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An image of an unidentified flying object in Manchester |
For a long time, many people believed that UFOs are “spaceships” from extraterrestrial beings. Recently, the UK Ministry of Defence has definitively concluded: UFOs are natural phenomena.
The legend of UFOs (Unidentified Flying Objects; also known as flying saucers) has existed for centuries. Countless individuals have claimed to have seen flying saucers, and many have presented numerous images and evidence of this phenomenon. A series of research centers have been established to investigate flying saucers. While there has been no definitive statement from the scientific community, many believe that flying saucers are products of an extraterrestrial civilization.
So what are flying saucers really? Are they truly products of extraterrestrial beings? There are many different answers, most of which are inconclusive, but the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has only one answer: UFOs are not related to extraterrestrial civilizations. According to the MOD, certain special conditions in the atmosphere create luminous phenomena in the sky that we call UFOs.
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A model of an alien that many believe has visited Earth via UFO |
In 2000, the MOD completed a four-year research program on the phenomenon often described as “ambiguous” known as UFOs, culminating in a nearly 500-page report titled The Worthy Project. This was part of a covert plan to respond to the potential threat of extraterrestrial invasion, which the MOD had previously initiated. A secret group of experts, DI55, under the military intelligence, authored The Worthy Project. DI55 collected information on 10,000 reported sightings of UFOs, including many sources provided by military officials. Subsequently, using various investigative methods, the experts analyzed the collected data to reach their final conclusions. Interestingly, while investigating a mysterious phenomenon, DI55 and The Worthy Project itself remained shrouded in mystery. The MOD did not disclose the identities of any members of the research team. Once completed, The Worthy Project was securely stored in the MOD’s classified documents vault. In 2005, Dr. D. Clarke from Sheffield Hallam University demanded the MOD release it. “Why keep it classified? This report clarifies many rumors regarding the existence of UFOs, so there is no reason it shouldn’t be published sooner,” Dr. Clarke argued, even invoking the Freedom of Information Act to pressure the MOD. Eventually, the MOD relented, stating they could publish the report on their official website on May 15. However, before the MOD officially released it, the quick-eyed press of the British Isles managed to obtain the contents.
The BBC quoted the MOD’s conclusion regarding flying saucers as follows: “There is no evidence to suggest that this phenomenon, which many have observed (UFO), is a hostile force or controlled by anything other than natural phenomena. There is evidence that meteorites and their effects, along with some other rare natural conditions, play a role in the formation of certain unidentified aerial phenomena. Significant evidence supports the hypothesis that UFOs are products of physical, electrical, and magnetic phenomena in the atmosphere and ionosphere.” Thus, it is quite clear. The British state that the UFOs long seen in the land of fog are not products of extraterrestrial beings but merely natural phenomena. This is arguably the first time a reputable organization has published a substantial research study that debunks the UFO legend. However, it cannot be said that this is the final scientific conclusion regarding UFOs, and the MOD’s report is unlikely to change the long-held beliefs of many.
Châu Minh Linh
