Ex-NASA agent debunks UFO theories, says government used them to ‘hide a lot of things'
Unidentified flying objects (UFOs) continue to capture public imagination and spark conspiracy theories, viral videos and a growing belief in extraterrestrial visitors. From sightings in remote deserts to leaked military footage, many see these phenomena as proof that intelligent life is already among us. But not everyone agrees.
Joseph Gutheinz
, a former senior special agent with
NASA
's Office of Inspector General and now a criminal defence lawyer, holds a very different view. He believes the obsession with UFOs may be distracting people from something more earthly and possibly more serious. Based on his experience he says the real mystery might lie not in the skies but in intentional
government secrecy
. He also points out that alien visits are not scientifically possible given the vast distances between stars.
Ex-NASA agent Joseph Gutheinz ask for evidence to prove UFO sightings
Joseph Gutheinz urges the public to approach the UFO debate with rational thinking, not wild speculation. He dismisses decades of stories about alien encounters and insists that claims must be backed by evidence. 'Prove it. Honestly, prove it,' he told Fox News Digital. During his time with NASA's Office of Inspector General, Gutheinz received numerous calls from people who believed they had been abducted or implanted with alien microchips. He viewed these claims as symptoms of deeper issues rather than proof of extraterrestrial contact. His standard response was blunt and direct—he advised such callers to seek psychiatric help.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around
Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List
Undo
Joseph Gutheinz argument: Distance is too much
Joseph Gutheinz emphasises that the vast distances between stars make it nearly impossible for extraterrestrial beings to reach Earth. He explains that the closest star system to us — Alpha Centauri — is more than 25 trillion miles away. Even if we used the fastest speed currently known, a journey from there to Earth would take over 70,000 years. These immense travel times, combined with the limits of physics and energy, make interstellar travel by intelligent alien life highly improbable. 'Nobody is visiting us from another world, likely,' he concluded, urging people to focus on science, not speculation.
More likely explanations of UFO theories
Instead of aliens, Gutheinz believes many
UFO sightings
can be traced to human sources. He suspects that some are caused by secret technology being developed by countries like China or Russia. Others may simply be advanced drones flown by civilians. He also highlights moons like Europa, Ganymede, Titan and Triton as possible homes for primitive life but insists they would not produce intelligent life capable of space travel.
Military myths and cover-ups
Gutheinz suggests that the US government has likely used UFO stories to distract the public and foreign adversaries from real military projects. 'In the 1940s when all these UFO stories started coming up it was because the military was probably testing some aircraft and they didn't want the Russians to know about it,' he said. By letting the UFO rumours grow the military could protect its secrets without revealing advanced stealth technologies.
Hiding in plain sight
The idea that UFOs are a cover for human activity is not new but Gutheinz offers a credible insider's view. 'If the UFO cover worked I would not be surprised if people in the military and government played along with it,' he added. According to him the goal was simple. Keep other countries in the dark about what the US was building and testing. 'The bottom line is I think we use the UFO cover to hide a lot of things,' he concluded.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Stunning ultra-detailed picture of Sculptor galaxy unveiled by ESO
Astronomers at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have unveiled the most stunning and ultra-detailed map ever created of the Sculptor galaxy , also known as NGC 253 . Located about 11 million light years away, this galaxy shares many similarities with our own Milky Way in terms of size and structure. Using the powerful Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope , researchers spent over 50 hours capturing more than 100 exposures. The resulting image covers an area 65,000 light years wide and reveals thousands of colors, offering unprecedented insight into the stars, gas, and dust within the galaxy. Sculptor galaxy in unmatched details The Sculptor galaxy is close enough for astronomers to resolve its internal structure with incredible precision while still observing it as a whole system. This ultra-detailed map allows scientists to study the galaxy's building blocks—stars, gas, and dust—in ways never before possible. Unlike typical galaxy images that show only a few colors, this image reveals thousands, providing vital information about the age, composition, and motion of celestial objects within Sculptor. How the image was captured by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Diese Testsieger-Wärmepumpe stellt den Heizungsmarkt auf den Kopf thermondo Undo To create this breathtaking map, researchers used ESO's Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) instrument on the Very Large Telescope in Chile. They observed the Sculptor galaxy for over 50 hours and stitched together more than 100 exposures. The final image spans an area 65,000 light years wide, capturing a vast and detailed view of the galaxy's structure and composition. New discoveries: Planetary nebulae and star formation The detailed image has already led to the discovery of 500 new planetary nebulae—shells of gas and dust emitted by dying stars. These nebulae help astronomers verify the distance to the Sculptor galaxy, which is crucial for further studies. The map also allows researchers to examine how gas flows and changes composition to form new stars, shedding light on the life cycle of galaxies. Why Sculptor galaxy matters Like our neighboring Andromeda galaxy, the Sculptor galaxy is bright, large, and easily visible with binoculars under ideal conditions. Its proximity and size make it an excellent subject for studying galactic evolution. This new ultra-detailed map marks a significant step forward in understanding how galaxies like our own Milky Way form, evolve, and sustain star formation. Looking ahead: Future research opportunities With this detailed map in hand, astronomers plan to delve deeper into the Sculptor galaxy's dynamics. They aim to study gas flows, star formation processes, and the lifecycle of stars with unprecedented clarity. This breakthrough will not only enhance our knowledge of Sculptor but also provide valuable insights applicable to other galaxies across the universe.
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Living with an anaconda? Understanding human and snake relationships in the Amazon Várzea
Source: Discover Wildlife The cultural connection between humans and snakes or more specifically, the mythical anaconda, is profound in the Amazon. These kinds of snakes are often seen not just as animals but as powerful symbols in local mythology. In a new study in Frontiers in Amphibian and Reptile Science , researchers Dr. Beatriz Cosendey and Professor Juarez Carlos Brito Pezzuti explored the interaction between local communities and species of snake in the várzea regions of the Lower Amazon River, seasonally flooded and biologically diverse areas. Lead author Dr. Cosendey dispels the anaconda myths, facts, and shifting attitudes and describes how conservation measures must shift to account for scientific as well as native knowledge. Humans and snakes: Understanding their Amazon connection through Ethnobiology Dr. Cosendey's route to ethnobiology was fueled early on in her life. She was captivated by field study documentaries and wondered why knowledge was being discovered remotely from city life. Later in life as an ecologist, she became drawn to science-linked research that reunited science with society, particularly studies that recognised humans as part of ecological systems rather than separate from them. This point of view brought her to ethnobiology, a field that unites ecology, conservation, and indigenous knowledge. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Novi ortopedski sandali za moške poletje 2025. Fiippy KUPITE ZDAJ Undo Her goal: to make science not only of intellectual value but of social significance. E thnobiology is not simply the biology of plants and animals; it looks at how local communities influence the biodiversity they live among. For the riverside communities of the Amazon, it is passed down through generations, enabling people to spot changes in the environment early on and encouraging good conservation practices. With Dr. Cosendey, the conservations are more effective when locally based communities are engaged as partners rather than as research subjects. Individuals are more committed and engaged when they consider themselves co-creators of the research. Source: Discover Wildlife The great snake still haunts the Amazon—but now it's over chickens, not legends One of the most powerful local legends concerns the Great Snake—a legendary anaconda supposedly lying beneath cities and churning the Amazon waters with every twitch. With glowing eyes and the ability to swallow cattle, even humans, this snake is both feared and admired. While fewer large anaconda sightings are reported, the legend persists. But the demeanor of these snakes is slowly shifting from spiritual concerns to secular issues mainly in relation to livestock. Now, anacondas are more likely to be seen as not mythical but as economic threats. "Chicken is her favorite dish. If one clucks, she comes," a resident said. This captures the degree to which the conflict has become entangled with local livelihood. It's not just bothersome to lose pigs or chickens to anacondas – it's also expensive. "You raise the chicken – you can't just let it be eaten for free," another resident continued. Others explained they had to rebuild coops multiple times or kill snakes to retrieve partially swallowed birds. This tension between living and surviving shows how practical circumstances are overshadowing traditional respect for anacondas. Source: Discover Wildlife Communities and researchers find real solutions through shared experience Research did not just stop with documenting stories. Researchers worked with residents to chart successful approaches to safeguarding livestock. They observed wire and nylon mesh coops—some of which worked, others that didn't. They eventually settled on a solution based on this local experience: two sheets of thin nylon mesh at the interior and exterior surfaces of wire mesh for excluding both small and large animals. This collaborative effort exemplifies the power of community-based conservation where experience feeds science and attention to real-world problems. Misconceptions regarding Ethnobiology Even though it is an established science, ethnobiology is still not trusted within some academic settings. Critics think that it cannot maintain the rigorous data collection of "hard sciences." Dr. Cosendey clarifies, though, that ethnobiology employs tried scientific procedures and generates robust outcomes—especially in complex ecological and social contexts. Notably, ethnobiology retains subtle aspects that may be lost in traditional ecological models and is, therefore, a critical instrument in inclusive and adaptive conservation. Building conservation through shared wisdom between snakes and humans Dr. Cosendey feels that the future of conservation rests with community engagement. She supports projects that engage local people not as passive recipients but as active participants. Their indigenous knowledge may be used to guide environmental planning and prove particularly valuable in regions susceptible to biodiversity decline. She also emphasises the necessity of documenting and valuing cultural traditions—such as the use of natural remedies—wherein there could be sustainable solutions that can be shared with other parts of the world. Also Read | Snake in Delhi Metro? Women scream and jump onto seats as ladies' coach sparks chaos amid unconfirmed scare| Watch
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
Push and pull: Dark energy discovery changed understanding of universe, says Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt
Dark matter pulls the universe and dark energy pushes, both mysteries that endure. And the discovery that a majority of the universe is made up of "stuff" that makes gravity push rather than pull was a gamechanger, says Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt . The US-born Australian astronomer along with Adam Riess and Saul Perlmutter from the US discovered the "stuff", later termed dark energy, in 1998. The three won the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2011. Explaining the significance of their discovery that changed the understanding of how the universe functions, Schmidt told PTI, "Dark energy is really saying (that) there is energy tied to space itself." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 3 minutes, if you own a mouse Undo "If we didn't have dark energy, the universe would be curved and the universe wouldn't accelerate -- and that changes how cosmic objects, such as galaxies, looks. It really makes a difference," the astronomer, who was visiting Ashoka University for the Lodha Genius Programme, added. The term dark energy is intentionally similar to dark matter. Live Events Dark matter refers to particles in the universe that hold galaxies and other structures in space (the cosmos) together. It is said to have peculiar properties, such as being invisible, as it does not interact with light. However, while "dark matter and atoms (that make up ordinary matter) are pulling the universe, dark energy is pushing the universe. There's a balance at any given time of who's winning the war -- dark energy has won the war, it seems now and is pushing the universe apart", Schmidt explained. That's because dark energy had a density set at the time of the Big Bang , said the 58-year-old former president of the Australian National University and currently a distinguished professor of astronomy. The Big Bang, believed to have given birth to the universe, happened some 13.8 billion years ago. Dark matter is among the particles formed immediately after the event, gravity exerted from which is said to produce a slowing effect on the universe's evolution. "And (dark energy) stayed at that density. But as the universe expanded, and the density of atoms and dark matter dropped over time, the two crossed about 6.5 billion years back -- and that crossing meant the dark energy could take over and accelerate the universe," Schmidt said. Work on the discovery that the universe is expanding at an accelerating rate and that dark energy is the driving force began in 1994. Schmidt and colleagues intended to look at distant objects and measure how fast the universe was expanding in the past, and then look at nearer objects to see how it slowed down over time. "And if we measured the universe slowing down really quickly, then we'd know that the universe was heavy and you're gonna get a Gnab Gib -- the Big Bang in reverse. But if the universe was slowing down slowly, then we'd know the universe is light and it's gonna exist forever. So that's what we were going to do." Three and a half years later came the answer. "What we saw was the universe was expanding slower in the past and it sped up. So instead of slowing down, it's actually the other way -- it's speeding up," the Nobel laureate said. In 1917, physicist Albert Einstein first imagined dark energy as a concept -- only he did not think of it in those exact words but instead accounted for it in his equations of general relativity as a 'lambda' term. Einstein is said to have considered the lambda term irrelevant, even denouncing it as his "greatest blunder". "When we made our discovery of the acceleration (of the universe), it was the only sensible way of making it happen. So that thing (the lambda term), that he (Einstein) brought in 1917 and then later discarded as being irrelevant, that seems to (be validated from) what we discovered," Schmidt continued. "In 1998, cosmology was shaken at its foundations as two research teams presented their findings...," states the press release dated October 4, 2011, announcing the recipients for the Nobel Prize in Physics for 2011. The 1998 model has since been scrutinised through experiments, mainly aimed at understanding the nature of dark energy -- is it constant or does it vary? "We put in some extra knobs in the model of 1998, where we allow dark energy to change over time. The models with the most recent data seem to prefer a dark energy that changes," Schmidt said. But he is sceptical. "I'm not saying they're wrong. I'm saying I need better data to be convinced they're right." He said he is also glad that someone else is working on it. Schmidt leads the ' SkyMapper Telescope Project ' for which he conducted a survey of the southern sky as seen from Australia, focussed on looking at the "oldest, first stars in the galaxy". "We could see essentially what the chemistry of the universe was back really close to the Big Bang -- because if a star was formed right after the Big Bang, it's made up of the stuff that was in the universe at the time. "And so, we found the most chemically pure stars that have ever been discovered, ones that were almost certainly not formed from the remnants of the Big Bang, but from a single exploding star after the Big Bang. That just gives us a sense of what the first stars look like," said Schmidt, who has published his findings in several journals, including Nature. Schmidt, who addressed high schoolers and others on science as a potential career at the university, advised them to get the skills that seem useful for life by working on something that interests them. Not knowing what to do in life and the fact that he enjoyed astronomy made Schmidt pursue the field. "In learning astronomy, I'd learned math, I'd learned physics, I'd learned computing, I'd learned some engineering. And (while) I didn't think it was likely that I would get a job to be an astronomer, I knew math, engineering, physics, and computing liable to give me a good job doing something. And of course, I did end up being an astronomer," he said. "You don't really know how all of this is going to come together in your life, but if you work on something you're interested in, with a set of skills that seem useful for life, then don't overthink your life, don't overplan your life," Schmidt said.
