---
title: "MIT Researcher Says UFO Research Could Lead to New Laws of Physics"
description: "Breaking Physics The US military has started to take reports of “unidentified aerial objects” seriously in recent years, setting up a taskforce to investigate strange sightings by its personnel. Many of the since declassified reports include mysterious objects spotted by Navy pilots, traveling through the sky at astonishing speeds, seemingly breaking the laws of physics. […]"
date: "2021-05-04"
modified: "2021-05-04"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/mit-researcher-ufo-new-laws-physics"
categories:
  - "Physics"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "aliens"
  - "the digest"
  - "UFO"
  - "ufos"
---

# MIT Researcher Says UFO Research Could Lead to New Laws of Physics

![In a recent opinion piece for NBC News, MIT graduate and entrepreneur Rizwan Virk argues studying UFOs could potentially redefine "all of science."](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/mit-researcher-ufo-new-laws-physics.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://pixabay.com/illustrations/ufo-spaceship-planets-alien-aliens-6088312/" target="\_blank"\>Image via Pixabay/Futurism\</a\>\</em\>*

## Breaking Physics

The US military has started to take reports of "unidentified aerial objects" [more seriously](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/former-military-intelligence-official-government-preparing-huge-ufo-reveal>) in recent years, even setting up a [taskforce](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/pentagon-ufo-task-force-ready-report>) to investigate strange sightings by its personnel.

Many of the reports include mysterious objects spotted by Navy pilots, traveling through the sky [at astonishing speeds](<https://futurism.com/us-military-new-info-ufo-videos>) and seemingly defying the laws of physics.

That's why, according to Rizwan Virk, an MIT graduate and founder of incubator Play Labs at MIT, it would be a huge mistake to not take these reports seriously going forward. In a recent [opinion piece for *NBC News*](<https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/u-s-military-takes-ufos-seriously-why-doesn-t-silicon-ncna1264107>), Virk argues that the "profound lack of curiosity" in UFOs resulted in a mess of taboos and biases amongst the ranks of academia.

To Virk, studying UFOs could potentially redefine "all of science" and "lead to a new understanding of our place in the universe, and new advances in materials science, biology, quantum physics, cosmology and social sciences."

## Revolutionizing Science

Is Virk's a consensus view? Absolutely not. But his embrace of the concept does show that it's a line of inquiry that's making inroads into traditionally buttoned-up institutions including MIT.

Rather than convincing people that UFOs do in fact exist, Virk is hoping to "encourage academics and industry leaders to move beyond their biases into an open-minded investigation to figure out who or what created them, and how they work."

The rewards for those continuing the research into UFOs could pay off big, in Virk's analysis.

"In the long term, there could be multiple Nobel prizes, not to mention new laws of physics, for those who are willing to dive in and risk ridicule in the short term," he argued.

**READ MORE:** [The U.S. military takes UFOs seriously. Why doesn't Silicon Valley or academia?](<https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/u-s-military-takes-ufos-seriously-why-doesn-t-silicon-ncna1264107>) \[*NBC News*\]

**More on UFOs:** *[This Theory Could Explain Many Military UFO Sightings](<https://futurism.com/this-theory-could-explain-many-military-ufo-sightings>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)