"Alien Mummy" Found in Peru


A strange mummy with a huge round skull was discovered near the city of Andahuaylillas in southern Peru. The mummy was originally discovered in 2009 by Renato Davila Riquelme, who works for the Privado Ritos Andinos museum in Cuzco. While not certain of what the creature is early investigations have suggested that it may not human.

A group of un-named anthropologists from Spain and Russia also came to the same conclusion.  "Although the assessment was superficial, it is obvious that its features do not correspond to any ethnic group in the world," said Riquelme. Some suggested that the creature may have been extraterrestrial due to the round shape of the head and large round eye sockets, but Requelme is not convinced, suspecting instead that it may be a genetically deformed child. Whatever it is, it definitely is mysterious.

The skull has some unusual features which differentiate it from other human skulls. There is a "soft spot" at the top of the head where the cranial bones join together which is common in human infants less than one year old. While this might suggest that the skull belonged to a child there are other features, such as a fully formed set of teeth with adult molars that suggest otherwise.

The size of the head is also unusual. The skull measures a whopping 20 inches which is almost equal to the skeleton's torso. The eye sockets are very large--much more so than any known species of hominid--and of a shape not generally found in ordinary skulls. The remains of an eyeball in one of the sockets may provide material for genetic testing.

Skeptics naturally dismiss the whole thing as a hoax, claiming that the skull is nothing more than a genetic deformity or disease, or a case of ritual skull binding. While these explanations may be possibilities there are problems with each of them.

Ritual skull binding, or artificial cranial deformation as it is scientifically known is a common occurrence among many different cultures throughout history. The procedure dates back to at least 45,000 years ago and seems to have evolved independently on several different continents.

An example of a skull that was ritually deformed

In ritual skull deformation the shape of the skull is modified or altered through the use of binding rope or cloth in order to flatten out or elongate the skull. This is usually done to newborn infants while the skull is very pliable. It is a very widespread practice throughout South America including the area where the skull was found.

The problem with claiming that ritual skull deformation is responsible for the Peruvian skull is that while the process of deformation may change the shape of the skull it does not change the size of the head or the shape or placement of the eyes. The skull found by Requelme is huge in comparison to a normal skull. The eyes are extraordinarily large also. This pretty much rules out intentional deformation as an explanation.

Strike one for the skeptics.

A second possible explanation is a genetic mutation or condition such as Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia which can cause unusual characteristics to appear in an otherwise healthy human.

Actor Michael Berrymore who displays symptoms of the condition

People who have this condition may have an altered or elongated skull as well as differences in skin, hair, teeth and sweat glands. The mutations are generally nowhere near as severe as those that appear in the Peruvian skull though. The heads of people with dysplasia are not much larger than a normal person's, and while the teeth may be different they are usually smaller and pointed which is the opposite of the large rounded molars found in the huge mystery skull. The dysplasia condition also does not normally effect the eyes.

Strike two...

Another possibility is a medical condition known as Hydrocephalus, or "water in the brain." This is an abnormal condition caused by an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles, or cavities, of the brain. The increase in internal pressure can cause massive swelling of the brain and can lead to an enlarged skull, possibly even as large as the one in Peru.

Infant with hydrocephalus

Side effects of Hydrocephalus are numerous and include, among other things, severe mental retardation, convulsions and in some cases, death. In order for the skull to become enlarged the condition would have to be present at a very early age, usually less than  three years old, and most severe cases end up being fatal. While this condition could potentially explain the abnormally enlarged skull it would not explain the enlarged eyes since victims of Hydrocephalus retain normal sized facial features. The eyes in the Peruvian skull are much too large to be a result of increased pressure in the brain. The fully grown molars present in the skull also seem to point away from this condition since it is doubtful that anybody suffering from such a pronounced case of hydrocephalus would have survived to adulthood. Nor would it explain the rather stunted growth of the rest of the body.

Strike three for the skeptics.

There is another possibility--that the skull actually does belong to an extraterrestrial being. It does seem to closely resemble the general description given of some ETs like the typical greys which have both an enlarged head and oversized eyes. Those descriptions do not normally include huge human-like teeth though.

Just what exactly this mysterious creature is remains to be seen. It could be some very strange and unknown genetic aberration or maybe a separate species or sub-species of humans. Perhaps it is an "alien" hybrid or a humanoid with some extraterrestrial or non-human connection. That would have to be proven through scientific testing however and so far no definitive results have been produced. At this point in time DNA testing still has not been completed.

Until the tests are completed it seems that people on both sides--both the UFO believers and the skeptics--will just have to wait for an answer to the mystery.

The First Pen on the Moon


When Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin became the first men to walk on the Moon that fateful day back in 1969 they achieved the greatest accomplishment in the history of humanity...leaving the boundaries of the Earth and traveling through space to a distant alien world. It's no wonder that the men became legends in their own time. Even some of the simple little tools that they used obtained almost mythical status, and it is no wonder. The Moon landing was a magnificent moment and a remarkable achievement...one that will forever go down in the annuls of history. It may have only been a small step for man but it was definitely a giant leap for mankind.

Of course there were a lot of other people involved in the effort who also deserve some credit for that small step. In order to overcome the Earth's gravity and travel through space, rockets had to be built, fuel had to be developed, a capsule had to be designed that could provide the men inside with oxygen, as well as all of the other basic necessities of life. The proper calculations had to be made in order to keep the space craft from missing its target and whizzing off into the never-ending void of deep space. Space suits had to be created that would protect the astronauts from the burning heat and freezing cold temperatures that exist outside the atmosphere, as well as the deadly cosmic rays that bombard any space traveler who dares to leave the safe confines of their home planet. It took a whole team of hundreds, if not thousands of people to overcome all of these potentially deadly obstacles.

When all of the dangers and difficulties are taken into consideration it is amazing that anybody had the courage and fortitude to even try to take that giant leap. Neil and Buzz are definitely American heroes, as are the other astronauts who went into space before them.

Some credit for the Moon landing should also be given to the cosmonauts from the former Soviet Union. It was the Soviets and their space program that first galvanized the United states into action. When it was announced in 1957 that the tiny little Sputnik satellite had made it into orbit it caught the Americans completely by surprise. The thought of Russian space craft circling the earth armed with spy cameras or nuclear weapons was not a pleasant thought, especially in the middle of the Cold War when both sides were trying desperately to gain a military advantage over the other. When President Kennedy assumed office three years later he immediately announced the goal to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade and the space race was on.

It is interesting to compare the contrast between the two nations and how they went about attempting to achieve their goals. The United States was a capitalist country with a free market economy that produced enormous amounts of wealth that could be poured into the space program. The Soviet Union was a communist country where everything was owned and tightly controlled by the government.

In the USA individual citizens had the freedom and liberty to come up with new ideas, put them into action and succeed to the best of their abilities. In the USSR only the government was allowed to have new ideas and the people just blindly carried out their orders while trying to not draw unwarranted attention to themselves.

In the United States where practically every extravagance was readily available, more was never enough and too much was usually just right. In Communist Russia the emphasis was always on efficiency, expediency and constantly making do with less.

The difference in the social and economic make-up of the two countries determined the style and overall success of each of their space programs. While American scientists were working in spotlessly clean, air-conditioned laboratories with every modern convenience at their disposal the Soviets were stuck in old worn out warehouses with broken windows and dirty concrete floors. Instead of tables the Soviet engineers had to make do with a sheet of plywood placed on top of an empty cardboard box. For heat they burned firewood in old oil drums.

While NASA engineers were given virtually an unlimited budget to design and construct any part necessary to build their equipment, the Russian rocket scientists were scrounging around in junkyards trying to find parts that they could salvage and modify to fit their needs. Is it any wonder that when the big Saturn V rocket lifted the Apollo 11 crew towards the Moon the Soviets huge N-1s were still blowing up on the launchpad? Given the obstacles and disadvantages they had to overcome it is a wonder the Russians ever even got off the ground.

The fact that they beat their American counterparts into space and even managed to put a few things into orbit is a testimony to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of the Soviet engineers. They may not have had the bountiful budget that the NASA scientists had but they more than made up for it in pragmatic simplicity.

No greater example of the difference between the two countries and their space programs can be found than in their choice of writing instruments. The NASA scientists knew that the astronauts were going to need something to write with on their lunar voyage. Mathematical calculations would need to be performed, notes and ideas would need to be jotted down, and not just any old ink pen would work in the harsh environment of space. Lack of gravity and extreme temperatures have a tendency to make the standard ballpoint pretty much useless. NASA knew that something special would be needed to claim the title of the first pen on the Moon.

What they came up with was the Fisher Apollo AG-7 space pen, or astro pen. This little marvel of science was actually developed by a private entrepreneur, Paul fisher, who owned the Fisher Pen Company. He approached NASA about using the pen and after an extensive evaluation process it was eventually selected by NASA to be used by the astronauts on the Apollo missions.

The pen basically consisted of a nitrogen filled canister that was pressurized at a rate of 50 pounds per square inch. The gas pressed against a plunger that forced an almost solid mixture of thixotropic ink against a revolving ball point that liquefied the ink whenever it was rotated. The ball itself was an ultra hard Tungsten Carbide ball held in a stainless steel socket. In spite of the fact that it was still the same general size and shape as a standard ball point pen it was a thing of beauty and it worked as well as it looked.

The little six-inch long astro pen could write for more than seven miles which was 300% further than any other ball-point pen. It could write upside-down, against walls or any other vertical surface. It could reportedly write over butter, grease, sweaty hand-prints or even totally submerged under water. It could write in the burning heat or freezing cold of outer space, and even if it were bombarded with deadly cosmic rays. It was claimed that the thing would even be capable of writing when it was a hundred years old. The special ink that was in it was guaranteed to not clot, leak, clog, dry out or evaporate. It would always write instantly at the slightest touch, as long as the ball was contacting a surface.

According to contemporary promotional literature the AG-7 space-pen cost a grand total of one million dollars to develop back in 1969. That is a staggering sum for what was basically a glorified ink pen. Still, Paul Fisher and NASA both deemed it to be well worth the money. It was a perfect example of what the most prosperous nation in the world can do when the people put their best minds to solving a problem.

And what did NASA's competitors in the race to the Moon do to overcome the challenge of writing in space? When the Soviet Union was faced with the dilemma of finding an instrument that could write in zero gravity, in the freezing vacuum or burning heat of outer space...or even when being bombarded by deadly cosmic rays...they used the same simplistic solutions the Soviet scientists were famous for...they used a pencil.

Of course it wasn't just the Soviets who had to come up with simple solutions. Many people are not aware of it but Neil and Buzz almost didn't make it back from that first Moon mission. There was a minor malfunction in the space craft that could have turned into a major problem if a quick solution had not been found and legend has it that a certain little pen may have played a major role in it.

When the two intrepid explorers climbed back into the Lunar Lander after their final space walk they could see that there was a problem. Lying on the floor was a small piece of a circuit breaker that was part of the ignition switch that would launch the craft away from the Moon. Without the circuit breaker the craft could not take off. It was definitely not a good situation.

As an army of engineers mobilized back on Earth to attempt to solve the problem the astronauts tried to find a fix themselves. Looking at all of the different tools that they had at their disposal Buzz Aldrin realized that the tip of a pen could be used to close the circuit and activate the ignition without causing any sparks or setting anything on fire. He quickly pulled a pen out of his pocket, used it to start the engine and the astronauts were home free.

Naturally, as with any good legend, there is a bit of controversy over just which pen was used. The Fisher Pen Company, which changed it's name to the Fisher Space Pen Company, claimed it was their very own Fisher AG-7 space pen that saved the day and they proceeded to launch a major advertising campaign saying so. They were so successful at convincing people that the astro-pen was the real hero that even NASA picked up the story and added it to their official record. The space agency's stamp of approval just about gave the first pen on the Moon its legendary status.

There are those who question the accepted story however, one of them being Buzz Aldrin himself. According to Aldrin it wasn't the Fisher Space Pen that he used to get the engine started but a Dura felt tip marker. Neil Armstrong confirmed the use of the marker so that should have pretty much settled any controversy. It's not that easy to change a legend however. Even now, several years after the space pen story was refuted, its legendary status continues to grow and many people, including some senior officials at NASA still continue to credit the Fisher space pen with the heroic deed.

Regardless of whether it was the pen or the marker that actually started the space craft the legend no doubt will continue to grow. Paul Fisher's little space pen will always be remembered as the first pen on the Moon, and just like Neil and Buzz, it will forever be a part of history.

Ten Helpful Tips For UFO Witnesses

Unidentified Flying Objects are witnessed by millions of people all over the world each year. They are captured on film, video and in the memories of numerous eye-witnesses every single day. Thousands of investigators with a wide variety of scientific and technical backgrounds pour over this evidence with a fine-toothed comb searching for that one irrefutable bit of proof that will answer once and for all the question of whether or not the Earth is being visited by technologically advanced other-worldly beings. In spite of all of the evidence that has been gathered over the years, that question still remains unanswered.

One reason is because of the dubious nature of the evidence itself. Cameras, whether they be stills or video, are remarkably good at capturing a visual image of an event, but the details and clarity of that image are dependent upon the skill of the person holding the camera. Photos or videos that are blurred, shaky, out-of-focus, or pointed at the ground do little to help identify an object in the sky. Another drawback to photographic images is that they do not capture many of the other aspects of a UFO experience. Thoughts, sounds, smells, feelings, emotions, and the reaction of other things in the immediate environment can all play a part in helping an investigator to determine whether an unidentified object can ultimately be identified. Most of these details can only be acquired from eye-witness testimony, and unfortunately, eye-witnesses are notoriously unreliable.

Most people who suddenly find themselves confronted by an unknown object zipping across the sky do not have a clue what to do. They usually get excited and run around in little circles yelling and screaming about UFOs and making general fools of themselves. This is one of the reasons why many UFO witnesses lack credibility. Incoherent testimony given by some babbling, over-excited, wide-eyed witness do little to help the public's perception of the ufological community. This is also one of the reasons why it is so difficult to identify what many of these flying objects really are. It is hard to make good observations when running around in little circles.

This very thing happened to one of my good friends who looked out his bedroom window one night and was stunned to see a flying saucer hovering just above his back yard. He immediately panicked and ran amok through the house looking for a place to hide. After a few moments had passed his curiosity got the better of him and he crawled out from underneath his bed to find that the object, whatever it was, had vanished. This incident, while making a fantastic story to tell his future grand-kids, is of little use to a ufologist simply because there was little to no information to base an investigation on. Describing a UFO as being dark, covered with cobwebs, and resembling the bottom of a bed does little to help an investigator. Likewise, finding a three-week-old moldy piece of pizza does not qualify as the discovery of an alien life-form.

Since most people are not serious investigators, and since the average person does not have a clue what details are important to take note of during a sighting, I have come up with a list of ten tips to help UFO witnesses make the most of a potentially out-of-this-world experience. This is just a general guideline and is by no means meant to be a comprehensive discourse on ufological procedures. Following these tips will not automatically make a person a serious ufologist, but it may help an investigator identify what might otherwise have remained an unidentified flying object. Each case that is solved helps to bring us all one step closer to the truth.

1. Don't Panic

The first, foremost, and most important rule of all when spotting a UFO is to remain calm. In other words, do not panic and run around in circles like a lunatic. This does not do anybody any good. Getting excited and losing control of oneself is a good way to insure that an unidentified object will remain unidentified forever. In order to have a chance at identifying the object a person must take charge of the situation and maintain control over their thought processes. In other words, remain calm...focus...breath.

Most UFOs are actually just misidentifications of common celestial objects so there is no reason to become hysterical while witnessing one of them. Venus, meteors, aircraft, birds, bats, balloons and the debunker's favorite, swamp gas, have all been mistaken for flying saucers or alien space craft. A person would feel mighty silly if they became hysterical over something that turned out to be nothing more than a child's party balloon.

If it turns out that the UFO is an alien space craft then there is still no reason to panic. It is unlikely that an extraterrestrial race would be hostile, and if they are then panicking is not likely to do any good. If they have the technology to travel millions of miles through space to get here then they can probably find a person even if they are hiding under the bed. That does not mean you should stand out the open or walk directly under a hovering craft, just do not lose your cool trying to get out of the area. You are more likely to get hurt running madly away than by staying calm.

2. Check the Time

There are several reasons why a UFO witness should look at a clock or watch and keep track of the time during the sighting. First is to determine exactly when the sighting occurred so it can be cross-checked and matched up to other witnesses who may have seen the same thing. It is also helpful to know the duration that the event lasted. This might help an investigator determine what the object was. For instance, weather balloons hang around in the sky for a long period of time while swamp gas burns up very quickly. A meteor may streak from one horizon to the next in just a few seconds while a flying saucer may hover over your backyard for several minutes. Knowing how long the object was in sight can be a big help.

The other main reason why a witness should keep an eye on the clock is to check for "missing time." This is a phenomenon commonly associated with UFO sightings, and is especially prevalent in abduction reports. A person may look at the clock, then see a UFO, and five minutes later they check the time again to find that several hours have passed! What happens during that missing time is a mystery, and many skeptics argue that the time is not missing at all but caused by people who are just not paying attention and underestimate how much time has elapsed. This is why it is important to keep track of exactly how many minutes goes by.

3. Take Pictures or Videos

This is one of the most obvious things for a UFO witness to do but many people totally forget, so allow me to remind them. If you see a UFO...take a picture of it! You would be surprised at how many people overlook that one simple little thing. They either stand their totally transfixed by the unbelievable sight they are seeing, or they run around in little circles like a lunatic screaming madly about UFOs and flying saucers. Only later, after the flying object has flown away do they remember the camera that they had been holding in their hands the entire time.

This does not mean you should leave the scene of the sighting in order to go looking for a camera. It is better to have a detailed description of the UFO with no photo, than to have a photo with no description. Both would be ideal, so if a camera is readily at hand be sure to use it.

There are many different types of cameras available--film, digital, and video of both varieties. The best to use is a film camera because the photos come out sharper and with more clarity, and if any question of the photo's legitimacy should arise, the negative can be examined for signs of trickery.

Digital cameras are more popular in the modern era where practically everybody carries a camera, lap top or cell phone that is capable of taking photos. One of the main problems with digital cameras, aside from their generally poor resolution, is that it is very easy for a digital photo to be faked. Just about anybody with even mediocre computer skills could create a convincing photographic hoax, and unfortunately, many people do. Having to waste time wading through a bunch of phony photos is one of the most aggravating problems an investigator can face.

Video cameras can also be used to document a UFO sighting, and they can provide much more information than a still camera is able to show. The sound of the object, its movement, and the reaction of other people or animals in the immediate vicinity can all be documented with video. One of the main problems encountered when filming with video is camera-shake. People have a tendency to get excited when encountering an unidentified object and as a result they lose their composure. Their heart beats faster, the adrenaline starts pumping, and in some cases they run around in little circles yelling and screaming about UFOs and flying saucers. If they are holding a video camera in their hand at the time the camera will be moving just as much as they are. Hold the camera still, rest it on something, preferably a professional tripod. The more still the camera is the more detailed the images will be. This tip applies to still cameras also. Just try to take the best photo or video you possibly can.

If no camera is available a drawing or sketch might suffice instead. In fact, one private UFO investigator said that in some cases a drawing may actually be preferable to a photo. A drawing not only can depict an image of the UFO, it can also provide clues to the emotional state the witness was in at the time of the sighting, as well as showing their interpretation of what they thought they were seeing. This is especially valuable if more than one witness is present at the scene so that comparisons can be made between them. In any case, whether it be a hand-made sketch, photo or video, it is good to have some type of image to look at.

4. Make Detailed Observations

While I picture may be worth a thousand words there are some things that a photograph just can not portray. Sound, for instance, or smell or feelings. All of these may be just as important, if not more so than a photograph or video. In order to solve an unsolved mystery an investigator needs as many clues as he or she can possibly get. This is why it is important to make detailed observations of all the different aspects of a UFO encounter.

How high was the object? Which direction was it heading? How fast was it moving? The more questions you ask yourself at the time of the sighting, the more answers you will be able to give later on.

Which way was the wind blowing? This may not be something that would be at the forefront of your mind while viewing an unknown object, but it may help to distinguish between a legitimate UFO and a more familiar object like our old buddy the weather balloon. If the object is moving against the wind than it is almost certainly not a balloon!

Other questions you might ask are in regard to how the environment responded to the UFO. Did dogs bark? Did animals run away? Did the grass or trees move abnormally? Was there lightning or thunder? An increase in wind? Even the most insignificant detail could become important later on.

Also, do not forget your own role in the unfolding of your UFO drama. How did you feel during the encounter? Did your hair stand on end? Were you afraid? Did your skin tingle or burn? Did you feel warm or cold? Many of these things could simply be caused by the excitement of the situation but you will never know unless you ask. And you never know what an investigator may ask you.

When it comes to gathering information it is a good idea to keep in mind a simple little rule...it is better to have too much than not enough.

5. Check For Electrical interference

This is a simple but often overlooked detail. Many UFO witnesses report a disruption in their electronic devices in the presence of an unidentified object. The radio will fade out or shut off completely, car engines will die, battery-powered devices will quit working. Usually power is restored once the UFO leaves the scene.

The best way to check to see if there is any type of electrical disruption is pretty obvious...just turn on whatever electronic devices you have and see what happens. If you are near a radio, turn it on. If you are wearing a watch, take a look at it to see if it has stopped. If there is some type of electrical interference, especially if multiple devices are involved, you can be pretty certain that you are dealing with something out of the ordinary.

6. Call Somebody

If you see a UFO one thing you might want to consider doing is to call somebody. This does not mean you should start yelling and screaming for help. Remember rule number one...do not panic. The type of call you should make is a phone call, preferably to someone you know who lives in the area, and ask them if they can see the UFO also. Two witnesses are always better than one, and having somebody there to verify your story might save you a trip to the loony bin.

When you call, ask your buddy to describe what he is seeing to you so you can verify that you are looking at the same thing. It wouldn't do much good for one witness to be looking at a mile-wide triangular-shaped alien space craft while the other witness is looking at Venus. What you want is corroboration rather than an argument. Just consider your phone friend a backup in case your memory isn't as good as it used to be.

7. Do Not Approach

If you are having a close encounter, whether it is with ET or a ball of light in the sky, you might be tempted to get closer to it to get a better look, or to make contact with what may potentially be visiting alien beings. This may not be a wise thing to do, for a variety of reasons.

Many times things that are reported as UFOs are actually naturally occurring phenomenon, but some of these can potentially be dangerous. Ball lightning for instance may look like a big ball of light in the sky, possibly following power lines or cars, and moving in what seems to be an intelligently controlled manner. It is still lightning though and it can produce a powerful electric charge. I can assure you that the last thing you want is to get zapped by a ball of lightning.

Another thing that might potentially be dangerous is the skeptic's old standby, swamp gas. According to some UFO debunkers methane gas can rise up out of a swampy area and somehow ignite producing a glowing colored flame. If true, it could potentially burn an unsuspecting witness. Personally, I don't believe there is such a thing as swamp gas. If the skeptics are going to debunk UFOs than I am going to be skeptical of swamp gas. Where is the proof? Where is the evidence? Still, it might be a good idea to keep your distance just in case.

Hypothetically speaking let us assume that a UFO really is a space craft from another planet and is filled with extraterrestrial beings. Would you really want to rush out and stand underneath it? Have you ever seen the movie Fire in the sky which was based on the experiences of a guy named Travis Walton. He saw a UFO, got out of his pickup and walked underneath it, and disappeared for five days. Judging by what he claims to remember about the incident he is lucky he is still alive and here on Earth.

Thousands of people have reported being abducted by aliens and some of the things they reportedly have experienced are not at all pleasant. And what if the beings are out hunting or on a search and destroy mission? Any innocent bystander could easily end up being their next victim so it is best to not be standing too close, innocently or otherwise. That does not mean you should run away and panic. If an alien race has the ability to travel gazillions of light-years through space than they probably have the capability to find you, no matter where you try to hide. Just don't make yourself an easy target.

Even if the beings are friendly I still would not recommend getting too close to their craft. People have reportedly been injured by doing so. There have been reports of radiation sickness and burns, as well as brain damage, blindness, nerve damage and nausea. Just as a precaution I would advise maintaining a little distance. If the beings want to make contact then let them come to you. Remember, safety first!

8. Get Contact Info

If there are any other witnesses in the area try to get their contact information. A name, address and telephone number would be good, and an email address might be beneficial too. Anything that can help an investigator get in touch with these people later on would be very helpful. It is best to have as many witnesses as possible to help provide details about the incident. The more info, the merrier the investigator will be.

9. Report The Sighting

Okay, you have spotted a UFO, you checked for missing time, you took photos and you made such detailed observations you even counted the number of leaves on the trees. You checked for electrical interference and you called your best buddy who saw the unidentified whatever-it-was too. You even wrote down the contact info of everybody within a two mile radius, including a cute little red-head who just happened to be passing by and didn't even know how to spell UFO. Now what do you do? That's an easy question. You report it to an investigator.

MUFON is probably the most obvious place to file a report. The Mutual UFO network is the largest civilian UFO investigative agency in the world, and even though their reputation has suffered in recent years due to improper management there are still some good investigators there who would be more than willing to take your report. Don't expect to get a lot of feedback from them though. MUFON is notorious for hoarding information. That is one of the most frequent complaints that people have about them and it is one of the things that drives a lot of people away. Even so, in spite of the negative reputation they have acquired, MUFON is still one of the best UFO investigative agencies around.

The National UFO Reporting Center is another good place to file a report. They keep a data base of all the reports that come into them, however, in spite of their long name they are actually a very small operation. NUFORC doesn't really investigate many cases themselves but they do share some of their more interesting finds with private investigators and it is possible they might be able to put you in touch with a good one.

Personally, I think the private UFO investigator is probably one of the best choices when it comes to conducting an investigation...assuming that you can find a good one. People who conduct investigations on their own are doing something that they are truly passionate about doing, and they can bring to an investigation a little more personal attention than you might get from a large organization. Just make sure you find a competent investigator, preferably somebody with an established reputation. The UFO community unfortunately does have its share of flakes and oddballs.

Other official agencies with which you might consider filing a report are the police and the military, especially the Air Force. It is doubtful that they will conduct any type of an investigation, but they will at least keep a record of the report, and if enough people call in to report something sooner or later even these big government beaurocracies will take notice.

Something else you might want to do when reporting a sighting is to get involved with various internet forums or websites. The more people you tell about your sighting or experience the more people will take notice of it, and the better the chance that somebody will look into it and possibly solve it. If nothing else, at least the information will be out there for other people to see.

Internet forums are a very good place to talk about your sightings. There are many forums that specialize in UFOs, like Open Minds Forum and UFO Casebook. The Edge of Reality deals with UFOs as well as other types of paranormal phenomenon and is a good  place to connect with others who may have had similar experiences. The people at these forums will be more than happy to listen to your experiences and offer advice.

10. Keep in Touch

Okay, you reported your sighting to an investigator who dutifully took down all of the information you gave him and promised to conduct a thurough investigation. Now what do you do?

Remain in contact. It is important that you stay in touch with the investigator just in case you have other experiences later on, or you remember more details about the first experience. Any additional details you can think of may prove to be a big help in the investigation.

Another reason you want to stay in contact with the investigator is to stay informed about the results of the investigation. Don't just give somebody all of your info and let them dissappear and never tell you anything about what they discovered. An investigation is a two-way street. You have just as much right to know the details of your experience as any investigator does. Don't let them stonewall you and refuse to share info that they may have discovered about your case. This unfortunately, is what MUFON is infamous for. They have a very bad habit of refusing to release information. If somebody tries to do this to you then I would suggest finding another investigator.

Nobody has more of a right to know the details of your experience than you. After all, you are the witness and it is your experience. An investigator should be there to help you just as much as you are there to help them. The ultimate goal should be finding an explanation for what happened.

Witnessing an unidentified flying object can be a profound, life-altering experience. Whether or not your UFO riddle is ever solved may determine what type of effect it has on you. It could be either positive or negative, large or small, profound or trite. The amount of time and effort you put into an investigation may determine the amount of satisfaction you get out of it.

Just remember, it is your experience...if you follow all of these helpful tips hopefully it will be a positive one.

On the Edge of Area 51

Area 51 has long been a mythical place in UFO circles. Rumor has it that alien spacecraft are being reverse engineered in Super secret underground bunkers connected by a spiderweb of hidden tunnels that spread out beneath the desert floor. Others say that actual extraterrestrial beings are being held in secret locations within the Top Secret facility while efforts are being made to communicate with them. Whether these rumors are true remains to be seen but regardless, the myth seems to have attained legendary status. If Roswell is the UFO community's Mecca than Area 51 is Heaven...or Hell, depending on how you look at it.

Many intrepid UFO hunters have tried to penetrate the veil of secrecy that surrounds the base...and many have been arrested and fined for doing so. The fine can be anywhere from $600 to $1000 dollars for the first offense, and much higher for those who didn't learn their lesson the first time. That still doesn't stop people from trying though. The lure is just too irresistible.

I have already written about the recent trip I took to Nevada and my journey down the Extraterrestrial Highway that culminated with a visit to the Little A' le inn...the local watering hole and alien-themed souvenir shop that sits on the outskirts of the Nevada Test range. This is usually the starting point for those attempting to make the journey to Area 51. People come from all over the world to do so. Having heard  all of the tall-tales about the infamous base, and traveling almost 2000 miles to get there, I was definitely primed for an adventure. The fact that I had a brief encounter with a shady man in black while at the A' le Inn only added fuel to the fire. I was definitely going, one way or another.

Believe it or not, despite the government's official denial that the base even exists, there are several methods one can use to get to it. The first is to drive aimlessly up and down the many dirt roads that criss-cross the desert until you accidentally wander across the boundary...or run out of gas, neither of which would be a good thing to do. Both the desert and the government can be unforgiving.

The second way is to hire somebody to take you there. There is actually a tourist guide service that operates out of Las Vegas and specializes in trips to the front gate of Area 51. The group is called Adventure Photo Tours and they can pick you up at the airport and drive you out to the middle of hell on Earth in air-conditioned comfort. In addition to the base, their tours can also include a visit to see the fleet of unmarked airliners that fly workers to and from the base, some Native American petroglyphs that supposedly resemble aliens, and a visit to the black mailbox and lunch at the Little A' le Inn.  It's not a bad way to see the sights if you don't want to go it alone.

The third way to find the base is with a map. I managed to procure mine from the bartender at the Little A' le Inn. (They sell them there for 33 cents)  In addition to giving detailed driving instructions to the front and rear gates, the map also shows the location of some of the other interesting sites in the area, like the "black" mailbox, Mailbox Road, and Groom Lake Road. Armed with this fiendish little device I hopped in my pickup and headed for Dreamland.

As I bumped and skidded down the dusty dirt roads I couldn't help but wonder what was in store for me. I had seen pictures of the base boundary before, (and even some of the base itself) so I pretty much knew what I was going to see, but actually being there in person is a whole different story. There is an aura of mystery that permeates the desert out there...a feeling that's very hard to explain. It's a sense of dread that echos off the mountains and flows down the dry ravines, sending cold shivers racing down your spine. It's a feeling of being watched...like somebody doesn't want you to be there. Every time I went around a curve I half expected a herd of MiBs to come stampeding out from behind the hills and drag me into some deep, dark, dungeon filled with little gray slanted-eyed cellmates. Definitely not a pleasant thought.

As I rounded the last curve before the base boundary my feelings of being watched were justified. Perched up on top of a hill overlooking the entrance was a white four-wheel drive pickup with two sinister looking guards in it. These are the infamous MiBs, or "camo-dudes" as some people call them because they always wear camouflage clothing. They are members of a private security firm contracted by the military to keep curious onlookers out and the base's secrets in. They reportedly take their job very seriously.

I was mildly surprised to see the Adventure Photo Tours people were there as well. Their big SUV was parked off to the side of the road just before the entrance marker. Two sun-shade wearing tour guides were setting up a camera with the biggest lens I had ever seen and pointing it in the direction of the camo-dudes. They could have counted the whiskers on an aliens face from a mile out with that camera. I was impressed.

I was also impressed with the lone tourist the tour guides were showing the sights to...a beautiful blond with big...uhh...eyes and an intoxicating smile. It was little wonder that two guides came along on the excursion with their single client. I had half a mind to sign up for a tour right there on the spot, even though I was already at the destination. The other half of my brain told me that Area 51 was nearby and waited to be explored. When the buxom beauty finally wandered over a hill to get a closer look at something or another I finally tore my eyes away from her and started reading the signs around me.

"Warning" they said. "Photography of this area is prohibited." That's nice, I thought, as I started snapping pictures. Most people aren't aware that it is actually legal to approach and photograph the boundary, you just can't go across. The boundary is clearly marked with signs and orange stakes stuck in the ground at regular intervals. There are no chain-link fences, minefields or concrete walls to keep trespassers out, but one false step will bring the wrath of the camo-dudes rushing down upon you. They even have miniature cameras and infra-red beams disguised as rocks and hidden in the cactuses just in case anybody tries to sneak across. Attempting to trespass into the interior would not be a good idea.

As I continued taking photos I kept a close eye on the white pickup sitting up on the hill. I wondered if the guards were watching me or the beautiful blond? There was no way to tell through the truck's tinted windows. In an attempt to find out I started to creep closer to one of the boundary markers...closer and closer I went. When I was only a few inches away from it I could dimly feel the camo-dudes giving me the evil eye and then, with a mischievous grin on my face, I reached out and touched the marker.

I know it was a silly thing to do and is probably something a thousand other people have done...but I couldn't help it. I guess the rebellious part of me just isn't going to rest until I get thrown in the slammer. I seriously doubt there was any possibility the guards would have come charging down from their lofty perch just because I touched a sign, but I was still a little bit giddy when I did it...especially since I made sure my foot was across the boundary line at the time. I can now triumphantly claim that I have set foot on Area 51.

Other than that there is not much to see out there. The base is completely surrounded by hills and the outer boundary is a long ways away from the inner perimeter where the action actually takes place. Anything secret would be carefully stored underground or out of sight and away from prying eyes. There used to be a couple of vantage points on nearby mountains where people could legally go and set up telescopes to observe some of the activity at the base, but thanks to the government's infamous land grabs in the 80s and 90s that is no longer possible. Both of the viewing areas at Bald mountain and Freedom Ridge are now off limits.

Whatever mysteries lie within Area 51 are going to have to remain mysteries for now. I don't see any way that anybody could get closer to the base than I did, at least not without getting arrested. The place may as well be an impenetrable fortress surrounded by miles and miles of cactuses, cameras, rattlesnakes and MiBs. Even the photos that I took are not much different than the ones I had already seen posted on the internet.

I'm still glad that I made the journey though. Being there gives you a feeling that you just can't get from looking at photographs. It allows a person to appreciate the isolation and sense of security that surrounds the base. Whatever the government has hidden there is definitely something they do not want people to see. Whether it involves aliens, UFOs or something more earthly in origin, the Top Secret experiments they are conducting there will have to remain a secret...at least for now.