Alien Bases on the Moon? UFO Claims, Martian “Ruins” & SETI’s New Astrobiology Lab

This week on Headlines from the Beyond:

Are there extraterrestrial bases on the Moon? A new preprint from researchers at Ukraine's Main Astronomical Observatory claims that high-speed video recordings captured more than 20 unidentified objects near the Moon, including objects described as "atmospheric" and "continental" UFOs. The researchers argue that some of these objects may represent a technologically advanced civilization using the Moon as a base. We examine what the study actually claims, why its lack of peer review matters, and the methodological questions surrounding observations made with high-speed cameras.

We also take a look at a strange formation photographed by NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars. The dark rectangular feature has been compared online to a doorway or entrance to an ancient structure, prompting speculation about whether Mars could once have been home to a lost civilization. But a closer look at the scale and geology tells a much less extraordinary story. We break down what Curiosity actually photographed—and why the Martian landscape is so good at producing apparent "artifacts."

Finally, we look at a major development in the scientific search for life beyond Earth. After more than 25 years of research into planetary habitability and biosignatures, NASA's Virtual Planetary Laboratory has moved to the SETI Institute, where its interdisciplinary team will continue investigating how scientists can determine whether distant worlds support life. We discuss what this means for the future of astrobiology and the search for life beyond our solar system.

Plus, we're getting ready for next week's Paranormal Research Symposium in Gettysburg, where we'll be talking about the Sallie House and the ongoing study of the paranormal.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

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Show Notes

UFO Dynamics on the Moon

Mysterious 'doorway' spotted in NASA Mars photo sparks theories of lost civilization

NASA Curiosity rover creates stunning high-resolution panorama of its home on Mars using over 1,000 images taken of the Martian surface

Celebrating 25 Years of Exoplanet Astrobiology: Welcoming the Virtual Planetary Laboratory to its New Home at the SETI Institute

Paranormal Research Symposium