This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 136.186.1.117 (talk) at 00:22, 23 September 2002 (explain *why* scientists regard UFOs as figments of the imagination). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.
Revision as of 00:22, 23 September 2002 by 136.186.1.117 (talk) (explain *why* scientists regard UFOs as figments of the imagination)(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 discrete, 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, as many such sightings have been explained in terms of known natural phenomena or human activity, and the lack of evidence corroborating eyewitness accounts. 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