UFOs, or unidentified flying objects, are any perceived aerial phenomena that cannot be immediately identified or explained. The term "UFO" was coined by Captain Edward J. Ruppelt, who headed Project Blue Book, the USAFs official investigation of UFOs. While technically a UFO refers to any unidentified flying object, in modern popular culture, the term UFO has generally become synonymous with alien spacecraft. However, the term "UFO" is now being replaced by "UAP," which stands for "unidentified aerial phenomena," as a way to disassociate the term from science fiction aliens and to encourage greater scientific study.
The sightings of UFOs have sparked public interest, and some interpret them as evidence that extraterrestrial life exists and has visited Earth. However, studies have established that the majority of UFO observations are misidentified conventional objects or natural phenomena.
In summary, UFOs are any perceived aerial phenomena that cannot be immediately identified or explained, and while they have often been associated with extraterrestrial life, the majority of sightings are eventually identified as known objects or natural phenomena.
