Delve Report - 2006 01 - January

Magazine Overview

This issue of DELVE REPORT, dated January 2006, delves into a variety of topics related to the unexplained, the cosmos, and scientific inquiry. The cover story, "Why are aliens so boring?" by Robert Fulford, explores the psychological and cultural reasons behind the common narratives of alien abductions, drawing on the work of psychologist Susan A. Clancy. Other articles cover astronomical discoveries, theories of planetary formation, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Florida Honours 27 Airmen Who Vanished Off Bahamas in 1945

This article reports on a U.S. House resolution honouring 27 airmen who disappeared on December 5, 1945, during a routine training mission over the Bahamas. The disappearance of the five U.S. Navy Avenger planes has become a part of the Bermuda Triangle myth. The mission involved practicing bombing and strafing, with the planes expected to return within three hours. Radio reports indicated that the instructor pilot, Lieut. Charles Taylor, experienced compass malfunctions and believed they were over the Florida Keys, directing the planes north to find land. However, he was actually over the Bahama chain. A massive search effort involving civilian vessels and military units scoured over 650,000 square km without finding any wreckage. Various theories, from paranormal activities to alien sightings, have been proposed over the years.

Travel to the Stars

This brief commentary discusses the emerging field of space tourism. While affordable space travel is still distant, options for experiencing space are becoming available. The Canadian Space Summit highlighted that three space tourists have already flown to the space station, paying up to $20 million. For those with limited funds, a Florida company offers 30-second zero-gravity parabolic flights for a few thousand dollars.

400 Sasquatch Watchers at Texas Conference

This article covers the Texas Bigfoot Conference, attended by nearly 400 people discussing Bigfoot sightings and tracking techniques. It notes that over 2,550 Bigfoot sightings have been reported in the past century, with British Columbia having the most (362). The article touches on theories about Bigfoot's origin, including descent from Gigantopithecus, and mentions hoaxes, such as those created by Ray Wallace in 1958, which contributed to the legend and the coining of the term "Bigfoot."

Why are aliens so boring?

Robert Fulford, in this extended piece, critiques the common narratives of alien abductions, arguing that they are a manifestation of human emotional needs and stunted imaginations rather than genuine encounters. He references Susan A. Clancy's book "Abducted: How People Come to Believe They Were Kidnapped by Aliens," which suggests that abductees often have a predisposition for fantasy and magic. Fulford highlights that the aliens in these stories rarely say anything interesting and often engage in repetitive, peculiar assignments like collecting DNA. He discusses the influence of Betty and Barney Hill, whose abduction experience in 1961, amplified by hypnotherapy, significantly shaped the popular image of aliens in media.

Egypt Prepares New Probe of Mystery Pyramid Shafts

A brief report states that Egypt will send a robot to explore narrow shafts in the Great Pyramid to search for an undiscovered burial chamber, as announced by archaeologist Zahi Hawass.

Speaking at UFO conference

This piece from "Eye" (September 29/05) describes a UFO conference at the University of Toronto, featuring speakers like retired electronic engineer John Ford and Catherine Monserie, who shared personal UFO sighting experiences. The article notes that attendees, including a political activist, a nuclear physicist, and a former minister of defence, are not typical conspiracy theorists. Stanton T. Friedman, an investigator of the Roswell incident, discusses government secrecy regarding UFOs and the CIA's UFO files, which were heavily redacted. Paul Hellyer is mentioned as a UFO believer.

Calculating odds of life in galaxy

This article by Stephen Juan addresses Warren Reed's question about the probability of human life existing on other planets. It explains the Drake equation (N = R x fp x ne x fl x fi x fc x L) and its variables. Using estimates from the SETI Institute, the article suggests that the number of advanced civilizations in our galaxy is directly proportional to the length of time such civilizations can survive (L). It notes that Earth has only been technologically advanced for about 50 years, implying at least 50 such civilizations exist.

Robot rescues bird

A short news item from Sydney, Australia, reports that a bomb-disposal robot rescued a pet cockatiel during a building evacuation.

Contact Day: Will ET be phoning us in Lizzie's century?

Allen Abel's piece explores the possibility of contact with extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) in the 21st century. He discusses the work of SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence), which uses radio telescopes and personal computers to scan the universe for signals. Dr. Kent Cullers, a blind physicist and SETI visionary, expresses certainty that contact will be made within 50 years, potentially revealing advanced knowledge that could change humanity. The article also touches on the nature of potential alien life, with Seth Shostak of SETI suggesting that real aliens might not resemble humanoids and that the Roswell aliens were likely a product of human imagination. The piece questions what humanity would ask ETI, with suggestions ranging from seeking knowledge to understand their history of survival.

Pluto Photos Show Three Moons

This report from November 2, 2005, details how astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have observed potential evidence of two new moons orbiting Pluto, in addition to its known moon Charon. These potential moons, temporarily named S/2005 P1 and S/2005 P2, are significantly smaller than Charon and orbit at greater distances.

American inventor patents space-time bending spaceship

This article discusses Boris Volfson's U.S. patent for a futuristic spaceship designed to bend space-time and approach light speed. Physicists like Stuart Shapiro express skepticism about the feasibility of such a device, citing the immense energy requirements and lack of understanding of fundamental physics needed to achieve such feats.

Insight into alien abduction

Benedict Carey, writing for The New York Times, discusses Harvard psychologist Susan Clancy's research on alien abduction memories. Clancy argues that these experiences should be taken seriously and can be understood through the lens of memory, emotion, and culture, often linked to sleep paralysis and a predisposition for the paranormal. Her work suggests that abduction narratives can provide a way for individuals to comprehend difficult life experiences and feel less alone.

When robots attack

This brief excerpt from "How to Survive a Robot Uprising" by Dr. Daniel Wilson offers humorous advice on dealing with potential robot rebellions, including using thermal imaging and seeking unmapped areas.

Supernovas

Terence Dickinson reports on amateur astronomer Robert Evans, who has discovered his 40th supernova. The article highlights Evans's remarkable ability to scan galaxies using only his eyes and telescope, a feat that automated robotic telescopes will soon surpass.

Space is so the place

This opinion piece by Neville A. Ross argues for the importance of space research, citing its contributions to medical advancements and materials science. He quotes Robert Heinlein, emphasizing that many who benefit from space research are unaware of its value and complain about its cost.

UFO Flap

A brief report from Germany notes numerous sightings of massive fireballs, with scientists suggesting they could be part of an annual meteor blitz or space debris.

Lost City of Stars Discovered

David James reports on a discovery by Australian and U.S. astronomers of a large extended disk of ancient stars in the galaxy NGC 300, significantly increasing its known diameter. This finding has implications for estimating the size of our own Milky Way galaxy.

Earth twins

Terence Dickinson discusses the discovery of extrasolar planets, noting that most systems found so far have only one planet, but some have multiple. He explains that the nearly circular orbits of planets in our solar system make them suitable for life, unlike the highly eccentric orbits found in many other systems. The search continues for planets resembling Earth.

Robbie Williams: I can't wait to see aliens

This short item quotes British singer Robbie Williams expressing his anticipation for alien visitation, stating he dreams about UFOs and believes they are coming.

Posited theory on moon's formation

This obituary for Alastair G.W. Cameron, a Harvard astrophysicist, highlights his contribution to the "giant impact theory" of the moon's formation. The theory suggests the moon formed from debris resulting from a Mars-sized planet colliding with Earth.

Scientist measured radiation to pierce Venus' cloudy veil

This obituary for Cornell H. Mayer, a pioneer in radio astronomy, details his significant discovery in 1958 of unexpectedly high microwave radiation from Venus, indicating a surface temperature of 600 degrees. This finding, made before planetary probes existed, challenged existing assumptions about Venus's environment.

After we ask our question, what if their next message is, 'Our warships are on their way'?

This piece, likely a continuation of the SETI discussion, explores the potential implications of receiving a message from extraterrestrials. It discusses the vastness of the universe and the time it might take for communication. Astrophysicist Don Page contemplates the theological implications of discovering other beings in God's image. The article also touches on the possibility of receiving messages that could be interpreted as hostile.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the mysteries of the universe, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the scientific and psychological aspects of these pursuits. There's a blend of reporting on astronomical discoveries, discussions of UFO phenomena and alien abduction, and explorations of scientific theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various perspectives from scientists, researchers, and believers, while also maintaining a critical and analytical approach, particularly in pieces like Robert Fulford's critique of abduction narratives. The magazine encourages readers to consider the possibilities of the unknown while grounding discussions in scientific research and psychological understanding.