Mysterious lights are seen in the sky above New Jersey, throwing many into a panic. Is this the current concern about drones or the War of the Worlds radio broadcast 86 years ago? There are interesting similarities and analyst Johan Vermij returns to the podcast to kick off the New Year discussing aliens, drones and the more recent furor in the Garden State. Various forms of drones, in the air, in the seas and on land are becoming a ubiquitous resource. Costs have come down and they've become much more capable. But they're still not well understood by society at large. The New Jersey sightings are still being investigated, but many seem attributable to more conventional aviation activities. That's not to say that these sightings can be disregarded. There are many documented cases of geopolitically driven military surveillance, with arrests of drone pilots with apparently nefarious intent around the globe. This is one more factor in play in the very complex world of drones today.

It's all too easy to deflect the conversation around drones from the many practical uses in which they're put to work today. Drones are being used to aid first responders, with drone-in-a-box (DiaB) technologies available to be first on the scene to enhance situational awareness in critical situations. They're surveying crops to increase yields while reducing pesticide use, finding methane leaks to reduce gas emissions and improving maintenance of cell towers and power transmission lines. And they've revolutionized the battlefield, creating an asymmetric advantage and driving a rapid evolution of technologies in a conflict-driven proving ground. We won't see the replacement of jets and howitzers, but drone's impacts have already been far reaching.

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Credits:

• Host/Author: Eric Hanselman
• Guest: Johan Vermij
• Producer/Editor: Kyle Cangialosi and Odesha Chan
• Published With Assistance From: Sophie Carr, Feranmi Adeoshun, Kyra Smith