The UAP Disclosure Fund, under the authorship of Board of Directors Member Luis Elizondo, has developed a new acronym for UFO and related studies. This time, the thankfully-brief EADT moniker (for "Emerging All-Domain Technologies") makes perfect sense. The policy brief proposes the creation of a senior White House advisor on the subject, an EADT “czar.” Christopher Sharp notes the details on the "whats" and "whys" of this proposal. Highly-qualified expert Marik von Rennenkampff makes clear why this is such a good move, and the "Policy Brief" itself may be accessed through this article. Keith Basterfield picks up on this development, adding half a dozen Sol Foundation "researched based" reports in Six "White Papers" and a "Policy Brief". Keith summarizes the intent of both worthy document sets. And on a pertinent subject, John Greenewald informs that FAA Emails Shed Light on UAP Tracking Amid Chinese Balloon Scare. Another FOIA success has yielded 129 pages of documents, of which "several emails stand out for their direct relevance to UAP discussions." (WM)

In 1663 a collection of bones from a narwhal, a rhino and a mammoth were essentially thrown together to build what came to be known as the "Magdeburg Unicorn." Evidently the result was both intriguing and ridiculous, and is still on display as part of the permanent exhibition of the Museum of Natural History Magdeburg. Moving on to real animals, here are 45 of the Newest Animal Species Discovered in 2024: amphibians, birds, crustaceans, fish (check out the Grumpy Dwarfgoby), insects, mammals, and planarians (these guys regenerate their bits like something out of a science fiction movie). This list is just the beginning. It's estimated that there are 8.7 million organisms on the planet, and so far we have only discovered 1.2 million. Inconceivable! (CM)

Stephen Johnson reports that "The Telepathy Tapes"—recounting increasingly left of field claims regarding the supernatural abilities of non-verbal people with autism—has beaten "The Joe Rogan Experience" to the top of the Spotify podcast charts. The problem is the evidence for these abilities hangs upon the use of facilitated communication techniques which have not been entirely reliable in the past. Most commenters are not onboard with Johnson's take, one calling it "a discriminatory view of non-verbal people with autism," another saying "The author throws the baby out with the bath water...” showing that the controversy is no doubt part of the draw of this podcast. (JS)

Saskia Solomon reports on research at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS) on possible proof of reincarnation from the study of apparent past life memories in children. DOPS was founded by psychiatrist Dr Ian Stevenson in 1967 and funded exclusively from private donations. Since then Stevenson and other researchers travelled the world recording cases of children who remember past lives, with over 2,500 cases on record. Although these cases are tantalizing, Dr Jim Tucker the retiring head of DOPS, recognizes that the evidence so far falls short of definitive proof.  The most recent DOPS research project, UVA’s Division of Perceptual Studies Launches Major Research Initiative on Children’s Past-Life Memories , may address some the issues with reincarnation research by adopting a more process-oriented approach, using neuroimaging and other contemporary research methods to understand why some children report past life memories. (JS)

While The Week mentions some local overreactions to the "drone dilemma," its sources-research acknowledges legitimate concerns about what is—or could be—going on above the Garden State, and it concludes that "belated action" to deal with the "scare" is needed. Over at The Hill, Marik von Rennenkampff more strongly asserts that Some of These Mysterious 'Drones' Are Indeed UFOs and Should Be Taken Seriously. Von Rennenkampff provides historical context behind his points. NPR's host Scott Simon has a "now-I-can-tell-it" about the time When Jimmy Carter and I Spoke about UFOs. The late President's opinions "about one of the great human controversies" made a deep impression upon Simon "as a blessing and a glimpse into his open, indomitable heart." And Christopher Sharp contends "Things could move fast in the coming weeks and months" in a UFO Disclosure End Game. Sharp sees opportunities in the incoming Trump administration for UFO openness "to lead a groundbreaking effort—one that could reshape the human story." Sharp's basing this on an assessment of the influencers scheduled for key positions, something that researcher and presenter Kathleen B. Covalt, Ed.D., has already noted and spoken about. (WM)

"As I sign off from Magonia," says editor John Rimmer, "this book seems to have arrived just in time." Thus John begins his appraisal of Dr. Greg Eghigian's After the Flying Saucers Came: A Global History of the UFO Phenomenon. Noting Greg Eghigian's world-wide scope in a volume that "is a history of ufology rather than a history of UFOs," John believes that Greg has "captured the true essence of ufology in this book, and has delved deeper into it than any other academic researcher who has braved the field." As a historian, I found some of Greg's conclusions deliciously challenging, appreciated his broader cultural perspective, and found the work both extremely informative and readable. John concludes his review with "This book is essential for every ufologist's and Fortean's bookshelf." Magonia is officially ceasing regular reviews of new books, though reviews of some "recent titles will be added in the next month or so." John Rimmer's efforts and those of his staff and contributors exemplified informed and cogent, principled skeptical analyses for many years, and their contributions will be sorely missed. (WM)

Above the gut-wrenching devastation transpiring in the Los Angeles area, Alec Fernandes calls our attention to an ambiguous flying object caught on video. Mark Phelps has somewhat more detail on a frightening encounter in Report: Gulfstream Hits 'Metallic' Object at 27,000 Feet as a "Mystery object caused an engine failure and emergency landing" after a collision off the Florida coast. Americans For Safe Aerospace's Ryan Graves was quoted regarding this December 11th event; his ASA colleague Bryan Bender comments on and adds context to a Bahama-to-Florida-area occurrence, this on the night of December 23rd and at a considerably higher altitude in UFO Sighting? Fort Lauderdale Flight Crew Spots Something Strange In The Sky. Here too a business jet was involved. And Stan Gordon reminds that other states continue producing all sorts of phenomenal weirdness with Numerous Daylight UAP/UFO Sightings, Mysterious Low-Level Orbs, Bigfoot and Cryptid Encounters Reported Across Pennsylvania Throughout 2024. Though in some cases witness estimates of size, distance, and altitude when appropriate may be questioned, these reports researched by Stan and acknowledged colleagues generally fascinate, often perplex, and in a few instances considerably unnerve. (WM)

Glasgow Boy casts a though-provoking and concerned eye on how AI is continuing to muddy the waters of knowledge. He reviews several Nessie books, but notes especially Legends of Loch Ness by "Thomas Shelton", a volume which is filled with inaccuracies and downright untruths, by an author who doesn't seem to exist. This, alas, is inevitable and is the shape of things to come, as humans continue to make themselves obsolete and are rapidly losing their taste for truth and accuracy. On a similar theme, Pop Cryptid Spectator #1 is a new blog created by Sharon A Hill. She writes at length on how Cryptozoology has changed to become a free-for-all "Cryptid" arena, in which individuals create and interpret creatures and mythology to suit their fancy and spend much time arguing. If the few comments on her blog are anything to go by, the arguing will continue. (LP)

Interest in the paranormal often starts at an early age, as in this case. Theo is a 12-year-old paranormal investigator who leads a YouTube channel called Kids of Wonder. His dad is his wingman/cameraman and together they go on paranormal adventures. In this particular episode, they explore a purportedly haunted park, and the spook hunting equipment used becomes so active as to be almost useless. (Spoiler Alert: The cause isn't what you think.) Theo also ponders where tulpas fit into hauntings, and finishes with a very responsible public service announcement. This kid is great, and we'll be keeping an eye on his channel to see what else he does. (CM)

Latest "UFO-related news" of course features an item about the current "drone dilemma," and John Greenewald presents and discusses a FOIA success on that matter. AARO's interest in the drone issue and "the critical need to address drone incursions at sensitive sites" are major takeaways. Keith Basterfield reports on his annual website check on the National Archives of Australia and the New Year. This year's search was highly disappointing, but Keith notes "that there were an unexpectedly large number of different Australian government departments that kept UAP related files"; that two files relate to a possible explanation for the April 6, 1966 Westall, Melbourne school mass sighting; and he includes a letter to Frederick Valentich's father relating to the tragic and mysterious aerial disappearance of his son in 1978. Bowing to all the hubbub about the subject NOVA not only asks What Are UFOs?, but is going to tell us all on January 22nd. Maybe that TV program will help explain what seems an unplanned "Magic Kingdom" event as a Disney World 'UFO' Leaves Visitors Shocked As Craft 'Hovers And Darting Upwards'. And since "[t]he subject is topical these days," Forbes Contributor Jim Clash offers Gary Powers, Jr. Discusses His Famous U-2 Pilot Father And UFOs. (WM)

Lately it feels like the sky is falling—literally. In our first installment of Things Falling from the Sky Friday, a massive, red hot object fell out of the stratosphere and landed in a village in Kenya. Authorities identified it as a "fragment" of a space object. No person or thing were injured when it landed, which is more than can be said for A Meteor Falls in Pennsylvania, and Lands in Ice Cream. It happened in a Walmart parking lot, which for some reason makes sense. Evidently a rock smashed through a car window and embedded itself in a carton of ice cream. The rock was later identified as a meteor and the only injuries were the car window and the ice cream. Somehow that seems personal—maybe Chicken Little was on to something. (CM)

A "new" wrinkle on an old mystery. Per a Charles Blithfield discovery, Kevin Randle reports a symbol apparently created in 1928 by Nikola Tesla (no kidding!) is "frighteningly close" to what Lonnie Zamora drew from his April 24, 1964 CEIII encounter. Kevin's article ignites much discussion. Staying with configurations and "now-classic" cases, Keith Basterfield has Another 1990 Observation of a "Calvine" Like Shaped Object. Keith links to an interview regarding this story, while offering a transcript of a part of that dialogue with former USAF serviceman Lenval Logan. And Keith also figures in yet another long-time researcher's work about another iconic case, this being The Tully UFO UAP Legacy. Here Bill Chalker provides an extensive transcript of a recent Australian television series dealing with a 1966 "saucer nest" discovery in Queensland, Australia. The transcript (and four podcast episodes from which it was taken), as Bill notes, largely focuses "on the human side of this fascinating saga": how it affected the main characters, the local citizenry, Australian researchers private and governmental; and how it may have spawned the infamous English work of Doug Bower and Dave Chorley. The text additionally presents the lineaments of the "saucer nest" event itself (and later ones) while also comparing Australian and US governmental aspects of the larger UFO/UAP controversy. (WM)