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Remember when spider silk was mistaken for ‘angel hair’?

07-02-2024

All the best stories to celebrate World UFO Day!
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	July 02, 2024

Happy World UFO Day!

6 Stories That Are Out of This World

Depending on who you ask, World UFO Day is either on June 24, the day in 1947 when a pilot claimed to see “flying saucers” over Mount Rainier, while others await first contact on July 2, the day that same year when something crashed in the New Mexico desert near Roswell. But for those who believe the truth is out there, the goal is the same: to raise awareness that humans may not be alone in the universe. Here are our 6 favorite stories that shed light on why we are obsessed with the unexplained.

Aliens, Angels, or Spiders?

In 1999, a man known only as Peter made an alarmed phone call to the Australian UFO Registry regarding the “tonnes of white threads” floating down from the sky. According to him, it wasn’t cotton, not sticky, nor web; it was what was regarded as “angel hair,” a fibrous material that disintegrated soon after falling. Mysterious, yes? Sadly, not for long. The culprit in question: small spiders.

Ocotillo, California

Coyote's Flying Saucer Repair

Paging all extraterrestrial visitors: You may want to make a pit stop at Coyote’s Flying Saucer Retrievals and Repairs Service. This UFO junkyard features several life-size saucers, many of which can actually be driven around, and also occasionally screens drive-in movies like ET and the X-Files, projected onto an “asteroid”. Is said “asteroid” just a boulder? Who’s to say?

Sponsored by Visit Alamosa

The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is famed for its breathtaking dunes against the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. But come spring, it hosts a rare sight: Medano Creek. As snow from the mountains melts, it flows into Medano Lake and down to the dunes, forming a temporary, all-natural beach.

This month is one of the best times to witness the “surge flow,” where waves ripple across the shallow creek, creating perfect conditions for inner tubing and skimboarding.

Explore Now →

Where Humans Think Aliens Are Most Likely to Land

These maps show the locations of alien first contacts on Earth in almost a century of popular films, from Algol (1920), a Faust-from-outer-space parable made in Weimar Germany; to Annihilation (2018), a reflection on America’s loss of faith in the future of humankind. Perhaps unsurprisingly, in the U.S., the aliens usually end up on the coasts, in Los Angeles and New York, but perhaps what’s more interesting is which parts of the country remain curiously alien-free.

Roswell, New Mexico

Roswell McDonald's

In the world-famous town of Roswell, New Mexico, known for the rumors of its titular extraterrestrial incident, the local McDonald’s gets in on the act as well with a UFO-shaped location that throws the homogeneous look of the fast food giant out the window.

Atlas Obscura Adventures

Ancient Wonders: Egypt & The Nile

Follow in the footsteps of gods, pharaohs and explorers as you take a deep dive into the many treasures of ancient Egypt. This action-packed adventure will feature an all-star cast of magnificent monuments, mysterious temples, and memorable local cuisine. Feel the spirit of the enigmatic civilization that once walked this storied land, as you cross dream-like desert landscapes, cruise down the mighty Nile, and decipher the secrets of ancient pyramids, and hidden tombs with your Egyptologist guide!

Book Your Spot Today →

Flying Saucer Patents

For decades, patent offices have been flooded with patents of flying saucers, thanks in large part to well-publicized sightings like the Roswell incident. But the first guy who got to the U.S. Patent Office, surprisingly, wasn’t actually inspired by the popular perception of the UFO at all. Meet the “Discopter.”

Munich, Germany

Pinakothek der Moderne Futuro House

This is one of the most easily accessible examples of the rare 1960s UFO houses. Emphasis on ‘rare’—less than 100 of these plastic, prefabricated UFO-shaped houses were ever made from Finnish architect Matti Suuronen’s famous futuristic design.

The definitive guide to the world's hidden wonders.

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