Trump administration science advisors have provided conventional explanations for most glowing orb sightings in UFO files—but one 2023 encounter near a U.S. military facility remains unexplained.
Dr. Avi Loeb, head of the UAP Science Advisory Council, suggests many orbs could be plasmas created by high-powered lasers, which the U.S. already uses for defense. These plasmas, he notes, can move at supersonic speeds without friction effects like sonic booms.
Unexplained 2023 Orb Sighting
A June 2026 Pentagon report from AARO describes an October 2023 incident where federal intelligence officers observed orange and red orbs—including a "mother orb" launching smaller orbs—hovering for hours. Loeb states no current laser technology could produce such behavior.
The orbs demonstrated coordinated movement and altitude changes, according to the report. Admiral Tim Gallaudet, another council member, called the case one of the most concerning, with no conventional explanation.
Alternative Theories for Other Sightings
Loeb also cited ball lightning—a rare electrical phenomenon—as a possible cause for some orb sightings. However, he noted ball lightning typically lasts seconds, not hours like the 2023 case.
