Delve Report - 1998 11 - October

Magazine Overview

DELVE REPORT, November 1998 issue, P.1. This newsletter focuses on unusual reports across various subjects, with a primary emphasis on astronomy, UFO phenomena, and cryptozoology.

Astronomy

Signs of Another Earth

The lead article, "Astronomers find signs of another Earth," reports on potential evidence for an Earth-like planet orbiting a star system 57 light-years away, known as CM Draconis. Dr. Hans Deeg and his colleagues at the Astrophysics Institute at Tenerife used the transit method, which detects the slight dimming of a star's light as a planet crosses its face. CM Draconis was chosen because its two stars orbit edge-on to Earth, increasing the likelihood of observing transits. The stars' small size also means an Earth-sized planet crossing them would cause a detectable brightness drop. After analyzing over 600 hours of observations, the Transits of Extrasolar Planets (TEP) team identified six dips in light consistent with planets about 1.5 to 2.5 times the radius of Earth. Dr. Deeg suggests these planets could be within the habitable zone, potentially allowing for similar temperatures to Earth. The TEP team is analyzing the data to confirm these findings. Future spectroscopic analysis of planetary atmospheres might even detect gases like free oxygen, indicating the presence of life.

Hidden Asteroids

Another astronomy piece, "Hidden asteroids," discusses the discovery of an asteroid, 1998 DK36, orbiting between the Earth and the sun. This location is unusual, as most asteroids orbit in ellipses extending beyond Earth's orbit. Astronomers David Tholen and Robert Whiteley used a special camera to spot it. The asteroid is difficult to see because the sun is always in the background from Earth's perspective. The article suggests there could be other similar asteroids that have gone undetected. While 1998 DK36 is not considered a threat, the concern lies with those that remain undiscovered.

A Planet, Jim, but not as we know it

This article details the first picture taken of a planet outside our solar system, located in the constellation Taurus, about 450 light-years away. The planet is two to three times the size of Jupiter and was discovered using the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope by a team led by Susan Terebey of the Extrasolar Research Corporation. This discovery challenges conventional theories of planet formation and offers insights into the origin of our solar system. The planet may have been ejected into deep space by a gravitational "slingshot" from its parent stars. Future observations will aim to confirm its movement and determine if it is a planet or a dwarf star. Astrophysicist Alan Boss called the observation "unbelievably exciting."

UFOs and Distributed Computing

Little Investigation of Flying Objects

A report by a panel of international scientists, headed by retired Stanford University astrophysicist Peter Sturrock, concluded that while some UFO sightings remain unexplained and may shed light on "unusual phenomena currently unknown to science," there is "no convincing evidence" that extraterrestrials are involved. The report criticized the reluctance of scientists to investigate UFO sightings when physical evidence is available, citing a 1973 case where a helicopter crew reported being buzzed by a metallic object, but no follow-up investigation occurred. The article notes that UFO investigation is time-consuming and fraught with blind alleys, referencing the author's own past experience as a volunteer field researcher for J. Allen Hynek's Centre for UFO Studies in the 1970s.

Eureka! A Personal UFO Encounter

The author recounts a personal experience from the 1970s where he investigated UFO sightings. He describes a case involving a "saucer with overlapping rows of irregularly pulsing lights" that turned out to be a light aircraft with an advertising slogan for a local car dealer.

Computer Idle? Help Spot UFOs

This section introduces the SETI@home project, an initiative that uses distributed computing to enlist home computer users worldwide to scan the skies for extraterrestrial signals. The project utilizes data from the world's largest radio telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. By breaking down data into small chunks, individual computers can process them during idle moments. The project was expected to start in January 1999. The article also mentions Distributed.Net, a non-profit coalition that uses distributed computing for tasks like breaking encryption keys, highlighting its potential for large-scale problem-solving.

Dancing Atoms May Run Future Computers

Scientists in Denmark have created a computer chip where a single atom jumping back and forth can generate binary code. Physicist Dr. Francois Grey explained that this technique could potentially store information from one million CD-ROMs on a single disc. While still basic research, it could lead to significant advancements in computing technology within a decade or two.

Cryptozoology

Bigfoot's Trail Runs Hot with Acrimony

This extensive article focuses on Rene Dahinden, a 30-year veteran of Bigfoot research, and his lifelong obsession with the Patterson film, purported to be the only real footage of Bigfoot. Dahinden has spent decades trying to prove the film's authenticity or expose it as a fake, consulting experts who have deemed the figure too muscular to be a man in a suit. The article details the complex ownership of the film and the acrimonious relationships Dahinden has had with other researchers, including John Green and anthropologist Grover Krantz. Dahinden dismisses academic critics, asserting his ownership and right to use the film as he pleases, even becoming a poster boy for Kokanee Beer. The conflict highlights the internal disputes within the Bigfoot community.

Physics and Cosmology

We Now Have New Eye on Universe

This article introduces the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory (SNO), located 2,000 meters underground near Sudbury, Ontario. The SNO uses 1,000 tonnes of pure heavy water to detect neutrinos, sub-atomic particles that can penetrate almost anything. The observatory aims to study fundamental puzzles about the sun and the universe, including whether it will expand forever or collapse. Neutrinos are thought to be basic building blocks of matter, but their properties, such as mass, are not fully understood. The SNO's measurements could reveal if neutrinos have mass, which would have significant implications for physics and cosmology, potentially requiring a revision of current theories. The project, a collaboration of Canadian, U.S., and U.K. scientists, cost $74 million and is expected to provide answers to fundamental questions about the universe.

Other News

Sphinx Gets Lift

A brief report from Alexandria, Egypt, states that a 2,000-year-old granite sphinx was raised from the ruins of a sunken city where Cleopatra had a palace. Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities plans to turn the ruins into an underwater museum.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of DELVE REPORT include the exploration of the unknown, whether in the vastness of space (exoplanets, asteroids, neutrinos, SETI), the mysteries of unexplained phenomena (UFOs, Bigfoot), or the frontiers of scientific and technological advancement (quantum computing, neutrino physics). The magazine appears to maintain an open-minded yet critical stance, presenting scientific findings alongside more speculative or paranormal topics, often highlighting the controversies and debates within these fields. The editorial stance seems to be one of encouraging investigation and questioning, while also acknowledging the challenges and complexities involved in such research.