Why Do We Want to Believe in Extraterrestrial Life?

As you can see, a lot of conspiracy theories have appeared since that day, paving the way to a lot of TV series, documentaries, and books about UFOs and aliens even more than 70 years after the incident.

Even though it was confirmed in 1994 that the craft was indeed a weather balloon used in a classified military project (Project Mogul), most people are still certain it was a UFO that crashed in that area. The same conspiracy theory sustains that there’s a preserved alien body kept in the Nevada military base, also known as Area 51.

But according to Chris French, psychologist, professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, and former editor of The Skeptic magazine, this is not surprising at all. “It’s the way that your beliefs and expectations can shape what you actually perceive,” he added.

Also, UFOs are commonly described as ‘flying saucers’, even though this phrase was used a few weeks before the Roswell incident. Kenneth Arnold, businessman, and amateur pilot reported seeing nine strange aircraft moving at a speed higher than he’s ever seen before, during a flight.