Latest news with #UniversityofSanDiego
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
How trafficked American guns fuel Mexico's cartel violence
More than two thirds of guns recovered at Mexican crime scenes originate in the U.S. For decades, Mexico has struggled with staggering levels of gun violence fueled in large part by weapons trafficked across its northern border. Now an investigation published by The Conversation has arrived at a new estimate of the scale of this illicit gun trade between the U.S. and Mexico in 2022: 135,000 guns. Investigative journalist Sean Campbell and Topher McDougal, a professor of economic development at the University of San Diego, spent a year combing through multiple databases and court documents and conducting interviews to understand how the flow of guns works. Their investigation reveals where in the U.S. the guns are coming from, what impact these American guns are having in Mexico, and how difficult it is for American law enforcement agencies to prosecute those trafficking guns across the border. Listen to Campbell and McDougal talk about their investigation on The Conversation Weekly podcast. You can read the full investigation here. This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Mend Mariwany and Gemma Ware. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl. Newsclips in this episode from PBS News, CGTN, France24, ABC 7 and NewsNation. Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Gemma Ware, The Conversation Read more: Guns in America: A liberal gun-owning sociologist offers 5 observations to understand America's culture of firearms Guns bought in the US and trafficked to Mexican drug cartels fuel violence in Mexico and the migration crisis Gun trafficking from the US to Mexico: The drug connection Sean Campbell and Topher McDougal do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
- Science
- Express Tribune
Mysterious metal sphere found in Colombia sparks UFO debate among scientists and researchers
A metallic sphere discovered in Colombia is at the centre of renewed UFO debate after it was spotted flying over Buga on March 2 and later recovered. Researchers examining the object say it displays no visible welds or joints and contains layered metals and internal microspheres. Jose Luis Velazquez, one of the scientists studying the sphere, described it as 'a very rare piece' and noted mysterious symbols etched into its surface. An X-ray scan revealed three distinct metal layers and nine internal microspheres, further fuelling speculation over its origin. Julia Mossbridge of the University of San Diego expressed scepticism, calling it possibly 'a really cool art project.' She emphasised the need for independent scientific analysis before labelling such objects as UFOs, referencing the Galileo Project as a model for objective research. Mossbridge added that society's increasing encounters with the unexplained reflect broader changes in understanding, stating, 'We don't understand what's in our skies or our waters… and there's something going on that's essentially bigger than us.' While debate continues, both scientific and public interest in unidentified aerial phenomena remains high. Mossbridge urged cooperation between nations and non-governmental research groups to approach such cases with transparency and scientific rigour. This incident adds to a growing catalogue of global UAP sightings under review by researchers outside traditional government frameworks.
Express Tribune
26-05-2025
- Science
- Express Tribune
UFO Sphere Colombia: Scientists perplexed at object found, with no human welds or joints
Listen to article Scientists are examining a mysterious metallic sphere recovered in Colombia, believed by some to be an unidentified flying object (UFO). The item was first seen flying over the town of Buga in early March before being recovered by local researchers. Jose Luis Velazquez, a scientist involved in the investigation, described the object as having no visible welds or joints, an unusual characteristic that has raised questions about its origin. He added that mysterious carvings were etched into its surface. 'It's a very rare piece,' Velazquez said in a video shared online. 'I've never seen a piece like this.' Initial scans using X-ray imaging revealed that the sphere comprises three layers of metal, as well as nine smaller 'microspheres' inside. While no definitive explanation has been offered, Velazquez's team continues to study the object. However, some experts remain cautious. Dr Julia Mossbridge, a physicist from the University of San Diego and founder of The Institute for Love and Time (TILT), said she believed the item could be a sophisticated art project. 'Before you decide something's anomalous or a UFO, bring the object to a group like the Galileo Project,' Mossbridge said, referring to the research initiative led by Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb that investigates unidentified aerial phenomena using scientific methods. Mossbridge noted that such discoveries might reflect societal anxieties more than alien encounters. 'We're entering a time when we don't have the control that we thought we had,' she said. 'If an artist is doing this, why is that? I think it's because we're learning we don't fully understand what's in our skies or waters.' While sceptical of the Colombian sphere, Mossbridge does not discount all reports of anomalous phenomena. 'The federal government has admitted that there are things we don't understand, but we are investigating them,' she added. She also highlighted the need for international, non-governmental research into these phenomena. 'The sphere in Colombia is in a different country. So what are the rules about how we deal with something interesting found there?' In a separate statement, Mossbridge urged a measured response to the unknown. 'The natural human response to the unknown is fear,' she said. 'But we need to recognise that understanding and exploration — not fear — are what keep us safe.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Mysterious sphere in Colombia sparks UFO talk
Scientists in Mexico are reportedly studying a metal orb that they think could have extraterrestrial origins after it was recovered in Colombia earlier this year, piquing online interest of a potential unidentified flying object (UFO). The sphere marked with decorative etchings was filmed floating erratically through the sky before it crashed near Buga, Colombia, in March and captured the attention of UFO enthusiasts. A video posted online that has racked up more than half a million views shows researcher Jose Luis Velazquez discussing the multilayered sphere with 'no welds or joints' that would be expected of a man-made object of its kind. Velazquez said in the video that an X-ray found the three layers of the sphere to be of different densities. Julia Mossbridge, founder of the Mossbridge Institute and an affiliate professor in the physics department at the University of San Diego, told Fox News that she doubts the 'Buga sphere' has alien origins, though. 'It looks to me like a really cool art project,' she told the outlet. The Pentagon released a report last year that found there have been no confirmed sightings of UFOs with alien origin or human interactions with extraterrestrial beings, despite a high-profile whistleblower's claims to the contrary without evidence. Congress ordered the report, which spanned classified and unclassified documents and included new interviews, as part of a probe into the history of UFOs, now referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena. The Defense Department established an All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office to field new reports. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Hill
Mysterious sphere in Colombia sparks UFO talk
Scientists in Mexico are reportedly studying a metal orb that they think could have extraterrestrial origins after it was recovered in Colombia earlier this year, piquing online interest of a potential unidentified flying object (UFO). The sphere marked with decorative etchings was filmed floating erratically through the sky before it crashed near Buga, Colombia in March and captured the attention of UFO enthusiasts. A video posted online that has racked up more than half a million views shows researcher Jose Luis Velazquez discussing the multi-layered sphere with 'no welds or joints' that would be expected of a man-made object of its kind. Velazquez said in the video that an X-ray found the three layers of the sphere to be of different densities. Julia Mossbridge, founder of the Mossbridge Institute and an affiliate professor in the physics department at the University of San Diego, told Fox News that she doubts the 'Buga sphere' has alien origins, though. 'It looks to me like a really cool art project,' she told the outlet. The Pentagon released a report last year that found there have been no confirmed sightings of UFOs with alien origin or human interactions with extraterrestrial beings, despite a high-profile whistleblower's claims to the contrary without evidence. Congress ordered the report, which spanned classified and unclassified documents and included new interviews, as part of a probe into the history of UFOs, now referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). The Defense Department established an All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to field new reports.
