Nevada and Its Aliens
Are extraterrestrials real? Some people are convinced that beings from other planets are living on Earth, and many believe they’re hiding out in Nevada, USA.
Since the 19th century, the American West has attracted those in search of adventure and those with imaginative and often unusual beliefs. Given this, it’s not surprising that the area is also known for UFO sightings. To support this, Nevada has an officially designated „Extraterrestrial Highway” for those hoping to catch a glimpse of little green men.
It was probably inevitable given the circumstances. Nevada, with its remote roads and vast open spaces, is a place where imagination thrives. In the centre of the state lies a top-secret military zone, restricted to a select group of employees. This secretive environment naturally led to rumours and stories, which over time became legends and myths. Thus, the lonely Route 375 in Nevada earned the nickname “Extraterrestrial Highway”.
Strange occurrences have been reported in the sky for decades. In the 1950s, nuclear test explosions created mushroom clouds, and both locals and visitors, unaware of the dangers, planned social events around these „shots”. At all hours, unusual sights were reported: unmarked aircraft speeding across the empty highway, vanishing over the hills before there was time to grab a camera.
People discussed these events; reporters questioned the military, but the military stayed silent. Officials denied the existence of secret bases like the notorious Area 51, also called „Dreamland”, near the tiny town of Rachel, Nevada. However, anyone who climbed a hill could see the base and its aircraft coming and going.
Some believed only one explanation made sense: the government must be hiding aliens. Some speculated that the U.S. Air Force was even testing alien spacecraft that had crash-landed on Earth, or that scientists were secretly swapping places with extraterrestrials. A popular rumour among UFO enthusiasts was that alien scientists were working at Area 51 while human scientists were on another planet curing diseases like the common cold.
The most renowned supporter of the UFO was Bob Lazar, who gained national attention in 1989 by claiming he saw alien ships at the military base while working as a physicist there.
For those with a more down-to-earth view, the „mysteries” of the area have simpler explanations. The US Air Force keeps the base secret because it has been used for developing new military aircraft, such as the U-2 and the F-117A „Stealth” fighter. One day, a photographer in Las Vegas captured an image of the top-secret plane in flight before its existence was officially acknowledged. When shown the photo, an Air Force spokesperson claimed ignorance, fuelling more rumours.
Despite this, UFO enthusiasts remain convinced that Area 51 and its surroundings are visited by extraterrestrials and that the military is in contact with them. Consequently, the tiny town of Rachel, with a population of around 100 people and a few dogs, has become known as the UFO capital of America. Visitors from across the USA and beyond come to drive the 98-mile highway and visit Rachel’s social hub, the Little A’Le’ Inn, which serves as a café, bar, hotel, and UFO Information Centre.
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Aliens – obcy
Many people believe that aliens have visited Earth, though no solid proof exists.
Extraterrestrials – istoty pozaziemskie
The government has denied any evidence of extraterrestrials despite widespread speculation.
Imaginative – obdarzony wyobraźnią, pomysłowy
The artist’s imaginative designs transformed the ordinary room into a magical space.
Sightings – obserwacje, zaobserwowania
Recent sightings of mysterious lights in the sky have sparked debates about alien life.
Designate – wyznaczyć, mianować, desygnować
The city council plans to designate this area as a protected nature reserve.
Catch a glimpse of – dostrzec coś, zobaczyć
She tried to catch a glimpse of the celebrity through the crowd of people.
Inevitable – nieunikniony, nieuchronny
Ageing is an inevitable part of life that we all must accept.
Circumstances – okoliczności
Despite the challenging circumstances, she remained optimistic about her future.
Remote – odległy, daleki, daleko położony, zdalny
They moved to a remote village far from the bustling city life.
To thrive – rozwijać się, prosperować, radzić sobie, cieszyć się powodzeniem, odnosić sukcesy
The local economy began to thrive after the new businesses opened in the area.
Vast – obszerny, ogromny, nieprzebrany, rozległy
The universe is so vast that there are likely billions of galaxies we have yet to discover.
Secretive – sekretny, potajemny, tajemniczy, skryty, zakonspirowany
The secretive organization rarely shares information with the public.
Rumours – pogłoski, plotki
The rumours about her resignation spread quickly through the office.
Earn a nickname – zyskać przydomek
His bravery in battle earned him the nickname „The Lionheart”.
Occurrences – zdarzenia, wypadki
Strange occurrences in the house led the family to believe it was haunted.
Mushroom cloud – grzyb atomowy
The explosion was so powerful that it created a massive mushroom cloud visible for miles.
Aircraft (liczba mnoga: aircraft) – statek powietrzny, samolot
The aircraft took off smoothly despite the stormy weather.
Vanish – zniknąć
The magician made the rabbit vanish into thin air, leaving the audience amazed.
Deny – zaprzeczyć, wyprzeć się, zanegować
He denied any involvement in the scandal, but the evidence said otherwise.
Notorious – cieszący się złą sławą, okryty złą sławą
The city is notorious for its traffic jams, especially during rush hour.
To crash-land – lądować awaryjnie, rozbić się
The pilot had to crash-land the plane in a field after both engines failed.
Swap – zamienić się, zamienić, wymienić
After the game, the players swapped jerseys as a sign of respect.
Renowned – sławny, głośny, słynny
The city is renowned for its rich history and well-preserved architecture.
Down-to-earth – przyziemny, praktyczny, twardo stąpający po ziemi
Despite her fame, she remains incredibly down-to-earth and approachable.
Capture an image – zrobić zdjęcie, uchwycić obraz
She managed to capture an image of the rare bird before it flew away.
Acknowledge – przyznać, uznać, przyjąć, potwierdzić, wyrazić wdzięczność
He finally acknowledged that he had made a mistake and apologized to the team.
Spokesperson – rzecznik
The company’s spokesperson addressed the media to explain the product recall.
Claim ignorance – deklarować brak wiedzy na dany temat
When questioned about the missing files, he claimed ignorance, saying he had never seen them.
To fuel rumours – rozpowszechniać / podsycać plotki / pogłoski
The CEO’s sudden resignation only fuelled rumours of a company-wide scandal.
Hub– centrum, ośrodek, węzeł
The city has become a hub for technology startups and innovation.
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