What would it take to make you believe in UFOs?

For some, it’s a distant possibility. For others, it’s something they’re convinced is already here. But for journalist Stacy Liberatore, the answer is more grounded: she needs to see it.

On a recent episode of Breaking Battlegrounds, Liberatore — who has written extensively on science, technology, and unexplained phenomena — broke down one of the more bizarre and fascinating stories she’s covered: a hacker who claimed to uncover evidence of unidentified objects while inside NASA systems.

It’s a story that sits right at the edge of skepticism and curiosity — and one that continues to spark debate.

A Story That Raises Eyebrows

According to Liberatore, the individual at the center of the story allegedly hacked into NASA systems and reported seeing images that appeared to show a cylindrical object hovering over Earth.

The claims were serious enough that the individual faced significant legal consequences, including the threat of extradition. For some, that raises an obvious question:

Why would someone risk that much — unless they believed they had found something real?

Liberatore remains cautious but open-minded. While she doesn’t fully believe in UFOs, she also doesn’t dismiss claims outright — especially when they come with detailed accounts or supporting context.

Between Skepticism and Possibility

“I want to believe,” she admitted during the conversation — a sentiment that reflects how many people feel about the topic.

Rather than jumping to conclusions, Liberatore approaches stories like this through a journalistic lens:

  • What evidence exists?

  • Who is making the claim?

  • And what are the possible explanations?

That balance between curiosity and skepticism is what makes stories like this so compelling — they don’t offer easy answers.

If Not UFOs, Then What?

The conversation also touched on a key question: if these sightings aren’t extraterrestrial, what are they?

Recent history has shown that not everything is what it seems. Incidents involving unexplained aerial objects have sometimes turned out to be government or military technology. In one widely discussed case, mysterious drones spotted by the public were later attributed to official agencies.

That reality complicates the narrative. Not every unexplained object is alien — but not every explanation is immediately clear either.

The Credibility Factor

One of the most compelling aspects of UFO discussions is who is willing to speak out.

Pilots, military personnel, and trained professionals have reported sightings over the years — often at personal or professional risk. As Liberatore noted, these are not individuals eager to damage their credibility.

That doesn’t prove extraterrestrial involvement, but it does make the conversation harder to dismiss outright.

Why This Conversation Keeps Coming Back

UFO stories have a way of resurfacing — again and again.

Part of that is human curiosity. Part of it is distrust in institutions. And part of it is the simple fact that not everything has been fully explained.

Through her reporting, Liberatore has explored these gray areas — where science, government secrecy, and public fascination overlap.

So… Do We Believe?

For now, the answer remains uncertain.

But stories like this — from hacked systems to unexplained sightings — ensure that the question isn’t going away anytime soon.

And maybe that’s why it continues to capture attention: not because we have all the answers, but because we don’t.

Transcript

**Chuck Warren: **Let’s hop to something here that’s... I’ll ask this question. After you read these files, you wrote a story about a hacked NASA system and they found the truth about UFOs. When you started the story, did you believe in UFOs and do you believe in them now?

**Stacy Liberatore: **That’s a hard question because I honestly, I don’t believe in UFOs and I know that’s terrible. I want to.

Chuck Warren: No, it’s not terrible.

Sam Stone: It’s not terrible. No, it’s actually kind of great.

Stacy Liberatore: It’s going to ruin my street credit.

**Chuck Warren: **Listen, the last thing we need is a UFO landing today, right? We just need a little calm for a while.

Stacy Liberatore: Oh my gosh. At this point, send them in. but I want to believe, but I’m like, I have to see it. But I don’t discredit anyone’s story, I’ll tell you that. You know what mean? If somebody says that they saw this and this happened and they provide me with enough, you know, evidence and details like that NASA story one, I mean, the poor guy hacked into, well, not poor guy, he hacked into the, you know, the systems. And he was, you know, facing federal jail. So he obviously saw something to be under, you know, almost threatened with extradition and things like that. So, I mean, again, there’s truth behind everything at this point.

**Chuck Warren: **What do you think, if it’s not a UFO and what you’ve read on these files, and I’m sure you’ve done more research on it based on your story, what do you think it could be? I I don’t put anything past the government now. I mean, you’ve proven that, right? Is it some special?

Stacy Liberatore: Because we had the Jersey, remember the Jersey drones, that fiasco?

Chuck Warren: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Stacy Liberatore: We all thought it was, it could be UFOs, it could be this. I mean...

Sam Stone: And it was DOD, right?

Chuck Warren: Yeah.

Stacy Liberatore: It was the FAA. The FAA. Yeah. So, it’s just, I can’t even tell you, like, so when he hacked the server, he said that he saw a UFO in one of the pictures over the planet. And it was like a cylinder shaped object. I mean, nothing other than an alien craft can explain what he saw. That’s all I have to say.

Sam Stone: I mean, look, I’ve heard from pilots, you know, seen things out there from pilots who have sworn to these type of encounters. And look, most airline pilots are military trained.

Stacy Liberatore: And the last thing they want to do is come out and say that they saw this stuff and be, you know, the laughing stock of the group or anything like that and put their careers on the line.

**Chuck Warren: **Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. You don’t want to look like a fool.

Listen to the full episode of Breaking Battlegrounds anywhere you stream your podcasts!