THE U.S. DEPARTMENT of Defense ran a secretive project to check out UFOs between 2007 and 2012, according to a new report in The New York Times.

Not surprisingly, the intelligence officer who ran the program is now part of To the Stars Academy of Arts & Science, a for-profit venture to promote "exotic science and technologies." The heavy presence of intelligence professionals, some with a history of researching the gray area between science and spiritualism, raises questions about the direction and mission of TTS Academy. In our view, it's another misguided New Age attempt to use science to contact the spirit realm.

Also: China using biometrics to identify potential terrorists among Uighurs; head of the School of Engineering Education at Purdue wants to eliminate "academic rigor"; and Jesuits ask Pope Francis to take the "warning label" off the writings of Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin.

If you're interested in joining us and Dr. Michael Heiser for our tour of Israel May 6-16, 2018, visit www.LipkinTours.com for more information.

If you'd like to join Steve Quayle, Timothy Alberino, and us for the True Legends Expedition to Rome and Sardinia, go to www.TrueLegendsTheSeries.com for more information.