Delve Report - 2003 10 - October

Magazine Overview

DELVE REPORT, October 2003, published by The Toronto Sun, presents a diverse collection of articles touching on unexplained phenomena, scientific discoveries, and historical events. The issue features a prominent cover story on crop circles, alongside explorations into UFO sightings, astronomical findings, and paranormal accounts.

Crop Circles: Mystery and Hoax Theory

The lead story, "Crop circles appeared overnight in farm," details the discovery of numerous large, flattened circles and shapes in a wheat field in Rockville, California, by farmer Larry Balestra. Balestra found over a dozen formations, some measuring more than 42 meters in diameter, with stalks curiously bent flat. He dismissed the notion that UFOs were involved, suggesting people with too much time on their hands were responsible. Farm workers nearby reported seeing or hearing nothing unusual.

An accompanying article, "A brief history of crop circles and the hoax theory," by Victoria Stevens, explores the phenomenon's origins and evolution. While simple circles have been documented since the 1970s, the complex formations gained world attention in the 1990s. England leads in documented circles, followed by the U.S. and Canada. The article highlights the 2001 Milk Hill formation, a 244-meter spiral, which researchers found with no muddy boot prints or signs of human presence. The article notes that theories for their origin have included freak whirlwinds, plasma vortexes, and UFO landing sites. However, the phenomenon shifted towards a hoax theory following the 1991 announcement by Doug Bower and Dave Chorley that they were responsible for many English crop circles, starting as a joke. A group called the Circlemakers continues to create commercial formations. The article questions how such complex formations could be created by hoaxers without detection, citing the sophisticated geometry, size, and speed of their creation, and the lack of any arrests despite rewards.

UFOs: Outages, Sightings, and Explanations

"UFOs Blamed for Outage in 1965" by Siri Agrell discusses the possibility of UFO involvement in the massive Northeast blackout of November 9, 1965. Reports of UFO sightings during that period led some to believe extraterrestrials had caused the outage. The blackout affected millions for up to 13 hours. Yurko Bondarchuk's book "UFO Canada" is cited, suggesting that the "broken relay" story was invented to cover up alien involvement. The article notes that UFOs theoretically could create sudden power surges. While the 1965 blackout was traced to a plant near Niagara Falls, the author maintains evidence exists for UFOs causing power failures.

"Watch the skies and harbours" by Jennifer Robinson reports on a Halifax UFO conference that attracted both skeptics and believers. UFO researcher Chris Styles, known for his work on the 1967 Shag Harbour incident, argues that pop culture has hijacked the scientific study of UFOs. He relies on Canadian government documents, including RCMP and Defence Department reports, to support the existence of strange sightings. Styles believes that many people are afraid to speak out about UFOs for fear of being labeled 'kooks.' The article mentions the Shag Harbour incident, where an unidentified object reportedly crashed, leaving behind yellow foam. Despite investigations, nothing was found. Styles notes that while many believe in extraterrestrial life, they are not sure if aliens are visiting Earth. He contrasts the simpler belief dichotomy of the 1950s with the current nuanced views. Michael MacDonald, a filmmaker, suggests Canada has a wealth of UFO information that is not as hidden as in the U.S. He estimates 90% of sightings are mistakes, often caused by bright lights like the International Space Station.

"UFOS Seriously" by Susan McClelland explores the phenomenon of UFOs and alien encounters in Canada. St. Paul, Alberta, is highlighted as a community that embraced UFO culture with its landing pad and themed businesses. The article touches on animal mutilations, with rancher Fernand Belzil becoming more accepting of strange phenomena after investigating cases where blood was drained and organs removed without footprints. A 1996 Angus Reid poll indicated 70% of Canadians believe in intelligent life elsewhere in the universe, with over half thinking Earth has been visited. The article mentions numerous UFO groups monitoring alien encounters, estimating that 10% of Canadians have seen unidentified flying objects. Dr. John Mack, a Harvard psychiatrist, is featured for his work with over 100 people claiming alien abduction, acknowledging the difficulty in distinguishing these experiences from mental states but noting the consistency of their accounts. The article also discusses theories involving altered states of consciousness and neurological accidents, citing the work of Michael Persinger. It mentions Dorothy Izatt, who claims to have met aliens and seen spaceships since 1974, and her extensive home movie collection. The article also references the standard abduction scenario described in Whitley Strieber's book "Communion."

Science and the Cosmos

"Ice towers could hold key to life on Mars: geologist" reports on Nick Hoffman's theory that giant ice towers formed near volcanic vents on Mars might be the best place to find life. Their research, based on NASA imagery and studies of Antarctic ice towers, suggests these formations could harbor microbial life.

"Symphony in B-flat" by Dennis Overbye details the discovery of a black hole in the Perseus cluster of galaxies emitting a sound wave, or 'note,' identified as B-flat, 57 octaves lower than middle C. This discovery, made using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, is thought to be key to understanding the growth of galaxy clusters and the evolution of galaxies. The sound waves are generated by the black hole's jets, which heat the intergalactic gas, preventing it from cooling and forming stars. This phenomenon has been ongoing for an estimated two billion years, earning it the title of the "longest-lasting symphony we know of."

Haunted Hangouts and Historical Mysteries

"Haunted hangouts" by Canadian Travel Press explores haunted locations in Arizona, including Jerome, Bisbee, Oatman, Flagstaff, and Prescott. Hotels and historic sites are described as hosting various spectral presences, with stories of ghostly sounds, apparitions, and unexplained occurrences. The Monte Vista Hotel in Flagstaff is noted for its phantom bellboy and the ghost of a woman, while the Hotel Vendome in Prescott is said to be haunted by the ghost of Abby Byr and her cat.

"DEATH RAYS FROM SPACE CAUSED MASS EXTINCTION, SCIENTISTS SAY" by Randy Boswell presents a theory by U.S. scientists, supported by Canadian geologist Brian Chatterton, suggesting that gamma-ray bursts from outer space caused the mass extinction of trilobites about 450 million years ago. The theory posits that such bursts could have destroyed the ozone layer and caused catastrophic environmental changes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of the unexplained with scientific inquiry and historical accounts. There's a clear interest in phenomena that challenge conventional understanding, from crop circles and UFOs to the possibility of extraterrestrial life and the mysteries of the cosmos. The magazine presents various perspectives, including those of believers, skeptics, and researchers, often highlighting the ongoing debate and the search for evidence. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded investigation, presenting intriguing cases and scientific findings without necessarily endorsing definitive conclusions, particularly in areas like UFOs and paranormal activity. The recurring theme is the human fascination with the unknown and the persistent quest for answers, whether in the skies, in ancient history, or in the vastness of space.