MYSTERY WIRE – We had the U.S. Navy saying, yes, those were UFOs, all right. We had the revelation that the real Paul Fronczak is alive. We had Storm Area 51.
2019 was a banner year for the stories we cover, and we were first with a lot of reports you saw everywhere: Former U.S. Navy Cmdr. David Fravor on those real UFOs, and what he said about some of the false reports that have come out since. Harry Reid talked about government-funded research during exclusive interviews, and continued to push for some disclosure.
We breathed life into stories that hadn’t been seen for 30 years: Revelations about Area 51 by Bob Lazar, and our 1989 series, “UFOs: The Best Evidence.”
And we released full-length interviews never seen before, letting you see Robert Bigelow, Tom DeLonge and Luis Elizondo as you’ve never seen them before.
We put up our new website, launched on Nov. 6.
As we mined the archive for stories that defined the year, we also couldn’t help but notice: We haven’t even shown you all of our best stuff yet. We’re making a New Year’s resolution on that point.
Enough rehash. Here are the headlines for the year’s best stories:
- Former Sen. Reid pushing to solve the mystery of UFOs (Jan. 31, 2019)
He may be out of politics, but Reid’s voice carries. And he spoke out on UFO research — not little green men, mind you — more than once. - Nevada Triangle’s unexplained disappearances (Feb. 26, 2019)
By one estimate, 2,000 planes have vanished in the last 60 years in what pilots call the Nevada Triangle, the vast area between Las Vegas, Reno and Fresno. - Former Sen. Harry Reid wants UFO studies made public (Feb. 27, 2019)
China and Russia are surely studying the UFO phenomena, Reid says, reasoning that it’s in the interest of national defense to get this information out. - English entertainer hopes Wynn residency will be permanent fixture on the Strip (March 15, 2019)
An entertainment story? There’s more to it, and we will explain the connection sometime in 2020. - EXCLUSIVE: Confirmation that Pentagon did release UFO videos (April 29, 2019)
Sorting out statements coming from the U.S. military can be an exercise in ambiguity. But documents don’t lie. We found the Department of Defense directive ordering the release of UFO videos. - UNLV collaborating in the race to send a person to Mars (May 6, 2019)
Years ago, a program called NERVA did groundbreaking work in nuclear propulsion for rockets. Now UNLV is involved in a modern project with ties to missions to Mars. - Bob Lazar: The man who sent shock waves through UFO circles 30 years ago (May 15, 2019)
We caught up with Bob Lazar 30 years after disclosure that turned his life upside down. “I’ve thought many times whether it was a good idea or not, and now am wondering again,” he said. New publicity around Lazar’s statements got the #StormArea51 idea started. - UFO Fest means close encounters of a different kind (May 21, 2019)
McMinnville, Oregon, has a lot of fun every year with their UFO Fest, but there’s a serious side, too. Bob Lazar, David Fravor and David Paulides were among this year’s speakers. Fravor gave us an exclusive interview. - Historian, author exposes secret projects, ideas, and plot for ‘Nuking the Moon’ (May 29, 2019)
A look at some strange-sounding projects, including a proposal to set off a nuclear device on the moon to demonstrate U.S. supremacy during the Cold War. - Nevada’s ancient rock art reveals mysterious figures (July 9, 2019)
The mysteries of Central Nevada run deep. “There’s only one Area 51, and there’s only one place on Earth where you can see Pahranagat Man,” Ken Layne, editor of the Desert Oracle, told us in February. - Exclusive: ‘Storm Area 51’ joke explodes, little Nevada town prepares (July 17, 2019)
Matty Roberts tells George Knapp the #StormArea51 event was created as satire, but it has grown way beyond that. “It struck a nerve with a whole lot of people.” - I-Team Exclusive: ‘Storm Area 51’ creator explains how it happened (July 18, 2019)
Area 51 is almost synonymous with secrecy. Even though Matty Roberts meant it as a joke, #StormArea51 has taken on a life of its own in news reports, social media and in ominous warnings by the U.S. military. The idea has been proposed many times before, but this time it caught fire. - I-Team: What could possibly go wrong with ‘Storm Area 51’? (July 30, 2019)
Storming Area 51 is a daunting task, in light of the extensive security measures around one of the world’s most secure and classified military facilities. Warning signs note that the “use of deadly force” is authorized. - How to track hypersonic objects? UNLV professor advised the Pentagon (July 31, 2019)
Dr. Bill Culbreth, UNLV engineering professor, was way ahead of the curve on research into hypersonic tech. We share documents from his research. - NASA team to decide if Nevada spacecraft will take humans to Mars (Aug. 29, 2019)
Robert Bigelow speaks with George Knapp as 50 visitors from NASA come to Las Vegas to see Bigelow Aerospace’s progress on expandable habitats — all built without NASA funds. Mars missions are central to why the habitats were developed. - #StormArea51: Preps continue day before Area 51 Basecamp event (Sept. 19, 2019)
Updates on infighting and expected attendance on the eve of #StormArea51 outside the Area 51 gates in Lincoln County. Art, music, film, citizen activism and ufology are all elements surrounding the event. - Area 51 veteran hopes new generation keeps fighting secrecy (Sept. 20, 2019)
Aviation journalist Jim Goodall says he is sympathetic to the protests of government secrecy at Area 51, and he hopes new generations will carry the fight into the future. After all, taxpayers paid for it all, he says. - Civil exchange with security an ‘alien experience’ at #StormArea51 scene (Sept. 20, 2019)
“Camo dudes” and police working outside the Area 51 gates seem to be treating crowds with courtesy, although there has been an enormous show of force around Area 51. But the message is clear: no one gets in. - Thousands of curious Earthlings travel to Storm Area 51 festivals near formerly secret Nevada military base (Sept. 21, 2019)
Coverage of the #StormArea51 events, with updates on a crowd estimated at around 3,000. - Former Sen. Harry Reid talks UFOs in sit-down interview (Nov. 1, 2019)
Harry Reid talks with George Knapp about the need for information to flow: “Well, let them say something about it,” Reid said. “I’m tired of all this, they’re getting briefings and all that. Let them step up to the plate like I did and do something publicly.” - Former Sen. Harry Reid encouraged by newfound interest in UFOs (Nov. 1, 2019)
Interested in the UFO topic has grown in the public, and also at the highest levels of government. Harry Reid talks on topics including AATIP and former President Bill Clinton. - John Fogerty’s UFO fascination follows him from childhood dream (Nov. 14, 2019)
A fascination with UFOs and the paranormal is apparent in the music of Creedence Clearwater Revival founder John Fogerty. He recalls a childhood dream that had something to do with his interest. - Man stolen as a baby found living in Michigan 55 years after crime (Dec. 11, 2019)
The man who was stolen from a Chicago hospital when he was 1 day old has been found in Michigan after years of mystery. George Knapp breaks the news in a case he has followed for years as he covered the story of a Henderson, Nevada, man who was raised to believe he was that baby. - Stolen baby case leaves pain, some closure for Paul Fronczak (Dec. 18, 2019)
Paul Fronczak of Henderson has some closure now that the “other” Paul has been found living in Michigan. But he still has many questions that came up in his search for identity. One of the biggest: the fate of his twin sister.
