National Institute for Discovery Science
Encyclopedia
The National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDSci) was a privately financed research organization based in Las Vegas, Nevada
, USA.
It was founded in 1995 by real-estate developer Robert Bigelow
, who set it up to research and advance serious study of various fringe science
, and paranormal
topics, most notably ufology
.
Deputy Administrator Colm Kelleher
, Ph.D. is quoted as saying the organization is not designed to study UFO's only. "We don't study aliens, we study anomalies. They're the same thing in a lot of people's minds, but not in our minds."
NIDSci has at various times employed scientists such as Eric W. Davis, who has worked for NASA on topics related to the claims of Eugene Podkletnov
and who has also worked for the Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin.
NIDSci was disbanded in October 2004.
and also became the FAA's sole recipient for black triangle reports. In 2002, NIDS issued a report which said the black triangles were U.S. military prototype blimps, a finding agreed to by other experts but not confirmed by the military.
NIDSci bought Skinwalker Ranch
, when the news started breaking about it in 1996, and Deputy Administrator Colm Kelleher led the investigation for a number of years.
A hotline was established in 1999 to receive reports of odd occurrences. Over 5,000 calls and emails have come in to the organization. Officials say many are explained as missile test launches and meteors.
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, USA.
It was founded in 1995 by real-estate developer Robert Bigelow
Robert Bigelow
Robert T. Bigelow is a hotel and aerospace entrepreneur. He owns the hotel chain Budget Suites of America and is the founder of Bigelow Aerospace....
, who set it up to research and advance serious study of various fringe science
Fringe science
Fringe science is scientific inquiry in an established field of study that departs significantly from mainstream or orthodox theories, and is classified in the "fringes" of a credible mainstream academic discipline....
, and paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
topics, most notably ufology
Ufology
Ufology is a neologism coined to describe the collective efforts of those who study reports and associated evidence of unidentified flying objects . UFOs have been subject to various investigations over the years by governments, independent groups, and scientists...
.
Deputy Administrator Colm Kelleher
Colm Kelleher
Colm Kelleher is a research scientist and author. He received his PhD in biochemistry at Trinity College, Dublin and has 21 years of experience in the field of cell and molecular biology. In addition he was an adminisrator for a Nevada aerospace company, Space Sciences Inc., and was also Deputy...
, Ph.D. is quoted as saying the organization is not designed to study UFO's only. "We don't study aliens, we study anomalies. They're the same thing in a lot of people's minds, but not in our minds."
NIDSci has at various times employed scientists such as Eric W. Davis, who has worked for NASA on topics related to the claims of Eugene Podkletnov
Eugene Podkletnov
Dr Yevgeny Podkletnov is a Russian engineer, formerly affiliated with the Materials Science Department at the Tampere University of Technology, Finland, who is best known for his controversial work on a so-called gravity shielding device...
and who has also worked for the Institute for Advanced Studies at Austin.
NIDSci was disbanded in October 2004.
History
The National Institute for Discovery Science was founded by Robert Bigelow as a way to channel funds into the purportedly scientific study of paranormal phenomena. They have done research into the area of cattle mutilationCattle mutilation
Cattle mutilation is the apparent killing and mutilation of cattle under unusual or anomalous circumstances...
and also became the FAA's sole recipient for black triangle reports. In 2002, NIDS issued a report which said the black triangles were U.S. military prototype blimps, a finding agreed to by other experts but not confirmed by the military.
NIDSci bought Skinwalker Ranch
Skinwalker Ranch
According to local legend, Skinwalker Ranch, also known as Sherman Ranch, is a property located on approximately southeast of Ballard, Utah that is allegedly the site of paranormal and UFO-related activities...
, when the news started breaking about it in 1996, and Deputy Administrator Colm Kelleher led the investigation for a number of years.
A hotline was established in 1999 to receive reports of odd occurrences. Over 5,000 calls and emails have come in to the organization. Officials say many are explained as missile test launches and meteors.
External links
- NIDSci Official Website (static image of NIDSci logo, no text or hyperlinks)
- NIDSci's Official Website WayBackMachine (Set at October 7, 2007. Articles still available for download)
- NIDS - Robert Bigelow - a collection of news articles about the NIDS' early days
- The UFO Hunters - Scientists at National Institute for Discovery Science study anomalous phenomena
- Where the Steers and the Aliens Play an article by Sean Castel in FateFate MagazineFate is a U.S. magazine about paranormal phenomena. Fate was co-founded in 1948 by Raymond A. Palmer and Curtis Fuller, suspended print publication in July 2009, and launched a new website in January 2010 featuring news, articles, and blogs written by experts and paranormal researchers.Promoted as...
, August, 1998 - The End of the National Institute for Discovery Science (NIDS)
- Bigelow’s Aerospace and Saucer Emporium, Skeptical InquirerSkeptical InquirerThe Skeptical Inquirer is a bimonthly American magazine published by the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry with the subtitle: The magazine for science and reason....
33.4, July/August 2009