Time and again, humans’ interest in the unknown has given rise to theories — while some became religion, others were termed a conspiracy.
The recent sightings of mysterious objects in the New Jersey sky has stroked the human imagination again creating a buzz about the existence of UFOs and aliens.
The conspiracy theories got more fuel after a video surfaced, seemingly showing unusual flying objects in the sky along the New Jersey coast, as YouTuber CJ Faison set out on a boat mission to track down drones.
Known for covering paranormal activity and haunted houses to his 6,00,000 followers, Faison became intrigued by reports of unidentified drones exhibiting strange patterns and movements around the state.
But Faison is not the only one to be exploring the paradigms beyond Earthly realms, there have been legends and stories from history that suggest the same.
Great Moon hoax
The Great Moon Hoax refers to a series of fabricated articles published in a newspaper, in 1835.
The articles, which were presented as factual reports, claimed that astronomer John Herschel had made a groundbreaking discovery using a powerful telescope on the island of Mauritius.
According to the stories, Herschel had observed life on the Moon, including humanoid creatures, bat-like winged beings, and strange landscapes with forests and oceans.
Later, Herschel said that the stories were fake.
‘Flying saucer’ or the Roswell incident
The Roswell UFO incident began on June 24, 1947, when pilot Kenneth Arnold, flying over Washington State’s Cascade Mountains, saw nine crescent-shaped objects moving in formation at an unimaginable speed of 1,900 km/h.
Arnold described their movement as “like a saucer would if you skipped it over water,” leading the media to coin the term “flying saucer.”
Later, the US military initially reported a “flying disc” crash but then claimed it was a weather balloon, sparking widespread conspiracy theories.
Many believe the crash involved extraterrestrial beings and that the government recovered alien bodies, though no conclusive evidence has ever surfaced.
The Phoenix Lights
In March 1997, thousands of people in Phoenix, Arizona, reported seeing a massive V-shaped formation of lights moving silently across the sky.
While the US military later said that the lights were flares dropped during a training exercise, many witnesses insisted that they had seen something far more unusual, leading to widespread speculation that it was a UFO sighting.
The Betty and Barney Hill abduction
One of the first widely publicized UFO abduction stories, the Betty and Barney Hill case involved a married couple who claimed to have been abducted by extraterrestrials while driving through New Hampshire.
The Hills reported being taken aboard a UFO, where they were subjected to medical examinations.
Under hypnosis, both Betty and Barney gave detailed accounts of their experiences, which sparked intense interest in alien abduction stories and UFO lore.
The Rendlesham forest incident
Often referred to as “Britain’s Roswell,” the Rendlesham Forest Incident occurred in December 1980 near RAF Woodbridge in Suffolk, England.
US Air Force personnel reported seeing strange lights and a metallic triangular craft in the forest. Some even claimed to have encountered beings near the craft.
The event remains one of the most famous UFO sightings in the UK, with many witnesses still speaking out about their experiences.
The Mothman Prophecies
The Mothman is a cryptid that was reportedly seen in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, in the 1960s.
Described as a large, humanoid figure with wings and glowing red eyes, the creature was linked to UFO sightings and strange occurrences in the area, including the tragic collapse of the Silver Bridge in 1967.
Some theorists suggest that the Mothman may have been an alien or extraterrestrial being, though its origins remain a mystery.
The Allagash abductions
In August 1976, four men on a camping trip in Allagash, Maine, reported seeing a bright light in the sky. Later, under hypnosis, they claimed to have been abducted by aliens, who conducted medical experiments on them.
The Allagash case is considered one of the most significant abduction stories, with the men providing similar, consistent details of their experiences.
The Flatwoods monster
In September 1952, a group of people in Flatwoods, West Virginia, reported seeing a strange creature after witnessing a bright light in the sky.
The creature was described as a tall, humanoid figure with a spade-shaped head, glowing eyes, and a metallic suit.
Some believe it was an extraterrestrial being, while others argue it was a misidentified animal or swamp gas. The creature has since become a part of UFO and cryptid folklore.
The UFO sightings of the Nazca Lines
The Nazca lines, located in the Peruvian desert, are a series of massive geoglyphs that depict animals, plants, and other shapes.
The purpose of the lines remains a mystery, but some UFO theorists believe they were created as landing sites or communication signals for extraterrestrial beings.
UFO sightings in the area have fueled this belief, leading to speculation that ancient civilizations may have had contact with aliens.
