Olivia Asher is a reporter at the New Herald Tribune covering breaking news for the Digital Trends Desk. Before joining the newsroom in 2022, she covered criminal justice issues at the Orlando Plain Dealer.
May 25 , 2025
Buga, Colombia — What was first hailed as a possible extraterrestrial encounter may now have a down-to-earth explanation. A mysterious metallic sphere discovered in the outskirts of Buga has sparked intense speculation in recent weeks, with theories ranging from a crashed satellite to a visitor from beyond the stars. But a new theory, proposed by an Italian researcher, is turning heads—and raising eyebrows.
According to Dr. Enzo Malvini, a materials engineer and amateur sports historian from Bologna, the so-called “Buga UFO” bears an uncanny resemblance to a bocce ball he’s had in his garden shed for decades.
“When I saw the photographs on an Italian news site, I was stunned,” Malvini told La Repubblica. “Same size, same stainless steel finish, and even the faint scoring lines along the surface—just like my old bocce set.”
The sphere, which measures roughly 11 centimeters in diameter and weighs several kilograms, was found by a local farmer after a loud thud woke him early one morning. Since then, it has been the subject of both scientific analysis and wild speculation. Military officials confirmed it wasn’t part of any known aerospace equipment, while local residents dubbed it “El Ojo del Cielo” (The Eye of the Sky).
But Malvini’s bocce theory has gained traction after a comparison of detailed photos showed near-identical features, including manufacturing marks that resemble those used by mid-century Italian sporting goods companies.
Skeptics, however, are not fully convinced. “It’s possible this object is a bocce ball, but how did it end up falling from the sky in rural Colombia?” asked Dr. Carmen Villalobos, an astrophysicist at the University of Bogotá. “Unless someone launched it with extraordinary force, there’s more to this story.”
Some speculate the object may have fallen from a plane or been transported accidentally during international shipping. Others suggest it could be a case of mistaken identity—or even a hoax.
For now, the metallic sphere remains in a secure location while authorities continue to study it. But if Malvini is correct, the case of the Buga UFO may turn out to be less about alien visitors—and more about misplaced lawn games.
Whether it’s science fiction or simple sport, one thing is clear: this isn’t the first time the world has looked to the skies and seen something familiar reflected back.
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