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Unidentified flying object

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This page is about unidentified flying objects. See also UFO (band), Gerry Anderson's UFO (TV series), and United Farmers of Ontario.

UFO is an acronym (or intialism) for unidentified flying object. In the original, literal sense it means any airborne object whose nature is not readily known. Nowadays, the term is more often applied to those cases that are believed by some to be the spaceships of extraterrestrial aliens. Strictly speaking, any UFO identified as an alien spacecraft is by definition no longer an 'Unidentified' Flying Object. This, however, is debatable, since no persuasive evidence has ever shown an Identified Flying Object to be an alien spacecraft.

File:Arizona GrandCanyon 1997 ufo.jpg
Spotting a UFO

UFOs are a popular subject since mid-twentieth century, having been the subject of thousands of books, motion pictures, songs, documentaries, and other media. UFO topics were among the most popular on early Internet BBS, and millions of people have some degree of interest in the subject. There have been studies of UFO enthusiast subcultures from an anthropological persepctive.

Kenneth Arnold reported nine unusual aerial objects in 1947, an event generally considered the beginning of modern UFO interest.

Ufology

Ufology is the study of UFO reports and evidence.

Most mainstream scientists have found existing UFO evidence unpersuasive, and consider such evidence and sightings misidentification of natural phenomena or hoaxes. Some professionals and academics have argued that while current evidence may be lacking, evidence should be evaluated objectively as it arises.

Others—including many amateurs—continue research and consider the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFOs a possibility.

Analysis

UFOs have been subject to many studies over the years, with a wide range of scope and scientific rigor. Perhaps the best known study was Project Bluebook, conducted by the United States Air Force.

The study of UFO claims over the years has led to valuable discoveries about atmospheric phenomena and psychology. In psychology, the study of UFO sightings has revealed information on misinterpretation, perceptual illusions, hallucination and fantasy-prone personality. Many have questioned the reliability of hypnosis in UFO abduction cases.

A group which encourages critical investigation of the alien spacecraft hypothesis from a scientific point of view is the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. CSICOP has existed 28 years, and has previously included such people as TV science program host Bill Nye, Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan. Its current main proponents are Philip Klass and James Randi. CSICOP have been criticised, however, by some researchers.

Some in the scientific community feel there is enough evidence to warrant further investigation efforts, comparing it to the period in the history of Meteorite research when there was only witness testimony available. But others--perhaps a majority--feel that the subject is a waste of time, due to a number of factors, including unreliable witnesses. Some feel that it is still a worthwhile topic because of open questions about the psychology of why and how law enforcement personnel and aircraft pilots allegedly hallucinate detailed UFO from time to time. Thus, some will say the topic is really about "inner-space" instead of outer-space.

It is sometimes said that "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence"; but many pro-research groups only claim that the topic deserves further investigation, not that UFO are necessarily alien craft. The threshold of evidence for further investigation is lower than that for a conclusion about the nature of UFO.

The field of UFOs does not necessarily overlap the paranormal, although in practice it often does. The UFO phenomenon need not have a paranormal explanation, though some who believe in UFOs also have a fascination with the paranormal.

Conspiracies

UFOs are sometimes claimed to be part of an elaborate UFO conspiracy theory in which the government is said to be intentionally covering up the existence of aliens, or sometimes collaborating with them.

Notable sightings

  • May 2004 - The Mexican Air Force release video footage that they claim documents an encounter between Mexican aircraft and alien spacecraft. The IR (infrared) footage shows what appear to be 11 bright lights moving rapidly in the sky.

See also

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