Introduction
When ufologist Jaime Maussan took the stage in the Chamber of Deputies Congress of Mexico to unveil what he claimed were “nonhuman beings,” the audience was fixated. However, these beings were nothing more than Nazca mummies from Peru—widely discredited by the scientific community. The hearing brought together participants from diverse fields and international origins to discuss unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAPs) or UFOs, but what unfolded was more spectacle than science.
A Star-studded Line-up
The historic session had assembled a high-profile cast, including Ryan Graves, a retired US Navy pilot, and Abraham “Avi” Loeb, an astrophysicist and director of the Harvard Astronomy Department. Led by Sergio Gutiérrez Luna, the deputy of Mexico’s governing party, Morena, the session was supposed to be a serious forum for discussing unidentified flying phenomena.
The Nazca Mummies Controversy
When Maussan revealed the Nazca mummies, initially discovered in Peru in 2017, he declared them to be “nonhuman beings.” However, experts like physical anthropologist Guido Lombardi and forensic archaeologist Flavio Estrada have denounced these mummies as manipulated and fake. The World Committee on Mummy Studies and other significant bodies have called them an “irresponsible organized campaign of misinformation.”
Faux Pas and Ethical Questions
Notably absent from the hearing were accredited scientists in the fields of genetic anthropology and dating of ancient remains. Furthermore, the absence of a Peruvian ambassador was a diplomatic misstep, particularly given the mummies’ disputed origins.
Reactions from the Scientific Community
The scientific community was quick to issue statements discrediting the event. The Institute of Astronomy at UNAM stated unequivocally that there is no verified evidence of life beyond Earth. Even those attending the hearing, like Ryan Graves, expressed disappointment and described the proceedings as a “huge step backward.”
Political Underpinnings and Future Implications
The event was criticized as a political stunt, aimed more at capturing public imagination than fostering scientific discourse. Raúl Trejo Delarbre, a researcher at the Institute for Social Research, termed it as “absolutely ridiculous,” a sentiment echoed by many.
Conclusion
The Mexican Congress’ UFO hearing was an episode that intertwined political grandstanding, media spectacle, and misinformation. It serves as a cautionary tale for future scientific and legislative hearings, emphasizing the importance of rigorous validation and ethical considerations.
