A NASA physicist has described a startling encounter with an unidentified flying object over Cocoa Beach, Florida, in 2014, detailing a bizarre interaction with military aircraft and the object's unusual behavior.
Dr. Charles Buhler, a physicist at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, recounted the event on the Danny Jones Podcast, stating that he and his wife observed a glowing orb in the sky that illuminated the area with a brightness comparable to a nuclear detonation. The object, which appeared about three miles away, pulsed with light so intensely that it cast shadows from beachgoers against buildings behind them.
Buhler initially mistook the object for a boat before its intense illumination became apparent. He noted that the incident occurred around 10 p.m. ET along Florida's eastern coast, suggesting many others in nearby buildings may have witnessed it.
Following the sighting, military helicopters from Patrick Air Force Base reportedly approached the object. Buhler speculated that the military's decision to disengage might have been based on ruling out known adversaries like Russia or China. "They're like, 'Okay, they know what it's not. It's not the Russians. It's not the Chinese. So, okay, it's not them. We'll be fine. Let's go back."' Buhler said, offering his interpretation of their actions.
After the military aircraft departed, Buhler claimed the glowing orb began moving closer to the shore, eventually coming within approximately one mile. The object then fragmented into five or six smaller, basketball-sized orbs that hovered near the breaking waves, about 200 feet offshore. These smaller orbs reportedly rotated and appeared to move in and out of the water.
Buhler described the experience as frightening, particularly as the lights seemed to follow him and his wife when they attempted to retreat. He recalled closing his eyes and mentally commanding the objects to leave. Shortly after, the lights submerged into the water and disappeared. The entire episode lasted nearly 45 minutes.
Buhler mentioned that encounters with similar glowing orbs are reportedly known in the Cape Canaveral area, with some local tour groups actively seeking them out. He also noted anecdotal reports of these objects following cruise ships, with some individuals capturing footage of these phenomena. Despite numerous reported sightings and recent declassifications of UFO-related files by the Pentagon, both the U.S. government and NASA have officially maintained a stance that there is no definitive physical proof of the existence of UFOs or extraterrestrials.