Archive images from the Apollo 17 mission to the moon. The yellow box contains a zoomed-in area of the original photo, showing three lights above the lunar terrain.
US Department of Defense
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has unveiled a significant trove of files concerning UFOs. These files include images and previously classified government documents and communications.
“These secret files have long fueled speculation about extraterrestrial life, but now is the time for the American people to see for themselves,” stated Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. You can view the files on the government website.
The released images, primarily captured by U.S. military personnel, depict small dots and indistinct shapes in the sky. More intriguing are the hundreds of pages of documentation related to UFOs, also referred to as unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs), from various government branches, including the FBI and Air Force.
Many of these documents consist of exchanges between the government and concerned citizens. They feature pamphlets from organizations such as the American Federation of Flying Saucer Clubs and requests from children directed to FBI Directors, especially J. Edgar Hoover, for help with school projects.
Letters from UFO enthusiasts, spanning decades from the 1940s to today, express a shared belief that UFO sightings are increasing and that government transparency is lacking, often leading to fears of persecution for expressing these views.
Infrared still image taken of an unidentified object over the western United States in December 2025
US Department of Defense
Response letters and internal government communications reveal that while thousands of UFO sighting reports are investigated, there is typically no evidence suggesting extraterrestrial origins. This aligns with the findings from NASA’s 2023 Task Force on UAPs, which indicated that most reports can be attributed to conventional aircraft or atmospheric phenomena, leaving a few cases unresolved due to poor image quality.
Among the most controversial files are documents related to NASA missions like Gemini 7, Apollo 12, and Apollo 17, where astronauts reported seeing bright lights in space that remain unexplained. Most of these sightings have been attributed to micrometeorite impacts or camera malfunctions; however, a few instances still lack clear explanations.
In response to these unresolved cases, the Pentagon is initiating a fresh investigation, following directives from the Trump administration to enhance transparency regarding UAP incidents. The website indicates this is only the beginning of a series of document releases expected regularly.
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Source: www.newscientist.com
