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... Starlinks often move across the sky in "trains" that appear like gleaming gems in the blackness of space. They are particularly visible to the naked eye shortly after each Starlink launch.

In recent years, leaks and disclosures from government officials have revitalized open discussion about mysterious lights and objects, some of which move in, to put it bluntly, unquestionably weird ways. Some of these images, particularly those from sophisticated instruments on military fighter jets, have made their way into the national discourse. The New Yorker, Ars' sister publication, has a thorough report on how UAPs -- you might know them better as UFOs -- became mainstream.

All of this attention has renewed questions about whether these sightings are evidence of extraterrestrial life or a national security threat from a foreign power. The Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), created in 2022 to collect and study information related to UAPs, says it has "discovered no evidence of extraterrestrial beings, activity, or technology."

NASA commissioned an advisory board to study the topic. Last year, a senior official said the agency has found "no convincing evidence" any of the UAPs have an extraterrestrial origin.

Lawmakers from both parties have convened hearings and passed legislation to nudge the Pentagon to become more open about UAPs. On Wednesday, a House committee questioned a panel of former government officials on the matter. The former officials all urged the government to continue studying UAPs and warned against excessive government secrecy. ...