As human beings, we look at everything in terms of either/or.

Hot or cold? Left or right? Stay or go? Good or bad? Black or white? Up or down?

Scientists have speculated that the reason we see things in terms of opposites is due to the early stages of our development within our mother’s womb. They’ve theorized that we’re cardio-social animals, a result of our fetal development. More specifically, they posit, we are the way we are because of the very first experiences we have as human beings are those from within our mother’s womb. The rhythm of our mother’s heartbeat, a steady “on-off” pulse, may have more to do with human development and psychology than anything else.

We’re pre-wired to experience life and express ourselves through the lens of binary choices and options. When it comes time to take action and make a decision, it eventually comes down to one option or the other — we have to make a choice.

But Mother Nature doesn’t always play by the same rules.

You need only take a look at the bizarre world of fractals — a universe where the same patterns occur again and again at different scales and sizes — from the very small to the unimaginably large. Ever notice the limbs of a sprawling tree has the same pattern as a flowing river, a lightning strike, blood vessels, neural pathways of the brain, and even huge galactic mega-structures?

The Fibonacci sequence, long heralded for its relevance to “sacred geometry” and “the golden ratio” is another example where Mother Nature refuses to yield in terms of binary solutions, instead opting for an elegant yet infinite curve. The spiral nature of a nautilus shell, a pine cone, and even the arms of a spiral galaxy all share the same mathematical ratio. Here, again we see nature figuring out a solution that does not involve an “either-or” solution.

If Mother Nature doesn’t organize herself in terms of binary, then it stands to reason a binary thought process doesn’t really help us better understand our universe. What may work well in the binary language of computers may actually limit our ability to comprehend and appreciate how nature really works.

That’s why it’s so important that we strive to open our minds and consider the multitudes of possibilities that exist when it comes to topics on the fringe like Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP)s.

There are more than two solutions to any problem.

Imagine if the only way to get home at the end of your day was to limit yourself to a maddening series of left and right turns? It would probably take you forever to actually get home. What if, in order to fly from New York to Los Angeles, you had to fly over Mexico and Canada first? Certainly not the most efficient way to fly!

I’m always challenging myself to see new possibilities.

One day, just to test myself, I turned on the light in the kitchen. When the time came to turn it off, I told myself I couldn’t take my normal route through the living room and instead, I had to find an alternate route. The day after that, I told myself I could no longer use the kitchen or the foyer to turn off the light, and quickly remembered I could enter the kitchen through the garage. By the fifth night, I was desperate for alternate routes, finding myself literally climbing through a kitchen window, determined to see how many different paths there truly were. By the 10th night, I resorted to throwing off electrical circuit breakers at the electrical panel.

At one point I even contemplated entering through the attic and sawing my way through the ceiling if I had to.

The point to this exercise was not to obsess over different scenarios. Rather the point was to force myself into recognizing there are more than two solutions to a problem, in this case, more than two avenues to turn off a kitchen light. In fact, we are only limited by our imagination as far as options, and of course the ire of our spouse if we decide to saw through a kitchen ceiling.

Binary decisions may work well when you are standing at the edge of a cliff, but life is more like a minefield — going left or right can both be the wrong decision.

Binary thinking frustrates progress.

In the case of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), there tend to be two schools of thought, either, “It must be a secret Government program” or “It’s aliens from outer space.” That’s why it’s so important that we strive to open our minds and consider the multitudes of possibilities that exist when it comes to the topic of UAPs.

But, if Mother Nature has taught us one thing, the answer may not be an “either-or” calculus. Some of the other possibilities could include a foreign adversarial technology, a multi-dimensional capability, or even a spatial-temporal aspect that we have yet to discover. And of course, as much as I disagree with the idea, it could have a spiritual/religious relevance. As unsettling as the idea may be, it is still a possibility.

UAPs are perhaps the greatest enigma we face in our modern times. As such, it is imperative we approach the issue with objectivity and open-mindedness in order that we don’t prematurely rule out a possible origin. Ultimately, this mystery may not have an either-or answer and may truly be far more bizarre than we ever thought possible.

We’ll never really know all the possible answers until we consider exploring the gray areas between black and white.

Today, much of our government’s business is conducted behind closed doors, and mostly for good reason.

There are numerous secret programs, secret agencies, secret committees of Congress, secret laws, and even a secret courtroom. Secrecy allows our government to collect and share information, and even make decisions that otherwise could fall into enemy hands or be exploited.

Ultimately, the purpose of keeping things secret in the government is to protect sources and methods and ensure the flow and integrity of information is maintained so decision-makers can make decisions with the very best data available. It’s no surprise that governments will go to great lengths to protect the information they consider sensitive. In fact, the more sensitive information is perceived, the more it is protected.

Nowhere is this more true than the shadowy world of intelligence and espionage.

A famous example of secretive programs was once run by a colleague of mine, Dr. Harold Puthoff. The Stargate Program was a secret intelligence collection effort straight out of science fiction books. Established by the Central Intelligence Agency under a different name, and later adopted by the Defense Intelligence Agency, the purpose of Stargate was to train intelligence collectors in advanced human cognitive capabilities and use them to collect information.

Better known as the psychic spies, these elite individuals utilized the not very well-understood phenomena of precognition and “remote viewing” to conduct espionage against our adversaries.

Many in the scientific community were initially dismissive of the idea but were later mesmerized by the fidelity and accuracy of the data collected. Was the U.S. Government really tapping into things like witchcraft as some had proposed, or was there a more scientific explanation?

Perhaps one of the more controversial programs in U.S. history, it certainly wasn’t the first or the last to explore the weird world of quantum physics for the purposes of intelligence and information gathering.

Some of the most “out there” research happening in the government right now is in the world of quantum physics.

Quantum mechanics is a physics theory that studies the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level — and now, it’s helping to shed light on some of the most mysterious areas of science.

Areas including teleportation, quantum entanglement, and zero-point energy are providing new insights into the very fabric of our reality and space-time. Ideas popularized by sci-fi shows like StarTrek are proving more real than you might think.

Most people would be surprised to learn that we have been teleporting objects such as electrons for over a decade, and most recently, the Micius satellite confirmed successful teleportation of a quantum object from Earth to orbit, smashing the previous record.

Yes, teleportation is real.

Another example of government involvement in the weird world of quantum mechanics is the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO). A partnership between Caltech, MIT, and the National Science Foundation, LIGO’s job is to detect small fluctuations in gravitational waves that are caused by stellar black holes colliding millions and billions of light years away.

Until recently, the idea that gravity waves even existed, let alone compress and stretch space-time like a Slinky was only theoretical. Why are gravitational waves important? Because they prove that the very space and time we live in is, in fact, flexible, and sometimes very flexible.

If you’re scratching your head right now, you probably aren’t alone.

Our recent understanding of these weird quantum properties was only made possible because at some point, the U.S. Government decided it was worth pursuing and became involved.

The mystery surrounding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) may seem whimsical; after all, other efforts including the now famous “Project Blue Book” looked at the same fanciful phenomena, along with several other previous efforts and came up with nothing…or did they?

When I headed the Pentagon’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), we were doing exactly the same thing others before us were doing.

But AATIP had an advantage its predecessors didn’t — a better understanding of the quantum world. Only recently have we made advancements enough in our understanding of science that for the first time, many of the perplexing behaviors of UAP — such as instantaneous acceleration, hypersonic velocities, low observability, trans-medium travel, and even anti-gravity — can now be explained by quantum physics and not voodoo science.

Finally, we were at the point where the physics had caught up with the observations, the electro-optical data, and other hard data. We now had a glimpse into better understanding how these things behave and perform.

Books written by Harvard professors and renowned scientists at MIT, Stanford, Cambridge, and Oxford are shedding new light on the mathematics involved with this super boutique field of science. No longer is the quantum world a scientific field of theory, it is now a practical field of reality. It may explain the very behavior of the universe and everything in it.

It might even help demystify the conundrum of “faster than light travel,” or frankly speaking, the ability to bend space-time in a way where you can go across great distances in an instant and still not break any laws of physics.

Eureka!

Laws are meant to be broken.

Perhaps in traffic court, it’s best not to tell the judge that.

But in physics, we’re learning that some laws can be bent. Let’s look at quantum entanglement as an example.

For two particles to be “entangled,” when one particle is acted upon, the other reacts. This holds true whether the particles are separated by an inch, a foot, a mile, or much, much further.

Here’s a much-oversimplified demonstration of what it looks like:

Say I’m holding two pens, one in each hand. I take the pen in my left hand and throw it left, to the farthest reaches of our visible universe, 13.5 billion light years over the horizon. Then I take the pen in my right hand and send that pen to the farthest point of the visible universe to the right, in the opposite direction of the first pen. Now we have approximately 27 billion light years in distance between each pen, right? This means it takes light (the fastest thing in the known universe) 27 billion years to travel from the first pen to the second.

Yet, if my two pens are quantum entangled, as I act on one pen, the other will immediately respond. Somehow, the two pens have managed to instantly communicate an action that takes light more than 27 billion years to reach.

Confused? That’s okay. Albert Einstein was so beguiled by quantum entanglement, he called it “spooky action at a distance.”

So how is this possible if light is supposedly the fastest thing in the universe? It’s possible that quantum communication has found a shortcut. Maybe the communication that occurs at the quantum level doesn’t recognize distance the same way we do, or even the way light does.

Perhaps, in the quantum world, distance isn’t even a consideration.

Some have proposed that space is like a giant sponge or swiss cheese, with tiny holes that allow you to zip from one point to another without having to traverse over or around the actual sponge or cheese itself. Imagine if we had the technology to exploit these tiny holes.

Another possibility is that at the quantum level, communication occurs by connecting two areas of space-time at a single point. Similar to placing a pencil smudge on the edge of a sheet of paper, then folding together opposite ends of the paper together so the pencil smudge on one end rubs off on the other side of the paper.

Scientists now believe that there are other things can indeed move faster than the speed of light. Recent observations supporting “Inflation Theory” propose that space itself can expand faster than the speed of light. In essence, space between two objects can expand so rapidly, that even though the objects themselves are not moving faster than light, the space between the two objects certainly does.

The one thing we realize is that, as strange as the quantum world may be, it is indeed real.

Quantum physics helps us explain the behavior of UAP.

All the reports of UAP have something in common: the weird and erratic way the unfamiliar crafts move through the sky.

The first report of a “flying saucer” dates back to 1947 when a pilot saw nine objects resembling boomerangs in the sky, each moving “like a saucer if you skip it across the water.” In 2003, a New Zealand eyewitness described seeing a “disc-shaped silver UFO with erratic vertical and horizontal movements.” Thousands of reports by military and civilians from around the world have continued to report similar characteristics.

Then, in December 2017, the Department of Defense released its first “official footage” of UFO encounters with the military. In the videos, the trained military pilots — who know exactly what both foreign and domestic aircraft look like when flying — are completely stumped by what they’re witnessing. The craft dart to one side, then zip across the screen to another point, seemingly defying the laws of science.

How are they able to maneuver this way?

UAP don’t seem to be bound by the same limitations and interpretations we have of space-time. They’re here one moment, gone the next. We can safely assume that whatever technology is being used, it’s likely far superior to ours.

It’s time for a paradigm change.

Back in the 1800s, the director of the U.S. Patent Trademark Office predicted that in 20 years, there would no longer be a need for patents because everything would have already been invented.

Pretty short-sighted, right? But a similar thing happened with UAP. With Project Blue Book, the U.S. Air Force compiled reports of tens of thousands of UFO sightings over 17 years. But in 1966, another Air Force committee published the Condon Report, which concluded that most of the sightings examined were explainable.

Then the 2017 DoD disclosure occurred, directly contradicting the findings in the Condon Report. We realized we had not discovered all there was to discover — not by a long shot.

AATIP succeeded where others failed simply because our understanding of the physics finally caught up to our observations.

Now, equipped with more information than ever before, we’re on the precipice of some serious revelations and discoveries about our place in the universe.

Enter The Quantum World: What The Mechanics Of Subatomic Particles Mean For The Study Of UAP, Our… was originally published in HackerNoon.com on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Who comes to mind when you picture a leader?

Maybe it’s the CEO of a Fortune 500 company, sitting behind an expensive oak desk on Wall Street, protecting the company’s bottom line. Or, you might picture a uniformed military officer, barking orders at subordinates. Or maybe you fancy the idea of an ancient conqueror on horseback, swinging their sword wildly through a horde of barbarians while arrows sail above their head and shields crash into each other.

The truth of the matter is, most people have an idea of what they think a “leader” should look like but few can explain the actual qualities and traits that make someone a leader.

Qualities such as decisiveness, intelligence, and savvy have been the subject of countless books on the matter. In fact, there is an entire industry now dedicated to coaching up-and-coming “leaders” where they explore in great detail the supposed traits and even habits of what makes a good leader.

In reality, however, it’s not so easy to define. Rarely are traits such as compassion, humility, and measuredness considered leadership traits, and instead often relegated to those of humanitarians and philanthropic pursuits.

I’ve spent my career, and a good portion of my adult life, in the National Security arena and with the military. Over the years, I have seen my share of both good leaders and those who think they are good leaders. Many individuals in this second category believe that a good leader is one who wins wars when in fact, a good leader is one who can avoid going to war in the first place.

Too often, we confuse the roles of a “leader” with that of a “manager,” and even then, sometimes those who claim to be a good manager are not even capable of that.

Here’s what true leadership really entails:

In order to lead, you must first learn to know what it’s like to follow.

Having been to war several times, I’ve seen a few great leaders and I’ve seen many people who thought they were great leaders.

With the latter, it often had disastrous consequences. Although not always the case, many times those officers who were indeed good leaders, often had prior experience as enlisted members before becoming an officer. It was this prior experience that allowed these good leaders to better relate to the men and women under their charge. It also allowed them to appreciate the impact each decision had on the safety and wellbeing of the troops and the sacrifice involved with obeying orders and the consequences of bad decisions. As such, decisions made by these individuals were usually made based on ensuring the welfare of individuals and mission accomplishment instead of self-idealized values of supposed leadership qualities.

This understanding also translated into better performance and morale by the troops, which also meant quicker and more successful mission accomplishment with fewer casualties.

A real leader isn’t in the position for status, money, or control. They’re in it because they are passionate about the individuals they work with and are humbled by the responsibilities it requires to keep them safe and successful.

An effective leader understands the difference between a tactical loss and a strategic gain.

In the corporate world, this means that a leader will encourage even their best performers to seek career-enhancing opportunities and training even at the detriment of the office’s performance because ultimately it benefits the overall organization in the long run. Of course, a good leader picks up the slack!

A true leader always puts others before themselves and is sympathetic to senior-level desires, but ultimately, their allegiance is to the people they work alongside.

Here’s a simple test I often explained to junior staff for figuring out whether someone is the real deal:

Do they say the words “me,” “mine,” or “my” in the context of the greater office? If so, they’re probably not a leader. For example, when you hear someone say things like “my office,” “my staff,” ”my people,” or “my mission,” that should be a warning sign. A true leader will use the words “our”, “us,” and “we” instead.

The differences here are subtle, but they say a lot about the psyche of an individual and their true motivations. Psychologically, a good leader understands that the mission’s success depends on the larger group’s ability to succeed, not just the leader.

Leaders often hate to lead but love the people and the mission.

Many people would be surprised to know that George Washington, our nation’s first President and arguably the most instrumental leader of the American Revolution, never wanted to be President.

In fact, upon being unanimously elected by the electoral college, this self-described introvert told his friend, “Movements to the chair of government will be accompanied with feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.” The reason for this was Washington’s understanding of the enormous responsibility this new position required.

Upon accepting the position of President, Washington said, “While I realize the arduous nature of the task which is conferred on me and feel my inability to perform it, I wish there may not be reason for regretting the choice. All I can promise is only that which can be accomplished by an honest zeal.”

As much of a contradiction as this may seem, this is precisely the qualities one would want in a President.

Here’s how to weed out the pretenders:

• Real leaders don’t want to be in charge. They are committed to the “mission,” not submission. They focus on the responsibilities and not the privileges.
• They don’t need to remind others they are in charge. People follow because they want to, not because they are told to. Leaders accept all failures and give credit to others for all successes.
• They rely on other voices. They value dissenting views and incentivize other perspectives while encouraging alternative analysis.
• They sacrifice for their subordinates. They provide opportunities beyond what is given to themselves. They enable others to succeed and advance beyond their immediate office even if the leader has to pick up the slack.
• They know the difference between diplomacy and politics. Negotiations are done for the collective good, not to the benefit of the leader. They avoid gossip but value intelligence and insight.
• They are risk aware, not risk-averse. They minimize personnel risk over personal risk. They balance potential opportunities with potential consequences.

If you find yourself in a leadership position and feel like a fish out of water, it’s probably a good sign. It may mean your motives are pure.

Real leaders understand success depends on the people around them.

Instead of chasing status and salary, real leaders realize people are the most important asset of any company or organization.

They don’t compete with their co-workers or obsess over garnering the most praise from peers, executives, or board members. Instead, they’re concerned about fostering an atmosphere where everyone thrives, even if it’s at the leader’s own personal or professional detriment.

If you want to see what leadership looks like, watch kids on the playground. The real leader isn’t the one dividing friends into teams or giving out orders to his or her clique. Instead, it’s the kid who makes sure no one is left out. It’s the kid who runs over when someone sprains an ankle, asks if they’re okay, and offers to get some ice or share half of his sandwich. The leader gives an umbrella to a friend while the leader gets wet. Ultimately, it is those kids who express kindness, mercy, and courage, even when it’s unpopular.

Let’s take the example of Ms. Kesha Thomas, a teenage, African-American woman who in 1996 found herself in the middle of an angry KKK demonstration in Ann Arbour, MI. As the demonstration turned increasingly ugly, one of the KKK members was chased by a rightfully angry mob down the street. As the mob closed in on the KKK member, in an unbelievable act of courage, Ms. Thomas threw herself on top of the KKK member, shielding him from certain attack and serious injury, or worse. Why would a complete stranger protect a racist and bigot who has sworn to be her enemy? Because that day Ms. Thomas taught the world once again that leadership comes in all shapes, sizes, colors, and genders.

Investing in other human beings over yourself is a fundamental leadership quality.

Similar scenes play out every day in our offices, social groups, and even in the highest offices of the U.S. Government.

I can’t count how many times I have seen office managers assign poor performance ratings to their subordinates while recommending higher ratings for themselves. A true leader recognizes the fact that it is the leader’s responsibility to ensure the professional success of every member of the team. Until that occurs, a real leader will refuse to accept any rating above their lowest performer’s rating.

Bottom Line: A real leader should both prosper and suffer with their team!

Over the last year, the media has often highlighted the fact that I was the “leader” of the Pentagon’s secretive Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), hunting UFOs for national security. In truth, however, the final assessment as to whether I was indeed a “leader” is not up to me and must be judged by those who I worked with.

The success of AATIP had less to do with me personally and more to do with the fact we had amazingly talented individuals working with us from all walks of life, experiences, and perspectives. These individuals were not only my colleagues, but they were also my friends and even buddies in the fox-hole.

Leadership is a lifelong pursuit — a sacred quest that may never be achieved. But in the end, it is the pursuit itself that counts.

Those Who Think They’re Leaders Usually Aren’t. Here’s Why was originally published in HackerNoon.com on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

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?

To answer that question, let’s look at the origins of the word “paranormal.” The prefix “para” simply means above, beside, or beyond. We use the word “parachute” to describe a life-saving device that deploys above your head to hopefully help you hit the ground with a thud and not a splat. Similarly, the word “paramedic” usually elicits the mental picture of a lifesaver or a first responder working above or beside you. In both cases, each word is used to describe something positive and beneficial.

In fact, the English language is full of words where the prefix “para” is used as an integral part of the word’s meaning.

So why is it that when the prefix “para” is used before the word “normal,” we automatically assume elements of fringe science, taboo topics, and witchcraft? After all, the meaning of the word paranormal is relative — what’s paranormal today may be considered commonplace tomorrow.

Allowing ourselves to make these types of assumptions about the paranormal at best limits our ability to conduct serious study and at worst, completely paralyzes us with the fear of stigma and peer ridicule.

Here’s how to avoid those pitfalls and dig deeper:

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.

For example, Ancient Mayans and Aztecs throughout Latin America viewed solar eclipses as paranormal, just as Halley’s Comet was considered paranormal for several centuries throughout Europe. When the concept of electricity was at its infancy during the last century, it was common to read headlines proclaiming “a true wonder of science,” “a modern marvel,” and “a miracle of physics!” Likewise, the introduction of the telegraph, wireless technology, and even antibiotics were all met with the same wonder and amazement and at the same time suspiciousness and caution.

Of course, now we realize all of these advancements were simply a natural development of science.

The truth of the matter is that “paranormal” really just refers to anything we don’t already have a solid scientific understanding at the present time. Even today, to a remote Amazonian tribe, a simple photograph may still be suspected of having soul-stealing powers.

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.

Without expounding upon the merits of each here, suffice it to say, research into the “paranormal” has sometimes led to our better understanding of the natural universe in areas like quantum mechanics, electromagnetic energy, and human biology.

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.

But even though the evidence overwhelmingly supports the legitimate study of these potentially highly combat capable phenomena, we choose to simply look in the opposite direction because the topic is too taboo. Assuming a paranormal area is not worth pursuing on the grounds of stigma is dangerous.

In this case, we need more information, not less.

It takes time to change our perception of the paranormal, but we have to start somewhere.

Complicating our ability to receive new information, today’s media is plagued with the “fake news” phenomenon.

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.

When it comes to UAP, it will likely take time to overcome the stigma and preconceived notions to the truth at heart.

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.

Most of Earth’s species are still awaiting discovery according to recent studies. And Mother Earth is but one of eight unremarkable planets revolving around our Sun, and our Sun is only one of an estimated 250 billion (250,000,000,000) stars in our Milky Way galaxy, and our galaxy is only one of an estimated 2 trillion (2,000,000,000,000) galaxies in the observable universe.

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

Everything in Science Is Paranormal Until It Isn’t. was originally published in HackerNoon.com on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

In our time on earth, human beings have learned that information — or its absence — can be the difference between life and death. For our prehistoric ancestors, not knowing a tiger was prowling outside the cave could constitute a fatal lack of knowledge.

We live in a time when the lines between knowledge and belief are increasingly blurred.

When I was with the Department of Defense, part of my job was to inform leadership and commanders of the situation on the battlespace. Naturally, providing key leadership with timely, accurate information is critical to maintaining a decisive advantage over an adversary and avoid surprises.

When briefing leadership, I found it helpful to separate information into four categories:

• Information that we know
• Information that we think
• Information that we believe
• Information that we don’t know

During these briefings, it was tempting to confuse information I knew to be factual with information I believed to be true.

Unfortunately, the confusion between fact and belief can foreclose our ability to receive actual facts and data with an open mind. As you can imagine, when it comes to National Security, knowing and believing can be two entirely different things.

As a recent example, prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom, the U.S. Government conflated its knowledge of Saddam Hussein’s military capabilities with the belief that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction.

This confusion of information ultimately led to the Iraq War. Without passing on the validity of the invasion, the rationale that weapons of mass destruction would be unleashed on the U.S. by pro-Al Qaeda Iraqi forces was definitely flawed.

It’s hard work to revise deeply-held notions about what’s fact and what isn’t, but it’s crucial that we try. There’s a lot at stake.

We can’t make progress unless we learn to distinguish between fact and belief.

There’s been significant social stigma in recent decades around the topic of UFOs because it’s so often associated with weird conspiracies and, in some cases, straight-up con artists.

And many of those who do believe that UFOs exist really only want to believe in aliens, which limits meaningful progress in the field.

UAP has even been associated with demons and anti-Judeo Christian beliefs.

I experienced this first-hand during my time working at the U.S. Government’s Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), where certain senior government officials thought our collection of facts on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) was dangerous to their philosophical beliefs.

In fact, my AATIP predecessor’s career was ruined because of misplaced fear by an elite few. Rather than accept the data as provided by a top-rank rocket scientist, they decided the data was a threat to their belief system and instead, destroyed his career because of it.

Although in private each confided to me they knew the phenomena was real, it still contradicted their view of the world and their beliefs. Therefore, they viewed the effort as an affront to their religious narrative and belief system.

To be clear, these were some of the most incredibly competent and loyal patriots I have ever had the privilege to work with, and their motivations were sincere. Several were dear friends despite my disagreement that UAP were demonic in nature.

If we continue to act on belief alone rather than accompanied by knowledge, we slow down mankind’s progress and prevent ourselves from understanding the natural state of things. Many innovations which the public was initially skeptical of — like vaccines, X-rays, and even the internet — turned out to be extremely beneficial to mankind. It took overcoming cynicism and opening ourselves up to unfamiliar but factual data and observations for society to fully take advantage of these breakthroughs.

Knowledge doesn’t necessarily have to be at odds with belief, but any well-grounded belief should always make room for new knowledge.

Tabloids, social media, and even politicians profit from conflating knowledge with belief.

Today, there are entire industries that profit from obscuring the truth by conflating facts with supposition. Tabloids and gossip columns organize their entire business model based on publishing salacious, yet mostly uncorroborated stories. The logic being, if it’s mostly true, then the entire thing must be true, too.

Social media serves to further confuse what we know to be true and what we believe might be true.

With a click of a button, people are sharing their opinions as facts, and now more than ever, people are willing to believe in those opinions as facts.

One has to look no further than the gluttony of web celebrities pushing commercial goods, from miracle cosmetics to diet remedies to spiritual wellness, each spokesperson du jour swearing by their product, only to move on to another one the next week.

Likewise, politicians frequently frame campaign promises in terms of belief. They promise they’ll lower taxes, educate more children, or feed more people, relying on their constituents will believe their words rather than know their voting track record.

As voters soon find out, these proclamations are usually based less on facts and more on emotional and personal beliefs. In fact, entire campaign slogans often blur the lines deliberately between knowing and believing. One of the most popular and effective slogans in recent history was recently used by a former Presidential candidate; “Change you can believe in.”

Again, I am not passing judgment on any particular party — both parties do it as a habit. But as a voter, it is important to distinguish between a campaign fact and a campaign belief.

Our survival hinges on our ability to accept new information.

In 17th-century Salem, Massachusetts, villagers’ unfounded beliefs that certain individuals were witches and warlocks were taken as fact, resulting in the torture, drowning, and burning of innocent people. In the present day, of course, we are repulsed by such ignorance, yet it persists in many parts of the world.

But whether you’re talking about “witches,” government policies, religion, or anomalies in the sky, it’s critical that we learn how to distinguish between fact and belief.

The only thing worse than lacking knowledge is attempting to make decisions based on a false belief.

Humans have only been able to accomplish all that we have because we are able to receive and process new information, and adapt to new realities. As for the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, we have a choice. We can allow our beliefs to fill in the gaps or we can continue to doggedly pursue data in hopes that what we know informs what we believe.

What We Know And What We Believe Are Not Always The Same Thing. was originally published in Ascent Publication on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Like most other biological systems on this planet, humans are largely motivated by self-preservation and conflict avoidance.

As a species, we tend to avoid associating ourselves with anything that will isolate us from the larger group or make us sound strange, or that might draw negative attention from our peers.

In essence, stigma results in a paralysis of communication.

And when left unaddressed, it exerts a chilling influence over society and across generations. This is true whether we are trying to find the cause for diseases, reasons for environmental change, or primers for global conflict.

Throughout history, there are times when we, as a society, found it more convenient and socially acceptable to ignore uncomfortable topics. The results were often catastrophic both to our moral fiber and the health of our species. Stigma regarding certain psychological conditions once led to a life sentence in an asylum and forced lobotomies simply because stigma prevented families having a conversation about mental illness.

There has been similar social stigma in recent decades around the topic of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), or UFOs — a topic that has been relegated to conspiracy theorists, B-Movie villains, and the weird uncle no one wants to talk to anymore. As was the case with other topics that hold stigma, many people would rather look the other way than be associated with what’s been labeled “crazy,” or “fringe.”

When I was assigned Director of the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), my colleagues and I experienced enough to know with absolute certainty that UAPs exist. Furthermore, they don’t seem to care if whether or not we believe in them and they are here with or without our permission.

How can we have an honest conversation about National Security and humanity if we can’t even address the topic of a potential threat or opportunity?

Consider this example from pop culture. In the famous Harry Potter series, the evil wizard Voldemort is so vile that other wizards are afraid to even utter his very name. The idea is if you don’t mention his name, it minimizes the threat and makes him less real. But ironically, the stigma of his name only makes him more powerful.

Refusing to acknowledge UAPs in our airspace is no different.

If we don’t overcome the social stigma about UAPs and address them, we may end up on the wrong side of history — only in this case, we’re not talking about fantasy and wizards, we are talking about reality and national security.

Here’s why we can’t afford to allow stigma to drive our fears and bury our heads in the sand:

Social stigma hinders government processes.

Social stigma is often the product of fear concerning topics that have no answers and are poorly understood. Project Blue Book provides a useful example.

From 1952–1969, the U.S. Air Force conducted a series of studies on UAPs. The goals of Project Blue Book were to determine whether UAPs were a national security threat and to scientifically analyze UFO-related data. For 17 years, Project Blue Book compiled reports of tens of thousands of UFO sightings, classifying 700 of these incidents as “unidentified.”

In 1966, the Air Force requested another committee, headed by Dr. Edward Condon, to look into these sightings. Two years later, they released the “Condon Report,” which concluded that the sightings they examined showed no signs of unusual activity. This prompted the Air Force to shut down Project Blue Book the following year.

Upon its dismantling, the project announced that despite nearly one thousand unidentified sightings, there was no evidence of extraordinary phenomena in our airspace.

These dismissive conclusions in the public versions of both Project Blue Book and the Condon Report simply weren’t supported by the facts. There were hundreds of credible eyewitness reports by trained observers, many with high-level security clearances, who witnessed these objects. Our country has put people in the electric chair based on the testimony of just two corroborating witnesses who aren’t particularly trained in the art of observation.

As is the case with other controversial topics, this verifiable evidence was suppressed and diluted due to stigma surrounding the topic of UAPs.

But there are always two sides to an argument.

During the time of the inquiries, the U.S. Government was in the middle of a cold war and, in all fairness, could not afford to be distracted on a wild goose chase for which they had no answers. As long as Americans weren’t under attack from these unusual phenomena, attention was rightfully placed towards more tangible matters. I don’t necessarily agree with that mindset, but I understand it.

Self-imposed stigma often makes a problem worse.

Tabloids and social media have certainly not helped the issue of stigma. These outlets frequently provide their consumers with sensationalized stories that only reinforce the stigma of certain topics.

The rise of social media means that now, everyone has a voice.

But many of those voices are less motivated by truth and instead seek to spread their own agendas. A simple search on Google about the program I once helped run, AATIP, results in hundreds of hits, many of these from purportedly reputable sites with “Deep-State” sources. These sites are run by the same individuals who claim to have inside knowledge of UAPs but have never provided one shred of evidence or proof that they have access to Government insiders.

But not all social media sites or Youtube channels have it wrong. Those sites which emphasize data collection, facts, and objectivity are usually on the right track. Surprisingly, some sites appear to have a strong understanding of the bizarre nature of the phenomena and a few well-placed sources of information. One specific example I have found is “UFOJesus,” a humorous YouTube channel that seems to have some credible inside information and insight.

No matter the medium, frank and honest conversation is crucial to moving forward as a society.

Overcoming stigma is key to our survival as a species.

If there is one thing that nature has shown us time and time again, it’s that we either adapt, or we die out.

As a species, it’s crucial to understand the things we can’t explain, in order to survive. And that means being open to new ideas, possibilities, and data. It’s always been this way, dating back to when mankind lived in caves. If you heard something roaming outside, you had to investigate. If you didn’t, you and your family would be unaware of a potential predator.

At the same time, an animal wandering around outside your cave could also mean food, which would keep your family alive so they could then flourish. If you stayed in the cave and never ventured outside, you might survive the night but probably not in the long run.

When it comes to UFOs, ignoring the unknown is similarly harmful because it might mean failing to seize upon opportunities and new understandings.

As a society, we have to recognize that stigma serves only to keep our heads in the sand. Our future depends on transparency and truth.

A career’s worth of intelligence work for the U.S. Government has taught me one key lesson: national security is a lot like playing a game of chess. You have to anticipate your opponent’s every move in order to remain one step ahead.

Disclosing your strategy will be used against you. But if you recognize certain opportunities, you can win the match.

When I headed the government’s highly sensitive Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program (AATIP), I worked with a team to assess whether a particular chess piece — in this case in the form of an unfamiliar aerial technology — was a threat to our side of the chess board.

If it was, we had to know how to counter it.

Since the Government views Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP) as a potential national security issue, they’re secretive by necessity. They don’t want to reveal any information to a potential enemy.

But there are risks to keeping that information classified.

Say the person who first learned how to harness fire never shared it with the next generation, or the person who invented the telescope threw it away when he was done using it. What if the creator of the wheel decided it was too labor intensive for others to build and decided, “Forget it”?

As a species, we’re meant to evolve. And we needed those advancements to get to where we are today. Reports of strange crafts with seemingly inexplicable properties have been circulating within the U.S. Government for at least 70 years, which suggests it isn’t going away. There is “something out there.”

Declassifying certain information about UAP and sharing it with the public could lead to new technological discoveries, new forms of medical research, and a broader view of how humanity understands reality.

Here’s why:

A government must assume anything is a threat until it has been proven otherwise.

When determining whether an unknown entity is friend or foe, the U.S. Government looks at factors including capabilities, intentions, vulnerabilities, and exploitability. A close look at these factors reveals just how little UAPs are understood.

Advancements in our understanding of physics at the quantum level have helped shed faint light on the potential science behind UAPs. But these advancements have also shown us that UAPs have superior technical knowledge as well.

If these capabilities fell into the hands of a foreign adversary, it would be a decisive game-changer.

Likewise, the intentions of UAPs haven’t been made clear to us at this point. There could be a number of reasons for their presence, ranging from peaceful curiosity to a probe for battlespace preparation. The possibilities are numerous.

UAP vulnerabilities, however, remain a complete mystery. Some have hypothesized that there’s a correlation between UAPs and our nuclear capabilities, while others have suggested that nuclear-generated electromagnetic pulses are a potential weakness.

Regardless, we still don’t really know what vulnerabilities UAPs might have short of speculation. Right now, it’s anyone’s guess.

From a national security perspective, exploitation is the holy grail of endeavors. It’s critical to determine whether UAP technology could be reverse-engineered and used to our benefit, but we can’t exploit such technology unless we first understand it.

When it comes to UAPs, the U.S. knows less than it should, and perhaps much less than our adversaries.

The potential rewards outweigh the risks.

There is always a risk involved when it comes to communicating national security issues to the public. But it’s subjective. The significance of that risk depends on who you ask.

If you ask a military leader, for example, they would say government secrecy about advanced aerospace phenomena is crucial because you want to avoid broadcasting your capabilities and intentions to your potential enemy.

A politician would view UAPs completely differently. They may ask, “Is this something potential voters need to know, or will concealing it cause my constituents to lose faith in me? How does this discussion affect the voters and my ability to represent them?”

A religious figure, on the other hand, would likely be more concerned with the religious and philosophical implications UAPs might have on his or her faith.

There are countless examples throughout history of individuals challenging the prevailing systems of power with radical scientific ideas.

When Galileo told the church hundreds of years ago that Earth was not the center of the solar system, for example, they nearly killed him for it.

As someone without a political or religious agenda, I’m free to say the rewards outweigh the risks in this situation. For example, in December 2017 our team at To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science helped release U.S. military footage of UAPs. No government imploded, no religion dissolved.

Like Galileo, our mission is simple. Collect and disseminate the truth about the unknown. As long as the risks don’t compromise national security, the rewards can benefit all.

Scientific truths help push society forward.

At this point, there’s no question about whether UAPs are out there — they are. People can choose to either continue to live with their heads buried in the sand, or they can take a proactive approach to the phenomenon.

Centuries ago, when mankind first stood on the shores of a beach and contemplated sailing across the horizon, the chorus shouted, “You’re crazy! You’re going to fall off the Earth! There are sea monsters!”

But now, in the 21st century, people travel across oceans every day. What our ancestors thought were sea monsters are great white sharks, blue whales, and giant squid. It turns out that they’re just another part of our natural environment.

Once people committed to discovering the truth for themselves, it was no longer mystical, it was just nature.

But because government processes demand secrecy when it comes to classified information, false knowledge about UAPs spreads rapidly. Secrecy empowers people selling their snake oil and YouTubers profit from peddling their ill-informed narratives about UFOs. Soon people start believing Elvis lives on the mothership — just as they once believed you could fall off the edge of the Earth.

The more knowledge people have, the better they will be able to master their own destinies, and not be held hostage to the monsters of their imaginations.

Why Unidentified Aerial Phenomena Are A National Security Risk And Also An Opportunity For Progress was originally published in HackerNoon.com on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.