Chetvertoye Izmereniye - 2001 No 01

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Четвертое измерение и НЛО" (Fourth Dimension and UFO), number 1 (156) from 2001, published by the Yaroslavl Public UFO Center, focuses on a variety of unexplained phenomena, including UFO sightings, astronomical events, and cryptozoological mysteries.

UFO Sightings

UFO Over Volcanoes

The cover story details a sensational photograph of a strange fiery object descending near the crater of the Popocatepetl volcano in Mexico on December 21, 2000. The image, taken by Alfonso Reyes and reported by Mexican researcher Daniel Muñoz, shows an object approaching the active volcano. The article notes that UFOs have been sighted over Popocatepetl before, including a disk-shaped object seen on June 29, 1999, by a surveillance camera.

Canadian Lake Mystery

An incident in Ottawa, Canada, describes a perfectly circular imprint, 4.5 meters in diameter, that appeared overnight on the frozen surface of a lake in Ontario. Local residents attribute this to a UFO landing and subsequent takeoff, as the ice was too thin to support human weight without leaving traces.

Russian UFO Reports

In September 2000, a silver plate measuring one meter by 70 centimeters fell onto the roof of an abandoned house in Gorbunovo, Tomsk region, Russia. The local newspaper "Nasha Zhizn" reported the incident, with authorities from the Committee for Civil Defense and Emergencies investigating. There was speculation it might be related to a "Proton" rocket launch, though Gorbunovo is outside the expected debris fall zone. The article notes that the object was removed by special services by October 1, 2000, suggesting a potential cover-up.

A more dramatic report comes from near Firsanovka, Moscow Oblast, where on July 25, 2000, three witnesses observed a round UFO with portholes. The object allegedly emitted a laser beam that caused a friend to 'evaporate,' leaving only his clothes. The friend later reappeared, claiming to have been abducted by UFO occupants and subjected to needle insertions. Video footage of the event was reportedly taken.

American UFO Chronicle

The "American UFO Chronicle" section presents a chronological list of UFO sightings from November and December 2000:

• November 21: Tim D. in Chatfield, Minnesota, saw a giant square object with red and white lights.
• November 23: In West Elmsworth, New York, four witnesses observed a V-shaped object, later a crescent, with dim orange and pink lights flying silently.
• November 23: Multiple bright disk-shaped objects were seen over Atlanta, Georgia, including a formation of 8-12 and a larger group.
• November 27: In Dalton, Georgia, a "saucer" or "ship" estimated at 70-80 feet in diameter hovered over a house before rotating vertically and moving southwest.
• November 30: Larry Clark reported that Fanny L. Sarr in Saratoga, New York, witnessed two glowing objects moving erratically.
• December 1: A farmer in Lincoln, Nebraska, saw a bright disk-shaped object with portholes and illuminators hovering over a field.
• December 1: A giant "triangle" object, described as the size of a city block, was seen over Eндаle, Arizona, accompanied by a helicopter.
• December 4: A "giant black triangle" was observed over Yukon, Oklahoma, and later over Salisbury, New Hampshire, a glowing object the size of a football fell into a forest, causing a small fire.
• December 8: Mysterious aircraft left the phrase "WHO ARE WE?" in their contrails over Los Angeles, an event not reported by the media.
• December 9: Michael Hunted observed two very fast objects resembling bright stars crossing the sky near Sonora, Texas.
• December 10: Joe Trajnor, editor of "UFO Roundup," saw a black "triangle" with multiple lights over Duluth, Minnesota.
• December 15: Greg T. in New York City observed two black square-like objects.

Astronomical Phenomena

Largest Sunspot in 10 Years

The solar observatory SOHO, launched in 1995, detected the largest sunspot in its observation history on September 20, 2000. This sunspot covered 2140 millionths of the Sun's visible surface, many times larger than the Earth. These spots are caused by powerful magnetic fields within the Sun.

Jupiter's Aurora

On December 18, 2000, the Hubble Space Telescope captured images of Jupiter's northern aurora. The image shows the main oval of the aurora and the 'trails' left by its three largest moons: Io, Ganymede, and Europa, caused by electrical currents generated as they pass through Jupiter's magnetic field.

Voyager 1 Leaves the Solar System

As of December 20, 2000, the American probe Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is the most distant human-made object from Earth. It is currently twice as far from the Sun as Pluto. Voyager 2, launched earlier, is about 80% of the distance of Voyager 1. Specialists at JPL estimate that Voyager 1 may cross the boundary of the solar system within the next three years (2001-2003), a boundary defined by the Sun's magnetic field and the dominance of solar particles.

Cryptozoology

Spooky Legends of Monstrous Lakes

This section explores reports of lake monsters from around the world, highlighting the past year as particularly active:

• Yakutia, Russia: Legends of aggressive "devils" in Lake Labyнкыр describe a large, dark gray creature with a massive head. A local farmer found a jawbone with teeth so large that a rider could pass underneath.
• Puerto Rico: Residents reported a flying dragon, described as a green, kangaroo-like creature with a hard shell and glowing red eyes, known as the Chupacabra, which attacks livestock.
• Hanas Lake, China: Reports resurfaced of a creature in Hanas Lake, which had been dormant since 1985. Local rumors speak of birds and domestic animals being dragged underwater.
• Lake Storsjön, Sweden: Stories of a legendary monster have revived, with recent sightings of an unknown creature.
• Scotland: The Loch Ness Monster was reportedly photographed extensively and even caught in a large net during an expedition led by Dr. Michael Jennet, who believes it might be a surviving dinosaur.

The article also mentions other alleged lake monster locations: Lake White (Chile), Lake Waitoreke (Australia), Lake Maniopogo (Canada), Kok-Kol Lake (Kazakhstan), Lake Manitoba (Canada), and Lake Ogopogo (Canada). It notes the increasing difficulty in verifying such claims due to advanced photo and video manipulation technology.

Scientific and Ethical Debates

Russia to Ban Human Cloning

Russia is preparing a law to prohibit human cloning experiments for several years. Academician Konstantin Skryabin stated that scientists are considering the concerns of clergy regarding interference with divine creation. The Russian Orthodox Church strongly opposes human cloning, viewing it as "blasphemy" and an "instrument for unhindered manipulation of a person's genetic makeup."

Resurrection of a Dead Child Through Cloning

A wealthy family, having lost their ten-month-old daughter, is reportedly willing to pay $1 million for research to create a genetic copy of their child using a company called Clonaid. The company, founded by a Frenchman named Raël, claims to have a following of 50,000 and possesses advanced cloning technology, allegedly passed down from extraterrestrials. The first cloned human is expected within 1.5 years, with subsequent procedures costing $200,000. The article expresses skepticism about Clonaid's qualifications and the ethical implications.

Other Reports

Souvenir from Space Falls in Yakutia

A meteorite, described as fist-sized and unique, fell in Yakutia, Russia. Vadim Chernobrov of the "Cosmopoisk" association reported that the meteorite is 20% nickel and 80% iron, likely originating from the asteroid belt. Its crystalline appearance and intact state make it a rare find.

Mundane Finds

An article by V.P. Dyachkov debunks a previous report about a mysterious "ball" found in Tuapse, identifying it as a common geological formation called a concretion, formed by mineral deposits around organic matter.

Yaroslavl Resident Predicted the Chechen War

Anatoliy Rudchenko, a resident of Yaroslavl, is credited with predicting the Chechen conflict in 1992, including its escalation in 1995 and a major confrontation in 1999. His detailed graphs reportedly forecast geopolitical events with remarkable accuracy. Sadly, Rudchenko passed away before his predictions could be fully verified or acted upon.

Explosion in Sasovo

An investigation into a powerful explosion in Sasovo, Russia, on April 12, 1991, which caused significant damage and left a large crater, remains inconclusive. Theories ranged from a селитра (saltpeter) explosion to an aerial bomb, a meteorite impact, or even an NLO. Physicist A. Fadeev reportedly detected an energy field in the crater and found unusual data on a microcalculator, suggesting a connection to cosmic information and constellations like Orion and Procyon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, from UFO sightings and extraterrestrial contact to cryptozoology and astronomical anomalies. There's a clear interest in phenomena that challenge conventional scientific understanding. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various reports and theories, while also acknowledging skepticism and the potential for hoaxes or misinterpretations. The inclusion of personal testimonies alongside scientific observations suggests an effort to cover a broad spectrum of evidence. The magazine also touches upon the ethical and societal implications of emerging technologies like cloning and the potential for cover-ups by authorities regarding UFO phenomena.