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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This image of Venus was created using data that NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft collected on Feb. 7 and 8, 1974, shortly after the spacecraft's closest approach to Venus on Feb. 5.

Earth life may have traveled to Venus aboard sky-skimming asteroid

By Mike Wall published

If there is indeed life on Venus, it may have come from Earth — aboard an asteroid that scooped up microbes high in our skies.

An image of Venus' thick atmosphere captured by NASA's Mariner 10 mission.

Rocket Lab's plan to search for life on Venus in 2023 just got more exciting

By Mike Wall published

Rocket Lab's life-hunting Venus mission in 2023 will be just the beginning, if all goes according to the company's plan.

Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft captured this false-color image of Venus' dayside on March 30, 2018.

Life on Venus? Breakthrough Initiatives funds study of possible biosignature detection

By Mike Wall published

The main goals involve investigating the case for life on Venus and figuring out the best ways to hunt it down, if it is indeed there.

This image of Venus was created using data that NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft collected on Feb. 7 and 8, 1974, shortly after the spacecraft's closest approach to Venus on Feb. 5.

The clouds of Venus join the shortlist for potential signs of life in our solar system

By Mike Wall published

Venus isn't the only world beyond Earth where scientists have gotten a possible whiff of life.

This still from a video captured by Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner on the International Space Station shows a series of bright lights, likely satellites, in the distance over Earth's auroras on Aug. 19, 2020.

Russian cosmonaut spots 'space guests' amid dazzling auroras in video. They're not aliens.

By Elizabeth Howell published

Russian cosmonaut Ivan Vagner spotted 'space guests' while recording video of Earth's auroras. The bright lights are most likely satellites.

The U.S. Navy recently declassified several videos of alleged UFO sightings.

What does the Pentagon's new UFO task force mean? Experts weigh in.

By Leonard David last updated

The Pentagon just announced the creation of a task force to analyze and understand the "nature and origins" of UFOs. Here's what the much-hyped news means.

Japan's Akatsuki spacecraft captured this false-color image of Venus' dayside on March 30, 2018.

Rocket Lab aims to launch private Venus mission in 2023

By Mike Wall last updated

Rocket Lab, which gives small spacecraft dedicated rides to Earth orbit, plans to go interplanetary soon with an astrobiology mission to the second rock from the sun.

The iconic Arecibo Observatory's giant radio telescope dish suffered serious damage on Aug. 10, 2020 when a support cable broke.

Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico suffers serious damage after cable breaks

By Mike Wall published

One of Arecibo's supporting cables snapped early Monday morning (Aug. 10), ripping a 100-foot-long (30 meters) gash in the giant radio dish.

Is the Pentagon secretly investigating UFOs or not?

Pentagon's secret, defunct UFO-hunting program may still exist

By Mindy Weisberger published

A federal program for investigating UFOs was purportedly discontinued in 2012, but the Pentagon's search for UFOs never stopped. Its findings may soon be released to the public.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) (L) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), vice chair and chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, are pictured speaking to the press in 2018.

Pentagon should release UFO report, Senate intelligence committee argues

By Rafi Letzter published

How much would a report like this really tell us?

This visualization depicts NASA's Cassini spacecraft flying through plumes on Enceladus in October 2015.

Our Milky Way galaxy may be teeming with ocean worlds

By Chelsea Gohd published

Far-off alien planets covered in vast oceans might be common in our Milky Way galaxy, scientists find.

Artist's illustration of what the surface of the newfound exoplanet Kepler-1649c might look like.

Is the Milky Way harboring dozens of intelligent alien civilizations?

By Chelsea Gohd published

Are dozens of intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations lurking right in our home galaxy?

The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) in southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Ready, SETI, go: Is there a race to contact E.T.?

By Leonard David published

Researchers using China's huge new FAST radio telescope are piecing together a technological strategy to carry out a major and sweeping search for extraterrestrial intelligence (SETI).

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

'UFO' videos declassified by US Navy

By Mindy Weisberger published

Three videos captured by U.S. Navy pilots show unidentified aircraft flying at hypersonic speeds.

Team members installed two PANOSETI 0.5-m telescopes in the Astrograph dome to commence a wide-field optical SETI search and continue prototyping designs for the full observatory concept. Picture: team outside Astrograph on January 14, 2020. (Left to right: Aaron Brown, Shelley Wright, Jerome Maire, Wei Liu, Rick Raffanti, Dan Werthimer, and James Wiley.)

'PANOSETI' prototypes: Ambitious alien-hunting project deploys 1st two telescopes

By Leonard David last updated

The first two prototype telescopes for the ambitious PANOSETI project are up and running.

UFOlogist Dr. J. Allen Hynek (Aidan Gillen) ponders a UFO sighting during NATO war games, in the Season 2 finale of "Project Blue Book."

UFO 'invasion' of NATO war games revealed in 'Project Blue Book' season finale

By Mindy Weisberger published

UFO sightings during NATO war games in 1952 set the stage for the season finale of "Project Blue Book," the History channel's series about the U.S.' real-life UFO-hunting program.

An artist's interpretation of a Dyson sphere, made up of satellites that can collect energy from a star.

'Dyson sphere' legacy: Freeman Dyson's wild alien megastructure idea will live forever

By Elizabeth Howell published

Freeman Dyson may be gone, but his famous alien-hunting idea will likely persist far into the future.

they are already here by sarah scoles

'They Are Already Here' author explains the spread of UFO belief: Q&A

By Meghan Bartels published

Space.com sat down with Sarah Scoles, author of "They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers."

they are already here by sarah scoles

'They Are Already Here' starts with a total solar eclipse and a UFO. (Book Excerpt)

By Sarah Scoles last updated

Read an excerpt from the new book "They Are Already Here: UFO Culture and Why We See Saucers" by Sarah Scoles.

Artist's illustration of a black hole.

Is life possible around black holes?

By Paul Sutter published

A new research paper has found a new potential type of abode for life: a rocky planet orbiting just past the event horizon of a rapidly spinning supermassive black hole.