AI videos have killed off the idea that aliens can visit planet Earth

One benefit of AI - at least until we tire of it - is that there are now a high percentage of videos on YouTube that have been created by artificial intelligence. These videos are everywhere the YouTube website.

And prominent for me are those videos which present the science and thoughts of Richard Feynman. The man was brilliant but these videos are voiced by AI and the script is not written by Feynman but an anonymous - I presume - scientist or scientists. There are copycat versions all over the website too.

The videos explain conclusively and logically using the science of space/time, the speed of light and the vast distances of the universe that aliens cannot get to Earth and we can't get to see them on their planet either - if they exist. We just don't know.

People think there must be alien life out there because there are billions upon billions of opportunities for intelligent life to evolve. But the evolution of the human is astonishing and it is argued extremely rare - it took 3.5 billion years (3500000000)! Perhaps so rare that there is no other version of us or like us anywhere in our galaxy.

But there are 2-3 trillion galaxies! The point is that the science tells us that it is physically impossible or near impossible for aliens from a far off planet to visit planet Earth.

In effect humans on planet Earth are entirely alone in the black void of the silent universe. And we will remain that way for eternity or as long as the species we know as homo sapiens exists (probably a relative short time such as 10,000 more years due to the self-destructive nature of humans).

Here is one of probably hundreds of videos on this topic. I sense that many people are trying to jump on the Feynman bandwagon and creating their own versions of the same physics.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

Nikon D5 DSLR used by Artemis II crew

The amazing photographs of the Earth in the distance and the dark moon in the foreground were taken with a Nikon D5 DSLR and perhaps the Nikon Z9 (mirrorless).

The  D5 was first introduced 10 years ago but was selected for its ruggedness and  proven radiation resistance and reliability in space.

The Z9 was a last minute addition on the insistence of  Commander Reid Wiseman. It is being tested for possible use in future missions.

Now you know! Afterthought: the D5 takes a bit of controlling. You need to know a bit about photography and operating this pro camera to get the best out of it. The astronauts must have been specifically trained to use it.

Here is some info about the D5:

The Nikon D5 is one of those rare machines that earns its reputation the hard way: through absolute reliability in punishing conditions. Introduced in January 2016, it was built as Nikon’s flagship DSLR for professionals who needed a camera that would never quit, whether on a battlefield, a frozen tundra, or—remarkably—a deep‑space mission a decade later. Its 20.8‑megapixel full‑frame sensor may seem modest by modern standards, but that’s part of its strength. The pixel pitch is large, the circuitry is robust, and the sensor architecture is far less fragile than the ultra‑dense designs found in newer mirrorless bodies. That durability, combined with a magnesium‑alloy chassis and legendary weather sealing, makes the D5 a photographic tank.

Its EXPEED 5 processor delivers fast, predictable performance, and the 153‑point autofocus system remains one of the most dependable ever made. The camera’s ergonomics—deep grip, tactile buttons, and intuitive layout—were refined for professionals who shoot instinctively, often without looking away from the viewfinder. In low light, the D5 is a monster, producing clean files at ISO levels that would cripple lesser cameras.

What ultimately defines the D5 is trust. Photographers know it will fire, focus, and survive. NASA choosing it for Artemis II simply confirms what professionals have known for years: the D5 is built for environments where failure is not an option.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also, sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. And, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable. Finally, (!) I often express an OPINION on the news. Please share yours in a comment.

High-definition video of a cat transmitted 19 million miles through space using a laser

In preparation for Mars missions, NASA has transmitted a 15 second, high definition video of a cat chasing a laser pointer 19 million miles through space via laser. The cat in the video it is owned by one of the staffers at NASA.

Screenshot from video which is courtesy NASA. Nice video actually.

In fact, the cat, 'Taters' lives with one of the employees of Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).

The video was sent from NASA's Deep Space Optical Communications team's Psyche probe back to earth. The probe set off in October and is on a six year mission to visit an asteroid. The video was transmitted back to Earth on December 11.

“One of the goals is to demonstrate the ability to transmit broadband video across millions of miles,” Bill Klipstein, the tech demo’s project manager at JPL, told CBS. “Nothing on Psyche generates video data, so we usually send packets of randomly generated test data.

It is appropriate to send a cat video. I think you will agree because for a while, cat videos were dominating the world as were pictures of cats specifically funny pictures of cats. It was all pretty crazy and stupid but now they've managed to transmit this video over millions of miles through deep space, they'll be sure that they can do the same thing when the team travels to Mars.

Here is the Twitter X video (remember that it is embedded here. It might not work one day):

We just streamed the first ultra-HD video brought to you via laser from deep space. And it’s a video of Taters, a tabby cat.

This test will pave the way for high-data-rate communications in support of the next giant leap: sending humans to Mars. https://t.co/tf2hWxaHWO pic.twitter.com/c1FwybYsxA

— NASA (@NASA) December 19, 2023

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

How important is available space in multi-cat homes in terms of cat welfare?

A study concluded that increasing the area for a group of cats confined to a specific area resulted in the cats playing more and being more active. They concluded that this indicated that they were more content and that extra space resulted in improved cat welfare. Note: the capitalised letters have been added for emphasis.

"In this study we examined the social and spatial behaviour in large groups of cats, as well as stress related body postures (using the Cat-Stress-Score) and if there were any changes within a stable group of 15 cats kept at different floor areas of 1 square meter, 2 square meters and 4 square meters PER CAT. Based on our results we conclude that increasing the area for group housed cats promote more play and general activity. Play can be an indicator of positive welfare for the cats."

They collected cats from shelters and used a fixed space in a research facility where the cats had varying amounts of space to themselves: one square metre, 2 m² and 4 m². The greater the space the more content they were is my interpretation of the summary of this research project.

Cats demand personal space like people. Photo in public domain.

There has to be a commonsense appraisal of this because the result doesn't surprise me at all. This is because an individual male domestic cat probably would naturally require an area up to around 50 acres. It will vary and it might be a smaller at about 10 acres and for female cats it will be smaller still but the space that they naturally require is going to be much larger than that they are allowed if they are full-time indoor cats. And even if they are allowed outside into a garden enclosure it is still unnaturally small.

In the study they were confined to a much smaller area and when allowed to expand into a larger area they became more content which, as mentioned, was predictable.

The point of this very brief discussion is that the amount of space allowed to a domestic cat can have an impact upon their stress levels and therefore their contentment and as a result their general welfare and health.

This is a point that needs to be remembered by people who desire to look after several cats in perhaps a small house or even an apartment.

Of course, domestic cats are adaptable and they will adapt to the smaller area and it depends on the relationship between the cats but it is better that they don't need to adapt as there is always this underlying instinct to live within an area of up to around 50 acres. This figure of up to 50 acres comes from other research studies. There have been many on this topic.

RELATED: Domestic cat territory – home ranges vary widely.

The study referred to: The effect of space on behaviour in large groups of domestic cats kept indoors - Sept 2016.