Delve Report - 2006 07 - July

Magazine Overview

Title: DELVE REPORT
Issue: July 2006
Publisher: National Post
Country: Canada
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of DELVE REPORT, dated July 2006, focuses heavily on UFO sightings and related phenomena, alongside other scientific and astronomical news. The cover prominently features the headline "Believe It or Not! UFO SIGHTINGS" and a sub-headline questioning a leaked, top-secret report that allegedly states UFOs don't exist, posing the question of whether it's scientific fact or a cover-up.

Key Articles and Features

UK Ministry of Defence Report Dismisses UFOs

A major focus of the issue is the release of a 400-page report by British defence specialists. This secret study, completed in 2000 and released under freedom of information laws, concluded that there was "no evidence that 'flying saucers' or unidentified flying objects were anything other than natural phenomena." The report suggested that meteors and unusual atmospheric conditions could explain sightings, such as bright lights in the sky. It stated, "No evidence exists to suggest that the phenomena seen are hostile or under any type of control, other than that of natural physical forces." Extracts were quoted by the BBC and Reuters. The report, titled "Unidentified Aerial Phenomena in the U.K. Air Defence Region," was to be published on the Ministry of Defence website on May 15.

UFOs Explained as 'Electrically-Charged Gaseous Mass'

Researchers at the UK's Ministry of Defence proposed that most UFO sightings could be accounted for by "electrically-charged gaseous masses." These "plasmas" of gas, sculpted by air currents into aerodynamic shapes, could appear to fly at extraordinary speeds, hover, land, take off, and vanish. The report noted that these phenomena could emit electromagnetic fields, potentially causing witnesses to experience "extended memory retention and repeat experiences." This explanation contradicts claims made by Gary McKinnon, who alleged he saw evidence of UFOs being airbrushed out of satellite images.

UFO Sightings in Canada

The issue highlights Canada as a "UFO Hot Spot," noting that since 1989, over 6,000 Canadian UFO sightings have been recorded. UFOlogy Research of Manitoba reported 769 sightings in the previous year, averaging nearly two per day. Sightings are widespread, involving various individuals from military officers to air-traffic controllers. Victor Viggiani, director of Exopolitics Toronto, presented testimony from UFO witnesses. Chris Rutkowski, research co-ordinator for UFOlogy Research of Manitoba, stated that reports are increasing, with numbers rising steadily since the 1980s, though there was a dip in the previous year. About 10% of the population believes they have seen a UFO.

Canadian Government's Stance on UFOs

The article "How much does the Canadian government know about UFOs?" delves into the history of government tracking of UFOs in Canada, dating back to 1947. The government's website outlines a timeline of policy and research, including "Project Magnet," established in 1950 to study sightings but abandoned in 1954. Victor Viggiani claims the Canadian government has covered up its knowledge of UFOs, suggesting that while the U.S. has back-engineered UFO technology, Canada is involved in the cover-up. RCMP records of sightings since 1959 are available, and the national research council concluded most sightings were natural phenomena like fireballs or meteors, though other occurrences defy explanation.

Stephen Hawking on Humanity's Future in Space

Physicist Stephen Hawking spoke at a news conference in Hong Kong, stating that the survival of the human race depends on finding new homes in the universe due to the increasing risk of Earth being destroyed by disasters like global warming, nuclear war, or engineered viruses. He predicted human bases on the moon within 20 years and Mars colonies within 40 years. Not all agreed, with some suggesting underground bases might be more feasible than lunar or Martian ones.

The Multiverse Theory

Several articles explore the concept of multiple universes. Stanford University physicist Andrei Linde's "inflationary" or "multiverse" theory suggests the existence of several universes, each with its own laws. Michio Kaku, a theoretical physicist, likens the universe to a symphony of strings, with our universe being a "soap bubble" among others. Cosmologist Lawrence Krauss expressed skepticism, calling it "human wishful thinking," while Lisa Randall suggested that observing other dimensions might be possible through experiments like those at the Large Hadron Collider.

Other Science News

• Asteroid Near Miss: A large asteroid, 2004 XP14, passed by Earth at a distance of 433,000 km, about the distance to the moon.
• Ancient 'Molecular Skeletons': Researchers discovered the world's oldest evidence of early life forms, dating back 2.45 billion years, in a rock sample from Northern Ontario.
• Avrocar: The article revisits the story of John Frost's "Avrocar," a 5.5-meter-wide inverted saucer-shaped vehicle designed in the 1960s.
• Invisibility: Researchers proposed a "superlens" device that could make objects invisible by manipulating light waves.
• IceCube Instrument: The largest scientific instrument ever created, IceCube, is under construction at the South Pole to measure cosmic neutrinos.
• Double Stars: The issue notes the death of astronomer Wulff-Dieter Heintz, known for his work on double stars and theories about Wolf-424.
• 2,000-year-old Observatory: A Stonehenge-like grouping of granite blocks in Brazil may be the remnants of an ancient astronomical observatory.
• Galactic Companions: Two new dwarf galaxies, the Milky Way's newest-known companions, were discovered.
• Hungry Galaxy: The Milky Way is described as "predatory," growing by devouring smaller companion galaxies and star clusters.
• Man or Monkey God?: A man in India is being worshipped as a divine being due to unusual physical attributes.
• Pyramid in Balkans?: Researchers found stone slabs in Bosnia-Herzegovina that might be part of an ancient pyramid.
• Dan Aykroyd's UFO Video: The actor released a video featuring footage of unexplained flying objects and discussions with UFO expert David Sereda.
• Fifth Dimension: Physicists are exploring models that question whether other dimensions could exist beyond the standard four.
• Habitable Planets: Astronomers found three planets orbiting the star HD69830 that could theoretically sustain life.
• Big Bangs in Cosmos: The issue discusses gamma-ray bursters as powerful cosmic explosions.
• Space Tourism: Companies are developing rocket planes for wealthy individuals interested in space travel.
• Alien-in-a-Duck X-ray: An X-ray of a mallard duck at a California bird sanctuary showed an image resembling an alien's face, which was used for fundraising.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The editorial stance of DELVE REPORT appears to be one of open inquiry into UFO phenomena, presenting both skeptical scientific explanations and acknowledging the ongoing public interest and witness testimony. While the UK report dismisses alien visitation, the magazine features Canadian sightings and expert opinions that suggest the mystery persists. The inclusion of articles on the multiverse theory, space exploration, and other scientific curiosities indicates a broad interest in the unknown and the frontiers of human knowledge. The publication seems to encourage readers to "Believe It or Not!" while providing information from various perspectives.