NASA study group set to release report on efforts to track UAPs, or UFOs

Washington — An independent group of scientists and experts convened by NASA is set to release its report on efforts to track unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAPs, amid growing calls for more transparency into the strange encounters.

UAPs, the government's official name for what were formerly known as UFOs, have attracted enormous interest from the public, the military and lawmakers over the past several years as hundreds of pilots have reported their experiences with objects of unexplained origin.

NASA formed the group of 16 experts last year to examine how data about UAPs is collected across the government and private sector. Formally known as the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Independent Study, the group's final report is set to be released publicly at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday. NASA officials will discuss the findings at a briefing beginning at 10 a.m., which will be streamed live in the player above.