Here’s an alphabetic list of important terms related to alien and UFO phenomena, along with their descriptions:
A
- Abduction: The act of allegedly being taken aboard a UFO by extraterrestrial beings, often involving experiments, medical procedures, or interactions. Many abduction accounts report a loss of time and vivid memories of strange beings or environments.
- Alien: A being from a planet or civilization outside of Earth. Typically depicted as non-human, extraterrestrial life forms can range from humanoid creatures to entirely different biological structures.
- Area 51: A highly secretive U.S. military facility in Nevada, often associated with UFO and extraterrestrial conspiracy theories. Many believe it to be the site of UFO research and government cover-ups regarding alien encounters.
B
- Black-eyed Beings: A type of alleged extraterrestrial or supernatural being described as humanoid with completely black eyes, often associated with paranormal encounters or alien abductions.
- Bermuda Triangle: A region in the North Atlantic Ocean where ships and aircraft have reportedly disappeared under mysterious circumstances, often linked to theories involving UFOs or extraterrestrial interference.
C
- Close Encounter: A term used to categorize human interactions with UFOs or extraterrestrial entities, ranging from simple sightings (First Kind) to direct interaction (Seventh Kind).
- Cattle Mutilations: A phenomenon in which livestock, usually cattle, are found mutilated under strange and unexplained circumstances. The cuts are often surgical, with no blood at the scene. These occurrences are sometimes linked to UFO sightings.
- Crop Circles: Geometric patterns created in fields, typically in crops like wheat or corn. Some believe they are created by extraterrestrial beings or UFOs, though many have been shown to be man-made hoaxes.
D
- Dimensional Beings: Entities or aliens believed to come from alternate dimensions rather than distant planets. These beings are theorized to exist in parallel universes or other dimensions beyond the known physical world.
- Disclosure: The process of governments or organizations releasing classified information about UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and related phenomena. Advocates for UFO disclosure argue that governments are hiding the truth about alien contact.
E
- Extraterrestrial: Any form of life that exists outside of Earth, commonly associated with intelligent beings from other planets or galaxies. The term can also refer to physical objects like UFOs.
- ET (Extraterrestrial): A shorthand term for extraterrestrial beings or life forms.
F
- Flying Saucer: A popular term for a UFO, often described as a disk-shaped or saucer-shaped craft seen in the sky. The term became widely used after the 1947 Roswell incident.
- Foo Fighters: Unexplained aerial phenomena reported by World War II pilots. The term “foo fighters” was used to describe strange lights or objects that appeared near military aircraft during combat.
G
- Greys: A type of alien often described as short, with grey skin, large black eyes, and a small mouth and nose. The “greys” are one of the most commonly depicted extraterrestrial types in popular UFO and abduction stories.
- Government Cover-Up: The belief or theory that governments, especially the U.S. government, are hiding information related to UFO sightings, alien encounters, and extraterrestrial life.
H
- Hypnotic Regression: A technique used to help people recall repressed memories, often used in UFO and abduction research to uncover hidden experiences related to alien encounters.
I
- Interdimensional Beings: Theories that suggest some UFOs and alien beings may not be from outer space but from other dimensions or parallel universes.
- Implants: Small devices that alleged abductees claim to have found in their bodies after an abduction event. These implants are often thought to be used for tracking or experimentation by extraterrestrials.
J
- J. Allen Hynek: An astronomer and UFO researcher who developed the “Close Encounter” classification system. Hynek initially worked with the U.S. Air Force’s Project Blue Book but later became a major advocate for UFO research.
L
- Ley Lines: Hypothetical alignments of ancient sites and natural landmarks that some believe are connected to UFOs or extraterrestrial activity. Some theories suggest UFOs travel along these lines.
M
- Men in Black (MIB): Mysterious individuals, often described as government agents, who reportedly visit people who have witnessed UFOs or aliens. MIB are said to intimidate witnesses to prevent them from talking about their experiences.
- MUFON (Mutual UFO Network): A large civilian UFO research organization that collects and investigates UFO reports from around the world. MUFON is one of the most well-known groups studying UFO phenomena.
N
- NDE (Near-Death Experience): Some people who have had NDEs report encounters with extraterrestrial beings or otherworldly experiences. These experiences are sometimes linked to ideas of alien abductions or interdimensional contact.
- Nibiru: A hypothetical planet, often associated with doomsday theories, that is said to pass close to Earth. Some theories connect Nibiru with extraterrestrial beings and UFO sightings.
O
- Orbs: Spherical lights or objects often seen during UFO sightings. These orbs are sometimes linked to alien spacecraft or energy phenomena associated with extraterrestrial activity.
- Out-of-Body Experience (OBE): Some people report OBEs during UFO encounters or abductions, describing an experience where their consciousness leaves their physical body. These experiences are sometimes linked to alien contact or interaction.
P
- Pleiadians: A group of extraterrestrials that are said to come from the Pleiades star cluster. They are often described as benevolent, humanoid beings who wish to help humanity evolve.
- Project Blue Book: A U.S. Air Force program that investigated UFO sightings and encounters from 1952 to 1969. The project concluded that most sightings were explainable, but some remain unexplained.
- Prison Planet: A theory that Earth was once a prison planet for extraterrestrial beings or that humanity is somehow being controlled by alien forces.
R
- Roswell Incident: A famous UFO event in 1947 near Roswell, New Mexico, where an object crashed, leading to widespread speculation about a UFO crash and government cover-up. It remains one of the most well-known alien-related incidents in UFO lore.
- Reptilians: A type of alien commonly described as reptilian in appearance. Some conspiracy theories claim that reptilian beings have infiltrated human society and control world events.
S
- SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence): A scientific effort to detect signs of intelligent extraterrestrial life, typically by listening for radio signals or other communications from other civilizations.
- Saucers: Another term for flying saucers, UFOs characterized by their disc-shaped appearance.
T
- Triangular UFOs: A type of UFO often described as having a triangular shape, with lights at each corner. These are sometimes associated with secret military craft or extraterrestrial craft.
- The Phoenix Lights: A widely reported UFO sighting in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1997, where thousands of people saw a massive V-shaped formation of lights in the sky. This event is one of the most famous UFO sightings in history.
U
- UFO (Unidentified Flying Object): Any aerial phenomenon that cannot be identified by the observer. UFOs are often linked to extraterrestrial or paranormal phenomena but can also have conventional explanations.
- UFOlogy: The study of UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena, often pursued by civilian researchers. UFOlogy covers everything from sightings and encounters to government cover-ups and alien abductions.
V
- Varginha Incident: A reported UFO and alien encounter that occurred in 1996 in Varginha, Brazil, involving sightings of strange creatures and a possible UFO crash. It remains one of the most famous UFO incidents in South America.
- Vortex: A phenomenon often associated with UFOs, where mysterious or inexplicable energy fields or electromagnetic anomalies are said to occur. Some believe UFOs travel through these vortices.
W
- Whitley Strieber: An author who claimed to have been abducted by aliens. His book Communion became a popular account of the alien abduction phenomenon, which helped to shape the modern narrative of alien encounters.
Z
- Zeta Reticuli: A star system often associated with the “greys” in UFO lore. According to some alien abduction stories, the greys are from Zeta Reticuli, and this system is believed to be one of the closest to Earth where intelligent life may exist.
This list provides an overview of key terms related to UFOs and alien phenomena, encompassing a range of topics from sightings and encounters to theories and specific incidents.
