Name: Pentagon UFO Chief Intrigued by Possible Alien 'Dandelion Seeds' in Our Solar System
Uploaded: 2023-03-16T06:37:47.000Z
Description: It's possible that an extraterrestrial spacecraft is sending mini-probes to study the planets of our solar system, in a way similar to what human space agencies do, the head of the Pentagon's unidentified anomalous phenomena research office said in a recent draft report.

Jack Bradley is a Washington correspondent for NTD News based in Washington, D.C. Jack previously anchored "NTD Newsroom" and worked as an assistant producer for the show. 

Jack Bradley

NTD Plus

Shows

The Capitol Report is a political news show based in Washington D.C. We provide the world with a direct channel to the voices and people who shape policy in America. Capitol Report features all of the political news of the day with expert interviews and analysis.

Capitol Report

Iran Must Stop Hezbollah From Provoking Israel: Middle East Analyst

World Cup Tourists Discover America Is More Than Negative Stereotypes: Panel Weighs In

'Young Washington' Screenwriter Shares How Film Portrays Coming of Age for First President

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

Trump: We Have to Keep Israel a Little Bit Sane

Europe Must ‘Pay Their Fair Share’: Panel Discusses Hegseth’s Rebuke to NATO

‘You Have No Right to Attack and Burn Down Our Buildings’: Rep. Greg Steube on Antifa Violence and Left Wing Terrorism

‘This Is Changing the Architecture of the Middle East’: Former Navy Seal on Iran Memorandum

Latest Clips

Gas Drops Below $4 and Oil Down $35 a Barrel From Wartime High

Trump to NTD: Plummeting Oil Prices to Boost Economy

‘Majority Approval by Far’: Panel Discusses Save America Act as Trump Ties It to FISA Extension

Steve Lance is NTD's Washington D.C. Bureau Chief and chief political correspondent. Steve anchors NTD's "Capitol Report," a political news show based in the nation's capital aimed at providing a direct channel to the voices and people who shape policy in America. Steve also co-moderates NTD's special election coverage "The Nation Decides."

Steve Lance

Vance Trip to Switzerland Postponed, as Iran Looks to Leverage Israel–Hezbollah Tension

White House: Iran Gets Nothing It Didn't Already Have and Any Benefits Hinge on Behavior Change

Capitol Report Full Broadcast (June 17)

FBI Thwarts Plot Targeting UFC at White House; Trump Fires Back at Claims the US Is Investing in Iran

Iris Tao is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. Prior to her work at the White House, Iris reported on U.S. politics and U.S.–China relations from NTD’s New York headquarters. She holds degrees in journalism and economics from Boston University.

Iris Tao

US Says Iran Memorandum Based on Verifiable Steps, Not Promises; Iran Foreign Minister Agrees Deal Is Close

Iran Deal May Be Signed Over the Weekend as US Cancels Strikes; Trump Urges Congress to Pass Voter ID Law

House Passes ICE, CBP Funding Through End of Trump’s Term; Trump Vows Response to Iranian Attack on US Helicopter

Israel, Iran Halt Fire After Trump's Order; California's Slow Ballot Counting Under Scrutiny

Melina Wisecup is NTD's congressional correspondent based in Washington, covering Capitol Hill and campaign politics.

Melina Wisecup

House to Take Up ICE, CBP Funding After Senate Passes It; Putin Rejects Zelenskyy’s Request for Talks

Trump Launches ‘Clean, Beautiful Coal’; Congress Tackles Welfare Fraud

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

News

World News

Americas

Helicopter With Singer Oliver Tree on Passenger List Collides With Another in Brazil, Killing 6

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

News with integrity, from the United States and around the world. Focused reports and analyses that shed light on major issues the world deserves to know. NTD Evening News airs daily at 6 p.m. ET.

NTD Evening News

Up to 900 Planes Grounded Worldwide Amid Engine Shortage, United CEO Says

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

Andrew Thomas is a reporter for NTD News primarily covering business, the economy, and technology. 

Andrew Thomas

Science &amp; Tech

NASA Reverses Evacuation Alert Order for Astronauts Aboard Space Station

Rudy Blalock is a Southern California-based daily news reporter for NTD. Originally from Michigan, he moved to California in 2017 and the sunshine and ocean have kept him here since. In his free time, he may be found underwater scuba diving, on top of a mountain hiking or snowboarding, or at home meditating—which helps fuel his active lifestyle.

Rudy Blalock

US News

State News

California

8 Dead After B-52 Bomber Crashes at Edwards Air Force Base in California

40,000 Ordered to Evacuate as Chemical Tank Leaks, Threatens Explosion in California

Video of US Fighter Jet Shooting Down UFO Over Lake Huron Emerges in New Pentagon Files

Ohio

At Least 12 People Shot at Ohio Festival, Search for Suspects Ongoing: Police

Mary Man is a writer for NTD. She has traveled around the world covering China, international news, and arts and culture.

Mary Man

Daniel Monaghan is a reporter for NTD News covering culture, social issues, and education. He holds a BA in Political Science and Government.

Daniel Monaghan

China News

Epoch Times Obtains Over 2,000 Unseen Tiananmen Square Photos on 37th Anniversary of the June 4th Massacre

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

US Embassy in Israel Issues Travel Alert for Much of Middle East

Los Angeles Warehouse Fire Prompts Shelter-in-Place Orders

It's possible that an extraterrestrial spacecraft is sending mini-probes to study the planets of our solar system, in a way similar to what human space agencies do, the head of the Pentagon's unidentified anomalous phenomena research office said in a recent draft report.

The characteristics of certain unusual, unexplained interstellar objects have prompted researchers to consider the possibility of "a parent craft that releases many small probes during its close passage to Earth, an operational construct not too dissimilar from NASA missions," Sean Kirkpatrick, director of the Defense Department's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), wrote in the report co-authored by Abraham "Avi" Loeb, chairman of Harvard University's astronomy department.

Kirkpatrick, who previously served as the chief scientist at the Defense Intelligence Agency's Missile and Space Intelligence Center, has been leading the AARO since its founding in July 2022. The office is tasked to, among other things, <a href="https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3249317/dod-office-moving-ahead-in-mission-to-identify-anomalous-phenomena/">evaluate reports</a> of unidentified anomalous phenomena filed by all service members, according to the Pentagon.

Loeb, on the other hand, is known for his work studying the "Oumuamua" interstellar object, which was first discovered in October 2017 by a telescope in Hawaii and sparked much speculation that it could have been a probe sent by an alien civilization. He launched and directs Harvard's <a href="https://projects.iq.harvard.edu/galileo/home">Galileo Project</a>, which aims to identify and examine "extraterrestrial technological signatures" using standard scientific methods.

Their draft report (<a href="https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/~loeb/LK1.pdf">pdf</a>), released on March 8, specifically discusses two objects: Oumuamua, which appears to have an extremely flat shape and curiously lacks the kind of cometary tail of gas and dust an asteroid typically has; and IM2, a meter-size interstellar meteor that collided with Earth in March 2017.

"These 'dandelion seeds' could be separated from the parent craft by the tidal gravitational force of the Sun or by a maneuvering capability," the authors wrote, indicating that the supposed mothership could launch an Earth probe from a faraway place with a small ejection speed.

"With proper design, these tiny probes would reach the Earth or other solar system planets for exploration, as the parent craft passes by within a fraction of the Earth-Sun separation—just like 'Oumuamua' did," they explained. "Astronomers would not be able to notice the spray of mini-probes because they do not reflect enough sunlight for existing survey telescopes to notice them."

The Earth-Sun separation, also known as an astronomical unit, is equivalent to 92.96 million miles (149.6 million kilometers).

The paper also looked into the likely purpose of such a journey. In analogy with actual dandelion seeds, the authors said, the probes could "propagate the blueprint of their senders."

"As with biological seeds, the raw materials on the planet's surface could also be used by them as nutrients for self-replication or simply scientific exploration," the paper stated. With that said, the authors argued that such exploration probably has nothing to do with human species, considering the sheer time scale associated with it.

"More likely, and similar to NASA's missions, the goal would be scientific and exploratory in nature," they wrote.

The AARO paper, titled "Physical Constraints on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena," came after a bipartisan <a href="https://www.rubio.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=79D042CD-39D5-4320-A735-5ABA753A5DE4">group of 16 senators</a> asked the Biden administration to fully fund the office.

The Defense Department's initial request for funds in Fiscal Year 2023 would only fund basic operating expenses for AARO, and the office "is facing a funding shortfall that will impede its ability to fulfill its mission," according to the Senators, led by Marco Rubio, (R-Fla.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.).

"AARO provides the opportunity to integrate and resolve threats and hazards to the U.S., while also offering increased transparency to the American people and reducing the stigma," the lawmakers wrote in a Feb. 16 letter to Pentagon. "AARO's success will depend on robust funding for its activities and cooperation between the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community."

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/pentagon-ufo-chief-intrigued-by-possible-alien-dandelion-seeds-in-our-solar-system_5125125.html">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Programs

Earth

Videos

04_Top Stories

pentagon

aliens

Bill Pan is an Epoch Times reporter covering education issues and New York news.

Bill Pan

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.