NASA has been studying UFOs, or unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs), for the past seven months. They recently held a public meeting in Houston where they shared that about 40 sightings of UFOs still lack explanation. However, NASA made it clear that they don’t have enough evidence to confirm the existence of extraterrestrial life.
During the meeting, they discussed a puzzling UFO incident in Australia, which turned out to be caused by a microwave oven. NASA defines UFOs as unidentifiable events in the sky and is primarily concerned with investigating them as potential safety hazards for air traffic.
Dan Evans, from NASA’s science Mission Directorate, spoke about their independent study team, aiming to gather data and insights to better understand these unidentified objects. However, due to limited quality observations and vague reports, they can’t draw scientific conclusions about UFOs’ true nature.
The conference revealed that over 800 UFO events were reported in the US over a 27-year period. Most of these reports described orb or round-shaped objects. While many UFO events have been explained, around 2 to 5 percent remain unexplained.
Sean Kirkpatrick, from the US Department of Defence, emphasised that only a small number of sightings are truly anomalous. These involve objects exhibiting unusual behaviour, like high-speed manoeuvres without visible propulsion or entering bodies of water.
NASA admitted that most sightings can eventually be explained, even if they initially confuse observers. They showed a video captured by a naval aircraft, which turned out to be lights from a commercial airplane appearing farther away than perceived.
Scott Kelly, a former astronaut, shared his experiences and highlighted the prevalence of optical illusions in the sky. He recounted a situation where a colleague mistook a balloon shaped like Bart Simpson for a UFO. These stories stress the importance of careful analysis and perception when evaluating sightings.
While NASA acknowledges the existence of unexplained UFOs, ongoing research and scientific testing are needed to uncover their true nature. Their commitment to air safety and efforts to gather high-quality data will contribute to a better understanding of these mysterious objects in the future.
