Do aliens really exist? This week, the internet was set ablaze when Jaime Maussan, a Mexican journalist and self-described UFO enthusiast, made sensational claims during a hearing on unidentified flying objects in Mexico's congressional chambers.
The spectacle involved the unveiling of two caskets that held tiny, human-shaped figures which Maussan claims to be 800- and 1,700-year-old "non-human" beings.
Jonti Horner, an astrobiologist at the University of Southern Queensland, reacted skeptically, stating via ABC.net.au, "I tend to think if it looks too good to be true, it almost certainly is."
Regardless of experts' skepticism, these purported extraterrestrial specimens have caught the attention of news outlets worldwide. Even 20th Century Studios, the giant behind blockbuster franchises like Alien and Star Wars, chimed in.
According to Maussan, these 1,000-year-old "alien" bodies were discovered in algae mines in Cusco, Peru, back in 2017.
However, skeptics have called into question the authenticity of his presentation, with Navy Lt Ryan Graves writing on X: "After the U.S. Congressional UFO hearing, I accepted an invitation to testify before the Mexican Congress hoping to keep up the momentum of government interest in pilot experiences with UAP.
"Unfortunately, yesterday's demonstration was a huge step backwards for this issue. My testimony centered on sharing my experience and the UAP reports I hear from commercial and military aircrew through ASA's witness program.
"I will continue to raise awareness of UAP as an urgent matter of aerospace safety, national security, and science, but I am deeply disappointed by this unsubstantiated stunt."
During the hearing, Jose de Jesus Zalce Benitez, director of the Scientific Institute for Health of the Mexican navy, stated, "I can affirm that these bodies have no relation to human beings."
However, a definitive confirmation that they're aliens is lacking. The National Laboratory of Mass Spectrometry with Accelerators at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (NAUM) conducted an array of tests including DNA analysis and 3D X-rays.
Professor Fierro of NAUM pointed out that carbon-14 dating, used to determine the specimens' age, would be ineffective if the creatures are extraterrestrial. Furthermore, he commented on the logistic improbability of transporting an alien from Peru to Mexico through customs.
Due to intense media scrutiny, NAUM released a statement saying they only performed carbon dating on the samples provided and do not make conclusions about the origins of these specimens.
During the hearing, it was mentioned that 30% of the DNA in the samples is unknown and one body has "eggs" inside, as evidenced by X-rays. However, the data has not been publicly released for independent analysis.
It's not Maussan's first rodeo. In 2015, he claimed to have discovered a mummified alien body, which according to fact-checking website Snopes, was proven false. Professor Fierro humorously noted, "He [Maussan] has told me many times that people from other worlds never visit me because I don't believe they exist."
Interestingly, while the world fixates on human-like alien forms, we forget that the most dominant form of life on our planet is not human but microorganisms. This adds another layer of complexity to the conversation about extraterrestrial life, hinting that aliens, if they exist, could be much less advanced than popularly imagined.
The claims have certainly ignited imaginations and debates across social media platforms, scientific communities, and pop culture. However, definitive evidence is what the world is eagerly waiting for. An independent analysis of the results would go a long way in settling the arguments about what these "alien" bodies truly are.
So, while the narrative of three-fingered, slender grey bodies with bulbous heads captivates the world, experts advise caution. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence, and for now, the jury is still out.
