What are UAPs, and why do UFOs have a new name?

There was a Congressional hearing held on July 27, focusing on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs), which were previously referred to as UFOs. The hearing featured testimony from a former intelligence officer-turned-whistleblower and two pilots who shared their experiences with encountering strange and unexplained objects in the sky. These objects have been reported by hundreds of pilots over recent years, and the government has been increasingly interested in investigating them.

The witnesses shed light on the UAP phenomenon, which includes objects detected in the air, sea, and space that defy easy explanation. While many UAPs have innocent explanations, some remain mysterious, with characteristics like spherical or oval shapes, high speeds, and seemingly unconventional methods of propulsion.One of the witnesses, David Fravor, recounted his experience encountering a UAP in 2004 while flying an F-18 fighter jet. He described a "Tic-Tac" shaped object that displayed extraordinary performance capabilities, defying known aerodynamic principles.

The term "UAP" (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) replaced "UFO" (Unidentified Flying Object) in official government terminology in December 2022. This change aimed to reduce the stigma associated with UFOs and encourage more pilots to report their experiences without fear of professional repercussions.

Despite the intriguing videos and testimonies, the military has emphasized that most UAP reports have innocent explanations. The government established the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) to investigate these incidents, with the majority of cases remaining unresolved due to a lack of data. A small percentage of UAP reports are deemed "truly anomalous," but the AARO has not found credible evidence of extraterrestrial activity or objects defying known laws of physics.

NASA also formed a panel of experts to review data collection efforts related to UAPs. The panel concluded that there is much more to learn, emphasizing the need for better data and reducing the stigma associated with reporting UAP encounters. The report did not find evidence of extraterrestrial origins for UAPs and highlighted the challenges of studying these anomalous sightings due to the lack of sufficient data.

In summary, the article discusses recent efforts to understand and investigate UAPs, previously known as UFOs, through Congressional hearings and NASA studies. Witnesses have shared their experiences with these unexplained phenomena, while experts continue to seek a better understanding of the nature and origins of UAPs.

Full article: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/what-are-uaps-unexplained-aerial-phenomenon-ufos-new-name/