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Scotsman
20-06-2025
- Scotsman
Ten books about the outdoors to read this summer
It's shaping up to be a vintage summer for books about the outdoors – here are some new releases worth seeking out, writes Roger Cox Sign up to our Arts and Culture newsletter, get the latest news and reviews from our specialist arts writers Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Summer is the best season for reading outdoors, and it's also the best season for reading about the outdoors. After all, books about the sea have always made the best beach reads, and books about mountains tend to feel more real when you're sitting in a tent looking out at a real one. With the summer holidays just around the corner, here are some recent and imminent releases to consider taking with you on your next adventure. The Lost Elms, by Mandy Haggith For many years, Achmelvich-based writer and activist Mandy Haggith has been a sort of unofficial poet laureate of our woodlands. When I last interviewed her back in 2012, she had just taken up a post as writer-in-residence at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh, and was working her way through the Ogham, the ancient Gaelic alphabet in which each of the 18 letters corresponds to a different species of tree, writing a poem about a different tree every day. For her latest project, however, she's very much focused on one species of tree - the elm - and this book is billed as a love letter to the hundreds of millions of these trees wiped out globally by Dutch elm disease over the past century. (Wildfire, £22, 3 July) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mandy Haggith | Chris Puddephatt The Restless Coast, by Roger Morgan-Grenville Roger Morgan-Grenville is the author of several books about the natural world, most recently Waking Land (2023), which saw him trekking 1,000 miles north through Britain, following the advance of Spring. This new book sees him undertaking an even more impressive yomp around the coast of mainland Britain, hiking for around 2,000 miles of his journey and using public transport and hitchhiking to make up the rest. Along the way, he meets some of the people trying to protect our remaining wild places. (Icon, £22.99, out now) Community: People and Wildlife on the West Coast of Scotland, by Jane Smith Hard to know what to love more about this book: the crisp, precise writing style or the very stylish illustrations. Argyll-based nature artist Jane Smith travelled to various different locations in the west of Scotland to make Community, with each stop on her journey representing a different type of habitat. Her descriptions of the wildlife she encounters are wonderfully evocative, but she's also concerned with the complex relationships between the people who live in these places and the natural world around them. (Birlinn, £17.99, out now) Swimmingly: Adventures in Water, by Vassos Alexander As he trains for a swim across the English Channel, sports presenter Vassos Alexander takes a deep-dive into the history and culture of open water swimming, meeting everyone from elite athletes to enthusiastic amateurs. (Bloomsbury Sport, £16.99, out now) Upland: A Journey Through Time and the Hills, by Ian Crofton Writing in The Scotsman a few weeks ago, Allan Massie described Ian Crofton's account of a lifetime walking the hills and mountains of Scotland, England and Wales as 'a delightful book, beautifully written and rich in memories.' Also notable is Crofton's tendency to derive as much enjoyment from climbing more modestly-sized hills as he does from scaling grander peaks. (Birlinn, £20, out now) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ian Crofton | Contributed The Perilous Deep: A Supernatural History of the Atlantic, by Karl Bell Not only does Karl Bell's new book provide a colourful compendium of the 'merfolk, ghosts, phantom ships and sea monsters' that have populated the seafaring folklore of the Atlantic nations for centuries, he also looks at how and why these tales came into being, and how they evolved and mutated as they were transmitted from place to place over time. (Reaktion, £18, 1 July) Nic Wilson: Land Beneath the Waves Struggling with chronic health issues, Guardian Country Diarist Nic Wilson examines the ways in which the natural world has impacted on her life. Sample sentence: 'The memories are papery and thin, like honesty seed heads some will blow away, but I can see through the layers to the kernels within.' (Summersdale, £18.99, out now) The Sound of Many Waters: A Journey Along the River Tay, by Robin Crawford Robin Crawford's last book, 2018's Into the Peatlands, was an exploration of the ways in which the titular landscapes here in Scotland link us to our past. Now, in The Sound of Many Waters, he sets out to explore the River Tay, delving into its history and also charting the ways in which it has impacted on his own life. (Birlinn, £14.99, 3 July) A Year with the Seals, by Alix Morris As the title suggests, this book sees Maine-based environmental journalist Alix Morris spend a 12 month period delving into the secret lives of seals. Along the way she meets the scientists who study them, the fishermen who curse them and the surfers and swimmers who now encounter seal-hunting sharks in coastal waters more frequently as seal numbers increase. (Ithaka, £16.99, 10 July) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
Mint
25-05-2025
- Science
- Mint
Mysterious sphere found in Buga, Colombia sparks UFO speculation
A strange metallic sphere discovered in Buga, Colombia, has reignited public interest in UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). The object, retrieved on March 2, has prompted both excitement and caution among researchers and skeptics alike. The object, first reported by social media page @Truthpolex, was seen flying before it landed in the Colombian town. Witnesses described it as a smooth, metallic orb with no visible welds or joints. Observers noted that it consists of three concentric layers, and inside are 18 micro-spheres arranged around a dense central core. The sphere has no welds or joints. Weighing approximately 4.5 pounds and unusually cold to the touch, the orb also bears markings that resemble ancient writing systems, including runes, Ogham, and Mesopotamian scripts, further deepening the mystery. While the object's design and discovery have led to UFO speculation, scientists like Julia Mossbridge, founder of The Institute for Love and Time (TILT) and a physicist at the University of San Diego, are urging restraint. 'It looks to me like a really cool art project,' Mossbridge told Fox News Digital. 'We are entering a time when we don't have the control that we thought we had.' She said that jumping to conclusions about alien origins reflects humanity's difficulty in accepting uncertainty. 'Something shows up that doesn't fit our model of the world, and we immediately want to label it,' she added. Mossbridge places the Colombian sphere in a broader global context, highlighting the ongoing interest and investigation into UAPs. 'Frankly, we've been looking at UAPs for decades,' she said. 'The federal government has admitted there are things that we don't understand, but we are investigating them.' Groups like the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, the UAP Disclosure Fund, and the Galileo Project are spearheading independent scientific inquiries. 'They are all trying to get rigorous information themselves, not necessarily waiting on the federal government,' Mossbridge said. 'And they're looking for international cooperation. Because, for instance, the sphere in Colombia is in a different country. So, what are the rules about how we deal with something that's interesting that's found there?' Before assuming extraterrestrial origins, Mossbridge strongly recommends that such objects undergo scientific vetting. 'Bring the object to a group like the Galileo Project,' she said. 'Experts can determine if the material is clearly non-human-made.' While skeptical of this particular find, Mossbridge emphasised that it doesn't invalidate the broader phenomenon. Despite her doubts about the Buga sphere, she emphasised that it doesn't discount all the other objects that are of extraterrestrial origin.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
A mysterious metallic sphere, without joints and ancient scripts, found in Colombia. Here's all we know about it
A strange metallic sphere discovered in Buga, Colombia, has ignited online speculation, with some suggesting it could be extraterrestrial in origin. According to the social media page @Truthpolex, the object was seen flying in an erratic pattern above the town on March 2 before landing. Locals quickly recovered the sphere, which reportedly weighed around 4.5 pounds and felt unnaturally cold to the touch. Researchers who examined the object say its design defies typical manufacturing methods. Radiologist Dr. Jose Luis Velazquez, part of the investigative team, noted that the three-layered sphere contains no visible welds or joints—a feature that led him to describe it as "artificial in origin." Inside, they found 18 micro-spheres arranged around a dense central core. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo More intriguingly, the outer shell of the orb bears markings that resemble ancient scripts—including runes, Ogham, and Mesopotamian writing. Using AI tools, researchers claim to have decoded a message embedded in the design: "The origin of birth through union and energy in the cycle of transformation, meeting point of unity, expansion, and consciousness—individual consciousness." — Truthpolex (@Truthpolex) Live Events MORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ Strange, black triangular tower spotted at Area 51 on Google Maps. Here's all we know Aliens or Spy Satellite? Strange glowing spiral over UK leave people puzzled « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMIT The investigative team interpreted the message as a call for humanity to elevate collective awareness in order to heal and support the planet. Despite the buzz, not everyone is convinced. Julia Mossbridge, a physicist at the University of San Diego and founder of The Institute for Love and Time (TILT), told Fox News Digital that the object could just as easily be an elaborate art project. 'Before jumping to conclusions, let's bring this to rigorous scientific examination,' she said. Mossbridge pointed to decades of documented UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) sightings and emphasized that serious organizations like the Galileo Project and the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies are working to verify such claims using hard science, not speculation. "We need international cooperation and scientific scrutiny—especially when such objects are discovered outside U.S. borders," she said. "There are global questions here: Who owns it? Who investigates it? And what standards apply?" While Mossbridge doubts the Colombian sphere is alien in origin, she added that this discovery doesn't discredit the existence of other potentially unexplained objects.
Scottish Sun
09-05-2025
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Scientists studying ‘UFO orb' that ‘landed in Colombia' claim mysterious object is ‘alien' after scanning it with X-rays
The chilling sphere showed signs that it was not constructed by humans ON THE BUBBLE Scientists studying 'UFO orb' that 'landed in Colombia' claim mysterious object is 'alien' after scanning it with X-rays Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SCIENTISTS are studying a mysterious "UFO orb" which landed in Colombia and is said to be "alien". Boffins released X-ray images of the mind-boggling sphere, after witnesses claimed to have seen it flying over the town of Buga in March. 7 Boffins are researching a mysterious UFO orb Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 Scientists have released X-ray images of the item Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 The alien object had 18 spheres inside its core Credit: @Truthpolex / X It was said to have been zig-zagging through the skies in an unconventional flying pattern. The "UFO sphere" was reportedly recovered shortly after landing. It has since been analysed by scientists who have now revealed their groundbreaking research on the "extraterrestrial item". They discovered that it featured three layers of metal-like material and 18 micro-spheres inside which surrounded a central nucleus. Scientists are calling this core "a chip". A radiologist who examined the sphere Dr Joe Luis Velazquez said that they found "no welds or joints", which usually indicate human production. The scientist concluded: "It is of artificial origin, in that it shows no evidence of welding, and its internal structure is composed of high-density elements. "More testing is needed to establish its origin." The mind-blowing object also displayed symbols that the team compared to ancient scripts. These included runes, Ogham and Mesopotamian writing systems. Watch terrified Russians blast at mystery rumbling 'UFO helicopter' over MOSCOW making beeline for Vlad…but what is it? The scientists used AI to help them decode the bizarre text. They interpreted it as saying: "The origin of birth through union and energy in the cycle of transformation, meeting point of unity, expansion, and consciousness—individual consciousness." The researchers said that they understood the text to be a "message to humanity, encouraging a collective shift in consciousness to help Mother Earth". The object was recovered on March 2 by a group of people who said it weighed about four and a half pounds. They described it as having "the temperature of a refrigerator" when they touched it. 7 Radiologists examined the UFO sphere that crashed in Buga, Colombia Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 It was discovered in a forest in Buga, Colombia Credit: @Truthpolex / X One of the individuals who recovered the object David Velez el Potro said that the object was authentic, and claimed to have found it in the woods in Buga. He also said the man who found and touched it, Jose, felt sick for days after touching the alien sphere. Velez el Potro said: "When I poured water on it, it started to smoke and the water vaporised instantly." There are yet to be any official reports or scientific analysis to confirm claims of a sphere falling over Buga - only eyewitness reports. Velez el Potro added the government contacted him to hand over the sphere, but he refused, arguing that it would "never be seen again". Researchers found that the sphere had irregular edges which indicated "that it is a solid object". The outer layer was said to be the most dense area, almost possessing human bone density. The breakthrough research suggests that the outer layer could be made of titanium or steel. FAMOUS UFO INCIDENTS The 'Night of the UFOs' is among many famous unexplained encounters with strange objects in the sky that have happened down the years. Perhaps the most striking was a video known as the 'Tic-Tac' – which showed an unidentified object being pursued by fighter planes. While flying off the coast of California 2004, two pilots from the USS Nimitz on a routine training mission spotted an object "shaped like a 40ft Tic Tac sweet". Then in 2005, a veteran pilot of an F/A - 18 fighter aircraft witnessed a raft of strange objects in the sky during a training exercise off the coast of Florida. The two videos were sensationally released by the Pentagon in 2017. Tragically the pursuit of UFOs has also claimed lives, notably that of US Air Force Captain Thomas Mantell. He died after being sent to chase a mysterious object in his fighter aircraft in 1948. Other encounters with the air force include a claim that UFOs disabled weapons at a nuclear base. Captain Robert Salas said the bizarre incident unfolded in 1967 while he was the on-duty commander of a secret underground launch control facility at Montana's Malmstrom Air Force Base. US forces based in Britain also had an encounter with a strange glowing in the sky in Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk. Two airmen, Staff Sgt Jim Penniston and Airman John Burroughs, claim they got so close to a triangular craft they actually touched it. Earlier this year, US military documents were released showing how a warship was shadowed by two "ball of light" UFOs deepening the mystery around the case. But the scientists still need a full composition analysis to confirm this. The 18 smaller spheres within the object's centre appeared to be aligned in a non-randomised pattern. Boffins are currently referring to the 18 points as "a chip" due to their precise arrangement and location within the spherical object. The team also observed a central band composed of a different material, which contained more small spheres. They think that these may have been placed inside before the object was sealed. But the X-rays did not reveal any visible signs of assembly techniques by humans. 7 The mysterious object also had text written on one of its sides Credit: @Truthpolex / X
The Irish Sun
09-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Scientists studying ‘UFO orb' that ‘landed in Colombia' claim mysterious object is ‘alien' after scanning it with X-rays
SCIENTISTS are studying a mysterious "UFO orb" which landed in Colombia and is said to be "alien". Boffins released X-ray images of the mind-boggling sphere, after witnesses claimed to have seen it flying over the town of Buga in March. 7 Boffins are researching a mysterious UFO orb Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 Scientists have released X-ray images of the item Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 The alien object had 18 spheres inside its core Credit: @Truthpolex / X It was said to have been zig-zagging through the skies in an unconventional flying pattern. The "UFO sphere" was reportedly recovered shortly after landing. It has since been analysed by scientists who have now revealed their groundbreaking research on the "extraterrestrial item". They discovered that it featured three layers of metal-like material and 18 micro-spheres inside which surrounded a central nucleus. read more world news Scientists are calling this core "a chip". A radiologist who examined the sphere Dr Joe Luis Velazquez said that they found "no welds or joints", which usually indicate human production. The scientist concluded: "It is of artificial origin, in that it shows no evidence of welding, and its internal structure is composed of high-density elements. "More testing is needed to establish its origin." Most read in The Sun The mind-blowing object also displayed symbols that the team compared to ancient scripts. These included runes, Ogham and Mesopotamian writing systems. Watch terrified Russians blast at mystery rumbling 'UFO helicopter' over MOSCOW making beeline for Vlad…but what is it? The scientists used AI to help them decode the bizarre text. They interpreted it as saying: "The origin of birth through union and energy in the cycle of transformation, meeting point of unity, expansion, and consciousness—individual consciousness." The researchers said that they understood the text to be a "message to humanity, encouraging a collective shift in consciousness to help Mother Earth". The object was recovered on March 2 by a group of people who said it weighed about four and a half pounds. They described it as having "the temperature of a refrigerator" when they touched it. 7 Radiologists examined the UFO sphere that crashed in Buga, Colombia Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 It was discovered in a forest in Buga, Colombia Credit: @Truthpolex / X One of the individuals who recovered the object David Velez el Potro said that the object was authentic, and claimed to have found it in the woods in Buga. He also said the man who found and touched it, Jose, felt sick for days after touching the alien sphere. Velez el Potro said: "When I poured water on it, it started to smoke and the water vaporised instantly." There are yet to be any official reports or scientific analysis to confirm claims of a sphere falling over Buga - only eyewitness reports. Velez el Potro added the government contacted him to hand over the sphere, but he refused, arguing that it would "never be seen again". Researchers found that the sphere had irregular edges which indicated "that it is a solid object". The outer layer was said to be the most dense area, almost possessing human bone density. The breakthrough research suggests that the outer layer could be made of titanium or steel. FAMOUS UFO INCIDENTS The 'Night of the UFOs' is among many famous unexplained encounters with strange objects in the sky that have happened down the years. Perhaps the most striking was a video known as the 'Tic-Tac' – which showed an unidentified object being pursued by fighter planes. While flying off the coast of California 2004, Then in 2005, a veteran pilot of an F/A - 18 fighter aircraft witnessed a raft of strange objects in the sky during a training exercise off the coast of Florida. The two videos were sensationally released by the Pentagon in 2017. Tragically the pursuit of UFOs has also claimed lives, notably that of US Air Force Captain Thomas Mantell. He died after being sent to chase a mysterious object in his fighter aircraft in 1948. Other encounters with the air force include a claim that UFOs disabled weapons at a nuclear base. Captain Robert Salas said the US forces based in Britain also had an encounter with a strange glowing in the sky in Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk. Two airmen, Staff Sgt Jim Penniston and Airman John Burroughs, claim they got so close to a triangular craft they actually touched it. Earlier this year, US military documents But the scientists still need a full composition analysis to confirm this. The 18 smaller spheres within the object's centre appeared to be aligned in a non-randomised pattern. Boffins are currently referring to the 18 points as "a chip" due to their precise arrangement and location within the spherical object. The team also observed a central band composed of a different material, which contained more small spheres. They think that these may have been placed inside before the object was sealed. But the X-rays did not reveal any visible signs of assembly techniques by humans. 7 The mysterious object also had text written on one of its sides Credit: @Truthpolex / X 7 Witnesses say they spotted the object flying in the skies Credit: @Truthpolex / X
