Within TTSA Materials
The metal sample that did not deliver
The best-known TTSA-linked specimen was unusual enough to test, but public analysis found terrestrial signatures and no proven waveguide function.
On this page
- How the specimen entered the UFO story
- What ORNL and AARO reported
- What the result means for Puthoff's credibility
Page outline Jump by section
Introduction
The magnesium-bismuth specimen promoted through To The Stars Academy of Arts & Science became one of the most publicised pieces of alleged UFO-related physical evidence in recent years. For supporters, it appeared to offer something rare in UAP debates: a tangible object that could be examined in a laboratory rather than a witness account or video clip. For critics, it became a test of whether extraordinary provenance claims could survive independent scientific scrutiny.
The result was far less dramatic than many early claims suggested. Publicly released analysis from the US government’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office and researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory concluded that the specimen’s isotopic composition was consistent with terrestrial manufacture and that its physical properties did not support a prominent claim that it had functioned as a terahertz waveguide. The sample remained unusual in construction, but the strongest arguments for exotic or non-human origin were not supported by the published evidence. [AARO]aaro.milSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenAAROSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenJuly 10, 2024 — 10 Jul 2024 — AARO tasked ORNL with assessing whether (1) the specimen is of…
For assessing the credibility of Hal Puthoff, this case matters because it moved beyond speculation into direct testing. Unlike many UAP stories, the central claim here could be investigated with metallurgy, isotope analysis and materials science.
How the specimen entered the UFO story
The specimen was a layered metallic material composed primarily of magnesium-zinc alloy and bismuth arranged in alternating microscopic layers. Versions of the material had circulated in UFO research circles for years and became associated with claims that it originated from a recovered unidentified craft. TTSA later incorporated the sample into its ADAM research programme, which sought to study alleged advanced materials connected to UAP reports. [To The Stars*]tothestars.mediaTo The Stars*Material of Interest: Magnesium-Zinc-BismuthSeptember 28, 2018 — One artifact on loan to TTSA for analysis is a Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth (MgZn/Bi) sample, which has been the source of…
TTSA’s own public descriptions were more cautious than some of the surrounding UFO folklore. The organisation stated that documentation supplied with the sample claimed a UAP recovery origin, but also acknowledged that the provenance could not be independently verified. At the same time, TTSA highlighted features it considered potentially significant:
- Micron-scale layering of magnesium-zinc and bismuth. [facebook.com]facebook.comMaterial of Interest: Magnesium-Zinc-BismuthOne for the…26 Jul 2019 — TTS Academy's ADAM Research Project, an acronym for Acquisition & Data Analysis of Materials, focuses on the…
- Claims of unusual isotopic composition.
- The possibility that the material had engineered electromagnetic properties.
- Speculation that it might relate to advanced aerospace technology. [To The Stars*]tothestars.mediaTo The Stars*Material of Interest: Magnesium-Zinc-BismuthSeptember 28, 2018 — One artifact on loan to TTSA for analysis is a Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth (MgZn/Bi) sample, which has been the source of…
The sample acquired a near-mythical reputation within parts of UFO culture. It was sometimes linked to radio host Art Bell and became known informally as “Art’s Parts”. Over time, stories attached to it expanded beyond simple crash-retrieval claims and into assertions that it possessed extraordinary electromagnetic behaviour. [Medium]medium.comMediumAn Inquiry into the Material Evidence of Non-Human…AARO's analysis of the magnesium-bismuth layered specimen — popularly known a…
A crucial weakness was present from the beginning: the object’s story and the object itself were not the same thing. The specimen could be physically real while its alleged UFO origin remained undocumented.
Why the terahertz waveguide claim attracted attention
One of the most ambitious claims attached to the specimen was that the layered bismuth structure might act as a terahertz waveguide.
A terahertz waveguide is a structure designed to channel electromagnetic radiation in the terahertz frequency range, between microwave and infrared frequencies. In conventional science and engineering, such devices can be useful for sensing, communications and specialised electronics.
Within some UFO-related discussions, however, the idea grew into something much larger. The layered structure was sometimes presented as evidence of advanced propulsion concepts, mass-reduction technologies or exotic aerospace systems supposedly beyond known human capabilities. The exact mechanism was often poorly defined, but the implication was that the specimen represented technology unavailable to ordinary industry. [Reddit]reddit.comAARO Releases Findings on Suspected Extraterrestrial AlloyThe All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) published two reports detailing…
For researchers attempting to evaluate the claim, this created a straightforward scientific question: did the specimen possess physical properties consistent with such a function?
That question was far easier to test than claims about extraterrestrial origin.
What ORNL and AARO reported
The most important development came when AARO commissioned Oak Ridge National Laboratory to perform a formal assessment of the material. ORNL was tasked with determining two main issues:
- Whether the specimen’s composition suggested a non-terrestrial origin.
- Whether its bismuth layers could plausibly function as a terahertz waveguide. [AARO]
The laboratory applied isotope measurements, elemental analysis, microscopy and structural characterisation techniques. According to the released synopsis, investigators found that the isotopic composition of magnesium and lead fell within expected terrestrial ranges. The material therefore did not display the sort of isotopic anomalies that would strongly suggest formation outside Earth or outside the Solar System. [AARO]aaro.milAAROAARO's Supplement to Oak Ridge National Laboratory's…ORNL's findings: First, the specimen's physical properties are consistent wit… [AARO]aaro.milORNL Synopsis Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen10 Jul 2024 — AARO tasked ORNL with assessing whether (1) the specimen is of terrestrial origin…
The second conclusion was equally significant. ORNL found that the specimen’s physical and elemental properties were incompatible with the proposed terahertz waveguide role. AARO later publicly endorsed that conclusion in its own supplementary assessment. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo…
AARO’s summary stated that:
- The isotopic signatures were consistent with terrestrial material. [aaro.mil]aaro.milAAROAARO's Supplement to Oak Ridge National Laboratory's…ORNL's findings: First, the specimen's physical properties are consistent wit…
- The structure did not support the claimed waveguide function.
- The specimen was most likely a test article, manufacturing product, by-product, or aerospace-related material associated with studies of magnesium alloys. [AARO]aaro.milSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenAAROSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenJuly 10, 2024 — 10 Jul 2024 — AARO tasked ORNL with assessing whether (1) the specimen is of…
Importantly, neither organisation claimed to identify the exact historical origin of the sample. The chain of custody remained incomplete and contradictory accounts complicated reconstruction of its history. However, failure to identify an exact source is not the same as evidence for an extraterrestrial source. AARO explicitly stated that the available evidence pointed toward a terrestrial explanation. [AARO]aaro.milAAROAARO's Supplement to Oak Ridge National Laboratory's…ORNL's findings: First, the specimen's physical properties are consistent wit…
The unusual part that survived scrutiny
The laboratory findings did not conclude that the specimen was fake.
In fact, one reason the sample attracted attention in the first place was that it genuinely possessed an unusual layered structure. Micron-scale engineered layering between different metals is not something typically encountered in everyday objects. Researchers therefore treated it as a legitimate materials-science question rather than dismissing it outright. [To The Stars*]tothestars.mediaTo The Stars*Material of Interest: Magnesium-Zinc-BismuthSeptember 28, 2018 — One artifact on loan to TTSA for analysis is a Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth (MgZn/Bi) sample, which has been the source of…
The distinction is important because public debate often collapsed into two extremes:
- If the material was unusual, it must be alien.
- If it was not alien, it must be meaningless.
The evidence supports neither position. The specimen appears to have been a real manufactured object with distinctive engineering characteristics. What the government-linked analysis challenged was the leap from “unusual” to “non-human technology”. [AARO]aaro.milORNL Synopsis Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen10 Jul 2024 — AARO tasked ORNL with assessing whether (1) the specimen is of terrestrial origin…
This is a recurring problem in UFO-related materials claims. Advanced industrial products, experimental aerospace components and manufacturing by-products can all appear mysterious when removed from their original context.
What the result means for Puthoff’s credibility
For Puthoff, the magnesium-bismuth episode is neither a total vindication nor a complete collapse.
Supporters can reasonably point out that he and other TTSA figures did not simply present the specimen as proven alien technology. The material was submitted for analysis, discussed in technical terms and eventually examined by serious institutions. The fact that ORNL considered it worthy of study demonstrates that the object itself was not an obvious hoax or trivial artefact. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo…
Critics focus on a different point. For years, the specimen was one of the most visible examples used to suggest that recovered UFO materials might contain revolutionary physics or evidence of non-human engineering. The public testing did not confirm those expectations. The isotope evidence supported terrestrial manufacture, while the proposed terahertz-waveguide explanation failed. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo…
The case therefore highlights a broader pattern often associated with Puthoff’s role in UAP debates:
- He frequently operates at the boundary between speculative possibilities and established evidence.
- He has helped bring unusual claims into serious institutional settings.
- Institutional interest has often been interpreted by supporters as validation.
- Subsequent testing has sometimes narrowed or weakened the original implications. [The War Zone]twz.comThe War ZoneThe Army Wants To Verify To The Stars Academy's…20 Oct 2019 — An official agreement makes it clear the Army wants to explo…
The magnesium-bismuth specimen is one of the clearest examples because it moved beyond testimony and into laboratory examination. The strongest claim attached to the object—that it represented evidence of exotic technology with extraordinary electromagnetic properties—was not supported by the published findings.
Why this case remains important
The specimen remains one of the best-known UAP materials cases precisely because it produced a measurable result.
Many alleged crash-retrieval stories never provide an object that can be independently examined. Here, a physical sample existed, researchers could analyse it and government-linked laboratories eventually released conclusions. The outcome was not sensational, but it was informative.
The case demonstrates that unusual materials and uncertain provenance are not, by themselves, evidence of non-human technology. It also shows the value of separating three different questions that are often blurred together in UFO discussions:
- Is the object real?
- Is the object unusual?
- Does the object demonstrate non-human origin or advanced unknown technology?
For the magnesium-bismuth specimen, the available evidence supports the first two questions far more strongly than the third. By the time ORNL and AARO published their findings, the sample had shifted from a potential showcase for exotic UFO materials to a cautionary example of how intriguing physical artefacts can accumulate extraordinary stories that later testing does not confirm. [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo… [AARO]aaro.milAARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo…
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Endnotes
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Source: aaro.mil
Title: Synopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Information%20Papers/ORNL-Synopsis_Analysis_of_a_Metallic_Specimen.pdf?ver=V1rMXfRV-VUb2gjTd4DzVg%3D%3DSource snippet
AAROSynopsis: Analysis of a Metallic SpecimenJuly 10, 2024 — 10 Jul 2024 — AARO tasked ORNL with assessing whether (1) the specimen is of...
Published: July 10, 2024
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Information%20Papers/AAROs_Supplement_to_ORNLs_Analysis_of_a_Metallic_Specimen.pdfSource snippet
AAROAARO's Supplement to Oak Ridge National Laboratory's...ORNL's findings: First, the specimen's physical properties are consistent wit...
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Source: medium.com
Link: https://medium.com/quantum-psychology-and-engineering/an-inquiry-into-the-material-evidence-of-non-human-intelligence-04dc38a85103Source snippet
MediumAn Inquiry into the Material Evidence of Non-Human...AARO's analysis of the magnesium-bismuth layered specimen — popularly known a...
-
Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1e0pswd/aaro_releases_findings_on_suspected/Source snippet
AARO Releases Findings on Suspected Extraterrestrial AlloyThe All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) published two reports detailing...
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Source: reddit.com
Title: The TTSA and Project Serpo Connection: r/ufo
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/ufo/comments/exbtoc/the_ttsa_and_project_serpo_connection/Source snippet
RedditThe TTSA and Project Serpo Connection: r/ufoFebruary 1, 2020 — Project Serpo contains the only reference to bismuth magnesium meta...
Published: February 1, 2020
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Source: aaro.mil
Title: ORNL Synopsis Analysis of a Metallic Specimen
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Portals/136/PDFs/Information%20Papers/ORNL-Synopsis_Analysis_of_a_Metallic_Specimen.pdfSource snippet
Synopsis: Analysis of a Metallic Specimen10 Jul 2024 — AARO tasked ORNL with assessing whether (1) the specimen is of terrestrial origin...
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Source: aaro.mil
Link: https://www.aaro.mil/Source snippet
AARO HomeWelcome to the website for the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO). Our team of experts leads the U.S. government's effo...
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Source: reddit.com
Link: https://www.reddit.com/r/aliens/comments/12h1moh/thoughts_on_ufo_material_made_of_bismuthmagnesium/ -
Source: ornl.gov
Title: Material Signatures and Isotopic Standards
Link: https://www.ornl.gov/group-material-signatures-and-isotopic-standards/publicationsSource snippet
Publication Date. 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · Plutonium isotope ratio measurements by total evaporation-thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TE...
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Source: tothestars.media
Title: To The Stars*Material of Interest: Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth
Link: https://tothestars.media/blogs/press-and-news/material-of-interest-magnesium-zinc-bismuth?srsltid=AfmBOooAiP8ayaHTUNneJeh_XMGKuKdTW62ecBRW6k-LB7EIKXXlNclQSource snippet
September 28, 2018 — One artifact on loan to TTSA for analysis is a Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth (MgZn/Bi) sample, which has been the source of...
Published: September 28, 2018
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Source: Wikipedia
Title: To The Stars Inc
Link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_The_Stars_IncSource snippet
To The Stars Inc.To The Stars Inc., formerly known as To The Stars Academy of Arts & Sciences Inc., is a San Diego-based company co-fo...
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Source: tothestars.media
Link: https://tothestars.media/en-gb/blogs/press-and-news/tts-analysis-on-ornl?srsltid=AfmBOorL4CKHr6kqINAar19FtF7VTFwG53Ng9B-RR7RTzSERXSRZdJ7uSource snippet
TTS* Analysis on ORNL ReportThe Puthoff/Davis analysis and the ORNL analysis answer most of the fundamental questions about the structure...
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Source: twz.com
Link: https://www.twz.com/30498/the-army-wants-to-verify-to-the-stars-academys-fantastic-ufo-mystery-material-claimsSource snippet
The War ZoneThe Army Wants To Verify To The Stars Academy's...20 Oct 2019 — An official agreement makes it clear the Army wants to explo...
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Source: tothestars.media
Link: https://tothestars.media/blogs/press-and-news/ornl-and-aaro-material-analysis?srsltid=AfmBOoq9z8D1fGGZ3cq-D4C0MLdgF4QgdbqxjdTPcJ75riqIBHigo6kSSource snippet
ORNL and AARO Material Analysis UpdateBoth Oak Ridge National Lab (ORNL) and The All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) have complet...
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Source: jasoncolavito.com
Link: [https://www.jasoncolavito.com/blog/to-the-stars-downgrades-debris-from-extraterrestrial-metamaterialsSource snippet
"To the Stars" Downgrades Debris from "Extraterrestrial...21 Sept 2018 — One artifact on loan to TTSA for analysis is a Magnesium-Zinc-B...
Additional References
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Source: iflscience.com
Link: https://www.iflscience.com/strange-metal-shard-probably-isnt-evidence-of-alien-technology-a-us-national-laboratory-concludes-75994Source snippet
Strange Metal Shard Probably Isn't Evidence Of Alien...18 Sept 2024 — In order to be capable of being a waveguide, the material would ne...
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Source: indiandefencereview.com
Link: https://indiandefencereview.com/ufo-hunters-claimed-metal-shard-levitate-objects-alien-technology-government-lab-other-ideas/Source snippet
UFO Hunters Claimed This Metal Shard Could Levitate...26 Mar 2026 — According to AARO and Oak Ridge National Laboratory's published find...
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Source: metabunk.org
Title: sean kirkpatricks interview with daniel lavelle at the guardian transcript.13399
Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/sean-kirkpatricks-interview-with-daniel-lavelle-at-the-guardian-transcript.13399/Source snippet
magnesium (or a Magnesium/Zinc alloy and bismuth. TTSA referred to... AARO commissioned Oak Ridge National Laboratory to study one of...
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Source: gizmodo.com
Title: pentagon publishes report on material from a reported alien aircraft 2000469433
Link: https://gizmodo.com/pentagon-publishes-report-on-material-from-a-reported-alien-aircraft-2000469433Source snippet
material's bismuth and magnesium layers acting as a terahertz waveguide.”... Neither AARO nor ORNL could verify the specimen's historica...
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Source: media.defense.gov
Title: DOPSR 2024 0263 AARO HISTORICAL RECORD REPORT VOLUME 1 2024
Link: https://media.defense.gov/2024/Mar/08/2003409233/-1/-1/0/DOPSR-2024-0263-AARO-HISTORICAL-RECORD-REPORT-VOLUME-1-2024.PDFSource snippet
Historical Record Report Volume 18 Mar 2024 — of disclosing that UAP are extraterrestrial in origin; AARO confirmed the study was conduct...
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Source: instagram.com
Link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYnsRVGizKU/Source snippet
Army contract signed with To The Stars Academy to study this exact Bismuth/Magnesium debris for "active camouflage, beamed...
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Source: metabunk.org
Title: aaro releases lab report on alleged alien metamaterial.13548
Link: https://www.metabunk.org/threads/aaro-releases-lab-report-on-alleged-alien-metamaterial.13548/Source snippet
AARO Releases Lab Report on Alleged Alien Metamaterial11 Jul 2024 — The isotopic composition of the magnesium and lead in the specimen fa...
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Source: facebook.com
Title: Material of Interest: Magnesium-Zinc-Bismuth
Link: https://www.facebook.com/TheAnomalyArchives/posts/material-of-interest-magnesium-zinc-bismuthone-for-the-science-minded-over-the-l/1234185086763597/Source snippet
One for the...26 Jul 2019 — TTS Academy's ADAM Research Project, an acronym for Acquisition & Data Analysis of Materials, focuses on the...
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Source: en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br
Title: clickpetroleoegas.com.br Alien Technology?
Link: https://en.clickpetroleoegas.com.br/tecnologia-alienigena-cacadores-de-ovnis-afirmam-que-fragmento-de-metal-pode-ser-de-origem-extraterrestre-material-contem-magnesio-zinco-bismuto-e-chumbo/Source snippet
UFO Hunters Claim Metal Fragment May...23 Sept 2024 — The isotopic analysis of the metals present in the fragment, such as magnesium and...
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Source: scribd.com
Link: https://www.scribd.com/document/1021857884/The-Alien-RacketSource snippet
a layered structure of Magnesium- Zine (Mg...Read more...
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