I Spent 2024 Researching UFOs and Here’s What I Found
While researching what I found about UFOs throughout 2024, it became clear that this year marked a transformative period in the study and public discourse of UFOs and UAP. From governmental hearings and academic initiatives to widespread media coverage and civilian sightings, the UFO phenomenon maintained a persistent presence in public consciousness. What set this year apart was not just the quantity of UFO-related events, but the diverse ways in which the topic penetrated mainstream institutions, from university classrooms to Super Bowl commercials.
January
In January 2024, the UFO community’s attention was captured by Jeremy Corbell’s release of the “jellyfish” video — thermal footage reportedly captured over Iraq in 2018 through a forward-looking infrared radar system. While the footage sparked significant debate regarding its authenticity, it set an intriguing tone for UFO discussions in the new year.
February
February brought multiple significant developments in the UFO landscape. The Department of Defense’s Office of Inspector General, led by Inspector General Robert P. Storch, released an unclassified summary revealing significant gaps in the military’s UAP reporting system. His report highlighted the lack of a unified approach across military branches and recommended creating an overarching UAP policy, emphasizing the need for better coordination and transparency in handling these incidents.
Additionally, the 2024 Super Bowl featured an unprecedented number of UFO-themed commercials, with five major brands incorporating UFO themes in their advertising, reaching an estimated audience of 112 million viewers.
March
March was marked by several notable events in the UFO field. Canada’s Sky Project, equivalent to the U.S. AARO office, was announced, though their promised report for Fall 2024 remained pending. The Roswell Police Department unveiled a new patch design featuring UFO elements, embracing the city’s historic connection to UFO phenomena. Additionally, AARO released its Volume 1 report, covering UFO investigations from 1947 to 2022, revealing previously unknown programs like “Kona Blue.”
The month ended with a significant sighting near LaGuardia Airport in New York, where passenger Michelle Reyes captured video footage of a mysterious dark cylindrical object during a commercial flight on March 25th, with multiple passengers reportedly witnessing the incident.
April
April saw attention turn to Peru, where the Ministry of Culture attempted to intervene in a conference about the Nazca bodies, creating tension between researchers and government authorities over the investigation’s legitimacy and control of potential cultural artifacts. The incident highlighted ongoing debates about the nature and origin of these controversial specimens.
May
May featured a significant exchange during a Department of Energy hearing when Representative Anna Paulina Luna questioned Secretary Jennifer Granholm about UFO protocols near nuclear facilities. The Secretary’s nervous response and reference to classified information sparked discussions about the relationship between UFOs and nuclear sites.
July
July brought legal developments when David Grusch, known for his testimony in the 2023 UFO hearing, filed a $2.5 million lawsuit against London County Sheriff Mike Champion regarding the unauthorized release of his psychiatric evaluation information through a FOIA request. This incident raised questions about privacy and credibility in UFO disclosure cases.
August
August marked an educational milestone as multiple academic institutions began offering UFO-related courses. The University of Michigan launched “UFO Scanning the Skies Teach Out,” while Portland Community College offered “From Film to Real Life: UFOs, UAP, Government, and the Media.” Additionally, the Rio Ranch public school system in New Mexico made UFO archives available to students, emphasizing critical thinking in UFO research.
October
October saw the publication of a significant Wall Street Journal report about the Langley Air Force Base incidents, where unidentified objects, labeled as “drones,” were observed for 17 consecutive days in December 2023. Air Force General Mark Kelly described these objects as moving in “constellations” at unusual speeds and altitudes.
November
November proved to be one of the more eventful months for UFO developments in 2024. On November 13th, a significant Congressional hearing featured testimony from a diverse panel including Retried Rear Admiral Tim Gallaudet, former employee of AATIP Luis Elizondo, Journalists Michael Shellenberger , and Ex NASA and Bigelow Aerospace employee Michal Gold. During this hearing, Representative Jared Moskowitz made the striking revelation that panel members were restricted from asking certain questions, highlighting ongoing issues with transparency.
Just two days later, AARO released its Annual Report, an 18-page document detailing the investigation of 1,600 cases. Of these, 49 cases were fully resolved, 243 were recommended for closure, and 444 were deemed to have insufficient data. Most notably, 21 cases remained under active investigation due to their unusual characteristics warranting deeper scientific scrutiny.
The month’s activities culminated in AARO Director Kosloski’s first public appearance before Congress on November 19th, where he delivered a brief seven-minute presentation. The hearing drew particular attention due to the presence of DOD spokesman Susan Gough, who sat directly behind Kosloski during his testimony. His nervous demeanor and controversial explanation of the Aguadilla UFO Incident as mere “parallax” without providing substantiating evidence drew criticism from the UFO research community. Kosloski’s presentation and inability to provide concrete evidence for AARO’s conclusions raised questions about the office’s methodology and transparency in investigating UAP cases.
UFOs in December 2024
December closed the year with increased reports of alleged drone activity across the East Coast, from New Jersey to the Hudson Valley, raising questions about the nature of these sightings and the government’s varying explanations. Notably, December 3rd and 4th were designated as “Alien Invasion Day” by linguistic analyst Clif High, and while no invasion materialized, the timing coincided with an unprecedented surge in reports of unusual aerial phenomena and objects emerging from oceans worldwide.
The month also marked the passing of former President Jimmy Carter, known for his 1969 UFO sighting and subsequent interest in UFO disclosure during his presidency. As President, Carter attempted to investigate UFOs and release information to the public but faced resistance from both NASA and CIA Director George H.W. Bush, suggesting possible limitations to presidential access to UFO data.
As 2024 draws to a close, it’s clear that the UFO/UAP topic has evolved far beyond its historical fringe status to become a serious matter of public interest, scientific inquiry, and national security consideration. The year was characterized by a complex interplay of government disclosure, academic legitimization, media attention, and public engagement. While many questions remain unanswered, 2024 has set a new baseline for how UFO phenomena are discussed, studied, and understood in contemporary society. The developments of this year suggest that the conversation around UFOs is no longer about whether they exist, but rather about what they are and what implications they hold for our future.
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