Scientists and UFOs: They ARE Interested

is a common misperception that scientists are notcurrently largest UFO organization in the U.S.
interested in UFOs. It is often debated that ifMUFON was founded by Walt Andrus, who had a
there really was something to this, then scientistslong career as an educator and manager in
would be looking into it. The reality is that not onlytechnology, along with engineer John Schuessler,
are scientists interested, they have been the mainand Dr. Allen Utke.
proponents of this subject since the beginning ofJohn Schuessler is a retired aerospace engineer,
modern UFO research.who spent 36 years working for the Human
When the public started to take notice of highSpace Flight program. He was a Director and
profile UFO sightings beginning in the 40’s,Project Manager for Space Shuttle Flight
the Air Force was on point to investigate theOperations, and received the NASA Public Service
phenomena. They started several projects, allMedal for leadership on his role in the NASA
culminating into the Air Force’s largestNeutral Buoyancy Laboratory.
UFO investigation called Project Blue Book. To helpAmong the many scientists that make up the
them in their investigation they hired astronomer,membership of MUFON are prominent researchers
Dr. J. Allen Hynek.such as physicist Stanton Friedman, optical
Hynek was not enthusiastic about the subject atphysicist Dr. Bruce Maccabee, aeronautical
the time. He was quoted as saying “theengineer Dr. Bob Wood, and professor of physics
whole subject seems utterly ridiculous”. HeDr. Jack Kasher. I’m sure I am neglecting
then went on to explain away the incredibleto mention many others, as there are an
sightings that continued to be reported by credibleabundance of dedicated scientists aiding in
people. One of his most infamous debunkings wasMUFON’s efforts.
in March of 1966, when hundreds of witnesses inPhysicist Stanton Friedman is probably the most
Michigan reported sightings over a two day period.well known scientist in UFO research. He has been
Hynek suggested that some of these could havefeatured on countless documentaries and news
been due to swamp gas.stories on this subject.
Eventually, after reviewing enough of these cases,Stanford Professor of astrophysics, Peter
Hynek began to believe that there actually wasSturrock convened what is known as the
something more to the UFO mystery. He beganSturrock Panel in 1996. His colleague Dr. Jacques
disagreeing with the Air Force’sValle had written books on UFOs, and after
conclusions on some cases, and once Project Bluereviewing them he agreed that the subject was
Book was closed, was an open advocate of theworthy of scientific study. He felt that there was
need for further research into the issue. In ana problem with scientists understanding the UFO
interview in the 80’s Hynek had said thatphenomena. At the time Laurance Rockefeller
he became frustrated with the Air Forcewas also taking an interest in UFO research.
pressuring him to come up with quick prosaicRockefeller agreed to fund a gathering of a group
answers to sightings instead of allowing him toof UFO researchers to present their evidence to
conduct proper investigations.a panel of unbiased scientists. They included in
To further scientific studies into UFOs Hynektheir conclusions that “It is desirable that
started the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). Hethere be institutional support for research in this
also went on to consult Steven Spielberg on hisarea.”
movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. TheIn 1995 real estate developer Robert Bigelow
title of the movie was based on a classificationcreated the National Institute for Discover
system that Hynek had developed for UFOSciences (NIDS). Bigelow grew up in Las Vegas
sightings.while the atom bomb was being developed, and
Hynek’s story is important because hereremembers his family reporting many UFO
we see that the first scientist tasked with the jobsightings. Since then he has had an interest in
of researching UFOs , once provided thegetting to the root of the issue. He started NIDS
evidence, became so interested that he devotedand hired scientists to investigate anomalous
much of his life’s work to the effort.phenomena including UFOs.
Although, Hynek started one of the first andNIDS was disbanded in 2004 when Bigelow
most important UFO research organizations, hisrefocused his energy on space technology and
wasn’t the first, nor was it the first to bestarted a company called Bigelow Aerospace. He
started by scientists.However, he did not abandon the search for UFO
It’s arguable as to which of the UFOtruth. Bigelow Aerospace works with MUFON and
research organizations was the most important,just recently it was announced that the FAA will
but another one of the top three was themake Bigelow Aerospace their official UFO
National Investigations Committee on Aerialreporting center for commercial pilots.
Phenomena (NICAP). It was founded in 1956 bySome of the scientists involved with NIDS
physicist Thomas Townsend Brown. Brownprojects were Dr. Colm Kelleher, Dr. Jacques
researched electromagnetism, radiation, fieldVallee, Dr. Christopher Greene, Dr. Roger Leir, Dr.
physics, gravity, and other cutting edgeHal Puthoff, Dr. John Alexander, and astronaut Dr.
technologies. Among the organizations he workedEdgar Mitchell. Molecular Biologist, Dr. Colm Kelleher
for was the National Defense Researchstill organizes investigations for Bigelow
Committee and the Office of Scientific ResearchAerospace’s current UFO investigations.
and Development.In 2008, the Society for Scientific Exploration
Brown believed that some of the research heincluded UFOs in their 2008 annual meeting in
was involved with may shed light on the typeBoulder, CO. Among the featured speakers to
technology being applied by UFOs. His organization,cover the subject were, Dr. Bob Wood, Dr. John
NICAP, went on to include many notableAlexander, Dr. Simeon Hein, Dr. Shelley
members and advisors, including retired and activeTanenbaum, and Dr. Claude Swanson. The
military personnel. After Brown, one of the mostex-minister of Defense for Canada, the honorable
prominent Directors was retired USMC MajorPaul Hellyer also addressed the SSE at this
Donald Keyhoe. Keyhoe then recruited the help ofmeeting calling for an end to UFO secrecy.
one of his Naval Academy colleagues, AdmiralAnother well know scientist that is often seen in
Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter. Among other accolades,the media and has been including this subject in his
Hillenkoeter was the first director of the Centrallectures is theoretical physicist, Dr. Michio Kaku. He
Intelligence Agency.can be seen on many recent documentaries
Hillenkoeter was openly critical of the Airregarding incredible cutting edge breakthroughs in
Force’s handling of the UFO situation, astechnology. He is a major contributor to string
can be seen in his famous quote in the New Yorktheory. In his latest book, Physics of the
Times, “Behind the scenes, high-rankingImpossible, he covers the idea of advanced
Air Force officers are soberly concerned aboutcivilizations. He categorizes them based on the
UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule,levels of technology they may have obtained.
many citizens are led to believe the unknownCurrently humans only rate as a type 0.
flying objects are nonsense.”Beyond astrobiology, Dr. Kaku has stressed in
The third large UFO organization from the earlymany interviews the need to take UFOs seriously.
years was the Aerial Phenomena ResearchHe notes that even in programs, such as the Air
Organization (APRO), started in 1952 by electricalForce’s Project Blue Book, there are a
technician, Jim Lorenzen along with his wife Coral.small percentage of sightings that could not be
Over time they collected a long list of scientificexplained. When given the thousands of reports
consultants, including atmospheric physicist Dr.received, this represents a large amount of
James McDonald, professor in hydraulicsunknowns. Theoretical physicists believe travel at
engineering Dr. James Harder, and psychologistsvast distances over short times is possible, that
Dr. Leo Sprinkle.along with the ongoing discovery of planets that
By the late 50’s there were threecould harbor life, it is not such a stretch to think
organizations with respected scientific membersthat a more advanced civilization is checking us
investigating UFOs. To add to this scientificout.
endeavor, in 1969 the American Association forIt is true that there are no large scientific
the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS)institutions or universities taking on this subject.
annual meeting included a panel discussion ofThis is most likely the reason why people believe
scientists on UFOs. This was all in the beginning ofthat scientists are not interested. Getting a
UFO research, and scientific interest continues toscientific institution interested in this subject would
this day.probably lead to astonishing breakthroughs in this
Over time these three organizations either lostfield, and with continued interest by respected
steam, or shut down completely. So in 1969high-profile scientists, we may see that happen in
many of APRO’s members went on tothe near future.
found the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), which is