UAP Discourse Under Scrutiny: From Media Hype to Evidence-Based Inquiry
The piece surveys the current spike in UFO/UAP discourse as a test of Americans’ grip on reality amid hype, noting media-driven moments tied to Obama’s comments, Trump’s declassification, and Spielberg’s upcoming Disclosure Day film. It highlights Adam Frank’s sober take: after three years of congressional hearings, there is little hard evidence, and while open, transparent scientific study of UAPs is valuable, personal testimony remains weak evidence. Most sightings (over 90%) can be identified by the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office; only a small fraction are truly unexplained, and those require more data to study properly. Extraordinary claims from ex-officials lack verifiable proof, underscoring the need for robust evidence rather than anecdotes or secondhand accounts. The text cautions that without substantive disclosures, debates risk devolving into perpetual, JFK-like speculation fueled by fuzzy videos and unprovable stories. It points to skeptical media analysis by Keith Kloor and recounts a Sustain What webcast with Kloor and others that argued—despite media mania—this time is not fundamentally different, urging continued scrutiny of how UFO coverage is manufactured. The piece also notes the role of researchers like Mick West in countering misinformation and emphasizes reporting sightings openly as a first step toward genuine scientific understanding. It concludes by promoting Frank’s work (Everyman’s Universe newsletter and Forbes column) and mentions an upcoming Sustain What discussion with Frank (March 18) and Lex Fridman, along with related interviews and threads for further context.
Source: substack.com
