ACUFOS Journal vol 6 no 6

Magazine Overview

This issue of The Journal of the Australian Centre for UFO Studies, Volume 6, Number 6, dated November/December 1985, is published by the Australian Centre for UFO Studies and is based in Australia. The ISSN is 0729-2295. The cover features a geometric design and the main headline is the title of the journal itself.

Editorial: A Balancing Act

In his editorial, Frank Gillespie outlines his role as a 'devil's advocate' to balance debates where emotional grounds outweigh logic. He addresses the ongoing 'Internal Intelligence' (IIT) versus 'External Intelligence' (EIT) controversy within ACUFOS, noting that the IIT advocates have numerical superiority but lack strong supporting arguments. Gillespie expresses his consideration of switching sides to balance the debate and appeals to IIT supporters to present more convincing original material.

Articles

From the Martian Microcosm of UFOs to the Emerging, Weak Religion (Pt. 2) by Louis Winkler

This article continues the discussion on UFO phenomena, tracing the historical perception of Martians. It notes the scarcity of UFO sightings between the 1910s and 1940s, coinciding with two world wars and economic decline, and speculates if this was due to alien sympathy or a dissipation of expectation. The post-World War II era saw a shift with the discovery of ancient drawings in the Sahara, interpreted by Henri Lhote as a 'Great Martian God,' initiating the 'ancient astronaut' era popularized by Erich von Daniken. The article touches on the Roswell incident and the mentality of government acquisition of alien spacecraft. It discusses Jacques Vallee's findings of correlations between UFO sightings and Mars' oppositions. The article also recounts the 'Wiesbaden hoax' of 1950, where a supposed Martian was revealed to be a boy in a Halloween costume. It highlights the establishment of early UFO organizations like APORO and the International Flying Saucer Bureau. The 1954 'flap' is noted for its high number of Martian sightings, leading General Douglas MacArthur to warn of a potential interplanetary war. The article then discusses the scientific refutation of Martian canals and intelligent life through missions like Mariner IV and IX, and the Viking landers, effectively ending the Martian hypothesis. The text suggests that while the Martian phase of UFO phenomena was illusory, current UFO phenomena remain unproven, potentially evolving into a new phase akin to conventional religions, with ufologists as its leaders.

In Defence of the 'Undercover UFO Theory' by Frank Gillespie

This article responds to John Prytz's objections to Gillespie's 'Undercover UFO Theory.' Gillespie addresses Prytz's three grounds: that extraterrestrials would have no reason to remain undercover, that they could achieve effective invisibility, and that they have failed to avoid detection. Gillespie argues that the first two objections are invalid under certain probable circumstances. He defines 'awareness' of extraterrestrials as occurring only when specific societal and scientific conditions are met, such as UFOs being universally accepted and governmental departments being established for extraterrestrial affairs. Gillespie posits that technological progress might be improbable in environments devoid of aggressiveness, leading to self-destruction. He suggests that extraterrestrials might be desperate to remain undercover due to the potential for conflict with aggressive terrestrial societies or other alien races. He also proposes that early extraterrestrial encounters may have been misinterpreted as leprechaun or pixie reports, suggesting a continuum of UFO reports over centuries, with changing names based on fashion and time.

Clear Intent, The Government Coverup of the UFO Experience (Book Review)

This is a review of the book 'Clear Intent' by Lawrence Fawcett and Barry J. Greenwood, which asserts that there is real evidence of a government cover-up of the UFO experience. The review notes the book's extensive research into official documents released under the US Freedom of Information Act, covering topics like mystery helicopter activity, pilot deaths, crashed craft, and FBI/CIA involvement. It highlights the reticence of the government, with some documents being entirely censored. The review mentions incidents where UFOs allegedly caused disabling problems in Minuteman missile guidance systems. It also discusses the theory that unmarked craft might belong to a para-government rapid intervention force. The reviewer concludes that while the book is dry and sometimes superficial, it demonstrates that the UFO subject must be taken seriously.

ACUFOS Bibliography Service: The Origin of Life: Part One (by John Prytz)

This section provides a compiler's note and a bibliography related to the question of the prevalence of extraterrestrial life and the UFO ETH (Extraterrestrial Hypothesis). It frames the 'origin of life' as a critical, yet uncertain, link in the chain of events leading to a universe teeming with life. The note discusses 'panspermia' and contrasts it with the prevailing scientific view of life originating on Earth through chemical evolution. It acknowledges the immense volume of research on the origin of life and presents a curated list of journal articles, ranging from the simple to the complex, catering to various interests. The bibliography includes references to scientific journals and publications discussing amino acids, primitive atmospheres, paleobiochemistry, extraterrestrial organics, and theories of life's origin.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the historical evolution of UFO beliefs, particularly the shift from Martian-focused theories to broader extraterrestrial hypotheses. The concept of government secrecy and cover-ups surrounding UFO phenomena is a significant focus, as is the debate about the nature and intentions of potential extraterrestrial visitors. The issue also touches upon the scientific investigation into the origin of life and its connection to the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The editorial stance, as articulated by Frank Gillespie, is one of critical inquiry and the pursuit of balanced debate, actively seeking out and presenting less dominant viewpoints to ensure a comprehensive discussion of complex topics.

This issue of Science News Letter, identified by its volume number 126 and issue number 10, is dated as "10." and appears to be from 1984, though a more precise date is not explicitly stated on the visible pages. The publication is from Science Service, Inc., based in the USA, and is in English. The primary content of this issue is a comprehensive, multi-page bibliography of scientific articles and publications related to the origin of life and chemical evolution.

Bibliography of Origin of Life Research

The bibliography is meticulously organized, listing hundreds of entries that span several decades, with a strong concentration from the 1950s through the mid-1980s. The entries are primarily journal articles, but also include book extracts, monographs, and some news articles from popular science magazines. The scope of the research documented is broad, encompassing:

• Chemical Evolution and the Origin of Life: Numerous entries focus on the chemical processes that may have led to the emergence of life on Earth, including the synthesis of organic molecules from inorganic precursors. Authors like M. Calvin, S.W. Fox, and J.P. Ferris are frequently cited.
• Spontaneous Generation: Several entries address the historical and scientific aspects of spontaneous generation, a concept that has evolved significantly with modern biological and chemical understanding.
• Prebiotic Chemistry: Research into the conditions and reactions on the early Earth that could have produced the building blocks of life, such as amino acids, nucleotides, and simple polymers.
• Protocells and Early Life Forms: Studies on the formation of primitive cell-like structures and the earliest forms of biological organization.
• Extraterrestrial Life and Astrobiology: A significant portion of the bibliography explores the potential for life in the solar system, particularly on other planets and moons like Mars, Venus, and the moons of Jupiter and Saturn (e.g., Titan). This includes research on planetary atmospheres, organic matter in space, and the possibility of "space colonies."
• Specific Scientific Journals and Publications: The bibliography references a wide array of scientific journals, including Science, Nature, Scientific American, Icarus, Astrophysical Journal, Journal of Molecular Evolution, and others, as well as publications from organizations like NASA.

Key individuals frequently appearing in the citations include M. Calvin, S.W. Fox, J.P. Ferris, A.G. Cairns-Smith, P. Cloud, and J.A. Kaye, indicating their significant contributions to the field during this period.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overwhelming theme of this issue is the scientific investigation into the origin of life, presented through an exhaustive compilation of published research. The editorial stance, as reflected by the content selection, is one of thorough documentation and dissemination of scientific findings in this complex and fundamental area of inquiry. The inclusion of popular science articles alongside peer-reviewed journal entries suggests an aim to provide a comprehensive overview for a broad scientific audience, from specialists to those with a general interest in science and the cosmos.