UFO is an acronym for Unidentified Flying Object. In a literal sense it includes any airborne object whose nature is not readily known, but more often it is applied to those cases that are believed by some to be the spaceships of extraterrestrial aliens.
Spotting a UFO UFO's are among the most popular subjects of the latter half of the twentieth century, having been the subject of thousands of books, motion pictures, songs, documentaries, and other media. UFO topics were among the most popular on early Internet BBS, and millions of people have some degree of interest in the subject. There have been studies of UFO enthusiast subcultures from an anthropological persepctive.
Studies Ufology is the study of UFO reports and evidence.
Most mainstream scientists have found existing UFO evidence unpersuasive, and consider such evidence and sightings misidentification of natural phenomena or hoaxes. Some professionals and academics have argued that while current evidence may be lacking, evidence should be evaluated objectively as it arrises.
Others--including many amateurs--continue research and consider the extraterrestrial hypothesis for UFO's a possibility.
UFOs have been subject to many studies over the years, with a wide range of scope and scientific rigor. Perhaps the best known study was Project Bluebook, conducted by the United States Air Force.
A group encouraging critical investigation of the alien spacecraft hypothesis from a scientific point of view is the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. CSICOP has existed 28 years, and has previously included such people as TV science program host Bill Nye, Isaac Asimov and Carl Sagan. Its current main proponents are Philip Klass and James Randi.
UFOs are sometimes claimed to be part of an elaborate UFO conspiracy theory in which the government is said to be intentionally covering up the existence of aliens.
