All About Aliens and UFOs

By: FUN Monster

For decades, people around the world have reported seeing unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and encountering beings that seem to be from beyond Earth. Some believe that these sightings are evidence of alien visitors, while others think they have more earthly explanations, like military aircraft or natural phenomena. The mystery of UFOs and extraterrestrial life has inspired books, movies, costumes, and countless debates. With government agencies releasing once-classified reports on UFOs in recent years, the discussion is more alive than ever. Are aliens real? Have they visited us? And if so, why? These are questions that continue to spark curiosity and controversy.

UFO Sightings

UFO sightings have been reported for centuries, but they gained major attention in the 20th century. One of the most famous incidents happened in 1947, when pilot Kenneth Arnold claimed to have seen nine flying objects moving at incredible speeds near Mount Rainier in Washington. His description of what he saw led to the term "flying saucer." Since then, thousands of UFO sightings have been recorded worldwide. Some of these have turned out to be hoaxes, while others remain unexplained. Many sightings occur near military bases, leading to speculation that secret aircraft are behind them. Others happen in remote locations, making it difficult to verify what people actually saw.

• 1947: The Year of the Flying Saucer: Kenneth Arnold's report of mysterious objects in the sky popularized the concept of flying saucers, though he would later deny that he had used this phrase to describe what he saw.
• Flying Saucers Became a Thing With Sighting Near Mount Rainier: Arnold's claims were brushed off by the military, but he stood by his story until his death.
• UFO Sightings: Kenneth Arnold: Arnold's story made headlines all over the world.
• The UFO Sightings That Swept the U.S.: Since the 1940s, flying saucers have been a cultural phenomenon.
• Five Famous UFO Sightings Around the World: America isn't the only place where people have reported seeing strange objects in the sky.
• The Story Behind the "Tic Tac" UFO Sighting: One of the most well-known modern reports of a UFO sighting came from Navy pilots who spotted a mysterious object during a training flight in 2004.

Alien Abductions

Some individuals claim not only to have seen UFOs but also to have been abducted by aliens. One of the most famous cases is the alleged abduction of Betty and Barney Hill in 1961. The couple reported seeing a bright light in the sky while driving in New Hampshire. Later, they recalled being taken aboard a spacecraft and examined by aliens. Over the years, many others have reported similar experiences, often involving bright lights, missing time, and encounters with non-human beings. Skeptics argue that these experiences may be caused by sleep paralysis, hallucinations, or psychological conditions, but believers see them as proof of extraterrestrial contact.

• A Close Encounter Transformed the Lives of Two Civil Rights Activists: At first, the Hills didn't want to go public about their experience because they worried that it would damage their credibility.
• Aboard a Flying Saucer: This article includes transcripts from Betty and Barney Hill's sessions with a psychologist, during which they were put under hypnosis and questioned about their alien encounter.
• When Betty and Barney Hill's Alien Abduction Story Shocked the World: Read more about the Hills' story and see some of the drawings they made after that fateful night on this page.
• What Leads People to Believe They Have Been Abducted by Aliens? Researchers have found that stories of alien abductions are often caused by sleep paralysis, a condition that can cause a person to become paralyzed but conscious and experience hallucinations.
• When Did Alien Sightings Turn Into Alien Abductions? This article explores the history of alien encounters, from the earliest reported sightings to modern stories of being abducted and experimented on.

The Roswell Incident

In July 1947, something crashed to the ground near Roswell, New Mexico. The U.S. military initially said it was a "flying disc" but quickly changed its story, claiming that the object was a weather balloon. This sudden shift led to speculation that the government was covering up an alien spacecraft crash. Decades later, documents revealed that the debris came from a top-secret project designed to detect Soviet nuclear tests. However, many UFO researchers remain convinced that the truth has never been fully disclosed. Roswell has since become a hot spot for UFO enthusiasts, with museums and annual festivals dedicated to the mystery.

• The Roswell Report: Case Closed: Air Force records show that the Roswell incident can be explained by military research being conducted at the time.
• What Really Happened in the Roswell UFO Incident? This article from the BBC outlines the events surrounding the discovery of alleged UFO debris at Roswell and how the story became part of pop culture.
• Wreckage in the Desert Was Odd but Not Alien: In 1994, the Air Force released a report explaining that the mysterious object found at Roswell was part of a secret project aimed at detecting Soviet nuclear testing.
• Project Mogul: The object that crashed near Roswell turned out to be part of research into whether sound waves generated by a nuclear test could be detected from thousands of miles away using microphones suspended in Earth's upper atmosphere.
• Undercover History: The Roswell Incident : National Geographic put together this video digging into the story of the incident at Roswell.

Military and NASA Information on Aliens and UFOs

For years, government agencies denied having any real evidence of UFOs or aliens. However, in recent years, the U.S. government has declassified reports showing that military pilots have encountered objects they couldn't explain. In 2020, the Pentagon confirmed the existence of a program studying unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). While officials stop short of saying that these objects are extraterrestrial, they do acknowledge that some sightings defy current scientific understanding. NASA has also joined the search for alien life, primarily by studying planets and moons that could support life. While no definitive proof of extraterrestrial beings has been found, the possibility remains open.

• The Air Force Investigation of UFOs: In the 1950s, the Air Force began Project Blue Book, an investigation of reported UFO sightings aimed at protecting national security and potentially collecting information on alien technology. After looking into more than 12,000 claims, the project found no evidence of anything extraterrestrial.
• Pentagon UFO Chief Tells Senate Anomalous Objects Need Careful Study: While the military has found reasonable, terrestrial explanations for most reported phenomena, some UAPs are still being examined.
• Pentagon Report on UFOs Includes Hundreds of New Incidents but No Evidence of Aliens: The Pentagon's All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office, formed in 2022, has received many reports of UFOs, none of which appeared to be extraterrestrial.
• NASA UFO Task Force Releases Final Report: It's Not Aliens: NASA's researchers have found mundane explanations for most reports of UAPs so far, though they cited the need for better data in some unresolved cases.
• Join the Search for Extraterrestrial Civilizations: NASA and The Planetary Society have partnered with UCLA on a project to analyze radio signals from space with the goal of finding alien civilizations, and citizen scientists are encouraged to contribute to this effort.
• Can We Find Life? A NASA article looks at the question of what we could find beyond our planet that would be evidence of life forms.
• The Effects of UFO Sightings on National Security: Over the decades, the military's take on UFOs has varied depending on whether the priority was projecting competence and strength or collecting usable data on these phenomena.

UFO Organizations, Museums, and Fan Sites

Interest in UFOs and aliens has led to the creation of many organizations, museums, and online communities dedicated to the topic. The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) is one of the largest and oldest groups investigating UFO sightings. The International UFO Museum in Roswell attracts visitors eager to learn more about the 1947 crash. And numerous websites and forums allow enthusiasts to share their experiences, discuss theories, and analyze reports of new sightings. Whether for serious research or entertainment, UFO culture continues to thrive, keeping the mystery alive for future generations.

• A Brief History of MUFON: The Mutual UFO Network began in 1969 as a group of UFO investigators in the Midwest.
• The SETI Institute: Founded in 1984, the SETI Institute is a nonprofit focused on searching for extraterrestrial life.
• International UFO Museum and Research Center: This museum is dedicated to educating the public about the 1947 incident at Roswell.
• Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies: Researchers with this organization take a scientific approach to studying reports of unexplained phenomena.
• National UFO Reporting Center: UFO investigator Robert J. Gribble started this effort to collect and document reports of UFO sightings.
• National UFO Historical Records Center: This center has one of the largest collections of records related to UFO sightings in America.
• International UFO Congress: One of the world's largest UFO conferences, this annual event gathers academics, scientists, and authors to share their experiences and research.
• Contact in the Desert: Thousands of people flock to this convention every year to discuss UFO sightings and alien encounters.
• Alien Costumes: Many enthusiasts like to cosplay as aliens, and you can find plenty of costumes for men, women, and kids here.
• Center for UFO Studies: This international organization conducts and promotes research on UFOs.
• OPUS: The Organization for Paranormal Understanding and Support: OPUS is a nonprofit that provides support for "experiencers," people who have experienced anomalous or paranormal phenomena. Resources available through this organization include support groups and referrals to supportive mental health providers.