Newly unsealed Pentagon files detail an October 2023 episode in which witnesses said a larger “mother orb” released smaller objects over a two-day period. A letter from the director of the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) reports that investigators could not fully explain the observations. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb warned of national security implications and urged more research and funding; he said that if no human-made explanation is found, an extraterrestrial origin would be a historic discovery.
Unsealed Pentagon Files Describe 2023 'Mother Orb' That Released Smaller Objects; Case Remains Unexplained
David Grusch, a whistleblower and former National Reconnaissance Officer Representative of the Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena Task Force at the Department of Defense, speaks during a news conference on unidentified anomalous phenomena outside the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., on June 9, 2026.(Getty Images)
Newly unsealed Pentagon files describe a puzzling October 2023 incident in which witnesses reported a larger “mother orb” in the sky that appeared to release smaller objects. Harvard astrophysicist Avi Loeb says the episode remains unexplained despite an official review.
What the Documents Report
The files include a letter from the director of the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) describing a two-day span in October 2023 when law-enforcement officers observed multiple orbs behaving in ways investigators could not fully account for. According to AARO, roughly 40% of reported unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) cases remain without a reasonable explanation.
Security Concerns and Scientific Questions
Avi Loeb, a Harvard astrophysicist, framed the incident as both a potential national security issue and, if conventional explanations are exhausted, a possible scientific breakthrough. On "Fox & Friends Weekend," Loeb noted that one realistic possibility is that the objects represent technologies developed by foreign adversaries operating near sensitive sites and strategic assets.
"Now, there are two possibilities. If you are down to earth, and you say, 'I'm a realist...' you must admit that there are objects that are potentially produced by adversarial nations that we are not aware of," Loeb said.
Loeb called for expanded research, improved data collection, and increased funding to determine whether such events stem from advanced drones, espionage technology, or other terrestrial sources. He described gaps in current intelligence as a "hole in our defense system."
He added that if thorough investigation rules out human-made causes, other explanations — including an extraterrestrial origin — would need to be seriously considered, a conclusion that would have profound implications for science and society.
Next Steps
Officials and experts say more systematic reporting, transparent analysis, and targeted funding are needed to reduce the number of unresolved cases and to determine whether these incidents pose an ongoing national security risk or represent previously unknown phenomena.
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