abduction

en-noun

abduction (countable and uncountable, plural abductions)

From Latin abductiō(n) (“robbing; abduction”), from abdūcō (“take or lead away”), from ab (“away”) + dūcō (“to lead”). By surface analysis, abduct + -ion.
* (physiology): From French, from Latin abductus.
* Compare French abduction.

der

But fear of abduction never stopped a good ufologist.

2010, Monte Dwyer, Red in the Centre: Through a Crooked Lens, Monyer Pty Ltd, page 122:


gray

From Middle English gray, from Old English grǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *grāu, from Proto-Germanic *grēwaz, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰreh₁- (“to green, to grow”).
See also Dutch grauw, German grau, Old Norse grár); also Latin rāvus (“grey”), Old Church Slavonic зьрѭ (zĭrjǫ, “to see, to glance”), Russian зреть (zretʹ, “to watch, to look at”) (archaic), Lithuanian žeriù (“to shine”).

cog

(chiefly US, ufology) Synonym of grey alien.


rod

From Middle English rodde, from Old English *rodd or *rodde (attested in dative plural roddum (“rod, pole”)), of uncertain origin, but probably from Proto-Germanic *rudd- (“stick, club”), from Proto-Indo-European *rewdʰ- (“to clear land”). Compare Old Norse rudda (“club”). For the root, compare English rid. Presumably unrelated to Proto-Germanic *rōdō (“rod, pole”).

der

These cylindrical rods fly through the air at incredible speeds and can only be picked up by high-speed cameras.

2000, Jack Barranger, Paul Tice, Mysteries Explored: The Search for Human Origins, Ufos, and Religious Beginnings, Book Three, p.37:

During one such broadcast in 1997, the esteemed radio host bellowed, “I got a fax earlier today from MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) in Arizona and they said what you think are rods are actually insects!”

2009, Barry Conrad, An Unknown Encounter: A True Account of the San Pedro Haunting, Dorrance Publishing, pages 129–130:

He tells of a home video showing a rod flying into the open mouth of a girl singing at a wedding.

2010, Deena West Budd, The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology: Werewolves, Dragons, Skyfish, Lizard Men, and Other Fascinating Creatures Real and Mysterious, Weiser Books, page 15:

(ufology) A rod-shaped object that appears in photographs or videos traveling at high speed, not seen by the person recording the event, often associated with extraterrestrial entities.


Area 51

→ German: Area 51

desc

→ Mandarin: 51區 /51区 (Wǔshíyī qū) (calque)

Unclear, but perhaps from a grid numbering system of the area by the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). While Area 51 is not part of this system, it is adjacent to Area 15.

Nevada Test and Training Range
w:Nevada Test and Training Range

(science fiction or ufology, informal) A secret military facility, airport, and airbase in Nevada Test and Training Range, Nevada, United States.

Atomic Energy Commission
en:Area 51
en:Area 51 (disambiguation)


insectoid

Two hundred Earth years earlier, a race of Insectoids discovered them as the Squishys were sending their first probes to other planets in their own star system.

2017, A.K. Brown, Humans on the Menu (Champagne Universe Series: Book 2), page 24:

(science fiction, ufology) An insect-like creature.


visitor

visitors (plural)
visitour (alternative)
visiter (alternative)

Partly from Middle English visiter, visitere, equivalent to visit + -er; and partly from Middle English visitour, from Anglo-Norman visitour, from Old French visetëor. By surface analysis, visit + -or.

5: Of course there is always the remote (I hope) possibility that instant panic will prompt us to send a hailstorm of nuclear warheads out upon the visitor.

1979, Chris Boyce, Extraterrestrial Encounter: a Personal Perspective, Chartwell Books, page 184:

When we ask what evidence does in fact exist of extraterrestrial sojourns on our planet, we can start with what would surely be the best evidence of all: an actual visitor, or group of visitors, visible to crowds of people and ready for photo opportunities, television interviews, handshakes, polite conversation, and dancing.

2001, Donald Goldsmith, Tobias C. Owen, The Search for Life in the Universe, University Science Books, page 511:

The visitor in Man Facing South-east claims pure altruism; Rantes (Hugo Soto) wants to alleviate the suffering of the poor and helpless.

2004, Carol Schwartz Ellis, Sean Redmond (editor), With Eyes Uplifted: Space Aliens as Sky Gods in Liquid Metal: The Science Fiction Film Reader, Wallflower Press, page 145

The tower radioed the flight leader, Captain Thomas F. Mantell, Jr., and requested that he engage and attempt to identify the strange visitor.

2007, Frank G. Wilkinson, The Golden Age of Flying Saucers: Classic UFO Sightings, Saucer Crashes and Extraterrestrial Contact Encounters, Lulu.com, page 37:

(ufology, specifically) An extraterrestrial being on Earth.


alien abduction

en-noun

alien abduction (plural alien abductions)

(ufology) The abduction of a person by extraterrestrials.


weather balloon

weather balloon (plural weather balloons)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-weather balloon.wav

(ufology, sarcastic) a skeptical explanation to debunk a UFO sighting that a believer regards as silly, illogical or disingenuous


ARV

alien reproduction vehicle
alien reproduction vehicle#English

(ufology) Initialism of alien reproduction vehicle.


Nordic

From French nordique, from nord (“north”).

Called “Nordics,” the aliens are human-like in appearance, of average height, and often have long, flowing hair. Contactees are typically struck by the beauty of the Nordics, as was Howard Menger (1959): “She seemed to radiate and glow,” Menger explains,

2007, Erich Goode, D. Angus Vail, Extreme Deviance, Pine Forge Press, page 41:

But the third most common alien is called a Nordic, or humanoid.

2012, Kelly Milner Halls, Alien Investigation: Searching for the Truth about UFOs and Aliens, Millbrook Press, page 45:

Known as Nordics, these extraterrestrials are said to have blond hair, blue eyes, and pale skin and are anywhere from 6 to 8 feet (183cm to 244cm) tall.

2012, Patricia D. Netzley, Extraterrestrial Life: Alien Encounters, Reference Point Press, page 33

(ufology, science fiction) A race of extraterrestrials similar in appearance to Nordic humans.


ETV

ETV (countable and uncountable, plural ETVs)

(ufology, countable) Initialism of extraterrestrial vehicle.


close encounter

close encounter (plural close encounters)

(ufology) A supposed observation, or observation of evidence, of extraterrestrial beings or their craft.

contato imediato

observation of extraterrestrials or their craft


repeater

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Naomi Persephone Amethyst (NaomiAmethyst)-repeater.wav

(ufology) A person who regularly sees unexplained sightings of paranormal phenomena.

avvistatore

a person who regularly sees unexplained sightings of paranormal phenomena


angel hair

Sense 1 is a semantic loan from Italian capelli d'angelo.

sl

Angel hair consists of thin, cotton-like fibers that are found at the scene of UFO sightings. The strands look like spider webs (which many skeptics assert is precisely what they are) and have been found on houses, on the ground, in trees, and hanging off electrical wires following a UFO sighting.

2019, Stephen Spignesi, William J. Birnes, The Big Book of UFO Facts, Figures & Truth, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN:

(ufology) A sticky, fibrous substance reported in connection with UFO sightings and other paranormal manifestations.


contactee

He believes the contactees (those who claim to have actual contact with beings from outer space) are actually creating a new theology.

1966 May 11, “Harvard Astronomers Claim UFO's Are Based on Illusion and Religion”, in Harvard Crimson:

The “contactees” or “saucerians” surfaced in 1952 in southern California. They presented themselves as selected by superior beings from other planets for a special assignment—save the world.

2001, David A. Clary, Before and After Roswell, page 63:

(ufology, dated) A person who has been contacted by alien beings from outer space.


scoutcraft

en-noun

scoutcraft (plural scoutcrafts or scoutcraft)

scoutcrafts (plural)
scoutcraft (plural)

Enemy scoutcraft, extreme range.

1994, Debra Doyle, James D. Macdonald, By Honor Betray'd:

In August 1954 a Venusian scoutcraft allegedly flew Adamski around the moon, showing him extraterrestrial cities and hangars as well as forests, lakes, and rivers.

1999, Jerome Clark, Unexplained!: Strange Sightings, Incredible Occurrences & Puzzling Physical Phenomena, Visible Ink Press, page 7:

He flies around the Galaxy all alone in just a little tiny scoutcraft?

2001, Douglas Kendall, Battle of Infinity City, page 298:

In the ensuing years it had never come to that, yet every scoutcraft was equipped with a self-destruct mechanism, and every commander was prepared at all times to activate it.

2006, Margaret Wander Bonanno, Strangers From The Sky, Pocket Books, page 32:

The nearer they closed in; tiny scoutcrafts could be seen continuingly migrating to and from them.

2013, Chris J. Berry, The Celestial Window, page 137:

(rare, science fiction, ufology) A spacecraft used for scouting.


MIB

MIB (countable and uncountable, plural MIBs)

(US, ufology, conspiracy theorists) Initialism of man in black.

(US, in the plural) Initialism of men in black.

Initialism of man in black.
Initialism of men in black.


Mothman

(cryptozoology, ufology) A legendary creature, regarded as a cryptid or alien, reportedly seen in West Virginia in the mid-1960s.


Pleiadean

Pleiadeans (plural)
Pleiadian (alternative)

(science fiction, ufology) An alien being from the Pleiades.


ghost rocket

A poem in Copenhagen’s Berlingske Tidende, July 31, 1946, last page, made reference to a recent sensational ghost rocket sighting over Byen, expressing relief that the “rocket” was actually a meteor:

2001, Robert E. Bartholomew, Little Green Men, Meowing Nuns, and Head-hunting Panics: A Study of Mass Psychogenic Illness and Social Delusion, McFarland, page 273:

Many ghost rocket sightings came from Sweden, which is near the Soviet Union. U.S. and British officials convinced the Swedes to study reports of the ghost rockets. The Swedes found pieces of metal that they though came from crashed ghost rockets.

2011, Michael Burgan, Andrew Nichols, Searching for Aliens, UFOs, and Men in Black, Capstone Press, page 11:

The Swedish experts claimed that some 20 percent of the ghost rocket reports appeared to be neither aircraft nor natural phenomena.

2012, Ronald Story, The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Extraterrestrial Encounters, Constable & Robinson Ltd, page 243:

unidentified flying objects
unidentified flying objects

(ufology) Any of the rocket- or missile-shaped unidentified flying objects sighted in 1946, mostly in Sweden and nearby countries.

spökraket

rocket shaped UFOs sighted in 1946 in Sweden


black triangle

Somewhere behind that blinking yellow light that black triangle was hovering, (or moving only a few miles per hour), in our direction, straight at us.

2005, Bill Foster, Peggy Foster, Nadine Wheeler, The Black Triangle Abduction, The Invisible College Press, page 22

Note: The black triangle is a commonly seen UFO.

2007, Craig R. Lang, The Cosmic Bridge, Close Encounters and Human Destiny, lulu.com, page 4:

On Thursday, July 15, 2004, I flew to Denver, Colorado, where I was scheduled to speak at the annual symposium of the Mutual UFO Network on the subject of a particular type of UFO that has become known as the “Black Triangle,” and one that has been seen regularly in the skies of practically every corner of the planet for approximately the last two decades.

2009, Nick Redfern, Memoirs of a Monster Hunter, ReadHowYouWant.com, page 105:

Just three years after the Belgian black triangle incident, a similar craft appeared over RAF Cosford and RAF Shawbury.

2011, William J. Birnes, The Everything UFO Book: An Investigation of Sightings, Cover-ups, and the Quest for Extraterrestrial Life, Adams Media, page 229:

(ufology) One of a class of triangle-shaped unidentified flying objects, usually with a light in each corner.


Haunebu

This technology led to the amazing German flying saucers of the Haunebu and Vril classes built under SS auspices.

2003, Nicholas Goodrick-Clarke, Black Sun: Aryan Cults, Esoteric Nazism, and the Politics of Identity, NYU Press, page 295:

[…] and what crashed at Roswell was most likely a Haunebu.

2007, James Sheridan, The Pandora Prescription, Sterling & Ross Publishers, page 17:

However, some weeks after Ger-many surrendered, both Haunebu and Vril craft were spotted in the skies over occupied Germany.

2010, George Romero, The Rescue, Lotus Vision Publishing Company, page 165

(ufology, plural "Haunebus") Any of a class of flying saucers supposedly built by the Nazis.


Vril

Coined by British statesman and author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in the 1871 science fiction novel The Coming Race, later titled Vril, apparently as a clipping of virile.

coined

Operation Highjump has turned out to be a hot topic for UFO conspiracy theorists over recent years, who claim it was a secret US military campaign to defeat and destroy supposed secret Nazi facilities in Antarctica and seize the German Vril flying discs, and the Thule mercury propelled spacecraft.

2012, Jack Follett, Special Report 2011: Hitler's Secret UFO Weapons, BoD – Books on Demand, page 38:

(ufology, attributive) A kind of flying saucer supposedly built by the Nazis.


pelicanist

From pelican + -ist. Coined by Jerome Clark in reference to claims that Kenneth Arnold’s 1947 UFO sighting was pelicans.

Kottmeyer and others who use the psychosocial hypothesis constantly produce evidence to support their ideas, whereas the ETH proponents can produce only cranky ideas about magnetic, anti-gravity or interdimensional saucers, accompanied by a constant whining about "sceptics" and "debunkers" (not to mention "armchair ufologists" and "pelicanists").

2000 November 22, “Blue Resonant Human” (username), “::: Should Saucers Spin? :::”, in alt.alien.research, Usenet

Meanwhile, those of us who’ve experienced UFOs in various ways are called mentally ill, intellectually challenged, spiritually needy, liars, drunks, drug users, attention getters, drama queens, and more. Those all are worse than being called a thug, skeptibunkie, or Pelicanist. (Pelicanist is a term coined by UFO researcher Jerome Clark.)

2006 September 12, “LordOfThyNight” (username), “The Usual Purple Tinged Hyperbole About UFOs”, in The Paranormal & Ghost Society, Usenet

As opposed to... Skepticism of the pelicanist flavor perhaps ?

2009 November 29, “Tom Booth” (username), “For Serena,”, in alt.fan.landmark, Usenet

(chiefly ufology, derogatory) Someone who attempts to explain away UFO reports by means of any explanation, however illogical.


Tall White

All of the Tall White scout craft were very high performance vehicles.

2007, Charles James Hall, Millennial Hospitality IV: After Hours, AuthorHouse, page 322:

No one is sure when the Tall Whites arrived on earth, some saying in the Pre-Columbian period […]

2007, Gregory L. Reece, UFO religion: inside flying saucer cults and culture, I. B. Tauris, page 76:

However, in the years that followed, such descriptions became so common that this type of alien became known as the Tall White.

2011, Stuart A. Kallen, Aliens, ReferencePoint Press, page 26:

(ufology) A member of a certain race of extraterrestrials


reptoid

(ufology) A member of an extraterrestrial sapient species said to resemble a reptile, often ascribed shapeshifting capabilities and implicated in many conspiracy theories.


intraterrestrial

(ufology) any of a race of sapient beings who live inside the Earth and operate UFOs


swamp gas

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-swamp gas.wav

* (hydrogen sulfide): So called because it is often emitted from wetlands such as swamps as a result of anaerobic bacteria, and is responsible for their foul “rotten egg” odor.
* (ufology): An explanation given by then-skeptic J. Allen Hynek for an alleged UFO sighting in Michigan near Lake Huron in 1966.

He explained away an especially peculiar sighting with another helping of good old swamp gas.

(ufology, sarcastic) A skeptical explanation that is provided in order to debunk a UFO sighting that a believer regards as ludicrous, illogical or disingenuous.


fastwalker

From fast + walker, from the notion that UFOs travel fast. Originally a code word created by NORAD.


man in black

Ever since the cessation of activity by Albert Bender in 1954, and followed closely by a few others, whose disappear[a]nce though less spectacular, from this field of work, caused a stir among the then active workers; the words he used in reference to his case "that he had been visited by three men in black, who demanded that he cease his investigations" left many to conjecture as to who they were, and what was their reason and who they represented.

1958, The Australian Saucer Record, volume 4, number 4, page 1:

Often they arrive at the scene of a UFO landing before those involves have had a chance to tell their story to the authorities, indicating that these Men-in-Black can read – as well as CONTROL – minds.

1991 March 26, John A. Keel, “Who are the UFO silencers?”, in Weekly World News, volume 12, number 25, page 8:

In many UFO sightings in which evidence of the sighting is claimed to exist, government "men in black" are reported to appear at the witnesses' doors demanding the evidence and threatening witnesses in the event they divulge any information regarding their sighting.

1995, James L. Thompson, Alien encounters: the deception menace, Cedar Fort, page 52:

Stories of “men-in-black,” who confront those who have witnessed a UFO with the intention of persuading them to keep their knowledge of space creatures a secret, are also amenable to folkloristic analysis.

1995, John A. Saliba, “UFO Contactee Phenomena from a Sociopsychological Perspective: A Review”, in The Gods have landed: new religions from other worlds, SUNY Press, page 218:

(ufology) A covert government operative, wearing a black suit and black aviator sunglasses, believed by conspiracy theorists to cover up UFO incidents.


space herpes

Ice Pirates “A ‘Star Wars’ rip-off with S&M scenes, twelfth-rate jokes, and ‘space herpes’”

1985, “1984 entertainment: Movies to see and shun”, in Michiganensian, volume 89, page 60:

Oh! Did we mention that there are families aboard the Enterprise? Yeah, it turns out there are. Because Starfleet did this study and realized that Space Herpes - also known as Kirk's Syndrome - spreads considerably slower if its officers have their spouses and children onboard their ship.

2009 September 17, Wil Wheaton, quotee, “Wil Wheaton's ‘Memories of the Futurecast’ Engages us With Awesome”, in Wired:

“Space herpes got your tongue, boy?” The man came to a stop in front of him. ¶ For some reason the idea of a mutated venereal disease frightened him more than the idea this man could mug him or worse.

2010, P. I. Barrington, Gail Delaney, J. Morgan, Borealis I:

(science fiction, ufology, fandom slang, slang) A generic disease found in space, especially one transmissible by sexual encounters.

shingles

skin condition from reactivated VZV herpesvirus in later life


UFO nest

(ufology) A crop circle, regarded as a landing site for UFOs.


ufonaut

(ufology) A pilot or passenger of a UFO.


NHI

(ufology, astrobiology) Initialism of non-human intelligence.


UAP

UAP (plural)
UAPs (plural)
UAP's (plural)

During World War II (and probably before), high flying pilots were reported to have observed unexplained aerial phenomena (UAP), often now called transient luminous events (TLE’s), particularly in the vicinity of thunderstorms.

2012 September 17, Don Lipman, “Red sprites, blue jets, and elves What are these mysterious, elusive phenomena?”, in The Washington Post:

“You know, there’s a new name,” Mrs. Clinton said in the March appearance. “It’s unexplained aerial phenomenon,” she said. “U.A.P. That’s the latest nomenclature.”

2016 May 10, Amy Chozick, “Hillary Clinton Gives U.F.O. Buffs Hope She Will Open the X-Files”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

The founders say they believe “there is sufficient credible evidence of UAP [unidentified aerial phenomenon] that proves exotic technologies exist that could revolutionize the human experience.”

2017 December 16, Bryan Bender, “The Pentagon’s Secret Search for UFOs”, in Politico Magazine, →ISSN:

This is an effort that I believe is rare and timely given current events, such as the apparent increase in UAP incidents through official military channels.

2019 October 23, M J Banias, “This Silicon Valley Startup Is Dedicated to Detecting UFOs Off the California Coast”, in Vice Magazine, →ISSN:

The spokesman at the time said UAP was preferred over UFO because of the stigma surrounding the latter term.

2020, Jordan Culver, Adrianna Rodriguez, “Pentagon declassifies 3 leaked US Navy UFO videos”, in USA Today:

Pentagon officially released three videos of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).

2020, “To the Stars Academy of Arts & Science Acknowledges the Pentagon's Official Release of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Video Footage”, in Baker City Herald:

The US military is worried some of the UAPs spotted by military pilots in the past may represent technologies of strategic rivals unknown to US scientists.

2023 January 12, “US government logs more than 500 UFO reports with hundreds unexplained”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

unidentified aerial phenomenon
unidentified aerial phenomenon#English

(ufology) Initialism of unidentified aerial phenomenon: UFO.


saucerian

From saucer + -ian, in reference to flying saucers.

The “contactees” or “saucerians” surfaced in 1952 in southern California. They presented themselves as selected by superior beings from other planets for a special assignment—save the world.

2001, David A. Clary, Before and After Roswell, page 63:

(ufology) A person who has communicated with an extraterrestrial being.


skyfish

(ufology) Synonym of rod (“rod-shaped optical phenomenon”).


missing time

The report of abduction, the memory loss, the missing time, and the shape of the UFO are all familiar to UFO investigators, for this is not an isolated episode.

1978, Brad Steiger, Alien Meetings, page 168:

We have already seen how the victims of UFO abductions seem to have 'missing time' - sometimes they have no memories of several hours of their lives.

1984, John Rimmer, The Evidence for Alien Abductions, page 45:

There were two to three hours of missing time in their return trip for which neither of them could account.

1991, David Allen Lewis, UFO: End-Time Delusion:

Hopkins describes "missing time" as a time lapse of approximately two hours, after which the abductee can consciously remember little or nothing of the experience.

1996, Angela Hague, David Lavery, Marla Cartwright (editors), Deny All Knowledge, Reading the X-Files, page 8:

While Johnson doesn't display many of the indications of alien abduction, he does have a period of missing time which can be absolutely verified, unlike most abductees' cases.

1999, Chris A. Rutkowski, Abductions and Aliens - What's Really Going On, page 153:

According to Zerbe, while he and his team were out at the crash site, they experienced a period of what in alien abduction terminology has become known as missing time.

2018, Nick Redfern, Top Secret Alien Abduction Files, What the Government Doesn't Want You to Know, page 127:

(psychology, parapsychology, ufology) A time period of amnesia or a gap in conscious memory reported by individuals who have experienced alien abduction.


grey alien

grey aliens (plural)
gray alien (alternative)

(science fiction or ufology) An archetypical humanoid alien, usually described as having grey skin, elongated, hairless, sexless features, and a large head with bulbous black eyes; chiefly associated with flying saucers, alien abductions and conspiracy theories relating to cover-ups by the United States government, such as Area 51.


UFOer

Ring sees both the NDE and UFOE as modern day shamanic initiations in which the journeyer (NDEer or UFOer) enters an "imaginal" reality, an alternative reality that coexists with physical reality and that is equally real.

1992, Spirited Women Book Company (publisher), At the Crossroads, page 48:

I claim to be a counseling psychologist, a UFO researcher, and a UFO experiencer (UFOer).

1995, American Society for Psychical Research (publisher), The Journal of the American Society for Psychical Research, volume 89, page 85:

People began meeting at certain spots at night to keep a lookout for more UFOs. They became known as skywatchers or UFOers.

2005, Chris Gethard, Weird New York, Your Travel Guide to New York's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets, page 25:

A small UFOer, whose badge said, "Billy Clark," spoke up. "But by your own criteria, many experiences of extraterrestrials are also real.

2016, Kenneth Clatterbaugh, The Freedom of Will, page 234:

unidentified flying object
unidentified flying object#English

(ufology, uncommon) Initialism of unidentified flying object experiencer (“a person who has witnessed a UFO or has established contact with its alien occupants”).


orthoteny

en-noun

orthoteny (countable and uncountable, plural orthotenies)

[…] believes that he had discovered a new principle called orthoteny, according to which saucer-sightings of any given short period tend, far more often than chance would permit, form plottable straight lines of 3 or more points.

1951, Anthony Boucher, J. Francis McComas, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, volume 16, Mercury Press, Incorporated, page 86:

[…] of flying saucer reports in France in 1954 supporting the author's theory of "orthoteny," i.e., the fact that he can connect the points at which flying saucers appeared each day with a series of straight lines radiating out from a central point.

1958, Junior Libraries, volume 5, R.R. Bowker., page 117:

Michel dubbed the pattern "orthoteny” (from the Greek orthoteneis, meaning "stretched in a straight line"). During the 1954 wave, he argued, flying saucers appeared over the course of any given day along straight lines crisscrossing French territory.

2024, Greg Eghigian, “4 From Mystery to Movement 1947-1960”, in After the Flying Saucers Came: A Global History of the UFO Phenomenon, illustrated, reprint edition, Oxford University Press, →ISBN, page 110:

(ufology) The study of straight lines, especially in regards to the flight paths that UFOs tend to follow.


dark forest hypothesis

dark + forest + hypothesis. From the title of the Liu Cixin (刘慈欣) novel The Dark Forest (黑暗森林), from Chinese 黑暗森林, from 黑暗+森林. Coined by Chinese author Cixin Liu originally in Chinese, then translated into English.

extra-terrestrial intelligence
extra-terrestrial intelligence#English

(SETI, ufology) A conjecture about why no aliens have been found after searching the entire sky for signs of extra-terrestrial intelligences (ETIs). A hypothesis describing the situation where all intelligent life hides the fact of their existence to avoid having other such life exterminate them, and would normally exterminate any life found to avoid in turn being exterminated, as this is the natural state of affairs for such life in the universe, be quiet or be killed.

en:The Dark Forest
en:dark forest hypothesis
zh:刘慈欣
zh:黑暗森林