NASA Experts Hold First Public Forum to Discuss UAPs

In a significant move, NASA recently held its first public discussion about UFOs, also known as "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAPs).

One year after beginning research on unexplained sightings, this event was televised live and included an impartial panel of specialists who pledged openness. NASA selected 16 scientists and professionals, including former US astronaut Scott Kelly, according to Al Jazeera.

Panel chair David Spergel indicated that this public conference at NASA's Washington, DC, headquarters was for "final deliberations" before the team's report, slated for late July, is released.

Spergel also noted the unsystematic and fragmented character of UAP gathering operations. Additionally, he voiced disapproval of using tools for scientific data collection that were not correctly calibrated.

During the hearing, Sean Kirkpatrick, head of the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) of the US Defense Department, said they get 50 to 100 new monthly reports.

Based on the database, just 2% to 5% of these sightings may be considered extraordinary, according to Kirkpatrick.

The discussion included a video taken by a navy aircraft over the western United States, showing a pattern of dots moving across the night sky as one significant event. The object in question was a commercial airliner traveling to a large airport, and the military aircraft failed to intercept it. Many other sightings, though, are still mysterious.

NASA Wants to Address the Stigma

Spergel said commercial pilots are hesitant to report flying saucer encounters due to the stigma.

He said NASA wants "to remove the stigma" since "high-quality data are needed for answering significant inquiries about UAPs, the BBC reported.

Additionally, several researchers in the field have experienced abuse on the internet. NASA science head Nicola Fox said that harassment "only leads to further stigmatization of the UAP field," substantially impeding the scientific process and deterring individuals from investigating.

Out of the 144 sightings by military pilots since 2004, according to a Pentagon assessment published in 2021, all but one were still unaccounted for. Officials did not exclude alien origin for these items.

Still No Convincing Evidence

NASA clarified that since they are relevant to national security and aviation safety, the study primarily emphasizes UAPs. They stressed the need for actual, trustworthy data to confirm and account for such findings.

After the public forum, NASA associate administrator Dan Evans noted: "There is absolutely no convincing evidence for extraterrestrial life associated with" unexplained objects. However, numerous public queries before the event indicated doubt and conspiracy suspicions, per USA Today.

Thomas Zurbuchen, an associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, stressed the need to understand UAP data to study celestial events. Data helps scientists explain the unexplainable, he said.

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UFO, Nasa, UAP, United States, Science, Tech