Ghosts and UFO's

 The theory linking ghosts to UFOs is gaining popularity, especially in the context of interdimensional hypotheses, which suggest that both ghosts and UFOs may be manifestations of the same type of energy or phenomena from other dimensions. Proponents of this theory point out that both UFO sightings and paranormal phenomena, such as encounters with ghosts, may result from the intersection of our world with other realities. According to this theory, UFOs and ghosts do not have to be separate phenomena but may come from the same energy sources, located outside our standard spatial and temporal dimensions. Jacques Vallée, a famous ufologist, has pointed out that UFO phenomena do not necessarily have to be of extraterrestrial origin. In his book *Passport to Magonia*, he pointed out that many of these sightings can be linked to ancient legends of ghosts, demons, and other supernatural beings. Vallée suggested that UFOs could be a manifestation of another dimension, parallel to our own, that sometimes intersects with our world, leading to sightings of both UFOs and ghosts. According to this theory, interdimensional entities can pass between dimensions, which would explain their ability to appear and disappear and manipulate space-time.

Another interesting interpretation is the theory that UFOs could be manifestations of plasma energy or energy-based biological entities. Some researchers suggest that UFOs could be plasma-based life forms that exist in outer space and weather phenomena. Such entities, called "sky critters," would have the ability to shapeshift and move between dimensions, resembling behaviours attributed to ghosts in witness accounts.

Culturally, different societies around the world have their own interpretations of UFO and ghost phenomena. Many Appalachian Native American traditions have stories of *Moon-eyed People*—mysterious humanoids who appeared and disappeared in ways that are reminiscent of modern UFO reports. This suggests a common tendency across cultures to link supernatural phenomena with visitations from other dimensions. While many aspects of this theory remain speculative, the common denominator of UFOs and spirits as manifestations of interdimensional energy offers a new approach to understanding these phenomena. Modern research that connects these two areas may help us better understand how different dimensions affect our reality and how they may manifest as mysterious beings.

Poltergeists

 Poltergeists, or "noisy spirits," have fascinated and frightened people around the world for centuries. They are mysterious phenomena that include spontaneous movement of objects, mysterious noises, and sometimes even physical attacks on people. Poltergeists differ from traditional ghosts in that their activity is not focused on visual manifestations, but on dynamic and often terrifying physical effects. This phenomenon has been described in many cases, including the famous Enfield incident in the 1970s, where a family witnessed terrifying, inexplicable events, such as furniture moving on its own and mysterious voices. Scientists and researchers of paranormal phenomena have tried to explain poltergeists in various ways. One popular theory is psychokinesis, or the ability of the mind to influence physical objects without the use of mechanical force. There are studies that suggest that poltergeists may be the result of unconscious mental processes in people, especially children and adolescents, experiencing strong emotions or tensions. Neuropsychological studies have shown that some people who experience poltergeist phenomena may have unusual activity in the areas of the brain responsible for movement and perception.

An interesting theory is that poltergeists may be the result of unconscious psychokinesis, where intense emotions lead to the emission of energy that affects the surroundings. Such phenomena often occur around people who are under great stress or experiencing intense emotional changes. Some studies indicate that in such cases, there may be changes in brain activity that can cause small movements of objects.

However, poltergeist phenomena remain controversial. Many phenomena attributed to poltergeists have turned out to be fakes or the result of overinterpretation. Sceptics argue that many poltergeist reports can be explained by natural phenomena, such as hallucinations, auditory illusions, or attempts to attract attention from people with emotional or mental problems.

Despite scepticism, poltergeists have become a permanent fixture in popular culture, inspiring films, books, and television shows. Classic films such as 1982's "Poltergeist" further fuel the fascination with the phenomenon, creating an image of menacing, invisible forces capable of influencing the material world. Poltergeists remain one of the most enigmatic phenomena on the border between science and the paranormal. Whether they are the result of unknown mental forces, fraud, or the work of invisible entities - the answer to this question remains elusive, and the subject of poltergeists continues to fascinate and arouse emotions.

Remote Viewing and UFOs

 Remote viewing is a phenomenon in which a person, without physical access to the location, attempts to obtain information about distant locations or events through thought alone. While remote viewing remains a controversial topic, especially in the scientific world, its practitioners have long claimed to have discovered extraordinary things, including UFO bases in places like Antarctica.

One of the most high-profile cases linking remote viewing to UFOs involves Ingo Swann, who claimed to have used his ability to discover structures on the Moon and Antarctica that he believed were connected to aliens. Swann was a key figure in the Stargate project, a secret US military program that investigated the use of paranormal phenomena for military purposes. Works like his have often been criticized by the scientific community due to their lack of repeatable results and scientific verification. While his claims of UFO bases in hard-to-reach places like Antarctica were popular with conspiracy theorists, scientists remain skeptical. As the most inaccessible continent, Antarctica has long been a subject of fascination for both researchers and conspiracy theorists. Expeditions such as Operation Highjump in 1946 increased interest in the region, and some theories claim that mysterious structures have been discovered beneath the ice. Claims of UFO bases in Antarctica are often based on satellite images that supposedly show anomalies in the ice, which some interpret as alien structures. However, such images are usually the result of natural geological processes, such as melting ice, and do not provide any evidence of extraterrestrial technology. The scientific community is very wary of such claims. Remote viewing, although studied extensively, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, has not produced results that could be considered credible evidence of such abilities. Eventually, projects such as Stargate were shut down, and their results were heavily criticized for their lack of repeatability and conclusiveness. For scientists, claims of remote viewers discovering UFO bases are still pseudoscience, unsupported by hard evidence. UFO enthusiasts, however, continue to view remote viewing as a tool for uncovering hidden truths. They argue that the official closure of projects like Stargate does not mean an end to research into the phenomenon, but rather a cover-up of its findings. Antarctica, with its mysterious, little-explored areas, remains a focus of these theories, linking them to visions of UFO bases waiting to be discovered.

Elementals: Discover the Secrets of the Nature Spirits

 Elementals, also known as nature spirits, have fascinated people around the world for centuries. In various cultures, they are considered to be creatures inhabiting the natural world, often associated with the elements – earth, water, fire and air. Although they are often confused with the spirits of the dead, their origins are completely different. Elementals symbolize the primal power of nature, acting as guardians of the elements, and their presence is connected to the forces of nature that are beyond human control.

In Norse mythology, elves (Álfar) were often considered spirits associated with the elements and nature. The light elves, who inhabited Alfheim, had a special relationship with the god Freyr, who was their lord. These mysterious beings were considered the personification of abundance and fertility, and sacrifices made to the elves were supposed to ensure a good harvest. In this context, elves had a clear connection with the earth and fertility.

Another well-known elemental is the goblins, which originate from European folklore. Unlike elves, goblins are often depicted as mischievous and grotesque creatures, although their role in protecting the land is no less important. Goblins guard the treasures of the earth, such as minerals and gems, and their presence is often seen as negative. In popular culture, their image has changed, with some stories depicting goblins as beings capable of creating beautiful works of art.

In the Wicca tradition and in British and Celtic folklore, faeries are another example of nature spirits. These beings, sometimes depicted as small, winged creatures and sometimes as larger, human-like creatures, act as guardians of forests, meadows, and other wild places. Faeries are associated with magic and illusion, and their world is governed by its own rules. In Celtic culture, stories of humans who enter the fairy realm and do not return to the world of the living are common. Faeries do not like to be seen by humans, and their capricious nature makes relationships with them dangerous. Elementals are also associated with the elements in magical practices. For example, the air spirits known as sylphs represent lightness and movement, while the fire spirits, salamanders, are associated with energy and transformation. In various cultures, these elementals act as guardians of the elements, and their symbolism in rituals and legends reflects the power of nature they represent. Nature spirits, such as elves, goblins, and faeries, are beings with a strong connection to nature and play an important role in the mythologies and beliefs of many cultures. Although their natures can vary from protective to malevolent, elementals represent primal forces that continue to fascinate people, reminding them of the untamed power of nature.

Appalachian Mysteries: Are They Really as Scary as People Say?

 The Appalachians, the majestic mountains stretching along the eastern coast of the United States, have fascinated for centuries not only with their beauty but also with a dark aura of mystery. These mountains, as old as the world, hide stories in their valleys and forests that freeze the blood of even the most sceptical researchers. Is it possible that in the 21st century, in the era of science and technology, there are still places where reality mixes with legend, and rational explanations give way to incredible theories? One of the most intriguing phenomena of the Appalachians is the legend of the Mothman - a mysterious creature with the characteristics of a human and a moth. The first reports of encounters with this enigmatic creature come from 1966 from Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Witnesses described it as a humanoid figure about 2 meters tall, with enormous wings and hypnotizing, red eyes. Interestingly, Mothman sightings have often preceded tragic events, giving him the status of a sinister prophet.

While sceptics have tried to explain the Mothman phenomenon as cases of misidentification of large birds such as owls or cranes, or even as the result of mass hysteria, the number of accounts and their consistency over the decades make it difficult to discredit them all. What’s more, the Mothman legend has inspired numerous scientific studies, documentaries, and books, becoming an integral part of Appalachian folklore.

But Mothman is not the only mysterious creature to inhabit these mountains. The legend of the Moon-eyed People dates back to pre-colonial times. According to local legends, they were small, pale creatures with large, blue eyes who inhabited Appalachian caves long before European settlers arrived. These mysterious creatures were said to avoid sunlight and were nocturnal.

Anthropologists and historians speculate that the stories of the Moon-eyed People may be a distorted echo of real encounters between Native Americans and early European explorers, or even a vestige of prehistoric migration. Some scholars have even suggested that the legend may be connected to cases of albinism among local tribes. Regardless of the true origins of these stories, the Moon-eyed People have become a permanent part of Appalachian mythology, lending an aura of mystery to the region.

One of the most fascinating and still unexplained Appalachian phenomena is the Brown Mountain Lights—mysterious lights that have been observed for centuries around Brown Mountain, North Carolina. Witnesses describe them as bright balls of light that hover over ridges, moving unpredictably and sometimes disappearing as suddenly as they appear.

Theories about the origin of the Brown Mountain Lights are as numerous as they are fanciful. Some believe they are the spirits of Native American warriors searching for their lost comrades. Others suggest that they may be manifestations of geological phenomena, such as piezoelectricity or methane gas combustion. There is also no shortage of hypotheses about the connection between the lights and UFO activity. Despite numerous attempts to scientifically explain the phenomenon, the Brown Mountain Lights remain one of the greatest mysteries of Appalachia, attracting thousands of curious observers and paranormal researchers each year. Appalachia is also a place where mysterious disappearances often occur. The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located in the heart of Appalachia, is the third largest national park in the United States, but it also has one of the highest rates of unexplained disappearances. Some of these cases are so strange and inexplicable that they have given rise to theories about the existence of portals to other dimensions or the activity of extraterrestrial civilizations in the mountains.

One of the most intriguing aspects of the mysteries of Appalachia is how deeply rooted they are in local culture and identity. For many locals, tales of the Mothman, the Moon-eyed People, and the Brown Mountain Lights are not just folklore, but living traditions passed down from generation to generation. These legends influence the art, literature, and music of the region, becoming an integral part of Appalachia’s cultural heritage.

Interestingly, despite technological and scientific advances, the mysteries of Appalachia have not lost their power. On the contrary, in the age of the internet and social media, these stories have gained new life, reaching a wider audience and inspiring new generations of explorers and adventurers.

Scientists, folklorists, and anthropologists are constantly trying to unravel the mysteries of Appalachia, balancing a rational approach with an openness to unconventional explanations. It is this duality—the clash of science and mystery—that makes Appalachia such a fascinating area of ​​study.

Do the Appalachians really hold secrets that go beyond our understanding? Or are all these legends merely figments of human imagination, fueled by the rugged beauty and wild nature of the mountains? Regardless of the answer, one thing is certain - the Appalachians remain a place where the line between reality and legend is thinner than anywhere else, and every expedition into their depths can be the beginning of an extraordinary adventure. The Mysteries of the Appalachians remind us that even in today's seemingly fully discovered and explored world, there are still places full of mysteries and unexplained phenomena. It is this uncertainty, this sense that perhaps not everything can be explained by modern science, that makes the Appalachians continue to fascinate and attract adventurers, paranormal researchers, and ordinary tourists from all over the world.

Orby: Ghosts in Photographs or Just Dust?

 The phenomenon of orbs, which often appear in photographs as luminous balls, has been controversial for years. Some see it as evidence of the existence of ghosts, while others see it as the result of technical limitations of cameras. Although most scientists believe that an orb is simply a speck of dust, a drop of water, or an insect reflecting the light of a flash, there are many who see this phenomenon as evidence of the existence of supernatural beings. So what are the facts and what are the myths associated with orbs?

Starting with the basics, an orb is a spherical photographic artifact that is created mainly when light is reflected from particles located close to the camera lens. This phenomenon has intensified with the development of digital technology, where the flash is often placed very close to the lens, which facilitates the creation of such effects in photographs. As a result, most researchers, especially photographers, lean towards a natural explanation for orbs.

Pollen, raindrops, and even insects can be captured as luminous balls that are mistakenly interpreted as something unusual. It has been shown that in many cases, the light from the flash reflects off dust particles in such a way that characteristic round shapes are created in the photos, which is a result of optical physics, not paranormal phenomena.

However, on the other hand, supernatural theories have gained a lot of supporters. Some people claim that orbs are spirits or other spiritual entities that manifest their presence in the form of luminous balls. There are even interpretations that suggest that the colors of the orbs have meaning - a white orb is supposed to symbolize harmony and purity, blue means protection, and green means healing.

Proponents of the paranormal theories believe that orbs can also be spirit guides that appear at important moments in life, such as weddings, funerals, or other emotionally intense situations. There are also accounts of people who claim to have seen orbs with their own eyes, not just in photos, which further complicates the debate. In such cases, orbs often accompany intense spiritual experiences, leading some to believe that they are manifestations of angelic or spiritual energy. Although paranormal interpretations of orbs are very popular, they are hardly proof of the existence of ghosts. Modern science has not yet provided hard evidence that could unequivocally confirm the paranormal nature of orbs. Many skeptics emphasize that the human brain is prone to looking for patterns where there are none, which often leads to misinterpretations of phenomena such as orbs. This phenomenon, known in psychology as "pareidolia," involves attributing meanings to images that do not actually exist, such as seeing faces in the clouds. Although many researchers lean toward a scientific explanation for the phenomenon of orbs, the subject remains open. Optical phenomena such as orbs can be both the result of technical limitations of cameras or the manifestation of something that science has not yet been able to explain. However, until concrete evidence emerges that will unequivocally resolve the dispute, orbs will remain one of the most intriguing phenomena on the border between science and esotericism.

Haunted Places?

 Phenomena considered paranormal, such as hauntings, have fascinated people around the world for years. However, modern science offers a number of explanations that can shed new light on these mysterious phenomena. One key area of ​​research is electromagnetic fields.

Studies have shown that changes in the electromagnetic field can affect the human senses, causing feelings of anxiety and even the sensation of the presence of "ghosts". Experiments conducted by neurologist Michael Persinger have shown that subtle changes in electromagnetic fields can make people feel the presence of an invisible being. In this way, many alleged hauntings can be explained by natural electromagnetic phenomena.

Another explanation is infrasound, or low-frequency sound waves that are invisible to the human ear but can cause strange sensations. Studies show that sounds below 20 Hz can cause people to feel fear and anxiety. The famous case of engineer Vic Tandy, who experienced a “haunting” in his laboratory, turned out to be the effect of infrasound from a fan, which caused visual hallucinations and strange sensations.

Additionally, scientists are also investigating the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can lead to hallucinations and delusions, misinterpreted as paranormal activity. In one case, a family experienced strange sounds and phenomena that stopped after a leaky heating system was repaired, suggesting that they were the result of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Modern research indicates that many phenomena considered paranormal have scientific explanations, which are related to the influence of the physical environment on human perception. Although the fascination with ghosts and haunted places remains strong, science is gradually trying to discover rational explanations for these phenomena.

Romania's Bermuda Triangle - the haunted forest of Hoia Baciu

 Romania has long been on the sidelines of Polish tourist interests, although it has everything a vacationer could expect: wild nature, cultural wealth, high mountains, warm sea, historic towns and wonderful museums. Thrill-seekers can enjoy special attractions, such as Dracula's Castle in Bran or the haunted forest near Cluj-Napoca.

The Hoia-Baciu forest is located near the Romanian city of Cluj-Napoca and is known as one of the most mysterious places in Europe. They call it the “Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania.” The analogy is obvious: people disappear here without a trace, UFO encounters are not uncommon, and there is supposedly a portal to another world there. Residents of nearby villages advise against entering the Hoia-Baciu forest, so as not to incur the wrath of the sinister forces that they believe reside there. 

The main tourist attraction of Transylvania is considered to be Bran Castle, built in the 14th century. It was once ruled by the legendary Vlad the Impaler, better known as Count Dracula. The cruelty and bestiality of the ruler of Wallachia towards both enemies and his subjects are confirmed by historical sources, but they do not in any way prove Dracula's vampirism .

The forest itself is located west of Cluj-Napoca, but despite its proximity to the city, parts of it can be difficult to get through. It covers an area of ​​about three square kilometers (297 ha), and the area around the forest is built up and absorbed by civilization. In addition to the mysterious and enigmatic history, there is also a very real history here. Nearby is one of the oldest Neolithic settlements in Romania, which according to scholars was established around 6,500 BC. 

The southern boundary of the forest is formed by an east-west ridge of a hill that marks the valley of the Someșul Mic River. To the north, the forest adjoins a slope that joins the Nadăș River. The eastern edge is formed by a valley that divides the hill from north to south, while the western edge adjoins Melurilor Hill. There are several springs with drinking water on the northern edge of the forest. In general, it is a mixed deciduous forest with downy oak, sessile oak, hornbeam, dogwood, hazel, black locust, Scots pine, black pine, lime, Norway maple, wild apple and pear. There are also various herbaceous plants. The 12-hectare area covered with downy oak is protected as part of the Natura 2000 project.

In recent years, more and more tourists have been trying to visit not so much Dracula's castle, but the surrounding Hoia Baciu forest, where paranormal events have become almost commonplace. And yet, a hundred years ago, it was an ordinary forest. Locals hunted there, picked mushrooms and berries. A worn-out trail ran through the forest, on which travelers were not afraid to travel even at night. Today, this road is almost completely overgrown, and only lovers of extreme experiences risk a night trip to Hoia Baciu. Or ardent researchers of paranormal phenomena, of whom there is no shortage.

At the beginning of the last century (then it was simply called Hoia), the forest began to change literally before our eyes. Straight tree trunks gradually twisted at strange angles. The ground on the forest floor was overgrown with thick moss. Gradually, animals disappeared from the forest, and after them, almost all the birds. Locals whispered that in Hoia they saw Vlad the Impaler, also known as Dracula , who loved to hunt in these places at one time. Rumors circulated that the forest thicket had been chosen by the devil himself.

The Hoia forest began to earn its sinister reputation right after the end of World War I. In one of the nearby villages, there lived a shepherd nicknamed Baciu (which in Romanian means “leader” – a wealthy farmer, a kind of Carpathian shepherd). The locals were engaged in animal husbandry, and so Baciu, who bred and sold sheep by the hundreds, enjoyed general respect. One day in June, the shepherd drove a flock of two hundred sheep to the market in the city of Cluj (the name was changed to Cluj-Napoca by the Romanian authorities only in 1974). As usual, he drove the animals along a well-known path through the forest, but he never got anywhere. He left home with his sheep early in the morning and disappeared without a trace.

When he did not appear at the fair at the agreed time, the merchants waiting for the flock, for which they had already paid an advance, began to worry. The inhabitants of the city and the surrounding villages (a few thousand people participated in the search) literally combed the forest, but no trace of either the farmer or the sheep could be found. There had been no robbers in this area for a long time, but even if a group of thieves had appeared from somewhere and killed Baciu, it would have been unrealistic to steal such a large flock without drawing attention in the area. The generally respected farmer and his sheep disappeared without a trace. People concluded that he had fallen victim to the powers of the devil, and from that moment on the forest began to be called "Hoia Baciu".

The forest, like a predator, having tasted human blood, kept demanding new victims. Over the course of several years, several more people disappeared in Hoia Baciu. Their bodies were also never found, but these tragedies can be considered unfortunate accidents, attacks by wild animals, and we can try to explain them somehow. Other stories, however, can be smelled from a distance as devilish tricks. Here are two examples that happened after World War II:

A young teacher, who was considered to believe neither in God nor the devil, went to Hoia Baciu to pick mushrooms. After some time, the locals found her sitting on the edge of the forest. The woman had completely lost her memory; she didn't even know her own name. And of course, she was unable to answer the question of what had happened to her in the forest.

Another time, a five-year-old girl ran into the forest chasing a colorful butterfly and disappeared. A search was conducted, but the child was never found. Only five years later did the missing girl – in the same dress and externally unchanged – emerge from the forest, holding a caught butterfly in her hand. She too could not tell where she had disappeared: for her, only a few minutes had passed from entering the forest to catching the butterfly.

Educated people, like the aforementioned teacher, consider such stories to be superstitions. That is why, although local residents avoid entering the forest, some visitors will always go there to look for berries and mushrooms. Not all, but many of these daredevils complained of various ailments soon afterwards: skin rashes, migraines, dizziness or vomiting without cause. After some time, they would recover, but the bad reputation of the Hoia Baciu forest continued to grow.      

In the 1960s, Romanian biologist Alexandru Sift became interested in the phenomenon of the Hoia Baciu forest. He was the first scientist to seriously study this mysterious area. Over the course of a year, ignoring the threats, he traversed the forest in all directions, spent the night in the forest wilderness, and conducted photo sessions. Interestingly, Hoia Baciu did not harm him at all. Alexandru Sift noted that deep in the forest there was a round clearing devoid of vegetation. A comparison of soil samples taken from this clearing with ordinary forest soil did not reveal any deviations from the norm. This means that the lack of plants in the clearing is not due to biological reasons.

Alexandru Sift drew attention to the photos taken during night sessions in the "bald" glade: after developing the photos, they often showed peculiar, large, luminous objects, invisible to the naked eye. Such luminous balls still often appear in digital photos today. Scientists have no explanation for them, but the locals know what they know: the balls of light are the souls of people who died here. The point is that the Transylvanian land was abundantly soaked in blood. In the Middle Ages, it kept changing hands, of course during battles, and the unfortunate local inhabitants were ruthlessly robbed and killed by both local rulers, Hungarians, and Turks.

In 1968, engineer Emil Barnea continued Sift's research. Shortly after beginning his observations in the Hoia Baciu forest, he managed to photograph a metallic UFO disk floating above the trees. Experts determined that it was indeed some kind of flying object, the nature of which they were unable to explain. It is considered to be the clearest and most reliable UFO photograph taken in Romania. 

Which people are more susceptible to the placebo effect?

 Religious people are more likely to benefit from placebo drugs or drugs that promise spiritual and supernatural healing. Recently published research has shown that placebos can trigger significant brain responses, as well as positive experiences associated with religious beliefs.

The placebo effect has been used in medicine for centuries. How does it work? There are many different types of placebos with different effects on health parameters. In order for a placebo to be valid, several conditions must be met. The patient must believe that they have received the real drug. Many psychological mechanisms are associated with placebo responses. Increased hope, positive expectations, and decreased anxiety can change the attitudes that control the patient's response to treatment.

This study examined the placebo effect in the context of religious beliefs and practices. Participants were given a harmless substance (tap water) along with a verbal suggestion that the water would come from the sanctuary of Lourdes (a Catholic pilgrimage site with reports of miraculous healings). In the placebo study, 37 women participated who believed that water from the sanctuary of Lourdes had a positive effect on their spiritual, emotional and physical state. In one group, participants drank tap water labelled “Lourdes water” (placebo). In another (control) session, they received tap water labelled “tap water”. Participants rated their physical state during the experiment and were asked about specific thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations immediately after each of the two treatments. The placebo reduced rsFC (brain activity in the resting state or in the off-task state) in the frontal and parietal cognitive control networks and increased rsFC in the attention network (insular cerebellar connection). During the sessions, participants rated their emotional state as very pleasant and calm. Immediately after the session, participants reported an increase in the intensity of pleasant bodily sensations and positive emotions (e.g. gratitude) after drinking the Lourdes water. These results provide the first evidence that placebo, in the context of religious beliefs and practices, can alter emotional state and induce real changes in the cognitive control structure of the brain.

Rabies virus found in worms dangerous to humans

 A new study published in *Nature Microbiology* suggests an intriguing link between parasitic roundworms and viruses, including rabies virus, that could affect how these worms cause disease in humans.

Scientists have identified as many as 91 RNA viruses in 28 species of roundworms, which make up 70% of the worms that infect humans and animals worldwide. In particular, one of the viruses, a type of rhabdovirus responsible for causing rabies, has been detected in the roundworms that cause onchocerciasis, a disease known for causing river blindness and epilepsy.

The research suggests that neurological symptoms, such as epilepsy, may be the result of infection with the virus, not just the worms themselves. As one of the study authors notes, the virus can enter nervous tissue, which would explain the neurological disorders in infected people, especially in regions where onchocerciasis is common, such as sub-Saharan Africa.

This discovery opens up a new perspective on understanding infections caused by parasites. Rather than the direct action of the worms, viruses may be the real factor causing severe symptoms in humans. Further studies could help us understand the full scope of interactions between worms and viruses and their role in causing disease.

The Sodder children - did they die in a fire or were they kidnapped?

 At around 1:30 a.m., Jennie Sodder was woken from her sleep by the smell of burning. The terrified woman realized that the house was on fire. She immediately woke her husband and rushed to save the children. After leaving the bedroom, the couple noticed fire coming from the fuse box. They tried to call for help but realized that the phone was not working. So they started shouting to their sleeping children upstairs, alerting them to the danger. John, George Jr., Marion, and Sylwia managed to get out. The other five children were nowhere to be seen. George and Jennie Sodder were born in Italy. Their parents emigrated to the United States to fulfill their American dream. George, a Sardinian, lived in his homeland longer than his wife, until he was 13. He settled in Pennsylvania, where he worked as a railroad hand, carrying water and provisions to workers. After a few years, he moved to Smithers, West Virginia, where he first found employment as a driver, and after gaining the necessary experience, he founded his own transport company, transporting earth and coal.

During this period, the young entrepreneur met Jennie Cipriani, a local woman who had left Italy at the age of three. The couple fell in love with each other and soon said their sacramental yes. Between 1923 and 1943, the couple welcomed ten children into the world. The whole group settled in Fayetteville, West Virginia, where they occupied a two-story wooden house with a large garden.

The Sodders easily found their place in the city, whose community consisted largely of similar Italian immigrants. George's transport business prospered and they soon became "one of the most respected middle-class families in the area."

It was Christmas Eve 1945. The Sodders were celebrating the joyous holiday with their nine children (one of the couple's sons, Joe, was serving in the U.S. Army and was due to return home any day now). When the evening came, the eldest son and the two oldest boys, John, 23, and George Jr., 16, decided to go to bed early, as they were tired from a long day at work in the family trucking business. The five younger children were allowed to stay up a bit longer in the living room to enjoy the toys that 17-year-old Mary Ann "Marion" Sodder had bought for the occasion. At about 10:30 p.m., Jennie Sodder also felt sleepy, so she went to the bedroom, taking her 3-year-old daughter, Sylvia, with her. Thirty minutes after midnight, the woman jumped to her feet, awakened by the ringing telephone. She went downstairs again and picked up the receiver. A woman's voice asked her for someone Jennie didn't know. She informed the stranger that she had dialled the wrong number. Mrs. Sodder laughed strangely and ended the call. Jennie dismissed the whole situation as a joke that wasn’t funny and went back upstairs. On the way, she noticed that the light in the living room was still on. Marion was asleep on the couch, she was alone. Mrs. Sodder assumed that the other children were in the attic, where their bedroom was. She turned off the light, drew the curtains, and went back to her bed.

At about 1:00 a.m., Jennie heard a dull sound, like something rubbery hitting the roof and then rolling down. She didn’t pay much attention to it, though. Half an hour later, she was up again. This time, the smell of burning woke her from her blissful unconsciousness. She realized that the house was on fire. She immediately woke her husband so that she and he could rush to save the children. The couple noticed flames coming from the fuse box in the room that George used as his office. They tried to call for help, but the phone didn’t work. They shouted to their sleeping children upstairs, warning them of the danger. John, George Jr., Marion, and Sylvia managed to get out. The other five children were nowhere to be seen. George was convinced that Maurice, 14, Martha, 12, Louis, 10, Jennie Irene, 8, and Betty, 5, were still in their beds in the attic. So he broke a window and went back into the house, cutting his hand in the process. Every room on the ground floor was engulfed in smoke and flames. Unable to get to the upper floor, he decided to try a different tactic. He ran back outside, hoping to reach his children through the window. To his dismay, he couldn’t find the ladder that always stood at the back of the house, leaning against one of the walls. George, however, didn’t give up. He ran to one of the two trucks parked on the property. If he could get close enough to the burning building, he could climb into the children’s bedrooms. But the truck wouldn’t start. And neither would the other truck parked next to it. Both had been working perfectly the day before. The desperate family elder tried to put out the fire with water from a rain barrel. However, it turned out that due to the freezing temperatures, the water had turned into a block of ice.

Marion Sodder, in despair, ran to her neighbours to call for help. Unfortunately, in those days, a telephone operator was needed to make the call. Despite Marion's repeated attempts to call her, no one answered. Finally, one of the witnesses to the tragedy got into his own car and traveled to Fayette to personally notify the fire department about the fire that had trapped five small children.

The firefighters did not arrive on the scene until around 8. Their delay was not due to ill will, but to staff shortages caused by the war and the fact that the unit commander did not have the qualifications to drive a fire truck, so the entire unit had to wait for a driver. By that time, all that remained of the Sodders' wooden house was the basement covered with a mountain of still-warm, smoking ash. It was clear to everyone that if the children had indeed been left in the attic, they had probably burned alive.

The police and firefighters began to dig up the ashes. However, they did not do it thoroughly enough, and at around 10:00 the commander of the unit told the distraught parents that no bones had been found among the charred remains. The next day, the local coroner officially announced that the five children had died in a fire caused by faulty electrical wiring. He also confirmed that the flames ignited in this way were hot enough to completely incinerate a human body.

The parents were issued death certificates. On January 2, 1946, a symbolic funeral was held for Maurice, Martha, Louis, Jennie Irene, and Betty. George and Jennie were unable to attend, so they sent their surviving children to replace them.

Shortly afterwards, the Sodders attempted to return to reality. George hired a bulldozer to cover the basement that had survived the fire with a 1.5-meter layer of earth, transforming it into a memorial garden. Jennie planted plants there, which she carefully tended to until the end of her days. However, the couple was not allowed to forget the tragedy. As time passed, they began to question all the official findings regarding the tragic fire. Above all, they suspected that it was not a coincidence at all, but a deliberate act.

George recalled that in the fall of 1945, a stranger had visited him. He had asked if there was anything he could do, but Sodder had said no. Instead of thanking him and going his own way, the stranger had walked around the family’s house and stopped at the fuse box. “This is going to catch fire someday,” he had said. Only then did he turn on his heel and walk away. George didn’t take his words to heart. A few days earlier, he had received an official certificate from the fire department that the installation had been done correctly.

In October 1945, a travelling insurance salesman tried to interest the Sodders in a life insurance policy. When he was turned down, he became angry and warned George, “Your house will burn down and your children will die. And it’s all because of the comments you made about Mussolini.” Soon after, an unknown car began to appear outside the family’s house.

The lead did seem promising. George Sodder was known in the area for his categorical views. He had repeatedly spoken out critically of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, causing disputes and quarrels in the local Italian immigrant community. Some of them were even offended by the insults directed at the Duce. Could it be that they decided to teach their rebellious neighbor a lesson?

The Sodders dug deeper. They consulted a telephone line installer. The man stated that their line appeared to have been deliberately cut, not burned. A witness reported to the police that he had seen a stranger on the family's property that day hanging around George's trucks.

With time, doubts grew. One day, little Sylvia found a round object made of hard rubber in the yard. Jennie recalled that on the night of the fire, she had heard a noise like something rolling on the roof. George concluded that it was a so-called "pineapple bomb", a specially prepared grenade that is filled with napalm. Such a bomb can be used to set fires remotely.

Jennie shared her husband's doubts. In addition, she could not come to terms with the information received from the firefighters that the bodies of her children had burned completely. After all, many household appliances were found in the ashes, which were still recognizable. If the little ones really died in the flames, some remains should have been preserved. The woman read an article in the local press reporting on a similar accident in which a seven-person family died. Seven skeletons were found in the ashes.

Jennie did not stop there, however. She experimented with fragments of animal bones, throwing them into the kitchen stove. Despite hours of roasting in the fire, the bones retained their shape. So the distraught mother went to the local crematorium. She learned that human bones can survive up to two hours in a cremation oven at temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius, conditions far more difficult than those experienced during the Sodder house fire.

Later, witnesses emerged who had allegedly seen the missing children. One woman claimed that during the fire she had seen five children sitting in a car driving in an unknown direction. A roadside diner employee confirmed this testimony, saying that she had served children and adults the following morning. The license plate indicated that the car was from Florida.

Desperate, the Sodders decided to hire a private investigator named C.C. Tinsley. He discovered that the insurance salesman who had threatened George in the past was on the coroner's advisory board that ruled the fire an accident. The family tried to get the Federal Bureau of Investigation involved in their tragedy, but the FBI refused, saying that they did not deal with local cases.

In August 1949, the area was searched again. Several fragments of human bones were found. The bones were found to belong to a man between the ages of 16 and 23 (the eldest of the missing Sodder sons, Maurice, was 14) and were certainly not in contact with the flames. Ultimately, it was determined that the bones most likely came from soil used to level the terrain. In 1950, the case of the missing children was officially closed. Despite everything, the Sodders did not give up hope. They printed flyers with photos of their children and offered a $5,000 reward for information about their fate. They soon doubled that amount to $10,000. They hired another private investigator, but his efforts did not yield much results. George Sodder died on August 16, 1969, and Jennie on February 15, 1989. The youngest of the 10 children, Sylvia, passed away on April 21, 2021.

Sources:

1. Casefile Presents, Case 192: The Sodder Children, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFsjLKSjrBw
2. https://the-line-up.com/sodder-children-disappearance-1945
3. M.Newton, The Encyclopedia of Unsolved Crimes, https://books.google.pl/books?id=gijG7fSwvjAC&pg=PA349&lpg=PA349&dq=sodder+children&source=bl&ots=KS-DEUfKxw&sig=ACfU3U0rWj0jXII3MnOUUM4vjjzlYwjehg&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjnla-BxoWGAxWFExAIHTFtCMo4FBDoAXoECAMQAw#v=onepage&q=sodder%20children&f=false
4. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/missing-sodder-children/
5. https://people.howstuffworks.com/sodder-children.htm
6. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-25/the-mystery-of-the-vanished-sodder-children/103245390
7. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sodder-children-disappearance-unsolved-mystery_n_6574961ae4b09724b4345a46
8. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-children-who-went-up-in-smoke-172429802/
9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodder_children_disappearance

Asteroid 2024 RW1 collided with Earth over the Philippines

 On Wednesday, September 4, 2024, astronomers from around the world watched with bated breath as asteroid 2024 RW1 entered Earth's atmosphere over the Philippines. This extraordinary event went down in history as the ninth time when an asteroid impact on our planet was predicted before it actually happened.

Asteroid 2024 RW1 was discovered by the Mt. Lemmon Observatory in Arizona just a few hours before it collided with Earth's atmosphere. The object, a member of the Aten group, entered the atmosphere at 16:39 UTC over the island of Luzon in the northern part of the Philippines, creating a spectacular fireball visible in the night sky.

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The estimated diameter of the asteroid was about 1 meter, which classified it as a relatively small space object. As expected, most of the asteroid's mass burned up in the atmosphere due to its enormous entry speed of 23.7 km/s (about 85,320 km/h). Still, it is possible that small fragments survived and reached Earth's surface as meteorites.

This fascinating event reminds us of other similar events in the history of astronomy. It is worth taking a closer look at the previous eight asteroids that were predicted to hit Earth's atmosphere:

1. 2008 TC3 - the first ever predicted asteroid, which hit the atmosphere over the Nubian Desert in Sudan on October 7, 2008. The object, about 4 meters in diameter, was discovered just a day before the impact.

2. 2014 AA - the second predicted asteroid, which entered the atmosphere over the Atlantic Ocean on January 2, 2014. It was about 3 meters in diameter and was discovered a few hours before impact.

3. 2018 LA - the third predicted asteroid, which broke up over the border of Botswana and South Africa on June 2, 2018. The object, about 3 meters in diameter, was discovered on the day of impact.

4. 2019 MO - The fourth predicted asteroid to enter the atmosphere over the Caribbean Sea, south of Puerto Rico, on June 22, 2019. It was about 5 meters in diameter.

5. 2022 EB5 - The fifth predicted asteroid to hit the atmosphere southwest of Jan Mayen Island in the Arctic Ocean on March 11, 2022. The object, about 3 meters in diameter, was discovered about two hours before impact.

6. 2022 WJ1 - The sixth predicted asteroid to enter the atmosphere over Niagara Falls on November 19, 2022. It was between 0.5 and 1.2 meters in diameter and was discovered several hours before impact.

7. 2023 CX1 - The seventh predicted asteroid to hit the atmosphere over the English Channel on February 13, 2023. The object, measuring between 0.8 and 1.8 meters in diameter, was discovered about three hours before the impact.

8. 2024 BX1 - the eighth predicted asteroid, which entered the atmosphere over Berlin on January 21, 2024. It had a diameter of between 0.7 and 1.6 meters and was discovered about three hours before impact.

As the ninth such event, asteroid 2024 RW1 is part of this series of fascinating events, providing scientists with further valuable data on small celestial bodies in our solar system.

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Each of these events has contributed to improving our understanding of the dynamics of small celestial bodies and their interactions with the Earth's atmosphere. It is worth noting that the ability to detect and predict such events has significantly improved in recent years, which is evidence of progress in the field of astronomy and observational technologies.

For scientists, each such event is an opportunity to better understand the composition and structure of small celestial bodies. Analysis of data from an asteroid's entry into the atmosphere can provide valuable information about its origin, age and history in the solar system. In addition, these observations help improve atmospheric models and better understand the processes occurring during the entry of space objects into the Earth's atmosphere.

It is worth emphasizing that although the asteroid 2024 RW1 and its predecessors did not pose a direct threat to life on Earth due to their small size, their detection and tracking is extremely important from a scientific point of view. Each such event provides valuable data on small celestial bodies in our solar system and allows for improving systems for detecting and predicting the trajectories of potentially dangerous objects.

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Programs such as NASA's Near-Earth Object Observations Program and ESA's Space Situational Awareness Program play a key role in identifying and tracking potentially hazardous objects. Events such as the entry of asteroid 2024 RW1 into Earth's atmosphere remind us of the need for continued investment in space research and planetary defense systems.

The invasion of alien species in Europe - catastrophic consequences for the economy and society

 Europe is facing an invisible but extremely dangerous enemy. These are neither terrorists nor foreign powers, but... animals and plants. Yes, you read that right. Alien species, which have begun to arrive en masse on our continent in recent decades, could lead to a real ecological, economic and social catastrophe. Does this sound like a science fiction movie script? Unfortunately, it is our reality.

Imagine Europe in 2050. City streets overrun by hordes of brown rats, parks full of aggressive raccoons, and red marsh crayfish reign supreme in ponds and lakes. Swarms of tiger mosquitoes fly overhead, and the air is filled with allergenic ragweed pollen. Does that sound like a nightmare? According to the latest research, if we do nothing, such a vision could become a reality. Scientists are warning that the number of alien species in Europe could increase by as much as 64% by 2050!

But why should we actually care? Are a few new species of animals and plants really such a problem? Well, yes, and a huge one at that. Invasive alien species are not just a curiosity of nature, but a real threat to our economy and society. Imagine the losses in agriculture caused by new pests, the destruction of infrastructure by rodents or the costs of treating diseases carried by alien insects. This is not science fiction, these are real threats that could cost us billions of euros per year.

But all is not lost! Scientists, managers and decision-makers are not sitting on their hands. They have developed four fascinating future scenarios that show what Europe could look like depending on the decisions we make today. These scenarios are not fortune tellers, but rather road maps that show us the possible consequences of our actions.

The first scenario, called "Big Tech Rules Europe", sounds like every technology fan's dream. Imagine a world in which the tech giants, not governments, have the most power. Sounds cool? Unfortunately, in this scenario, alien species thrive because no one is really concerned with controlling them. It's like a virus in your computer - if you don't have a good antivirus, sooner or later your system will crash.

The second scenario, "Technological pseudo-panacea", is a paradise for lovers of gadgets and innovation. Rapid technological development and a high level of biological safety mean that alien species don't have an easy life. But is technology really a cure-all?

"Green local governments" is a scenario that will appeal to all supporters of decentralization and localism. Local authorities gain more influence, and people value goods produced in their area. Sounds idyllic, doesn't it? The problem is that the lack of coordination between regions can make it difficult to effectively combat invasive species.

The last scenario, "Lost Europe", is a real nightmare for Euroenthusiasts. International cooperation collapses, social inequalities grow, and alien species, although fewer in number, remain out of control. It's like driving a car without a steering wheel - we're going slower, but who knows where we'll end up?

These scenarios may sound like the plots of science fiction movies, but it's on their basis that experts have formulated key recommendations. And that’s where the real fun begins! Imagine a dedicated European agency to combat invasive species. Sounds like something out of a spy movie, right? How about a cross-sectoral communication strategy and a centralized multilingual communication platform? It’s like Facebook, except instead of memes and cat photos, people would exchange information about alien species.

But that’s not all! Experts also recommend adopting standard protocols for collecting and sharing data. Sounds boring? What if I told you it’s like creating a large European database of alien species? Imagine if every citizen could report an encounter with an alien species, and scientists would immediately receive the information. It’s like playing Pokemon GO, except instead of catching virtual creatures, we help protect our continent!

The final recommendation is a holistic approach, taking into account the specifics of different sectors and countries. It’s like a large European strategic game, where each country has its own unique challenges and resources, and the common goal is to defend against the invasion of alien species.

Will Europe survive until 2050? It depends on us. We can sit back and wait for our cities to be overrun by rats and raccoons, and our forests to turn into alien, hostile jungles. Or we can take matters into our own hands and become the heroes of this story. We can create a Europe that is not only politically and economically united, but also ecologically - a Europe that can defend itself against the invasion of alien species while preserving its natural richness and diversity.

Remember that each of us has a role to play in this story. Whether it’s by raising awareness, supporting local environmental initiatives, or simply by keeping a close eye on our surroundings and reporting suspicious species. Together, we can make Europe the place we want to live in in 2050 – free from invasive species but full of fascinating native wildlife. The invasion of alien animals into Europe is not fiction – it’s a reality that we must face. But remember that in every invasion story, the most important thing is how the characters come together in the face of danger. Are we ready to be the heroes of this story?

Scientists have discovered that a day on Earth lasted 26 hours!

 Imagine waking up in the morning and your day lasting over 26 hours. Does that sound like a dream come true for anyone who complains about not having enough time? Well, it turns out that this used to be a reality! Scientists from Chengdu University of Technology in China have made a discovery that is upending our understanding of the history of Earth and the development of life on it.

In a groundbreaking study published in the prestigious journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), Chinese researchers have revealed that in the distant past, the day on our planet lasted much longer than it does today. No kidding - we're talking about over 26 hours! This discovery may seem trivial, but its implications are huge and fascinating.

Scientists have identified two key periods in Earth's history when our day was much longer. The first one occurred between 650 and 500 million years ago. During this time, the day on Earth lasted 2.2 hours longer than it does today. Interestingly, this period coincides with the so-called "Cambrian explosion" - a time when life on our planet suddenly exploded with diversity and complexity.

The second period of slowing down of the Earth's rotation occurred between 340 and 280 million years ago. Then, too, the day was longer by more than 2 hours compared to today. This period coincided with the era when huge glaciers covered much of the surface of our planet.

But what caused these dramatic changes in the length of the day? The answer may surprise you - it's our faithful companion, the Moon! It turns out that the Moon's movement away from Earth plays a key role in this process. Currently, the Moon is about 384.4 thousand kilometers away from us, but it used to be much closer. Its gradual movement away by about 20 thousand kilometers had a direct impact on the slowing down of our planet's rotation.

This fascinating discovery sheds new light on the development of life on Earth. Scientists suggest that the lengthening of the day, and consequently the increased time of exposure to sunlight, may have been one of the key factors that led to the rapid development and diversification of life on our planet.

Imagine what life would be like if the day lasted 26 hours. More time for sleep? Or maybe for development? For our ancestors, these extra hours of sunlight could have been a real catalyst for evolution. During the "Cambrian explosion" on Earth, new, more complex organisms appeared, replacing the previously dominant simple single-cell forms. The lengthening of the day could have stimulated oxygenation processes, which in turn allowed the development of more complex biological structures.

Similarly, the covering of the Earth by huge glaciers between 340 and 280 million years ago could have been associated with the lengthening of the day and changes in exposure to sunlight. These changes could have had a huge impact on the climatic and geological processes that led to the ice age. This shows how complex and interconnected the processes that shape our planet are.

This discovery opens up a completely new perspective on the history of the Earth. It shows that astronomical factors, such as the retreat of the Moon, may have been crucial to shaping life on our planet. It provides new insights into the processes that led to the emergence of complex life and to major climatic and geological changes.

Bright Fireball Over North Carolina and Tennessee - An Unusual Astronomical Phenomenon Over the USA

 

On Friday, August 30, 2024, at approximately 05:15 Universal Time (00:15 local time), residents of many US states, including North Carolina and Tennessee, were able to observe an extremely bright fireball. The object disintegrated over the town of Altapass, North Carolina, producing energy equivalent to 10 tons of TNT. There is a possibility that meteorites could have fallen in the area of ​​Spruce Pine, Ingalls, and Altapass.

According to data collected by the American Meteor Society (AMS), a total of 168 observations of the phenomenon had been reported by 21:45 UTC on Saturday. The object was identified as a fragment of an asteroid and was observed over Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.

The fireball was recorded by numerous cameras in the region, as well as by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper aboard the GOES-16 satellite.

Analysis of the data by NASA's MeteoroidEnvironment Office (MEO) indicates that the fireball was first observed at an altitude of 72 km (45 mi) over Piney Flats, Tennessee, moving east from south at about 50,400 km/h (31,300 mph). The asteroid fragments weighed almost 450 kg (1,000 lb) and were just over 0.6 m (2 ft) in diameter.

Observations from multiple sources have allowed scientists to piece together the exact sequence of events that occurred. The fireball was first spotted over Tennessee and then flew over North Carolina, where it disintegrated over the town of Altapass. Analysis of the data suggests that the Spruce Pine, Ingalls, and Altapass areas may have been impacted by meteorites.

Although such events are not uncommon, the scale and brightness of this fireball caught the attention of not only residents of the region, but also scientists from all over the country. This phenomenon is a valuable source of information on the composition and structure of celestial bodies orbiting near Earth.

Observations of the fireball provide valuable data on the dynamics and composition of space objects entering the Earth's atmosphere. Analysis of this information can help to better understand the processes occurring during meteoroid entry into the atmosphere and to develop more effective methods for monitoring and forecasting such events in the future.

Scientists from NASA's Meteorological Environment Office emphasize that such observations are extremely valuable for research on the threats associated with near-Earth objects. Analysis of data from this event can contribute to the development of more effective methods for detecting and tracking potentially dangerous space objects, and thus improve human safety.

Although the fireball over North Carolina and Tennessee did not cause any damage, such phenomena can pose a serious threat, especially in the case of larger objects. Therefore, research on meteoroids and their interactions with the Earth's atmosphere is crucial for protecting our planet. Observations of the fireball from August 30, 2024 provide valuable information that can help scientists better understand the processes taking place in space and on Earth. Analysis of this event will certainly contribute to the further development of research on the threats associated with near-Earth objects and will allow the development of more effective methods for monitoring and responding to such phenomena in the future.

Ghosts of the haunted Greenwood Cemetery

 Each cemetery in itself brings back memories of various eerie events and arouses horror, but some are true record holders in this respect. One of the most haunted places in the Midwest of the United States, and who knows, maybe in the whole world, is the Greenwood Cemetery in the southern end of Decatur. Decatur is a small city in the United States, in Macon County, in the central part of the state of Illinois. According to witnesses, things happen at the Greenwood Cemetery that cannot be rationally explained in any way. Old Greenwood Cemetery is scary even without its ghosts.

No one knows exactly when this place began to be used for burial, but the official dedication and approval of Greenwood Cemetery took place in 1857. The first graves began to appear here in the 1820s. There are accounts of a tragic event from the spring of 1828. A group of settlers illegally producing moonshine from corn on the Sangamon River came into conflict with Indians who happened to be in the area. The moonshiners shot the Indians in the nearby woods and, to avoid revenge from their fellow countrymen and to conceal their crime, buried the bodies in a shallow ravine on the hillside and covered the grave with stones.

A dozen or so years later, runaway slaves who had been killed were secretly buried there. The first mentions of official funerals date back to 1840, before the cemetery area was formally incorporated into the city limits in March 1857. Initially, not only funerals were held there, but also picnics. In the cemetery, you could see carriages and city residents walking in their best clothes along the alleys between the graves. This picturesquely situated spot among the hills was even called the "most beautiful town of the dead."

As it turned out, in the area where Greenwood Cemetery is now located, the Indians - the native inhabitants of these lands - had been burying their dead for centuries. They usually held funerals in special places that were connected to the afterlife, to make it easier for the spirits of the dead to pass to the other world. The white colonists disturbed the burial mounds, and thus disturbed the peace of the Indians resting here.

After about a hundred years, in the first half of the 20th century, Greenwood Cemetery began to decline. The area began to overgrow, murders and grave robberies occurred in the cemetery. When a flood washed away part of the cemetery, the remains of the deceased were moved to another place. It was then that the first stories about ghosts, misty figures and luminous balls appeared, believed to be the lost souls of people whose graves had long ago been washed away by the water. Over the years, a lot of stories have accumulated around Greenwood Cemetery in Decatur, which go far beyond the accepted boundaries of rational thought.

At the beginning of the 20th century, a mausoleum was founded at the Greenwood Cemetery, where distinguished citizens of the city found their eternal rest. A long structure was erected with two pairs of iron gates and turrets on the corners. Urns with the ashes of the deceased were placed in side niches. For unexplained reasons, this representative structure in the cemetery began to quickly fall apart. Gradually, the building turned into ruins, and since the authorities refused to renovate it, the urns were moved to another place, and the building was demolished in 1967. Today, only a platform with the remains of the foundations remains of the mausoleum.

There would be nothing remarkable about the existence of ruins if not for the fact that visitors to the place often hear a strange echo, as if whispering and muffled voices. In the fall of 1998, a group of tourists visiting the Greenwood Cemetery found themselves on the site of the former mausoleum, and then everyone suddenly felt a sharp drop in air temperature. It became so cold that you could see steam from their breath. After leaving this place, everyone felt warm again.

Greenwood Cemetery sometimes hosts eerie funeral processions. Decatur resident Ann Cummings was visiting her father's grave one day when she saw a woman standing on a hill near a tree, dressed in a long black dress, holding a bouquet of yellow flowers. She turned around for a moment, and when she looked back at the stranger, there was no one under the tree.  

Another time, a few workers mowing the grass in the cemetery noticed a funeral procession passing by. When they decided to get closer and see who was buried there, it turned out that there was no living soul around.

Another witness, who had watched the procession through the cemetery, followed it to the top of the hill, and when he got there, it turned out that there was no one there. There was, however, a tombstone, and from the inscription on it, it appeared that the woman buried under it was 60 years ago, on the same day.

One day, one of the cemetery workers noticed a funeral procession with cars styled in the 1940s. He wondered who the deceased vintage car enthusiast was, but it turned out that no funeral was planned for that day.

The most famous haunted area is the section of graves from the Civil War. During the war between the North and South (1861-1865), prison trains often passed through the city of Decatur, carrying Confederate soldiers to camps. One such train contained several men who died of yellow fever during the journey. The railroad line ran close to the cemetery, so a grave was quickly dug in the hillside and the dead were buried. Since this was done in such a hurry, it is said that some of these soldiers may still be alive.

Many people say that soldiers still walk the hills of Greenwood Cemetery, dressed in bloody uniforms, hiding behind the tombstones. One visitor to the cemetery saw a man standing among the tombstones one day. The stranger beckoned him over. He was wearing a torn uniform and seemed very lost. "Can you help me?" the man in uniform asked. "Where am I?" The tourist looked at him closely and saw fear in his eyes. A chill ran down his spine when the soldier quietly added, "I just want to go home," and then disappeared.

The ghost of a girl named Maggy is said to often play on her grave. Visitors to the cemetery bring her toys and candy. The child's ghost sometimes thanks her and laughs. A local woman once came to a funeral of a loved one with a child. Suddenly, an unknown girl approached her and asked if she could play with her son so he wouldn't get bored during the ceremony. The mother agreed, but asked the little girl what her name was. "Maggy," the girl replied. And when asked where her parents were, she replied, "They haven't come to my grave for a long time."

There is a well-known story of a girl from the Greenwood area, concerning events from the 1930s. A young man from Decatur was involved in illegal alcohol trafficking. While trying to secretly pass on a batch of whiskey bottles to a buyer, he was attacked by members of a rival group of dealers. The attackers killed the boy and threw him into the river. Local fishermen fished the body out of the water, and the fiancée of the unfortunate smuggler, when she learned of his death, fell into despair and ran away from home.

Her body was soon found floating in the river in the same place where her fiancé was found. The girl drowned, unable to live without her beloved. She was buried in her wedding dress. Since she had committed suicide, a grave was dug for her on the hill. From then on, the girl in the white dress was seen in this place more than once. In her hand, she always held a handkerchief, with which she wiped her fiancé's tears.

Greenwood Cemetery is associated with the legend of the "Devil's Chair". According to the belief, if someone sits in this chair at a certain time, they can make a deal with the devil. For a period of seven years, they will have everything they want, but after the agreement expires, the devil comes to take their soul. It is said that those who sit in the Devil's Chair hear ghosts, see the devil, and sometimes are even able to go back in time.

What is this rather peculiar seat? The strange graveyard chairs began appearing in Greenwood Cemetery in the 19th century, and at least at first they had no macabre connotations. They were simply “mourning chairs” for people visiting the graves of loved ones. Due to vandalism, there are now very few of these chairs left. Some say the chairs bring good luck to those who sit on them, others say bad luck. Anyone can take a chance and sit in the devil’s chair, or – with caution – stand to the side.

The secret of the forest in Witkowice.

 There are many places in Poland that are shrouded in dark legends, and one of them is the forest in Witkowice, located on the outskirts of Krakow. It is a place that attracts both nature lovers and adventure seekers, but also those fascinated by paranormal phenomena. In 2001, nine students disappeared there without a trace while celebrating the new academic year, which gave the story a dark dimension and resembles the plot of the cult horror film "The Blair Witch Project".

A group of nine students from Witkowice decided to celebrate the beginning of the new academic year in the forest in Witkowice, located just a few kilometers from Krakow. The choice of the place was not accidental - the forests surrounding Witkowice were known for their beautiful landscapes and charming paths.

They were last seen at 8:30 p.m., when a local resident, seeing their cheerful company, decided to warn them of the dangers that might await them in the forest. Despite his warnings, the students ignored them, soon entering the dense forest, where they began to party.

As time passed, the atmosphere in the forest began to change. A thick fog enveloped the trees, and the sounds of the surroundings became unsettling. The students began to get lost, and their joy quickly turned into fear. No one expected that this night would end in tragedy. Eventually, they disappeared without a trace, and the search conducted by the police and private detectives yielded no results. The disappearance of nine young people shocked the local community and caused a wave of speculation.

A few months later, a group of friends of the missing students decided to return to the forest to try to find out what had happened. During the search, they came across a camera that belonged to one of the missing. After developing the film, the photos turned out to be disturbing - the students' faces were distorted, and the forest looked different than in reality.

Some of the photos showed strange shadows and distorted figures that seemed to be watching the group. Residents of nearby villages began to talk about pagan rituals performed in this forest several hundred years ago by the infidel settlement "Mirena".

Although no evidence of this settlement's existence was found, legends about witches who supposedly lived in the area began to circulate among the local community. Many people claimed that the forest in Witkowice was haunted by the spirits of the dead, and some claimed to hear strange sounds and see mysterious lights at night.

The forest in Witkowice became a place that attracted not only tourists, but also lovers of paranormal phenomena. Many people came here to try their hand at searching for ghosts or to uncover the secrets of the students' disappearance. Local legends began to develop, and the forest gained the name "haunted".

Many people reported strange phenomena that occurred in the area – from whispers of the wind that resembled human voices to mysterious figures appearing among the trees. Some residents began to avoid the forest, believing it was cursed. Others, fascinated by the dark stories, organized night expeditions to discover the truth about the students' disappearance. Among those who visited the forest were groups of filmmakers who wanted to make a documentary about this mysterious story. Many of these productions contributed to the popularization of the legend of Witkowice, and the forest became a place of pilgrimage for horror fans.

Currently, the forest in Witkowice is part of the Witkowice Forest Park, a popular recreational area for the residents of Krakow. You can walk, ride a bike and enjoy the charms of nature here. Although no strange events have been reported for years, the story of the students' disappearance still attracts tourists and lovers of paranormal phenomena.

Many people come to feel the atmosphere of this place and try their hand at discovering its secrets. The forest has numerous walking trails that lead through picturesque areas, as well as places ideal for picnics.

Despite this, there is no shortage of people who visit the forest after dark, believing that they can experience something unusual. However, it is worth remembering that night walks in such a place can be dangerous, and it is better to avoid lonely walks.

Paranormal phenomena associated with the forest in Witkowice have attracted the attention of not only tourists, but also researchers of unexplained phenomena. Over the past few years, various paranormal groups have conducted research in the forest, trying to capture evidence of the existence of ghosts and other supernatural phenomena.

Modern technology was used for this purpose, such as thermal imaging cameras, dictaphones and EMF detectors. Many of these studies yielded interesting results. Some researchers claimed that they managed to capture strange sounds and images that had no natural explanation.

Others, in turn, emphasized that the atmosphere in the forest is extremely intense, and some participants in the studies experienced feelings of anxiety and fear. Although there is no clear evidence of the existence of paranormal phenomena, the history of the forest in Witkowice still fascinates and intrigues.

The forest in Witkowice is a place that combines the beauty of nature with dark secrets. The story of the disappearance of nine students, mysterious photos and legends of pagan rituals make the forest not only a tourist attraction but also a place that attracts lovers of paranormal phenomena. Although it is currently a popular recreational place, it is worth remembering its dark past and approaching the stories associated with it with respect. Is it worth visiting the forest after dark? This question remains open, and the answer to it depends on the courage and convictions of each of us.

Mysterious flying objects over the largest American air base - UFO or espionage?

In recent months, a series of disturbing drone incidents have been observed over Plant 42, a key U.S. Air Force base in California. Initially mistaken for UFO sightings, the incidents have shed light on a growing security threat to key U.S. military facilities.

Plant 42, located in Palmdale, is the heart of the U.S. aerospace industry. It is home to the most advanced aircraft designs, including the iconic B-21 Raider stealth bomber. The facility, which shares a runway with Palmdale Regional Airport, is home to renowned companies such as Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, as well as a NASA test center.

In response to our inquiries about alleged sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) in the area that have gone viral on social media, the U.S. Air Force has confirmed a series of drone incidents. Mary Kozaitis, chief of media operations for the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB, said there have been a number of sightings of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) activity over Plant 42 in recent months. The number of drones has varied, and their sizes and configurations have varied.

The situation has become so serious that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed temporary flight restrictions around the sprawling, high-security facility. The restrictions, put in place Aug. 14, cover a two-nautical-mile area in all directions from Palmdale Airport, from the ground to 1,000 feet above ground level. They are set to remain in effect through Sept. 15.

Kozaitis stressed that authorities are monitoring the situation to determine if there is any malicious intent behind these incidents. Even if there is not, they are trying to determine why and who is responsible for these flights. It is worth noting that overflights of Plant 42 are strictly prohibited and can result in criminal prosecution, fines and loss of operator's license.

The incidents are part of a broader, troubling trend of increasing drone activity over military bases and critical civilian infrastructure in the United States in recent years. In March of this year, it was revealed that Langley Air Force Base in Virginia was harassed by drone swarms for weeks last year, prompting a major government response.

While these incidents may appear to be related to UFO sightings, experts suggest that a significant portion of reported UAP sightings are actually drone incidents. Some of these incidents may be used by adversaries to gather intelligence. Recently, a Chinese citizen and University of Minnesota student pleaded guilty to espionage charges for using a drone to collect images of U.S. Navy ships at shipyards in Virginia.

The Plant 42 incidents underscore the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems both on and off traditional battlefields, and the urgent need for new drone defenses at U.S. government facilities and other critical infrastructure across the country.

It is worth noting that residents of Palmdale and nearby Lancaster are accustomed to seeing a variety of military aircraft, including exotic models, due to their proximity to the "Flight Test Valley." The fact that the recent sightings have elicited such a strong reaction suggests that this may have been something truly unusual.

While much of what is happening in the skies above Plant 42 remains unknown, the Air Force has confirmed that these incidents are very real and troubling. The situation underscores the need for continued vigilance and the development of advanced defenses in the face of evolving threats to national security.

The incidents at Plant 42 are a reminder that even the most secure facilities can be vulnerable to modern threats. As drone technology becomes more advanced and accessible, developing effective strategies to counter potential threats while balancing security with civil liberties is crucial.

Who's Hiding the UFO Truth?

  The atmosphere surrounding the Pentagon’s UFO Analysis Office (AARO) has become increasingly tense in recent months, with controversy mounting over alleged secret government programs that allegedly recover and reverse engineer extraterrestrial technology. Leading the charge is former intelligence official David Grusch, who claims that the United States has been covering up the existence of programs to do so for decades.

Grusch, who has testified before Congress, claims to have witnessed and also has information about efforts to hide these programs from the public and even from Congress itself. He claims that the Pentagon and private contractors have been engaged for years in recovering UFO wreckage and studying extraterrestrial technology, which they then try to recreate.

However, the Pentagon and AARO, under the leadership of Sean Kirkpatrick, vehemently deny these accusations. Kirkpatrick in his statements, as well as in a special report, emphasizes that AARO has found no evidence to support the existence of any programs to recover or reverse engineer extraterrestrial technology. Moreover, according to the AARO report, much of this alleged evidence is the result of “circular reporting,” where the same unverified information is repeated by different sources who are in fact based on the same questionable data.

In response to these events, the U.S. Congress has increased its pressure for transparency in the Pentagon’s UFO operations. It has introduced legislation that aims to block funding for unregistered UFO projects that are not reported to Congress. This legislation also provides broad protections for whistleblowers like Grusch to prevent potential retaliation from the government or other entities.

This controversy has attracted public attention around the world, especially in the context of the increasing number of reports of unidentified phenomena in the sky. While the Pentagon assures that most of these cases have rational explanations related to military activities or testing of new technologies, some of them remain unexplained, which fuels speculation and conspiracy theories.

However, there are many critics who believe that AARO is not fulfilling its role and is merely a tool to hide the truth from the public. According to them, the lack of evidence presented by AARO is not due to its non-existence, but to the deliberate blocking of access to this information.

The whole situation highlights the deep division in society that is growing around the topic of UFOs. On one side we have official positions and reports that deny any contact with extraterrestrial technology, on the other we have whistleblowers and some legislators who continue to demand more transparency and fuller disclosure. Will the truth about UFOs ever be fully revealed? Only time will tell, but the debate on the subject is not going to die down anytime soon.