UFO

UFO stands for Unidentified Flying Object, i.e. an object of unknown origin and design, sighted in the air. This should not be confused with UFO reports which can refer to many different things, and most of which can be explained in conventional terms. Nevertheless, a small but persistent percentage of reported sightings defies an explanation, and it is these reports that constitute the core UFO phenomenon.

The phrase "UFO" is attributed to Edward J. Ruppelt (1923–1960), a US Air Force officer, and the first director of Air Force's Project Blue Book. In his own book, The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects, page 5, Ruppelt writes:

"UFO is the official term that I created to replace the words flying saucers"[1]

However, the phrase appears to had been in use well before Edward Ruppelt's times with the Blue Book (1951-1953) - for example, the April 23 1948 Project SIGN Quarterly Report #1, refers specifically to "unidentified flying objects".[2]

The UFO phenomenon appears to be global, as well as ancient, with records of sightings coming from all four corners of the world,[3] and going as far back as human records themselves go.[4].

• J. Allen Hynek (1910 - 1986)
• Ohio State University Astronomy professor, and chief scientific consultant to US Air Force's Project Blue Book (1952 - 1969)
  
  

• Donald Keyhoe (1897 - 1988)
• One of the leading early UFO researchers in the 1950s and 1960s, and the author of Flying Saucers Are Real.
  
  
• Jacques Vallée (born 1939)
• A computer scientist, astrophysicist, ufologist, and a venture capitalist, Vallée is considered "heretic among heretics" due to his unorthodox views on UFOs. Vallée believes that the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis cannot fully explain all intricate details of the UFO phenomenon.
  
  
• David R. Saunders (born 1923)
• Professor of Psychology at the University of Colorado, an original member of the Condon Committee, and the author, together with R. Roger Harkins, of UFOs? YES! Where the Condon Committee Went Wrong.
  
  
• Paul R. Hill (1909 - 1990)
• An aeronautical engineer and research scientist, Paul R. Hill played a key role in development of American space exploration program. He also spent twenty-five years studying the UFO phenomenon, acting as "an informal clearing house for UFO information" passing through NASA.[1] The results of his study are presented in Unconventional Flying Objects: A Scientific Analysis, a book published posthumously in 1995.

• UFO Skeptic - Skeptic: One who practices the method of suspended judgment, engages in rational and dispassionate reasoning as exemplified by the scientific method, shows willingness to consider alternative explanations without prejudice based on prior beliefs, and who seeks out evidence and carefully scrutinizes its validity

• Anomalistic Psychology Research Unit of Goldsmiths University - Skeptical research group in the Department of Psychology at Goldsmiths University in London set to explore paranormal events. Associated with The Skeptic magazine

• Skeptical Investigations - Skeptical Investigations promotes genuine skepticism, the spirit of enquiry and doubt, within science. This includes an open-minded investigation of unexplained phenomena, a questioning of dogmatic assumptions, and a skeptical examination of the claims of self-proclaimed skeptics

• Weird Research, Anomalous Physics - Billy Beaty's web page, featuring enlightening quotes from historical figures, and links to anomalous physics and skeptical web sites

In 1974, Dr. Berthold Schwartz conducted a study of 30.000 state mental hospital patients' records, covering 75 years, and found "not one case of a patient who claimed to have had a UFO experience".[1]

A 1993/94 Carleton University study showed that individuals who report UFOs scored "no worse that other people on tests of psychological health, intelligence and phantasy-proneness".[2]

A 1966 Gallup survey on UFOs shows "a strong positive correlation between educational levels and the acceptance of the reality of flying saucers and/ or life elsewhere in the universe, with better educated respondents having a higher acceptance".[3]

Other similar studies have confirmed this correlation.

A 1977 survey of members of the American Astronomical Society, conducted by Dr. Peter Sturrock, shows that only 17% of polled scientists think the UFOs are probably/ certainly not a scientific issue.

80% are willing to contribute to a scientific investigation of the phenomenon, but only 13% has an idea as to how could they contribute.

75% od surveyed scientists expressed a whish to obtain more information on the subject.[www.scientificexploration.org/journal/jse_08_1_sturrock.pdf]

Scientists, technicians, engineers, and other professionals, are more open to the possibility of UFOs being extraterrestrial in origin, compared to the readers of popular scientific and technical magazines.[4]

A 1971 Gallup survey of "top leaders in 72 nations found 53% expressing a belief in the existence of human life on other planets while 47% ruled out the possibility. The survey was of leaders in science, medicine, education, politics, business and other fields, selected by careful sampling methods from the International Who's Who".[5]

The more reliable the witness, and the more complete a report, the more likely it is to remain unexplained.[6]

• BBC: UFO quizzes -- Test your TV, film, Sci-fi UFO type knowledge, or take a more challenging UFO expert test.

• MSNBC: Test your knowledge of UFO lore -- How familiar are you with history of alien sightings?

• Can you answer these questions? -- If you think the above quizzes were just too easy, try this one!