Unidentified flying object
UFO or unidentified flying object, in the original, literal sense means any airborne object whose nature is not readily known.Nowadays, the term UFO is generally used to mean those cases that are believed by some to be the spaceships of extraterrestrial aliens. The modern interest in UFOs started with a claimed sighting by Kenneth Arnold on June 24 1947, near Mount Rainier, Washington. Though the UFOs he saw were not saucer-shaped, he described their movements as being similar to that of a saucer skipping over water, hence the origin of the term flying saucer.
Since the mid-twentieth century, UFOs have been the subject of thousands of books, motion pictures, songs, documentaries, and other media. UFO topics were amongst the most popular on early BBSes, and millions of people have some degree of interest in the subject. There have been studies of UFO enthusiast subcultures from an anthropological persepctive. A 1996 Gallup poll shows that 71% of the U.S population believes that the Government is covering up some information about UFOs.
The nine objects Kenneth Arnold said he saw were not saucer-shaped. Drawings showed something rather boomerang shaped: more resembling a flying wing style aircraft. However, he described their movement as a kind of skipping, like a saucer skimmed over water. Press reports picked up the "like a saucer" phrase, and reported it as a "flying saucer".
George Adamski contributed to the popularity of this term with his books, such as Flying Saucers Have Landed (1953), despite that book having been based on fiction but presented as fact.
Ufology is the study of UFO reports and evidence.
Most mainstream scientists have found existing UFO evidence unconvincing, 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.
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 Blue Book, 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 which may explain why some people are willing to believe hoaxers such as George Adamski. Many have questioned the reliability of hypnosis in UFO abduction cases.
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 UFO study still a worthwhile topic because of open questions, especially due to occasional reports of UFOs from professional or military astronomers or pilots: Individuals whose careers and indeed, often their very lives rely on their abilty to recognize and assess aircraft, weather conditions, distances and other factors vital to flight. Some Ufologists argue such cases are more difficult to dismiss as misidentification of mundane objects.
Although thousands of UFO sightings have been widely publicised in news columns over the years, the fact that many have subsequently been explained--or at least claimed to be explained by qualified persons--as natural phenomena or hoaxes has largely been ignored by the media. There are UFO sites listing claimed sightings, but far fewer listing proposed or confirmed explanations for most of those sightings. The fact that on investigation most UFOs actually become IFOs -- Identified Flying Objects -- seems less newsworthy. While a possible alien visitor is sensational, a mundane explanation is a non-event.
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.
Skeptics say there are indeed genuine sightings of strange flying objects which are usually logically explained, that no physical evidence of an alien spacecraft has ever been produced, and that many claims have been disproven as fraudulent. They also point out that the burden of proof lies with whomever makes a claim, and that it is not up to someone else to disprove each and every piece of evidence believers come up with.
Believers and conspiracy theorists in their turn argue that the subject is prejudiced by ridicule and stigma, that an extremely large body of evidence as yet disproved or effectively countered also exists, including photography, motion video, and multiple independently corroborated sworn affidavits. They also contend regarding physical evidence that it exists abundantly but is swiftly and sometimes clumsily suppressed by governmental entities, not always uniform, with a strong agenda to insulate a population they regard as psychologically not yet prepared for the social, theological, and security implications of such a reality.
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.
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.
There is also the speculation that UFO phenomena are test of experimental aircraft or advanced weapons. In this case UFO's viewed as failures to retain secrecy, or deliberate attempts at disinfomation: to deride the phenomena so that can be pursued unhinderd. This theory may or may not feed back intro the previous one, where current advanced military technology is considered to be adapted alien technology. See also: skunk works and Area 51. This also feeds into the opinion that all or most human technology and culture is based on extraterrestrial contact. See also ancient astronauts
Much mysticism has arisen around UFOs. Several religions have UFOs as a component of their mythology:
Terence McKenna, in contrast, believed that UFOs are manifestations of the human oversoul, or collective spirit. He thought they appeared to individuals and groups in order to exert psychological influence over the course of history. He conjectured that in the year 2012 there might be a a global UFO 'visitation'; a great manifestation that would convince humanity to adopt a UFO religion with precepts of universal love and ecologically-sound culture.
Typical reported characteristics of UFOs
The number of different shapes, sizes and configurations of claimed UFOs has been large, with detailed descriptions of chevrons, equilateral triangles, spheres, domes, diamonds, shapeless black masses, eggs and cylinders being prevalent. Skeptics argue this diversity of shapes, size and configurations points to a socio-psychological explanation. Professed experiencers and believers reply that the volume of highly detailed sightings reported by witnesses from commercial airline pilots to United States presidents possesses strong consistency and cannot be explained away as mundane phenomena (weather balloons, aircraft, venus), arguing for the non-conventional interpretation.Origins of the term "flying saucer"
Analysis
Conspiracies
Mystical and religious aspects of UFOs
Some have common beliefs around UFOs mixed with Christian elements:
Erich von Däniken goes the other way round and states that many old religions were influenced by UFOs. He claims to have found evidence in old Aztec, Inca and ancient Egypt temples that phenomena indentified as signs of Gods were the same as actual unindentified flying objects. In his book Were The Gods Astronauts, von Däniken goes beyond and states that those objects were in fact alien visitors who landed in earth a thousand years ago and influenced deeply in the birth of civilizations.Notable sightings and events
See also
External links