Are Those Aliens?

It was a bright June day in 1947, and pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying over majestic mountains in Washington State. He was on his way to Oregon, but he decided to head off course to Mount Rainier. A military plane was thought to have crashed there, and a reward was being offered to the first person who located the wreckage.

Arnold never did find the downed plane. But he did find something else.

Something so extraordinary that it would forever alter the course of his life—and American history.

Something he would come to believe was not of this Earth.

That’s right.

We’re talking about aliens.

It was a bright June day in 1947. Pilot Kenneth Arnold was flying over mountains in Washington State. He was on his way to Oregon, but he decided to head off course to Mount Rainier. A military plane was thought to have crashed there, and a reward was being offered to the first person who located the wreckage.

Arnold never did find the downed plane. But he did find something else.

Something so extraordinary that it would forever change the course of his life—and American history.

Something he would come to believe was not of this Earth.

That’s right.

We’re talking about aliens.

As he approached Mount Rainier, Arnold saw nine strange objects in the sky. At first he thought he might be looking at a flock of birds. But upon closer scrutiny, the mystery deepened. Sunlight glinted off the objects’ shiny surfaces. Were they planes? Unlikely. The objects didn’t seem to have pilots, though they occasionally darted and flipped.

Arnold calculated that the objects were traveling at least 1,200 miles per hour. At that speed, you could cross five football fields in one second. Nothing flew that fast, Arnold knew, and certainly not birds. He was puzzled.

After he landed, Arnold told his story to fellow pilots and a reporter. On June 25, the East Oregonian ran a front-page article with the headline “Impossible! Maybe, But Seein’ Is Believin’, Says Flyer.” According to the article, the objects Arnold saw were “saucer-like aircraft flying in formation.”

“It seemed impossible,” Arnold said in the article. “But there it is—I must believe my eyes.”

The story was swiftly picked up by the national press. And it ignited a frenzy.

What had Arnold seen? Could it have been some kind of military test? A weapon? Or had he encountered aliens?

Whatever it was, the public became obsessed. Within a month, there were more than 850 reported sightings of unidentified flying objects—or UFOs.

Arnold saw nine strange objects in the sky over Mount Rainier. At first he thought he might be looking at birds. But upon closer scrutiny, the mystery deepened. Sunlight reflected off the objects’ shiny surfaces. Were they planes? Unlikely. The objects didn’t seem to have pilots. But they did sometimes dart and flip. And they were fast.

Arnold figured out that the objects were traveling at least 1,200 miles per hour. At that speed, you could cross five football fields in just one second. Arnold knew nothing flew that fast. He was puzzled.

After he landed, Arnold told his story to other pilots and to a reporter. On June 25, the East Oregonian newspaper ran an article on the front page with the headline “Impossible! Maybe, But Seein’ Is Believin’, Says Flyer.” According to the article, the objects Arnold saw were “saucer-like aircraft flying in formation.”

“It seemed impossible,” Arnold said in the article. “But there it is—I must believe my eyes.”

The story was quickly picked up by newspapers across the country. And it started a frenzy.

What had Arnold seen? Could it have been some kind of military test? A weapon? Or had he seen aliens?

Whatever it was, the public became obsessed with Arnold’s story. Within a month, there were more than 850 reported sightings of unidentified flying objects—or UFOs.

For as long as humans have walked the earth, we have gazed up at the sky and wondered what might be out there. And we’ve told stories to try to explain what we don’t yet understand.

Early humans looked up at the night sky and saw the shapes of great and powerful beings. Now we know those shapes are made up of stars and planets. In the 15th century, hundreds of people in Nuremberg, Germany, panicked when they woke up one morning to see flying spheres battling in the sky and then disappear in a puff of smoke. Historians believe this was most likely a weather phenomenon called a sun dog, when ice crystals in the clouds cause the appearance of bright spots in the sky on either side of the sun. In the late 1800s, scientists peering through their telescopes observed straight lines on the surface of Mars. Some concluded the lines were canals built by an advanced civilization of martians. Today, we know what they saw was most likely an optical illusion—a trick of the eye—or perhaps dust storms.

By the end of the 19th century, many people were convinced that our solar system teemed with life. They were so certain that in 1900, a competition was held in France: 100,000 francs (about $500,000 in today’s money!) to the first person who made contact with aliens. But those aliens couldn’t be from Mars because that was considered too easy. (No contact was made.)

And by the time Arnold flew over Mount Rainier in 1947, there was real fear that aliens could invade Earth. In fact, less than a decade earlier, some people believed that martians were attacking New Jersey. They were listening to a radio play that was based on the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. But some listeners mistakenly believed it was a news broadcast.

For as long as humans have walked the earth, we have looked up at the sky and wondered what might be out there. And we’ve told stories to try to explain what we don’t yet understand.

Early humans looked up at the night sky and saw the shapes of powerful beings. Now we know those shapes are made up of stars and planets. In the 15th century, hundreds of people in Nuremberg, Germany, panicked one morning. They woke up to see what they thought were flying spheres doing battle in the sky. The spheres then suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke. Historians now believe this was most likely something called a sun dog. A sun dog occurs when ice crystals in the clouds cause bright spots to appear in the sky. These bright spots appear on either side of the sun.

In the late 1800s, scientists looking through telescopes saw straight lines on the surface of Mars. Some people thought the lines were canals built by an advanced civilization of martians. Today, we know what they saw was likely a trick of the eye or dust storms.

By the end of the 19th century, many people were convinced that our solar system was filled with life. They were so certain that in 1900, a competition was held in France. The first person who made contact with aliens would win 100,000 francs. That’s about $500,000 in today’s money! But those aliens couldn’t be from Mars because that was thought to be too easy. (No contact was made.)

And by the time Arnold flew over Mount Rainier in 1947, there was real fear that aliens could invade Earth. In fact, less than a decade earlier, some people listening to a radio play believed that martians were attacking New Jersey. The play was based on the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. But some listeners mistakenly believed it was a news broadcast.

In the years after Arnold’s “flying saucers” made headlines, the number of UFO sightings exploded. Farmers spied strange lights over their fields. Kids stargazing in their backyards spotted saucers that seemed to hover high in the air. Pilots reported mysterious objects darting through the clouds. And after a mysterious object was found in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, rumors swirled that aliens had crash-landed there. (An official report stated that a weather balloon—not a spaceship—had crashed there.)

“Hundreds in State See Flying Saucer” read one 1952 headline in the Indianapolis Star.

“Saucers Swarm Over Capital” read another headline the same year in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

“UFO Evidence?” asked a 1967 photo caption in Pennsylvania’s Daily News. The caption appeared next to a photograph of strange lights in the night sky.

UFO hunting became a national hobby. People formed clubs to discuss sightings and debate what they could be. Some of the most popular sci-fi movies and TV shows featured aliens in flying saucers. Sometimes these aliens were sweet. Sometimes they were terrifying.

Meanwhile, the mystery remained: What were people seeing? As with the lights over Nuremberg and the lines on Mars, was there a simple explanation? Could the UFOs really be aliens?

In the years after Arnold’s “flying saucers” made headlines, the number of UFO sightings exploded. Farmers saw strange lights over their fields. Kids looking up at stars in their backyards spotted saucers that seemed to hover high in the air. Pilots reported strange objects moving through clouds. And after a mysterious object was found in the desert near Roswell, New Mexico, rumors swirled that aliens had landed there. (An official report stated that a weather balloon had crashed there.)

“Hundreds in State See Flying Saucer” read one 1952 headline in the Indianapolis Star.

“Saucers Swarm Over Capital” read another headline the same year in the Cedar Rapids Gazette.

“UFO Evidence?” asked a 1967 photo caption in Pennsylvania’s Daily News. The caption appeared next to a photograph of strange lights in the night sky.

UFO hunting became a national hobby. People formed clubs to discuss sightings and debate what they could be. Some of the most popular sci-fi movies and TV shows at the time featured aliens in flying saucers. Sometimes these aliens were sweet. Sometimes they were terrifying.

Meanwhile, the mystery remained. What were all these people seeing? As with the lights over Nuremberg and the lines on Mars, was there a simple explanation? Could the UFOs really be aliens?

As thrilling as that would be, the answer is: probably not.

In a remote part of the Nevada desert, there is a secret military base called Area 51. During the time of UFO mania, many new types of aircraft were being tested at Area 51.

There were planes that could fly without pilots and aircraft that flew in ways that no one had seen before. The A-12 spy plane, for instance, flew faster and higher than anything before it. Spy planes like the A-12 may explain why there were many UFO reports in the Southwest—not far from Area 51.

Over the years, details about those planes have been declassified—meaning made public. But back then, only a small number of people knew about them.

Today, we know that many UFOs were probably test flights for secret aircraft. Yet UFO sightings have continued—and continue to this day.

As exciting as that would be, the answer is probably not.

There is a secret military base called Area 51 in the Nevada desert. During the time of UFO mania, many new types of aircraft were being tested at Area 51.

There were planes that could fly without pilots. And there were aircraft that flew in ways that no one had ever seen before. The A-12 spy plane, for example, flew faster and higher than anything before it. Spy planes like the A-12 may explain why there were many UFO reports not far from Area 51.

Over the years, details about those planes have been made public. But back then, only a small number of people knew about them.

Today, we know that many UFOs were probably test flights for secret aircraft. Yet UFO sightings have continued. And they continue to this day.

Last summer, the government released a report about UFO sightings. The report analyzed 144 UFO incidents between 2004 and 2021. Many are deeply puzzling. Some are eerily similar to what Arnold saw back in 1947.

For example, Navy pilots reported strange objects that appeared about 30,000 feet over the East Coast. The objects didn’t seem to have engines. How were they flying? Where was their fuel? One seemed to spin like a top. The objects were seen almost every day from the summer of 2014 to March 2015.

In the end, the report concluded that we don’t have enough information or we don’t have the science to fully understand or explain what every UFO might be. The report did not mention anything about extraterrestrials. But it didn’t explicitly rule them out either.

Last summer, the government released a report about UFO sightings. The report analyzed 144 UFO incidents between 2004 and 2021. Many of these incidents are deeply puzzling. Some are eerily similar to what Arnold saw back in 1947.

For example, Navy pilots reported strange objects that appeared about 30,000 feet over the East Coast. The objects didn’t seem to have engines. How were they flying? Where was their fuel? One seemed to spin like a top. The objects were seen almost every day from the summer of 2014 to March 2015.

 In the end, the report concluded that we don’t have enough information or the science to fully understand what every UFO might be. The report did not mention anything about extraterrestrials. But it didn’t rule them out either.

The truth is, there are many things right here on Earth that we can’t yet explain. Maybe some UFOs are no more than birds or balloons or a drone from someone’s backyard. Maybe they are a trick of the eye, the light filtering through the clouds. Maybe, like spy planes from decades ago, they are an experimental technology that most people don’t know about yet.

But one thing remains clear: Many of us want to believe that something not of this world has visited us. In fact, a Gallup poll last summer found that 4 in 10 Americans believe UFOs are extraterrestrial.

Of course, believing something to be true and it being true aren’t the same thing.

The truth is, there are many things right here on Earth that we can’t yet explain. Maybe some UFOs are no more than birds or balloons or a drone from someone’s backyard. Maybe they are a trick of the eye, the light filtering through the clouds. Maybe, like spy planes from decades ago, they are an experimental technology that most people don’t know about yet.

But one thing remains clear. Many of us want to believe that something not of this world has visited us. In fact, a Gallup poll last summer found that 4 in 10 Americans believe that UFOs are extraterrestrial.

Of course, believing something to be true and it being true aren’t the same thing.

Whatever UFOs may be, many scientists do believe that there is some kind of life on other planets—and we could even find it in your lifetime.

“One of the most fundamental questions that we ask ourselves is, Are we alone?” says Michelle Kunimoto, an astronomer at the MIT Kavli Institute for Astrophysics and Space Research.

Right now, scientists like Kunimoto are searching the stars for clues. We have giant radio telescopes all over Earth listening to the sounds of the universe. Telescopes orbiting our planet can see deeper into our galaxy than ever before. We launch probes into space that send back all kinds of data. We’ve sent rovers to explore the surface of Mars. (Alas, no martians were waiting to greet them.) Just this year, new research revealed that clouds on Venus could contain tiny organisms called microbes.

And it seems a new planet is discovered almost every day. Scientists estimate that there could be as many as 300 million planets in our galaxy that might support life.

That life probably won’t be what we expect though.

“When people think of life, they think intelligent life like humans and animals and everything that lives on Earth,” says Kunimoto. “But it’s more likely that the first type of life we’ll find will be microorganisms like bacteria.”

Whatever UFOs may be, many scientists do believe that there is some kind of life on other planets. And scientists believe we could even find it in your lifetime.

“One of the most fundamental questions that we ask ourselves is, Are we alone?” says Michelle Kunimoto, an astronomer.

Right now, scientists like Kunimoto are searching the stars for clues. We have giant radio telescopes all over Earth listening to the sounds of the universe. Telescopes in space can see deeper into our galaxy than ever before. We launch devices into space that send back all kinds of information to us on Earth. We’ve sent rovers to explore the surface of Mars. (Unfortunately, no martians were waiting to greet them.) Just this year, new research showed that clouds on Venus could contain tiny living organisms.

And it seems a new planet is found almost every day. Scientists estimate that there could be as many as 300 million planets in our galaxy that might support life.

That life probably won’t be what we expect though.

“When people think of life, they think intelligent life like humans and animals and everything that lives on Earth,” says Kunimoto. “But it’s more likely that the first type of life we’ll find will be microorganisms like bacteria.”

As for Arnold and the strange objects he saw way back in 1947?

No conclusive explanation was ever found. In an interview in 1950, Arnold gave his own view: “If it’s not made by our science or our Army Air Forces,” he said, “I am inclined to believe it’s of an extraterrestrial origin.”

We may never solve the mystery of what Arnold saw that day in the bright, sunny skies over Mount Rainier. But his story reveals a deeper truth: Human curiosity is powerful. So too is our imagination.

And whatever is waiting out there in the mysterious, wondrous expanse of space, it will take both to find it.

As for Arnold and the strange objects he saw way back in 1947?

No conclusive explanation was ever found. In an interview in 1950, Arnold gave his own view.

“If it’s not made by our science or our Army Air Forces,” he said, “I am inclined to believe it’s of an extraterrestrial origin.”

We may never solve the mystery of what Arnold saw that day in the bright, sunny skies over Mount Rainier. But his story reveals a deeper truth. Human curiosity is powerful. So is our imagination.

And whatever is waiting out there in the mysterious and wondrous world of space, it will take both to find it.

^{This article was originally published in the December 2021/January 2022 issue.}

^{_{This article was originally published in the December 2021/January 2022 issue.}}