Though ancient astronaut theory posits extraterrestrial presence on or in the vicinity of Earth long ago, the quintessential alien did not make its way into our modern perception until relatively recent history; we all know this archetype as "the grey."Though ufology lists several races of ETs-tall or short aliens of various color, Nordics, reptilians-the grey is one of the most commonly referenced aliens in sightings, abductions, and pop-culture generally. Everyone knows their features: dark eyes, oblong craniums, underdeveloped or nonexistent noses and mouths, pale skin, and generally frail frames of varying height.When were they first referenced? Some point to Mac Bra-zel's discovery of what was, at the time, referred to as "little green men" during the now infamous alleged flying saucer crash outside Roswell, New Mexico, in July 1947. Since then, a steady stream and eventual deluge of all-things-grey has inundated the cultural landscape of ufology and mainstream alien depictions, whether it be benevolent, childlike greys inviting passengers aboard their craft in Spielberg's Close Encounters of the Third Kind or a menacing race in bio suits, exterminating humans, in Emmerich's Independence Day.
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