Cosmology Newslink - No 03

Magazine Overview

Title: CNK COSMOLOGY NEWSLINK Magazine of the Cosmos
Issue: No. 3
Date: December 1972
Publisher: E.Harris
Country: England
Price: 60p

This issue of CNK Cosmology Newslink, dated December 1972, is an international magazine for the study of cosmological events, edited by Edward Harris with consultants Alan Mcdermott, Fred O Gardner, Deryl Wallace, Gene Duplantier, and Roy Lake. The magazine is published 4 times a year as a non-profit publication to further interest in the cosmos.

The Strange Case of Dr. X

The lead article, "THE STRANGE CASE OF DR. X," presents a true account that is described as an embarrassment to all involved, with names and places omitted for security reasons. Dr. X was the head of technical studies of the outer atmosphere attached to a rocket range. His outlandish statements about creatures from another planet annoyed his colleagues, leading to a request for his removal. His contract was eventually cancelled, and he was ordered to leave the country. Coincidentally, the proposed launching of a missile was scheduled for the same time. As the launch approached, Dr. X disappeared. It was assumed he had left in shame. The missile was launched and ascended for about 12 minutes before disintegrating as planned. About three weeks later, a badly burned body was washed ashore, leading to speculation about whether it was Dr. X.

The press referred to him as Dr. X. Questions were raised about whether he went up with the rocket or made contact with the unknown. The body was placed in a copper and zinc coffin and transported on a refrigeration ship, the SS Ma....... The coffin was taken to the docks under massive security and loaded into a sealed ice compartment, locked with three locks and sealed with lead. The keys were distributed via air and another ship.

During the voyage, the ship experienced power failures and blackouts, and the ice compartment began to melt. The coffin was found open and on the floor. It was resealed, and the door was welded. The lookout reported a sudden calm and a phosphorescence glow in the sky, causing fear among the crew. Extra speed was ordered.

Later, the sky became very bright, and a cloudy light approached the ship. The crew ran for cover. The captain ordered nobody near the coffin compartment and sent a message requesting immediate aid and an expert. Three people arrived by helicopter: two police inspectors and an old colleague of Dr. X, who was identified as the inventor of the navigation system of V-war rockets.

An examination of the coffin compartment revealed a large hole cut in the door by a high-power torch. The body was intact, but later, in a hospital in Europe, it was disclosed that Dr. X had no brain in his body, and there were signs of its removal by forceful means.

The article summarizes by questioning what caused the power failure and if it was an attempt to gain access to the body, possibly for its brain. The writer wishes to remain anonymous. An epilogue notes that science has proved a brain can live for a long time if artificially fed.

Average Men and Their Wonderful Flying Machines

This section explores the world of amateur inventors and their creations in aviation, contrasting with the dominance of big corporations and government agencies. It highlights advancements in aviation, from spaceships to jumbo jets, and then focuses on the spirit of personal adventure in conquering the sky.

Jupiter - The Pedal Plane:
An incident in Britain involved a man-powered aircraft, a cross between a bicycle and a glider, named Jupiter. It flew for 40 seconds and covered 500 yards at an RAF station in Oxfordshire. Designed by an aircraft engineer and built by RAF instructors and apprentices, its ultimate aim was to win a £10,000 prize for flying a mile over a figure-of-eight course using only man-power.

The pilot, Flight Lieutenant John Potter, and 20 apprentices from RAF Halton were involved. After a crash landing, which resulted in a bent front wheel and shattered cockpit, the team had to show for their efforts. The team had taken over Jupiter a year prior from an enthusiast in Woodford, Essex, after it was damaged by fire.

American Backyard Inventors:
Across America, backyard inventors are tinkering with strange configurations and novel power plants, often using materials salvaged from junk yards or bought at local stores. Many are members of the Experimental Aircraft Association, a group of 60,000 former model-builders.

• Specific Inventions:
• David Dobbins' Craft: A creation with the body of a small car, helicopter rotors, and a 300 h.p. engine. Its first flight covered only five feet.
• The Parawing: A version of a design dating back more than 500 years.
• Jack Lambie's Hang Glider: An elementary schoolteacher spent $23.70 on synthetic fibre for the wings of a machine made of scrap timber and baling wire with a cardboard tail. His students assembled it, and it has flown after a running start.

Do-it-yourself Kit:
A miniature plane that can be assembled from a kit, brainchild of an aircraft industry worker who left his job to market it.

• Cruising Along the Highways and Skyways:
• Moulton B. Taylor's Aerocar: A gleaming red sports car with a trailer that can be converted into an aircraft. The driver, Moulton B. Taylor, a retired Navy commander, has created a craft that can switch between road and air travel. Within five minutes, it can be ready to take off. It can cruise at more than 120 mph in the air and meets all ground safety requirements, certified by the Federal Aviation Administration.

These amateur inventions, while often for fun, contribute to the principles of aerodynamics and may lead to inexpensive alternatives to road vehicles.

A Pump-it-up Hovercraft for the Car Boot

RESEARCH designer Tony Simpson unveiled a seven-seater hovercraft that fits into a car boot. This prototype hovercraft, capable of 35 m.p.h., was built by a Ministry of Aviation research team at Cardington RAF station, Bedford. The team believes there might be commercial possibilities for this inflatable craft. It is powered by two invalid carriage engines: one drives a fan to create an air cushion, and the other drives its propeller. The advantage of the inflatable hovercraft is its lack of a solid hull, which could be damaged on rough ground. The idea originated when testing fabric protective "skirts" for solid-hulled hovercraft.

Sightings

This section presents various UFO and unexplained sightings reported since 1970:

• Lights in the Sky (Paignton, England): A man reported a group of orange star-like bodies hanging in the heavens over Lyme Bay for nearly ten minutes. The clear night and good visibility ruled out mist or fog. Paignton police station received a dozen calls about the phenomena. The correspondent suggested they were not flares due to their stationary nature.
• Comet-like Object (North Sea): A comet-like object seen over the North Sea was attributed to electrical disturbance in the atmosphere. Cromer coastguards reported sightings by police patrols and members of the public at various locations along the coast. Reports varied regarding the object's direction (upwards or downwards) and color (blue, red, green, orange, white, and red-green). Coastguards initially treated it as a comet but were told it was probably atmospheric turbulence. A similar object had been seen from Northern Ireland and northwest of the Hebrides.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores themes of the unexplained, particularly UFOs and mysterious phenomena, alongside human ingenuity in aviation and technological innovation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting accounts and encouraging further investigation, as evidenced by the "PROJECT EL INTERNATIONAL" initiative seeking knowledge and ideas from readers. The magazine also touches upon the intersection of science, technology, and the potentially paranormal or extraterrestrial.

This issue of The Spalding Guardian, dated Friday, August 13, 1971, features a cover headline "Pull the other leg it's got cups on" and a striking image of a flying saucer. The magazine delves into various topics related to UFOs, space, and the unexplained, including eyewitness accounts, scientific speculation, and even a comic strip.

UFO Sightings and Space Debris

The issue begins with an account from Scolt Head Island, where Mr. Chestney reported seeing a fast-moving, brilliant blue object with a yellowish-white trail, described as much larger than a shooting star. The Meteorological Office at Bury St. Edmunds suggested it might be space debris.

Another report details sightings in Nottingham and Hucknall on November 14, 1970. Mr. Desmond Ward described a cylindrical, violet-glowing object hovering over Bulwell golf course. Mr. Lawrence Truman saw an oblong, yellow object, and Mr. Ian Hunter witnessed a fast-moving bluish light. The local Rolls-Royce facility confirmed no flights or tests were conducted that night. A spokesperson from the Watnall Meteorological Office speculated that the sightings might have been the moon.

A reader from Manor Park, Mrs. C.R.D., recounts an experience on November 3rd, 1970, involving a low white light that appeared to be a star, followed by a rocket-like object and a large white light.

The Hoaxed World

A significant article, "HE HOAXED THE WORLD," reveals that a famous UFO photograph, which had impressed experts, was a hoax. Alex Birch, then 14 years old, admitted to Anglia Television that he faked the image in his back garden 10 years prior using a sheet of glass, paint, and an ordinary box Brownie camera. David Seymour interviewed Birch, who explained how the photograph was blown up and examined, leading experts to believe it was genuine. Birch expressed that after 10 years, it was time to reveal the truth.

Philosophical Views and Exobiology

Fred O Gardner FRGS contributes "The Inner meaning behind the flying saucers," discussing how no single religious system holds a monopoly on truth and how human interpretation is limited. He touches upon the nature of spirits and electricity, drawing parallels between them and the phenomena associated with UFOs.

Beryl Wallace's "FIND THE MEN IN BLACK" continues from previous issues, exploring historical accounts of witchcraft and alleged encounters with mysterious figures in black. The article suggests that these figures may have had control during periods of European superstition.

"UFO TALK" by Leo V. Bartsch explores the concept of God and electricity, questioning the origins of UFOs and their supernatural performance. He relates biblical descriptions to potential UFO phenomena and discusses the nature of magnetic forces.

Looking for Life Among the Stars

This section focuses on the scientific search for extraterrestrial intelligence. It reports on a 1971 conference at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory where delegates supported the idea of monitoring messages from other worlds. The feasibility of Project Cyclops, an ambitious radio telescope initiative costing up to a billion dollars, is discussed. Most exobiologists believe the universe is teeming with intelligent beings, but are convinced that if advanced civilizations existed on other planets in our solar system, we would have heard from them or been visited. The article highlights the intense interest in finding any form of life, even simple clues, on neighboring planets, particularly Mars. Despite initial hopes raised by Mars' polar caps and seasonal variations, the Mariner spacecraft revealed a bleak, cratered landscape with a thin atmosphere and no magnetic field, leading to a "crushing blow" to the possibility of life. However, scientists like Carl Sagan argue that life could exist under radically different conditions, citing examples of extremophiles on Earth. Sagan theorizes Mars might be experiencing an ice age, with potential for life to re-emerge when the northern hemisphere receives more solar radiation.

Monster Section

The "MONSTER SECTION" introduces an in-depth look at the Loch Ness Monster. The editor notes that the article will be extensive and will be continued. The introduction and history of the Loch Ness Monster by Y.Le. acknowledges numerous hazy sightings and photographs but states that no conclusive evidence has been produced. The author shares a personal theory about the creature's existence and origin, linking it to geological theories of continental drift and the formation of Scotland.

Journeys Out Of The Body

"JOURNEYS OUT OF THE BODY" by Robert A. Monroe recounts his personal experiences of leaving his physical body to travel in a "second body." Monroe describes his initial resistance to these "out-of-body" experiences, which gradually subsided as he discovered a history of similar phenomena in Eastern literature and among people in the Western world. The book is described as a documented account that challenges readers to explore the limits of the physical universe and re-think ideas about life and death. It also offers step-by-step instructions for initiating such experiences. A biography of Robert Monroe notes his career in communications and his founding of the Mind Research Institute.

Tarika 2000 AD

This issue continues the comic strip "TARIKA 2000 AD." In this installment, a UFO is detected in Sector 987. Weeks later, the records department suggests the object was a meteorite, but Joan is not sure. Meanwhile, out at sea, the object is seen plunging into the Indian Ocean near the cruiser Laringstrom. Tarika decides to investigate the mysterious object in a mini-sub. The comic ends with a cliffhanger, "TO BE CONTINUED."

Special Offer and Magazine Poll

A "NOW A SPECIAL OFFER" section from "Canada's saucers, space & science" magazine advertises ordering 4 back issues for $3.00 (Canadian Funds) and receiving a free brochure, "UFO & SPACE NEWS YOU CAN USE," which contains over 100 sources of information. Several back issue numbers are listed as available. The notice also states that "Saucers Space and Science" came top in a UFO magazine poll in 1972 as the world's most read UFO magazine, and that the publication has unfortunately ceased.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, with a strong focus on UFOs, extraterrestrial life, and phenomena that challenge conventional understanding. There is a blend of eyewitness accounts, scientific inquiry (particularly in exobiology), philosophical speculation, and even fictional narratives like the "Tarika 2000 AD" comic. The editorial stance appears to be open-minded, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond the ordinary, as evidenced by the inclusion of hoaxes, historical accounts, and personal experiences alongside scientific discussions. The magazine also seems to engage with its readership through letters and reader-submitted stories, as seen with Mrs. C.R.D.'s contribution.