Ufology is what?

The term "ufology" today is often found in the media. Its meaning is not always clear to ordinary people. What is ufology? Is it a science or an unrecognized hobby of groups of people around the world? We will try to find the right answers to these questions.

Ufology: is this science?

Very often you can find an explanation of the term, starting with the phrase: "Ufology is the science of ...". However, in Russia a special commission dealing with the fight against pseudoscience and falsification of scientific research, under the presidium of the Russian Academy of Sciences, does not recognize the "scientific character" of ufology. The thing is that this area of knowledge and research does not have a number of features that any science should possess.

The term "ufology" appeared in the middle of the last century in the United States. It was at that time in this state began a large-scale study of UFO (Unidentified Flying Object - unidentified flying objects). From this reduction, the word "ufology" appeared.

To date, ufologists have different status in different countries of the world. But still more often these researchers are not recognized by scientists. Any science should have a clearly marked subject of research. In ufology, eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings and material objects, which are supposedly proof of the appearance of these very objects, are examined. At the same time, during the years of hard work, the very existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and visits by their representatives to our planet has not been proven.

Science should have a number of methods that are regularly used to study the subject. This rule ufologists also do not comply - each of them uses their own technology to verify the testimony of witnesses of unexplained phenomena and determine the authenticity of the evidence. Theories that explain the origin and essence of UFOs, official science recognizes pseudoscientific. The reason for this definition is the impossibility of proving unexplained phenomena and carefully studying them. Accordingly, the correct definition of the term "ufology": it is an activity aimed at collecting information and studying the phenomenon of UFOs.

The first mention of "flying saucers"

Many ufologists believe that aliens periodically visit our planet since ancient times. As a proof, the followers of this theory refer to paleocanths - the drawings preserved to the present day, made at the dawn of the dawn of human civilization, illustrating contacts with representatives of unearthly races. The most ancient "proofs" of encounters with aliens from space are the ancient Egyptian papyri, dating back to the 16th century BC. E. (The era of the reign of Pharaoh Thutmose III). The founder of the theory of the historical connection of human civilizations with extraterrestrial is the Soviet scientist K. E. Tsiolkovsky. Interestingly, stories about UFOs and aliens from outer space are found in the stories of different peoples, dated from different times. This is one of the arguments of those who believe that ufology is a serious science, which today simply does not have enough evidence.

The modern history of ufology

In the middle of the last century in the United States began to appear on the observation of strange flying objects moving with incredible speed for their time. Appeals from the population were so many that very soon the Air Force became interested in this problem, and then other state bodies. It was at that time that the terms "ufology," UFOs, and even whole centers exploring the phenomenon appeared.

Studies were conducted for about two decades, and then were officially terminated at the federal level. At the same time, a significant number of reports on UFO sightings were not considered and studied in an appropriate way. Some reports of unusual flying objects were explained as such that they arose on the basis of known phenomena of nature and human activity.

In 1969, all UFO studies conducted by government organizations were discontinued in the United States. Since then, ufology is an activity that is solely performed by independent "lovers".

What does ufology do today?

Official science today does not give an exact answer to the question: "Are there intellectually developed extraterrestrial civilizations?" Most experts agree that outer space is too large and has been little studied by mankind in order to reliably deny the existence of life on other planets. In this case, no evidence and traces of extraterrestrial intelligence were also found.

What does ufology study today? The main work is conducted to collect information and new evidence of UFO sightings. Often, ufologists study the places where unidentified flying objects were observed and are looking for material evidence of their existence. Many associations working in this field specialize in space exploration, make attempts to detect extraterrestrial civilizations and establish contacts with their representatives.

Related Sciences

Unrecognized ufology has much in common with several recognized at the world level sciences. Very often, ufologists work with people who claim to have witnessed UFOs, but can confirm this event only with their own testimony. In this case, psychological methods are used to collect and verify information. First of all, one should assess the mental state and health of the eyewitness. If a person suffers from some kind of psychiatric illness, the likelihood that he really has witnessed something unusual is minimal. With such sciences as astronomy and meteorology, also has much in common ufology. About aliens are often told by eyewitnesses of rather rare meteorological or astrophysical phenomena.

UFO is what?

An unidentified flying object - the definition is too vague and multifaceted. What is it customary to designate and perceive as a UFO? Most often this term is used to name objects moving in the sky at a speed or along a path that does not coincide with the available modern aircraft technology. Many eyewitnesses also describe unusual forms of UFOs or the bright light emitted by them. The cases of observation of the aliens themselves and even contacts with them are also considered by ufology. Unidentified and unusual is always investigated with special enthusiasm by ufologists. Perhaps, someday, ufology will indeed be recognized as a science and will prove the existence of the objects under investigation.