UFOs/UAPs

Extracted Attributes

• Scope of UAP

  Broadens view to include natural atmospheric phenomena, satellites, bright planets, and things outside the atmosphere

• Alternative Names

  Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP)

• Origin of Term UAP

  First appeared in late 1960s; U.S. Department of Defense coined 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' in 2022

• Origin of Term UFO

  Coined by United States Air Force (USAF) during investigations into flying saucers

• Common Explanations

  Natural phenomena, human technology, delusions, hoaxes

• Philosophical Domain

  Epistemology (for temporarily or permanently non-knowable anomalous phenomena)

• DoD Definition of UAP

  Airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable; transmedium objects or devices; and submerged objects or devices that are not immediately identifiable and that display behavior or performance characteristics suggesting a relation to the aforementioned objects or devices

• Current US Government Entities for UAP

  NASA's UAP independent study team, Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office

Timeline

• Reports of unusual aerial sightings date back centuries, with records existing from at least the 3rd century BC. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)

  Unknown

• UFOs gained significant cultural prominence after World War II. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)

  1945-09-02

• UFOs gained significant cultural prominence during the Space Age. (Source: Summary, Wikipedia)

  1957-10-04

• The term 'Unidentified Aerial Phenomena' (UAP) first appeared. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia snippet))

  1960s

• Members of the United States House Intelligence Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation held congressional hearings to discuss military reports of UAPs. (Source: Web Search (Wikipedia snippet))

  2022-05-17

• The U.S. Department of Defense coined the term 'Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena' (UAP). (Source: Web Search (Science News, AARO))

  2022

• NASA announced the commissioning of a study team to examine UAPs from a scientific perspective. (Source: Web Search (NASA Science))

  2022-06-09

• A potential massive declassification of files related to UFOs/UAPs is predicted. (Source: Related Documents)

  2025

Unidentified flying object

An unidentified flying object (UFO) is an object or phenomenon seen in the sky but not yet identified or explained. The term was coined when United States Air Force (USAF) investigations into flying saucers found too broad a range of shapes reported to consider them all saucers or discs. UFOs are also known as unidentified aerial phenomena or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). Upon investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while a small number remain unexplained. While unusual sightings in the sky have been reported since at least the 3rd century BC, UFOs became culturally prominent after World War II, escalating during the Space Age. Studies and investigations into UFO reports conducted by governments (such as Project Blue Book in the United States and Project Condign in the United Kingdom), as well as by organisations and individuals have occurred over the years without confirmation of the fantastical claims of small but vocal groups of ufologists who favour unconventional or pseudoscientific hypotheses, often claiming that UFOs are evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence, technologically advanced cryptids, demons, interdimensional contact or future time travelers. After decades of promotion of such ideas by believers and in popular media, the kind of evidence required to solidly support such claims has not been forthcoming. Scientists and skeptic organizations such as the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry have provided prosaic explanations for UFOs, namely that they are caused by natural phenomena, human technology, delusions, and hoaxes. Although certain beliefs surrounding UFOs have inspired parts of new religions, social scientists have identified the ongoing interest and storytelling surrounding UFOs as a modern example of folklore and mythology understandable with psychosocial explanations. The problems of temporarily or permanently non-knowable anomalous phenomenon or perceived objects in flight is part of the philosophical subject epistemology. The U.S. government currently has two entities dedicated to UFO data collection and analysis: NASA's UAP independent study team and the Department of Defense All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office.

Web Search Results

• Scientists are getting serious about UFOs. Here's why - Science News

  To help reduce the stigma, many serious investigators now refer to UFOs as “unidentified anomalous phenomena,” or UAPs, coined by the U.S. Department of Defense in 2022. “The term UAP brings science to the issue,” Boyd says. It also rightly broadens the view to include natural atmospheric phenomena as well as things outside the atmosphere, such as satellites and particularly bright planets such as Venus. Image 2: a group of experts sitting at a panel table with a projection behind them [...] Space Scientists are getting serious about UFOs. Here’s why ===================================================== Understanding what are now called UAPs is crucial for national security and aircraft safety Image 1: digital art of an unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP) UFOs have been rebranded as unexplained anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, and are now getting attention from mainstream scientists. Matt Chinworth ### Share this: [...] Although many UAPs remain puzzling, experts have identified some common sources. Saucer-shaped lenticular clouds, birds in flight, thermal fluctuations in the atmosphere and other natural phenomena explain some sightings, as do celestial objects like Venus. And while no alien technology has been linked to UAPs, human tech has, including weather balloons, satellites, drones, airborne trash and military aircraft. Last year, a particularly spooky spiral in the sky over northwestern Canada turned

• Unidentified flying object - Wikipedia

  unidentified flying objects. UFO".( The term UFO became widespread during the 1950s, at first in technical literature, but later in popular use.( "Unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP) first appeared in the late 1960s. UAP has seen increasing usage in the 21st century due to negative cultural associations with "UFO".( UAP is sometimes expanded as "unidentified anomalous phenomenon".( [...] Duration: 35 seconds.0:35 Subtitles available.CC is an object or phenomenon seen in the sky but not yet identified or explained. The term was coined when United States Air Force (USAF) investigations into flying saucers found too broad a range of shapes reported to consider them all saucers or discs.( UFOs are also known as unidentified aerial phenomena or unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).( Upon investigation, most UFOs are identified as known objects or atmospheric phenomena, while a [...] independent study team and the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office were charged in part by Congressional fiat to investigate UFO claims more fully,( adopting the new moniker "unexplained aerial phenomenon" (UAP) to avoid associations with past sensationalism.( On 17 May 2022, members of the United States House Intelligence Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation held congressional hearings with top military officials to discuss military reports of UAPs.(

• AARO Home

  What is a UAP? Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) means (A) airborne objects that are not immediately identifiable; (B) transmedium objects or devices; (C) and submerged objects or devices that are not immediately identifiable and that display behavior or performance characteristics suggesting that the objects or devices may be related to the objects or devices described in subparagraph (A) or (B).(Per the NDAA FY23 Section 1673(d)(8)). The DoD considers Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena [...] (UAP) as sources of anomalous detections in one or more domain (i.e., airborne, seaborne, spaceborne, and/or transmedium) that are not yet attributable to known actors and that demonstrate behaviors that are not readily understood by sensors or observers. “Anomalous detections” include but are not limited to phenomena that demonstrate apparent capabilities or material that exceed known performance envelopes. A UAP may consist of one or more unidentified anomalous objects and may persist over an

• UFO and UAP-related Records - National Archives

  The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) has records related to unidentified flying objects (UFO) and unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) across numerous record groups and collections. Explore the links below to find out more about records related to UFOs and UAPs in NARA's holdings. Links to items in the National Archives Catalog are downloadable and can be republished with attribution to NARA. On This Page ------------ [...] Published Time: 2024-02-15T11:54:41-05:00 Records Related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) at the National Archives | National Archives =============== Top Skip to main content The U.S. National Archives Home Menu Blogs · Bookmark/Share%20and%20Unidentified%20Anomalous%20Phenomena%20(UAPs)%20at%20the%20National%20Archives%20%7C%20National%20Archives) · Contact Us Search Search Main menu --------- [...] Image 1: National Archives Logo Records Related to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs) at the National Archives ==========================================================================================================================

• UAP - NASA Science

  On June 9, 2022, NASA announced that the agency is commissioning a study team to examine unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) – that is, observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena – from a scientific perspective. The study will focus on identifying available data, how best to collect future data, and how NASA can use that data to move the scientific understanding of UAPs forward. This webpage is designed as a resource to provide updates [...] We commissioned a study team to examine from a scientific perspective unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) – that is, observations of events in the sky that cannot be identified as aircraft or known natural phenomena. This is a group photo from their public meeting on May 31, 2023. ### NASA Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study