Chart 01a ( top left ) illustrates the 1996 UFO wave in Great Britain where sightings soared from 117 in 1995 to over 600 during 1996. Skeptics point out that the sudden rise is probably due to the influence of the paranormal pop-culture of the 1990s, citing television programming like The X-Files and Sightings. Ufologists tend to agree, but also point out that it doesn't mean the reports are not genuine. The popularity of the programming may have simply eased the worries of those who would otherwise have been reluctant to report their sightings for fear of ridicule.