William G. Pullin

Greetings. Why is a data-driven, skeptical, dispassionate approach to the UFO problem viewed in such a negative light by some in the UFO subculture?  Why does the application of the scientific method garner such consistent pushback from some in the UFO subculture? While there have been some historical examples of credentialed scientists taking a look at the UFO problem, such occurrences are relatively rare, and certainly not the norm. The UFO phenomenon and its attached subculture, have always been viewed in a negative light by the greater scientific research community. The fault for some of that reasoning lies squarely at the feet of the UFO subculture itself, with its tinfoil hat, costume wearing adherents, and its penchant for embracing the "woo" and other beliefs and mythologies that are "grounded" in faith and not supported by any irrefutable evidence whatsoever.  Has the situation changed to any substantial degree over the decades? I believe it has, but only b...

Greetings. Why be skeptical? Let me explain.  The scientific method is applied in the effort to examine a wide range of topics, problems, and unknowns. The collection of physical, tangible, falsifiable proof and evidence is an essential part of that endeavor, an absolutely essential aspect. When a topic or problem is examined despite a wanting of such evidence, any and all subsequent investigative efforts must be called into question, at the very least to keep the focus of the aforementioned examinations clear, honest, and transparent. Without physical evidence to follow, such efforts end up meandering in a barren desert of opinion and/or subjective belief structures, usually nonsensical and often biased strongly towards the woo. The so-called "Dave Scott Zone." The investigation of the UFO problem is a unique exception, one that is often overlooked by many within the confines of the field, including archivists, researchers, and field investigators. While many people have mai...

Greetings. The Internet has presented a platform for the public, at least those who are not residents of authoritarian dictatorships, to seek out, spread, and promote information, all at the push of a button. Unfortunately, despite what far too many people seem to think, not everything on the Internet is true. It should go without saying, but in today's society, where many believe that humans lived alongside non-avian dinosaurs, that the Earth is flat, that the Apollo Moon landings were faked, and that the Sun orbits the Earth, people have to be constantly reminded.  As it applies to the UFO problem, the spreading of false information and the prevalence of belief structures based on such erroneous content has resulted in an embarrassing and disconcerting situation. People believe things that are simply untrue, and worse yet, some who have public platforms on social media (X, Reddit, Facebook, YouTube, etc....) are using their podiums to make uninformed statements about historical c...

Greetings. Does extraterrestrial life exist? I believe so. Do advanced extraterrestrial civilizations exist? I believe so. Are those same extraterrestrial civilizations exploring outer space? I believe so. What would the discovery of an alien civilization look like? Let's speculate.  A crew of alien astronauts are surveying the area around their home solar system, taking careful note of every star, every planet, every moon, every asteroid, all in an effort to learn about their local surroundings. Some solar systems are void of life, but rich in natural resources, while other systems do have life forms on some of their planetary bodies. The explorers continue their extraterrestrial survey, pushing further out from their home planet.  Eventually our alien crew comes across a system that has multiple bodies harboring life forms, a couple of planets and several moons. One planet has a thriving ecosystem, but is not possessing of a highly advanced civilization. The other bodies har...