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14 UFOs - A Challenge to Science 14 UFOs - A Challenge to Science UFOs - A Challenge to have taken too many drugs or drink too much. of Scientific Exploration which concluded that UFOs - A Challenge to Mainstream Science This general attitude presents a substantial there exists a significant body of evidence about Mainstream Science obstacle when it comes to involving scientists in UFOs that demands a thorough scientific the study of UFOs. investigation. There is an even more serious obstacle So what do scientists need to conduct a By Patricia B. Corbett in the way of the scientific investigation of serious investigation of the UFO phenomenon? By Patricia B. Corbett UFOs. The scientific and academic Scientists need: For the last half of the 20th century, the communities in particular do not take kindly to (1) a physical phenomenon to observe; UFO phenomenon has perplexed both the the investigation of the UFO phenomenon by (2) the formulation of a hypothesis about public and the scientific community. At the their peers and colleagues. There have been the phenomenon; beginning of the 21st century, the significant negative consequences in terms of (3) experiments to test the hypothesis; overwhelming majority of the American public- career and reputation for those scholars and and -about 70%--believes that UFOs are real and scientists who have taken the subject seriously. (4) conclusions based on the results of that they most likely are guided by intelligent The story of the internationally-renowned the tests that confirm, refute or modify the beings from other worlds or dimensions. The Harvard psychiatrist John E. Mack, MD is a hypothesis. scientific advances and discoveries that have case in point. After an exemplary 35-year career The UFO phenomenon meets all four of resulted from our own human space program with Harvard, Dr. Mack was nearly stripped of these scientific requirements: have helped shape the views of the American his tenure and his license to practice medicine (1) There is a physical phenomenon to public on UFOs and extraterrestrial life. because of his investigations of UFOs and observe. UFOs have been seen worldwide for The scientific community, however, encounters with intelligent extraterrestrial over 50 years and captured on still and motion remains uninterested in and scornfully beings. picture film and on videotape. There are a dismissive of the question of the reality of Perhaps the most significant obstacle in number of databases available, each of which UFOs and the possibility of intelligent the way of scientific research involves the contains tens of thousands of documented extraterrestrial life visiting Earth. Yet, even as official secrecy--based on national security reports of UFO sightings. scientists and astronomers discover new planets claims--that surrounds the UFO phenomenon. (2) Hypotheses have been formulated. and solar systems; find exotic life forms on Officially, since at least 1947, the U.S. There are many variations of a simple Earth that thrive in extreme environments government has dismissed UFOs as hypothesis: UFOs are intelligently-controlled, previously thought to be uninhabitable; and misidentifications of ordinary aircraft, planets, physical craft not of Earthly origin. uncover tantalizing hints of life on at least 10 stars, or natural weather phenomena. (3) There is physical evidence that can bodies within our own solar system, mainstream Unofficially, over the same period, the U.S. be scientifically tested. Physical evidence of scientists continue to mock and deride those government has taken an intense interest in UFO operations in and around the Earth's who take the phenomenon of UFOs seriously. UFOs, classifying them at a secrecy level higher atmosphere, as well as on the surface of the What is needed to change the prevailing than that for the hydrogen bomb. Even the Earth, exists and has been studied scientifically view of mainstream science concerning UFOs? President of the United States does not receive a (e.g., soil samples, radiation effects, First, it is essential to present this important full briefing on classified UFO matters. This electromagnetic activity). phenomenon to serious scientists in a context cloak of secrecy keeps crucial hard data, (4) Evidence-based conclusions can be with which they are familiar, namely, the collected by the military and a range of drawn by scientists. The results of the scientific discipline of science as it is practiced today. intelligence agencies, out of the hands of tests will confirm, refute or modify the Second, it is equally important to show that the scientists, thus critically hampering a complete hypothesis that UFOs are physical craft not of tools of science can be used to investigate the investigation of the phenomenon. Earthly origin. UFO phenomenon and to reach valid The late Carl Sagan, a proponent of the conclusions about it. What is needed to Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) The Best Available Evidence accomplish this? Let's look at what science program, which uses radiotelescopes to search itself is and what it requires. for signs of intelligent life in the universe, was Science is an objective, disciplined the foremost UFO debunker of the last 25 years. The wealth of evidence available for methodology for investigating natural A statement that Dr. Sagan made regarding scientific scrutiny cannot be brought out in phenomena. Scientists--those having expert UFOs has been widely quoted, "Extraordinary detail in this brief essay. However, some of the knowledge of one or more of the existing claims require extraordinary evidence." In his major areas of research and some of the scientific disciplines--use the scientific method view, the claims of those who accept the reality significant scientific contributions can be in their efforts to extend and deepen our of UFOs are extraordinary but are not supported described as a starting point for scientists understanding of the physical world. The by sufficient objective evidence. interested in the subject. scientific method is defined in the dictionary as Noted UFO expert and best-selling Contrary to popular accounts in the "the principles and empirical processes of author Budd Hopkins considers Dr. Sagan's media, and to many scholarly articles on UFOs, discovery and demonstration that are remark to be disingenuous. According to Mr. the phenomenon is quite frequently reported by characteristic of or necessary for scientific Hopkins, "Extraordinary phenomena require an scientists, military personnel, police officers, investigation." In general, the scientific method extraordinary investigation." In other words, the commercial and private airplane pilots. Also involves the observation of a phenomenon, the scientific community does not have the proof it contrary to popular belief, UFO reports are not formulation of a hypothesis about the needs because the scientific community is not limited to rural areas or confined to the United phenomenon, experimentation designed to undertaking a serious investigation of the UFO States. The phenomenon has been reported in demonstrate the truth or falseness of the phenomenon. Why? Because the prevailing about 150 nations and over major metropolitan hypothesis, and a conclusion that validates or opinion among scientists is that UFOs do not areas in the U.S, the U.K, the former U.S.S.R., modifies the hypothesis. exist. Since UFOs do not exist, there is nothing Germany, France, Spain, all the Scandinavian Does the prevailing mindset foster a to investigate. countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, scientific inquiry into this subject? Is a scientific inquiry into this New Zealand, throughout Africa and Central Unfortunately not. Despite the widespread phenomenon worth the effort? Nuclear physicist and South America, and at both the North and public acceptance of the reality of UFOs, the Stanton Friedman, a man who has devoted the South Poles. UFOs have also been reported impression one receives about the phenomenon last 35 years to a scientific investigation of the quite frequently over civilian and military from the mass media is that it is not a serious UFO phenomenon, believes that if the nuclear facilities; at military bases in the U.S. subject worthy of the attention of serious minds. mainstream media devoted the same amount of and worldwide; above and beneath the surface Rather, as presented on TV or in newspapers effort to solving the Cosmic Watergate that they of the Earth's oceans; and outside the Earth's and magazines, the UFO phenomenon is a did to solving the political Watergate, the UFO atmosphere. goofy, fringe subject of interest only to the question could be answered in six months. uneducated, fans of science fiction and others Recently, Peter Sturrock authored a scientific with over-excited imaginations, or those who study of UFOs that was published in the Journal Continued on Page 15