Humanity has long been asking the question: Are we alone in the universe? Given the infinite dimensions of the universe, this seems at least a very presumptuous hypothesis or an extremely unfortunate coincidence. And if we are not alone, are there beings from other planets with whom we could establish contact? Perhaps we dare to think one step further: is it possible that these beings are actually trying to establish contact with us? And what could that mean?

Although official science still doubts the possibility of interstellar travel, numerous pieces of evidence and credible testimonies of unidentified phenomena suggest a different truth.

In this article, we will explore ancient findings, modern observations, scientific analyses, and government investigations that offer us fragments of answers to this eternal question of the existence of Extraterrestrials. We will also touch on possible visions of where good-natured contact could lead us.

Are we really the only beings in the universe, or are we simply unable to see the series of events that suggest otherwise? 

Is it really possible that we are the only chosen ones in the vast universe who have been destined for a creative and intelligent life? Some gaze dreamily at the stars and wonder what beings on Earth-like planets might be like. Scientists are undertaking technological experiments to establish communication with other possible civilizations. All of this points to a strong desire to find out whether Extraterrestrials exist – and if they do, what they are like, what they do, how they think and feel, and what they might be able to teach us.

According to the current understanding of the laws of physics in official science, it is inconceivable that another civilization could travel the vast distances to our planet within its lifetime. 

But various pieces of evidence – from ancient drawings to modern government reports – tell us that our understanding is very incomplete. This is not unusual; we know that we cannot explain about 95% of the energy content of the known universe, which is represented by dark energy and dark matter.

From UFOs to UAPs: why the different names?

For decades, we have used the acronym UFO (unidentified flying object) to refer to the appearance of unknown vehicles. But in modern times, we are observing unknown phenomena not only in the air, but also in space and in the sea. Therefore, researchers of these phenomena have wanted a more general term, as they have been observing not only physical objects that fly, but also other unusual aerial, atmospheric, or aquatic phenomena. 

Therefore, US government circles, the military, and the media have decided to use the acronym UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena). The new acronym has quickly become the international designation for such phenomena, which is why we are also using it in this article.

Could we be on the verge of contact with Extraterrestrials? 

All over the world, we can find artifacts that suggest that humans had contact with other beings in the past – for example, the Nazca lines in Peru, ancient cave paintings in Val Camonica in Italy, or the rock art of Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria. 

In recent decades, reports of UFO sightings have become increasingly frequent. The incident involving the US ship Nimitz in 2004 and encounters with the USS Roosevelt between 2014 and 2015 are among the more well-known cases in which pilots reported that these flying objects had capabilities that far exceeded our understanding of technology and science. The last major steps towards disclosure took place in July 2023, November 2024 and April 2025, when the US Congress held hearings with military and government personnel regarding UAP sightings. Whistleblowers (such as Jake Barber and Matthew Brown, mentioned below) continue to release new information. 

Crop circles are also phenomena that we associate with Extraterrestrials. Although some have been easily exposed as hoaxes, there are many whose origin we cannot explain. Scientific research into these phenomena points to unusual non-invasive changes in plants and the presence of magnetic particles in the soil, suggesting the use of advanced technologies that also exceed our civilizational understanding. 

Citizens have a right to know the truth.

Numerous governments, including the EU, UK, US, Canada, and Japan, have been seriously investigating UFO sightings for some time, and recently, individuals in important positions have been making intensive efforts to disclose secret government files and reports on these phenomena. 

By their very nature, these encounters speak not only of technologically advanced civilizations, but also of a restrained, nonviolent approach. This does not rule out the possibility that individual human experiences may be more difficult or misunderstood, but the broader historical pattern does not indicate hostile intent. 

Although we do not yet have definitive proof of the existence of Extraterrestrials, numerous documented facts and credible testimonies speak to their presence. Perhaps they are inviting us to make contact through subtle signs such as unobtrusive appearances and crop circles. Why else would they appear to us and create inspiring patterns in fields? With their technology, they could observe us from a distance if that were their intention. Given such advanced technology, we can reasonably assume that the civilizations associated with these phenomena operate with a high degree of restraint and ethical responsibility. Perhaps we are at an extraordinary turning point in human history, when such contact could bring significant progress to our life on this planet. It could guide us toward ending unnecessary wars and present solutions to environmental and other problems, and in general lead to a deeper understanding of the universe and our place in it.

Ancient findings

Throughout history, many cultures have created drawings and writings that suggest that humanity has had contact with Extraterrestrials.

Erich von Däniken’s 1968 book Chariots of the Gods popularized the “ancient astronaut” theory by presenting numerous monuments, paintings, and carvings of this kind ^[1].

Source: Chariots of the Gods: Erich von Däniken, Michael Heron: 8601400364512: Amazon.com: Books

Let’s look at a few other examples that suggest that Extraterrestrials may have been present on our planet in the past:

• The Nazca Lines in Peru, huge geoglyphs that some believe may have been landing guides for extraterrestrial spacecraft ^[2].

Source: Nazca Lines Peru Guide: Tours, Hiking, Maps, Buildings, Facts, and History – Evolution Treks Peru

• Ancient cave paintings in Val Camonica, Italy. One has been named “astronauts” because it depicts figures that appear to be wearing spacesuits ^[3].

Source: Italy, The Valcamonica “Astronauts” – The Ancient Connection

• The rock art of Tassili n’Ajjer in Algeria depicts humanoid figures that are much taller than the other figures. Some of the figures are wearing clothing similar to spacesuits ^[4].

Source: The Tassili N’Ajjer Enigmatic Paintings – The Ancient Connection

Most archaeologists and historians reject these interpretations, labeling them pseudoscience and pseudoarchaeology, and emphasizing that such claims often undermine the achievements of ancient civilizations.

Contemporary encounters

While we may view historical relics with skepticism due to our limited knowledge of that time and unclear paintings or carvings, we now have technology that can create reliable and accurate images and measurements.

In modern times, there have been numerous reports of UFOs. These reports range from sightings of unusual lights in the sky or unusual patterns on the Earth’s surface to descriptions of encounters with Extraterrestrials. While many of these reports can be attributed to misidentification, natural phenomena, or man-made objects, many events remain unexplained.

The most compelling testimonies come from military personnel, as they are trained to respond rationally and calmly in a wide variety of situations and have access to the most advanced observation and tracking equipment. Let’s look at two such testimonies.

The incident with the American ship Nimitz in 2004, when naval pilots encountered a UAP in the shape of a Tic Tac candy off the coast of California and filmed it. The object had flight capabilities that exceeded human technology and science, as testified before the US House of Representatives by David Fravor, a retired naval fighter pilot ^[5].

Retired Navy fighter pilot David Fravor testifies before the US House of Representatives in Washington, July 26, 2023. Source: CBS News

The next high-profile encounters were those of the UAP with the USS Roosevelt in 2014-2015. US Navy pilots reported numerous encounters with unknown objects that were fast and performed maneuvers that our understanding of aerodynamics cannot explain ^[6].

Source: Space.com

From such encounters with military personnel who have access to the most advanced detection and tracking technologies, we can conclude that UAP technology exceeds the knowledge of human civilization. 

One of the most notable reports this year came in January 2025, when former US Air Force member Jake Barber publicly revealed on the News Nation media channel that he had participated in a secret government program to search for crashed UFOs. Barber claims that the US has possessed and studied for decades extraterrestrial technology that far exceeds our technological capabilities, and is willing to testify under oath. 

He is also the co-founder of Skywatcher, a company that brings together experts in the field of research and establishing contact with Extraterrestrials. 

Source: UFO whistleblower Jake Barber would ‘100% testify’ under oath to Congress

Some individuals claim to have been abducted by Extraterrestrials. Are Extraterrestrials dangerous or peaceful, ethical beings?

We must be cautious when considering accounts of alleged abductions. It would not be fair to simply dismiss people’s unpleasant or traumatic experiences as fabrications. At the same time, a subjectively powerful experience is not necessarily proof that the event occurred in a physical sense exactly as the person later describes it.

Contactees from the 1950s, including George Adamski, generally described Extraterrestrials as peaceful, advanced, and ethical beings. Common sense also points in a similar direction. In the spirit of Carl Sagan’s thinking, we can say that aggressive civilizations often destroy themselves in the long run, especially when they attain exceptionally advanced technology; a civilization that has survived its technological adolescence and mastered travel over long distances or across different dimensions or planes of existence would therefore most likely have to develop a higher degree of maturity, self-control, and ethical responsibility. If such a civilization were primarily aggressive and self-destructive, such great power would have endangered it much sooner.

This does not mean, however, that we should ignore all reports of negative encounters. It is possible that certain groups of beings of non-human origin exist, with varying degrees of development and differing attitudes toward humans. If some of the disturbing accounts are objective, then they may point to beings who are not necessarily malicious, but who may be cold or less sensitive to human experience. However, one important fact remains: humanity has not been destroyed, enslaved, or systematically subjugated. This could mean that more ethical groups are protecting us, or that even less ethical ones do not have destructive intentions.

At least in some cases, however, there is another explanation. Some accounts may be linked to psychological and neurological conditions: sleep paralysis, hypnagogic experiences, traumatic memories, hypnosis, or altered states of consciousness. In such states, a person may experience extremely vivid images, a sense of presence, physical contact, fear, and the impression that something real is happening to them. Even in experiences with dimethyltryptamine (DMT), people often describe encounters with unusual beings that sometimes take the form of insects or reptiles. This does not prove that all such accounts are hallucinations, but it does suggest that we must be cautious in our interpretations.

Accounts recalled under hypnosis are particularly sensitive. Hypnosis can help access emotional content, but memory is not a perfect record of the past. It can be supplemented, altered, and unintentionally shaped by questions, expectations, or images a person already knows from their culture.

The most balanced position is therefore the following: most logical reasoning and eyewitness accounts indicate that the main groups of Extraterrestrials visiting Earth are peaceful or at least very reserved. At the same time, we must not uncritically dismiss people who report traumatic experiences. Their accounts demand compassion, sound judgment, and open-minded investigation. Perhaps reality is more complex than we imagine. Some of the experiences may be psychological, some symbolic, some the result of human manipulation, and some may indeed indicate contact with intelligences we do not yet understand.

In any case, based on the history of UFO reports to date and the reasonable assumption that these entities generally possess advanced technology, we cannot suspect a hostile invasion; rather, we can observe a pattern of observation, occasional approach, and restrained influence. All of this points to a correlation between the high technological level of these civilizations and their high ethical standards, which underlie most of these phenomena.

Crop circles

Crop circles, which are often intricate patterns that appear in fields of wheat, barley, or other crops, have been the subject of fascination, inspiration, and controversy for decades. Although some have been proven to be hoaxes, serious research has shown that many cannot be explained. 

In the film Crop Circles: Quest for Truth, director William Gazecki ^[7] presents this type of research.

Source: Amazon.com: Crop Circles – Quest for Truth [DVD] : Colin Andrews, William Gazecki: Movies & TV

Let’s look at some important findings from crop circles research:

• Pat Delgado, a former NASA engineer, Terence Meaden, a meteorologist, and Colin Andrews, an electrical engineer, were among the first researchers of crop circles. They studied the possibility that they were the result of meteorological causes such as storms or air vortices. However, the geometric precision and complex patterns they documented ruled out meteorological causes. They concluded that the geometrically precise and complex patterns could only be the result of intelligent design, as other regular shapes such as pentagrams and hexagons are also present alongside the circles.
• Some crop circles, even those with very complex and extensive patterns, appeared overnight or even faster. The speed and precision of their formation challenge the assumption that they were created by human pranksters in such a short time. An example of such a pattern is the fractal pattern that appeared in less than half an hour at Stonehenge in 1996 ^[7].

Source: 1996 Crop Circles – Temporary Temples

• Biophysicist Dr. Levengood conducted detailed scientific research on plant patterns from several countries. He observed different growth patterns in plants from authentic crop circles compared to control plants. The cereal stalks had unusually elongated nodes and were not broken, but continued to grow horizontally and ripened with other cereals in the field outside the crop circle. In some cases, the nodes were swollen due to rapid heating of internal moisture (presumably under the influence of microwave radiation or plasma), and unusual round magnetic particles were found in the soil, whose directional distribution indicated advanced technological methods ^[7] and ^[8].

Government investigations and disclosures of UFOs around the world

Governments and parliaments around the world are becoming increasingly interested in UAPs, conducting investigations of their archives and, in some cases, disclosing documents from them.

In the United States, several important projects have been and are still being carried out:

• Project Blue Book (1952-1969): As part of this project, the US Air Force investigated more than 12,000 UFO sightings, with 701 cases remaining unexplained. A series of the same name was also filmed based on the documents:

Source: Amazon.com: Project Blue Book: Season 1: Aidan Gillen, Michael Malarkey, Laura Mennell, Michael Harney, Ksenia Solo, Neal McDonough: Movies & TV

• Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP): A secret Pentagon program that ran from 2007 to 2012 investigated encounters between military personnel and UFOs.

Source: ‘Imminent’ by ‘Luis Elizondo’ – ‘Hardcover’ – ‘978-1-78946-604-1’

• The All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO): Established in 2022, this office systematically investigates reports of UFOs. By 2023, it had received more than 1,600 reports, but many phenomena remained unexplained.
• Dr. Steven M. Greer, founder of the Disclosure Project, has been a leading advocate for the public disclosure of classified information about UFOs in the United States. In June 2023, Dr. Greer held a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., where he presented the testimonies of more than 700 military and other government witnesses. His efforts are aimed at exposing secret programs related to UFOs and encouraging the government to take responsibility for informing the public ^[9] and ^[10]. Today, he serves as an external government advisor and advocates for the importance of constructive disclosure about the existence of peaceful civilizations that wish to establish contact with us.

Source: LinkedIn and @DrStevenGreer55

• The Immaculate Constellation Program – Award-winning investigative journalists Jeremy Corbell and George Knapp published an interview in April 2025 with whistleblower Matthew Brown, a former Pentagon intelligence analyst. He confirmed the existence of a current secret program focused on monitoring and collecting data on UFOs around the world. Brown was the anonymous author of a report on this program for a congressional hearing in 2024.

Source: YouTube, Immaculate Constellation – UFO Whistleblower Goes Public

The Japanese Ministry of Defense actively monitors UAP phenomena, and in 2020, the Japanese government issued guidelines for military pilots to report all UAP sightings. The Japanese military has cooperated with the United States in exchanging information and improving understanding of these phenomena. ^[11]

Several European Union countries have also shown increasing interest in investigating UFOs. Spain, Italy, and Denmark have declassified documents related to UFOs in an effort to increase transparency. 

• The Italian Air Force has been recording and investigating UAP incidents since the 1970s. ^[12]
• In the 1990s, the Spanish Air Force declassified some UFO reports, including a report of an incident in which a passenger plane landed because of UFOs that were following it; neither military radar nor the air traffic control center detected them. ^[13]
• In 2009, the Danish Air Force released 329 pages from its secret UFO archives, including details of more than 200 unexplained phenomena. ^[14]

In 2013, the Peruvian government reactivated its office for investigating UFOs due to an increase in the number of sightings. ^[15]

In 2023, the Canadian government supported an official study on UFOs and cooperation with the US government, partly at the initiative of conservative MP Jerry Maguire. ^[16]

The French government group GEIPAN (Group for the Study and Information on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) has been objectively investigating UAP sightings since 2005. ^[17]

In 2011, the UK Ministry of Defense declassified some of its UFO files from 1985-2007, with a military official stating that a lack of resources and other priorities were hindering the investigation of UFOs. ^[18]

Recent developments in the public debate on UAPs

The discussion of UAPs has become a central topic at the highest levels of government in recent years, mainly due to increased demands for transparency and credible witness testimony at high-profile government hearings. Among the more significant events are:

• US Congressional hearings: In July 2023 and November 2024, the U.S. Congress held hearings on the UAPs, during which military whistleblowers, former intelligence officers, and officials testified about unexplained observations and highlighted the lack of transparency. Particularly notable was the testimony of David Grusch on July 26, 2023, before the U.S. House Oversight Committee. Grusch, a former intelligence officer and representative of the National Reconnaissance Office to the UAP Task Force, testified under oath that covert programs to acquire and study non-human technology allegedly exist within the U.S. security and intelligence system, with certain information concealed not only from the public but also from elected officials. His claims are significant also because they were made during an official congressional proceeding and have reinforced calls for greater transparency, whistleblower protection, and independent oversight of classified programs. ^{[19] [20] [21]}

Source: USA Today News

• Release of U.S. documents on UFOs in May 2026: On May 8, 2026, the U.S. administration began publicly releasing documents, photographs, and videos related to unidentified anomalous phenomena as part of the PURSUE system. The first batch included materials from several U.S. agencies, including the FBI, the Department of Defense, NASA, and the State Department. The official website emphasizes that these are unresolved cases in which the government cannot definitively determine the nature of the observed phenomena; therefore, the documents are important primarily as a step toward greater transparency and as material for further independent analysis. Additional batches of releases followed, indicating that this is an ongoing disclosure process rather than a one-time release. ^[22]
• European institutional activities regarding UAPs: In Europe, the debate on UAPs is gradually shifting from the realm of civilian researchers and individual accounts to the institutional sphere. An important step was an event held at the European Parliament on March 20, 2024 titled Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) – EU Airspace: Reporting and Scientific Assessment, organized by Member of the European Parliament Francisco Guerreiro in collaboration with the UAP Coalition Netherlands. The event was aimed at European policymakers, experts, pilots, and researchers, and raised the question of whether the European Union should establish a coordinated system for reporting, scientific assessment, and security handling of UAPs. ^[23]

Source: UAP Coalitie Nederland and Francisco Guerreiro, MEP

Since then, European initiatives have been expanding. On European UAP Day (March 20, marked by the aforementioned event), the UAP Coalition Netherlands and UAP Check issued a warning that more than 5,000 reports of unidentified phenomena had been collected in Europe over the course of a year, but these reports come primarily from civilian organizations, not from a unified official European system. This points to a significant data gap: Europe has common systems for aviation safety, space surveillance, weather data, and climate measurements, but it lacks a comparable cross-border system for collecting and analyzing reports on unidentified aerial phenomena, as many other major countries have. ^[24]

A significant shift is also taking place in France, which, through the CNES’s GEIPAN group, has long had one of the most robust official structures for addressing unidentified anomalous phenomena. A conference on UAPs is scheduled for June 29, 2026, at the French National Assembly, organized with the support of GEIPAN and CNES, indicating that the issue of UAPs in Europe is increasingly being treated as a subject of scientific, parliamentary, and public safety scrutiny, rather than merely a marginal curiosity. ^[25]

In addition to parliamentary and public safety initiatives, the academic framework is also strengthening. The University of Durham has published the Declaration on SETI and UAP Research, which calls for the study of extraterrestrial intelligence and anomalous phenomena to be integrated into the broader academic sphere with appropriate methodological rigor and openness ^[26]. At Lund University, meanwhile, a study group called Anomalous Agenda has been formed, reflecting the fact that European universities are gradually making room for a more serious, interdisciplinary examination of phenomena that have long been pushed to the margins of scientific discourse. ^[27]

The common thread running through these European initiatives is that the issue is no longer simply whether individuals believe in UAPs or not. Questions of scientific methodology, public transparency, international collaboration, and reliable data collection – and, above all, the purpose and significance of these phenomena – are coming to the forefront. If we wish to understand these phenomena properly, we must treat them with the same seriousness as anything else that may influence science and our broader understanding of humanity’s place in the universe.

From anthropocentric illusion to interplanetary cooperation

There is still no definitive confirmation that would allow us to know with certainty that Extraterrestrials are among us. However, a long series of historical relics, contemporary observations, research, and official investigations tell us that this is very likely. Not only is it very likely that Extraterrestrials exist, but also that they are discreetly alerting us humans to their presence.

Why would it be in the interest of Extraterrestrials to reveal themselves to us? 

If they only wanted to observe us, they could do so remotely thanks to their advanced technology. And if they only wanted to express themselves artistically, they would not need to come to Earth and draw beautiful patterns in crop fields.

Given the unobtrusive nature of phenomena such as NAP sightings or crop circles, we can reasonably consider the possibility that these represent a gradual hint at the presence of other intelligent beings or a form of indirect invitation to a broader understanding of our place in the universe. If Extraterrestrials are behind these phenomena, then their manner of appearing does not indicate a forceful approach, but rather one of observation, occasional approach, and restrained encouragement of humanity toward greater openness. Such contact could bring us significant civilizational progress in the art of living rightly, in harmony with the environment and other beings, while also yielding new insights in the fields of science and technology. Vessels capable of reaching our planet and performing maneuvers that are inexplicable to us must possess exceptionally energy-efficient propulsion systems, structural designs capable of withstanding immense forces, and antigravity and other capabilities that protect passengers from injury during such maneuvers.

A vision of the future in harmony with extraterrestrials

We believe that today we have a unique opportunity as a society to strengthen our demands for the disclosure of archives, to unite in a spirit of goodwill, and to express our desire for contact and cooperation with other civilizations, which we call Extraterrestrials. 

Just as cooperation between nations on Earth can enable much faster development and prosperity for all, so too could cooperation between civilizations bring us many useful insights and enable us to more easily solve the major problems and conflicts we have created on this beautiful planet.

Efforts in this direction – by each of us and by humanity as a community – can bring us many benefits. These efforts also mean that we are prepared to face the unknown calmly and with an open mind. That we are prepared to let go of our entrenched beliefs and discover new truths about life on this planet and beyond. All of the projects of the Minerva Luminosa Institution work in this direction, the direction of conscious living and the attainment of new insights. Together, we are creating a conscious society of a different future, a future of cooperation and shared growth. 

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Sources

1. Von Däniken, E. (1968). Chariots of the Gods? G.P. Putnam’s Sons.
2. Aveni, A. (2000). Between the Lines: The Mystery of the Giant Ground Drawings of Ancient Nasca, Peru. University of Texas Press.
3. Wikipedia. (link from 15 December 2024). Rock Drawings in Valcamonia, “The astronauts” from ca. 1000 BC. 
4. The Ancient Connection. (link from 15 December 2024). Tassili n’Ajjer
5. Chasan, A. (2023). The story behind the “Tic Tac” UFO sighting by Navy pilots in 2004, CBS News
6. Space.com. (link from 15 December 2024). ‘Fleet of UFOs’ Followed US Aircraft, Navy Pilot Says
7. Levengood, W.C., & Talbott, N.P. (1999). Dispersion of energies in worldwide crop formations. Physiologia Plantarum.
8. Gazecki, W. (2002; link from 15 December 2024). Crop Circles: Quest for Truth. 
9. Greer, S.M. (2001). Disclosure: Military and Government Witnesses Reveal the Greatest Secrets in Modern History. Crossing Point.
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17. CNES – GEIPAN (link from 15 December 2024). GEIPAN’s mission
18. BBC. (2011; link from 15 December 2024). Ministry of Defence files on UFO sightings released
19. USA Today. Lagatta, E. (13 November 2024). Congress heard more testimony about UFOs: Here are the biggest revelations
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21. Grusch, D. C. (26 July, 2023). Opening Statement before the House Oversight Committee.
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