The Buga Sphere: Colombia's Mysterious UFO Orb That Has Scientists Divided

The Colombian city of Buga made global headlines in March 2025 when residents spotted an erratic, glowing sphere zigzagging across the sky before it landed in a nearby field. The object — now known worldwide as the Buga Sphere — has since become one of the most debated anomalies in recent UAP (Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena) history. Nearly a year later, the mystery is far from solved. Here's everything we know.

The Discovery: March 2, 2025

On the evening of March 2, 2025, residents of Buga, Valle del Cauca in western Colombia witnessed something extraordinary: a spherical object displaying multicolored lights performed zigzagging movements and abrupt altitude changes before descending into a field on the outskirts of town. Local resident Jose Arias was the first to reach the landing site, where he found a perfectly round metallic orb resting in a circular patch of scorched grass.

The sphere was approximately the size of a football, weighed roughly 2 kilograms (4.5 pounds), and was ice-cold to the touch — described as feeling "like it just came out of a refrigerator." No radiation or chemical residue was detected around the landing site.

Physical Analysis: Three Layers and Nine Microspheres

The Buga Sphere was subsequently examined by Jose Luis Velazquez, a radiology specialist, who performed X-ray scans that revealed a remarkably complex interior:

• Three concentric metal-like layers with no visible seams, welds, or joints
• Nine microspheres (some reports suggest 18) arranged symmetrically around a dense central nucleus
• A honeycomb surface structure visible under magnification
• Strange symbols etched onto the exterior that "don't match any known writing system," combining geometric precision with calligraphic elegance

A portable spectrometer analysis reportedly identified the sphere as containing a titanium-based alloy with elements that researchers claimed were "not listed on the periodic table" — a claim that has been met with considerable skepticism from mainstream scientists.

The Scientific Debate

The Buga Sphere has split the scientific community into distinct camps.

The extraordinary-origin camp, led by Mexican ufologist Jaime Maussan (who obtained the sphere and transported it to Mexico), argues that the seamless construction and unknown alloy composition exceed current human manufacturing capabilities. A major press conference on June 20, 2025 — featuring Maussan, Dr. Steven Greer, and U.S. congressman Eric Burlison — brought the sphere to international attention.

The skeptical camp offers more grounded explanations. Dr. Julia Mossbridge, a physicist from the University of San Diego, described it as potentially "a really cool art project," noting that techniques like superplastic forming or magnetic pulse welding could produce seamless metallic objects. Dr. Garry Nolan, a Stanford professor who has analyzed numerous alleged UAP materials, stated the object is "99% likely to be a terrestrial artifact."

As of early 2026, no independent laboratory has published peer-reviewed analysis of the sphere. The Carbon-14 dating claim of 12,500 years that circulated online lacks official documentation from any accredited institution.

2026: New Sightings and a Monument

The story took a fresh turn on January 29, 2026, when a striking new video surfaced showing a shiny metallic sphere moving silently across the sky above Valle del Cauca — the same region where the original Buga Sphere was recovered. The object's flawless spherical shape, smooth trajectory, and complete absence of engine noise or visible propulsion reignited worldwide debate.

Meanwhile, the town of Buga has leaned into its newfound fame: a monument commemorating the sphere now stands in the area, turning the town into a magnet for UFO enthusiasts and curious tourists alike.

Why It Matters for Space Science

Whether the Buga Sphere turns out to be an elaborate art project, an unknown industrial device, or something genuinely anomalous, the episode highlights an important truth: we live in an era of unprecedented cosmic awareness. From the discovery of interstellar visitors like 1I/'Oumuamua, 2I/Borisov, and now 3I/ATLAS to the ongoing search for technosignatures by projects like Breakthrough Listen, humanity is paying closer attention than ever to objects that arrive from — or appear to arrive from — beyond our immediate environment.

The Buga Sphere also underscores the need for rigorous scientific methodology. Projects like Harvard's Galileo Project, which aims to build a systematic scientific framework for studying UAP, represent exactly the kind of approach needed: transparent data collection, peer-reviewed analysis, and reproducible results.

What We Still Don't Know

Several key questions remain unanswered:

• Independent analysis: No accredited laboratory outside of Maussan's team has publicly confirmed the sphere's composition claims. Until independent verification occurs, extraordinary claims remain unsubstantiated.
• The symbols: Linguists and cryptographers have not been given access to study the surface markings systematically.
• The 2026 sightings: Are the new aerial sphere videos related to the original Buga Sphere, or are they separate phenomena (drones, balloons, or optical effects)?
• Chain of custody: The sphere passed through multiple hands before reaching Mexico, raising questions about whether it could have been modified or substituted.

The Bigger Picture

The Buga Sphere is one data point in a much larger conversation about what's happening in our skies — and beyond our solar system. As 3I/ATLAS continues its journey through our cosmic neighborhood and telescopes like SPHEREx and JWST push the boundaries of what we can detect, the line between "anomalous terrestrial object" and "genuine extraterrestrial artifact" will increasingly require the kind of careful, evidence-based investigation that defines good science.

For now, the Buga Sphere remains exactly what it has been since March 2025: a fascinating mystery that reminds us how much we still have to learn.

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