UFO reports increase: why do so many believe?

The World

“President Obama is a Muslim!” … “The U.S. government was involved in the attacks on 9/11!” … “Area 51 is full of little green men!”

We’ve all heard conspiracy theories with no basis in observable fact; it’s that last one we’re looking at today. 2010 has seen a significant increase in UFO sightings, and according to various polls, around a fifth of all Americans believe in aliens. Why? We discusses the evolution of belief systems and irrational thoughts with Professor William Ramsey, specialist in philosophy of the mind and cognitive science and an Associate Professor of Philosophy at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas.

Sign up for our daily newsletter

Sign up for The Top of the World, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning.