What are UFOs?

UFOs are unidentified flying objects, but no one really knows what
they are. Many researchers (called "ufologists") have theories about
what UFOs might be, but because no one can examine a UFO in a
scientific laboratory, all of these ideas are really only educated
guesses. We can offer a definition of UFOs, however, that you may find
useful when you study the subject:

A UFO is the reported sighting of an object or light seen in the sky
or on land, whose appearance, trajectory, actions, motions, lights,
and colors do not have a logical, conventional, or natural
explanation, and which cannot be explained, not only by the original
witness, but by scientists or technical experts who try to make a
common sense identification after examining the evidence.

Who sees UFOs?

All kinds of people see UFOs. It does not matter whether you are rich
or poor, educated or uneducated, young or old. In fact, many people
who report seeing UFOs were not even looking for them when they had
their sighting. The chances for seeing a UFO are greater for those
people who live in small towns or in the country and are outside late
at night. Although most of us at CUFOS have never seen a UFO
personally, some colleagues of ours say that their interest in UFOs
was sparked by seeing a UFO when they were children or young adults.

What do UFOs look like? How fast do they move? Can I get pictures of them?

 UFOs come in all shapes and sizes. Some are only small spots
of light that move in strange patterns across the night sky. These are
called nocturnal lights (NLs) and are the most commonly reported type
of UFO. Nocturnal lights are not really very interesting because the
witness can see little detail; without details, ufologists cannot
learn anything new. Faraway objects, often disk- or saucer-shaped,
seen in the daytime are called daylight disks (DDs). When UFOs
approach much nearer to witnesses (within 500 feet), these sightings
are called close encounters. There are three types of close
encounters, designated as CE-1, CE-2, and CE-3. (Abductions are
sometimes referred to as CE-4s.) During close encounters, witnesses
report seeing UFOs that are shaped like saucers, boomerangs, spheres,
diamonds, cigars, triangles, or other strange shapes. They have bright
lights, sometimes white or red, other times multicolored.

The reported speed of UFOs varies dramatically. UFOs can hover
silently for a long time then instantaneously fly off at great
speeds--certainly much faster than conventional aircraft. They can
move slowly across the sky, or perform unbelievable maneuvers, such as
right angle turns, at incredibly high speeds. We do not know what
powers UFOs, or why they have such maneuverability.

There are few unquestionably authentic pictures of UFOs. Many
so-called UFO photographs are really natural phenomena (such as
strangely shaped clouds) or are light leaks in the camera or flaws
that were introduced when the film was developed. Some photos are
deliberate hoaxes made by people who want you to believe they have
seen UFOs; for any number of reasons, such as fame, money, or to
promote a religious or philosophical viewpoint. Some of the best UFO
photos were taken in McMinnville, Oregon, in 1950; in Rouen, France,
in 1954; off the coast of Brazil in 1958; and in Lubbock, Texas, in
1951. There are also videotapes of UFOs taken in the Hudson Valley
region in New York, and in Belgium. These pictures can be seen in many
UFO books available in your local library.

Photos are not sufficient proof for the reality of UFOs because they
are easily hoaxed.

When did people first see UFOs?


 Many UFO researchers argue that UFOs have appeared throughout
history. There are many myths, legends, and stories that tell of
strange things seen in the sky or beings who came from the sky to help
humans develop civilization. Because modern scholars cannot directly
check the facts of these stories, it is impossible to determine if
these are accurate reports of true events. Most ufologists, therefore,
concentrate on studying UFO reports beginning in this century.

In the 1890s, people across North America watched strange
dirigible-shaped airships with very bright searchlights flying above
their farms and towns. Some people claimed they had met the airship
pilots. Researchers disagree about the authenticity of these accounts.
Many investigators think the airship reports were hoaxes spread by
local "liars' clubs" or sensational stories written by creative
journalists hoping to sell papers. A few ufologists, however, are
convinced these airship sightings represent the first reliable UFO
reports in history.

During World War II pilots saw strange, glowing balls of light flying
beside their airplanes. They called these lights "foo fighters," a
term based on an expression ("where there's foo, there's fire") from
Smokey Stover, a popular comic strip at the time. At first the Allied
command believed the foo-fighters were secret German weapons or
surveillance devices. Only after the war did they discover that German
pilots had also seen the glowing lights, which were thought to be
American or British secret devices!

During the summer and fall of 1946, a number of unusual aerial objects
were sighted over Sweden and Norway. They were given the name of
"ghost rockets" and it was believed that they were secret Russian
weapons developed from the German wartime rocket program. The Swedish
defense ministry stated that 80% of the 1,000 ghost rockets could be
explained by natural phenomena, but about 200 cases could not be
explained as either a natural phenomenon, Swedish or Russian aircraft,
or misperceptions.

Although the airship and foo-fighter reports are more detailed and
credible than ancient stories of strange "prodigies" seen in the sky,
many ufologists question whether these sightings can be accepted as
true UFO reports. As a result, many researchers say the modern UFO era
started on June 24, 1947, with the sighting by businessman and pilot
Kenneth Arnold. While flying his small plane along the Cascade
Mountains in Washington state, Arnold saw nine crescent-shaped objects
flying along the contours of the mountains. Although he saw them for
only a three and a half minutes, Arnold knew they were not regular
airplanes. He radioed in his report, and when he landed at the
airport, reporters were waiting to ask questions. He described the
motions of the objects as "like a saucer would if you skipped it
across the water." This is where the term "flying saucer" came from.

How can you recognize a UFO hoax?

Although tens of thousands of UFOs have been reported over the past
forty years, less than 1% have been shown to be hoaxes. For the most
part, competent UFO investigators have been able to recognize hoaxes
almost immediately. The most common type of UFO hoax is a prank
balloon, which involves tying a flare or candle to a helium-filled
balloon. On rare occasions elaborate hoaxes have been perpetrated,
necessitating a more extensive investigation.

To eliminate the possibility that a UFO report is a hoax, one must
examine the credibility of the witnesses, the details of the report,
and any physical evidence, especially photographs. The reliability and
validity of these factors must be ascertained before a researcher can
have confidence in the data. A witness's reliability can be checked by
interviewing neighbors, friends, relatives, co-workers, and other
associates. In particular, an investigator is interested in
determining whether the individual has a reputation as a sincere,
responsible person, or as a practical joker, prankster, or hoaxer.

The researcher also examines the UFO report to determine if there are
any unbelievable claims or glaring inconsistencies. For example, are
there elements in the report similar to those found in science fiction
or so unusual that they do not appear in other UFO accounts? Does the
witness claim to have seen the UFO many times, although other
witnesses cannot be found? Does the witness claim that important
evidence is mysteriously missing or taken by unknown "government
agents"? While such facts may not prove a hoax, they can cast doubt on
the report and must be considered during the investigation.

Finally, the UFO investigator must examine the evidence to check if it
has been altered, falsified, or hoaxed. If the evidence looks faked,
or if it can be explained by more prosaic methods, doubt is cast on
its validity. Often an experienced ufologist can determine that a UFO
photograph is a hoax upon first viewing. Clues, such as a noticeable
difference between the sharpness of the UFO image and that of
foreground and background objects, can indicate a hoax. Computerized
photo enhancement can also be used to prove a hoax. Enhancement
techniques can reveal supporting strings or wires and can provide
information about an object's actual shape, material, and density.

Remember, in any investigation you must critically and thoroughly
examine the evidence. The more evidence that is proven to be
unreliable, the greater the doubt to be cast on the validity of the
UFO event. A rule-of-thumb to consider when investigating any UFO case
is if something appears too good to be true, it probably is too good
to be true." (This is also true in life, not just ufology.)
So--investigator beware, and never let your critical thinking skills
down.

What do aliens look like, and where do they come from?

 Because we do not know for certain that UFOs are spacecraft,
we cannot be sure aliens are visiting the earth from other planets.
Many ufologists argue that there is enough evidence to show that UFOs
are really spacecraft operated by intelligent aliens. Among the
reports of encounters with aliens (Close Encounters of the Third Kind,
or CE-3s), there is a wide variety of descriptions. Some witnesses
describe beings who look very human. In fact, they say these aliens
could easily blend into the crowd on any street in any city of the
world. These types of aliens are sometimes called Nordics, because
they most closely resemble the people living in northern Europe.
Others report seeing short, gray beings with large, almond-shaped
eyes, and large, bulbous heads. These aliens have been called Grays.
The Grays are sometimes divided into subgroups depending on other
physical characteristics, such as height. On some occasions, witnesses
report seeing creatures that resemble robots or androids. Only in the
most unusual cases do people claim to have seen monstrous creatures so
often depicted in popular movies about beings from outer space. (The
beings in the illustration are those described in the book Encounter
at Buff Ledge, by Walter Webb.)

There are many theories about where aliens come from, but there is no
absolute proof. Some speculate that aliens come from other planets,
while others suggest different dimensions. The idea that UFO beings
are time travelers from our own future is also a possibility. The most
intriguing clue about the origin of the aliens comes from the UFO
abduction account of Betty and Barney Hill. During their abduction
aboard a UFO in 1961, Betty Hill was shown a three-dimensional map of
a cluster of stars. She later drew the star map while under hypnosis.
Years later, an Ohio school teacher, Marjorie Fish, made many models
of known groups of stars in our section of the galaxy and compared
them to the Hill star map. Fish eventually found a match and concluded
that the two major stars shown were the binary stars, Zeta Reticulum I
and II. It is interesting to note that these stars are similar to the
sun and could very well have earthlike planets in orbit around
them--planets that might support intelligent life.

Are people ever hurt by UFOs?

People occasionally report feeling pain or receiving an injury during
a UFO encounter or abduction. Physical effects include eye irritation,
sunburn, skin cuts, and sickness. After the experience, witnesses may
have nightmares and feel anxious, and they may undergo personality
changes or changes in their beliefs about important life issues.
Witnesses, especially abductees, claim later UFO encounters and other
experiences with the paranormal, such as poltergeist activity or the
development of psychic powers.

One of the most famous UFO sightings resulting in injuries to
witnesses involved two women, Betty Cash and Vicki Landrum, and Mrs.
Landrum's grandson, Colby, as they drove along a deserted Texas road
during December 1980. In front of them, they saw a huge, brilliant,
diamond-shaped object with flames shooting out from the bottom. Cash
stopped the car and got out to have a better look at the UFO. The
object radiated intense heat that softened the dashboard of her car.
Terrified, Cash returned to the car and with the others, watched the
UFO move away. As it did so, a squadron of helicopters appeared and
surrounded the UFO. The witnesses followed the object and the
helicopters until they disappeared in the distance. By the time the
three reached home, all were feeling ill. Within a few hours, they
developed sunburnlike blisters, nausea, and diarrhea. Betty Cash's
symptoms were the most severe, and she eventually sought medical
treatment and was hospitalized as a burn victim. Her doctor concluded
Cash was exhibiting symptoms of radiation sickness. The witnesses
later sued the United States government, claiming it was responsible
for their injuries. (They had identified the helicopters as Chinook
twin-rotor helicopters used by the U.S. Army.) Their lawsuit was
unsuccessful because they could never prove the UFO or the helicopters
were devices owned and operated by the American government.

Does the United States government study UFOs?

At present, the United States government does not officially
investigate UFO sightings, although there is some evidence suggesting
that various governmental agencies continue to maintain a secret
interest in the subject. During the past forty years, however, there
have been several projects and investigative panels that examined the
UFO evidence, at least superficially. Because UFOs are an aerial
henomenon, between 1947 and 1969 the U.S. Air Force was charged with
organizing several projects to investigate UFO reports. The most
famous was Project Blue Book, which existed from 1952 to 1969.
Although there were many UFO reports during those years, including
numerous sightings by military and civilian pilots, and other
technical personnel, the Air Force maintained that UFOs were not real.
The military considered UFO reports seriously only because it believed
that they could be used to confuse and overwhelm our intelligence and
communication operations, thereby making America vulnerable to
surprise attack by some foreign power.

Some military experts also admitted the possibility that the Soviet
Union, with the help of captured German scientists, was developing
technology far superior to any the United States possessed. Therefore,
the Air Force concluded that UFO reports should be investigated until
these possibilities were proven unlikely. Through its investigations,
the Air Force was able to explain most sightings as natural phenomena
or misidentified aircraft. However, there were still hundreds of UFO
reports that it could not so easily explain.

In 1966 there was a wave of spectacular UFO sightings across America
that received widespread press coverage. Political leaders, especially
congressional representatives, were pressured by their constituents
who demanded explanations for their sightings. A congressional
committee conducted hearings on the UFO sightings, and pressure was
placed on the Air Force to resolve the issue once and for all.
 

In response, the Air Force contracted with the University of Colorado
to conduct what it hoped would be the definitive study of the UFO
phenomenon--a study that would finally settle the UFO question to
everyone's satisfaction. The project was headed by Professor Edward U.
Condon, a physicist, who had expressed negative views about life on
other planets and the existence of UFOs. Several members of the
Colorado study (which became known as the "Condon Committee") charged
Condon with failing to act in an open-minded and impartial manner,
thereby biasing the study. Despite becoming mired in controversy,
after several committee members were fired and the Congress organizing
its own symposium on UFOs, the Condon Committee continued its
investigation and eventually released a final report. The study's
conclusion, written by Condon, stated that the 21-year study of UFOs
had not added anything to scientific knowledge and that further study
could not be justified. Critics charged the report's conclusion did
not follow from the study's own data, and the Condon investigation was
a sham from the beginning. Despite the controversy surrounding the
Condon Report, the Air Force used its conclusions as a ustification
for disbanding Project Blue Book in December 1969 and severing its
connection with the UFO subject.

Despite this disbanding, many ufologists believe the government still
maintains extensive files on UFOs and continues to investigate
sightings in secret. Their belief is reinforced by the fact that U.S.
intelligence agencies have already released documents showing that
they have been collecting UFO information that is still classified Top
Secret. The government does not allow public access to these
documents, despite numerous attempts by UFO researchers to see them
through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), which is supposed to
give American citizens the right to view any government document that
does not threaten national security.

In response to the government's reluctance to release UFO documents,
the UFO group Ground Saucer Watch began legal action to gain the
release of documents on UFO sightings over military bases in the
1970s. After Ground Saucer Watch ran into financial difficulties,
Citizens Against UFO Secrecy (CAUS) pursued the case. Though CAUS
argued that the release of official UFO information would not threaten
national security, U.S. intelligence agencies claimed their operations
would be jeopardized by their release. Even when CAUS emphasized that
it only wanted the UFO information and not anything related to U.S.
intelligence, the government adamantly refused to release the
information. Eventually, federal judge Gerhardt Gesell ruled in the
government's favor, citing national security reasons. CAUS protested
the decision, claiming the hearing was unfair. In particular, the
group pointed out that the judge was not allowed to review the UFO
material despite having top security clearance. In fact, Judge Gesell
was only given a summary explaining why the government could not
release the documents, which served as the basis for his decision.
Although CAUS failed to win the case, it continues to work for the
release of government UFO documents through the Freedom of Information
Act.

What is an IFO?

[INLINE] An IFO is an Identified Flying Object. In essence, it is a
natural or man-made object that people reported as a UFO. About
90%-95% of all UFO reports prove to be IFOs, after an examination of
the evidence by a trained investigator. People report natural or
conventional objects as UFOs because they do not recognize them as
such, due to unusual environmental conditions, ignorance, or the
rarity of a natural event. For example, people have reported the
planet Venus as a UFO, unaware of how bright the planet can appear at
certain times of the year. Stars near the horizon are sometimes
reported as UFOs because atmospheric turbulence and thermals (columns
of warm air) cause them to twinkle rapidly in red and blue colors.
Stars may also appear to dart back and forth because of autokinesis.
This is a psychological phenomenon in which a person's eye movements
create the illusion that a bright object seen in the dark without a
frame of reference is moving.

In order to distinguish between UFOs and IFOs, an investigator must
find as much information about a sighting as possible, without leading
witnesses into giving false details. It is also important that UFO
reports are investigated soon after the sighting, so all relevant
information about possible IFO explanations can be considered.
 

It is significant that IFO reports, along with genuine UFO reports,
have decreased over the past decade. People almost never report Venus
or advertising planes, for example, as UFOs. The reasons for the
decline in IFO reports are worthy of serious study and could shed
light on the nature of the UFO phenomenon. If UFOs are misperceptions
of natural or man-made objects, as many skeptics claim, why don't
people misperceive these objects as UFOs today? If UFO sightings are
the result of psychological problems, can we assume people report
fewer UFOs today because they are psychologically healthier? If UFOs
are a rare or unknown natural phenomenon, what has happened in the
earth's environment to cause the decline in sightings? The answers to
these and other questions may provide missing pieces to the UFO
puzzle.

What are the most interesting cases for ufologists to study?

The most important cases for learning more about UFOs are those with
multiple witnesses and reports in which the UFO leaves some sort of
physical trace or effect. Physical trace cases involving ground
markings or electromagnetic effects are called Close Encounters of the
Second Kind (CE-2s). When a UFO is observed visually and picked up by
radar simultaneously, this case is cataloged as a Radar-Visual (R-V)
sighting.

One of the most famous CE-2 cases occurred in 1971, at Delphos,
Kansas, where a teenage boy, Ronald Johnson, saw an illuminated object
hover near the ground. After the object flew off, a glowing ring
appeared on the spot. Analysis showed that the soil had undergone
considerable physical and chemical changes that lasted for several
months.

The most famous R-V case took place in 1952 over Washington, D.C.,
where air traffic controllers tracked UFOs while an Air Force pilot
reported strange lights were encircling his aircraft. Air Force
intelligence explained that the radar images and the strange lights
were caused by temperature inversions, an explanation many scientists
reject as improbable.

Another fascinating R-V case occurred on July 17, 1957. An Air Force
bomber, an RB-47, was followed by a UFO for 700 miles across four
states as it flew from Mississippi to Oklahoma. For an hour and a half
the object was seen by the flight crew, detected by the aircraft's
electronic gear, and tracked by ground radar. Because of the multiple
witnesses, radar confirmation, and the duration of the sighting, most
UFO researchers rule out misperception and radar malfunction. The
RB-47 case is still unexplained.

Recently, the most significant Radar-Visual cases have come from
Belgium where triangular-shaped UFOs were seen by military personnel
and civilians and detected on military radar. The Belgian Air Force
has publicly aired recordings of radar trackings that show objects
making fantastic maneuvers at incredibly high speeds that are far
beyond the capabilities of conventional aircraft.

Where and when are UFOs most often sighted? Are there any UFO sightings near my
town?

UFO sightings are a worldwide phenomenon, with reports coming from
almost every nation. Some countries, however, have more reports than
others. In particular, a large number of UFO reports come from the
United States, Argentina, Brazil, England, France, Italy, Spain,
Belgium, and Russia. By contrast, few reports (considering their large
populations) are received from Mexico, Germany, and India. No one is
sure why the number of UFO reports varies from country to country, but
cultural, religious, and political factors are probably involved.
[INLINE]

In the United States, UFOs are sighted in every state, with the
greatest number of reports coming from the Northeast and the
Southwest. Generally, sightings occur in rural areas, small towns, and
near military installations. Statistical analysis indicates that
sightings most often occur around 9:00 p.m. with a secondary peak at
about 3:00 a.m. UFO reports are evenly distributed throughout the
week, with peak periods of reports coming during the summer months,
especially July. Since the modern UFO era began, there have been
extraordinary numbers of sightings (called waves) in the United States
during the years 1947, 1952, 1957, 1966, and 1973.

To find out if there have been UFO sightings near your town will take
some investigative work on your part. Ask your relatives and friends
if they have seen a UFO. You may be surprised how many people have
seen UFOs but never reported their sightings. Some researchers suggest
that only one in ten witnesses actually report their sighting. Check
your local newspapers, especially editions published during the wave
years listed previously, for news reports and articles about area UFO
sightings. Most libraries have collections of old newspapers for you
to examine. Finally, read as many good UFO books as you can. You may
discover a UFO report from where you live.

Are computers used to study UFOs?

Many UFO reports are recorded on a computer database called UFOCAT.
The UFOCAT computer database was started by Dr. David R. Saunders as
part of the Condon UFO Project at the University of Colorado during
the late 1960s. It was continued by Dr. Saunders and CUFOS until 1980,
at which time UFOCAT contained about 106,000 entries. The UFOCAT
project was inactive for ten years but has recently been reactivated
by Dr. Donald Johnson, a former associate of Dr. Saunders and CUFOS
board member. Originally stored on a mainframe computer, UFOCAT can
now be maintained on a personal computer. Although the database lacks
many cases from the 1980s, it is still the largest information base on
UFO reports, and efforts are underway to add as many unrecorded cases
to the system as possible. UFOCAT has fields to record information on
dozens of report parameters, including date, location, weather, number
of witnesses, effects on witnesses, type of UFO and size, and UFO
maneuvers. It does not record narrative details of a UFO report, but
instead codes the report information according to a system devised by
Dr. Saunders. UFOCAT has been used by many serious researchers to
study patterns in location, time, and types of UFO reports. UFOCAT
information is available only to serious academic scholars and
researchers.

Is radar used to monitor UFOs?

Although there are cases in which UFOs are tracked by radar
(Radar-Visual sightings), radar is not considered a practical
surveillance technique for ufology. Radar, including the sophisticated
systems of the FAA and NORAD, has many shortcomings that limit its
value to UFO research. A UFO may be too low for it to be detected or
too fast to appear on the radar screen for more than a few sweeps of
the antenna. UFOs that hover or move erratically may be filtered out
by a radar's sophisticated computer system as ground scatter or noise.
Also, planes with transponders return stronger radar signals than
targets not so equipped, and radars are often tuned only to
transponder signals. It is also possible that UFOs might not return
radar signals at all.

In spite of the inadequacies of radar in the search for UFOs, FAA
supervisors do report "unusual air traffic" in their operational logs,
and radar confirmation of a UFO sighting can help verify a report and
details of a UFO's physical characteristics. A serious problem for
ufologists, however, is that the FAA keeps radarscope tapes of air
traffic for only two weeks, and computer printouts of this information
can be very expensive. As a result, radar data is only available for
cases reported immediately.

Although rare, one Radar-Visual case is more significant than dozens
of nocturnal light reports for increasing our understanding of the UFO
phenomenon.

What theories do researchers have to explain UFO reports?

There are three general theories that try to explain UFOs. They may
be:

1. the products of intelligent beings;
2. unusual but natural phenomena; or
3. the result of people's need for a comforting or challenging belief
system.


 

1. The most popular theory (especially in America) is that UFOs are
spacecraft built and operated by aliens from somewhere else in outer
space. Some researchers reject the idea that they are space vehicles
and speculate that UFOs might be another type of intelligently
controlled device. These devices might create a holographic image that
people see as something unexplainable, or they may stimulate the brain
to create a hallucination that the witness interprets as a real UFO.

Another possibility is that what people see as UFOs are portals or
"wormholes" that connect different parts of our space-time continuum
and are used by intelligent beings to move between different points in
space-time. Though most proponents of the "intelligent beings" theory
believe that the intelligence behind UFOs comes from outer space,
others believe it originates in another dimension or on earth itself.
A few researchers believe that secret groups of scientists have
developed technology beyond the current capabilities of mainstream
science.

All of these ideas, including the aliens-from-outer-space theory,
still lack conclusive proof and unambiguous evidence. Individuals who
are skeptical of the existence of UFOs specifically direct their
criticism most often against this first theory. They argue that the
vast distances between stars would make interstellar travel nearly
impossible. These skeptics also believe that the many varying
descriptions of UFOs and their occupants would imply that many alien
groups are visiting the earth, which they consider very unlikely. They
also argue that aliens would not be so secretive about their
activities and would announce their presence in more obvious ways.
Finally, skeptics point out that there is no undeniable evidence, such
as a truly authentic photograph or metal from a UFO, that would prove
their existence.

2. The second theory states that UFOs are unusual natural phenomena.
Ball lightning is an example of a rare and incompletely understood
phenomenon. Proponents of the "earthlight theory" argue that
geological stresses in the earth's crust produce glowing balls of
ionized gas that are ejected into the atmosphere. They think that the
properties of this gas (called a plasma) may have strange effects on
the people that come near it; plasma may stimulate areas of the brain
to produce vivid hallucinations, which might be the basis for
abduction cases.

Opponents argue that the earthlight theory does not take into account
all the data. They do not think that geological stress can create a
plasma with the size, shape, and duration of reported UFOs. They also
question whether an electromagnetically-induced hallucination could
create the consistent type of memories reported by abductees.

3. The third theory proposes that UFOs are the result of psychological
or sociological factors. Many scientists, particularly those who are
skeptical of the existence of UFOs, argue that all sightings are
really misperceptions of natural phenomena or conventional aircraft.
They say that these misperceptions are the result of the witness's
ignorance, emotional state, or psychological health, or caused by
unusual environmental conditions adversely affecting an individual's
perception.

Other researchers believe that the stresses and upheavals in modern
society have created a need in many people to establish "contact" with
UFOs or aliens. They say that such a need exists because modern
society has rejected traditional values and beliefs, leaving
individuals adrift with no direction or hope. Through their belief in
UFOs and technologically superior aliens, some people can place their
faith in something or someone who can help humanity solve its problems
and restore purpose to the world.

Arguments against this theory point out that witnesses usually
describe their sightings with a certain level of precision and
consistency. UFO reports from emotionally disturbed individuals are
rare and easily identifiable. However, there are individuals who claim
to have received messages from alien beings, often by "channeling"
these messages in a trance-like state. This undoubtedly comes from the
channelers' belief system rather than a seemingly objective source
like the UFO phenomenon.

Each of the three theories has its strengths and weaknesses. Because
of the complexity of the UFO phenomenon, all three may explain at
least a part of the mystery. Only more research and new data will help
us solve the UFO enigma.

Is there intelligent life on other planets?


[INLINE] Although the Center for UFO Studies is not specifically
involved in the search for intelligent life on other planets, the idea
that some UFOs are alien spacecraft makes this question somewhat
relevant to ufology. While there have been many fanciful tales about
life on other planets, most scientists search for intelligent life by
using radio telescopes tuned to detect the emissions of other
technologically advanced civilizations. (Projects involving the search
for extraterrestrial intelligence are referred to by the acronym
SETI.) One of the first organized attempts to discover
extraterrestrial life was Project Ozma (named after the queen of Oz),
which was initiated by the American radio astronomer, Frank Drake. The
project tuned its telescopes to detect radio emissions from nearby
sun-like stars, such as Tau Ceti and Epsilon Eridani. Although signals
proving the existence of intelligent life were never detected,
valuable information about the universe was discovered.

Since Project Ozma, other attempts have also been made to detect
extraterrestrial signals, with one of the longest-running efforts
occurring at Ohio State University.

Despite the lack of success in discovering extraterrestrial signals,
most astronomers consider the probability for extraterrestrial life to
be very high. This conclusion is based on the Drake equation developed
by Frank Drake, who conceived it as a way to stimulate discussion
about the search for extraterrestrial intelligence). Seven factors are
used in the equation to determine the probable number of technological
civilizations able and willing to transmit and receive radio signals.
These factors include the rate of starbirth, number of planets around
a star, planets with life, supporting environments, planets with life,
intelligent life, communicating societies, and civilization life span.


Several scientists have also begun to speculate about the possibility
that extraterrestrial civilizations have already come in contact with
each other, especially in regions of the galaxy where stars are in
close proximity. The activities of these highly advanced cosmic
societies might be detectable on the earth, providing the evidence
SETI projects have sought.

Some scientists reject the idea that extraterrestrial life exists; a
position best expressed by Enrico Fermi's statement (now known as the
Fermi Paradox) that if extraterrestrial life exists in the universe,
they (the extraterrestrials) should have arrived here by now. So where
are they? The argument essentially states that if extraterrestrial
intelligent life exists, we would have the evidence for its existence
by now because the age of the earth would have given the
extraterrestrials enough time to reach here. Of course, if intelligent
beings exist elsewhere, many factors may have prevented them from
contacting us, or they may have simply chosen not to do so. Then
again, the possibility exists that the extraterrestrials have reached
the earth. Most scientists involved in SETI projects, however, have
not shown an interest in examining UFO data as a way to test this
hypothesis.

What do you say to skeptical people who don't believe in UFOs?

The study of the UFO phenomenon should not involve the issue of
belief. Serious ufologists are not trying to make people believe in
UFOs; they are trying to show that the UFO phenomenon--whatever it
is--deserves serious scientific study. A constant problem ufologists
face is ignorance about the subject. Even well-educated
skeptics--often college professors--are unaware of the evidence for
UFOs, the subject's literature, the history of government involvement
and civilian investigations, and the details of significant cases. In
fact, serious ufologists are often the best skeptics; they possess
greater knowledge about the pros and cons for studying UFOs than
debunkers.

Skeptics often argue against the study of UFOs based upon assumptions
unrelated to the evidence. They assume aliens would not visit the
earth in the large numbers that UFO reports suggest or that people see
UFOs because of some religious or emotional need. Because scientists
do not study UFOs, you might assume that the evidence must be lacking.
In practical terms, scientists generally study topics that are
academically acceptable, have an abundance of data, and can attract
funding from government and private sources.

To those who remain skeptical about the value of UFO research, here
are some suggestions:
* Read the serious and relevant UFO literature.
* Learn about the UFO investigators and research organizations.
* Know the facts behind the phenomenon.
* Study the data and do not confuse facts with speculation.
* Examine the research methods and arguments of skeptics.

Remember that honest and serious skepticism requires an understanding
of the data, relevant scientific and social research, and the
world-wide history of the UFO mystery.
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What should you do when you see a UFO?

First, you should call for other people to come and watch the UFO with
you.

The more witnesses, the more credible the report will be to
investigators. Second, you should observe very carefully. If you have
a camera, take pictures of the UFO that include known objects in the
foreground and background. Remember as many details as possible,
especially the time, date, duration, and location of the sighting, the
UFO's appearance, shape, apparent size and distance, lights, colors,
direction, estimated speed, trajectory, motions, actions, sounds, and
how you lost sight of it. Third, after the sighting ends, write down
as many details as you can remember. Draw a sketch of the UFO (even if
you took photographs) and a map of the area where the sighting
occurred. If the UFO left any physical traces or effects, protect the
evidence so researchers can investigate and analyze it. Finally, and
most importantly, contact the Center for UFO Studies to file your
report.

What do I do to become a ufologist?

There is no formal training required to become a ufologist. In fact,
ufology is not so much a professional career as it is a hobby. That
is, most researchers study and work in this field on a voluntary basis
and have educated themselves about the subject. If you are serious
about studying UFOs, you must read the serious literature about the
subject. You must also attend college and study any field you find
rewarding; this will help you understand the scientific method and
develop your critical thinking skills. It is impossible to predict
what discipline, whether in the social or physical sciences, will
contribute to a further understanding of the UFO phenomenon, so
knowledge and perspective of any field of learning may shed light on
the phenomenon. Finally, you should try to meet other persons
interested in UFOs and who may already be involved with investigations
and study. They may have books you can borrow and expertise you can
draw upon.