THE DRAKE EQUATION, THE FERMI PARADOX & THE KARDASHEV SCALE

Thoughts regarding the potential for advanced extraterrestrial civilization range from deeply considered speculation from well regarded scientists to inane comments on internet forums that turn every intelligent back-and-forth into an unfunny joke about how stupid humans are in general or, more specifically, how stupid supporters of the opposition political party are. I'm going to take a closer look at three of the most famous scientific ideas that have developed from the ongoing conversation regarding ET and sprinkle in some of my own lowbrow thoughts on the matter.

The Truth Revealed By The FBI-UFO Memos? Truman Didn't Like J. Edgar Hoover!

Much has been made about the FBI's new online database for searching through certain available documents, particularly as it relates to one 1950 memo regarding a UFO crash sent directly to then FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover. While it's a memo that has been available awhile, its' existence is new to a lot of people and the memo itself is significant and raises a significant question. Why any interest at all from Hoover if there's nothing to UFOs?

HUMANS & ALIENS: THEIR CONQUEST OF FLIGHT

Man probably wanted to fly as soon as he first saw birds in flight. The Greek mythological tale of Icarus and Daedalus, which may have been first told as many as three thousand years ago, evidences this long standing dream. It also provides some evidence as to how man first thought he might accomplish this task . . . by constructing wings of a design similar to those of birds, strapping them on and taking off.

The idea of copying birds, something men obviously knew could fly, clearly didn't die with Icarus. Man's early attempts at powered flight often followed the same logic and, not infrequently, followed with the same fatal results.

Area 51 Founder's UFO Sightings

Clarence "Kelly" Johnson was a pioneer in aeronautical engineering and aircraft design and was the visionary behind planes like the X-104 Starfighter and the Blackbird family, which includes the SR-71. He was the first team leader at the famous Lockheed Skunk Works and personally scouted and picked the location for and initiated construction of the airbase at Groom Lake, NV, better known as Area 51.

He also witnessed UFOs with otherworldly capabilities on two occasions and wrote in his official report on his 1953 sighting, "For at least five years I have definitely believed in the possibility that flying saucers exist — this in spite of a good deal of kidding from my technical associates. Having seen this particular object on December 16th, I am now more firmly convinced than ever that such devices exist, and I have some highly technical converts in this belief as of that date."

Roswell, D-Day And The Titanium Industry

The Roswell crash of early July, 1947 is the best known of all UFO cases. Something fell out of the sky in southeastern New Mexico, no one denies that. Was it an occupied alien spacecraft as many UFO advocates claim or was it a MOGUL balloon outfitted with specialized atmospheric equipment sent aloft as part of a top secret project to monitor the air for evidence of Soviet nuclear weapons testing?

How The Socorro UFO Hoaxers Did It!

The 1964 UFO "landing" in Socorro, NM has been one of the most famous UFO cases for almost a half century now and should remain so for as long as curious people continue to earnestly investigate the possibility that Earth has been visited by extraterrestrials. I believe that this case was a prank pulled off by New Mexico Institute of Mining And Technology students based on three reasons:

1. Anthony Bragalia's research. Part One Part Two Part Three
2. The geography of the landing site. Perfect for pulling off such an illusion.
3. Lonnie Zamora's detailed Blue Book account.

LINUS PAULING: THE TWO TIME NOBEL WINNER'S HUNT FOR UFOS

Linus Pauling was one of the greatest men who ever lived. He was a chemist, professor, best-selling author and both a peace and health activist. He was a pioneer in the fields of quantum chemistry and orthomolecular medicine and Francis Crick, the co-discoverer of DNA, called him "the father of molecular biology." He is among the most important scientists in any field in any century. He also developed a fascination for UFOs and the possibility of alien visitation.

ASTRONAUT DEKE SLAYTON'S AMAZING UFO ENCOUNTER

Deke Slayton was one of the original NASA Mercury Seven astronauts. He served as NASA's Director of Flight Crew Operations for nine years and as the docking module pilot of the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in 1975, which was also the last flight of an Apollo spacecraft.

On December 12, 1951, Slayton had an extraordinary aerial experience while testing out a P-51 Mustang in the skies over Minnesota. He described it in his 1995 autobiography, Deke!:

THE REAL MAJESTIC 12: TRUMAN'S 1952 DC UFO MEETING

The Washington DC UFO Incident is one of the most significant cases ever documented. Sightings from both commercial and military pilots were recorded as well as radar hits from both military and commercial radarscopes, one of which reached 7000 mph. There were multiple events spread out over the last half of July in 1952. The press conference that was held by the Air Force to attempt to explain the event, presided over by General John Samford, was the largest held up to that point since the end of World War II.