Space

Scientists are getting serious about UFOs. Here’s why

Understanding what are now called UAPs is crucial for national security and aircraft safety

digital art of an unexplained anomalous phenomena (UAP)

UFOs have been rebranded as unexplained anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, and are now getting attention from mainstream scientists.

Matt Chinworth

By Sid Perkins

For millennia, humans have seen inexplicable things in the sky. Some have been beautiful, some have been terrifying, and some — like auroras and solar eclipses before they were understood scientifically — have been both. Today’s aircraft, balloons, drones, satellites and more only increase the chances of spotting something confounding overhead.