UFOs: A Scientist Explains What We Know

by Robert Powell

Robert Powell, a founding Board member of the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies, has studied the UFO subject for 17 years. His work is encapsulated in A Scientist Explains What We Know (And Don’t Know) which provides a scientific rationale for the reality of non-terrestrial craft that are intelligently controlled. Powell begins his book by familiarizing the reader with the history of UFOs and he identifies the more enigmatic and interesting UFO sightings. He examines the characteristics of these sightings that argue against a prosaic extreme acceleration, electromagnetic interference, bending light, no obvious propulsion mechanisms, and a lack of interaction with the atmosphere. Powell discusses the recent events that have caused our government to change the term from UFO to UAP. Included is information never before released indicating the government possesses not just two videos but five videos from 2015 of UFOs operating in the vicinity of the USS Roosevelt nuclear aircraft carrier.

Powell’s later chapters in the book discuss the extraterrestrial hypothesis considering the thousands of exoplanets that have been discovered in the last twenty years. Powell challenges the reader to consider all the implications that must be considered if intelligent life discovers us first. He looks at how we as individuals and as a society react to UFOs. He documents actions taken by our military that include instances when we have fired on UFOs. Powell argues that it is time for a change in the study of UFOs. The phenomenon has been with us for 75 years and we have learned very little as the decades have passed. The author makes the case for what needs to be done going forward. The solution he proposes will require a paradigm shift in our thinking and his book provides the information needed to understand that paradigm shift.

Genres: Nonfiction

222 pages, Hardcover

Published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Kay Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you don't want to learn then this book is not for you. Powell has delved deeply for this one and comprehensively explains and elaborates on all aspects of UFO sightings, encounters, and even hypothesis on who, where, and how. This was by no means boring, but it's dense with scientific information which is a welcomed and fresh addition to whay already exists on UFOs.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at the investigation of UFOs and interlaced with some good stories. I found parts of the book to be slow and tedious though. But for the most part, UFO enthusiasts will enjoy the read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to both NetGalley and the publisher Rowman & Littlefield Publishers for an advance copy of this book on looks at unexplained phenomena with the eyes of a veteran scientist, along with a ideas on how to make these investigations more useful and science based.

As a guy who loves science fiction, of course I believe there is life on other planets. As a guy who reads a lot of books, these life forms might not be anything we would consider life, nor be tooling around the galaxy and messing with species that lack their technology. Such as all the cases of zooming by planes, floating over army bases all over the world. Kidnapping people, and mutilating cattle also seem odd to travel trillions of miles to do. However our government has done weirder things to us. And conservationists are always moving species around to keep it out of human way, or to grow stronger. Tranquilizing a bear and moving it might not be that different from probing a human to something not of this Earth. Unfortunately a lot of studies into alien phenomena are not as credible as one would like. For those who seek the truth, there are alot of conspiracy books, written by grifters or just oddities looking for attention or bring their manifestos to the public. UFOs: A Scientist Explains What We Know (And Don’t Know) by Robert Powell is a serious look at what is happening in our skies, a history of encounters, the science involved, and ideas and thoughts about making these investigations more reality based.

Robert Powell had a long career in the scientific and business world, owner of a few patents and helped to develop many of the microprocessors we use today. Powell, though, had always had an interest in UFO's starting in his childhood, and after retirement joined on the largest volunteer groups investing UFO's MUFON the Mutual UFO Networks as Director of Research. Later Powell formed another group the Scientific Coalition for Unexplained Aerial Phenomena Studies. In this book Powell begins at the beginning looking at UFO's in the distant past, the rise of the giant balloon sightings that happened all over the west, the "foo fighters" that appeared in World War II, and the mass of UFO sightings that began as the Cold War was starting to heat up, and continue to this day. Powell looks at government groups, sightings, and goes in the science involved both in the investigations, and the technology the ships might have. Powell also looks at the future of investigations looking at how things can be changed to a more fact based investigation, and what surprises might be released soon.

A book that is not large, but really is weighty in both the science covered, the ideas offered and the history. Powell is a very good writer, one that is able to make complex science writing interesting, and understandable. Powell covers a lot of the history, at least in the United States about UFO"s the confusion in government from what they were seeing on their own radars, the pressure they were getting for answers, and how not liking the answers, kind of pushed it away. Powell looks at some investigations pointing out where things went right and wrong. and how these can be fixed to make them more credible. As I stated a lot is going on in this book, which raises a lot of questions and quite a few possible scenarios.

Recommended for Ufologists as this book is so their jam. There is a lot of interesting information and lots of ideas that many fans of aliens and why they are on Earth will find interesting. Also science fiction readers will like this book as it offers a lot of ideas and science that can be included in their own works.

[William Williford · Rating 3 out of 5]

A practical compromise between a priori and a posteriori approaches to the UFO delima

I enjoyed reading this book because it was grounded in logic while reviewing a topic surrounding by controversy at best and conspiracy at worst.

The author provided an above average historical summary of the key events/cases within the cultural context of the time period to set the stage for his central thesis on who should take on the primary research responsibility, and how they should go about the data collection process (including what instruments to use and how to deploy them).

The limitations (mission and motivation) of continuing to solely rely on the Government (military) as the principal investigator was clear and compelling. What was missing was the argument why the Government would voluntarily cede responsibility for uncovering the “truth” to civilian academia given their national security (technology secrets) interests.

[Lamont S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Important Contribution to 21st Century Ufology

Having become immersed in this subject over the past 3 years or so, I was uncertain that a new book could be written that would deliver fresh insights into the UFO question along with numerous fascinating cases in which I was previously unfamiliar. Nevertheless, Robert Powell, former director of the Mutual UFO Network, accomplished both. The discussion of the Project Blue Book cases where UFOs provided very specific interactions (IFF codes) with radar systems I found to be of particular interest. This is required reading for anybody wanting to view the UFO/UAP phenomenon from a scientific angle.

[Sharon Zink · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very good book. The author did his best to keep things objective. He reported on the most important UAP sightings and the government's attitude toward them. My favorite chapter was the second to last one, where it tells what should be done by scientists, the government, and the common person in response to the UAP phenomenon. It was not the most interesting chapter. I enjoyed most the descriptions of UAP sightings.

[Dr. James Ashman CEng MIMechE CPhys MInstP · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this work. The author was incredibly fair and opened minded about the UAP question, but also attempted to apply as must mainstream science to the phenomenon as possible. He didn't say outright that the UAP issue was definitely NHI, but he propose a compelling argument. I was pleasantly surprised with this one, as I only bought it randomly on a whim, but I would definitely recommend. I will look out for more of the author's work in future.

[George Kanakaris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent well written historical and objective compendium.