re: NY Times: Pentagon’s UFO Program - aerospace/esoteric/quantum mechanics/future

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Everything in Science Is Paranormal Until It Isn’t. Here’s Why We Need To Evolve Our Perception Of The Unknown

Go to the profile of Luis Elizondo
Luis Elizondo
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Jan 17

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When you think about the word “paranormal,” what comes to mind?
Probably poltergeists, ghost hunters, or little gray aliens. Or perhaps you imagine movies like The Blair Witch Project or Ghostbusters. The idea of the paranormal has remained a constant focus of thriller and sci-fi movies, often taking the audience on a wild, but very speculative ride. Talking about the word paranormal in any context other than the entertainment industry usually results in raised brows and smirks.
But isn’t everything in science paranormal until we eventually perceive it as normal?

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What we think of as “paranormal” is often just a fact of nature.

When I was in college studying microbiology, I remember my professor telling the class the famous story of when Antoni van Leeuwenhoek first discovered protozoa.
As the story goes, he looked through a microscope and screamed, “Little beasties, little beasties!” and ran out of the room. For him and many during that time, the discovery of microorganisms was a paranormal moment. But these were living organisms, just below the threshold of our ability to observe and perceive. Today, we consider microorganisms a normal part of science, and in many cases, even beneficial. In fact, scientists discover as many as 20,000 new species per year.
A lot of what is now considered normal aspects of the observable universe were once considered paranormal.

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The U.S. has a long history of involving itself in things considered paranormal.

Historically, the U.S. has been a global powerhouse in part due to its embrace?—?albeit often reluctant?—?of the strange or bizarre.
During the early days of the Manhattan Project, many scientists and lawmakers cringed at the idea of spending tax dollars on tiny, invisible packages of matter called “atoms” that would one day be used to end the war. After all, if you can’t even see an atom, how do we know they even exist? During the 1960s and 1970s, U.S. and Soviet militaries invested millions of dollars into psychic research, psychotronics, and mind control experiments. Even today, the United States Air Force and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is developing technology to allow pilots to fly aircraft with brainwaves.

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In the case of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP), the stigma of anything that might be considered paranormal has a chilling effect on our nation’s ability to address a potential national security risk. It also severely limits the advancement of human knowledge. Advancements in technology have led to credible, reliable evidence that UFOs exist?—?far beyond simple anecdotes of untrained observer reports in prior decades. Slowly but surely, the subject is moving from the outer edges of the paranormal categorization as highly trained observers come forward with analysis of advanced aerospace technology.

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Labeling media fake becomes a political weapon that can obscure truths and spread falsehoods. Information regarding UAP, in particular, tends to be associated with unhinged conspiracy theorists, and tabloid publications are quick to compound its negative reputation.
But if we take away misinformation, hoaxes, frauds, money-making schemes, egotism, and wishful thinking, there are certain truths that cannot be denied.

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We must be careful not to give in to our human nature to dismiss what’s “para”?—?that is, above, beside or beyond?—?our understanding, just because we don’t have an explanation for it at this very moment.

That is, there is a lot out there we don’t yet understand that may be “paranormal” today but quite “normal” tomorrow.

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