UFOs and Extraterrestrials

UFOs, or Unidentified Flying Objects, and extraterrestrials are perennial favorites in science fiction, but to date there have been no confirmed encounters on Earth. Still, strange sights in the night sky have been attributed to UFOs or aliens over the decades, most famously in Roswell, New Mexico, where many believers claim an alien craft crashed on a farm in 1947. In 2017, the existence of a secret U.S. government program that tracked "UFO" sightings by military pilots, which shut down in 2012, was brought to light in a New York Times report.

Related Topics: Alien Planets, Incredible Space Tech, Multiverse, Interstellar Travel

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a finger pointing to a small metal ball on a screen

'Alien' spherules dredged from the Pacific are probably just industrial pollution, new studies suggest

By Joanna Thompson published

Last summer, Harvard professor Avi Loeb claimed tiny pellets of iron came from beyond our solar system. But new analyses suggest that they likely originated much closer to home.

image of a flying saucer outlined against a starry night sky.

Is the truth out there? Garrett M. Graff on his new UFO book (exclusive)

By Jeff Spry published

An exclusive interview with acclaimed author Garrett M. Graff on his new non-fiction UFO book, which

Illustration showing a small robotic probe nearing Venus, with the blackness of space in the background.

Rocket Lab targets late 2024 for private Venus mission launch

By Andrew Jones published

Rocket Lab's mission to Venus, which aims to investigate the potential for life high in the planet's atmosphere, could launch as soon as Dec. 30, 2024.

A view of the LOFAR station at Birr Castle in Ireland, which has been listening for alien radio signals.

Search for intelligent aliens explores new radio-frequency realms

By Keith Cooper published

Over 1.6 million star systems have been scanned by Europe's LOFAR system so far, but E.T. hasn't been caught phoning home yet.

various colored circles circled by dotted lines scattered about a black canvas

Nailing down exoplanet orbits could be key to finding ET. Here's why

By Keith Cooper published

A better understanding of exoplanet orbits is helping SETI astronomers reduce their computational costs and conduct their search for intelligent aliens faster.

radio telescopes point upward in the desert under a bright sun

The search for extraterrestrial intelligence gets a new home at Oxford

By Keith Cooper published

The Breakthrough Listen initiative has moved its headquarters to the U.K. to take advantage of the reams of data set to come from the Square Kilometer Array.

a telescope sits beside a vast plain ringed by mountains as the sun rises overhead

Fire in the sky: Chasing the annular solar eclipse 2023 on the Extraterrestrial Highway

By Brett Tingley published

The deserts of Nevada provided the perfect setting for the annular solar eclipse on Oct. 14, 2023 in a region known for its love of strange sights in the sky.

Robot hand close to touching a human hand.

In the search for alien life, should we be looking for artificial intelligence?

By Keith Cooper published

Superintelligences might reveal themselves through the technosignatures of their cosmic engineering projects.

radio telescopes point upwards under the milky way and stars

Could AI communicate with aliens better than we could?

By Keith Cooper published

Any potential alien messages could be too complicated for humans to understand, but AI trained to detect complex structure in communication could help decipher them for us.

a person looks up at a bright light in the sky

Unidentified anomalous phenomena: Hot spots and the quest for better UFO data

By Leonard David published

For many anxious to throw light on unidentified anomalous phenomena, it's all about reliable, truth-revealing, and scientifically rigorous data collection.

a book cover showing a flying saucer picking up a cow with a tractor beam with the words "Is There Anybody Out There? by Laura Krantz"

How to talk to your kids about aliens: 'Is There Anybody Out There?'

By Brett Tingley published

Space.com spoke with author Laura Krantz about her new book "Is There Anybody Out There?" that takes a scientific look at the search for life and even UFOs.

Illustration of a planet and its cool red dwarf star. In the foreground on the right is the planet, which fills most of the frame. The planet is various shades of blue, with wisps of white scattered throughout. The left edge of the planet (the side facing the star) is lit, while the rest is in shadow. In the background at the lower left is the star, which appears smaller. The star has a bright red glow. Also in the background is another planet, which appears as a small crescent. The black background of space is speckled with a few small stars.

Possible hints of life found on distant planet – how excited should we be?

By Ian Whittaker published

The exoplanet K2-18b might host a water ocean.

a swirling blend of planetary orbs and color gasses with math equations overlated transparently throughout

Alien life may not be carbon-based, new study suggests

By Charles Q. Choi published

Self-sustaining chemical reactions that could support biology radically different from life as we know it might exist on many different planets, a new study finds.

three people stand in the forest at night.

Watch the trailer for new UFO conspiracy flick 'Monsters of California' from Blink-182's Tom DeLonge (video)

By Jeff Spry published

Screen Media Films has released a new trailer for Tom DeLonge's UFO conspiracy film 'Monsters of California.'

a yellow tube with fins underwater

Next stop, Europa? Nano subs to get test beneath Antarctic ice in 2026

By Andrew Jones published

A European collaboration aims to break through some of the technological barriers to the exploration of icy moons like Jupiter's Europa, using Antarctica as a proving ground.

a silver balloon rises into a blue sky

NASA appoints new head of UFO research

By Brett Tingley published

NASA has named a new director of UFO research who will oversee the agency's studies into UAP, or unidentified anomalous phenomena.

a clay model of an alien

Alien mummies in Mexico? NASA's UFO study team says don't bet on it

By Brett Tingley published

Lawmakers in Mexico heard testimony this week about the presence of alien life on Earth that included two "corpses of extraterrestrials." NASA's UAP study team isn't so sure.

U.S. Navy videos of alleged UFO sightings were previously available but had not been officially declassified.

NASA UFO report finds no evidence of 'extraterrestrial origin' for UAP sightings

By Brett Tingley published

"But we don't know what these UAP are," NASA chief says. The agency is appointing a new UAP research director.

a group of people in suits at a table with a nasa logo

NASA's UFO study team to announce results Sept. 14. Here's how to watch live.

By Brett Tingley published

NASA's independent UAP study team will present its initial findings during a briefing on Thursday (Sept. 14). Here's how to watch it live.

a seal reading "AARO" above the Pentagon

Pentagon UFO office unveils official website for US government personnel to report sightings

By Brett Tingley published

The Pentagon's official office for addressing UFOs has a new website where U.S. government and military personnel can report their own sightings.