Bolide - Contributions 0101-0115 Letter

Magazine Overview

Title: BOLIDE
Issue: 7
Volume: 7
Date: June 1990
Publisher: ball-of-light international data exchange
Country: England
Language: English

This issue of BOLIDE, a publication focused on ball-of-light international data exchange, is coordinated by Hilary Evans and dated June 1990. It anticipates a substantial advance in BOL research, with many subscribers participating in the Ball Lightning Conference in Budapest. The issue highlights new developments in related fields like crop circles and UFOs, suggesting fresh input for BOL research.

The Yakima UFO Microcosm and Earthlight Theory

The most significant new material discussed is Greg Long's long-awaited report on 'the Yakima UFO microcosm,' published by the J Allen Hynek Center for UFO Studies. This report examines a series of sightings of BOLs within a limited geographical area in Yakima, Washington State, a native-American reservation known for its wilderness and forest. This area is where Kenneth Arnold's 1947 sighting, considered the starting point of modern UFO research, occurred. The Yakima reports include not only anomalous lights but also 'stories of disks and cylinders, strange fires and glowing canyons, inexplicable underground sounds, incidents of objects chasing automobiles and aircraft, radio system blackouts, encounters with humanoids and Bigfoot creatures, and a host of other strange occurrences.'

Witnesses in Yakima have described 'very bright, white lights moving low in the sky and over rough, inaccessible terrain.' Due to fire danger, government agencies require notification, creating conditions where lights are observed moving, stationary, vanishing, or moving slowly off. While most reports describe shapeless lights, some indicate structured objects. One 1972 case describes a two-story sized object with a steady white light on the bottom, and flashing and steady red lights when viewed through binoculars, observed for 30 minutes.

Other strange cases from Yakima include a 1978 incident of a bright, twinkling, oblong or egg-shaped light with swirling colored lights that pulsed like a beating heart before fading. Another case involved a cloud illuminated from below, revealing a darker region with an illuminated row of square windows. A ranch owner witnessed a brilliant white ball of light of intense brightness that moved slowly or hovered. Human activity has also been noted, with a 1974 sighting of a red, blue, and yellow triangular light that seemed to want the observers to follow it. In 1976, an observer flashing a flashlight at an object caused it to enlarge and become fuzzy, taking a closer interest.

Interaction with machinery has been reported, such as a tractor's alternator ammeter swinging to full charge when an object passed over. Animals have also been affected, with horses crowding to the house and dogs retreating during a 1975 sighting.

The issue discusses the 'earthlight' theory, referencing Michael Persinger's work and the tectonic strain theory. However, Long's book concludes that 'earthlight' theories, as they stand, are inadequate for more than a partial explanation. The reviewer concurs with this verdict but acknowledges Persinger's valuable contribution in posing the right questions.

Earth Lights Revelation and Other Phenomena

The magazine reviews Paul Devereux's book 'Earth Lights Revelation,' co-authored by David Clarke, Andy Roberts, and Paul McCartney. This book is presented as a more mature version of the 'earthlights' hypothesis, documenting data from the Pennine Project. The reviewer finds Devereux's perspective, particularly his claims of 'cultural blindness' and 'intellectual tragedy' for those who don't accept his views, to be an overstatement that could discourage serious acceptance. The reviewer also notes Devereux's tendency to categorize diverse anomalous luminous phenomena, including Scandinavian 'ghost rockets' of 1946, under 'earthlights,' which is seen as an extravagant projection.

What is considered most valuable in Devereux's book is the data, with a promise of more data from the Clarke-Roberts team. The reviewer contrasts this fieldwork with 'Frontiers of reality,' which is described as a 'desk-top scissors-and-paste job.' The importance of remembering that BOLs are not a recent phenomenon but have occurred over centuries is stressed, as is the need to confront both the physical aspects and the human interface of these manifestations.

The reviewer, Hilary Evans, shares her perspective on the difference between her 'BOLs' and her husband's 'earthlights,' stating that while 'earthlights' implies a geophysical origin, she sets no limits to what can be included within the term 'BOLs' until it can be classified otherwise.

Crop Circles and BOL Research

Dr Terence Meaden is mentioned as a speaker on crop circles at an upcoming conference. The magazine posits that the relevance of crop circles to the BOL phenomenon is undeniable. It announces the upcoming establishment of a Centre for Crop Circle Studies, largely due to the efforts of bolide subscriber Ralph Noyes, aiming to explore the phenomenon objectively and comprehensively.

Additionally, Volume 15, No. 148 of Meaden's Journal of Meteorology is dedicated to 'Ball Lightning Studies,' featuring case histories and theoretical approaches relevant to bolide research.

Conclusion and Call for Information

The issue concludes with an encouraging note about the widespread activity and acknowledgement of BOL research as a viable and promising field. It highlights that researchers are increasingly willing to accept phenomena as they find them, rather than forcing them into predetermined categories. The importance of 'soft' findings, such as witness responses and the social and cultural climate, is emphasized as crucial for understanding BOLs, citing the affirmations of interaction from Long, Rutledge, and Havik & Strand.

The publication requests readers to send any information that may help unravel the enigma, including papers, clippings, original ideas, or comments.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are Ball Lightning (BOL), UFO sightings, and the 'earthlight' hypothesis. The editorial stance, as expressed by Hilary Evans, is open-minded and inclusive, advocating for the consideration of all forms of BOL phenomena and emphasizing the importance of both physical data and 'soft' findings. There is a clear encouragement for continued research and the sharing of information within the BOL community.