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Revision as of 03:01, 23 September 2002
UFO is an acronym for Unidentified Flying Object. As such, in a literal sense it would include any object in the air of which the nature is not known, but usually when the term 'UFO' is used it refers to some of the unidentified objects which are believed by some to be the spaceships of extraterrestrial aliens.
The field of UFOs should not be confused or intermingled with "the paranormal". The UFO phenomenon need not have a paranormal explanation, though those who believe in UFOs may also evince a fascination with the paranormal.
UFOs have been subject to many studies over the years, with a wide range of scope and scientific rigor. One well-known study was Project Bluebook, conducted by the United States Air Force.
The idea that UFOs are in fact alien spacecraft is largely discounted by most scientists, since many such sightings have been explained in terms of known natural phenomena or human activity, and there is a lack of evidence corroborating eyewitness accounts which purport otherwise. However, it remains quite a popular belief among a subset of the population, and the arguments over this subject often take on a ferocity normally seen in religious conflicts.
A group that is currently involved in debunking the alien spacecraft hypothesis of UFOs is the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.
The study of UFOs and UFO claims over the years has led to interesting discoveries about atmospheric phenomena and psychology.
External Links
- CSICOP homepage
- A serious research page for scientists and astronomers, authored by a professional Astronomer.
See also: Flying saucer