Alien is a popular term for an Extraterrestrial Biological Entity, or EBE - an intelligent, sentient life form originating from outside the Earth, a being from elsewhere in the Universe. Some authors use the term in a much broader sense as to include entities from other dimensions, denizens of other realms.

More than 300 extrasolar planets have been discovered since the search begun some 20 years ago. Finding an Earth-like world, orbiting within habitable zone around a Sun-like star, seems to be only a matter of time, a question of developing new instruments, and refining our analytical tools & techniques.[1]

This makes finding life, including intelligent life forms, outside Earth, if not immediate, then certainly a realistic prospect. There is a broad consensus among the scientists today that culturally and technologically advanced civilizations are almost certainly out there - the question is: have they been here? Are we looking for something that has already found us?

A growing number of professionals, including scientists, engineers, government administrators and politicians, military and intelligence personnel, etc, are expressing their dissatisfaction with present policies regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial presence, and they are seaking a full disclosure of all related information held by the US government and/ or its various agencies.

These efforts are centered around The Disclosure Project, an initiative started in 1993 by Steven M. Greer. So far, over 400 witnesses testified to the effect of UFOs, ETs, ET technology, and the associated government cover-up being genuine issues, calling for U.S. Congress hearings on the matter.

At the 2001 National Press Club Conference, twenty witnesses, the Project members, presented their stories to the news media.

Another organization, The Coalition for Freedom of Information, has extended this initiative beyond the United States. In 2007, the group published the International Declaration to the U.S. Government Requesting the re-opening of the U.S. Government's investigation into UFOs.

Most recently, in an interview for CNN, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, an Apollo 14 astronaut, has called on Obama Administration to open the government's UFO related files.[1]