In 1974, the Betz family of Fort George Island, Florida, discovered a mysterious eight-inch steel sphere in their yard. The object, weighing 21 pounds, exhibited unusual behavior: it rolled autonomously, vibrated, and reacted to sound, sparking immediate speculation about its origins. The family's accounts, including the sphere returning to them after being rolled away, fueled local intrigue and conspiracy theories ranging from a lost satellite to an alien artifact.

The U.S. military, specifically the Navy, became involved, conducting x-ray examinations at Jacksonville Naval Air Station. While the Navy concluded the sphere was human-made and posed no hazard, its internal composition remained a mystery, as their initial x-rays failed to penetrate the steel. The case gained wider attention through media coverage, including the St. Petersburg Times, and persists in online communities like Reddit, where believers continue to propose elaborate theories about government cover-ups or interdimensional technology.

Despite the Navy's assessment and later comparisons to commercial stainless steel balls, the sphere's unexplained properties and the family's vivid descriptions have cemented its place in ufology lore.