A sign directs travellers to the start of the '1947 UFO Crash Site Tours' in Roswell, New Mexico. AP
A sign directs travellers to the start of the '1947 UFO Crash Site Tours' in Roswell, New Mexico. AP
A sign directs travellers to the start of the '1947 UFO Crash Site Tours' in Roswell, New Mexico. AP
A sign directs travellers to the start of the '1947 UFO Crash Site Tours' in Roswell, New Mexico. AP

Nasa briefs public on UFO study before releasing final report


  • English
  • Arabic

A panel formed by Nasa last year to study “unidentified anomalous phenomena”, popularly known as UFOs, briefed the public on Wednesday ahead of a report that will be published in July.

Several people on the 16-member team have been subjected to "online abuse" due to the subject of the study, which Nasa's Dan Evans said detracts from the scientific process.

“It’s precisely this rigorous, evidence-based approach that allows one to separate the fact from fiction," Mr Evans said.

The panel was formed in June 2022 to examine UFOs after the US Defence Department released videos of UFOs during a congressional hearing on the mysterious objects.

“We have the tools and team who can help us improve our understanding of the unknown. That’s the very definition of what science is. That’s what we do,” Thomas Zurbuchen, the associate administrator for science at Nasa headquarters in Washington, said when the panel was formed.

The term UFO has since been replaced with UAP by the US to determine unidentified objects. The new designation suggests that sightings other than those that were airborne may be included.

Nasa also warned the public to not jump to any conclusions about aliens in space.

“There is no evidence UAPs are extraterrestrial in origin,” the agency said.

Nasa defines a UAP as “observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective”.

Nasa said collecting more data on UAPs can be used to align with the agency's goals of ensuring the safety of aircraft.

  • A parking sign at the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, Nevada. Reuters
    A parking sign at the Little A'Le'Inn in Rachel, Nevada. Reuters
  • A video grab image obtained on April 28, 2020, shows part of a video taken by Navy pilots in which 'unidentified aerial phenomena' can be seen. AFP
    A video grab image obtained on April 28, 2020, shows part of a video taken by Navy pilots in which 'unidentified aerial phenomena' can be seen. AFP
  • Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray points to a video display of an unexplained aerial phenomenon during a 2022 hearing. AP
    Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray points to a video display of an unexplained aerial phenomenon during a 2022 hearing. AP
  • A video of a UAP is paused for display during the hearing. AP
    A video of a UAP is paused for display during the hearing. AP
  • Mr Bray speaks before a subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee on 'unidentified aerial phenomena', commonly known as UFOs. EPA
    Mr Bray speaks before a subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee on 'unidentified aerial phenomena', commonly known as UFOs. EPA
  • Mr Bray and Mr Moultrie speak during the hearing. AP
    Mr Bray and Mr Moultrie speak during the hearing. AP
  • Andre Carson, a Democratic representative from Indiana, waits to lead a subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee during a hearing on UAPs. EPA
    Andre Carson, a Democratic representative from Indiana, waits to lead a subcommittee of the House Intelligence Committee during a hearing on UAPs. EPA
  • Under Secretary of Defence for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie speaks at the hearing. EPA
    Under Secretary of Defence for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie speaks at the hearing. EPA
  • Tree Hotel in Swedish Lapland offers eight unique cabins, including this UFO. Photo: Tree Hotel
    Tree Hotel in Swedish Lapland offers eight unique cabins, including this UFO. Photo: Tree Hotel
  • People wait to listen to a panel of UFO experts at the International UFO Museum and Research Centre during the UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico. AFP
    People wait to listen to a panel of UFO experts at the International UFO Museum and Research Centre during the UFO Festival in Roswell, New Mexico. AFP
  • People in costume after the Abduction Parade during the UFO Festival in Roswell. AFP
    People in costume after the Abduction Parade during the UFO Festival in Roswell. AFP
  • People wear tin foil hats during the UFO Festival. AFP
    People wear tin foil hats during the UFO Festival. AFP
  • People take pictures of exhibits at the International UFO Museum and Research Centre. AFP
    People take pictures of exhibits at the International UFO Museum and Research Centre. AFP
  • People take pictures at the Roswell festival. AFP
    People take pictures at the Roswell festival. AFP
  • A person wearing an alien costume roller skates through traffic down Main Street during the UFO Festival. AFP
    A person wearing an alien costume roller skates through traffic down Main Street during the UFO Festival. AFP
  • A UFO spotter scans the sky at a popular UFO spotting area in Katoomba, Australia. Photo: Ian Waldie
    A UFO spotter scans the sky at a popular UFO spotting area in Katoomba, Australia. Photo: Ian Waldie

Reuters contributed to this report

Representing%20UAE%20overseas
%3Cp%3E%0DIf%20Catherine%20Richards%20debuts%20for%20Wales%20in%20the%20Six%20Nations%2C%20she%20will%20be%20the%20latest%20to%20have%20made%20it%20from%20the%20UAE%20to%20the%20top%20tier%20of%20the%20international%20game%20in%20the%20oval%20ball%20codes.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeren%20Gough-Walters%20(Wales%20rugby%20league)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBorn%20in%20Dubai%2C%20raised%20in%20Sharjah%2C%20and%20once%20an%20immigration%20officer%20at%20the%20British%20Embassy%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20she%20debuted%20for%20Wales%20in%20rugby%20league%20in%202021.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESophie%20Shams%20(England%20sevens)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWith%20an%20Emirati%20father%20and%20English%20mother%2C%20Shams%20excelled%20at%20rugby%20at%20school%20in%20Dubai%2C%20and%20went%20on%20to%20represent%20England%20on%20the%20sevens%20circuit.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFiona%20Reidy%20(Ireland)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMade%20her%20Test%20rugby%20bow%20for%20Ireland%20against%20England%20in%202015%2C%20having%20played%20for%20four%20years%20in%20the%20capital%20with%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20previously.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UK’s AI plan
  • AI ambassadors such as MIT economist Simon Johnson, Monzo cofounder Tom Blomfield and Google DeepMind’s Raia Hadsell
  • £10bn AI growth zone in South Wales to create 5,000 jobs
  • £100m of government support for startups building AI hardware products
  • £250m to train new AI models
How to get there

Emirates (www.emirates.com) flies directly to Hanoi, Vietnam, with fares starting from around Dh2,725 return, while Etihad (www.etihad.com) fares cost about Dh2,213 return with a stop. Chuong is 25 kilometres south of Hanoi.
 

Turning%20waste%20into%20fuel
%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
AUSTRALIA SQUAD

Steve Smith (capt), David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Chadd Sayers, Mitchell Starc.

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Your rights as an employee

The government has taken an increasingly tough line against companies that fail to pay employees on time. Three years ago, the Cabinet passed a decree allowing the government to halt the granting of work permits to companies with wage backlogs.

The new measures passed by the Cabinet in 2016 were an update to the Wage Protection System, which is in place to track whether a company pays its employees on time or not.

If wages are 10 days late, the new measures kick in and the company is alerted it is in breach of labour rules. If wages remain unpaid for a total of 16 days, the authorities can cancel work permits, effectively shutting off operations. Fines of up to Dh5,000 per unpaid employee follow after 60 days.

Despite those measures, late payments remain an issue, particularly in the construction sector. Smaller contractors, such as electrical, plumbing and fit-out businesses, often blame the bigger companies that hire them for wages being late.

The authorities have urged employees to report their companies at the labour ministry or Tawafuq service centres — there are 15 in Abu Dhabi.

What is dialysis?

Dialysis is a way of cleaning your blood when your kidneys fail and can no longer do the job.

It gets rid of your body's wastes, extra salt and water, and helps to control your blood pressure. The main cause of kidney failure is diabetes and hypertension.

There are two kinds of dialysis — haemodialysis and peritoneal.

In haemodialysis, blood is pumped out of your body to an artificial kidney machine that filter your blood and returns it to your body by tubes.

In peritoneal dialysis, the inside lining of your own belly acts as a natural filter. Wastes are taken out by means of a cleansing fluid which is washed in and out of your belly in cycles.

It isn’t an option for everyone but if eligible, can be done at home by the patient or caregiver. This, as opposed to home haemodialysis, is covered by insurance in the UAE.

Avatar%3A%20The%20Way%20of%20Water
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3.5%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Updated: May 31, 2023, 4:31 PM