UFOs and UAPs, explained
What the terms mean, and what governments have actually said.
A UFO is simply an 'unidentified flying object' — anything in the sky a witness cannot identify. The word says nothing about aliens; most UFOs turn out to be aircraft, drones, balloons, satellites or natural effects once examined. In recent years officials have preferred the term UAP, for 'unidentified anomalous phenomena'.
Why governments got involved
Interest grew after military pilots reported objects they could not explain, and several governments — the United States among them — began publishing reports and holding hearings on the subject. Their conclusion so far is cautious: a number of sightings remain unexplained, but no confirmed evidence of extraterrestrial craft has been presented.
How to think about a sighting
'Unexplained' is not the same as 'alien'. It means only that a particular observation has not yet been matched to a known cause. Keeping that distinction clear is the difference between honest curiosity and wishful thinking — see how we cover the unexplained.