Belief in alien visits to Earth is spiralling out of control – here’s why that’s so dangerous
theconversation.com
The belief in aliens is now rising to the extent that politicians, at least in the US, feel they have to respond.

"The idea that aliens may have visited the Earth is becoming increasingly popular. Around a fifth of UK citizens believe Earth has been visited by extraterrestrials, and an estimated 7% believe that they have seen a UFO.

The figures are even higher in the US – and rising. The number of people who believe UFO sightings offer likely proof of alien life increased from 20% in 1996 to 34% in 2022. Some 24% of Americans say they’ve seen a UFO.

This belief is slightly paradoxical as we have zero evidence that aliens even exist. What’s more, given the vast distances between star systems, it seems odd we’d only learn about them from a visit. Evidence for aliens is more likely to come from signals from faraway planets.

In a paper accepted for publication in the Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union, I argue that the belief in alien visitors is no longer a quirk, but a widespread societal problem…"

  • over_clox@lemmy.world
    83·
    3 months ago

    I believe everyone has seen a UFO before at some point in their life. UFO just means Unidentified Flying Object.

    If I go outside and look up and see an airplane flying in the sky, I can’t make out enough details to identify it, therefore it is an unidentified flying object.

    The way less ambiguous term people are looking for is Extraterrestrial Spacecraft. I’m pretty sure I’ve never seen one of those.