How U.S. law defines it
The term "prosaic attribution" means having a human (either foreign or domestic) origin and operating according to current, proven, and generally understood scientific and engineering principles and established laws-of-nature and not attributable to non-human intelligence.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 · Read it on Congress.gov
"Prosaic attribution" is a legal term that means a UAP (unidentified anomalous phenomena) has a human origin, either foreign or domestic, and can be explained by known science and engineering. It rules out any connection to non-human intelligence. The term appears in a U.S. government glossary alongside other defined terms in UAP-related legislation.
What does prosaic attribution actually mean in plain words?
If something gets this label, it means investigators found a human explanation for it. That could be a foreign aircraft, a domestic technology, or anything else made and operated by people. The key requirement is that it follows "current, proven, and generally understood" science. It also must not be linked to non-human intelligence in any way.
What does the term leave out?
The definition covers only what prosaic attribution is. It does not describe things that lack a human explanation, and it does not address what label or status those cases would receive. The SOURCE does not speak to that question.
Where does this definition come from?
The term is defined in a numbered list of official glossary terms in U.S. government legislation related to UAP records. It appears as item 15 in that list, alongside terms like "originating body" and "public interest."
Frequently Asked Questions
What does prosaic attribution mean?
It means a UAP has a human origin, foreign or domestic, and operates according to known science and engineering. It is not linked to non-human intelligence.
having a human (either foreign or domestic) origin and operating according to current, proven, and generally understood scientific and engineering principles
Does prosaic attribution include things made by other countries?
Yes. The definition covers human origins that are either foreign or domestic, so technology from another country would fall within its scope.
having a human (either foreign or domestic) origin
Does the definition say anything about non-human intelligence?
Yes. The definition states directly that something with prosaic attribution is "not attributable to non-human intelligence."
not attributable to non-human intelligence
Where does this term appear in the law?
It is item 15 in a numbered list of defined terms in UAP-related U.S. government legislation, placed alongside other glossary entries like "originating body" and "public interest."
(15) Prosaic attribution.--The term "prosaic attribution" means
Does the SOURCE explain what happens to UAP cases that do not receive this label?
No. The SOURCE only provides the definition of the term. It does not address cases that do not meet the definition or describe any classification process.
The term "prosaic attribution" means having a human (either foreign or domestic) origin
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