Yesterday at NASA headquarters, a public meeting convened to address “unexplained anomalous phenomena,” the government’s new term for UFOs, quickly revealed a harsh reality. The space agency, in its attempt to bring transparency to the discussion around UFOs, encountered a wave of public skepticism and even hostility. As a NASA spokesperson articulated the public’s pointed questions, it became clear the agency was grappling with more than just unidentified aerial phenomena: “What is NASA hiding, and where are you hiding it? How much has been shared publicly? Has NASA ever cut the live NASA TV feed away from something? Has NASA released all UAP evidence it has ever received? What about NASA astronauts—do they have an NDA or clearance that does not allow them to speak about UAP sightings? What are the science overlords hiding?” The underlying question was clear: Are you guys lying to everyone?
Despite the gravity of the accusations, a ripple of nervous laughter went through the panel of experts NASA had assembled. A senior NASA official firmly denied any intentional cover-ups, stating the agency “has never intentionally cut a live feed to hide anything.” Adding to this, a retired astronaut with two decades of NASA experience shared, “There was never any formal or informal discussions at all about UAPs or UFOs or anyone reporting anything that would suggest something from beyond our planet.” An astrobiologist on the panel, a scientist dedicated to the search for life beyond Earth, emphasized the independent spirit of researchers, suggesting that such a massive secret would be impossible to maintain within the scientific community. “Scientists are a ‘rebellious’ type, and if someone told him to keep a secret as big as this, he’d want to spill.”
The committee, comprised of scientists and industry experts, had dedicated months to reviewing reports of unusual aerial sightings. This public meeting marked their first and only open discussion on the subject. While the event was highly anticipated, the committee’s findings were far from sensational. David Spergel, an astrophysicist chairing the committee, reiterated the familiar conclusion: “Many events have conventional explanations,” citing examples like weather balloons. However, he acknowledged, “There remain events that we do not understand,” quickly adding that these unexplained instances are often plagued by “poor-quality, limited data.” Ultimately, the committee concluded that the available UAP data was “insufficient to provide conclusive evidence about the nature and origin of every UAP event.”
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Yet, in embarking on this endeavor, NASA has stumbled upon an unanticipated and unpleasant truth. Engaging publicly with the topic of UFOs opens the door to a barrage of negativity. Simply showing interest in investigating or discussing UFOs can make individuals targets of online harassment. Dan Evans, the NASA official overseeing the committee, revealed the extent of this issue at the meeting’s outset. “Several of the panelists have been subjected to online abuse due to their decision to participate on this panel,” he stated, adding that “A NASA security team is actively addressing this issue.” Evans later clarified that these were “specific attacks on the character of individuals.” Coupled with the accusatory public questioning and deep-seated distrust, NASA’s attempt to foster open dialogue on UFOs has, instead, been met with significant toxicity.
NASA’s traditional approach has been to avoid the UFO conversation, deferring to other federal agencies with classified programs focused on military and national security implications. The agency’s primary focus has historically been the search for extraterrestrial life in the vast expanse of space, far beyond Earth. However, recent years have seen a surge in UFO-related news, driven by reports on secret government initiatives and subsequent congressional hearings. Facing increasing public and political pressure, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson initiated the formation of this expert panel last year, signaling a shift in the agency’s stance.
Spergel and the committee members emphasized that their objective was not to conduct a comprehensive investigation of every piece of ambiguous visual evidence. Instead, their aim is to develop a “roadmap” guiding NASA’s future involvement in the scientific study of UFOs. Crucially, the panel operated without access to classified data. This approach was almost certain to disappoint those convinced of the extraterrestrial origin of some UFOs and who believe in a government cover-up, potentially now involving NASA.
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Despite the intense emotions surrounding UFOs, public discussions on the topic often prove to be anticlimactic. The NASA meeting was no exception, lacking any dramatic revelations. For those familiar with the space industry, NASA’s apparent commitment to this discussion was perhaps the most unexpected outcome. Just last year, a NASA official voiced concerns about the “reputational risk” associated with UAP research. Yet, this committee advised NASA to engage with UFOs in a way unprecedented in the agency’s nearly 65-year history. Rather than avoiding the topic, the panelists advocated for NASA to actively help destigmatize UFOs. An expert from the Federal Aviation Administration even suggested NASA should “leverage its brand image” to achieve this. Evans echoed this sentiment, stating, “It’s now our collective responsibility to investigate these occurrences with the rigorous scientific scrutiny that they deserve.”
Looking ahead, the NASA panel is tasked with producing a formal report for agency leadership this summer. One panelist proposed the creation of a dedicated UFO office within NASA, a small but focused team to collect and analyze data alongside existing Defense Department programs. However, NASA’s immediate priority seems to be managing public expectations and calming the fervor surrounding alien theories. Nicola Fox, NASA’s associate administrator for science missions, highlighted the detrimental impact of online harassment. “Harassment only leads to further stigmatization of the UAP field, significantly hindering scientific progress and discouraging others to study this important subject matter.” The path to understanding UFOs, NASA is discovering, is fraught with challenges, including navigating a landscape of public skepticism and online abuse, evidenced by the “ungodly number of emails” the panel and related personnel are now receiving daily. Evans lamented, “I think every one of the 16-strong panel, plus myself, receives emails on a daily basis of all sorts concerning this subject,” acknowledging the unfortunate normalcy of the negativity: “Some of them are terrible, and, unfortunately, there’s nothing anomalous about that.”
