Chetvertoye Izmereniye - 1992 No 03

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Fourth Dimension," a supplement to the newspaper "Zavodskaya Pravda" (Yaroslavl), published in 1992, focuses on the perceived "CRISIS" in ufology. The magazine aims to explore the complex issues surrounding UFO research and related paranormal phenomena, moving beyond sensationalized media reports.

The Crisis in Ufology

The lead article, "CRISIS" by S. Ryabenko, argues that ufology is in a state of crisis due to a lack of rigorous scientific methodology and the disinterest of mainstream science. The author criticizes the superficial treatment of UFO reports in the media, which often reduces them to mere anecdotes. Ryabenko points out that while the existence of unexplained aerial phenomena is widely acknowledged, few scientists are willing to investigate them due to the lack of clear disciplinary boundaries and the reliance on subjective eyewitness accounts. The author suggests that ufology requires interdisciplinary expertise, touching upon physics, psychology, biology, history, and even theology, which is difficult to find in dedicated researchers. Ryabenko proposes that UFOs might be part of a larger interconnected web of phenomena, including poltergeists, psychic abilities, and even religious concepts, suggesting that a new paradigm is needed to understand our reality.

UFO Sightings and Incidents

The issue features several accounts of alleged UFO sightings and encounters:

• Rendlesham Forest Incident: A detailed account of the December 26, 1980, event where military personnel witnessed a triangular object in Rendlesham Forest, UK. The report describes the object's appearance, its maneuvers, and the subsequent disorientation and alleged memory gaps experienced by some witnesses. The article notes the involvement of military investigations and the skepticism surrounding explanations like lighthouse beams.
• "Lip" with Candies (Yeti Encounter): A report about a journalist, V. G. Oparin, from Priazha, who claimed contact with 'snow people' and learned about their dietary preferences, including chocolate candies. The article discusses the skepticism of scientists regarding alleged bone fragments presented as evidence, with some suggesting they belong to a herbivorous animal.
• Reader Submissions: Several short accounts from readers describe various aerial phenomena:
• A sighting of a round, disc-like object with a cube-shaped end near Moscow.
• An encounter near the Yenisei River involving a cylindrical object that caused water to boil, affected electronic devices, and emitted a bright beam of light.
• A sighting of a flying object with a tail and visible 'legs' in Minsk Oblast.
• A report from Kemerovo Oblast describing a white spherical object that landed, emitted red rays, and briefly revealed a small creature.

Scientific and Paranormal Investigations

• "Cosmic Debris?": This section discusses a mineral sample that was analyzed and found to contain elements in chemically pure form, leading to speculation about its extraterrestrial origin. The article contrasts this with the view of Academician N. M. Zhavoronkov, who suggested it could be terrestrial. It also touches upon a web-like substance found near Dalnegorsk, which some believe to be advanced technology, while others suggest it is domestic carbon plastic.
• "Effect: Little Turtles": This piece recounts an experience of two women who encountered a strange creature resembling a turtle with a silver carapace and nine legs. The creature reportedly dissolved into the air. The narrative then shifts to one of the women experiencing vivid dreams involving a dark-clothed man from another planet, who spoke of future cataclysms and showed her images of his world.

Organizational News and Publications

• News from the Association: An announcement from the All-Union Ufological Association (VUA) regarding its status as an interregional public body within the Commonwealth of Independent States. It details the collection of membership fees for 1992 and the establishment of the VUA Center for Management and Coordination ("Ufotsentr").
• "Pyramid of Krita-Yoga": An announcement about a series of books by Yuri Linnik Georgiy Orionsky published by the Museum of Cosmic Art named after N. K. Roerich. The series explores themes of contact with extraterrestrial civilizations, consciousness, and cosmology.

Reader Contributions and Editorial Stance

The magazine includes a section for "Reader Messages," presenting various accounts of unexplained phenomena. The editorial note acknowledges that some stories are questionable but encourages readers to pay attention to the details and potential contradictions between narratives and accompanying drawings. The overall stance of the magazine appears to be one of open inquiry into paranormal and unexplained phenomena, encouraging critical thinking and interdisciplinary approaches, while remaining grounded in the need for evidence and avoiding unsubstantiated claims.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the crisis in ufology, the nature of unexplained aerial phenomena, paranormal experiences, and the limitations of current scientific understanding. The editorial stance is one of cautious exploration, encouraging readers to question, investigate, and share their experiences and thoughts. The magazine advocates for a broader, more integrated approach to understanding reality, one that can encompass scientific findings alongside anecdotal evidence and even philosophical or spiritual concepts, without succumbing to pseudoscience or sensationalism.