Possible life on Venus? (credit: L. Ksanfomaliti/Solar System Research)

Leonid Ksanfomaliti, professor at the Moscow-based Space Research Institute and member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, recently published findings in the Solar System Research journal claiming that photos from Russia’s 1982 Venera 13 landing probe show life on Venus. According to the Telegraph, Ksanfomaliti claims that multiple objects (specifically a disc-shaped object and an object with a “scorpion shaped body”) appear in the photos, and they appear to “emerge, fluctuate and disappear.” He explains in his paper, “What if we forget about the current theories about the non-existence of life on Venus, let’s boldly suggest that the objects’ morphological features would allow us to say that they are living.”

But according to MSNBC, “outside analysis suggests he is breathing life into an assortment of camera lens covers and image blurs.” One person who doubts Ksanfomaliti’s conclusions is Jonathon Hill, a research technician and mission planner at the Mars Space Flight Facility at Arizona State University. Hill processes many of the images taken during NASA’s Mars missions, so he is familiar with examining photos from landing probes. It is his opinion that the disc-shaped, or “crablike,” object is simply a mechanical component. He supports his theory by explaining that the same object is visible in a photo taken by an identical Venus landing probe that landed nearby.

Hill postulates:

If those objects were already on the surface of Venus, what are the chances that Venera 13 and 14, which landed nearly 1,000 kilometers apart, would both land inches away from the only ones in sight and they would be in the same positions relative to the spacecraft? It makes much more sense that it’s a piece of the lander designed to break off during the deployment of one of the scientific instruments.

According to MSNBC, it is NASA’s opinion that the “crablike” objects in the photos are “camera lens covers that popped off the Venera probes after they landed,” and the “scorpion-shaped body” is simply digital noise in the photos.

What are your thoughts about these photos? Is Leonid Ksanfomaliti, a respected Russian scientist, breathing life into inanimate objects? Or is NASA dismissing the idea of life on Venus to quickly? Share your thoughts on the Open Minds Facebook page.

Artist's conception of a moon colony. (credit: NASA)

According to Russian space agency chief Vladimir Popovkin, a growing body of research supports the idea that humans can live for extended periods of time on or around the moon. And, as Space.com reports, Popovkin claims Russia is currently in talks with NASA and the European Space Agency about constructing manned research colonies in orbit around the moon, and even on the moon.

But NASA apparently denies these claims.

NASA spokesman J.D. Harrington told Space.com, “We believe Popovkin may be referring to the work of the International Space Exploration Coordination Group (ISECG) and its Global Exploration Roadmap.” The ISECG developed a long-range roadmap for space exploration that included a possible manned mission to an asteroid or the moon. But apparently no mention of a moon base.

UFOs caught on video over Russia (L) and Mexico (R).

On December 23, witnesses in the Russian town of Trekhgorny (near Khazakstan) saw a mysterious object in the sky. Multiple witnesses recorded the object on video. What appears in these videos is described by the Huffington Post UK as “a silver object in the centre of a cloudy orb, travelling at some speed.”

Although the UFO appears quite alien, its origin is likely Earthly. As the Huffington Post UK points out, some believe the object captured on video is related to the failed Russian Meridian satellite launch that occurred the same day as the sightings. The Soyuz-2.1b rocket that was carrying the Meridian-5 communications satellite failed seven minutes into its December 23 flight, according to the BBC, and debris came crashing back to Earth.

The failed launch theory is further supported by a video posted online by UFO hunter Sheilaaliens. While researching this UFO sighting, she discovered photos from a Russian photographer who photographed the launch of the rocket, as well as the rocket’s failure. His photos of the failed rocket returning to Earth show the identical object that is seen in the UFO videos.

Another glowing orb UFO appeared in Tijuana, Mexico on December 25. As Gather News reports, “The witness describes the UFO on the YouTube page as an ‘orb’ and a ‘Mother Ship’ which somehow survives what looks like an explosion. It manages to stay aloft, stay brightly lit, hover and maintain a relationship to the ‘orbs’ dispersed from its central mass.”

The video footage of this UFO exploding is pretty incredible. I thought it was fascinating, and I didn’t quite know what to make of it. But after discussing the video with my friend and colleague Alejandro Rojas, I now share his opinion that the video shows a popping balloon. This theory is supported by a video of a bursting weather balloon posted by user jaws1975 on the AboveTopSecret.com website in a discussion forum thread about the Tijuana video. The bursting balloon produces a similar effect as the exploding “mother ship.”

Although the objects in the Mexico and Russia videos could be something more mysterious (possibly extraterrestrial), the theories presented in this article are plausible, even probable, identifications.

The Trekhgorny and the Tijuana videos are two of the most fascinating videos I have seen this year. They round out 2011, a year filled with incredible UFO footage and UFO stories. I am excited to see the many exciting photos, videos, and witness accounts that are sure to surface in 2012.

What are your thoughts about these strange aerial objects in Mexico and Russia? Share your views on the Open Minds Facebook page.

Matveev was in the mob of protesters, and saw the drone for himself. He explains, “Well, being among those tens of thousands of ‘confused onlookers,’ the only kind of debate I can recall in regards to the ‘object’ was whether it was the police monitoring the security situation on the scene of mass protests through a drone camera or journalists taking aerial photos for their reports (or broadcasts).”

Drone camera (credit: Ridus/RT)

According to Matveev, the camera drone belongs to the Ridus news agency, an independent community of “civilian journalists.”

The aerial shots taken by the drone can be viewed on the Ridus website – http://www.ridus.ru/news/14365/

Do you have an opinion about this story? Feel free to leave your comment on our Facebook page.

UFO hovering over Moscow

Hundreds of pro-democracy protesters in Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square reportedly witnessed a UFO in the sky above them on Saturday. According to the Telegraph, the silent object was “clearly not a helicopter,” and was described as having pulsating colored lights, and had “five extended tendrils or pylons emanating from the body of the vehicle.”

The crowd of people protesting against recent presidential election results allegedly climbed trees to better observe the UFO that seemed to be observing the 25,000 protestors.

Police drone (credit: Daily Mail)

The strange craft remains unidentified, but many speculate that the UFO is simply a military/police drone. The use of drones by police departments around the world to easily monitor crowds of people is increasing. And, in this case, a mob of 25,000 protesters would be an ideal situation in which the use of a drone would be advantageous to authorities.

Watch the video below, and share your opinions with us on our Facebook page.

Alien in the fridge? (credit: Marta Yegorovnam)

According to the Sun, Yegorovnam claims she heard a loud noise outside her home. She rushed outside to find “flaming wreckage and crumpled metal” from a crashed UFO. The extraterrestrial victim of this crash was allegedly nearby. Her reaction was to wrap the strange creature in plastic, and place it in her fridge.

Supposed alien corpse (credit: Marta Yegorovnam)

The Daily Mail describes, “The ‘creature’ is two feet long, has an enormous head, large bulbous eyes and an appearance somewhere between a fish and a humanoid. It also appears to have what looks like a string-like arm protruding from its body.” This Jabba-the-Hutt-like appearance is just one element to this story that has many suspecting a hoax. The Sun reports, “People who have seen pictures of the ‘alien’ have likened it to Jabba The Hutt from the Star Wars films and Slimer from Ghostbusters . . . Others have claimed the bizarre find is simply a rotting vegetable, which looks remarkably other-worldly.”

Also odd is the fact that Yegorovnam waited two years to tell anyone about the body in her fridge. She claims that, when she found the supposed extraterrestrial, it was wearing a spacesuit. It’s unknown if she still has this spacesuit that she apparently removed before chilling the little guy.

'Corpse wrapped in plastic (credit: Marta Yegorovnam)

The corpse has also disappeared, creating yet another problem with this story. The Sun states that the Karelian Academy of Science in Petrozavodsk is investigating this case. However, according to a video that surfaced on November 5, two men who claimed they were from the Karelian Academy of Science confiscated the corpse. But also according to this video, employees at the Karelian Academy of Science were contacted about the extraterrestrial body, but those employees denied knowing anything about it.

Another element to this story that leads some to suspect a hoax is the involvement of paranormal writer Michael Cohen of the website allnewsweb.com. The Daily Mail reports that “the footage was unearthed” by Cohen. Cohen is infamous for his repeated support of hoaxes and other cases where there is no supporting evidence but his own. With regards to this story, Cohen stated, “This could be an elaborate hoax, however the possibility that this might be a genuine alien should not be discounted.”

Cohen did make a good point though, stating that “in all likelihood most alien beings would look strange to us . . .” However, the multiple suspicious elements with this story make it unlikely that the “corpse” in these photos is a genuine extraterrestrial. But until definitive proof surfaces, anything is possible.

Watch the video below of this bizarre “corpse” in the fridge. What do you think this is?