Which State Is Considered a 'Hotbed of UFO Activity'?

UFO activity reportedly increased in 2012, but some states stood out among the rest, according to the Dallas Morning News.

The newspaper reported that a review of UFO cases by a MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) board found that Texas was among the top five states for sightings. North and central Texas had a few of the "strongest 10 cases" of inexplicable activity in the sky.

A rendition of the image reported to MUFON seen by State Highway 36 near the Milam County town of Milano in 2012. (Image source: MUFON)

James Ragland for the Morning News wrote that "the whole Lone Star State is a hotbed of UFO activity."

Why? MUFON spokesman Roger Marsh cited large population with several airports and military bases. Most reported sightings turn out to have earthly origins, according to Marsh.

"[M]ost of this stuff that’s flying around here that we call unknown is our own government’s," MUFON National Director of Investigations Steve Hudgeons told the Morning News, noting that "there's a percentage that remain unknown."

Here's more about the prevalence of sightings from the report:

Across the country, MUFON reported a record 7,182 sightings of unidentified flying objects last year — a 27 percent increase over the year before. Texas trailed only California in the number of sightings.

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The review board, made up of scientists with degrees in physics, geology, chemistry and electrical engineering, was formed last year to help MUFON take a closer look at the most intriguing UFO sightings and draw attention to them.

Their expertise and earnestness notwithstanding, the board and MUFON still face an uphill battle in getting folks to treat their body of work seriously.

With this stereotype of even credentialed people being labeled crazy for just being associated with the board, the Morning News reported that some didn't want their names to be revealed.

“It could actually hurt their career,” director of the MUFON review board Robert Powell said of some members, according to the Morning News.

Powell added that this perception also prevents people from reporting sightings.

Check out the Dallas MorningNews' full report to read more about three of the state's major UFO cases.

Featured image via Shutterstock.com.

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