The term "ufology" is often found in the media today. Its meaning is not always clear to ordinary people. What is ufology? Is it science or an unrecognized craze for groups of people around the world? We will try to find the right answers to these questions.
Ufology: is it a 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" nature of Ufology. The thing is that this area of knowledge and research does not have a number of features that any science should have.
The term "ufology" appeared in the middle of the last century in the United States. It was at that time that a large-scale study of UFO (Unidentified Flying Object - unidentified flying objects) began in this state. From this abbreviation, the word "ufology" appeared.
Today, ufologists have a different status in different countries of the world. But still, more often than not, these researchers are not recognized as scientists. Any science must have a clearly defined subject of study. ATufology examines eyewitness reports of UFO sightings and material objects that are supposedly evidence of the appearance of these same objects. At the same time, over the years of hard work, the very fact of the existence of extraterrestrial civilizations and visits by their representatives of our planet has not been proven.
Science must have a number of methods regularly applied to the study of what is being studied. Ufologists also do not comply with this rule - each of them uses their own technologies to verify the testimony of witnesses of unexplained phenomena and determine the authenticity of the available evidence. Theories that explain the origin and essence of UFOs are recognized by official science as pseudoscientific. The reason for this definition is the impossibility of proving unexplained phenomena and studying them carefully. Accordingly, the correct definition of the term "ufology" is: it is an activity aimed at collecting information and studying the UFO phenomenon.
First mention of "flying saucers"
Many ufologists believe that aliens have periodically visited our planet since ancient times. As evidence, the followers of this theory mention paleokanthes - drawings that have survived to this day, made at the dawn of the dawn of human civilization, illustrating contacts with representatives of extraterrestrial races. Ancient Egyptian papyri dating back to the 16th century BC are considered the oldest "evidence" of encounters with aliens from outer space. 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 consideredSoviet scientist K. E. Tsiolkovsky. Curiously, stories about UFOs and aliens from outer space are found in the stories of various peoples, dated from different times. This is one of the arguments of those who believe that ufology is a serious science, which today simply lacks evidence.
Modern history of Ufology
In the middle of the last century in the United States, reports began to appear of the observation of strange flying objects moving at an incredible speed for their time. There were so many appeals from the population that very soon the Air Force, and then other government agencies, became interested in this problem. It was at that time that the terms "ufology", UFOs, and even entire centers studying the phenomenon appeared.
Research was conducted for about two decades, and then was officially terminated at the federal level. At the same time, a significant number of reports of UFO sightings have not been considered and studied in an appropriate way. Some reports of unusual flying objects have been clarified as being based on known natural phenomena and human activities.
In 1969, all UFO research conducted by government organizations was terminated in the United States. Since then, ufology has been an activity exclusively carried out by independent “amateurs”.
What is Ufology doing today?
Official science today does not give an exact answer to the question: "Are there intellectually developed extraterrestrial civilizations?" Most experts agreein the opinion that outer space is too large and little explored by mankind in order to confidently deny the existence of life on other planets. At the same time, no evidence or traces of alien intelligence were also found.
What does ufology study today? The main work is being done to collect information and new evidence of UFO sightings. Often, ufologists study places where unidentified flying objects were observed and are looking for material evidence of their existence. Many associations working in this area specialize in space exploration, attempt to detect extraterrestrial civilizations and establish contacts with their representatives.
Related sciences
The unrecognized ufology has much in common with several world-renowned sciences. Very often, ufologists work with people who claim to have witnessed a UFO, but can only confirm this event with their own testimony. In this case, psychological methods are used to collect and verify information. First of all, the mental state and he alth of the eyewitness should be assessed. If a person suffers from some kind of psychiatric illness, the likelihood that he actually witnessed something unusual is minimal. With such sciences as astronomy and meteorology, ufology also has much in common. Eyewitnesses of rather rare meteorological or astrophysical phenomena often tell about aliens.
UFO - what is it?
Unidentified flying object - the definition is too vague and multifaceted. What exactly is commonly referred to and perceived as a UFO? Most often, this term is used to name objects moving in the sky at a speed or along a trajectory that does not match those available to modern aircraft. Many eyewitnesses also describe the unusual shapes of UFOs or the bright light emitted by them. Cases of observation of the aliens themselves and even contacts with them are also considered by ufology. The unknown and unusual are always explored with special enthusiasm by ufologists. Perhaps someday ufology will indeed be recognized as a science and will prove the existence of the objects under study.