UAP Sightings Soar Across the Western US

In recent years, UAP sightings (formerly UFOs) have increased, particularly in the western United States, prompting the U.S. Department of Defense to treat them as a national security threat. A new study by ESS faculty Rich Medina and Simon Brewer explores how local environmental factors might influence the number of sightings. Using data from the National UFO Research Center, they analyzed 98,000 publicly reported UAP sightings, focusing on two factors: sky view potential (light pollution, cloud cover, and tree canopy) and the likelihood of objects being in the sky (such as proximity to military bases and airports). The map below highlights UAP hotspots across the U.S.

This research was published by Scientific Reports, and featured in an @theU article titled "The West is Best to Spot UFOs" and in Utah Alumni Magazine's "The Truth Is Out There." Dr. Medina and Dr. Brewer also presented their findings at the Leonardo Museum this fall.