In a recent meeting organised by NASA, a panel of experts highlighted the existence of unusual incidents that warrant further investigation but stopped short of confirming the presence of UFOs.
Are UFOs real? – Here’s what this NASA expert panel found
During the gathering, NASA emphasised that numerous UFO sightings likely go unreported, and the available data, plagued by poor quality, grainy images, and blurry videos, has failed to yield conclusive evidence when subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny.
These discussions mark the final deliberations of NASA’s independent study team, comprised of 16 experts spanning diverse fields relevant to UFO matters, before the release of the agency’s much-anticipated final report expected by the end of July 2023, per Fox News.
Several speakers regarded this meeting, along with the Pentagon’s concurrent investigative efforts, as a significant turning point in destigmatising UFO reporting and fostering open discussions.
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However, panel members and the Department of Defense’s team have reportedly faced harassment and criticism for their work.
While NASA’s examination of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), the government’s preferred term for UFOs, is distinct from the Pentagon’s investigation, both studies incorporate collaborative efforts running in parallel.
While NASA’s scientific mission was seen by some as indicative of a more open-minded approach to a topic traditionally deemed taboo within defence circles, the space agency clarified that it was far from rushing to any definitive conclusions.
NASA focuses on examining unclassified UFO sightings and data gathered from civilian, government, and commercial sectors, whereas the Pentagon’s newly established All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) leverages both classified and unclassified information in the interest of national defence.
Director of AARO, Sean Kirkpatrick, disclosed that his office is currently investigating over 800 cases, of which only 2-5% are deemed “truly anomalous.”
What NASA defines as a ‘truly anomalous’ flying object
He defined anomalous incidents as those that are “not readily understandable to the operator or the censor,” involving peculiar behaviour such as defying the wind at high speeds without apparent propulsion or submerging into water, which was later determined to be a sensor anomaly.
In essence, these incidents defy easy explanations. NASA defines “anomalous” as “observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena from a scientific perspective.”
During the meeting, Kirkpatrick shared his recommendations with NASA, which are outlined in the accompanying presentation. Mike Freie, a technical adviser in the FAA, mentioned that the agency receives around three to five UAP reports per month from air traffic controllers across the United States.
Freie noted a surge in reports in August 2022 and February 2023, coinciding with the time of the Chinese balloon, although these incidents are likely explicable.
The expert panel faced inquiries from NASA regarding the lingering “stigma” associated with reporting possible UFO/UAP sightings, prompting discussions on gathering higher-quality data and visuals.
Kirkpatrick acknowledged that efforts are being made to destigmatise UFO reports, but harassment and ridicule persist, primarily due to the general public’s limited understanding of the scientific process.
“I wish I had all the answers,” Kirkpatrick expressed.
“But I don’t, and it will take time to thoroughly investigate each of these incidents. Nonetheless, people crave immediate answers.”
US defence officials have stated that the recent push by the Pentagon to investigate such sightings has resulted in hundreds of new reports currently under examination, although the majority remain classified as unexplained.
