About Crop circles
A crop circle is a pattern formed by flattening crops, which became famous in southern England during the 1980s. Although they were widely linked to UFOs and paranormal ideas, there is no scientific evidence of alien causes. The scientific consensus and historical proof show that all crop circles are human-made hoaxes, art projects, or advertisements created by teams using tools like planks and ropes.
- Also known as
- crop circle
The full story, section by section
The story of Crop circles in 3 parts. Tap any part to read it in full.
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HistoryIn the 1960s many UFO sightings and circular formations were reported in Australia and Canada.Read this part →
The Mowing-Devil woodcut of 1678, showing the devil cutting a circle in a field of oats · Photo: Unknown author, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons -
Legal casesIn 1992 two Hungarian teenagers who made a 36-metre circle near Székesfehérvár were sued by the landowner.Read this part → Illustration drawn for this site — not a photograph.
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ExplanationsThe scientific consensus is that crop circles are made by people as hoaxes, advertising or art, usually by crushing plants with a board on a rope tied to an anchor point.Read this part →
Cartoon of aliens standing in front of crop circles · Photo: Gaspirtz, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons
Key people
The people at the centre of the story — witnesses, investigators, officials and sceptics:
- Carl SaganCarl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist, and science communicator who lived from 1934 to 1996. He played a major role in space missions, discovered Venus's high surface temp…
- Joe NickellJoe Nickell was an American skeptic and professional investigator who examined paranormal claims, UFOs, ghosts, and religious relics. He worked as a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skept…
Related topics & places
Ideas, terms and places that come up in the story:
🛸 UFO sightings about Crop circles
Sightings that mention Crop circles
More in the encyclopedia
Other articles that link to or mention Crop circles:
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Questions & answers
What is Crop circles?
Crop circles: A crop circle is a pattern formed by flattening crops, which became famous in southern England during the 1980s. Although they were widely linked to UFOs and paranormal ideas, there is no scientific evidence of alien causes. The scientific consensus and historical proof show that all crop circles are human-made hoaxes, art projects, or advertisements created by teams using tools like planks and ropes. Read: Crop circles →
What else is Crop circles called?
Crop circles is also known as crop circle.
Who is Carl Sagan?
Carl Sagan: Carl Edward Sagan was an American astronomer, planetary scientist, and science communicator who lived from 1934 to 1996. He played a major role in space missions, discovered Venus's high surface temperature, co-created interstellar messages, and co-wrote and presented the popular television series Cosmos. He also worked extensively to study UFO reports scientifically while remaining a prominent skeptic of the extraterrestrial hypothesis. Read: Carl Sagan →
Who is Joe Nickell?
Joe Nickell was an American skeptic and professional investigator who examined paranormal claims, UFOs, ghosts, and religious relics. He worked as a senior research fellow for the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry and wrote or edited more than 30 books. Nickell died in Buffalo, New York, on March 4, 2025, at the age of 80. Read: Joe Nickell →
What is Famous UFO hoaxes?
Famous UFO hoaxes: The best-known faked UFO photos, films, documents and stories — and how each was exposed. Read: Famous UFO hoaxes →