CIA evaluates student papers on UFOs

Summary

In 1956, the CIA received 25 student essays on the flying saucer phenomenon. An internal memo noted that the papers were interesting and showed a serious intellectual effort to evaluate the available evidence. Although the topics were varied, most students managed to distinguish between personal opinions and objective reporting. The memo highlights that, despite the effort, no new conclusive evidence about UFOs emerged from this exercise.

The document, dated January 26, 1956, was addressed to the head of the Applied Science Division. It mentions that the exercise proved useful for stimulating rational thinking among both young and old. However, the main conclusion is that there were no significant advances in understanding the phenomenon. Nevertheless, the fact that the CIA reviewed these papers reveals institutional interest in the topic during the Cold War.