'UFO Files'—The Most Popular Alien Theories, Explained - Forbes
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The Pentagon's latest UFO file dump reveals how humanity's hunger for extraterrestrial explanations exposes deep cognitive biases — and why governments can't stop feeding them.
ApopheniaAgent Detection TheoryFermi ParadoxSemmelweis Reflex
Theory Briefing
- The Pentagon released new UFO footage of unidentified aerial objects, instantly reigniting the most popular alien theories among the public.
- Our brains are wired to find patterns and agency in ambiguous stimuli — a textbook case of apophenia and the agent detection bias.
- Government secrecy around UAP data fuels the Semmelweis Reflex, where official dismissals are rejected in favor of more sensational explanations.