Academic Survey Reveals 1 in 5 Encounters Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena

There is still skepticism about unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs, previously known as UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena). However, a new survey suggested that it's not very uncommon, as many have encountered them.

UAP Encounters Reported in Survey

Nearly one in five academics who participated in a study claimed having encountered unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs, also known as UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomena), which, according to experts, underscores the need to end the stigma associated with sightings and expand investigations, The Register reported.

Three academics claimed to have polled 1,460 tenured and tenure-track faculty members at 144 "major research universities" to find out how they felt about UAP research and reports.

Their research revealed an academic community that was interested in UAPs but also held a healthy skepticism. Nearly 40% of respondents decided to uphold their academic integrity by withholding judgment, despite around a fifth of those who admitted they might have seen a UAP. Less than a quarter of those who did opt to explain said UAPs.

Fewer explained, with less than a quarter claiming that natural occurrences were to blame and 13.14 percent strongly supporting the "devices of unknown intelligence" theory.

There are 12 encounters described in the report. The responses ranged from physicist colleagues informing the responder they had seen UAPs but couldn't explain them to a parent who had served in the military and had experience with them. One of the respondents claimed to have seen a UFO twice.

The participant claimed they were aware of their existence, but our technology is not at the level where it can detect them. The participant said they used to tell people about their knowledge, but those who heard what they had to say about UAPs assumed they were insane or lying. Hence, the respondent decided to keep their knowledge to themselves.

According to the authors, this stigma is what's preventing further independent academic studies into UAPs from moving forward. Sixty-four percent of respondents thought involving academics was either extremely important or necessary.

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NASA Commissions Independent Study For UAP

On June 9, 2022, the American space agency announced that it would commission a study team to investigate unidentified abnormal phenomena (UAPs) from a scientific standpoint, which are observations of events in the sky that cannot be explained by aircraft or well-known natural phenomena. The project will concentrate on figuring out what data are already accessible, how to effectively gather new data, and how NASA might use that data to advance our understanding of UAPs.

NASA is a global leader in exploration and is dedicated to robust scientific research. In accordance with its guiding principles of openness, transparency, and scientific integrity, NASA is launching the UAP Independent Study to obtain the opinions of community experts from various fields on issues pertinent to prospective approaches to studying unidentified anomalous phenomena. A community-based, interdisciplinary forum, the UAP Independent Study, is used to gather and organize community analysis, input, and advice.

NASA had already selected 16 individuals as part of the independent study team. They began their study on Oct. 24, 2022, and the course would run for nine months.

For NASA and other organizations, the independent study team will provide the framework for upcoming research on the characteristics of UAPs. The team will determine how data collected by civilian government agencies, commercial data, and data from other sources may be possibly evaluated to provide information on UAPs. It will then offer a plan for future agency UAP data analysis.

Unclassified data will be the study's primary emphasis, and a comprehensive report should be available by mid-2023.