UFO's & Extraterrestrials: I'm a Believer, Are You?

Blog 18 - By Wayne Burt

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by stories of strange lights, mysterious sightings, and encounters with phenomena that defy explanation. UFOs aren't just a curiosity, they've shaped our culture, influenced public imagination, and sparked countless debates about life beyond Earth. My fascination deepened after hearing my buddy Dan MacIndoe's compelling account. In 1988, Dan, an ex-Navy lieutenant, experienced an unforgettable encounter near Whidbey Island Naval Air Station. Alongside his family, Dan observed a bright, stationary orange-yellow light that suddenly ascended vertically, executed a sharp right-angle turn, and rapidly approached their position. Using a 135 mm telephoto lens, Dan clearly saw its underside- a perfect circle with bluish-white lights pulsing sequentially. Remarkably, the object emitted no sound, despite the rural quiet near the naval facility. Investigated by MUFON (Mutual UFO Network), this sighting was classified as a genuine "unknown," especially credible given Dan's military background and multiple corroborating witnesses. Stories like Dan's—and countless others worldwide—make us pause and wonder: Are we truly alone in the universe?

Unveiling the Cosmic Veil: There Are More Believers Than You Think

For centuries, humanity has looked up at the stars and wondered: Are we alone? Recent decades have seen an explosion of UFO sightings, government disclosures, and personal testimonies about extraterrestrial encounters. But what if the truth has been hidden in plain sight all along? What if they have been here—not just visiting, but actively shaping human history? Public belief in alien UFOs has shown a notable shift recently, with a larger minority of Americans now believing that some UFOs are alien spacecraft.

In recent years, we have seen a notable increase in the percentage of Americans who believe that some UFOs are alien spacecraft. This shift appears to be associated with increased media coverage and official government attention to the phenomenon. While a larger proportion of the public believes in extraterrestrial life in general, the specific belief in alien visitation via UFOs has become more prevalent across various demographic groups, particularly among college-educated and middle-aged adults.

• Increase in Belief: A Gallup poll conducted in July 2021 found that 41% of adults believe some UFOs involve alien spacecraft from other planets, which is an eight-point increase from 33% in a similar poll conducted in 2019. During the same period, the percentage of Americans who believe all UFO sightings can be explained by human activity or natural phenomena decreased from 60% to 50%.

• Potential Influencing Factors: This recent change in public opinion coincides with significant mainstream news coverage of UFOs. This coverage included reports in 2019 about leaked footage of mysterious flying objects taken by Navy pilots. The Navy acknowledged the authenticity of the video, and in 2020, commissioned a task force to study "unidentified aerial phenomena" (UAP). Additionally, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued its preliminary report on UAPs less than a month before the 2021 Gallup poll.

• Shifting Beliefs Across Demographics:

  • Belief in alien spacecraft visiting Earth has risen among most societal subgroups since 2019.

  • College-educated adults showed a particularly notable increase in belief, rising from the lowest among major demographic groups in 2019 (27%) to 37% in 2021. This increase may reflect their greater attention to news.

  • Adults with some college education also showed a significant increase (from 40% to 49%).

  • The belief among those with no college education saw a smaller, statistically insignificant increase.

  • Men showed a larger increase in belief than women.

  • Middle-aged adults (aged 35-54) showed the most significant increase among age groups.

  • Adults aged 55 and older remain more likely to be skeptical.

• Comparison with General Belief in Alien Life: While the belief that some UFOs are alien spacecraft has increased, a larger percentage of Americans believe in intelligent life beyond Earth in general. A Pew Research Center survey in June 2021 found that 65% of Americans believe that intelligent life exists on other planets, and 51% think military-reported UFOs are likely evidence of such life. This suggests that while a majority believes in extraterrestrial life, a smaller but growing segment specifically links UFO sightings to alien visitors.

  
  

In reading Elliott Hughes’ book, UFOs & Extraterrestrials: Why They Are Here – The Darkest, Longest Kept Secret in Human History, he explores one of the most controversial and profound theories of all time: that extraterrestrials have not only visited Earth but have played a direct role in our very existence. It’s not just about lights in the sky or strange encounters in the night, it’s about who we are, where we came from, and why they might still be watching us.

Ancient Encounters: Were the “Gods” Really Aliens?

The idea that ancient gods were extraterrestrial visitors is nothing new. From the Sumerian Enuma Elish to the Biblical Book of Genesis, there are countless ancient stories of powerful beings descending from the heavens, creating and guiding humanity. Hughes argues that these stories were not myths but misunderstood historical records of actual alien interactions. According to his research, beings like the Sumerian god Enki were not divine figures but rather members of an advanced alien civilization that manipulated early human DNA and shaped the course of our development.

If this theory holds weight, then humanity’s origin is not a simple case of natural evolution, but a hybridization program orchestrated by extraterrestrial beings. The implications are staggering. Did these beings give us intelligence? Did they establish early civilizations? More importantly, why was this knowledge hidden from us?

The Hidden Hands of History: Cover-Ups and Religious Editing

Hughes’ book suggests that religious texts, particularly Genesis, have been deliberately edited to obscure the truth about our extraterrestrial origins. One of the most intriguing claims is that the Biblical story of Adam and Eve originally described an engineered race of humans, designed to be separate from earlier hominids. Some early texts even describe Adam as androgynous before being separated into male and female—possibly hinting at genetic engineering.

So why would this information be suppressed? According to Hughes, powerful extraterrestrial forces (or their human collaborators) manipulated history to keep humanity in the dark. The idea of multiple “gods” was simplified into monotheism, and knowledge of our alien benefactors was rebranded as spiritual mythology. The result? We were left with a fragmented understanding of our own origins, leading to centuries of misinformation and speculation.

Abductions and the Alien Agenda: Why Are They Still Here?

Fast forward to the modern era, and the UFO phenomenon takes on a chilling twist. Many abductees report similar experiences—being taken against their will, subjected to strange medical procedures, and even witnessing hybrid beings. Many believe these experiences are not random but rather part of a long-term extraterrestrial agenda.

If aliens created or manipulated humanity in the past, could they still be monitoring their “experiment”? Some theorists argue that the wave of alien abductions in recent decades is proof of ongoing genetic testing—possibly an attempt to refine or upgrade human DNA. This adds to a growing number of accounts suggesting that whatever started thousands of years ago is still happening today.

The Biggest Secret in Human History

Ultimately, we must confront uncomfortable questions. If extraterrestrials created humanity, do we have free will, or are we still being guided? If they have been visiting us for millennia, what is their endgame? Are they benevolent watchers, or are we merely pawns in a cosmic experiment?

One thing is certain: the evidence is too compelling to ignore. As governments slowly begin to acknowledge the reality of UFOs, perhaps the next step is accepting that they have been here all along. The darkest, longest-kept secret in human history may not be a secret much longer.

Conclusion

As we stand on the precipice of uncovering the deepest truths about our origins and the universe, the tantalizing possibility that we are not alone continues to captivate our collective imagination. The series Ancient Aliens challenges us to reconsider the very fabric of our history and our place within it. The notion that extraterrestrials might have played a pivotal role in shaping human civilization is not just a provocative theory; it's a call to re-examine the evidence hidden in plain sight.

The ancient texts that have long been dismissed as mere mythology could, in fact, be the records of our alien ancestors. The Sumerian god Enki, the Biblical Adam and Eve—could these stories be veiled accounts of genetic engineering and extraterrestrial intervention? The implications are profound and unsettling, suggesting that our understanding of human history might be a carefully constructed facade.

In the modern era, the phenomenon of alien abductions adds another layer to this enigma. The consistent narratives of abductions, medical procedures, and hybrid beings suggest a continuity in the alien agenda. If we are the result of an extraterrestrial experiment, are we still being monitored? Is our DNA being refined or upgraded for some unknown purpose?

These questions lead us to the heart of the matter: Are we truly free, or are we part of a grand cosmic experiment? The evidence, as compelling as it is controversial, demands our attention. Governments are slowly lifting the veil of secrecy, acknowledging the reality of UFOs and UAPs. As we move forward, the next step might well be acknowledging that extraterrestrials have been here, guiding our development for millennia.

This journey of discovery has been profoundly influenced by the series Ancient Aliens. The show has not only popularized the idea of extraterrestrial influence on human history but has also inspired me to delve deeper into this fascinating subject. Through its exploration of ancient artifacts, texts, and modern-day sightings, Ancient Aliens has provided a compelling narrative that resonates with the theories presented by Hughes and countless other researchers.

The darkest, longest-kept secret in human history is slowly coming to light. We are on the brink of a paradigm shift—one that could redefine our understanding of ourselves and our place in the universe. So, I ask you again: Are you a believer? Have extraterrestrials played a role in shaping our past? And what might they have planned for our future?

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Detailed Timeline of Main Events Related to UFOs and Extraterrestrial Hypothesis:

Early Speculation and Cultural Influences:

• 1758: Emanuel Swedenborg promotes unconventional views linking other worlds to the afterlife, an early precursor to extraterrestrial ideas.

• 1864: French newspaper Le Pays publishes a fabricated story about American geologists discovering a mummified alien-like creature in an egg-shaped structure.

• 1897: Reports of "Mystery airships" in the United States lead newspapers like The Washington Times to speculate about a "reconnoitering party from Mars."

• 1898: H.G. Wells' The War of the Worlds popularizes the idea of Martian visitation and invasion.

• Early 1900s: Charles Fort collects and publishes accounts of anomalous aerial phenomena in books like The Book of the Damned (1919), theorizing about visitors from other worlds.

• 1909-1912: International wave of "Mystery airship" sightings, with some explanations suggesting "atomic powered spaceships from Mars."

• 1920s-1930s: Alien visitation in spaceships becomes commonplace in popular comic strips, radio, and movie serials like Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon.

• 1938: Orson Welles' radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds in a contemporary setting causes some public panic in the United States.

The Modern UFO Era:

• June 24, 1947: Kenneth Arnold reports seeing nine unidentified disk-shaped aircraft near Mount Rainier, Washington, coining the term "flying saucer" (though his description was of crescent-shaped objects).

• July 1947: Rancher W.W. “Mac” Brazel discovers wreckage near Roswell Army Airfield, New Mexico. Local papers report it as a "flying saucer." The military initially confirms a UFO crash but later states it was a weather balloon.

• July 1947: Initial public opinion polls in the US show most people are familiar with the term "flying saucer" but believe sightings have mundane explanations like optical illusions or secret weapons. Only a small percentage believe in extraterrestrial origins.

• July 1947: Army Air Forces Intelligence begins a secret study of UFO reports, including Arnold's.

• Late 1947: The U.S. Air Force forms Project Sign, the first official US military UFO study.

• 1948: Project Sign concludes without endorsing a unified explanation, and the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) is rejected by USAF Chief of Staff General Hoyt Vandenberg due to a lack of physical evidence. Project Sign is dismantled.

• November 1948: A Top Secret USAF Europe document cites Swedish air intelligence concluding that some "ghost rockets" and "flying saucers" likely have extraterrestrial origins.

• Early 1950s: Movies like The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), The War of the Worlds (1953), and Earth vs. the Flying Saucers (1956) depict flying saucers and aliens, influencing public perception.

• 1950: Initial UFO sighting reported in the vicinity of DAA (location unspecified in the provided text).

• 1950: The Fermi Paradox was postulated by Enrique Fermi, Italian-American physicist during a casual conversation with fellow scientists about life in the universe when he stated: "but where is everybody".

• 1951-1954: West Germany, in conjunction with other European countries, conducts a secret study concluding that UFOs are extraterrestrial, led by Hermann Oberth.

• 1952: Life Magazine publishes "Have We Visitors From Space?", which popularizes the ETH and is thought to have triggered the 1952 UFO flap.

• August 1952: Following a major UFO wave and military debunking, the CIA's Office of Scientific Investigation takes interest in UFOs, primarily for psychological warfare concerns related to the Soviet Union.

• January 1953: The CIA organizes the Robertson Panel, a group of scientists who quickly review Project Blue Book's best evidence and recommend a policy of public debunkery.

• 1952-1969: Project Blue Book compiles over 12,000 UFO reports, with approximately 6% remaining "unidentified" due to insufficient information.

• 1956: Movie Flying Saucers Attack! is released, further spreading ideas about alien attacks.

• 1957: A Gallup poll shows 5% of Americans have seen something they thought was a "flying saucer."

• Early 1960s: Carl Sagan speculates on the possibilities of ancient alien visits in his essay "Direct Contact among Galactic Civilizations by Relativistic Interstellar Spaceflight."

• 1960s: A group of intellectuals in Spain, led by Fernando Sesma, believe they receive messages from aliens from a planet called UMO.

• 1961: Astrophysicist Frank Drake develops the Drake Equation to estimate the number of communicative extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way.

• 1962: The comic There are Martians Among Us from Amazing Fantasy #15 reflects Cold War anxieties through the lens of hidden alien invaders. The story features a twist revealing the seemingly anxious husband and wife to be the Martians.

• 1966: UFO sighting in Aluche, Spain, witnessed by researcher José Luis Jordán Peña.

• Mid-1960s: The term "extraterrestrial hypothesis" (ETH) gains prominence in UFO literature, used by Jacques Vallée (1966), Aimé Michel (1967), and James E. McDonald (1968). Edward Condon (1969) is credited with popularizing the term.

• 1967: UFO sighting in San José de Valderas, Spain, with alleged traces found at the landing site. Greek physicist Paul Santorini claims a 1947 Greek government investigation concluded "ghost rockets" were extraterrestrial, but the findings were suppressed by US military officials.

• July 29, 1968: James Harder testifies before the Congressional Committee on Science and Astronautics, arguing that significant evidence exists for UFOs being real but has been suppressed.

• 1969: Project Blue Book is officially terminated.

• 1973: An informal poll of American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics members finds that about 10% believe UFOs are vehicles from outer space.

• 1977: A poll of American Astronomical Society members assigns a low probability (3%) to the explanation that UFOs are alien devices.

• January 21, 1988: The Whidbey Island UFO encounter is reported by Dan MacIndoe and his family. MUFON investigates and classifies it as a true "unknown," ruling out conventional explanations.

• 1993: José Luis Jordán Peña confesses that the UMO phenomenon was fabricated as a social experiment.

• 1995: Howard Miller recounts his observation of a mysterious light while hunting in West Virginia in an ethnographic interview.

• 1997: Carl Sagan, in a draft of his book Pale Blue Dot, suggests that stories of alien abduction are primarily part of American culture and offers explanations for UFO sightings as psychological aberrations or hoaxes.

• 2004: The USS Nimitz UFO encounter involves US Navy pilots recording an unidentified flying object displaying advanced movements.

• 2006: NASA's official standpoint is that the ETH lacks empirical evidence, with David Morrison stating that no convincing evidence of alien visits has been found.

• 2007-2012: The Advanced Aviation Threat Identification Program (AATIP), a secret US project, investigates UFOs. Its existence becomes public in 2017, with reports of possessing purported UFO materials.

• 2015: US Navy pilots report multiple UFO sightings.

• June 2021: NASA Administrator Bill Nelson announces that NASA scientists will investigate Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), exploring the possibility of extraterrestrial technology.

• 2023: Kate Howells writes an article for planetary.org discussing the likelihood of alien life and the lack of concrete evidence for alien visits despite numerous UFO/UAP sightings. NASA releases findings from a UAP study stating no evidence of extraterrestrial technology, although some cases remain unexplained. A Pentagon report examines 366 UFO sightings, attributing most to balloons, drones, or debris.

• March 2024: A Pentagon study states "No evidence" of UFOs being linked to alien technology has been found (mentioned in the "UFO.pdf" source).

• February 23, 2025: Seth Shostak updates the Britannica entry on unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

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