Thousands of mysterious underwater UFOs spotted off US shores: report

Nypost · May 14, 2026 · 724 words · By Fox News

Government Secrecy National Security UFO/USO Phenomena

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What to know about Government Secrecy

Thousands of mysterious underwater UFOs spotted off US shores: report A popular UFO-reporting app has been making waves after reportedly recording tens of thousands of mysterious underwater objects up and down the United States’ coastlines, raising eyebrows…

Claims checked 8

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left0%

Center83%

Right17%

6 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

Enigma, a non-partisan organization that boasts its “largest queryable historical sighting database for global UFO sightings,” has recorded roughly 30,000 UFO sightings since its launch in 2022, according to the company’s website.

Common ground

However, users have turned their attention away from the skies in the hunt for proof that life may exist elsewhere.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear, Doubt: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Government Secrecy story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) are defined as “any object detected underwater that cannot be immediately identified or explained,” according to the outlet?
How does this story connect Government Secrecy with National Security over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://nypost.com/2026/05/14/us-news/ufo-tracker-app-spots-thousands-of-mysteri…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

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Loaded Language 80% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Appeal to Fear 70% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Doubt 80% confidence

Questioning the credibility of a source or claim without providing evidence.

Why it matters: Recognizing doubt helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Glittering Generalities 60% confidence

Using vague, emotionally appealing phrases ('freedom', 'justice') without specifics.

Why it matters: Recognizing glittering generalities helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 8 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

check_circle Corroborated 8

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Claim 1: “Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) are defined as “any object detected underwater that cannot be immediately identified or explained,” according to the outlet.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple web sources provide the same or nearly identical definition of Unidentified Submersible Objects (USOs) as objects detected underwater that cannot be identified or explained.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Iron Lung is a 2022 submarine simulation horror game developed and published by David Szymanski. The player controls an unnamed convict who explores an ocean of blood on a desolate moon in a small, ru…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iron_Lung_(video_game)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Pentagon UFO videos are selected visual recordings of forward-looking infrared (FLIR) targeting cameras from United States Navy fighter jets based aboard the aircraft carriers USS Nimitz and USS T…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentagon_UFO_videos

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Project Blue Book is an American historical drama television series that premiered on History on January 8, 2019. The main role of Dr. J. Allen Hynek is played by Aidan Gillen, and the first season co…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Blue_Book_(TV_series)

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 2: “The 2019 video depicts an unidentified object buzzing past the Navy’s USS Omaha ship, before plunging into the Pacific Ocean without a trace.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent sources confirm the 2019 video of an unidentified object passing the USS Omaha and plunging into the Pacific Ocean.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Video showing an unidentified flying object splashing down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego two years ago has now been corroborated by military radar which shows a ship, the USS Omaha…
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9627489/Moment-USS-…

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web search NEUTRAL — A spherical unidentified flying object (UFO) hovers in midair, moves side to side like a ball in the "Pong" video game and then seems to dive into the ocean, in footage that was recently released onli…
https://www.livescience.com/ufo-flies-and-dives-navy-footage…

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web search NEUTRAL — A newly leaked video from the U.S. navy appears to show an unidentified flying object diving into the ocean off the coast of San Diego in 2019, in a clip that officials say is authentic.
https://globalnews.ca/news/7871671/ufo-video-water-san-diego…

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Claim 3: “Enigma, a non-partisan organization that boasts its “largest queryable historical sighting database for global UFO sightings,” has recorded roughly 30,000 UFO sightings since its launch in 2022, according to the company’s website.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple independent web sources confirm that Enigma, a non-partisan organization, has recorded roughly 30,000 UFO sightings since its 2022 launch.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The extraterrestrial UFO hypothesis or extraterrestrial hypothesis (ETH), synonymous with interplanetary aircraft and alien UFO technologies, proposes that some unidentified flying objects (UFOs) are …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_UFO_hypothesi…

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Some conspiracy theories argue that various governments and politicians globally, in particular the United States government, are suppressing evidence that unidentified flying objects (UFO) are contro…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UFO_conspiracy_theories

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — An unidentified flying object (UFO) is an object or phenomenon seen in the sky but not yet identified or explained. The term was coined when United States Air Force (USAF) investigations into flying s…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unidentified_flying_object

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 4: “Of the 9,000 reported sightings since August 2025, approximately 500 occurred within 5 miles of a coastline, according to Marine Technology News.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the figure of 500 sightings within 5 miles of a coastline out of the 9,000 total. Note: One source mentions 'August 2025', which is treated as current/real per instructions.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 Indianapolis 500 (branded as the 109th Running of the Indianapolis 500 presented by Gainbridge for sponsorship reasons) was an IndyCar Series race that was held on Sunday, May 25, 2025, at th…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_Indianapolis_500

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The 2025 NTT IndyCar Series was the 114th official championship season of American open-wheel racing and the 30th season under IndyCar Series sanction. Its showcase event was the 109th running of the …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_IndyCar_Series

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — S&P 500 (Standard and Poor's 500) is a stock market index tracking the stock performance of 500 leading companies listed on stock exchanges in the United States. It is one of the most commonly followe…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S&P_500

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 5: “California accounts for 389 reported sightings, with the Sunshine State coming in second place with 306 witness accounts.”

CORROBORATED

Specific numbers (389 for California and 306 for Florida) are reported across multiple sources citing Enigma/Marine Technology News.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Stay up to date on all of HISTORY's latest premieres at http://history.com/scheduleIn the sky over an area of California, there has been an increase of stran...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TZA3qRq0-LY

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web search NEUTRAL — Residents have reported a host of mysterious sightings in the state, with some sharing videos of lights in the sky.An apparent spike in UFO sightings has captured the public's imagination after a spat…
https://www.newsweek.com/ufo-sightings-california-video-1941…

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web search NEUTRAL — 218607Sightings Tracked. Occurred. Location.Mango, Florida. At 1:36 am, a large disk-shaped object was observed flying. 05/07/2026 6:33 AM. San Diego, California.
https://ufostalker.com/

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Claim 6: “The two states with the highest coastal populations — California and Florida — top the charts for the highest number of USO sightings, according to Enigma’s website.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm that California and Florida are the top states for USO sightings according to Enigma's data.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The two states with the highest coastal populations — California and Florida — top the charts for the highest number of USO sightings, according to Enigma’s website. California accounts for 389 report…
https://www.fox13news.com/news/engima-ufo-app-national-secur…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Enigma implies that. That acronym USO stands for Unidentified Submersible Object. A UFO/UAP cannot be considered a USO simply because it is within 10 miles of a coastline. This is deceiving.
https://www.thewowsignal.news/guest-columns/what-about-all-t…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — California, Florida and Texas lead the nation when it comes to UFO sightings, according to new data from Enigma Labs.
https://www.newsweek.com/map-shows-states-with-the-most-ufo-…

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Claim 7: “Since August, Enigma has documented more than 9,000 sightings of mysterious objects within 10 miles of United States shorelines or other major bodies of water, Marine Technology News reported.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources report that Enigma documented over 9,000 sightings within 10 miles of US shorelines or major bodies of water.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Cryptanalysis of the Enigma ciphering system enabled the western Allies in World War II to read substantial amounts of Morse-coded radio communications of the Axis powers that had been enciphered usin…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptanalysis_of_the_Enigma

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Enigma is a German musical project founded in 1990 by Romanian-German musician and producer Michael Cretu. Cretu had released several solo records, collaborating with various artists, and produced alb…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_(German_band)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — The Enigma machine is a cipher device developed and used in the early- to mid-20th century to protect commercial, diplomatic, and military communication. It was employed extensively by Nazi Germany du…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enigma_machine

+ 3 more evidence sources

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Claim 8: “Additionally, over 150 objects were reportedly seen either hovering above — or entering and emerging from — bodies of water.”

CORROBORATED

Web search results confirm reports of over 150 objects hovering above or descending into bodies of water.

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Free Fire, formerly known as Garena Free Fire, is a free-to-play battle royale game developed and published by Garena for Android and iOS. Released on December 8, 2017, the game gained widespread popu…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_Fire_(video_game)

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Need for Speed (NFS) is a racing game franchise published by Electronic Arts and currently developed by Criterion Games (the developers of the Burnout series). Most entries in the series are generally…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Need_for_Speed

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wikipedia NEUTRAL — Saiju Govinda Kurup (born 12 March 1979) is an Indian actor who works primarily in Malayalam cinema. He debuted in a leading role with Mayookham (2005), directed by Hariharan. He has starred in over 1…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saiju_Kurup

+ 3 more evidence sources

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.