Tag Archives: emit

2025 Discovery: Living Organisms Emit Ghostly Glow

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Living Things Emit “Biophotons”

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This year, scientists made a fascinating discovery: an eerie glow emitted by mice that vanished after death, evoking paranormal notions about the body’s aura. This finding has ignited significant interest in the scientific exploration of biophotons.

Biophotons are extremely faint particles of light created by cellular structures, particularly mitochondria, which are responsible for energy production. Researchers have been attempting to detect these weak signals, but the field has encountered skepticism. Separating biophotons from other light sources, such as infrared light, presents considerable challenges in demonstrating their authenticity.

<p>Due to experimental limitations, biophoton research has mainly concentrated on smaller, specific body parts. However, in May, <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=sUKbEwsAAAAJ&hl=en">Daniel Oblak</a> and his team at the University of Calgary, Canada, observed biophotons emitted from the entire bodies of four hairless mice. Interestingly, these biophotons dissipated shortly after the mice died.</p>
<p>The researchers also recorded biophotons emitted from the leaves of umbrella trees (<em>Heptapleurum arboricola</em>), reinforcing the evidence for their existence through comprehensive study.</p>
<p>Following the <em>New Scientist</em> report on the study, many media outlets contacted Oblak’s team for interviews. The phenomenon's similarity to a "spiritual aura," which some psychics claim reflects an individual's physical and mental health, may have contributed to the public's fascination. Oblak mentioned, "Someone from Argentina urged us to investigate the glow of hands during healing." </p><section>

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<p>However, Oblak emphasizes that the science surrounding biophotons is legitimate. Numerous scientists have approached his team to collaborate on further studies. One proposal involves investigating biophoton production mechanisms in plants. Experts in genetically modified seeds suggest analyzing changes in biophoton emissions by disabling specific genes.</p>
<p>Insights into how biophotons correlate with seed germination could significantly benefit agriculture, according to Oblak. “You could assess seed samples to determine if the germination process happened without direct contact with the seeds.”</p>

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study Reveals Plug-In Hybrids Emit Nearly the Same Pollution as Gasoline Vehicles

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Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) release nearly five times more greenhouse gas emissions than reported statistics suggest. I found a report detailing this issue.

These vehicles can operate on electric batteries as well as internal combustion engines and have been promoted by European manufacturers as a means to travel longer distances while lowering emissions—offering an alternative to fully electric cars.

Research indicates that PHEVs emit just 19% less CO2. An analysis from the nonprofit organization Transport and Environment was released on Thursday, showing laboratory tests estimated 75% less pollution.

Researchers examined data from fuel consumption meters in 800,000 vehicles registered in Europe between 2021 and 2023, discovering that the real carbon dioxide emissions from PHEVs in 2023 were 4.9 times greater than those from standardized lab tests, an increase from 3.5 times in 2021.

“While official emissions are declining, actual emissions are on the rise,” remarked Sofia Navas Goelke, a researcher at the Institute for Transport and Environment and co-author of the report. “This widening gap is becoming a significant issue. Consequently, PHEVs are now polluting nearly as much as traditional petrol vehicles.”

The researchers identified that much of this disparity stems from an overestimation of the “utility factor” (the proportion of miles driven in electric mode compared to total miles), finding that only 27% of driving was done in electric mode, versus the official estimate of 84%. The analysis noted that the European Commission proposed two amendments to the utility coefficient ratio, which lessened the gap but didn’t eliminate it entirely.

Even when operating in electric mode, pollution levels were found to be significantly higher than official figures suggest. Researchers indicated this was due to the electric motor being insufficient for sole operation, with the engine burning fossil fuels for almost one-third of the distance traveled in electric mode.

Patrick Plotz, head of energy economics at the Fraunhofer Institute for System Innovation, who did not participate in the study, described it as a “very useful contribution” to ongoing discussions, as some in the automotive industry have claimed there’s insufficient data to accurately gauge real emissions.

“Without a doubt, the disparity between official and actual fuel consumption and CO2 emissions for PHEVs is substantial,” Plotz remarked. “Their emissions are much higher than those of gasoline or diesel cars,” referring to the study on the topic. “Any policy adjustments regarding PHEVs should be thoughtfully considered in the context of this data.”

Hybrid vehicles have re-entered political discourse as automakers urge the EU to ease carbon emission targets. The push to ban new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 is facing strong lobbying from the auto sector, along with resistance from member states with significant automotive industries.

“There should be no significant reductions in 2035,” stated German Chancellor Friedrich Merz following a summit with Germany’s struggling automotive sector, committing to “do everything possible in 2035.” Other senior German leaders have cited plug-in hybrids as an example of “flexibility” that could be integrated into the legislation.

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Researchers calculated that the undervaluation of PHEV emissions artificially facilitated compliance with the EU’s average vehicle CO2 regulations, enabling four major car manufacturers to evade over €5 billion (around £4.3 billion) in fines between 2021 and 2023. The study indicated that PHEV drivers are likely to incur approximately €500 more in annual running costs than expectations based on lab tests.

“The exaggerated claims made by manufacturers regarding their plug-in hybrid vehicles are clearly misleading,” observed Colin Walker, a transportation analyst at Energy and Climate Intelligence.

“Consumers are misled into thinking that by choosing a PHEV, they are aiding the environment and saving money,” he pointed out. “In reality, PHEVs are only marginally more efficient than regular petrol and diesel vehicles concerning fuel and CO2 consumption, resulting in higher operation costs.”

Source: www.theguardian.com

Inactive NASA Satellites Emit Surprisingly Strong Radio Pulses

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Illustration of NASA’s Relay 1 satellite, in front of Relay 2

NASA

A long-dormant satellite unexpectedly emitted a powerful radio pulse, momentarily surpassing all other celestial signals. Astronomers speculate that this flash may have resulted from a rare micrometeoroid impact or a spontaneous discharge.

NASA’s Relay 2 satellite was among the earliest operational satellites, launched as an experimental communications tool in 1964. Its use was discontinued the following year, and by 1967, the satellite’s electronic components had ceased functioning, leaving its metal frame orbiting indefinitely.

So Clancy James from Curtin University in Australia and his team were puzzled nearly 60 years later when they detected a burst of short, intense radio waves emanating from the satellite’s suspected location.

Utilizing the Australian Square Kilometer Array Pathfinder (ASKAP), an array of 36 telescopes in Western Australia, James and his colleagues were searching the sky for signs of a mysterious radiation pulse from other galaxies.

On June 13th, they received a signal that seemed to originate from within our galaxy. “If it’s in close proximity, studying it through an optical telescope becomes quite feasible, so I was thrilled at the prospect of discovering a new pulsar or some other object,” Clancy remarks.

However, upon closer examination, the signal appeared to be quite close to Earth, which meant that ASKAP couldn’t focus on everything simultaneously. This indicated the source was likely within 20,000 kilometers of our planet, according to Clancy. The signal was notably short-lived, lasting less than 30 nanoseconds. “It was an exceptionally potent radio pulse that briefly outshone everything else in the sky,” Clancy explains.

When they traced the signal back to its source and compared it to known satellite positions, they concluded the only plausible explanation was Relay 2. Since that satellite is inoperative, Clancy and his team suspect that the signals may result from external events such as electrostatic discharges or micrometeoroids striking the satellite, creating clouds of charged plasma.

“It’s quite challenging to differentiate between these two scenarios,” says Karen Aplin from the University of Bristol in the UK. This difficulty arises because the radio emissions from both phenomena appear comparable. Yet, monitoring future electrostatic discharges from satellites could prove beneficial, she adds. “In an environment filled with space debris and numerous smaller, cost-effective satellites that lack sufficient protection from electrostatic discharges, this radio detection could ultimately lead to innovative technologies for assessing such discharges in space,” she concludes.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Study Suggests All Humans Emit Subtle Light Until Death

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All living beings, including you, emit subtle, etheric, semi-visible light that continues until death. Recent research supports this idea.

This mysterious luminescence might lead one to believe it is an indication of an aura or something similar.

However, Dr. Daniel Oblak, a physicist from the University of Calgary and the study’s lead author, explained to BBC Science Focus that while the concept of an aura is metaphysical and unscientific, the emitted light is not. Known as Ultraweak Photon Emission (UPE), it is a natural byproduct of metabolism.

“I would like to emphasize that UPE usually results from biochemical processes and is thus akin to what occurs with glow sticks.”

“UPE is so faint that it is imperceptible to the human eye and can be completely obscured by other light sources unless in total darkness.”

Don’t think that you can observe your own sparkle simply by closing the curtains and turning off the lights; this light is 1,000 to 1,000,000 times dimmer than what the human eye can detect.

These four mice emitted significantly more ultrweak photon emissions (UPEs) while alive (top) compared to after death (bottom). – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025

UPE arises when a chemical within a cell creates an unstable molecule, known as a reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is essentially a byproduct of metabolic activity.

As ROS levels increase, other molecules become “excited,” meaning they carry excess energy, and it is this energy that emits light.

The primary factor driving this phenomenon is oxidative stress, a kind of cellular damage caused by aging and disease. The greater the oxidative stress experienced by the body, the more ROS—and consequently, more light—is produced.

“When an organism ceases to live, it halts metabolism, thereby stopping the emission of ultrawave photons,” he remarked.

To investigate UPE, scientists in Calgary measured the UPE generated by immobilized and deceased mice and damaged leaves.

Using specialized cameras, they found that living mice emitted significantly more light than their deceased counterparts. Conversely, the leaves released more light in areas that were damaged compared to intact regions.

This is due to increased oxidative stress in the scratched areas. However, the dead mice did not emit light as their bodies no longer underwent metabolic processes.

The leaves of St. Stwhere were illuminated by scratches and chemical damage. – Credits: Salari et al, The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 2025

Dr. Oblak highlighted that the significance of UPE lies in its ability to provide a non-invasive method to assess the health of living organisms.

“This technology could be utilized to monitor tissue status, such as in transplants, or to gauge crop and forest health, especially regarding the stress levels in organisms,” he explained.

Nonetheless, this field remains rife with uncertainties. For instance, Oblak pondered: “Perhaps UPE is not merely a byproduct of metabolic processes; it may also serve a purpose,” although scientists have yet to reach a consensus.

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About our experts

Dr. Daniel Oblak is an associate professor in the Faculty of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Calgary. He earned his PhD in Quantum Optics from the University of Copenhagen in 2010, having previously completed his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degrees at Aarhus University. Currently, his research interests encompass quantum information science, long-range encryption, quantum networks, and quantum light interfaces.

Source: www.sciencefocus.com