ACUFOS Journal vol 3 no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies
Issue: Volume 3, Number 4
Date: July/August 1982
Publisher: The Australian Centre for UFO Studies
Country: Australia
Language: English
Price: $10 Australian

This issue of The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies announces significant changes within the organization and presents several articles on ufology and related scientific topics.

Editorial: Changes to the Centre

The editorial, authored by Harry Griesberg and Keith Basterfield, announces their retirement as co-ordinators due to increased personal commitments. They express a desire to pursue independent research. Effective immediately, the Centre's address changes from P.O. Box 546 Gosford, NSW 2250 to P.O. Box 229, Prospect, South Australia 5082. The new management will consist of Frank Gillespie, Lad Godic, and Bill Chalker, all well-known and respected figures in Australian ufology. Griesberg and Basterfield thank supporters and express confidence in the Centre's future under the new leadership, believing it has already achieved more than in pre-Centre days.

An important notice details a reluctant increase in the subscription price to $10 Australian for six issues, marking only the second rise in seven years.

Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena (ASSAP)

Authored by Mark Moravec, this article introduces the Association for the Scientific Study of Anomalous Phenomena (ASSAP), established in Britain in June 1981. ASSAP was formed to address the fragmentation of existing paranormal and UFO groups and the public's need for informed guidance. It aims to provide a multi-disciplinary approach to anomalous phenomena, transcending the confines of individual subjects. The article quotes ASSAP News (Oct 1981) outlining the organization's objectives: to obtain and disseminate information on unexplained phenomena, encourage research, and provide a forum for discussion. ASSAP's field of interest is broad, encompassing altered states of consciousness, apparitions, clairvoyance, spontaneous human combustion, dowsing, EVP, ESP, falls from the sky, glossolalia, hallucinations, hauntings, healing, hypnosis, incorruptibility, levitation, ley lines, magic, materialisation, metal-bending, miracles, multiple personality, OOBE's, poltergeists, possession, precognition, PK, reincarnation, Spiritualism, stigmata, survival, synchronicity, telepathy, UFOs, visions, and Yetis. ASSAP emphasizes high scientific standards, open debate, and discourages dogmatism. It seeks to coordinate existing researchers and disseminate findings through its newsletter, ASSAP News, and the quarterly, Common Ground, edited by Kevin McClure. The article highlights ASSAP's scientific yet open-minded approach and its interdisciplinary program as key differentiators. Further information can be obtained from Janice Bagnall, the ASSAP Membership Secretary in London.

A New Disease Discovery! Comet Flu?

This article by John Prytz explores theories on the origin of life, categorizing them into religious theories, spontaneous generation, panspermia, and chemical evolution. It dismisses religious theories as a matter of personal faith and spontaneous generation as disproven by Louis Pasteur's experiments. Chemical evolution is presented as the current scientific front-runner. However, recent astronomical discoveries are causing a resurgence of interest in the panspermia theory. These discoveries include complex organic molecules in interstellar space, organic compounds and fossilized 'organized elements' in meteorites, and comets whose chemical composition mirrors terrestrial life forms. The article discusses the work of Sir Fred Hoyle and Dr. Chandra Wickramasinghe, who propose that cometary impacts billions of years ago could have initiated terrestrial life, and that ongoing cometary debris influx may still bring viruses and bacteria responsible for diseases. The abstract from New Scientist is quoted, suggesting cometary impacts and ongoing influxes of cometary debris could be responsible for diseases. The article notes that cometary material, including alien germs, can reach Earth via comet tails or direct impact, and can be dispersed through precipitation. Hoyle believes the probability of this cometary seeding theory for cosmic-influenza being wrong is extremely low, citing evidence of unusual flu epidemic patterns in British schools that suggest atmospheric seeding rather than person-to-person transmission. While this theory challenges established beliefs about viral spread, it has met with scientific skepticism. Dr. Geoffrey Schild is cited as offering a rebuttal, emphasizing documented evidence for rapid and effective transmission of the 'red flu' HINI virus among communities. The article concludes that even if the disease aspect of cometary influence is incorrect, comets may still be a harbinger of life on Earth, and the discovery of alien bacteria or viruses within comets would have profound implications for understanding life's origins and its prevalence in the universe. The article acknowledges that ancient beliefs also associated comets with plague and pestilence, but these were based on superstition rather than scientific reasoning.

PSIUFO Phenomena: A Study of UFOs and the Paranormal

Authored by Mark Moravec, this section introduces his 137-page report, published by the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, titled "PSIUFO Phenomena: A Study of UFOs and the Paranormal." The report defines PSIUFO phenomena as cases where UFO and paranormal phenomena overlap, including mental communications, poltergeists, apparitions, healings, ghostlights, time lapses, and "abductions." Moravec has collected and analyzed Australian reports since 1979. The report contains definitions and case examples, a catalog and analysis of 88 Australian cases with an emphasis on reliability, historical and geographical trends, an examination of natural phenomena that might explain some reports (like ball lightning and earthquake lights), the relevance of hypnosis and altered states of consciousness, methods for investigating PSIUFO phenomena including specialized questionnaires, a report evaluation system, natural causes of poltergeist and haunting effects, possible explanations (psychological, paranormal, extraterrestrial), suggested future research directions, and the implications of PSIUFO phenomena for understanding anomalies, the human mind, and reality. The aim of the report is to discuss these issues in detail, not just provide case summaries. The report is available from ACUFOS for $15 Australian postpaid.

ACUFOS Bibliography Service: Cosmic Chemistry and Organic Chemistry

Compiled by John Prytz, this extensive bibliography explores the field of cosmic chemistry and organic chemistry, posing the question of whether Earth was seeded by complex organic molecules or simple life forms from outer space. It suggests that similar events might have occurred on other worlds, potentially leading to intelligent life capable of visiting Earth and producing UFO phenomena. The bibliography highlights surprise discoveries of complex organic molecules in interstellar space, suggesting a connection between star formation, interstellar chemical processes, the origin of life, alien beings, and UFO phenomena. The bibliography lists numerous scientific articles from journals such as Science News, New Scientist, Nature, Technology Review, and others, covering topics like formaldehyde, acetylene, ammonia, astrochemistry, astrophysical silicates, interstellar molecules, organic matter, carbon monoxide, cellulose, chemical reactivities, chemical analogies, and interstellar hydrogen sulfide. The entries span from 1969 to 1980.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies reflects a strong commitment to scientific inquiry within the field of ufology and anomalous phenomena. The editorial highlights a transition in leadership and a commitment to continued support for the organization. The articles on ASSAP and PSIUFO phenomena emphasize rigorous investigation and the multi-disciplinary study of unexplained events. The piece on cometary influence on the origin of life and disease showcases the integration of astronomical and biological research, even when presenting controversial theories. The extensive bibliography on cosmic chemistry underscores the journal's dedication to exploring the scientific underpinnings of potential extraterrestrial influences on life on Earth. The overall stance is one of open-minded scientific investigation, encouraging research and the dissemination of findings, while acknowledging the need for critical analysis and evidence-based conclusions.

This document presents a multi-page bibliography, organized into sections covering various scientific and speculative topics. The content spans across pages (10) through (14) of what appears to be a larger publication, likely a magazine or journal, focusing on "BIBLIOGRAPHY UPDATES."

Bibliography of Scientific Literature

The bibliography extensively lists articles and books related to astronomy and astrobiology. Key areas include:

Interstellar Molecules and the Origin of Life

Numerous entries detail research on "Interstellar Molecules," "Chemistry Between the Stars," and the "Synthesis of Amino Acids from Gases Known in Space." Articles discuss "Molecular Astronomy," "Molecular Clouds," and specific molecules found in space, such as "Sulfur Monoxide" and "Vinyl Cyanide." The formation of molecules and their role in the "Origin of Life" are frequently cited, with references to studies on "Comets and the Origin of Life" and "Life Itself: Its Origin and Nature."

Exobiology and Life in the Solar System

Sections are dedicated to "Exobiology," exploring concepts like "Our cosmic cousins" and "Life in space." Specific focus is given to "Life in the Solar System," with entries on Mars (Post Viking) and Jovian Planets/Satellites, including discussions on the "Martian UV-IR reflectance spectrum" and "Titan."

Bibliography of UFOs and Anomalies

A significant portion of the bibliography is dedicated to "Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs)" and related phenomena.

UFO Literature and Reports

This includes "Geo-Bibliography of Anomalies," "UFO Encyclopedias," and "UFO Literature Reference Guide & Catalog." Specific entries cover "French flying saucer" reports, "UFO updates" from various sources (including "Star Flight disks," "Piney Woods CE2K," and the "Travis Walton" case), and discussions on whether individuals have "seen UFOs." The "Billy Meier hoax" is also mentioned.

Related Topics

Entries touch upon "Close encounters of a fabricated kind," "Spy satellite or UFO?", and "UFO ports." The "Drake equation re-examined" is listed under "Extraterrestrial Intelligence (ETI)."

Specialized Bibliographies

The document also includes bibliographies on more specialized subjects:

Astro-Archaeology and Monsters

Entries under "Astro-Archaeology (with Ancient Astronauts)" reference "Megalithic Science" and "Dogu space suits." A section on "Monsters" lists an article on "Mermen and mermaids."

Space Colonization

This section includes references to "Bound for the Stars" and "Designing a space village."

Dolphins and Dolphin/Human Communication

This subsection lists articles discussing "Dolphins: fact, fiction and wishful-thinking."

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Extensive lists are provided for both AI monographs and journal articles. Monographs include "Mind Design," "Essays on Machine Intelligence and Other Topics," and "Principles of Artificial Intelligence." Journal articles cover topics such as "Experts split over future of artificial intelligence," "Frankenstein abound: towards a legal definition of artificial intelligence," and "Teaching computers to learn."

Notes and Scope

A concluding note indicates that "Many of the above give reference(s) to the more advanced and technical literature for those so interested."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes are broad scientific inquiry, particularly in astronomy and astrobiology, alongside a significant interest in UFO phenomena and speculative topics like artificial intelligence and ancient astronauts. The editorial stance appears to be one of comprehensive cataloging of relevant literature, providing resources for readers interested in exploring these subjects in greater depth, from established scientific research to more fringe or speculative areas. The inclusion of "Bibliography Updates" suggests a commitment to keeping readers informed about the latest publications in these fields.