CENAP Infoline - no 160

Magazine Overview

Title: CENAP-INFOLINE
Issue Date: May 10, 2002
Issue Number: NR.160 (also referred to as Nr. 90 / Donnerstag, 18. April 2002 for a specific section and Nr. 100 / Dienstag, 30. April 2002, and Nr. 101 / Donnerstag, 2. Mai 2002 for other articles)
Publisher: CENAP (Centrale Erforschungsnetz außergewöhnlicher Himmelsphänomene)
Country of Publication: Germany
Language: German
Price: DM 30,- / € 15,34 via subscription
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Cover Story: UFOs in Hessen

The cover prominently features a television program titled "CENAP-LIVE/HR-3-TV" discussing "UFOs in Hessen! Have you seen them too?". The program, aired at 20:15, featured guests such as actress Eva Pflug, astronaut Ulrich Walter, entertainer Herbert Feuerstein, and UFO researcher Werner Walter. The issue date for this specific segment is listed as May 10, 2002, while the "MORGEN" newspaper section is dated April 18, 2002.

Space Tourism: Mark Shuttleworth's Journey

Several articles detail the experiences of Mark Shuttleworth, a South African space tourist who traveled to the International Space Station (ISS). He is described as having an "emotional high" and enjoying his stay, noting his good appetite as a sign of successful adaptation to weightlessness. Shuttleworth, who paid approximately 20 million Euros for his trip, spent ten days in space and participated in experiments for South African science. His landing in Kazakhstan on May 6, 2002, is described as "fantastic" and the "most exciting part of the journey."

Scientific Discoveries: The "Riding Ur-Dwarf"

A significant scientific report focuses on the discovery of the world's smallest known living organism, a bacterium named "Nanoarchaeum equitans" (meaning "ur-dwarf riding the fire sphere"). Researchers from Regensburg University, led by Professor Karl Stetter, identified this bacterium near Iceland. It thrives at temperatures around 100 degrees Celsius and possesses the smallest genome ever found in a living cell, containing approximately 400 gene building blocks. This discovery is expected to provide crucial insights into the essential components of life. The article also contrasts it with viruses, which are not considered living organisms because they cannot reproduce independently.

UFO Debunking and Unexplained Cases

Hansjürgen Köhler, a co-founder of CENAP and a UFO debunker, is featured in an article detailing his 29 years of work in demystifying UFO sightings. Köhler, who runs the CENAP UFO hotline, aims to find simple explanations for reported phenomena. While he generally succeeds, three cases in the Pfalz region remain unexplained: an incident in Ludwigshafen-Oggersheim in February 2002 involving "three jagged objects," and two cases from Sembach in August 1976 – one describing a "bowl-shaped object" and another an "egg-shaped" object. Köhler appeals to witnesses to come forward with any information that might help solve these cases. The magazine also includes examples of misidentified phenomena, such as a reflection in a car windshield being mistaken for a UFO, and party balloons causing "UFO fever."

Historical Notes: Laika and Hubble Images

The issue includes a brief historical note about the Soviet space dog "Laika," the first living being sent into orbit in 1957. It reveals that Laika did not die a peaceful death as initially reported but perished from overheating in the poorly insulated capsule. Additionally, the magazine showcases spectacular images from the Hubble Space Telescope, depicting the "Cone Nebula" in the early universe.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a skeptical yet open-minded approach to UFO phenomena. CENAP's primary goal is to investigate and explain sightings, often debunking them as misidentifications of conventional objects or natural phenomena. However, the publication acknowledges that a small number of cases remain unexplained, suggesting the possibility of genuine mysteries. The editorial stance emphasizes scientific rigor and evidence-based analysis, while also catering to public interest in space exploration and unusual events. The recurring theme is the pursuit of knowledge, whether through space tourism, microbiological research, or the investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena.