From mysterious luminous orbs to flying saucers, unidentified flying objects have been witnessed in the sky for centuries. Initially assumed to be religious omens or dieties, today we most often associate them with little green men from another planet. Despite their constant presence in our skies, we are seemingly no closer to learning what these curious aerial entities are – or are we? In the immortal words of the X-Files’ Fox Mulder “the truth is out there” – delve deep into the science, history and legacy of this ever-endearing phenomena with The Ultimate Guide To UFOs.
WELCOME
THE UNEXPLAINED EXPLAINED • Discover what we mean by UFOs and what these aerial mysteries might be…
TYPES OF UFOS • From flying saucers to creepy green lights in the sky, UFOs come in all shapes and sizes
THE ADAMSKI-TYPE AND AIRSHIPS
KNOW YOUR UFO LINGO! • Learn ufology’s terminology
WHAT ARE UFOs? • Unidentified flying objects do exist, but they have a range of different explanations
THE PENTAGON UFO VIDEOS
PARALLAX ILLUSION
GRAVITY-DEFYING MIRAGES
THE AUTOKINETIC EFFECT
FATA MORGANA EXPLAINED • Our brains assume light rays travel in straight lines, but that’s not always the case
TOP-SECRET AIRCRAFT
IDENTIFIED FLYING OBJECTS
ATMOSPHERIC PHENOMENA
BALL LIGHTNING
THE MINISTRY OF DEFENCE AND UFOS • Since 2008, David Clarke has worked with the National Archives on releasing MoD UFO files
THE SCIENCE OF UFOS • Unidentified flying objects may seem the stuff of Hollywood movies, but their existence might not be as far-fetched as you think…
DECLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS
FAMOUS FAKES • Here are four famous UFO sightings that turned out not to be quite what they seemed…
LIFE BEYOND EARTH THE BIG DEBATE • Could UFOs actually be extraterrestrial?
UNCOVERED! • MUFON: for the benefit of humanity?
LITTLE GREEN MEN • Are UFOs proof of alien contact? Discover the most prevailing theory behind unidentified aerial phenomena
DO UFO SIGHTINGS MEAN THAT ALIENS EXIST? • Unidentified flying objects are frequently spotted in the sky
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
SPACE INVADER SPECIES • There have been many claims that not only are extraterrestrials behind UFO sightings, but that various entities from other planets are already here on Earth…
OTHER TYPES
FROM ANGELS TO ALIENS • Discover the ancient astronauts theory and its
I WANT TO BELIEVE • While they invoke hi-tech tropes, UFOs are still largely taken on faith
FLYING SAUCER CULTS • We’ve seen ufology claim religion, but how about faiths?
WATCH THE SKIES • From 1947 onwards America found itself in the grip of a flying saucer frenzy – but were these sightings really invaders from Mars?
EXPERT BIOS
THE FLATWOODS MONSTER! • Of all the noted UFO sightings of the 1950s, one still sends a shiver down the spine…
SAUCERS ON THE SCREEN • As UFO-mania gripped the West, filmmakers got in on the act: here are six of the best and downright peculiar 50s sci-fi flicks!
CLOSING IN ON ALIEN LIFE • Astronomers are fast developing the tools and techniques to find our extraterrestrial neighbours. So where are they most likely to be?
THE FIVE EXOPLANETS MOST LIKELY TO HARBOUR LIFE • Of the worlds discovered so far, which are most likely to be inhabited?
SHOPPING LIST FOR A HABITABLE PLANET • To host life as we know it, any world needs at least these bare essentials
LIFE ELSEWHERE IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM • Could extraterrestrials be lurking much closer to home?
CLASSIFIED • How much do governments already know and what exactly are they covering up?
TOP SECRET! •...