Contactees

Contactees are individuals who claim to have had direct personal contact with intelligent beings from outer space, typically through a spacecraft. The term gained prominence in the 1950s ufology movement to describe people who report not only sighting UFOs but also sustained conversations, guidance, or visits from extraterrestrials. The beings are commonly portrayed as benevolent teachers or “space brothers,” and the messages associated with them often emphasize peace, spiritual renewal, or warnings about nuclear war and environmental harm. Encounters are frequently described as telepathic communication, though some accounts include physical demonstrations of advanced technology.

Notable early contactees include George Adamski, Howard Menger, and Truman Bethurum, who published books and gave lectures that helped popularize the idea of encounters with beings from other planets such as Venus. The movement later encompassed variations such as channeling or messages from supposed extraterrestrials and, in some cases, links to broader new religious or spiritual currents.

Scholarly and skeptical perspectives view contactee reports as lacking verifiable evidence, interpreting them as products of cultural imagination, psychological factors, and social context. Critics point to inconsistencies, potential fabrications, or misidentifications, and many claims have not withstood critical examination. Despite controversy, contactee narratives have left a lasting imprint on UFO culture, influencing science fiction, popular media, and debates about humanity’s place in the cosmos.