Buckle up, space cadets! We're about to take a whirlwind tour through the greatest hits of UFO history. From the days when "flying saucer" was the hottest new slang to the era of viral Pentagon videos, it's been a wild ride.
Roswell: The OG UFO Conspiracy
July 1947: Something crash-lands near Roswell, New Mexico. The military says, "It's a flying disc!" Then, faster than you can say "cover-up," they backpedal: "Just kidding, it's a weather balloon!" And just like that, conspiracy theories are born faster than alien babies in a sci-fi flick.
Project Blue Book: When the Air Force Played UFO Detective
For 17 years, the U.S. Air Force channeled its inner Scully and Mulder with Project Blue Book. They investigated over 12,000 UFO reports. The result? Most were explained away, but 701 stubbornly remained "unidentified." Cue the X-Files theme music.
The Belgian UFO Wave: Europe's Close Encounter
1989-1990: Belgium becomes the hottest UFO tourist destination. Thousands report seeing triangular UFOs. The Belgian Air Force even joins the chase, capturing radar data that makes their best scientists go "Huh?" It's like the whole country collectively decided to one-up Stonehenge in the mystery department.
The Phoenix Lights: Arizona's Celestial Light Show
March 13, 1997: Phoenix, Arizona gets a lightshow that puts Las Vegas to shame. Thousands witness a series of lights in a V-formation. It's either the biggest UFO sighting in history or the world's most elaborate St. Patrick's Day prank, four days early.
The Nimitz Encounter: Top Gun Meets The X-Files
2004: U.S. Navy pilots have a close encounter that makes "Top Gun" look like a kiddie ride. They spot an object pulling maneuvers that would turn any human pilot into goo. This incident, along with its 2014 and 2015 sequels, gets the U.S. government to finally admit, "Okay, maybe there's something to this UFO stuff."
From Fringe to Prime Time: The UFO story arc takes a twist worthy of M. Night Shyamalan:
- 2017: The New York Times drops a bombshell about a secret Pentagon UFO program. Suddenly, UFO research is cooler than vintage vinyl.
- 2020: The U.S. Navy officially releases UFO videos. The internet collectively loses its mind.
- 2022-2023: Congress holds public hearings on UFOs. C-SPAN has never been so exciting.
And that, folks, is how we went from tin-foil hat territory to congressional hearings. Who knows? Maybe by the time you finish this file, we'll have an alien ambassador at the UN. Stay tuned!