The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) published his long-awaited report on nearly two decades of UFO sightings.
And for the most part, it leaves more questions open than before. Essentially, in the report the ODNI examined 144 reports of what it calls “unidentified aerial phenomena” or UAPs since 2004.
Of those, 18 incidents may have involved advanced technology that the United States cannot explain. “Some UAPs appeared to remain stationary in strong winds, move into the wind, maneuver sharply, or move at considerable speed. All without any recognizable means of propulsion,” we read in the rather brief report (only 9 pages).
There is no evidence, nothing is excluded
The ODNI says there is no evidence that any of the cases involve secret technology developed by Russia and China or an extraterrestrial entity, but it has not ruled out these explanations either.
Publicly recognizing the existence of the phenomenon, without dissolving any reservations, is nevertheless an epochal step. It opens up a new, much more open season for the study of these manifestations.
The report tells us that it is year zero: from today we observe and search (with criteria)
“Of the 144 reports we are dealing with here, we have no clear indication that there is a non-terrestrial explanation for them, but we will go wherever the data takes us,” a senior government official told CNN.
Outside of a single report out of 144 in which intelligence officials were able to determine the cause of the crash, there is too little data for the ODNI on any others.
There is no possible explanation for all the incidents he examined.
The criterion that inspired the report
Agency investigators tried to divide the reports into five categories:
aerial disorder (like stray balloons), natural phenomenon, secret technology intern (developed by the US government), foreign secret technology (developed by an adversary such as China or Russia) and a final and seductive “other”.
One certainty, apparently, the ODNI has gained. For the majority of sightings they are "physical objects", no natural phenomena.
The conclusions
The report concludes with the statement that understanding these incidents will require a consolidated and standardized approach across various government agencies.
Looks for more investment in technologies such as machine learning algorithms (already used by China for the same observations) to examine the individual reports.
Government officials will provide Congress with an update on its data collection efforts within the next 90 days, with periodic updates thereafter.
A big "I don't know" that perhaps displeases everyone: debunkers regardless and fans of the little green men, but he makes history in his own way. From today we look at the sky with scientific determination.
