CENAP Infoline - no 069

Magazine Overview

This issue of cenap-infoline, number 69, dated January 4, 1998, is a German-language publication from CENAP, focusing on UFO phenomena, paranormal events, and related topics. The cover prominently features the question "Extraterrestrial Flying Apparatus?" and highlights several articles within.

Ausserirdischer Flugapparat ? (Extraterrestrial Flying Apparatus ?)

This article recounts an incident from August 17, 1985, when an unusual object was sighted over the Chilean highlands, causing a stir in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Newspaper reports described it as a UFO with technical problems or a harbinger of bad events. However, it was later identified as a NOAA stratospheric balloon, 40 meters in diameter, launched from Pretoria, South Africa, to test radio communications between ground stations and satellites. The balloon reached an altitude of 35 km and at one point descended to 18 km.

Der Fall Hill... (The Hill Case...)

This section revisits the famous 'Hill case,' considered by many UFO enthusiasts to be the origin of modern UFO abduction narratives. It highlights a finding by Martin Kottmeyer, published in 'The Skeptical Inquirer,' suggesting a connection to the 'Outer Limits' TV series. Specifically, the episode 'Bellero Shield,' which aired on February 10, 1964, depicted small, big-headed aliens with elongated eyes who paralyze and abduct humans. Notably, twelve days later, on February 22, 1964, Barney Hill, under hypnosis, described aliens that matched this description. J. Vallée had previously observed this striking similarity between the TV aliens and Hill's account.

1.1.1998, 0.45 Uhr: Die erste UFO-Meldung des neuen Jahres bei CENAP (1.1.1998, 0:45 AM: The First UFO Report of the New Year to CENAP)

This report details the first UFO sighting logged by CENAP in the new year, occurring just 45 minutes after midnight on January 1, 1998. A woman and her guests in Mannheim-Neckarau, Germany, observed an "oval, orange-flashing object" for six minutes during New Year's fireworks. The object reportedly became smaller and disappeared into the sky. CENAP investigations on January 3, 1998, revealed that a New Year's Eve party was held near the Mannheim-Neuostheim airfield, and a party gag-hot-air balloon had been launched. The description of the object and its flight path matched the balloon, leading CENAP to conclude it was a party gag.

Die Sylvester-Knaller der UFO-Szene (The New Year's Eve Bangers of the UFO Scene)

This short piece notes that the year 1997/98 saw notable events in the UFO scene. It mentions the discontinuation of the M-2000 magazine and expresses surprise that Herr Lammer from MUFON-CES wrote the lead article in the latest UFO Nachrichten, questioning if MUFON-CES is returning to its original UFO focus or making a mistake.

Science & Technology

2350 vor Christus - die Welt ging unter (2350 BC - The World Ended)

This article by Benny Peiser, an anthropologist, reconstructs a catastrophic event around 2350 BC, which he attributes to meteorite impacts. He suggests that massive impacts caused global firestorms and tidal waves, leading to the collapse of Bronze Age civilizations from Greece to China. The event is described as plunging the world into darkness and an ice age. Evidence cited includes the disappearance of civilizations, the transformation of the Dead Sea into a desert, and the Sphinx in Egypt being buried in sand for millennia.

Papst sucht Gott mit Infrarot-Teleskop (Pope Seeks God with Infrared Telescope)

This section reports on a Vatican project to search for extraterrestrial life. The Pope is reportedly using a super-telescope to search for signs of God on other planets. A team of Jesuit astronomers is working with a 9-million-dollar infrared telescope in Arizona. Their mission is to find civilizations on other planets, and if found, the Vatican would send them missionaries. The article quotes Pater Chris Cor, who states that if other civilizations exist, they would be seen as a sign of God's presence.

27. November 1997 BILD: Satellit ins All (Satellite into Orbit)

This brief report announces the launch of the German research satellite "Equator-S" on December 3, 1997, via an Ariane-IV rocket. Scientists in Göttingen will be closely monitoring the satellite, which is designed to measure electrical and magnetic particles in the magnetosphere, potentially observing auroras and disruptions in radio traffic and satellite navigation.

Viele Amerikaner glauben an Außerirdische (Many Americans Believe in Extraterrestrials)

An opinion poll among adult US citizens revealed that 60% believe in extraterrestrial life. Of these, 40% think aliens are at least as intelligent as humans, and 47% believe they are far more advanced. The majority (90%) of alien enthusiasts do not fear them, viewing them as peaceful.

Urknall-Erfinder tot bei Flugzeug-Absturz (Big Bang Inventor Dead in Plane Crash)

This short article reports the death of American astrophysicist David N. Schramm (52) in a plane crash. Schramm was instrumental in developing the 'Big Bang' theory and his work involved coordinating astrophysics, nuclear physics, and particle physics to study the early universe.

Ariane erfolgreich (Ariane Successful)

This brief report celebrates the successful launch of a communication satellite by an Ariane-4 rocket, marking the twelfth and final launch for 1997. The satellite, Intelsat-804, is intended to transmit telephone calls and three television programs.

Satellit stürzt auf die Erde (Satellite Crashes to Earth)

This report details the failure of the Russian 'Proton-K' rocket. Hours after a successful launch, a Chinese-Hong Kong telecommunications satellite, 'Asia-sat-3,' went out of control and began drifting aimlessly. Engineers have abandoned the satellite, warning that it is heading towards Earth with an unknown impact location and time.

Planeten in Reih und Glied (Planets in a Row)

This short piece notes that in addition to fireworks, planets will be visible in a line in the southwestern sky on New Year's Eve: Venus, Jupiter, and Mars will be visible to the naked eye, while Uranus and Neptune will require a telescope. The rising moon will also be visible on New Year's Day.

Neuer Satellit spioniert für jeden! (New Satellite Spies for Everyone!)

This article introduces the 'EarlyBird 1' private spy satellite, launched by the company EarthWatch. It is capable of photographing any object on Earth from an altitude of 473 kilometers with high detail. The service is available via the internet, with a basic fee of $300 and an additional cost of $5 per square kilometer for images. The article suggests that this technology could be used by individuals or organizations like the FBI to spy on anything, from military bases to private gardens.

Beim Blick in die Zukunft ziemlich blind (Looking into the Future, Quite Blind)

This article discusses the poor performance of psychics and fortune-tellers in their predictions for 1997. Edgar Wunder, an expert at the Society for the Investigation of Parascientific Phenomena (GWUP), reported that none of the approximately 70 investigated predictions came true. This included predictions from Nostradamus about a World War, Edgar Cayce about New York sinking, and the supposed imminent death of Pope John Paul II. The article also notes that psychics failed to predict the assassination attempt in Luxor, Egypt, or the death of Princess Diana. It suggests that many psychics now make vague predictions to avoid being proven wrong, with astrologers increasingly focusing on psychological interpretations rather than specific forecasts.

„Scientology ist erkennbar verunsichert“ (Scientology is Noticeably Unsettled)

This is an interview with Helmut Rannacher, President of the Baden-Württemberg Office for the Protection of the Constitution. He states that while Scientology attempts to infiltrate all societal sectors, its number of followers in Germany is much lower than claimed. Rannacher believes the organization is "noticeably unsettled" due to government pressure. He notes increased visits from high-ranking Scientologists from the USA and Denmark, some in uniform, to pressure members in southwestern Germany. The organization is reportedly facing financial difficulties due to fewer course sales, and more members are considering leaving. While Scientology claims around 30,000 members nationwide, the office estimates closer to 10,000, with 600-800 in the southwest. Rannacher emphasizes that despite fewer members, the organization's global reach and financial resources still pose a threat. He also mentions that media and public awareness have made it harder for Scientology to recruit members blindly.

Auch Amerika wehrt sich jetzt gegen Scientology (America is Now Also Fighting Against Scientology)

This article reports on Scientology's growing influence in Clearwater, Florida, where it has purchased numerous properties and allegedly controls a significant portion of the city. Residents feel powerless and fearful of Scientology's 'security guards.' The article highlights the organization's tax-exempt status as a church, which exempts it from property taxes. It then focuses on the controversial death of Scientologist Lisa McPherson in November 1996. After being admitted to Clearwater hospital in a confused state, she was taken out by Scientologists and died 17 days later. The autopsy report indicated starvation, dehydration, and signs of restraint. The FBI is investigating, and the family's lawyer has filed an $80 million lawsuit against Scientology, aiming to expose it as a dangerous cult rather than a church.

Beam uns, Anton! Innsbrucker Forscher schaffen den Durchbruch: Mit Photonen gelingt die erste Teleportation (Beam Us, Anton! Innsbruck Researchers Achieve Breakthrough: First Teleportation Achieved with Photons)

This article details a significant scientific achievement: the first successful teleportation of a photon (light particle) by a team led by experimental physicist Anton Zeilinger in Innsbruck. The process involves transferring the information of one photon onto another, utilizing the concept of quantum entanglement. The article explains that entangled photons are linked in such a way that they instantaneously influence each other, regardless of distance. While this breakthrough is a major step, Zeilinger cautions that teleporting larger objects, let alone humans, is still a distant prospect. The team's next goal is to teleport atoms, with potential advancements in teleporting small objects composed of a few thousand atoms within the next two to ten years. The article also mentions related research on extending the distance of photon teleportation, citing experiments in Geneva that achieved teleportation over nearly eleven kilometers.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently covers UFO phenomena, historical cases, and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, often with a critical eye towards explanations that dismiss them as misidentifications (e.g., the Chilean object identified as a balloon). There's a strong interest in the historical context of UFOs and abduction cases, as seen with the 'Hill case' analysis. The publication also delves into the paranormal, particularly the unreliability of psychics and fortune-tellers, as evidenced by the review of 1997 predictions. A significant portion of this issue is dedicated to Scientology, portraying it as a potentially dangerous organization with questionable practices and a significant negative impact on communities like Clearwater, Florida. The scientific advancements in physics, specifically photon teleportation, are presented as a cutting-edge development, contrasting with the more speculative topics. The editorial stance appears to be one of investigative journalism, presenting information on these diverse topics with a degree of skepticism towards sensational claims while also highlighting controversial or concerning aspects of organizations and events.