The Pentagon dropped another round of declassified UAP files on Thursday, and the internet has already zeroed in on one particular clip that’s fueling wild theories about humanoid visitors.
The footage, labeled DOW-UAP-PR059 and captured in June 2020 by a U.S. military infrared sensor in the CENTCOM region, shows a blurry, upright-shaped object hovering in the sky. After users began posting sped-up and enhanced versions alongside a 2015 civilian video from California, the clip quickly went viral, with many claiming it depicts a “humanoid figure” strikingly similar to one reportedly seen hovering over the Sequoia area.
The 2015 sighting, filmed by civilian UFO enthusiasts during what they described as a CE5 event near Monterey, California, has long circulated in enthusiast circles as the so-called “Marshmallow Man” — a vertical, glowing shape with apparent head and body-like features. Side-by-side comparisons of the two clips have dominated social media feeds over the past 24 hours, driving massive engagement across X, TikTok, and Instagram.
However, official assessments from the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) offer a more measured take. The 2020 military footage is listed as “unresolved” due to limited data, with no mention of biological entities, humanoids, or extraterrestrial origins. Analysts point to pareidolia — the brain’s tendency to see familiar patterns, like faces or bodies, in ambiguous visuals — as a likely factor, especially given the low-resolution infrared imaging and zooming effects.
The latest document release is part of a broader transparency push initiated earlier this year under the PURSUE program. The second batch, made public on May 22 via war.gov/ufo, includes dozens of additional military sensor videos, historical reports, and imagery. While many of the files feature orbs, fast-moving anomalies, and other unexplained objects, Pentagon officials continue to emphasize that most UAP cases ultimately resolve to drones, balloons, birds, or sensor artifacts.
Still, the humanoid comparisons have captured public imagination. The story has already racked up millions of views and thousands of memes, reflecting the public’s enduring fascination with the possibility of extraterrestrial life.
