1995 05 00 Nature - Vol 375 No 6526 - Nadis

Magazine Overview

This issue of NATURE, dated 4 May 1995, features a prominent cover story titled "Harvard 'starts inquiry' into UFO researcher," detailing an investigation into Professor John Mack's work with individuals claiming UFO abductions. The issue also includes a report on Canada's initiative to develop its own science satellite, SciSat 1.

Harvard 'starts inquiry' into UFO researcher

The lead article reports that Harvard University has allegedly established a special faculty committee to investigate the research of John Mack, a professor of psychiatry at the Harvard Medical School. Mack is known for his work with people who claim to have been abducted by extraterrestrials. The university has neither confirmed nor denied the existence of this committee, but it is understood to be headed by Arnold Relman, former editor of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Sources familiar with the investigation suggest that Mack's research has become a source of embarrassment for the university. A purported draft report from the committee criticizes Mack for not requiring physical evidence from abductees and deems it "professionally irresponsible" for him to lend credence to such reports. However, supporters of Mack argue that his academic freedom is being threatened.

Mack, a former chair of the school's psychiatry department, has promoted his bestselling book, "Abduction: Human Encounters With Aliens," on television and radio. Critics, including James Randi, an internationally renowned sceptic of paranormal phenomena, claim that Mack may have elicited abduction memories through hypnosis and that he is "exceedingly naive."

John Mack himself has declined to comment on the committee's activities. David Pritchard, a physicist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, believes Harvard is infringing on Mack's freedom of inquiry, calling the investigation a "witch-hunt." Beverly Rubik, director of the Center for Frontier Studies, argues that investigating Mack is bad for both Harvard and science, stating that "Science moves forward when people start asking new questions."

Physician John Miller, who has interviewed many individuals reporting abduction experiences, wrote to the faculty committee that the controversy is more about "academic freedom than [with] aliens or UFOs." This sentiment was echoed in a letter sent by Daniel Sheehan, Mack's former lawyer, who had solicited statements from other UFO experts in Mack's defense. Excerpts from the committee's draft report, as quoted by Sheehan, were circulated online.

Roderick MacLeish, Mack's attorney, stated that Sheehan does not represent Mack and was not authorized to send the material. However, Pritchard suggested that Sheehan's actions successfully "raised a furore" over the Harvard inquiry.

Miller's letter also addressed weaknesses in Sheehan's claims about the committee's preliminary findings. He questioned the committee's insistence on physical evidence, arguing that a psychiatrist's role is therapeutic, not to gather forensic evidence. Miller also suggested that it can be more responsible to allow patients to hold onto their beliefs, even if delusional, rather than shattering them. He noted that no committee members appeared to have met with abductees, emphasizing that learning from patients by listening carefully is crucial. Miller concluded that while the origins of the syndrome are unknown, people who consider themselves 'abductees' do exist and can be studied, offering potential learning opportunities regardless of the phenomenon's ultimate cause.

A cartoon caption humorously suggests a motive for writing a book about abductions: "Why? because I've got a very lucrative publishing deal to write a book about abducting Earthlings, that's why."

Canada to get own science satellite

Canada is set to lead the design of its first scientific satellite in 30 years, named SciSat 1, thanks in part to its participation in the international space station. This is the first of two satellites to be funded by the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and launched by the US National Aeronautics and Space Agency in 1999 and 2004, respectively. The launches will be free via a Pegasus launcher rocket mounted on an aircraft, as part of a deal to ensure continued Canadian involvement in the space station.

The CSA will invite proposals for the design of SciSat 1 within two months, with an expected dozen applications. The winning design will be selected by early 1997. Gerry Atkinson, chief scientist at the CSA's space sciences programme, anticipates the competition.

Some scientists have raised concerns that the C$35 million (US$25 million) allocated for the design and construction of each SciSat may be insufficient, particularly as CSA rules require instruments to be built by Canadian industry rather than assembled cheaply in universities. However, Atkinson stated that the sum, approved by the Canadian government, is what the space agency had requested. Canada also aims to attract overseas partners for one or two additional instruments for SciSat 1, estimated to cost between C$5 and C$10 million.

Competition for the SciSat 1 design is expected to be fierce, with astronomers, Earth scientists interested in atmospheric studies, and scientists studying solar ray interactions with the upper atmosphere all likely to bid. A group of astronomers from the University of Toronto, led by Slavek Rucinski, is already planning a bid for ultraviolet astronomy research using the satellite.

Canada has not led the design of its own scientific satellite since the 1960s, often preferring to collaborate with other countries like Sweden. Atkinson acknowledged that this has caused "some frustration" among Canadian scientists.

The space agency considered soliciting bids for both SciSats simultaneously but decided to select only the design for the first satellite due to the long lead time before SciSat 2's planned launch.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights a tension between rigorous scientific inquiry and the exploration of unconventional phenomena, as seen in the Harvard investigation of John Mack. It also showcases national scientific ambition and collaboration, as demonstrated by Canada's SciSat 1 project. The magazine appears to cover a range of scientific news, from controversial research into UFOs to advancements in space technology, maintaining a neutral reporting stance while presenting different viewpoints.