From the “Mosul Orb” to the recent case of the controversial Buga spheres, reports of unidentified flying objects in spherical form — often described as “metallic spheres” — have been piling up in recent years, drawing the attention of researchers and authorities alike.
Now, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has officially released three new videos. One of them has been classified as identified, while the other two remain unexplained and have been cataloged as UAPs. Both depict metallic spheres flying over the African continent, one in 2022 and the other in 2023.
In its annual report released in October 2023, the AARO revealed that spherical unidentified aerial phenomena remain the most frequently sighted and reported. The report compiles UAP records from August 31, 2022, to April 2023, and includes previously unreported cases from earlier years.
A total of 291 UAP reports were analyzed, with 290 occurring in airspace and one in the maritime domain. No UAPs were reported in the transmedium or space domains. Most sightings took place in U.S. airspace.
The report details that 25% of cases involved orb/round/sphere shapes, followed by irregular shapes (6%), ovals (4%), rectangles (2%), discs (2%), cylinders (1%), and triangles (1%). Another 5% were ambiguous sensor contacts, while 53% had no reported shape. Additionally, 21% of observed objects displayed lights, while 79% showed no visible illumination.
AARO stated that no reports linked UAPs to adverse health effects, though potential medical implications will be monitored if they arise. Among military reports, some UAPs exhibited high speeds and unusual maneuverability, but there were no instances of dangerous approaches to civilian or military aircraft or interference with flight paths.
While none of the 291 reports were conclusively attributed to foreign activities, all remain under investigation. The report notes that only a small percentage of cases display “interesting signatures,” such as high-speed movement or unknown morphologies.
The first video, which is the shorter one, shows only a black dot on the screen. The footage, captured in infrared, although it presents a thermal signature, visually doesn’t reveal much of significance. However, it officially demonstrates that spheres are indeed frequently observed worldwide.
The second video shows an object with a shape that, honestly, doesn’t appear to be a sphere but has visual characteristics similar to the first one, also captured in infrared. A notable difference in the second video is the “trail” that the object seems to emit as it moves across the footage.
In the case of these two videos, interesting signatures were found. The first, from 2022, presented by the United States Africa Command, is a 31-second recording captured by an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform.
The footage shows an apparent thermal signature with characteristics consistent with a physical object. However, AARO was unable to determine whether the observed signature originates from a physical source—whether a thermal emission, a thermal reflection—or from another source, such as a heat differential in the environment or a sensor display error. According to AARO, the available data are insufficient to assess the performance characteristics of the phenomenon.
💥AARO releases two new unresolved videos of spherical UAPs.
Unresolved UAP Report, Africa 2022: "AARO cannot determine whether the observed signature originates from a physical source, either as a thermal emission or a thermal reflection…or a sensor display error."
1/2 pic.twitter.com/XbPKZfqghr
— Neil Goodman News (@Neil__Goodman) August 8, 2025The second video, made in 2023, was also presented by the United States Africa Command. It consists of four minutes and fifty-eight seconds of footage captured by an infrared sensor aboard a U.S. military platform.
The images show an apparent thermal signature with characteristics consistent with a physical object. However, AARO is unable to determine whether the observed signature originates from a physical source—whether a thermal emission or a thermal reflection—or from another source, such as a heat differential in the environment or a sensor display error. The available data are insufficient to assess the performance characteristics of the phenomenon.
The videos presented by the United States Africa Command offer a rare and technical glimpse into the nature of unidentified aerial phenomena. Although short and captured in infrared, they provide valuable information for the research community and government agencies involved in investigating these events.
The first video, despite showing only a black dot on the screen, confirms the recurring presence of spheres, which continue to be one of the most reported shapes in official records. This reinforces the need for ongoing studies focused on this specific type of UAP, considering that its frequency suggests a pattern that cannot be ignored.
The second video, longer in duration and featuring a thermal signature that does not resemble a sphere, broadens the range of shapes and behaviors of these objects. The presence of a thermal “trail” indicates a dynamic phenomenon, whose origin remains unknown, raising questions about the physical and technological properties of these craft.
Although the footage reveals thermal signatures consistent with physical objects, AARO emphasizes the limitations of the available data for a conclusive analysis. This caution is important to maintain scientific integrity, avoid premature conclusions, and encourage the search for more robust and detailed evidence.
