Mick West

Mick West approaches Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena from a position of technical skepticism. Drawing on a background in video-game physics and image analysis, he re-creates camera artefacts and atmospheric effects to show how "extraordinary" footage can arise from ordinary objects.

His forum Metabunk crowdsources explanations for popular cases such as the Navy "Gimbal", "FLIR-1" and "GoFast" videos released in 2017. West argues that gimbal-like rotation, apparent hypersonic speed and zero-g acceleration are consistent with:

1. Sensor parallax, objects far beyond the jet are mis-ranged, inflating velocity estimates.
2. IR glare & bokeh, a distant jet seen through an FLIR pod blooms into a saucer-shaped blob.
3. Gimbal lock, in the ATFLIR optics — a mechanical roll correction makes the image appear to pivot.

These reconstructions have been cited by The New Yorker, CNN, Vice, Popular Mechanics and Scientific American.¹

  Government Reports

Ahead of the 2021 ODNI UAP Preliminary Assessment and AARO's 2024 historical review, West briefed reporters on the likelihood that the majority of cases would resolve into mundane explanations rather than evidence of non-human craft². The later 2024 report echoed that view, stating it found "no verifiable evidence of extraterrestrial technology."

  Publications & Outreach

• Escaping the Rabbit Hole (2018) — a handbook for helping friends exit conspiracy belief.
• Environmental Research Letters (2016) — co-authored a peer-reviewed study quantifying expert consensus against the chemtrail theory.
• Skeptical Inquirer column "The Practical Skeptic".
• Podcast — Tales from the Rabbit Hole interviewing former conspiracy adherents.

West emphasises empathy and clear graphics over ridicule when countering extraordinary claims, a stance that has earned him both praise from scientists and criticism from some UFO advocates who view his analyses as overly reductionist.

  Assessment

Within disclosure circles West functions as a methodological check against sensationalism. While his Disclosure Rating is moderate (6/10) as a recognized analyst who rarely provides primary data, his work increases the overall rigor of the debate by forcing proponents to supply verifiable evidence.

  References

1. Gideon Lewis-Kraus, "How the Pentagon Started Taking UFOs Seriously", The New Yorker (2021); CNN Cuomo Prime Time segment 21 May 2021; Matthew Gault, "The Skeptic's Guide to the Pentagon's UFO Videos", Vice (2020). ↩

2. Leonard David, "Experts Weigh In on Pentagon UFO Report", Scientific American (2021). ↩