Latest news with #ProximaCentauri
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- Scottish Sun
Aliens could use Heathrow Airport as homing beacon to find us & experts reveal how long it might take them to get here
LONGEST HAUL Aliens could use Heathrow Airport as homing beacon to find us & experts reveal how long it might take them to get here Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HUMANS have been searching for aliens for decades - but all this time, intelligent extraterrestrial life could have found us, according to a new study. Heathrow Airport has been acting as a sort of homing beacon to find us, experts at have revealed at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting (NAM 2025) in Durham. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 This artist's impression shows the rocky planet Proxima Centauri b - Earth's closest potentially habitable planet 6 This artist's impression shows the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri But it's not just Heathrow - the largest and busiest airport in the UK, but Gatwick and New York's JFK International Airport, too. All civilian airports and military bases that use radar systems have been inadvertently revealing our existence to potential advanced alien civilizations, new research suggests. If aliens are equipped with state-of-the-art radio telescopes like our own - they would be able to spot hidden electromagnetic leakage from these Earth sites up to 200 light-years away. The study also suggests that 200 light-years is just how far humans would be able to look to spot aliens who have evolved to use a similar level of technology. As airport radar systems sweep the skies for airplanes, they send out a combined radio signal of 2x1015 watts, the researchers said. 6 But it's not just Heathrow - the largest and busiest airport in the UK, but Gatwick and New York's JFK International Airport, too Credit: Getty 6 Airport radar systems sweep the skies for airplanes Credit: Getty That's enough power to be picked up as far as 200 light-years away by telescopes as strong as the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, the world's biggest fully steerable radio telescope. For context, the nearest potentially habitable world beyond our solar system is Proxima Centauri b, which is 4 light-years away. And while it would take thousands of years to get there with today's technology, there are a number of potentially habitable worlds in that distance. Lead researcher Ramiro Caisse Saide, of the University of Manchester, said these signals would look "clearly artificial to anyone watching from interstellar distances with powerful radio telescopes." First ever bombshell vid of infamous 'Mosul orb' UFO is released The Ph.D student added: "In fact, these military signals can appear up to a hundred times stronger from certain points in space, depending on where an observer is located. "Our findings suggest that radar signals - produced unintentionally by any planet with advanced technology and complex aviation system - could act as a universal sign of intelligent life." By simulating how these radar signals emit from Earth over time and space, the researchers looked at how visible they would be from nearby stars. The research may help guide other scientists on identifying promising technosignatures emitted by alien worlds, Saide explained. Co-researcher, Professor Michael Garrett, of the University of Manchester, added: "By learning how our signals travel through space, we gain valuable insights into how to protect the radio spectrum for communications and design future radar systems. "The methods developed for modeling and detecting these weak signals can also be used in astronomy, planetary defence, and even in monitoring the impact of human technology on our space environment." 6 If aliens are equipped with state-of-the-art radio telescopes like our own - they would be able to spot hidden electromagnetic leakage from these Earth sites up to 200 light-years away Credit: Getty 6 The research may help guide other scientists on identifying promising technosignatures emitted by alien worlds, Saide explained Credit: Getty All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is Earth? Plus other facts on our planet How many moons does Mercury have? What colour is Venus? How far away is Mars to Earth? And other facts on the red planet How big is Jupiter? How many moons does Saturn have? Does Uranus have rings? How many moons does Neptune have? How big is Pluto? How hot is the Sun?
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Aliens could use Heathrow Airport as homing beacon to find us & experts reveal how long it might take them to get here
HUMANS have been searching for aliens for decades - but all this time, intelligent extraterrestrial life could have found us, according to a new study. Heathrow Airport has been acting as a sort of homing beacon to find us, experts at have revealed at the Royal Astronomical Society's National Astronomy Meeting (NAM 2025) in Durham. Advertisement 6 This artist's impression shows the rocky planet Proxima Centauri b - Earth's closest potentially habitable planet 6 This artist's impression shows the planet Proxima b orbiting the red dwarf star Proxima Centauri But it's not just Heathrow - the largest and busiest airport in the UK, but Gatwick and New York's JFK International Airport, too. All civilian airports and military bases that use radar systems have been inadvertently revealing our existence to potential advanced alien civilizations, new research suggests. If aliens are equipped with state-of-the-art radio telescopes like our own - they would be able to spot hidden electromagnetic leakage from these Earth sites up to 200 light-years away. The study also suggests that 200 light-years is just how far humans would be able to look to spot aliens who have evolved to use a similar level of technology . Advertisement READ MORE ON SPACE As airport radar systems sweep the skies for airplanes, they send out a combined radio signal of 2x10 15 watts, the researchers said. 6 But it's not just Heathrow - the largest and busiest airport in the UK, but Gatwick and New York's JFK International Airport, too Credit: Getty 6 Airport radar systems sweep the skies for airplanes Credit: Getty That's enough power to be picked up as far as 200 light-years away by telescopes as strong as the Green Bank Telescope in West Virginia, the world's biggest fully steerable radio telescope. Advertisement For context, the nearest potentially habitable world beyond our solar system is Proxima Centauri b, which is 4 light-years away. And while it would take thousands of years to get there with today's technology, there are a number of potentially habitable worlds in that distance. Most read in Science Exclusive Exclusive Lead researcher Ramiro Caisse Saide, of the University of Manchester, said these signals would look "clearly artificial to anyone watching from interstellar distances with powerful radio telescopes." First ever bombshell vid of infamous 'Mosul orb' UFO is released The Ph.D student added: "In fact, these military signals can appear up to a hundred times stronger from certain points in space, depending on where an observer is located. Advertisement "Our findings suggest that radar signals - produced unintentionally by any planet with advanced technology and complex aviation system - could act as a universal sign of intelligent life." By simulating how these radar signals emit from Earth over time and space, the researchers looked at how visible they would be from nearby stars. The research may help guide other scientists on identifying promising technosignatures emitted by alien worlds, Saide explained. Co-researcher, Professor Michael Garrett, of the University of Manchester, added: "By learning how our signals travel through space, we gain valuable insights into how to protect the Advertisement "The methods developed for modeling and detecting these weak signals can also be used in astronomy, planetary defence, and even in monitoring the impact of human technology on our space environment." 6 If aliens are equipped with state-of-the-art radio telescopes like our own - they would be able to spot hidden electromagnetic leakage from these Earth sites up to 200 light-years away Credit: Getty 6 The research may help guide other scientists on identifying promising technosignatures emitted by alien worlds, Saide explained Credit: Getty All you need to know about planets in our solar system Our solar system is made up of nine planets with Earth the third closest to the Sun. But each planet has its own quirks, so find out more about them all... How old is How many moons does What colour is How far away is How big is How many moons does Does How many moons does How big is How hot is the Advertisement
Forbes
6 days ago
- Science
- Forbes
Earth-Like Planets May Be ‘Abundant' Around Red Dwarfs, Scientists Say
This artist's impression shows a sunset seen from the super-Earth Gliese 667 Cc. Astronomers have ... More estimated that there are tens of billions of such rocky worlds orbiting faint red dwarf stars in the Milky Way alone. There could be potentially hundreds of Earth-like planets close to the solar system, according to a new study that has found them to be common around the most typical kind of star. Red dwarf stars — low-mas stars about a tenth to a fifth the mass of the sun — make up about 80% of the stars in the Milky Way, according to the European Southern Observatory. It's also thought that 20 out of the 30 stars near Earth are red dwarfs, including the closest star, Proxima Centauri, which was recently discovered to have potentially two planets in orbit. Now, results from a new project called CARMENES have led to the identification of four new exoplanets — and a powerful new insight into where more are likely to be found. Four New Exoplanets An exoplanet is a planet that orbits a star other than the sun. Using an instrument called CARMENES at the Calar Alto Observatory near Almería, Spain, astronomers studied 15 red dwarf stars and discovered four new planets. Three of the planets were Earth-sized, while one was 14 times larger. Extrapolating that data in a new paper published in Astronomy & Astrophysics shows that stars with less than 16% of the star's mass have, on average, about two planets that are less than three times the mass of Earth. 'Quite Remarkable' Findings The discovery is limited to small planets — large planets appear to be rare around red dwarfs. 'It is quite remarkable how often small planets occur around very low-mass stars,' said lead author Dr Adrian Kaminski from the Königstuhl Observatory at the Center for Astronomy at Heidelberg University, Germany. 'This suggests that low-mass stars tend to form smaller planets in close orbits.' Red Dwarves And 'Earth 2.0' Of the 5,000 exoplanets discovered so far, none is a twin of Earth in terms of the type of star it orbits or its mass, radius and surface temperature. However, aside from orbiting a red dwarf star, the three small planets discovered using CARMENES do meet other criteria. 'Small, rocky planets in the so-called habitable zone – the area around a star where water could exist in liquid form – are potential candidates for habitable worlds,' said Prof. Dr Andreas Quirrenbach, director of the Königstuhl Observatory. He added that since they're common and long-lived, red dwarf stars could provide stable environments for the development of life. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
New York Post
15-06-2025
- Science
- New York Post
US government uses UFOs as cover to ‘hide a lot of things': ex-NASA official
In an era captivated by unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and government conspiracies, one former NASA official is cutting through the noise and casting doubt on aliens coming to Earth. Joseph Gutheinz, a retired senior special agent with NASA's Office of Inspector General and current criminal defense attorney, said it's time to apply science, not speculation, to the debate. 'Prove it. Honestly, prove it,' he said to those who believe in the presence of UFOs on Earth. 'They've been claiming that there have been UFOs since the 1940s. And, you know, Area 51 supposedly houses UFOs,' he told Fox News Digital. 'Have someone go in, look at Area 51.' Gutheinz said that during his work with the NASA Office of Inspector General, he would regularly get calls from individuals who believed they were abducted, or had a chip in their brain from aliens. 4 Joseph Gutheinz, a former NASA agent, is casting doubt on aliens coming to Earth. Fox News 4 Gutheinz said that during his work with the NASA Office of Inspector General, he would get calls from people who thought they were abducted, or had a chip in their brain from aliens. AP 'What I used to tell my students was the possibility of anybody coming from another world to visit us was beyond unlikely,' he said. 'And what I would tell the people that would call me up with these tales about being visited by aliens, see a psychiatrist.' Citing astronomical distances and scientific understanding of the solar system, Gutheinz explained the improbability of any extraterrestrial visitors reaching Earth. 'There are up to 400 billion stars in the Milky Way. There are maybe one to two trillion galaxies in the universe. But the reality is this, the closest solar system is Alpha Centauri. Alpha Centauri A, B, and Proxima Centauri are the closest stars,' he said. 4 A UFO variety was photographed when it hovered for fifteen minutes near Holloman Air Development Center in New Mexico. Bettmann Archive 'The bottom line is that it's 4.4 light years away, or 25 trillion miles away. And if somebody started flying to Proxima and Satori, or the other way around, it would take them over 70,000 years to get there,' he said. 'Nobody is visiting us from another world, likely.' He pointed to moons like Europa, Ganymede, Titan, and Triton as the only plausible places for primitive life in our solar system. 'If there is life on any of those moons, it's possible. Again, it is primitive, it is microorganisms, it's nothing that's going to visit us in a flying saucer.' 4 Razor wire and security cameras at the entrance to Area 51, a secretive U.S. military base believed by UFO enthusiasts to hold government secrets about extraterrestrials. REUTERS When asked whether such sightings could be explained as natural or spiritual phenomena, he suggested that it could be government testing. 'If you're seeing something up there, and it's real, it's coming from the Chinese or the Russians or your next-door neighbor flying around with their drone,' he said. Historical military secrecy, Gutheinz suggested, may have played a major role in fostering the UFO myths. 'I believe early on in the 1940s when all these UFO stories started coming up, it was because the military was probably testing some aircraft, and they didn't want the Russians to know about it,' he said. 'And so, if the UFO cover worked, and I would not be surprised if there are some people in the military and the government that played along with that in order to conceal our stealth technology, that is really remarkable, and they just don't want to share that with other countries.' 'The bottom line is, I think that we use the UFO cover to hide a lot of things.' Fox News Digital has reached out to NASA for comment.
Forbes
31-05-2025
- General
- Forbes
Scientists: Webb Telescope May Find Planet Around Closest Bright Star
Alpha Centauri, one of the two "Pointer Stars" that help stargazers find the Southern Cross in the ... More Southern Hemisphere, may have a planet in orbit around it. If it does, the Webb Telescope will find it — as long as it's Jupiter-sized. The closest star to the sun, Proxima Centauri, has a planet. It may even have two planets. Proxima Centauri is located in the constellation Centaurus, visible only from the southern hemisphere, but it's a red dwarf star too small to be seen. That brightest star in Centaurus — and the third brightest in the entire night sky — is Alpha Centauri. It's two stars (Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B) orbiting each other, with Proxima Centauri orbiting them every 550,000 years, in a weird-sounding (but not rare) three-star solar system. Does Alpha Centauri have planets around it? It's a Holy Grail among planet-hunters, mostly because Alpha Centauri is only 4.37 light-years distant. Since it's so close to the solar system, it's theoretically an ideal target for astrometry (the study of the movements of stars and celestial bodies), as well as for direct infrared imaging using the James Webb Space Telescope, two techniques that can detect planets orbiting distant stars — exoplanets. A new paper published this week in Research Notes of the American Astronomical Society details the use of the Webb telescope to study Alpha Centauri in February 2025. Although it didn't detect any planets, it provides glimpses of what may still be hiding around the star. The Alpha Centauri star system — a triple-star planetary system. According to the paper, the Webb telescope's Mid-InfraRed Instrument would have detected gas giant planets like Jupiter at about twice the Earth-sun distance from Alpha Centauri A if they were roughly similar to Earth's temperature. It's tricky because, in a system with two bright stars, light pollution is always a problem. Although the Webb telescope has a coronagraph disc to block the light from the host star (by creating an artificial eclipse) to help it detect planets in the vicinity, it doesn't have two coronagraphs to use on two separate stars. Despite that — and despite Alpha Centauri Ac being five billion years old, meaning any planets in its orbit would likely be very old, cool and therefore dim — the scientists think the Webb telescope can still be used to find large Jupiter-sized planets in its orbit. The authors call Alpha Centauri "an exceptional but challenging target for exoplanet searches." This early conclusion is based on just one set of observations from February 2025. Webb also observed Alpha Centauri A in August 2024 and April 2025, so more conclusions — and possibly a discovery of a planet — could be imminent. Illustration of the Earth-like exoplanet Proxima Centauri b orbiting the star Proxima Centauri. ... More (Illustration by Tobias Roetsch/Future Publishing via Getty Images) In 2016, astronomers found an exoplanet in Proxima Centauri's habitable zone and named it Proxima Centauri b. This exoplanet orbits its star every 11 days from just 5% of the Earth-sun distance from the star. Proxima Centauri b is thought to orbit the star's 'habitable zone,' which is defined as a distance that allows temperatures to be warm enough for liquid water to pool on the planet's surface. However, it's thought that Proxima Centauri sometimes unleashes a massive stellar flare — an energetic explosion of high energy radiation — that would make life as we know it impossible on any planets in orbit. A paper in 2020 suggested that Proxima Centauri may be orbited by a second "super-Earth" sized planet (bigger than Earth, but smaller than Uranus) about the same distance from its star as Mars is from the sun. If it exists, it orbits Proxima Centauri every 5.2 Earth years. Barnard's star is one of the fastest-moving stars in the night sky because it's just six light-years from the solar system. In October 2024, scientists unveiled a planet around it thought to be about half the size of Venus. Called Barnard's b, it's around 20 times closer than Mercury is to the sun. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
