, Ukrainian media published footage showing a fire at one of the cathedrals of the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery. Reports claimed the blaze was linked to the Russian operation.
The Russian ministry reiterated that it does not target sites with no military value and has blamed the damage on the monastery on a US-made Patriot interceptor missile. The statement suggested that the projectile may have malfunctioned due to old age.
Kiev has repeatedly complained of a shortage of Western-supplied air defense systems and of the need to conserve expensive anti-missile munitions, including Patriots.
The Kiev-Pechersk Monastery has itself been at the center of a prolonged dispute over control of its property.
Ukrainian authorities have been pushing for church assets to be transferred from the historic Ukrainian Orthodox Church to either the government-backed Orthodox Church of Ukraine or the state.
The Russian strikes come amid an escalation in long-range attacks by both sides. Kiev is reportedly seeking another $20 billion from Western backers to expand drone operations against Russia.
Last week, a Ukrainian strike caused major damage to a museum in Sevastopol dedicated to the defense of the Crimean Peninsula during the 19th-century war with Türkiye, Britain, and France.
The reported Russian attacks on Ukrainian conscription centers came hours after a large protest in Kiev, said to have been sparked by forced mobilization.
The rare mass demonstration was broken up by riot police, who used tear gas to disperse the crowd, according to local media.
https://www.rt.com/russia/641566-russian-strikes-kiev-monastery/
extra RT
https://www.rt.com/russia/641553-three-killed-ukrainian-drone-strike/
https://www.rt.com/news/641529-eu-nation-compensation-weapons-ukraine/
https://www.rt.com/russia/641524-ukraine-army-drug-addiction-opioids/
https://www.rt.com/news/641525-putin-holds-phone-call-trump/
Zelensky Visits Kyiv Lavra After Russian Drone Strike
June 15, 2026, 2:55 pm
In brief: Zelensky visited Kyiv Pechersk Lavra after Russia damaged the historic religious complex overnight on Monday.
He described it as a targeted attack on the area around the UNESCO-listed monastery and called for a stronger international response as the death toll from the attack rose to 11.
President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Kyiv Pechersk Lavra on Monday, June 15, after a massive Russian missile and drone attack damaged the historic monastery complex and other cultural sites in the Ukrainian capital.
In a statement published on Telegram, Zelensky said emergency crews had extinguished fires at both the Lavra and the Mystetskyi Arsenal cultural complex in central Kyiv following the overnight strikes.
Zelensky said the area was “deliberately attacked.”
“Two Russian drones deliberately attacked the part of the city where the Lavra and the Mystetskyi Arsenal are located,” Zelensky said, adding that 35 people were injured in Kyiv.
He said 11 were confirmed dead and 53 were wounded nationwide and offered his condolences.
Zelensky calls for stronger international response
Zelensky said Ukraine was in constant contact with its allies on the consequences of the attack and possible responses.
He instructed the foreign ministry and Ukraine’s diplomatic corps to intensify contacts with allies ahead of a series of international meetings scheduled for this week and next week, saying a “fair response” is needed.
He thanked foreign leaders, public figures and international organizations that had condemned the attack, saying it is important that the world does not remain silent.
The G7 summit is set to take place in France from Monday to Wednesday and is expected to include a meeting between Zelensky and US President Donald Trump.
The summit is likely to focus on a five-point peace proposal jointly put forward by the UK, France, Germany, and Ukraine at the E3 summit held a week prior.
Attack damaged historic Kyiv landmark
Earlier on Monday, Zelensky said Russia launched 70 missiles and 611 drones against Ukraine overnight, including more than 60 missiles aimed at Kyiv alone.
The attack sparked a fire at the Dormition Cathedral in the Kyiv Pechersk Lavra, one of Ukraine’s most important religious and cultural landmarks, whose history dates back to the 11th century.
At the time, Zelensky described the strike on the monastery as “one of Russia’s greatest crimes against Christian culture.”
The overnight barrage also hit Kharkiv, where Russian forces carried out a second strike while emergency workers were responding to an earlier attack, killing five people and injuring nine.
Additional strikes were reported in Dnipro, Kyiv region, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy and Mykolaiv regions.
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/78215
other Russia and Ukraine
https://newsukraine.rbc.ua/news/bridge-near-crimea-closed-after-fresh-ukrainian-1781519298.html
https://united24media.com/war-in-ukraine/russian-drone-strike-hits-kharkiv-zoo-damaging-enclosures-and-injuring-animals-19848
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/78230
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/2026-06-15/live-updates-899409
other IDF
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/idf-says-it-killed-2-hamas-operatives-posing-threats-in-separate-gaza-strikes-today/
https://www.ifcj.org/news/stand-for-israel-blog/idf-remains-in-lebanon-after-u-s-iran-agreement
https://www.foxnews.com/world/netanyahus-israel-grapples-trump-iran-deal-details-remain-unclear
https://www.jfeed.com/news-world/tgo41l
https://israel-alma.org/weekly-report-israeli-air-force-airstrikes-in-lebanon-8-14-june/
Live Updates: Beirut claims Israel struck Lebanon for first time since US-Iran ceasefire announced
June 15, 2026
US-Iran agreement to be signed in Switzerland on Friday • World congratulates all parties for reaching agreement • Israeli leaders decry inclusion of Lebanon in US-Iran deal
June 15, 8:30 PM
IDF kills two Hamas terrorists in separate Gaza strikes
The IDF killed two Hamas commanders who were planning to carry out terror attacks, the military confirmed on Monday.
The first strike killed Nuseirat Battalion cell commander Saleh Ramadan Muhammad Khalifa in the central Gaza Strip.
A later strike killed Western Jabalya Battalion cell commander Muhammad Musa Diab al-Habil.
Hamas authorities claimed that Habil also worked as a nurse in a Gaza hospital. The IDF has not commented on these reports, identifying him only as a Hamas terror cell leader.
June 15, 6:32 PM
Iran reports three femicide cases in one week amid domestic violence study
Three reported femicides in Iran in one week have renewed attention on domestic violence, with a new Iranian study finding that economic hardship can increase violence against women.
There were three reported cases of femicide in Iran last week, where women were brutally murdered by their husbands following what regime-affiliated media described as “familial disputes,” according to Iranian media reports.
Nour News, a media company affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, reported that a mother of two was murdered in Tehran’s Bisim neighborhood. The 35-year-old woman was allegedly attacked by her husband with a knife and hammer while she slept.
Detectives from the 10th Division of the Tehran Major Crimes Police reportedly arrested the husband, who was reported to have confessed to the killing during preliminary investigations.
“For a few days, due to work conditions and the fact that I was a laborer working in different places, I had disputes with my wife. On the night of the incident, we argued before going to bed.
I waited until she fell asleep, but in a moment of anger, I killed her with blows. Then I called the police and reported the incident,” the husband reportedly told investigators
June 15, 6:30 PM
Tanker reports attack southeast of Yemen's Aden, UKMTO says
A tanker reported being approached by a small skiff that opened fire on the vessel 111 nautical miles southeast of Yemen's Aden, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Monday.
Authorities were investigating, UKMTO said, without giving further details on the incident.
June 15, 6:30 PM
Tehran leverages Lebanon, Hormuz to shape narrative around deal, force Trump's hand, expert says
Iran "succeeded in leveraging this event to achieve a new order that will deter its rivals and secure other economic benefits," said the INSS's Dr. Raz Zimmt.
Iran has already begun shaping the narrative surrounding the deal with the US as a victory, Dr. Raz Zimmt, head of the Shi'ite Axis Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), said in a Monday interview with 103FM.
During the radio interview, Zimmt discussed the reactions in Tehran, the agreement's economic implications, and the possibility of renewed anti-regime protests.
According to Zimmt, while some factions in Iran oppose any engagement with Washington, the dominant response to the agreement has been positive, largely because the regime is portraying it as an achievement over both Israel and the US.
"With the exception of a small and vocal minority of ultra-radicals, who viewed negotiations with the United States after the war, and certainly reaching an agreement with it, as a betrayal, there is definitely support for ending the war," said Zimmt.
"More importantly, the emerging agreement, although not all of its details are yet clear, is being presented as a strategic victory for Iran.
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June 15, 6:01 PM
IDF, Mossad largely oppose Iran nuclear deal, favor continued sanctions against Tehran
IDF and Mossad officials largely view the emerging Iran nuclear deal as insufficient, warning it leaves missiles and proxy threats unaddressed.
The vast majority of the IDF and the Mossad oppose the current Iran nuclear deal as insufficient in light of the power dynamics between the parties, the "blood and treasure" invested, and the threats confronting Israel, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
While that view is not unanimous and top Israeli officials understand the need to defer to Israel's political echelon and to the Trump administration on certain matters, it is nearly unanimous, and officials are making their views heard in private forums.
While the Trump administration has been almost entirely focused on opening the Strait of Hormuz and the nuclear issue, the Post understands that IDF and Mossad officials had hoped for progress on the ballistic missiles and proxy threats, which they are stuck dealing with on a day-to-day and year-to-year basis.
These issues have been left out of the deal.
June 15, 5:36 PM
Israeli strike kills one in south Lebanon, Beirut claims
An Israeli drone strike targeted a car in southern Lebanon, killing its driver, Lebanese security sources and state media claimed on Monday.
The apparent strike would mark the first deadly incident since the announcement of the US-Iran ceasefire deal.
Israeli security officials corroborated the reports, saying that a vehicle was attacked by a drone in a village in southern Lebanon, Ynet reported.
The attack was carried out to "remove a threat," the report cited officials as saying.
June 15, 5:34 PM
US blockade of Iran ports in effect until agreement with Tehran completed, US advisory says
A US blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect pending completion of a ceasefire agreement with Iran scheduled for June 19, the US military said in an advisory note on Monday.
"A military blockade of Iranian ports remains in effect restricting all traffic inbound and outbound from these ports," the advisory said.
"Do not attempt to cross until explicit direction is given," it added.
June 15, 5:33 PM
'A new dawn': Middle East, Gulf states react to US-Iran deal
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun praised Lebanon's inclusion in the agreement, noting that the people of Lebanon look forward to a "definitive end to the cycle of violence."
Several leaders from the Middle East and Gulf states praised Sunday night's agreement reached by the United States and Iran.
"I have followed with interest the announcement of the memorandum of understanding reached between the United States of America and the Islamic Republic of Iran, and what it includes in terms of affirming a halt to military actions and escalation in the region, including Lebanon," said Lebanese President Joseph Aoun in a Monday afternoon statement posted to X/Twitter.
Aoun added that he appreciated Lebanon's inclusion in the agreement, noting that the people of Lebanon "look forward to these understandings being transformed into practical steps that put a definitive end to the cycle of violence, and establish a phase of stability, security, recovery, and reconstruction."
June 15, 5:32 PM
Former consul to LA warns about Trump's growing relationship with Qatar as US, Iran reach deal
"The situation in Washington right now is a very serious problem; the question is how it will be translated into action," said Yaki Dayan, the former Israeli consul in Los Angeles.
Yaki Dayan, the former Israeli consul in Los Angeles, voiced deep concern about the recent developments between the US and Qatar, compared with the strained relations with Israel, during a Monday interview with 103FM.
Dayan expressed concern about the agreement expected to be signed between the US and Iran. “There is no alternative from Israel’s side, and on the Democratic [Party] side, there are no giant friends waiting at the door to embrace you,” he explained.
He also added: “Not only that, we hear Trump speaking about Qatar in terms that an American president previously used only about Israel. Washington’s favorite son is Qatar.
We are seeing the emerging axis, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Pakistan, and Turkey, which is also taking shape as a result of this war. The situation in Washington right now is a very serious problem; the question is how it will be translated into action.”
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1,000 people killed by drones this year in Sudan as humanitarian crisis grows
June 15, 2026
A "sharp increase" in the use of drone warfare in conflict-torn Sudan — where more than 1,000 civilians were killed in such strikes in the first five months of this year — has been condemned by the United Nations human rights chief.
Drone warfare has become an increasingly prominent feature of Sudan's conflict since it erupted in April 2023 between the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
"In Sudan, the horrific conflict has expanded and escalated, marked by a sharp increase in the use of drone warfare," UN rights chief Volker Turk said in an opening address to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.
"Between January and May 2026, our office documented more than 1,000 civilians killed by drone strikes."
He also said that "rape and sexual violence are rampant".
World's largest hunger crisis
Now in its fourth year, the conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and forced more than 11 million from their homes, creating what the UN describes as the world's largest displacement and hunger crises.
Sudan's warring parties are increasingly employing arbitrary detention, torture and enforced disappearance to control the country's embattled population, the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Sudan warned.
In an update to the Human Rights Council, the mission said that widespread violations of international human rights law, international humanitarian law and war crimes committed by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and their respective allies show no sign of stopping.
Such acts may also constitute crimes against humanity, the mission said.
"Civilians continue to bear the overwhelming burden of this conflict," mission chair Mohamed Chande Othman said.
"They are subjected not only to direct attacks and violence but also to a growing system of repression, arbitrary detention and fear that has penetrated every aspect of life.
"Unless reversed, these patterns will further erode protection and deepen Sudan's human rights catastrophe."
Fatal aerial attacks
Drone strikes on the strategic city of El-Obeid killed 23 people, a rights group and witnesses said last week, in one of the deadliest aerial attacks the city has seen since the war began.
"The roofs of houses collapsed on their occupants," a resident of the Al-Matar neighbourhood in the city's east said.
El-Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan, has been partially encircled for months by paramilitary forces and sits along a key route linking RSF-held areas in the western Darfur region to army-controlled regions in the east.
Fighting has intensified in recent months in the Kordofan region and Blue Nile state near the Ethiopian border, particularly after the RSF captured El-Fasher in October, the army's last major stronghold in western Darfur.
Kordofan — home to oil deposits, arable land and the RSF's most powerful paramilitary allies — remains a key and fiercely contested battleground.
The war in Sudan, where two rival generals are competing for power, was described as one of the world's most neglected crises this month by the Norwegian Refugee Council.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-06-16/drones-kill-1000-sudan-united-nations-condemns/106801184
https://www.dw.com/en/un-calls-for-drone-regulation-in-conflict-zones/a-77565880
https://www.indianstartuptimes.com/news/skye-air-mobility-and-india-post-launch-indias-largest-postal-drone-network-across-150-routes/
Skye Air Mobility and India Post Launch India’s Largest Postal Drone Network Across 150 Routes
June 15, 2026
In a landmark move set to redefine last-mile connectivity in some of India’s most challenging terrains, Skye Air Mobility has partnered with India Post to launch the country’s largest postal drone delivery network.
The initiative will operate across 150 routes spanning Himachal Pradesh and Assam, bringing faster and more reliable postal services to remote communities that have long faced logistical challenges due to mountainous landscapes, extreme weather, and seasonal floods.
The agreement between Skye Air Mobility Private Limited and the Department of Posts marks a major milestone in India’s growing drone ecosystem.
Flight operations officially commenced from Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, on June 12, just 72 hours after the contract was signed, showcasing the rapid deployment capabilities of drone-powered logistics.
Transforming Postal Delivery Through Physical AI
At the heart of the deployment is Skye Air’s advanced Physical AI technology, which combines artificial intelligence with autonomous aviation systems.
Unlike conventional drones that operate on fixed flight paths, Skye Air’s fleet is designed to analyze terrain, respond to changing weather conditions, and make real-time navigation decisions without human intervention.
The company’s proprietary technology stack integrates machine learning algorithms, obstacle-detection sensors, predictive battery management systems, and real-time navigation capabilities through its Skye UTM platform.
These systems enable drones to operate safely and efficiently in difficult environments, including the Himalayan region and flood-prone areas of Northeast India.
By continuously learning from each flight, the network aims to improve operational efficiency and safety while ensuring dependable service delivery in regions where traditional transportation methods are frequently disrupted.
Bridging Connectivity Gaps in Remote India
The new network will connect 110 locations in Himachal Pradesh and 40 locations in Assam, significantly enhancing postal accessibility in regions where road infrastructure often struggles against geography and weather.
In Himachal Pradesh, heavy snowfall regularly blocks roads and mountain passes, delaying essential deliveries. Similarly, in Assam, annual flooding cuts off entire communities, creating major challenges for the movement of mail, government documents, medicines, and financial services.
The drone network is expected to dramatically reduce delivery times, enabling critical communications, welfare benefits, pension documents, and healthcare-related shipments to reach citizens more quickly and reliably.
The initiative also strengthens India Post’s broader role as a provider of financial inclusion services through India Post Payments Bank, Direct Benefit Transfer schemes, postal savings accounts, and insurance products.
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Supporting India’s Vision of Becoming a Global Drone Hub
The deployment aligns closely with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of making India a global drone hub by 2030.
Since the introduction of the liberalized Drone Rules in 2021, the Indian government has introduced a series of reforms aimed at accelerating drone adoption and domestic manufacturing.
These measures include reducing regulatory requirements, introducing a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for drone manufacturers, establishing the Digital Sky platform for online approvals, and lowering GST rates for drone-related services and products.
As a result, India’s drone industry has witnessed rapid growth, with more than 16,000 certified drone pilots and over 300 drone manufacturers now operating across the country. Industry projections estimate that the drone services sector could reach ₹30,000 crore within the next three years.
India Post Sets New Benchmark in Postal Drone Delivery
With over 165,000 post offices, India Post operates the world’s largest postal network by geographic reach. The organization has increasingly embraced technology-driven solutions to enhance service delivery and modernize logistics operations.
The current deployment builds on successful drone trials conducted by India Post and Skye Air in Himachal Pradesh and Arunachal Pradesh during 2025, where letters and parcels were delivered in as little as seven minutes compared to hours via conventional transport.
Industry observers note that the scale, terrain complexity, and public service integration of the India Post drone initiative make it one of the most ambitious postal drone programs globally.
Delivering Faster, Greener Logistics
Skye Air’s drones are capable of carrying payloads of up to 10 kilograms and can operate in temperatures ranging from minus 10 degrees Celsius to 50 degrees Celsius.
The aircraft can cover routes from 5 kilometers to more than 80 kilometers while being monitored in real time through the company’s Unmanned Traffic Management platform.
Beyond improving connectivity, the initiative also contributes to sustainability goals. Skye Air reports having completed more than four million drone deliveries to date while helping prevent over 1,000 tonnes of CO₂-equivalent emissions compared to conventional road transportation.
Leadership Perspectives
Speaking on the launch, Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, highlighted the transformative potential of drone-powered postal services.
He noted that a route that previously required hours of travel through difficult terrain can now be completed in just seven minutes with real-time tracking, while also supporting environmentally sustainable logistics.
Commenting on the partnership, Ankit Kumar, Founder and CEO of Skye Air Mobility, said the initiative demonstrates how drone technology can solve connectivity challenges in regions where traditional logistics systems face limitations.
He emphasized that the project reflects the successful alignment of policy, technology, and public service to deliver tangible benefits to citizens.
Looking Ahead
As India continues to expand its drone infrastructure and digital logistics capabilities, the partnership between India Post and Skye Air Mobility represents a significant step toward integrating autonomous aerial delivery into mainstream public services.
By connecting some of the country’s most remote communities through intelligent drone networks, the initiative not only modernizes postal delivery but also strengthens access to financial services, healthcare support, and government welfare programs—demonstrating how emerging technologies can drive meaningful social and economic impact across India.
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https://www.newsnationnow.com/space/ufo/ufo-experts-latest-uap-file-release/
https://lamag.com/news/inside-the-governments-latest-ufo-dump-cloaking-craft-flying-discs-and-unsolved-cases/
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-government-alien-species-claims-1802725
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Q3TfQtd4ws (UFO disclosure a priority for this administration, says expert | NewsNation Prime)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Hyx1i9Qppg (New UFO files paint 'very clear' picture of alien contact | NewsNation Prime)
moar UFO Files and Disclosure Day
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/cia-files-prove-military-secretly-tracked-antigravity-tech-while-mocking-ufo-witnesses-1802849
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/steven-spielberg-uaps-disclosure-day-1802746
https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/alien-encounters-religious-traditionalists-1802875
https://forward.com/culture/film-tv/831524/disclosure-day-aliens-god-judaism-steven-spielberg/
https://usaherald.com/the-cheyenne-mountain-uap-incident-new-reports-reveal-potato-shaped-craft-over-military-basebizarre-cheyenne-mountain-potato-sighting-that-defies-modern-physics-2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu9LB-KHglI (Ross Coulthart Q&A: 'Disclosure Day' reaction, whistleblowers and Sean Kirkpatrick | Reality Check)
New UAP files reveal China, Russia may have retrieved objects
Updated: Jun 15, 2026 / 01:36 PM CDT
Days after a demand for disclosure on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, the Pentagon released a third batch of UFO files. It contains several eyewitness accounts and footage documenting sightings of spherical objects, or orbs.
Hena Doba spoke with UFO experts on Sunday’s “NewsNation Prime” to learn more about the latest revelations to come from the government.
New UAP file findings match whistleblower testimony
Joshua Golembeske, guest host of “Comic Disclosure,” says this latest batch of UFO files has been very significant, not just to him, but to all who have searched for answers surrounding unexplained phenomena.
He says the government is “painting a very clear picture of what’s been going on for at least 80 years.”
Not only that, but the files provide details that many whistleblowers have been sharing for decades, including one that David Grusch shared this week on Capitol Hill.
During a press conference, Grusch mentioned two different types of non-human intelligence, and one of them matched exactly what was found in this latest batch of files.
“One of them he called plasmoid sentient beings,” says Golembeske. “In these files, we have videos and documents explicitly saying and describing these orb-like intelligences.”
Golembeske says he was most excited about a declassified CIA document known as “number 19.”
“It’s actually an assessment from the Australian DoD that talks about how the US government, the military, had been hiding this phenomenon for a long time,” says Golembeske.
“Project Blue Book, that famous UFO program, was basically set up to make the public think it was all ridiculous.”
However, the document reveals that behind the scenes, the US government was taking it very seriously.
“There was crash retrieval operations where they were attempting to reverse engineer exotic technology,” Golembeske says.
“They mention antigravitic propulsion systems… this is something that’s so extraordinary because if we were trying to reverse engineer these technologies 50 years ago, where are we today?
What type of world-changing technologies are being hidden from the public? I want to know the answers.”
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UAP files have ‘extreme national security implications’: Disclosure expert
Jordan Flowers, executive director of the UAP Disclosure Foundation, highlighted in his discussion with Doba that this latest release of files shows how determined the Trump administration is to provide the information to the public.
“This is a high-priority topic for this administration,” says Flowers. “It’s important to know that they’ve released items that indicate that not only has the Air Force been taking this issue extremely seriously since 1948, at least, despite their claims, but also that today, the Director of National Intelligence Office and the FBI have multiple investigations going on about this topic.”
Flowers adds the files show real data on UAPs, and that the president and multiple members of Congress are taking this information extremely seriously.
The UAP Disclosure Foundation is hosting a forum June 25 in Washington, D.C. to discuss the importance of this information in terms of national security, technology and innovation, and even religion and philosophy.
“We really want to understand the impact of this across all of these disciplines.”
For Flowers, the key takeaway from this third release is not that UFOs aren’t just a U.S. phenomenon but a global one.
“We also have reason to believe that the Chinese and the Russians may have retrieved their own objects related to this and may have tried to reverse engineer them,” says Flowers.
“It has extreme national security implications that we really need to get our hands around.”
UAP files released: Scientists have ‘duty’ to investigate, Avi Loeb says
The same week the government dropped its latest batch of UFO files, the White House announced it had created the UAP Science Advisory Council.
The research team of scientists is set to assist the federal government with determining the nature of UAPs. Professor Avi Loeb has been tapped to lead the council.
“It’s the duty of scientists like myself to help the government figure out the nature of those unidentified objects,” Loeb told Doba Sunday, “because at the very least, these are a matter of serious concern about national security.”
Loeb says it’s important for scientists to analyze UAPs to bring scientific rigor into the analysis, rather than “rely on storytelling.”
“If we see things behaving in a way that cannot be explained easily,” says Loeb, “that means that we are either missing something really important about the intelligence, or perhaps we’re dealing with something that is not human made.”
Either way, Loeb calls it a win-win situation to get more evidence. “It’s like a detective story. And the best is yet to come… I’m hopeful that we will get to the bottom of it with better data.”
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https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/scientists-blast-human-terrocentrism-bombshell-paper-proving-alien-ai-minds-exist-beyond-flesh-1802858
https://knowridge.com/2026/06/consciousness-may-exist-beyond-humans-animals-and-even-earth/
Scientists Blast Human 'Terrocentrism' in Bombshell Paper Proving Alien and AI Minds Exist Beyond Flesh and Blood
15 June 2026, 4:08 PM BST
Scientists blast the idea that consciousness is confined to human or animal brains in a provocative new paper published this week, arguing that minds could exist in alien life and even advanced machines across the universe.
The paper, by philosophers Eric Schwitzgebel of the University of California, Riverside, and Jeremy Pober of the University of Lisbon, claims it is overwhelmingly unlikely that consciousness is restricted to 'flesh and blood' organisms on Earth.
Questions about who or what can be conscious have usually circuited around humans and a few favoured animals primates, dolphins, perhaps octopuses if you are feeling generous.
The background assumption has been that whatever consciousness is, it somehow belongs to carbon-based life with brains that look roughly like ours.
Schwitzgebel and Pober set out to dismantle that assumption, labelling it a kind of 'terrocentrism': a bias that treats Earthly biology as the gold standard for minds.
Scientists Blast Old Assumptions About Consciousness
The researchers deliberately avoid the philosophical minefield of defining consciousness itself.
Instead they pose a simpler and, in their view, sharper question: does consciousness require the particular biological materials that make up human and animal nervous systems? Their answer is explicit. They say the evidence points firmly towards 'no'.
They draw on the notion of 'substrate flexibility', a concept that sounds technical but is easy enough to grasp. Some properties do not care what they are made of. A cup is a cup whether it is glass, ceramic or plastic.
A novel can live in ink on a page or as bits on a server. Music is still music whether stored on vinyl, CD or streaming files. If a pattern or structure is what really matters, then the substance it is built from can vary quite dramatically.
Schwitzgebel and Pober suggest consciousness may be such a substrate flexible property.
On that view, it is the organisation and dynamics of a system that do the work, not whether it is built from neurons, silicon wafers or alien biochemistry nobody on Earth has a name for yet. It is a plea to take pattern seriously and substance a little less so.
They push the argument out into the wider cosmos. Astronomers estimate that the observable universe contains roughly one trillion galaxies, with countless planets, most of them nothing like Earth.
For the sake of argument, the paper assumes that at least 1,000 technologically advanced alien civilisations have existed somewhere in that sprawl, and presents that number as conservative rather than wild speculation.
Nothing is confirmed, of course, and all such estimates should be taken with a grain of salt, but it is the starting point for their reasoning rather than its conclusion.
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Scientists Blast 'Flesh and Blood Only' View of Alien Minds
Scientists have long toyed with the idea that extraterrestrial life might not share our chemistry. Instead of carbon chains in water, alien organisms could rely on different amino acids, exotic solvents or chemical structures barely imaginable from a terrestrial perspective.
If life itself is chemically flexible, Schwitzgebel and Pober argue, it would be an extraordinary coincidence if every intelligent species in the universe nevertheless converged on our specific biological recipe for consciousness.
Even a quick glance at life on Earth suggests variety, not uniformity. Octopuses, insects, birds and mammals have wildly different nervous systems. An octopus's neurons are spread through its arms. Insects rely on compact ganglia.
Birds pack dense neural wiring into small skulls. Yet many researchers are willing to attribute at least some form of conscious experience to several of these groups. Evolution, in other words, has already produced more than one way of building a complex mind.
The authors tie this to the old Copernican lesson. Humanity has repeatedly discovered that it is not at the centre of things. Earth fell from the centre of the solar system. The Milky Way lost any claim to being the hub of the cosmos.
Schwitzgebel and Pober propose a 'Copernican principle of consciousness': if consciousness exists beyond Earth, it is unlikely to be a monopoly of organisms that happen to resemble us.
To insist otherwise is, in their view, another version of putting ourselves back at the centre.
The paper also edges towards one of the most contentious questions in contemporary science and technology. What about artificial intelligence? The authors stop well short of declaring today's AI models conscious.
They are careful on that point. But if we drop the dogma that minds must be made of living tissue, they argue, it becomes logically harder to rule out that some future non-biological system might host its own form of awareness.
They note that consciousness, if it turns out to be substrate flexible, might look and feel very different from the human case. Birds, bats and insects all fly, but they do not do it in the same way. There is no single template for wings.
Likewise, conscious experience could come in a confusing variety of formats, some of them so alien to us that we might struggle to recognise them as minds at all. Behind the technical language, the paper is really a challenge to intellectual pride.
If the universe is as big and as inventive as current science suggests, then betting that consciousness exists only in brains that look like ours may say more about human parochialism than about how minds actually arise.
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Mark Christopher Lee
@Thekingofufos
It's coming - fasten your seatbelts! @POTUS
Quote
Mark Christopher Lee
@Thekingofufos
Feb 1
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: My source inside the Trump administration provided this full text of President Trump's prepared historic announcement on UAPs/non-human intelligence.
Featured in today's Daily Mail (paywalled), so sharing it publicly here for transparency.
Disclosure is coming—
2:05 AM · Jun 15, 2026
https://x.com/Thekingofufos/status/2066447083716984945
extra
https://x.com/KayrusFenix/status/2066319261916635248
https://x.com/eisenhowe8/status/2066551170026607070
https://x.com/nic_moneypenny/status/2066223956433010919
UFO Disclosure Accelerates: What They're Not Telling You
Jun 15, 2026
What if the truth about UFOs has been hidden for decades—and the evidence is finally emerging?
Join Dr. Michael Salla** and Special Guest Brad Johnson for an in-depth discussion on newly revealed UFO files, classified documents, whistleblower testimony, and the growing global movement toward disclosure.
Together, they examine the latest revelations, explore what may have been concealed from the public, and discuss the profound implications these discoveries could have for humanity's future.
From secret government programs and military encounters to advanced technologies and non-human intelligence claims, this episode investigates some of the most compelling evidence fueling the disclosure movement today.
As more information comes to light, the questions become harder to ignore. Are we witnessing the beginning of a historic disclosure process, or is there an even bigger story yet to unfold?
In this episode:
🔹 Newly revealed UFO and UAP files
🔹 Whistleblower testimonies and insider claims
🔹 Government secrecy and disclosure efforts
🔹 Military encounters with unidentified craft
🔹 Advanced technologies and their implications
🔹 What these revelations could mean for humanity
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyaNPWEm9a8
https://exopolitics.org/the-evidence-is-growing-are-we-facing-disclosure/
extra disclosure dejour
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTZzc_Ypq28 (The Hannibal TV: Did Erik Nanstiel Make Contact? UFO Experiencer Interview)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rxQhUQgvy1s (Eric Burlison's Fresh Freedom Podcast: Episode 71: Home Runs and Healthcare)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-fJ_ZZjuFTM (Man In America: Don't Look at Epstein. Look at the Aliens)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccv3KFOS_IY (Neon Galactic's James Faulk on the UFO Phenomenon & Disclosure Day SPOILERS - Psicoactivo Live #38)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBenK5tIT7k (Cristina Gomez: SCIENTISTS NOW LEAD THE UFO INVESTIGATION)