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The Micah Hanks Program

Micah Hankswww.micahhanks.com
The Micah Hanks Program is a weekly podcast that covers science and the mysteries of our universe. Taking a critically-minded approach to the study of our world, each week Micah presents commentary and discussions with guests on subjects that include mysteries of physics and astronomy, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), UFOs, myths and folklore, archaeology and ancient mysteries, artificial intelligence, futurism, cryptozoology, science fiction, and entertainment. Each week we journey to the boundaries of human knowledge, in search of the most unusual things our world has to offer.
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Episodes

The UAP Trail: Cold Case UFO Files Reopened | MHP 02.02.26.

An early morning high-speed police chase involving a UFO... a military helicopter crew's encounter with something from out of this world... these are just a few examples of some of history's best-known and most credible UFO cases, both of which occurred in Ohio during the height of the Cold War. What were the objects these trained professionals observed, and what do their presence in the skies mean for U.S. National Security? This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we cover a recent trip with the...

Feb 03, 20261 hr

Varginha: The Brazilian Roswell | MHP 1.26.26.

In January 1996, residents of the quiet Brazilian city of Varginha began reporting something unusual in the skies above their neighborhoods. Witnesses described a low-flying object—long, cylindrical, and trailing smoke—moving erratically over the city before disappearing from view. In the days that followed, the story took on a far stranger dimension, one that would transform a routine sighting into one of the most enduring and controversial UFO cases in modern history. This week on The Micah Ha...

Jan 28, 20261 hr

Ancient Signals Decoded: Lost Languages, Archaeology, and Alien Contact | MHP 01.20.26.

Throughout history, scholars have sought ways to access the "lost knowledge" of the ancient world. In recent years, with the advent of artificial intelligence, major strides have been made toward decoding the mysteries kept within mysterious ancient texts like the famous "Voynich manuscript," which was composed centuries ago in a mysterious language that remains undeciphered. The challenges that such texts present to scholars also raise a question: would we be any more successful in decoding mes...

Jan 20, 20261 hr 2 min

Secret Arsenal: Sonic Weapons, Covert Aircraft, and 'Black Budget' Mysteries | MHP 01.12.26.

Is the United States in possession of a secretive new "sonic weapon," the existence of which has not yet been officially revealed to the public? This question has arisen recently amid rumors about a mysterious and devastating new U.S. capability, but what does science and available intelligence say about such futuristic warfare technologies? This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we examine the recent sonic weapon claims, along with a look at other purported weapons and other capabilities compri...

Jan 13, 20261 hr

Lost Knowledge and Forgotten Technologies of the Past | MHP 01.07.26.

The fabled Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient world, was home to vast collections of scrolls from across the Mediterranean and beyond. Despite the wonders it contained, by late antiquity, the library's collections had disappeared, leaving questions about the depth of the ancient knowledge it once contained. But could such "lost knowledge" from the ancient past ever be recovered? This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we explore the enigma of lost inform...

Jan 07, 20261 hr

UAP in 2025: Sightings, Discoveries, and Controversies | MHP 12.30.25.

Throughout 2025, several new revelations have come to light involving the ever-controversial subject of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). From new whistleblowers coming forward to sensational claims about alleged secret programs, the last twelve months were at no loss for excitement as far as claims involving aerial mysteries, but what have this year's major revelations taught us, and how much can be verified? This week on The Micah Hanks Program , take a look at some of the major developm...

Dec 30, 20251 hr 1 min

Ancient Mysteries Unearthed: Incredible Archaeology Discoveries in 2025 | MHP 12.23.25.

Our fascination with ancient mysteries was rewarded in 2025 with a host of incredible discoveries that are shedding light on the past. Curious findings throughout the year have pushed back the timescales on the beginnings of ancient structures in Europe and other parts of the world, unusual artifacts found in odd places, and in some cases, discoveries that are bridging the gap between ancient history and mythology. This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we look at some of the most fascinating an...

Dec 23, 202559 min

All Will Be Disclosed: UFO Revelations and Deception in Popular Media | MHP 12.16.25.

Residents of New York and Los Angeles were recently treated to an eye-grabbing display, with the sudden appearance of mysterious promotional billboards advertising a new project by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The eerie imagery was accompanied solely by the words "ALL WILL BE DISCLOSED," along with Spielberg's name and the presumed premiere date of the forthcoming film, the official title of which currently remains unknown. This week on The Micah Hanks Program , along with speculations ...

Dec 16, 20251 hr 1 min

Revelations: An Insider's Report on the DIA's UAP Investigations | MHP 12.10.25.

From out of the shadows of the U.S. intelligence community, Dr. James T. Lacatski, a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) career intelligence officer and scientist, has emerged to become best known as the program manager who initiated and oversaw the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP). The program was, in short, the Pentagon's most comprehensive—and at times most controversial—known inquiry into unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP. This week on The Micah Hank...

Dec 10, 20251 hr

UAPx: The University of Albany's New UAP Initiative | MHP 12.02.25.

In a major development for the future of UAP science, physicists at the University of Albany, New York, have announced a new research initiative—dubbed UAlbany Project X—that marks the beginning of a long-term scientific study of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). Joining us this week on The Micah Hanks Program to discuss the exciting news are two of the project's lead scientists, Dr. Kevin Knuth and Dr. Matthew Szydagis, who discuss the "rebirth" of the original UAPx initiative as a fully ...

Dec 02, 20251 hr

The Age of Disclosure | MHP 11.26.25.

For decades, the subject of UAP has hovered at the uneasy intersection of national security, scientific curiosity, and public trust. While bipartisan momentum in Washington has pushed for greater transparency, the federal government's fragmented responses and long-standing culture of classification have only deepened questions about what is known—and what might remain hidden. This week on The Micah Hanks Program , following the release of the new documentary film "The Age of Disclosure" by Direc...

Nov 26, 20251 hr 2 min

Invaders: 3I/ATLAS Overload and the 'Alien Invasion' Archetype | MHP 11.18.25.

Since the late 19th century, the concept of an "alien invasion" has been a recurring theme in literature, and also served as a kind of cultural pressure gauge—it reveals our fears about what might be lurking in the cosmos, as well as the everyday horrors of the human condition, forcing us to confront questions about our vulnerabilities, and our assumptions about intelligent life elsewhere in the universe. This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we lead off with a bit of discussion about the persi...

Nov 19, 20251 hr

Riddle of the Lost Labyrinth: An Ancient Enigma Unearthed | MHP 11.11.25.

Ancient Greek mythology tells of a daunting underground maze known as the labyrinth, which, according to legend, housed the fabled beast known as the minotaur. However, clues hidden in ancient writings through the centuries have suggested that there may be more to the tale than mere legend, and that there had in fact been more than one labyrinth that existed in the ancient world. This week on The Micah Hanks Program, a remarkable new discovery in Crete has reinvigorated debate over the origins b...

Nov 12, 20251 hr

Unidentified in Earth's Oceans: The USO Controversy and 3I/ATLAS Update | MHP 11.03.25.

For centuries, strange phenomena associated with our seas have been reported by credible observers, which include several Cold War-era sightings by personnel with the U.S. and Soviet militaries. But what are these strange oceanic counterparts to the UAP mystery, which many refer to as "unidentified submerged objects," or USOs? This week on The Micah Hanks Program, following an update on unusual behavior displayed by the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during its recent nearest approach to the Sun, w...

Nov 04, 20251 hr 1 min

Transients: Objects of Unknown Origin and the Nuclear Connection | MHP 10.29.25.

Recently, striking correlations between mysterious flashes of light captured on 1950s astronomical plates, reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), and atmospheric nuclear weapons tests of the same era have been revealed in a pair of new peer-reviewed scientific papers. Analyzing more than 106,000 short-lived "transients" from the VASCO project archives, the team found that such flashes were 68% more likely to occur the day after a nuclear test, and increased further when UAP sightings...

Oct 29, 20251 hr 7 min

Unknowns in Our Airspace: UAP & Aviation Safety Threats | MHP 10.21.25.

Recently, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 en route from Denver to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City after colliding with an unidentified object over Utah. The impact shattered the cockpit windshield, injuring one of the pilots and prompting the crew to announce that the aircraft had "collided with an object." Early investigations seem to rule out space debris or meteors, and while investigators continue working to resolve the situation, a potential break in...

Oct 21, 20251 hr

Incident at Area 51: A Crash Investigation Uncovers Material of 'Unknown Origin' | MHP 10.14.25.

In an odd turn of events, officials have revealed unusual new details about an aircraft crash that occurred near Area 51 in late September. The crash, initially described as minor and non-fatal, has since taken a strange turn after investigators reportedly discovered "tampering" at the site, which includes the discovery of objects that included an "inert training bomb body" and aircraft material of "unknown origin." This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at the latest news about the ongoi...

Oct 14, 202559 min

3I/ATLAS: Arrival of an Interstellar Visitor | MHP 10.07.25.

On July 1, 2025, a mysterious object was detected within our solar system. Soon afterward, it was confirmed by NASA as the third known interstellar object ever observed by astronomers, and given a formal name: 3I/ATLAS. Since that time, the object's unusual trajectory, massive size, and anomalous behavior have captured the fascination of the scientific community, leading to questions about whether it is indeed simply an interstellar comet bearing unusual traits or whether it could be something m...

Oct 07, 20251 hr

Unknown Down: An Area 51 Crash Retrieval and Mystery Drones Redux | MHP 09.30.25.

Recently, the legendary Area 51 has been making headlines again, after a mysterious incident involving an aircraft crash in the desert near the famous and secretive high-security facility. Elsewhere, sightings of "mystery drones" over NATO member countries in Europe are raising concerns among officials, as questions remain over who may be behind the mysterious incursions. This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we delve into what is known about the unusual incident involving a crash retrieval at A...

Oct 01, 20251 hr

Lost Contact: The Mantell Incident and Post-War UFOs | MHP 09.23.25.

In January 1948, Kentucky Air National Guard pilot Captain Thomas Mantell died while pursuing an unidentified flying object near Fort Knox, after his P-51 Mustang went into a fatal climb. The U.S. Air Force later suggested he had been chasing a high-altitude Skyhook balloon, but many still regard the Mantell incident as one of the first major UFO cases of the modern era. This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we are joined by filmmaker Seth Breedlove, whose forthcoming documentary Lost Contact: U...

Sep 24, 20251 hr 4 min

The Task Force Hearing on UAP Transparency | MHP 09.16.25.

Last week, the Task Force on the Disclosure of Federal Secrets held a hearing entitled "Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection," during which witnesses and members of Congress criticized government secrecy and dismissiveness around unidentified anomalous phenomena. With participation from military whistleblowers, some of whom expressed concerns over repercussions for speaking out, the hearing's participants argued that existing oversight bodies like AARO hav...

Sep 17, 20251 hr 1 min

UAP and Myths of the Space Age | MHP 09.08.25.

On an unassuming evening in March 1997, thousands of witnesses in Arizona and surrounding states observed strange lights in the sky. The famous incident, known today as "The Phoenix Lights," remains a staple of modern UFO studies... but is there a deeper story behind this classic "best evidence" encounter? This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we take a careful look at the Phoenix Lights mystery, as well as recent sightings of "mystery drones," and how biased viewpoints that treat the subject e...

Sep 05, 20251 hr

The Alien Paradox: ET Contact, Signals from Space, and Cosmic Hitchhikers | MHP 09.01.25.

Since the dawn of the space age, scientists have been scouring the universe for evidence of alien life and possible attempts at communication by intelligent civilizations in the far reaches of the cosmos. While frustratingly little evidence has been found supporting the existence of intelligent life on other worlds, a handful of strange incidents from over the years point to a tantalizing possibility: that attempts at contact have already been made. This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we exami...

Sep 02, 20251 hr

The Universal Engine: Cosmic Mysteries and Intelligence Beyond Earth | MHP 08.27.25.

For centuries, humans have wrestled with the mysteries of the cosmos, from the invisible dark matter and dark energy that shape the universe, to hidden dimensions, parallel universes, and the ultimate fate of all cosmic structures. Such questions force us to consider not only the physics of the universe, but the possibility that non-human intelligence—whether biological or artificial—could exist far beyond Earth, or perhaps also closer to home. This week on The Micah Hanks Program , we look at s...

Aug 28, 20251 hr

Phantom Vessels: Ghost Ships, Missing Crews and Oddities of Sea and Sky | MHP 08.20.25.

For centuries, sailors have shared baffling stories of phantom vessels found adrift with their crews missing. Such mysterious occurrences have helped give rise to famous legends like that of the "Flying Dutchman," a ghost ship said to have been observed during severe maritime storms since at least the eighteenth century. This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we explore several historical cases of ships at sea and aircraft whose crews went missing, like the famous Mary Celeste, the odd tale of th...

Aug 20, 20251 hr

Agile Assault Over the Sea of Japan: a Classified Cold War UAP Confrontation | MHP 08.12.25.

At 9:23 p.m. on April 14, 1953, the crew aboard a U.S. Navy patrol plane conducting a classified ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) operation during Korean War had an unsettling encounter with the unexplained. Moving silently through the air at nine thousand feet, the aircraft initially noticed a light in the distance that appeared to be signaling to them using Morse Code. Over the hour that followed, the crew found themselves in the middle of a strange series of engagements that could only be inte...

Aug 13, 20251 hr

Analyzing the Unidentified: AARO's Hunt for UAP and 'Tyson vs the Triangles' | MHP 08.07.25.

In a rare public interview, Jon Kosloski, Director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) joined astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on StarTalk Radio to pull back the curtain on the U.S. government's investigation into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). From law enforcement sightings of black triangles and glowing orbs to the challenges of AI-generated hoaxes and classified sensor tech, Kosloski offered a breakdown of AARO's scientific approach to UAP analysis. This ...

Aug 06, 20251 hr

Anomalous Atmospheric Phenomena: Plasmas, Strange Weather, and Climate Curiosities | MHP 07.29.25.

In 1996, a NASA space shuttle mission meant to study microgravity's effects on electromagnetism may have recorded one of the most puzzling and controversial encounters ever filmed in Earth orbit—dozens, and eventually hundreds, of luminous, pulsating objects seemingly reacting to high-voltage electromagnetic fields in space. What were the strange objects, and could they be related to mysterious plasmas that are believed to manifest in Earth's atmosphere, which are sometimes responsible for UAP s...

Jul 30, 20251 hr

Shadows in the Data: UAP Sightings, Stealth Craft, and DoD "Silencing" | MHP 07.22.25.

This week, sudden news of the firing of former AARO Deputy Director Tim Phillips has sparked controversy following a series of interviews in which he discussed UAPs—particularly black triangle craft exhibiting silent flight, low heat signatures, and advanced maneuverability. Though Phillips emphasized these objects are likely terrestrial in origin, possibly foreign adversary technology, although his sudden departure now raises questions about whether his removal was tied to the substance of his ...

Jul 22, 20251 hr 1 min

Tic Tac USA: Lockheed Martin's Biggest Secret? | MHP 07.16.25.

Since the story of a remarkable 2004 U.S. military UAP incident involving the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group first came to widespread public attention, speculation has ensued about whether anomalous aerial vehicle popularly known as the "Tic Tac" might be a secretive U.S. technology. Now, new claims have come to light that argue the unusual vehicle could belong to American defense contractor Lockheed Martin, but how credible are the claims? This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we examine the r...

Jul 17, 20251 hr
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