The Popularity of UFO Phenomena

UFO sightings are ingrained in public consciousness, particularly in the United States since the late 1940s. This era marked a shift where sightings were attributed to extraterrestrial aircraft rather than natural phenomena or warfare technology, a notion crystallized during events like the Roswell incident. Historian Greg Agigian explains that societal fears of mysterious technologies developed during World War II, such as rockets and atomic bombs, fueled public intrigue around UFOs. As a result, many sightings during this period were initially associated with earthly technology rather than the involvement of aliens.