UFO gathering draws believers and belittlers

Digging in for the facts
George Knapp, an investigative reporter for KLAS-TV in Las Vegas, has been diving into the UFO enigma for nearly two decades. He senses there’s a big-time story worthy of shoe leather and digging in for the facts — but are we any closer to resolving the UFO question?

“No, not at all, not even close,” Knapp told Space.com. “UFO researchers have compiled a vast treasure trove of information, including photos, videos, eyewitness statements, government documents, and physical traces from alleged landing sites, along with radar reports, and a lot more. Much of this evidence is compelling and has withstood the knee-jerk, almost perfunctory and unscientific ‘explanations’ that are routinely tossed out by a small but reliable cadre of diehard debunkers.”

After nearly 60 years of research by well-meaning but under-funded individuals and organizations, there is only one point on which all of the researchers can agree, Knapp suggested.

“An elusive, unknown intelligence is operating within our midst. If we assume for the moment that some UFOs represent an ‘alien’ civilization, we still can’t answer the three basic questions — Who are they? Where are they from? Why are they here? Anyone who has a definitive answer to those three questions is either a liar, a huckster, delusional, or one of ‘them’,” he said.

Cracking the case
So what’s it going to take to get to the bottom of the UFO phenomenon?

Knapp has some observations on the matter:

• Time and death: When the current generation of scientists dies out, a new generation of scientists will include at least a few mavericks that challenge outdated dogma.
• Independent media: With the growth of cable networks, Internet news sources, satellite radio, and other less-centralized information outlets, the power of the mainstream media organizations will diminish. These alternative information sources will have objectives that are far less conservative and less stodgy than the current corporate behemoths.
• Political change: This is the last and most unlikely change that will occur, but it could be the most significant. If the science establishment gets more serious about UFOs, and if that causes the mainstream media to be more even-handed, it is conceivable that political figures will feel more secure about jumping in.

Unproven theories
Backed by years of his UFO sleuthing, Knapp said the sheer size and complexity of the subject is daunting.

“Unproven theories abound,” Knapp continued. “We are pretty sure the visitors are ETs ... or inter-dimensionals ... or time travelers from our future ... or manifestations of the collective consciousness. We also know they are benevolent guardians, evil reptilians, harvesters of souls or genetic materials, angels from heaven, demons from hell, or maybe androids dispatched by incomprehensible super-beings. It’s a proven fact that they are here to help us, teach us, or eat us, or mate with us, or mess with our heads, or save their own species while they carve up our livestock, doodle in our wheat fields, and befuddle our most sophisticated technology.”

Are UFOs driven by teenage pranksters on a joyride through the cosmos, Knapp questioned, or perhaps anthropologists from a parallel universe, modern manifestations of pixies and leprechauns, or pragmatic politicians from Serpo — a planet of Zeta Reticuli — who have cut a deal to trade advanced technology for the unfettered opportunity to abduct and traumatize certain unfortunate bloodlines?

“Take your pick,” Knapp said.

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