Are we entering a "Dark Age of Science?" Recent controversies involving phenomena in our universe that include the ongoing debate over dark matter and dark energy, as well as the existence of what some astronomers call "dark comets", have led to controversy about our perspectives on the cosmos... but to what end? Further, are recent cultural and societal events in the world spelling doom for science, including efforts to determine whether we're alone in the universe?  Joining us this week on The Micah Hanks Program is Avi Loeb, the Frank B. Baird Jr. Professor of Science at Harvard University, where since 2007 he has been Director of the Institute for Theory and Computation at the Center for Astrophysics. He is founder of The Galileo Project, and author of books that include Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth and Interstellar: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars. Avi joins us to discuss his latest work, the search for ET, scientific dogma, and much more.  Have you had a UFO/UAP sighting? Please consider reporting your sighting to the UAP Sightings Reporting System, a public resource for information about sightings of aerial phenomena. The story doesn't end here... become an X Subscriber and get access to even more weekly content and monthly specials. Want to advertise/sponsor The Micah Hanks Program? We have partnered with the AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. If you would like to advertise with The Micah Hanks Program, all you have to do is click the link below to get started: AdvertiseCast: Advertise with The Micah Hanks Program Show Notes Below are links to stories and other content featured in this episode: NEWS: Introducing the 'Woolly Mouse': Colossal Unveils Latest Breakthrough in De-Extinction Technology   Rodent for dinner? US residents encouraged to eat invasive nutria STAND UP FOR SCIENCE: Official Website for “Stand Up for Science”  SCU CONFERENCE: 2025 SCU Conference  AVI LOEB: Avi Loeb | Department of Astronomy  DARK AGES: The Dark Age of Science. Names do not constitute knowledge COMMENTARIES: Avi Loeb’s Essays on Medium  BOOKS: Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth Interstellar: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life and Our Future in the Stars TEXTS: How Did the First Stars and Galaxies Form? The First Galaxies in the Universe Life In The Cosmos: From Biosignatures To Technosignatures BECOME AN X SUBSCRIBER AND GET EVEN MORE GREAT PODCASTS AND MONTHLY SPECIALS FROM MICAH HANKS. Sign up today and get access to the entire back catalog of The Micah Hanks Program, as well as “classic” episodes, weekly “additional editions” of the subscriber-only X Podcast, the monthly Enigmas specials, and much more. Like us on Facebook Follow @MicahHanks on X. Keep up with Micah and his work at micahhanks.com.

In late 2019, residents of Colorado and Nebraska were perplexed by a sudden wave of mystery drone sightings that, to date, remain unexplained. The bizarre incidents led to widespread concern among locals in many rural midwestern communities, which bore an undeniable similarity to recent sightings of mystery drones in the skies over New Jersey that captivated the nation. Joining us this week on The Micah Hanks Program is Gabe Lenners, a television and radio host, journalist, podcaster, and host of the new podcast OBSCURUM, which dives into the heart of the 2019 Colorado drone mystery. Lenners discusses his in-depth investigation into the mystery drone incidents, and the perplexing twists that emerged in the case that included strange sightings by locals, alleged animal mutilations, and mysterious individuals who may have been connected to the mystery. Have you had a UFO/UAP sighting? Please consider reporting your sighting to the UAP Sightings Reporting System, a public resource for information about sightings of aerial phenomena. The story doesn't end here... become an X Subscriber and get access to even more weekly content and monthly specials. Want to advertise/sponsor The Micah Hanks Program? We have partnered with the AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. If you would like to advertise with The Micah Hanks Program, all you have to do is click the link below to get started: AdvertiseCast: Advertise with The Micah Hanks Program Show Notes Below are links to stories and other content featured in this episode: NEWS: Ukraine Mineral Deal Is in Peril After Trump-Zelensky Meeting: What We Know Musk “thinks he would know” it there were secret UAP programs and tech OBSCURUM: Season 1: Invasion of the Drones  Gabe Lenners: Official Website BECOME AN X SUBSCRIBER AND GET EVEN MORE GREAT PODCASTS AND MONTHLY SPECIALS FROM MICAH HANKS. Sign up today and get access to the entire back catalog of The Micah Hanks Program, as well as “classic” episodes, weekly “additional editions” of the subscriber-only X Podcast, the monthly Enigmas specials, and much more. Like us on Facebook Follow @MicahHanks on X. Keep up with Micah and his work at micahhanks.com.

Jacques Vallée, an eminent astronomer, computer scientist, and internet pioneer, dives deep into the realm of unidentified aerial phenomena. He shares insights from his latest journal, discussing the U.S. government's alleged UAP technologies and the complexities of the 'Meta-system' surrounding these mysteries. Vallée emphasizes the crucial role of personal narratives in understanding these phenomena and explores intriguing connections between science fiction and real-world experiences, pushing the boundaries of conventional scientific inquiry.

Dive into the world of UFOs where belief intertwines with politics and religion. Explore how historical theories mirror today's UAP discourses, questioning who controls the narrative. Delve into global tensions, with a spotlight on Ukraine and its ecological implications. Discover the plight of marine life facing drastic declines due to human actions, and the call for urgent conservation. Uncover innovations in food production and space exploration, while examining the intricacies of deception that surround UFO phenomena and the rise of potential new belief systems.

Florida Representative Anna Paulina Luna, an advocate for government transparency, discusses the newly formed Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets. The task force aims to investigate high-profile cases like the JFK and MLK assassinations, as well as UAPs and the COVID-19 response. Luna emphasizes the importance of bipartisan support for transparency and public trust. Listeners are challenged to consider how the revelations could reshape our understanding of these pivotal events in American history.

Bruce Maccabee, an optical physicist and UFO researcher, sheds light on the FBI's secretive UFO investigations. He discusses how he accessed UAP files via the Freedom of Information Act, revealing a treasure trove of historical data. The conversation dives into the potential impact of recent FBI personnel changes and the implications for public curiosity about UFOs. Maccabee also connects past incidents, like the Roswell affair, to current societal fascination, urging a blend of scientific skepticism and openness in the dialogue around extraterrestrial phenomena.

Claims involving an alleged secret government retrieval program continue to dominate the UAP discussion following the recent airing of an interview with Jacob Barber, a former USAF serviceman who alleges that he participated in a covert government operation that employed "psionics" to assist in summoning UAP. How much, if any, of Barber's claims are legitimate, and can be verified? This week on The Micah Hanks Program, in our continuing analysis of Barber's claims, we look at new details that have come to light in a full-length interview that was released since his story surfaced, which includes Barber's retelling of how he met the controversial UAP disclosure activist Dr. Steven Greer. Where does the new information, including Barber's further beliefs involving Greer's "CE-5 protocol," leave us as far as the legitimacy of the latest alleged whistleblower claims? Have you had a UFO/UAP sighting? Please consider reporting your sighting to the UAP Sightings Reporting System, a public resource for information about sightings of aerial phenomena. The story doesn't end here... become an X Subscriber and get access to even more weekly content and monthly specials. Want to advertise/sponsor The Micah Hanks Program? We have partnered with the AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. If you would like to advertise with The Micah Hanks Program, all you have to do is click the link below to get started: AdvertiseCast: Advertise with The Micah Hanks Program Show Notes Below are links to stories and other content featured in this episode: NEWS: C.I.A. Now Favors Lab Leak Theory to Explain Covid’s Origins Declassification of Records Concerning the Assassinations of President John F. Kennedy JFK assassination experts hopeful, but skeptical about timing of secret files release Chuck Schumer challenges Trump to declassify UFO documents. Experts say it's a good move  Will Donald Trump Declassify UFO Files? What We Know  BARBER INTERVIEW: Full Jacob Barber Interview (via ‘Reality Check’ with Ross Coulthart) “The Truth Has Been Revealed About UFO Whistleblower Jake Barber’s Background”     UFO WATCHDOG: Steven Greer - (Royce Myers, UFO Watchdog Website) BECOME AN X SUBSCRIBER AND GET EVEN MORE GREAT PODCASTS AND MONTHLY SPECIALS FROM MICAH HANKS. Sign up today and get access to the entire back catalog of The Micah Hanks Program, as well as “classic” episodes, weekly “additional editions” of the subscriber-only X Podcast, the monthly Enigmas specials, and much more. Like us on Facebook Follow @MicahHanks on X. Keep up with Micah and his work at micahhanks.com.

A retired Air Force serviceman, Jacob Barber, claims to have been part of a covert program recovering non-human spacecraft. His story raises eyebrows as he discusses alleged 'psionics' used by the U.S. government to summon UAPs. The discussion delves into the intricacies of public perceptions shaped by social media and government secrecy. As Barber's assertions spark both intrigue and skepticism, listeners are invited to reflect on extraordinary claims and the challenges of validating such narratives.

The episode dives into mysterious sightings reported globally, spotlighting the U.S. Department of Defense's investigations into unidentified anomalous phenomena. Recent claims from an alleged insider shed light on secret military technologies linked to these phenomena. A striking account from a former service member details a silent triangular object over Iraq. The discussion also addresses skepticism around government credibility in UFO discourse and highlights the importance of the UAP Sightings Reporting System for public contributions.

As 2025 kicks off, U.S. officials have been on high alert following a pair of New Years Day attacks that occurred in separate American cities only hours apart. One of the incidents, a suicide bombing involving a Tesla Cybertruck outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas, has also become the focus of controversy for reasons few might have predicted: new allegations that the bomber had possessed knowledge of U.S. war crimes, secret propulsion technologies being used by China, and a supposed UAP unacknowledged special access program.  This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we examine the strange allegations that recently surfaced during an appearance by intelligence analyst Sam Shoemate on the podcast of Shawn Ryan. Both Ryan and Shoemate say they received email communications from an individual who identified themselves as Matthew Livelsberger, the same individual's whose body was found at the scene of the Las Vegas incident a short time later. Is there any weight to the shocking allegations, or is there evidence supporting the possibility of an unfortunate hoax?  Have you had a UFO/UAP sighting? Please consider reporting your sighting to the UAP Sightings Reporting System, a public resource for information about sightings of aerial phenomena. The story doesn't end here... become an X Subscriber and get access to even more weekly content and monthly specials. Want to advertise/sponsor The Micah Hanks Program? We have partnered with the AdvertiseCast to handle our advertising/sponsorship requests. If you would like to advertise with The Micah Hanks Program, all you have to do is click the link below to get started: AdvertiseCast: Advertise with The Micah Hanks Program Show Notes Below are links to stories and other content featured in this episode: NEWS: Severe US winter storm could bring heaviest snowfall and coldest temperatures in over a decade NASA Says the Sun Just Released an Extremely Strong Solar Flare  Yellowstone's volcanic activity is shifting to the northeast, geologists find  A Modest Theory About Those Drones Over New Jersey LAS VEGAS INCIDENT: Army Green Beret behind Las Vegas Cybertruck attack wrote New Year's Eve letter signaling mental health crisis Motive remains elusive in Las Vegas Cybertruck explosion SHAWN RYAN CLAIMS: Podcaster 'Disappearing' After Matthew Livelsberger Alleged Manifesto Shown Sean Ryan statement on X Ryan McBeth calls out Sam Shoemate for hoaxing the email  FLASHBACK: McBeth has alleged Shoemate has done this before, likens it to “Russian Disinformation” Shoemate pushes back on McBeth  OTHERS RESPOND: X User “Bone” points out potential hoax, says Shoemate is “former CIA” GREEN BERET NAP TIME: GBNT Calls for "Immediate Response" from Sean Ryan  Posting from Green Beret Nap Time account asking for Sam to show the original messages OTHERS??? Shawn Ryan claims he received emails from the same account on Dec 31st Update from Ryan claiming others were contacted by Liversberger APOLOGY? Shawn Ryan Podcast Guest Apologizes After Matthew Livelsberger Episode BECOME AN X SUBSCRIBER AND GET EVEN MORE GREAT PODCASTS AND MONTHLY SPECIALS FROM MICAH HANKS. Sign up today and get access to the entire back catalog of The Micah Hanks Program, as well as “classic” episodes, weekly “additional editions” of the subscriber-only X Podcast, the monthly Enigmas specials, and much more. Like us on Facebook Follow @MicahHanks on X. Keep up with Micah and his work at micahhanks.com.