Science advisors to the Trump administration have proposed conventional explanations for some observed unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), commonly referred to as UFOs, but acknowledge that at least one recent encounter remains inexplicable.
Dr. Avi Loeb, chair of the UAP Science Advisory Council, suggests that many reported sightings of glowing orbs could be plasmas, a byproduct of man-made lasers. "A glowing sphere could potentially be generated at the focal point of a powerful laser or at the intersection of two laser beams," Loeb stated. He likened this phenomenon to the brief appearances of laser pointer dots, noting that such plasmas are not physical objects and can move at supersonic speeds without producing sonic booms or fireballs.
Loeb pointed out that lasers are currently utilized by the United States, including for defensive purposes against drones and ballistic missiles. However, he indicated that these laser-produced plasmas cannot account for an October 2023 sighting of orange and red orbs observed near a secure military facility in the western U.S. by federal intelligence officers.
"The anomalous orbs reported by the All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) in the Pentagon require much more powerful lasers than currently available," Loeb explained, differentiating the 2023 incident from other UAP reports. He noted that AARO's director, Dr. Jon Kosloski, described reports of the objects, including a "mother orb" launching smaller red orbs and remaining stationary for hours. This duration and behavior are inconsistent with laser-sustained plasmas.
According to an AARO report, these objects exhibited "varied kinematic profiles including seemingly coordinated horizontal motion and apparent changes in altitude."
Admiral Tim Gallaudet, another member of the UAP Science Advisory Council, agreed that the "mother orbs launching orbs" case is of significant concern. "Ball lightning and laser-produced plasmas are possible explanations in some cases. But in the AARO ‘orbs launching orbs’ case, I cannot think of any conventional explanation," Gallaudet told The Post.
Loeb also proposed ball lightning, a rare phenomenon of electrical orbs that typically appear after storms, as a possible explanation for some sightings. However, he noted that ball lightning occurrences are usually brief, lasting only a few seconds, whereas the significant orb sighting in question lasted for hours, making this explanation unlikely for that specific event.