Arizona State Univ. Professor Jim Bell is a visiting scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In the first half, he shared the latest news about space exploration, and the increasing global participation in it. Today, space exploration is no longer limited to the US and Russia, with "77 space agencies around the world" now involved in various capacities, he reported. While the US remains a leader in these efforts, he noted that competition is intensifying, particularly from nations like China, which has recently achieved significant milestones such as landing a rover on Mars and conducting a robotic mission on the Moon's far side. Discussing current missions, he stated that there is a dual focus on the Moon and Mars. He explained, "For the human exploration program, it's sending astronauts back to the Moon" with much more modern technology, and this will serve as great practice for going on to Mars or farther into the solar system.
Bell offered updates on the work being done by NASA's Mars rovers. The samples collected by Perseverance will play into future return missions and could be studied like previous asteroid samples brought back to Earth. When asked about the potential for intelligent life beyond Earth, he confidently asserted, "It's got to be 100%," citing the vast number of stars and planets in the universe. However, he acknowledged the communication challenges due to the immense distances involved. Most of the exploration of the solar system over the last decades has been robotic as it tends to be more feasible than sending humans, he pointed out. "That said, people can do a lot more than robots," he added, envisioning trained astronauts, engineers, and scientists working to build settlements and extend the human species to the Moon, Mars, and beyond.
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In the latter half, C2C's investigative reporter Cheryll Jones presented her interview with paranormal investigator and author Jason Offutt, who discussed his fascination with cryptids and monsters, emphasizing his belief that many more exist than people realize. He told Cheryll that over 200 kinds of cryptids and creatures have been reported across the United States, with Bigfoot sightings in 49 states, even in densely populated areas like New Jersey. The evidence for creatures like Bigfoot, including plaster casts and possible DNA samples, is substantial enough to warrant serious consideration, he commented. He touched on disturbing Dogman accounts, including an incident near a rural cemetery just outside of Brunswick, Missouri, where a witness described seeing a massive dog-like figure stand on two legs and calmly walk into an adjacent forest.
There have also been sightings of what he called "living dinosaurs" in states like Florida, Nebraska, Texas, and Hawaii. "The one that most fascinates me is a pterodactyl," which has been spotted in the desert Southwest, he said. Other strange reports he has studied include giants, Thunderbirds, little people, big cats, and demon dogs. Offutt also delved into the intriguing phenomenon known as the "hitchhiker effect," where the paranormal is said to follow a person home. He described a case where a woman did a paranormal investigation at the haunted Sallie house in Atchison, Kansas, and subsequent to this, there were inexplicable anomalies and calls to her landline for a period of two weeks. "She was convinced that something piggybacked on her at the Sallie house and followed her home," he remarked.
News segment guests: Jeff Nelken, Douglas Mulhall