In
ufology
Ufology, sometimes written UFOlogy ( or ), is the investigation of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) by people who believe that they may be of extraordinary claims, extraordinary origins (most frequently of extraterrestrial hypothesis, extrate ...
, alien implants is a term used to describe physical objects allegedly placed in someone's body after they have been
abducted by aliens. Claimed capabilities of the implants range from
telepresence
Telepresence is the appearance or sensation of a person being present at a place other than their true location, via telerobotics or video.
Telepresence requires that the users' senses interact with specific stimuli in order to provide the feeli ...
to
mind control Mind control may refer to:
Psychology and neurology
* Brainwashing, the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques
* Brain–computer interface
* Hypnosis
* Neuroprosthetics, the technology of cont ...
to
biotelemetry Biotelemetry (or medical telemetry) involves the application of telemetry in biology, medicine, and other health care to remotely monitor various vital signs of ambulatory patients.
Application
The most common usage for biotelemetry is in dedicated ...
(the latter akin to humans tagging wild animals for study). As with UFO subjects in general, the idea of "alien implants" has seen very little attention from mainstream scientists.
History
According to Peter Rogerson writing in ''Magonia'' magazine, the concept of alien implants can be traced to a March 1957
Long John Nebel
Long John Nebel (born John Zimmerman; June 11, 1911 – April 10, 1978) was an influential New York City talk radio show host.
From the mid-1950s until his death in 1978, Nebel was a hugely popular all-night radio host, with millions of regular ...
radio show interview with UFOlogist John Robinson where Robinson recounted a neighbor's claim of being kidnapped by aliens in 1938 and kept subdued by "small earphones" placed behind his ears.
Massachusetts resident Betty Andreasson claimed that aliens had implanted a device in her nose during her supposed alien abduction in 1967, first publicized by Raymond Fowler in his book, ''The Andreasson Affair''. A Canadian woman named Dorothy Wallis claimed a similar experience in 1983. In later years, the claims of authors like
Whitley Strieber
Louis Whitley Strieber (; born June 13, 1945) is an American writer best known for his horror novels '' The Wolfen'' and '' The Hunger'' and for '' Communion'', a non-fiction account of his alleged experiences with non-human entities. He has mai ...
would popularize alien abduction ideas in general, including reports of unusual "implants" associated with abductions.
John E. Mack wrote in his book ''Abduction: Human Encounters With Aliens'' that he examined a "1/2- to 3/4-inch thin, wiry object" given to him by a twenty-four-year-old woman client who claimed it came out of her nose following an abduction experience. California podiatrist
Roger Leir
Roger Krevin Leir (March 20, 1935 – March 14, 2014) was an American podiatric surgeon and ufologist best known as an investigator of alleged alien implants. Leir wrote books such as ''The Aliens and the Scalpel'', and appeared on various rad ...
also claims to have removed alien implants from patients.
According to skeptical investigator
Joe Nickell
Joe Herman Nickell (December 1, 1944 – March 4, 2025) was an American skeptic and investigator of the paranormal.
Nickell was a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and wrote regularly for their journal, '' Skeptic ...
, supposed alien implants appear to be ordinary materials such as a shard of glass, a jagged piece of metal, and a carbon fiber. The objects are often found lodged in extremities such as toes, hands and shins. Nickell cites Israeli teaching hospital department head Virgil Priscu's opinion that there's "No mystery, no implants", explaining that normal objects picked up during a fall or by walking barefoot often become surrounded by scar tissue.
Popular culture
Alien implants, pictured as small needles inserted into victim's necks and stomachs, first appeared in the 1953 film ''
Invaders from Mars''.
See also
*
Matchbox sign
The matchbox sign, also referred to as the Ziploc bag sign or the specimen sign, is a psychiatric medical sign in which a patient arrives at a doctor's office with items extracted from the skin; these items are intended to serve as proof of a para ...
, a similar phenomenon related to
delusional parasitosis
Delusional parasitosis (DP), also called delusional infestation, is a mental health condition where a person falsely believes that their body is infested with living or nonliving agents. Common examples of such agents include parasites, insects, o ...
.
References
External links
Scientific Analysis of an "Alien Implant"by
Susan Blackmore
Susan Jane Blackmore (born 29 July 1951) is a British writer, lecturer, sceptic, broadcaster, and a visiting professor at the University of Plymouth. Her fields of research include memetics, parapsychology, consciousness, and she is best known f ...
*
{{UFOs
Implants
Implants (medicine)