Do Aliens Exist?

June 1947: Kenneth Arnold flies his plane over the mountains of Washington State. He sees nine glowing objects speed by. Arnold says they moved like saucers skipping across the water. Soon, reporters come up with a name for the objects: flying saucers.

November 1975: Travis Walton and six others see a disc-shaped object in Arizona. Walton goes in for a closer look—and disappears. He returns five days later. He claims that aliens had beamed him up to their ship.

November 2004: Two U.S. Navy pilots observe an oval aircraft hovering over the Pacific Ocean. The craft moves toward them, then quickly zooms away.

These are just a few of the many reports of UFOs—unidentified flying objects. These unexplained phenomena have led many people to wonder if we are alone in the universe.

June 1947: Kenneth Arnold flies his plane over the mountains of Washington State. He sees nine glowing objects speed by. Arnold says they moved like saucers skipping across the water. Reporters soon come up with a name for the objects: flying saucers.

November 1975: Travis Walton and six others see a disc-shaped object in Arizona. Walton goes in for a closer look. Then he disappears. He returns five days later. He claims that aliens had beamed him up to their ship.

November 2004: Two U.S. Navy pilots see an oval aircraft. It’s hovering over the Pacific Ocean. The craft moves toward them. Then it quickly zooms away.

These are just a few of the many reports of UFOs—unidentified flying objects. These unexplained phenomena have led many people to wonder: Are we alone in the universe?

For decades, books, movies, and TV shows have told stories of spaceships carrying extraterrestrial beings. But in real life, thousands of people report seeing UFOs every year.

Many who haven’t seen a UFO still think they’re real. In a recent survey of 26,000 people in 24 countries, nearly half said they believe that aliens exist. Even the U.S. Department of Defense investigates UFO sightings.

“When you see something in the sky that’s not an airplane, you wonder what it is,” says Luis Elizondo. He says he led the Defense Department’s UFO program for eight years. “Our job was to figure that out.”

Stories about spaceships carrying extraterrestrial beings have been around for decades. They are in books, movies, and television shows. But thousands of people also report seeing UFOs every year. Many who haven’t seen a UFO still think they’re real. A recent survey polled 26,000 people in 24 countries. Nearly half of them said they believe that aliens exist. Even the U.S. Department of Defense looks into UFO sightings.

“When you see something in the sky that’s not an airplane, you wonder what it is,” says Luis Elizondo. He says he led the Defense Department’s UFO program for eight years. “Our job was to figure that out.” 

Sometimes, UFOs are really just shadows caused by sunlight or clouds. Other times, they’re secret military planes (see "The Mystery of Area 51," below).

But often, says Elizondo, UFOs cannot be explained. People describe oddly shaped objects that move at sharp angles and high speeds.

“Whatever they are,” Elizondo says, “they do not fit our current understanding of aircraft technology."

UFOs are sometimes really just shadows caused by sunlight or clouds. Other times, they’re secret military planes (see "The Mystery of Area 51," below).

But Elizondo says often UFOs cannot be explained. People describe seeing oddly shaped objects. They say the objects move at sharp angles and high speeds.

“Whatever they are,” Elizondo says, “they do not fit our current understanding of aircraft technology.”

Elizondo can’t say for sure whether those UFOs are carrying aliens. There is no real proof that aliens exist. But no one has proved that they do not exist either.

After all, humans have explored only a tiny part of our solar system. And each year, scientists discover more planets, billions of miles away. How can we be absolutely sure that life does not exist on any of those faraway planets? 

“If you don’t ask the question, you’ll never find the answer,” says Elizondo.

Elizondo can’t say for sure whether those UFOs are carrying aliens. There is no real proof that aliens exist. But no one has proved that they do not exist either.

Humans have explored only a tiny part of our solar system. And scientists discover more planets, billions of miles away, each year. How can we be absolutely sure that life does not exist on those planets?

“If you don’t ask the question, you’ll never find the answer,” says Elizondo.

1. How does the author begin the article? Why do you think she made that choice?

2. What are UFOs? Why is it hard to explain some UFO sightings?

3. What does Luis Elizondo mean when he says, "If you don't ask the question, you'll never find the answer"?

1. How does the author begin the article? Why do you think she made that choice?

2. What are UFOs? Why is it hard to explain some UFO sightings?

3. What does Luis Elizondo mean when he says, "If you don't ask the question, you'll never find the answer"?