Alien Abductions. Capturing Imagination, Not Children

UFO or UAP?

Today, the term UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) is gaining traction in official discourse. Historically, “abductions” were attributed to otherworldly visitors, but in a mystical rather than cosmological sense. Angels, demons, and mythological creatures were the alleged culprits. The evolution of these “encounters” illustrates how prevailing beliefs, cultural norms, and interpretations of phenomena shape narratives surrounding both real and imagined events.

If a simple inhabitant of ancient Greece had witnessed a meteor entering the atmosphere, they might have interpreted it as a sign from the gods. A medieval European might have mistaken it for a demon. In the 19th century, when even some scientific circles entertained notions of life on Mars, complete with Martian civilizations and subterranean canals, many observers would surely have linked falling meteors to Martian activity.

Today, even those who understand that these phenomena are merely meteoroid remnants burning up in the atmosphere might still ascribe some significance to them. This is especially true for the superstitious, those who believe in horoscopes, prophecies, or hidden meanings in random symbols and events. The cultural, social, and historical context clearly makes an enormous difference, causing the same phenomenon to be interpreted in radically different ways. However, perhaps the case of UFOs and their alleged Earth visitations is different. Perhaps their existence has indeed been proven?

We recommend: Parenting as a Catalyst For Growth. How Children Shape Better Fathers

Perhaps UFOs Do Exist?

Modern interpretations of ancient events, artworks, and oral traditions – though not validated by historians, anthropologists, or evolutionists – remain quite popular in UFO circles. For instance, millennia-old cave paintings are said to depict early human civilizations being visited by aliens, while the Bible, especially the Old Testament, is purportedly a metaphor for an alien intelligence invasion. This latter example is now being updated and rewritten as a scenario involving alien artificial intelligence capable of interfacing with the human psyche, somewhat reminiscent of Michael Crichton’s novel “Sphere.”

In examining alternative or conspiratorial narratives about human history, I have repeatedly encountered the thesis that humans were created by aliens through a biotechnological merger of chimpanzees and early humans. Considering genetic, morphological, and paleontological research, we can unequivocally reject this hypothesis. If aliens or their machines had somehow crossed Homo sapiens with Pan troglodytes, we would see evidence of this in today’s genomic sequencing results.

Alien Abductions. Discs and Cylinders in the Sky

What of UFO sightings? Are they extraterrestrials or, for instance, Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)? Early modern reports of spacecraft hovering above Earth date primarily to the 19th century. This coincided with the aforementioned, then-accepted notion of Martian civilization, bolstered in the public imagination by H.G. Wells’ famous “War of the Worlds”, but also with the increasing prevalence of hot air balloons. The press cites an example of a Texas farmer who, in 1878, reportedly saw a dark, balloon-like object moving at great speed across the sky. Contrary to sensational interpretations, it was most likely indeed a balloon that caught the man by surprise. Similarly, the famous Roswell incident of 1947 involved an observation balloon.

By the late 19th century, rumors of unidentified craft were so widespread in the United States that Thomas Edison himself – inventor of the motion picture camera and many other novel devices of his time – felt compelled to address the matter. He did so because he was thought to be the creator of the craft circling Earth, supposedly evidenced by a letter attributed to him. Edison declared it a complete fake, which redirected suspicions back to aliens from another planet.

Rational Explanations. Is Alien Abductions Real?

The tendency to see UFOs where none exist is currently on the decline, largely due to the ubiquity of cameras and smartphones. Many who might once have wandered about claiming to have seen alien spacecraft now capture photos or videos, which are subsequently debunked by experts and skeptics.

What might an observed UFO turn out to be? One possibility is lenticular clouds or Altocumulus lenticularis. These lens-shaped clouds bear a striking resemblance to the classic flying saucer depictions of UFOs. Due to atmospheric physics, they remain stationary, further evoking the image of a hovering spacecraft. They are predominantly found in mountainous regions, where conditions favor the appropriate pressure, wind direction, and humidity for their formation.

Another obvious explanation for alleged alien spacecraft sightings is balloons. Had the infamous Chinese spy balloons that flew over the United States last year been observed a century or more ago, they would very likely have been mistaken for UFOs. The same applies to certain aircraft, particularly at night. It is also possible that people simply hallucinate, seeing things that are not there. This could be due to exhaustion and sleep deprivation, oxygen deprivation, or symptoms of mental disorders.

We recommend: Green Competencies. Corporate Greenwashing or the Future of the Job Market?

Alien Abductions or Sleep Paralysis?

Even the ominous-sounding close encounters of the first kind with aliens – direct “sightings” or “abductions” – can be explained. Beyond the obvious mechanisms of certain mental disorders or physiological hallucinations, sleep paralysis is another potential culprit. This phenomenon involves partial awakening coupled with brief muscle atonia. In this state, individuals cannot move but remain conscious and able to move their eyes, observing their surroundings. Sleep paralysis is often accompanied by fear, anxiety, dread, and terror, as well as hallucinations affecting all senses: sight, smell, hearing, and touch. Given that these occur during the terrifying paralysis and partial sleep state, these hallucinations are typically highly unpleasant: people report seeing or hearing demons, deceased family members, or indeed… aliens.

The phenomenon of confusing dream memories with real-life recollections may also account for this issue. Everyone occasionally experiences an emotionally intense and realistic dream that is remembered as if it actually occurred. Usually, when recalling a false memory from a dream while fully awake and conscious, we quickly realize its dream origin. However, some individuals believe these events truly happened, and – if the dream involved alien abduction or encounter – here is another explanation for alleged meetings with extraterrestrials.

Interestingly, there is also the aspect of repressing highly traumatic experiences – such as childhood violence or witnessing a fierce parental dispute – by convincing oneself that during these events, one was actually abducted by aliens rather than being beaten or psychologically destabilized. In such cases, maintaining a belief in UFOs, albeit in a toxic manner, may serve as a shield against painful memories.

Alien Abductions. What If…?

The probability that Earth is regularly visited by aliens, or has been even once, is minuscule. Even if extraterrestrial civilizations exist – which, given the vastness of the universe, is not so implausible – they are likely at such distances that communication would be impossible. Moreover, they may not exist contemporaneously with us, if one can speak in such terms, given the scale of the cosmos and the laws of gravity and relativity. However, if genuine contact between humans and an alien life form – especially an intelligent one – were to occur, true skeptics would swiftly shed their skepticism and be among those most intrigued by the new discovery.

Translation: Klaudia Tarasiewicz

Read the text in Polish: UFO nie porywa dzieci, tylko ludzką wyobraźnię