Record 273 · December 2015

Etude bibliographique sur les vagues d'OVNI

GEIPAN / CNES · France

Ledger illustration of the record — not a scan of the original paper. — Night Ledger illustration of the file

ScientificUnclassified

The document reviews scientific literature and GEIPAN's archived cases on periodic surges in UFO reporting ('vagues d'OVNI'). It discusses patterns in witness testimony, media influence, and misidentification of ordinary objects or phenomena such as aircraft lights, balloons, satellites, and atmospheric effects. The analysis supports GEIPAN's classification system where only a small percentage (around 3%) remain unidentified after investigation, attributing most reports to mundane causes and emphasizing the value of rigorous, transparent scientific methodology over speculative interpretations.

Public file: GEIPAN Documentation

Related paper

ScientificUnclassified

Ongoing (updated 2026)

GEIPAN Statistics and Classification Summary

GEIPAN / CNES · France

GEIPAN, the French space agency's unit for the study and information on unidentified aerospace phenomena, maintains a public archive of investigated cases and publishes aggregated statistics. As of recent updates, approximately 28% of cases are perfectly identified (A), 39% probably identified (B), 30% lack sufficient data (C), and only 3% remain unidentified after investigation (D). The program e

ScientificUnclassified

January 2026

Synopsis: Analysis of an Aluminum Specimen

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (for AARO) · United States

Laboratory evaluation of drill shavings and a bulk piece from a metallic specimen reportedly recovered in the mid-1990s following observation of a UAP over Ohio.

ScientificUnclassified

June 2025

Sky Canada Project report

Office of the Chief Science Advisor of Canada · Canada

Canada’s Chief Science Advisor reviewed how UAP reports are handled and recommended a dedicated federal service. The office said it had not encountered evidence of secret reverse-engineering programs.