UFOs: Scanning the Skies Teach-Out (FutureLearn)

UFOs: Scanning the Skies Teach-Out (FutureLearn)

Explore possible explanations for UFO sightings as you delve into fascinating accounts of unidentified flying objects. Unpack the myths and facts surrounding UFOs. Following the release of the U.S. Pentagon UFO report, there has been a surge of interest in unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs). People across the world are gripped by the history of UFOs and the stories told by those who have witnessed them.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

On this two-week course, you’ll hear from multidisciplinary experts to understand the importance of investigation and possible explanations for UFO sightings.

Understand what makes a compelling UFO report
The course will guide you through various UFO reports – a crucial aspect of the study of UFOs.
As you explore each one, you’ll learn what factors make a UFO report compelling and begin to understand what conclusions can be drawn.

Apply video analysis practices to UFO videos
You’ll have the opportunity to not only watch but also analyse UFO videos.
You’ll develop the skills and basic techniques used to analyse videos to critically observe UFO videos within the course, and beyond.

Discover how the UFO discussion relates to science and society
With a firm understanding of the history of UFOs, you’ll start to explore the position of UFOs within the larger conversation of science and culture.
Learning from the experts at the University of Michigan and beyond, you’ll hear from top researchers, and scholars in the field to develop your knowledge of the study of UFOs.

What topics will you cover?

  • History of unidentified flying objects (UFOs)
  • Possible explanations for UFO sightings
  • Analysis of UFO videos
  • UFO reports and ufology
  • Research into extraterrestrial life
  • Relation of UFOs to science and society

Learning on this course
You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

  • Explain the history and cultural phenomena of unidentified flying objects (UFOs)
  • Describe a range of possible explanations of UFO sightings
  • Apply basic techniques used to analyze videos of UFOs
  • Reflect on the connection between UFOs and science and society
  • Summarise UFO reports and describe the study of UFOs

Who is the course for?
This course is designed for anyone interested in learning more about UFOs. You don’t need any prior knowledge or experience.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science (Coursera) Coursera
University of Edinburgh

Philosophy, Science and Religion: Religion and Science (Coursera)

Philosophy, Science and Religion mark three of the most fundamental modes of thinking about the world and our place in it. Are these modes incompatible? Put another way: is the intellectually responsible thing to do to ‘pick sides’ and identify with one of these approaches at the exclusion of others? Or, are they complementary or mutually supportive? As is typical of questions of such magnitude, the devil is in the details. For example, it is important to work out what is really distinctive about each of these ways of inquiring about the world. In order to gain some clarity here, we’ll be investigating what some of the current leading thinkers in philosophy, science and religion are actually doing.

Sep 8th 2026
5-12 Weeks
The Science Behind Forensic Science (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
King's College London

The Science Behind Forensic Science (FutureLearn)

Get an introduction to the science of forensic science and discover how it's applied in the real world. Discover the biology and chemistry behind forensic science. How does forensic science really work? How are scientific principles applied in crime scenes? Answer these questions and more with this course from the team who teach the longest-running forensic science programme of its type in England.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Invisible Worlds: Understanding the Natural Environment (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Exeter,Eden Project

Invisible Worlds: Understanding the Natural Environment (FutureLearn)

Explore the connection between life and the Earth's invisible systems and gain new insights into the natural environment. Discover Earth's invisible systems and transform your understanding of the world. Given the current climate emergency, it’s increasingly important that we have a good understanding of Earth’s life support systems. We rely on these systems for fresh air, clean water, fertile soil, rich biodiversity and a stable climate. On this course, you’ll explore the natural systems we can’t see or feel, from microscopic creatures to gases.

Available Now
4 Weeks
Foundations of Science for Undergraduate Degrees (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
The University of Nottingham

Foundations of Science for Undergraduate Degrees (FutureLearn)

Develop the right skills for study and assessment in higher education while refreshing your core science knowledge.Give yourself an advantage for starting a university degree. With interruptions to education occurring all the time, many school students intending to go to university in the coming years may not feel prepared.

Aug 23rd 2021
5-12 Weeks
Discovering Science: Global Challenges (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Discovering Science: Global Challenges (FutureLearn)

Can chemistry help to feed a growing population, or overcome increasing bacterial resistance? Find out how the Penicillin class of antibiotics has been a major breakthrough in the treatment of patients. However, with bacteria developing efficient ways of resisting antibiotic treatment, discover how scientists are treating patients with infections resulting from resistant bacteria.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Citizen Science: Sensing the World (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Dundee,Grow Observatory

Citizen Science: Sensing the World (FutureLearn)

Learn about sensing, including how to use a soil sensor and how to monitor the changing climate, by joining the GROW Observatory. Improve your soil and monitor the changing climate as a citizen scientist. Did you know satellites are constantly monitoring soil moisture, even in your garden? Monitoring the moisture in soil can help predict floods, fires and droughts. On this course, you will learn about the ESA’s Sentinel-1 Missions, and how citizens can validate satellite data locally with sensors.

No sessions available
2 Weeks
Humphry Davy: Laughing Gas, Literature, and the Lamp (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Lancaster University,Royal Institution - RI

Humphry Davy: Laughing Gas, Literature, and the Lamp (FutureLearn)

Discover Humphry Davy and his contribution to science and the arts. Before culture was divided into the sciences and the arts there was a chemist who was also a poet. Sir Humphry Davy (1778-1829) is one of the best known men of science of the nineteenth century: he was the first person to inhale nitrous oxide; he isolated nine chemical elements; and he invented the miners’ safety lamp known as the Davy lamp. This course will consider Davy’s life and career using manuscript sources held at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

Oct 9th 2023
4 Weeks
Discovering Science: Science Writing (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Leeds

Discovering Science: Science Writing (FutureLearn)

What science discoveries will you choose to write about? Without science writing, science could not really exist. By recording experiments and publishing the results of studies and discoveries, scientists can share their important work, and find an engaged audience. Science writing takes many forms: from press releases to video scripts. You’ll learn about different types of science writing, and look at the factors which you need to consider to write a story.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
How to Survive on Mars: the Science Behind the Human Exploration of Mars (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Monash University

How to Survive on Mars: the Science Behind the Human Exploration of Mars (FutureLearn)

Learn the basic science needed for humans to survive on Mars, with this free online science course. Mars has captivated the human imagination since the very earliest civilisations. It is the most explored planet in the solar system and that is unlikely to change. Getting to Mars is relatively easy, surviving on Mars will be the real challenge.

No sessions available
4 Weeks