Event · 22 March 2018 · Atacama Desert, Chile
Atacama skeleton (“Ata”) genome study
Also known as Atacama skeleton, Ata, Atacama mummy
On 22 March 2018, the Stanford immunologist Garry Nolan and colleagues published a whole-genome analysis of "Ata", a six-inch mummified skeleton found in the Atacama Desert of Chile. They found that the remains were human, a foetus with novel mutations in genes linked to bone growth and dysplasia.
The study answered claims made in Steven Greer's 2013 film Sirius, which had presented Ata as a possible extraterrestrial being. Nolan later summed up the result as "human a hundred percent", just "a bad roll of the dice" of mutations. The episode is often cited as an example of testing an extraordinary claim with ordinary science.
Sources: Bhattacharya et al., Genome Research (2018) · Lex Fridman Podcast #262
Facts and claims
- documented Garry Nolan and colleagues published the whole-genome sequencing of the 6-inch Atacama remains on March 22, 2018. They found the remains were human, with novel mutations linked to bone dysplasia. Source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (archived)
- claimed Steven Greer's 2013 film “Sirius” had presented Ata as a possible extraterrestrial being. Source: en.wikipedia.org (archived)
- claimed Nolan: the result was “human a hundred percent”, just “a bad roll of the dice” of mutations. — Garry Nolan Source: Garry Nolan: UFOs and Aliens (Lex Fridman Podcast #262) at 47:41
Connected files
People
- Garry Nolan (led by)
- Steven Greer (refutes claim in)
Videos
- Garry Nolan: UFOs and Aliens (Lex Fridman Podcast #262) (discussed in)
Mentioned in documents and records
More events
- PLA researchers describe using AI to track rising UAP reports
- Disclosure Project press conference at the National Press Club