Speaker 1: All right, strap yourselves in, because today we're going deep,
like really deep into a world that's a bit of history,
a bit of spy thriller, and uh maybe even a
touch of sci fi.
Speaker 2: Oh I like where this is going.
Speaker 1: We're talking government secrets, the kind that make you wonder
if the truth really is stranger than fiction.
Speaker 2: And trust me, some of these are so wild you'll
swear they came straight out of a Hollywood writer's room.
Speaker 1: Okay, so where do we even begin.
Speaker 2: Well, what's fascinating to me is how many of these
secrets were hidden in plain sight.
Speaker 1: Hidden in plain sight, you mean, like right under our
noses exactly.
Speaker 2: We're talking everyday objects, technologies you might even use that
had these incredible double lives.
Speaker 1: Okay, now I'm intrigued. Give me an example.
Speaker 2: Picture this. You're walking down the street, iPod, your buds in,
jamming to your favorite.
Speaker 1: Tunes, just another day in the city.
Speaker 2: Right, But what if I told you that you're not
just enjoying the music, You're also on a secret mission
measuring radiation level.
Speaker 1: Wait, what a radiation detecting iPod?
Speaker 2: That's right. A seemingly ordinary iPod designed by Apple no less,
was once a covert tool for the US Department of Energy.
Speaker 1: So this wasn't just your typical music player.
Speaker 2: Not at all. Hidden inside was a sophisticated Geiger counter.
Speaker 1: Okay, that is wild talk about a hidden track, right,
But seriously, why go through all that trouble.
Speaker 2: Well, imagine you're trying to detect smuggled uranium or maybe
even evidence of a dirty bomb program.
Speaker 1: Yeah, I guess a scientist walking around with a big,
clunky Geiger Counter would stand out a bit.
Speaker 2: Exactly, But someone blending in with the crowd, just enjoying
their music. Perfect cover.
Speaker 1: It's brilliant in its simplicity. It makes you wonder what
other everyday gadgets might have secret lives hidden in plain sight.
Speaker 2: Right, I mean, who knows what your smartphone is really
capable of?
Speaker 1: Now you've got me paranoid. But okay, let's switch gears
for a second and talk about something a little more legendary.
Speaker 2: You can't possibly mean, Oh but I do Bigfoot? No way,
you're kidding.
Speaker 1: Turns out even the FBI has a file on this
elusive creature.
Speaker 2: Really, yeah, Bigfoot.
Speaker 1: Now I'm not saying I believe in Bigfoot, but the
FBI doesn't usually deal in mythical beings.
Speaker 2: And their policy is pretty clear they only release files
on individuals after they're deceased. So the mere existence of
a Bigfoot file is well interesting to say the least.
Speaker 1: It's like they're acknowledging without actually confirming that maybe, just
maybe there's something more to the legend, or maybe someone
in the FBI has a wicked sense of humor.
Speaker 2: Yeah, who knows. Either way, it definitely sparks the imagination,
doesn't it, And it reminds us that even in this
age of information, there are still mysteries out there that
defy easy explanation.
Speaker 1: Speaking of mysteries, let's talk about one that's been captivating
people for decades.
Speaker 2: UFOs Ah, Yes, UFOs, the Great Unknown.
Speaker 1: And we're not just talking about grainy photos or anecdotal
accounts here. We're talking about official government programs, leaked videos,
and even admissions from the Pentagon that they're things in
our skies that they can't explain, things.
Speaker 2: They can't explain. That's both exciting and a bit unnerving exactly.
Speaker 1: And it all started with a program you might have
heard of, the Advanced Aerospace Threat Identification Program or a
TIP for short.
Speaker 2: A tip, yes, a program specifically dedicated to investigating UFO reports.
It was super secret for years.
Speaker 1: The super secret. Huh so what happened?
Speaker 2: Well, in twenty twenty two, they actually went public with it.
Speaker 1: Wow, they actually admitted it existed.
Speaker 2: Yep. They even created a new office, the All Domain
Anomaly Resolution Office or RO, to continue the investigation publicly.
Speaker 1: So they're basically saying, Okay, we don't know what these
things are, but we're going to try to find out.
Speaker 2: Pretty much, It's like they finally decided to acknowledge what
many people have suspected all along, that there are things
out there in the vastness of space that we simply
don't understand.
Speaker 1: Okay, that's pretty amazing.
Speaker 2: And it gets even wilder. Some people claim the government
possesses actual off world vehicles.
Speaker 1: Off real vehicles yea, as in like a spaceships.
Speaker 2: Well, let's just say there are those who believe that
recovered materials from certain events point to technology not of.
Speaker 1: This earth, not of this earth. Okay, now we're getting
into some serious sci fi territory.
Speaker 2: I know, right.
Speaker 1: It makes you wonder, doesn't it. What if those stories
of alien encounters of advanced technology beyond our comprehension are
more than just science fiction. What if there's actually some
truth to them?
Speaker 2: Those are questions that have captivated humanity for centuries, and
as we delve deeper into these government secrets, we may
find more clues that challenge our assumptions about what's possible,
what's out there, and what role our own governments might
be playing in this whole cosmic mystery.
Speaker 1: Okay, Well, on that slightly unsettling note, I think we
need to bring things back down to earth literally with
the story that combines Cold War intrigue, the Himalayas and
a missing piece of radioactive material.
Speaker 2: The Malayas radioactive material.
Speaker 1: This should be good, Oh it is. It's the story
of the lost plutonium in the Himalayas. Back in the
nineteen sixties, the US and India IT teamed up on
this mission to monitor China's nuclear development.
Speaker 2: They were worried about China's growing nuclear capability, so they
came up with this plan to install sensors powered by
plutonium two thirty eight high up in the Himalays.
Speaker 1: Plutonium two thirty eight that's pretty serious stuff.
Speaker 2: It is highly radioactive and very dangerous.
Speaker 1: So they're talking about hauling radioactive material up a mountain.
That sounds like a recipe for disaster.
Speaker 2: It definitely had its risks, and as it turned out,
those risks materialized. Dangerous conditions forced the team to abandon
the mission before they could install the sensors properly. Oh no,
So what happened to the plutonium When they went back
the sensors and the plutonium were.
Speaker 1: Gone, vanished, vanished, just gone. What did it sprout legs
and walk off?
Speaker 2: That remains a mystery. Some speculate it was buried by
an avalanche. Others believe the Chinese might have recovered it,
so it could be sitting in a Chinese lab somewhere possibly.
But there's another theory, a more unsettling one, that the
plutonium is still active and it's can contributing to glacial
melting in the region.
Speaker 1: Wow, now that's a chilling thought. A Cold War relic
lost in the Icy Heights potentially contributing to environmental changes
really makes you think it does.
Speaker 2: It's a reminder of the long lasting impact of our
actions and how even seemingly isolated events can have ripple
effects across the globe.
Speaker 1: Okay, from the Icy Heights of the Himalayas. Let's dive
into another chilling tale.
Speaker 2: All right, I'm ready for another dose of intrigue.
Speaker 1: This one involves a retired Navy commander, a torpedo, and
a very strange encounter in the ocean.
Speaker 2: A Navy commander and a strange encounter in the ocean. Okay,
you've got my attention.
Speaker 1: It's the story of Commander David FRAVERR. And the Dark Mass.
He was on a routine mission retrieving a torpedo from
the ocean when he and a helicopter pilot witnessed something
truly bizarre.
Speaker 2: Bizarre. How was it a submarine, a whale, some kind
of sea monster.
Speaker 1: It was something far more difficult to explain. They described
it as a large, dark, circular mass hovering just below
the surface of the water, much larger than any known submarine,
and it was moving in ways that defied explanation.
Speaker 2: Okay, now I'm getting goosebumps. What happened next? Did they
try to contact it?
Speaker 1: Fravor, being a pilot, naturally, wanted to get a closer look.
As he approached the object, it started ascending rapidly towards
his jet. He described it as climbing like a billet
and he had to pull up sharply to avoid a collision.
Speaker 2: WHOA, that's terrifying. So what happened to the object? Did
it disappear just as suddenly as it appeared?
Speaker 1: It vanished, gone without.
Speaker 2: A trace, vanished just like that.
Speaker 1: And the helicopter pilot who witnessed the entire event described
it as disappearing into a white tic tac shaped object
that took off at an incredible speed.
Speaker 2: Okay, now that is strange. So what was this thing?
Did they ever figure it out?
Speaker 1: The incident remains unexplained to this day. There were no
submarines in the area and no known aircraft capable of
such maneuvers.
Speaker 2: So what were we talking aliens? Again?
Speaker 1: Some people speculated was an advanced underwater drone, perhaps from
a foreign power, but others believe it was something far
more extraordinary.
Speaker 2: Something far more extraordinary. You've got to admit that's a
pretty intriguing possibility.
Speaker 1: It is, isn't it? And it makes you question what
we really know about our world and what might be
lurking in the depths of our oceans. It's a reminder
that there are still mysteries out there, phenomena that defy
our current understanding, and that sometimes the truth is stranger than.
Speaker 2: Fiction, sometimes a lot stranger. Welcome back to our deep
dive into the world of government secrets. I hope you're
ready for more, because we're just getting started.
Speaker 1: Oh believe me, I'm all ears. I'm dying to know
what other crazy stories you've uncovered. We were talking about
hidden technology, right right.
Speaker 2: And this next one is a real head scratcher. Remember
that iPod we talked about.
Speaker 1: The one with the hidden Geiger counter.
Speaker 2: Yeah, that was pretty wild.
Speaker 1: Well that's just the tip of the iceberg. We're talking
about another secret iPod, but not the kind you'd use
to listen to your favorite tunes.
Speaker 2: Okay, now you've got my full attention. What was so
special about this iPod?
Speaker 1: Imagine you're strolling through a bustling city, earbuds in, blending
in with the crowd. To anyone watching, you're just another
music lover enjoying their day.
Speaker 2: It sounds pretty ordinary to me. But what if I
told you that you're not just enjoying music. You're on
a secret mission for the US Department of Energy measuring radiation.
Speaker 1: Level Wait, what another radiation detecting iPod?
Speaker 2: Seriously, dead serious. Apple teamed up with the DOE to
create this covert device. Hidden inside this seemingly ordinary iPod
was a highly sensitive geiger counter.
Speaker 1: That's incredible. All the secrecy, though, why not just use
a regular geiger counter?
Speaker 2: Well, think about it. If you're trying to detect smuggled
geranium or evidence of a dirty bomb operation, you don't
want to attract attention, right, Yeah, that makes sense. A
scientist walking around with a clunky geiger counter is going
to raise eyebrows, but someone casually listening to their iPod
nobody bets an eye.
Speaker 1: It's brilliant blending cutting edge technology with everyday objects to
create a tool for covert operations. It really makes you
wonder what other seemingly ordinary devices might have secret lives.
I mean, maybe my phone is secretly a laser beam.
Speaker 2: Uh huh. Maybe you never know what's lurking beneath the
surface in the world of espionage. But speaking of lurking,
our next story takes us back to the Cold War,
a time of heightened tensions and top secret operations where
the US military took a let's say unique approach to
understanding their adversary.
Speaker 1: Okay, I'm intrigued. What kind of approach are we talking about?
Speaker 2: Picture this American pilots flying Soviet Meg fighter jets, not
in a simulation, not in a captured aircraft, but in
actual operational MiGs secretly acquired and operated by the US military.
Speaker 1: Wait what our pilots were flying enemy aircraft? Are you serious?
Speaker 2: Completely serious? It was all part of a top secret
program called Constant PEG. The logic was simple. To truly
understand your enemy, you need to know their strength and
weaknesses firsthand.
Speaker 1: I guess that makes sense. But how did they even
get their hands on these megs.
Speaker 2: It was a combination of covert acquisitions, defections, and some
shall we say, creative gartering. It was a shadowy world
of backroom deals and clandestine operations, all done under a
veil of secrecy.
Speaker 1: Wow. I can only imagine the political fallout if the
Soviets found out.
Speaker 2: Oh, it would have been a diplomatic nightmare. But they
managed to keep it under wraps. They established these remote
training areas, far from prying eyes, where pilots could practice
dog fighting maneuvers and familiarize themselves with the migs' capabilities.
Speaker 1: That level of secrecy is mind blowing. It reminds me
of another operation during the Vietnam War where the CIA
used a suicide drone to gather intelligence on Soviet missiles.
Speaker 2: Ah. Yes, Operation United Effort. Those say two missiles supplied
by the Soviets were causing major problems for US forces
in Vietnam. Yeah, they needed to find a way to
counter this threat, but they needed intel and that's where
the SAM Sniffer came into play.
Speaker 1: Sam Sniffer, Okay, that's a pretty cool name. What was it? Exactly?
Speaker 2: Think of it as a trojan horse with wings. It
was essentially a drone disguised as a U two spyplane,
but instead of cameras, it was loaded with sensors designed
to collect data on the SA two's guidance systems.
Speaker 1: So they basically sent this drone into a hot zone,
hoping to trigger a missile launch and collect intel before
it got blown to bits.
Speaker 2: Exactly, it was a one way mission, hence the nickname
suicide drone. A calculated risk, but the information they gained.
Speaker 1: Was crucial, so they intentionally got this drone shot down.
I mean it sounds crazy, but I guess it worked.
Speaker 2: It did. The sensors captured critical information about the SA
twos radar and proximity fuse systems. This intel was crucial
in developing countermeasures that helped protect US aircraft from those
deadly missiles.
Speaker 1: So this one drone sacrifice potentially saved countless lives. That's incredible,
it really is.
Speaker 2: It shows how unconventional tactics and sometimes even sacrifices are
necessary to achieve a strategic objective.
Speaker 1: Absolutely, it's a reminder that sometimes you have to think
outside the box, take calculated risks to get the job done.
Speaker 2: And speaking of strange encounters, I can't help but think
back to that story about the Navy commander and the
dark mass. It's just so.
Speaker 1: Bizarre Amanda Fraver's encounter. Yeah, that was hard to shake.
It really makes you question everything you thought you knew
about what's out there. He and another pilot witnessed this
massive unidentified object hovering below the surface of the ocean.
It's like something out of a science fiction movie.
Speaker 2: And remember Fraber was a highly experienced pilot, not someone
prone to making outlandish claims, and yet both he and
the other pilot saw it with their own eyes.
Speaker 1: They described it as a large, dark, circular mass, much
bigger than any submarine they'd ever seen, and it was
moving in ways that defied explanation.
Speaker 2: Hovering, darting, even ascending towards Fraverr's jet at an incredible speed.
It's no wonder he had to take evasive action.
Speaker 1: That's terrifying. Do they ever figure out what it was?
Speaker 2: The Navy investigated, of course, but they couldn't come up
with a definitive answer. Some speculator it was an advanced
underwater drone, maybe from a foreign power, but others believe
it was something far more extraordinary.
Speaker 1: Something far more extraordinary. I mean, it's certainly a possibility,
and it makes you wonder what else might be out there,
hitting in the depths of our oceans, operating beyond our understanding.
Speaker 2: It's a humbling thought, isn't it. We tend to think
we've explored and charted every corner of our world, but
stories like this remind us that there are still mysteries
out there, phenomena that defy our current understanding. Sometimes those
mysteries are right beneath our noses, or in this case,
beneath the waves.
Speaker 1: And we're back for the final leg of our deep
dive into government secrets. I don't know about you, but
I'm still reeling from some of the things we've talked about.
Speaker 2: It's definitely been a wild ride. But hold on type
because we've saved some of the most mind boggling revelations.
Speaker 1: For last Oh, you've got to be kidding me. What
could possibly top robot, catfish and secret iPods?
Speaker 2: Well, how about a project that sounds like it came
straight out of a nineteen fifty I FI A movie.
Speaker 1: Okay, now you've really got me intrigued. What are we
talking about?
Speaker 2: Imagine this? The US military, at the height of the
Cold War, obsessed with reports of UFO sightings.
Speaker 1: I could see where this is going.
Speaker 2: They decided to take matters into their own hands and
launch a top secret program with one ambitious goal build
their own flying saucer.
Speaker 1: You're kidding, right, They actually tried to build a flying saucer.
Speaker 2: I'm totally serious. Project seventeen ninety four was a real program,
funded by real taxpayer dollars, with the aim of creating
a supersonic aircraft that could outmaneuver anything the Soviets had.
Speaker 1: So what did this flying saucer look like? Was it
a sleek silver disc like the ones we see in
the movies.
Speaker 2: Well, it was definitely disc shaped, about the size of
a small car, with a rounded cockpit in the center.
It was designed for vertical takeoff and landing, and it
was supposed to be incredibly fast and agile.
Speaker 1: That sounds like something out of the Jetsons. Did they
actually manage to build a working prototype?
Speaker 2: They made some progress, they developed designs, built models, and
even conducted some preliminary tests, but the technology just wasn't
there yet.
Speaker 1: Ah So it was a bit ahead of its time exactly.
Speaker 2: It was just too ambitious for the nineteen fifties.
Speaker 1: That's a shame. I would have loved to see a
real life flying sauce or inaction. But okay, let's jump
forward a few decades. What other secret aircraft projects have
you dug up?
Speaker 2: Well, there's one that shrouded in even more secrecy than
Project seventeen ninety four. It's called the Next Generation Air
Dominance Program or MNGAD for short NGAD.
Speaker 1: That sounds pretty serious. What do we know about it?
Speaker 2: Not much, Honestly, it's one of the most classified military
projects in recent history. We know it's a new fighter
jet and that it's breaking all sorts of records.
Speaker 1: So it's like a real life stealth project hidden from
public view. What kind of records are we talking about?
Speaker 2: We can only speculate. The Air Force has hinted that
it's a sixth generation fighter with advanced stealth capabilities, hypersonic
speeds and maybe even artificial intelligence.
Speaker 1: Artificial intelligence in a fighter jet. That sounds like something
straight out of it Tom Cruise movie. But while the secrecy,
why not show off their new toy to the world.
Speaker 2: Well, in the world of military strategy, maintaining a technological
edge is crucial, keeping your adversaries guessing, staying one step
ahead is everything, and in this case, they're clearly playing
their cards close to the vest.
Speaker 1: So basically, they're saying, we've got something amazing, but we're
not telling you what it.
Speaker 2: Is pretty much, which, let's face it just makes it
even more intriguing, it really does.
Speaker 1: It makes you wonder what other technological marvels are being
developed in secret labs around the world. It's like a
whole secret world of innovation hidden from public view.
Speaker 2: And that's the thing about secrets, isn't it. They have
a way of sparking our curiosity, making us want to
dig deeper, uncover the truth.
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and that's what this whole deep dive has been about,
exploring the hidden corners of history, uncovering the stories that
often go untold.
Speaker 2: It's been a journey, that's for sure. From the depths
of the ocean to the heights of the Himalayas, we've
encountered rope bot catfish, secret iPods, vanishing plutonium, and even
attempted flying saucers.
Speaker 1: And through it all we've learned that the truth can
be far stranger and far more intriguing than anything we
could imagine.
Speaker 2: So to everyone listening, we hope you've enjoyed this deep
dive into the world of government secrets. Remember, the world
is full of mysteries. Keep those curious minds engaged, keep
asking questions, and who knows what you might uncover.
Speaker 1: And on that note we'll sign off. Thanks for joining us.