Why Now
The strategic landscape
The question of extraterrestrial contact has moved from speculation to active scientific investigation, legislative action, and institutional preparation. These are matters of public record.
Scientific
Third Interstellar Object Under Unprecedented Scrutiny
3I/ATLAS, discovered July 2025, is being observed by Hubble, JWST, Europa Clipper, JUICE, and multiple other spacecraft — the most extensive study of any interstellar visitor. Researchers continue to investigate anomalous features. Its closest approach to Jupiter occurs March 2026.
NASA, ESA, Harvard Galileo Project
Legislative
Congressional Disclosure Mandates
The FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act includes provisions requiring Pentagon briefings on UAP intercepts dating to 2004 and review of classification practices. The National Archives has established a dedicated UAP Records Collection under Record Group 615.
U.S. Congress, National Archives — Enacted
Institutional
Financial Sector Contingency Planning
In January 2026, a former senior analyst at the Bank of England formally urged the Bank's governor to develop contingency plans for potential economic disruption following confirmation of non-human intelligence.
The Times (London), January 2026
Intelligence
Classification Protocols Engaged
Following Freedom of Information Act requests regarding 3I/ATLAS, the Central Intelligence Agency responded with a Glomar response — the standard protocol applied to matters of the highest national security sensitivity.
FOIA response — Public record
Cultural
Disclosure Enters Mainstream
Thirty-four current and former government officials have given testimony in a major documentary on UAP programs. Congressional hearings continue with sworn testimony from military and intelligence personnel on retrieval and reverse-engineering programs.
U.S. House Oversight Committee, "The Age of Disclosure"
Academic
Peer-Reviewed Investigation
Harvard's Galileo Project, the Breakthrough Listen Initiative, and international research teams maintain active observation programs for interstellar objects and technosignatures. The scientific community treats these questions with increasing seriousness.
Harvard CfA, SETI Institute, Breakthrough Listen