Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena-From Sensationalism to Science
The NASA Panel's Investigations and Report
Joshua Semeter
Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Boston University
Sponsored by PSW Science Member Michael Sandifer
About the Lecture
In 2017, the New York Times published a report featuring video footage captured by Navy aviators depicting airborne objects surrounded by a glowing aura that appeared to exhibit extraordinary flight characteristics, despite lacking any visible means of propulsion. The videos and pilot testimonies initiated a new wave of public and scientific interest in Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP). In 2022, NASA commissioned a team of 15 experts to bring transparency and scientific rigor to UAP investigations. A critical finding in their report was the inadequacy of existing data, which has allowed sensationalized narratives to flourish in popular media.
This lecture will review the activities and outcomes of the NASA UAP study team before moving beyond their findings to offer a technical analysis of several notable UAP cases. Two key factors must be addressed before drawing conclusions from observational evidence. First the role of the sensor in shaping an object’s appearance must be fully characterized; that is, formally, the sensor’s “instrument function” has to be understood. Second, geometric effects that can distort perceptions of motion and distance have to be accounted for. Of particular significance is the parallax effect, where movement of the observing platform can create the illusion of rapid, or even unphysical, motion.
The lecture will conclude with some reflections on the scientific method, advocating for a disciplined, data-driven approach when confronted with the unknown. Beyond the equations and analysis lies the essence of true discovery – where skepticism sharpens our questions, and wonder keeps us searching for answers.
Selected Reading & Media References
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heres-what-i-learned-as-the-u-s-governments-ufo-hunter/
NASA UAP Report: https://science.nasa.gov/uap
About the Speaker
Josh Semeter is a Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, and Director of the Boston University Center for Space Physics (CSP). He was a member of the NASA UAP Independent Study Team: a group of 15 experts from diverse backgrounds and institutions, charged with bringing transparency and scientific rigor to UAP investigations (the subject of this lecture). And he recently served on the National Academy of Sciences steering committee that led the development of the 2024-2033 Decadal Survey for Solar and Space Physics. Before joining the faculty at BU he was a Senior Research Engineer at SRI International, and he worked as a research scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Extraterrestrial Physics.
Josh’s research has focused on exotic plasma phenomena in the near-space environment driven by interactions between the solar wind, the magnetosphere, and the ionosphere. His approach has been to synthesize measurements captured by ground-based and space-based instrument networks, which are connected using physics-based and data-driven modeling. A particular interest has been micro-scale plasma processes that require inferential techniques to study. He enjoys cultivating natural synergies among astronomers, astrophysicists, and engineers to better understand the origin and fate of our stellar-planetary system.
Josh is the author of over 100 technical papers and has given numerous invited talks and seminars on his work.
He earned a BS degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and an MS and PhD degree at Boston University.
Webpage: Semeter Lab
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-semeter-8165946/