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Two crucial projects emerged out of the U.S. military's investigations: Project SINE and Project GRUDGE. The former began a serious examination of UFO sightings, while the latter sought to provide rational explanations, often dismissing credible accounts altogether. This approach would give way to the 1950s Blue Book project, again reinforcing the narrative of rational explanations despite ongoing credible reports of strange aerial phenomena.
The Stigma Surrounding UFO Research
By the close of the 1950s, a stigma surrounding UFO discussions began to take hold, diminishing the seriousness of further inquiry. The military engaged in a strategy of silence and ridicule, reinforcing a public sentiment that treating UFOs as a credible subject of study was untenable.