UFO theories have merit, say scientists

MORE than 10 per cent of scientists believe UFOS could be alien objects, a study has found.

A survey of more than 1,400 academics in the US by researchers at the University of Louisville asked experts about their views on unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) – the new term used for UFOS.

It revealed that a fifth of scientists had either seen or knew someone who had seen a UFO.

About a third had interest in studying the UFO phenomenon themselves and 39 per cent were unsure as to the most likely explanation for UFOS.

One in five (21 per cent) thought UFO sightings were natural events, while one in eight (13 per cent) said “devices of unknown intelligence” was the most probable explanation.

The scientists showed a desire to research UFOS properly, but the interest in doing so would increase, data show, if a reputable scholar led the way and if legitimate funding was available.

The majority of scientists thought that academia should be involved in tracking down UFOS to some extent, with 64 per cent considering the involvement of scientists in Uap-related research to be essential.

“Without opening a discussion about UAP, academia will not have the vocabulary necessary to contribute to the conversation,” the authors write in their study, published in the journal Humanities and Social Science Communications.

“Without a vocabulary, academia might relinquish a much-needed voice on a topic already complicated by classification, stigma, and perception management.

“Results demonstrated that faculty think the academic evaluation of UAP information and more academic research on this topic is important,” they add.