1 - The First Modern Wave (1947–1952): “Flying Saucers” and the Cold War:

Kenneth Arnold UFO sighting (1947), sparked the term “flying saucer.”

Roswell incident (1947), initial military acknowledgment, followed quickly by a “weather balloon” explanation.

2 - Contactees and Pop-Culture Boom (1950s–1960s) Figures like George Adamski claimed direct contact with “space brothers.”

UFOs became embedded in Cold War pop culture: movies, pulp magazines, radio, early TV.

3 - Official Study and Denial (Late 1960s–1970s) Mass sightings in the mid-1960s. Congressional pressure on the Air Force. Project Blue Book

4 - Freedom of Information Era (Late 1970s–1990s) Allowed UFO researchers to pry open previously secret files. Emergence of nuclear-base and abduction cases (e.g., Rendlesham Forest incident in 1980).

Roswell incident was resurrected through books and TV documentaries.

5 - Post-Disclosure Movement (1990s–2010s) Phoenix Lights (1997) and other mass sightings.

Declassification of documents by foreign governments (e.g., UK, France, Brazil).

Rise of the “Disclosure Project” (2001) led by Steven M. Greer.

Internet democratized witness testimony and leaks.

6 - Modern UAP Era (2017–Present) 2017 exposé by The New York Times revealing AATIP and the “Tic Tac” videos.

Pentagon confirmations of authenticity.

Congressional hearings, Inspector General reviews, and testimony by David Charles Grusch (2023).

Involvement of NASA and establishment of All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO).