UFOLOGY Glossary Series - T
A series to help people new to the topic understand the terms, concepts, and language used in the study of UFOs and alien phenomena.
The world of ufology is vast, mysterious, and often overwhelming for newcomers and seasoned researchers alike. With decades of reports, theories, terminology, and classifications, understanding the language of UFO research is essential for making sense of the phenomena.
This Ufology Glossary is designed to be a living, evolving reference guide for anyone interested in the study of unidentified flying objects, alien encounters, and the deeper mysteries of our universe. Whether you're exploring government disclosures, diving into abduction accounts, or just trying to decipher terms like “CE-5” or “anti-gravity propulsion,” this glossary is your companion through the strange and fascinating world of UFO phenomena.
Each entry is organized alphabetically and includes clear, concise definitions to help demystify the language used by researchers, experiencers, and theorists across the field.
Telepathic Communication
A frequently reported element in alien contact and abduction cases, where no words are spoken aloud—yet messages, emotions, or instructions are received instantly and clearly in the mind. Many experiencers claim entire conversations occur telepathically with non-human intelligences. This cross-cultural consistency adds weight to the theory that alien species may communicate on a different, non-verbal frequency.
Time Distortion
Anomalies in the perception or flow of time during or after a UFO encounter. Some witnesses report hours passing in what felt like minutes, or vice versa. Others describe entire time gaps with no memory—often accompanied by physical relocation or altered emotional states. This phenomenon is central to abduction lore and plays a critical role in cases like the Allagash Abductions and Travis Walton’s experience.
Travis Walton Incident
One of the most enduring and controversial abduction cases in history. In 1975, Arizona logger Travis Walton disappeared for five days after approaching a glowing disc-shaped craft witnessed by six coworkers. Upon his return, Walton reported waking on a table inside a craft, surrounded by humanoid beings. The case inspired Fire in the Sky and passed multiple polygraph tests, cementing it as a cornerstone of abduction research.
Triangular Craft
A class of structured UFO often described as enormous, silent, and slow-moving, with three lights forming a triangle or delta shape. These craft are frequently reported flying low and silently over populated areas and countryside alike. While some attribute them to secret military technology, their behaviour—hovering silently, instant acceleration, or vanishing—often suggests something beyond current human capability. The Belgian Wave and Phoenix Lights are two of the most famous mass sightings involving triangular craft.
Transmedium Vehicle
A term used in modern military UAP discussions to describe a craft capable of seamlessly transitioning between air, sea, and space without losing speed or showing signs of propulsion. Such vehicles were observed in the USS Omaha case and other Navy encounters, where radar captured unidentified objects entering the ocean without impact. Their existence challenges our understanding of physics and propulsion.
The Phenomenon
A broader term encompassing not just UFOs but the entire suite of high strangeness—abductions, psychic effects, synchronicities, poltergeist activity, and even interdimensional theories. "The Phenomenon" acknowledges that what we’re seeing may not simply be craft or beings, but something more holistic, reactive, and intertwined with consciousness itself.
Tic Tac UFO
Refers to the now-famous white, capsule-shaped object encountered by U.S. Navy pilots during the USS Nimitz incident in 2004. Described as having no wings, exhaust, or visible propulsion, the object outperformed F/A-18s in speed and manoeuvrability. The case became central to modern UAP disclosure and was one of the first officially declassified and acknowledged by the Pentagon.
Tom DeLonge
The former Blink-182 frontman who unexpectedly became one of the most prominent modern figures in UFO disclosure. Through his organisation To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science, DeLonge helped facilitate the release of military UAP footage and introduced new voices to the discussion. Though a divisive figure, his role in reshaping public and institutional interest in UFOs is undeniable.
