This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Bryan Derksen (talk | contribs) at 23:46, 22 September 2002 (extensive rewrite in an attempt to NPOV this. The previous version seems to have been written by a strong proponent of the alien intelligence hypothesis.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 23:46, 22 September 2002 by Bryan Derksen (talk | contribs) (extensive rewrite in an attempt to NPOV this. The previous version seems to have been written by a strong proponent of the alien intelligence hypothesis.)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)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". It is a discreet, self contained discipline, although in some cases the proponents of one are also proponents of the other.
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 the scientific establishment in modern times. However, it remains quite popular among a subset of the population, and the arguments over this subject often take on a ferocity normally seen in religous 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.
Pages for scientific study of UFOs
- http://www.csicop.org CSICOP homepage
- http://www.ufoskeptic.org/welcome.html - A serious research page on the subject, for Scientists and Astronomers, authored by a professional Astronomer.
- http://web.archive.org/web/20001201174900/http://www.primenet.com/~bdzeiler/index.htm A page belonging to proponents of the extraterrestrial life hypothesis
See also: Flying saucer