Mystery Space Object Sends ‘Inexplicable’ Signal to Earth  

This image obtained December 2, 2015 from NASA shows the Sun’s light reflected off a body of water as the International Space Station orbits Earth. (NASA/AFP)
This image obtained December 2, 2015 from NASA shows the Sun’s light reflected off a body of water as the International Space Station orbits Earth. (NASA/AFP)
TT
20

Mystery Space Object Sends ‘Inexplicable’ Signal to Earth  

This image obtained December 2, 2015 from NASA shows the Sun’s light reflected off a body of water as the International Space Station orbits Earth. (NASA/AFP)
This image obtained December 2, 2015 from NASA shows the Sun’s light reflected off a body of water as the International Space Station orbits Earth. (NASA/AFP)

A mysterious object in space has been sending an “unexpected” pulsing signal to Earth that is “unlike anything ever seen before.”

The object, which is inside our own galaxy, has been sending signals that are so unique they have completely stumped scientists.

The British LBC website quoted Nasa scientist Richard Stanton, who discovered the signal, as saying that he can’t rule out the possibility that the signal is coming from an alien civilization.

In a study published in the Acta Astronautica scientific journal, Stanton laid out his discovery of an unexpected “signal” coming from a sun-like star about 100 light-years from Earth in May 2023.

The signal was a pulse of light from the star that increases, then decreases and then increases again very quickly - something that the scientist says qualifies it as “strange.”

Even stranger, though, is that the unique signal from the Ursa Major (Great Bear) constellation was repeated again, exactly 4 seconds after it was first sent to Earth.

The pulses of light were completely identical, which according to the study, has never been seen in previous searches.

The “unique” signal also made the light from its nearby star behave strangely, and made the star “partially disappear in a tenth of a second,” according to Stanton.

“In over 1,500 hours of searching, no single pulse resembling these has ever been detected,” he added.

“The fine structure in the star's light between the peaks of the first pulse repeats almost exactly in the second pulse 4.4 seconds later. No one knows how to explain this behavior,” he said.

The study shows that a very similar signal was recorded in 2019, but was simply dismissed at “birds” at the time, which Stanton has ruled out.

The scientist also ruled out “common signals”, which can come from meteors, satellites, airplanes, lighting, atmospheric scintillation, and system noise.

Stanton said the signals from those sources “are completely different from these pulses.”

The study describes many different potential sources for the signal, including refracting light moving through the Earth’s atmosphere, which Stanton said was unlikely.

Other possible sources he discussed were starlight diffraction from a distant object in the solar system, or eclipses caused by Earth’s satellites or asteroids moving through our solar system.

But Stanton said that, in these early stages of research, it is impossible to rule out the involvement of alien intelligence.

“None of these explanations are really satisfying at this point,” said Stanton. “We don't know what kind of object could produce these pulses or how far away it is.”

“We don't know if the two-pulse signal is produced by something passing between us and the star or if it is generated by something that modulates the star's light without moving across the field,” he added.

Stanton said: “Until we learn more, we can't even say whether or not extraterrestrials are involved!”



Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi

Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
TT
20

Iran Envoy: Jareesh is Part of Our Culture, I Prefer It to Mandi

Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)
Enayati says regional ties run deep through shared history (Photo: Turki Al-Oqaili)

With a warm smile and a calm tone, Dr. Alireza Enayati, Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, reflects on nearly two years in Riyadh, describing a personal journey shaped by culture, cuisine, and diplomacy.

“I’ve visited different regions and tasted traditional Saudi dishes,” Enayati told Asharq Al-Awsat in an interview. “Jareesh –a dish made from cracked wheat and cooked with meat, spices, and vegetables– has become my favorite—I choose it over mandi and other dishes on any occasion.”

According to the Iranian envoy, the two countries share more than just geography. “There are many common dishes between Saudi Arabia and Iran,” he said.

But food is only one layer of the ambassador’s experience. Enayati, who has spent over two decades immersed in Middle East diplomacy, sees deep historical ties binding the region’s peoples together.

“I recently read Al-Hadaqi, a novel about Al-Jahiz—Abu Uthman Amr ibn Bahr—and his life between Baghdad, Basra, and Iran. It left me with a strong sense that the relationships among peoples in this region go far back in history,” he said. “Reading it felt like tracing our steps backward to better understand the present.”

“These are not new connections,” he added. “We’re not creating the relationship—we’re nurturing what has always existed. The cultural and civilizational dialogue has never ceased.”

His comments come against the backdrop of a thaw in relations between Tehran and Riyadh, after both sides agreed in March 2023—under Chinese mediation—to restore diplomatic ties following a seven-year rift.

The ambassador pointed to culinary overlaps as another reflection of cultural convergence. “Stews, for example, are common in both countries,” he said. “Jareesh is part of Iranian culture too, as are lamb and camel meat. And as everyone knows, kebab originated in Iran, but it’s also very popular here in the Kingdom.”

Enayati has built his career around the region. “I’ve spent more than 20 years working on regional affairs and never served outside this part of the world,” he said with a smile. “I’m not sure if that’s a strength or a limitation, but my focus has always been here.”

Appointed to Riyadh as part of a diplomatic breakthrough, Enayati said he is proud to represent Iran in Saudi Arabia. “It’s a great honor. I dedicate my efforts to enhancing bilateral ties and supporting regional peace and stability.”

Looking ahead, Enayati hopes to help build stronger cultural bridges—not only between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but across the broader region. “Arabic and Persian cultures both occupy a distinguished place,” he said. “We must deepen mutual understanding between them.”

He concluded with a nod to Tehran’s long-term vision for cooperation with Riyadh. “Iran and Saudi Arabia are both pillars of regional stability,” he said. “This region belongs to its people, and we view our relationship with the Kingdom through that lens.”