In the Orbit of UFO Enthusiasts

What about alien abductions? Do you believe in those?

Oh, is that a bag of worms. It is far beyond anything else in the UFO field for bizarreness, but the reports we get from all over the world are highly consistent. . . . It's something that deserves a lot more study. I'm certainly not going to brush it off, but it is really far out.

Antonio Huneeus, 57, Fairfax

Job: Freelance science reporter and editor

When did you first get interested in UFOs?

There was a very interesting case in Chile in 1977, and I was a reporter and I wrote it up. That was my first UFO article. I had no idea at the time that this was going to consume years of my life.

Ever had a UFO experience?

Well, I would only say that I have had a UFO sighting, not an experience or close encounter. In the Chilean Andes, I did see some strange lights that were zigzagging in the sky and moving in unexplained fashion. This was in 1988.

What is it that most convinces you that UFOs exist?

Well, there's just a lot of great evidence, once you filter all the noise and the wild allegations. Unfortunately, the field is contaminated by a lot of unsubstantiated rumors and sensationalism. Anybody that wants to get involved in this has to realize this and filter it and get to the good cases.

Why do you think UFOs are visiting Earth?

We have no idea, to tell you the truth. That's why they are a mystery.

How do you deal with skeptics?