What the hell is that giant cylinder smashing into this volcano in Mexico?

By Annalee Newitz

The Mexican media are reporting one of the oddest UFO sightings in a while. A witness with a camera recorded this enormous silver object plunging straight into the burning caldera of a volcano last week. Misguided alien attack or rogue geoengineering experiment?

Hat tip to Inexplicata, who write:

Prof. Ana Luisa Cid has very kindly shared with us a video from the Mexico’s TELEVISA network showing the precise moment at which a bright, cylindrical shape appears to plummet into the smoking maw of 17,000 foot Popocatepetl on 25 October 2012.