A new study has found a significant correlation between mysterious transient objects observed in historical sky photographs and the dates of nuclear weapons tests, as well as reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs). Researchers from the VASCO project analyzed data from the Palomar Observatory and discovered that transient sightings were 45% more likely to occur within one day of a nuclear test, suggesting a potential link between these phenomena. While the exact nature of the transients remains unclear, the findings provide a new avenue for investigating their origins.

An October 2025 paper discusses Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) based on the Palomar Sky Survey, highlighting observations of transient events that correlate with nuclear testing and UAP reports. Researchers, including Beatriz Villarroel and Stephen Bruehl, suggest that a notable percentage of these phenomena may originate from reflective objects, indicating potential evidence of non-terrestrial presence.