There are many theories about what these visits by beings from other planets signify. For many people they are nothing, but those who do believe in the existence of UFOs, however, have a variety of ideas about them. One man insists that the visitors are friendly creatures who have been coming to our earth for centuries. Their visits, he says, have been more frequent in recent years because of the development of atomic weapons; they are afraid we will not only do away with ourselves but will be a threat to their planets as well. Interest in UFOs rises and falls. In 1966 the US Air Force authorised a group of scientists to make an investigation. Three years later they presented a report which analysed 91 UFO cases. Two-thirds of these cases were identified as known objects, natural phenomena or products of imagination. For one-third of the cases, however, no explanation could be given. The scientists said that not enough information was available to make definite conclusions. Since 1969 the public seems to have become bored with the subject of UFOs. This is not because it accepts the scientists` report as conclusive but because there have been no sensational new sightings recently.
Who can say what may happen tomorrow? Perhaps there will be more fascinating sightings and public interest will rise once again. According to one writer, flying saucers have become a part of our general culture and people are more inclined to believe in them than not. Astronaut Mitchell commented, `I'm convinced that UFO sightings are real. The question is not about whether UFOs exist or not but what they are. `
