JOURNAL für UFO-FORSCHUNG

Magazine Overview

Title: JOURNAL für UFO-FORSCHUNG
Issue: Nr. 9, 1. Jahrgang
Date: 1980
Publisher: GEP (Gemeinschaft zur Erforschung unbekannter Phänomene)
Country: Germany
Language: German
Price: DM 2,00

This issue of the German journal 'JOURNAL für UFO-FORSCHUNG' (Issue 9, 1980) provides a mix of practical research tools, bibliographical information, case studies, and theoretical discussions within the field of UFOlogy and related topics.

Articles and Features

Practical Instructions for Field Investigations: Radioactive Measurements in UFO Research

Authored by Hans-Werner Peiniger, this article delves into the practical application of Geiger counters for UFO research. It explains the principle behind the Geiger-Müller counter, detailing its components like the counting tube (cathode and anode), the noble gas filling, and the process of ionization by radioactive particles. The article describes how these ionization events create an 'avalanche' effect, which is then amplified and made audible or measurable. It introduces several commercially available Geiger counters, including the Graetz 'Gamma 100' (approx. 600 DM) and the Frieseke & Hoepfner 'Radiameter FH 40 E' (approx. 2300 DM), highlighting their respective measurement ranges. It also mentions devices with extendable telescopic probes for remote measurements, such as the 'Teletector 6112 B' by Automess. The author specifically recommends the 'GZ 3/HS 221' Geiger counter, distributed by GEP, for its price-performance ratio, noting its sensitivity to natural radioactivity and its suitability for field research. Information on obtaining a manufacturer's directory is also provided.

Book Review: Books on Extraterrestrial Life - Contributions to a German Fachbibliography

This extensive section, written by Dieter von Reeken, focuses on the literature available on extraterrestrial life and UFO phenomena. Von Reeken emphasizes the importance of relying on literature for research and the challenges of verifying sources. He presents a bibliography of German-language publications, initially compiled in 1977 and expanded in 1979, covering the period from 1947 to 1979. The article lists numerous books, including early works from 1901, with authors, titles, and publication details. Notable entries include 'Ist Mars ein bewohnter Planet?' by Joseph Plassmann (1901), 'Das Leben auf anderen Sternen' by Knut Lundmark (1930), and various works from the 1950s by authors like Richard Feryer, Donald Keyhoe, Desmond Leslie, and George Adamski. The author invites readers to submit information on any relevant works not included in his list. He also mentions that four older works (Plassmann, Strehl, Schöpfer, Trent) are available as photocopied reprints through the Carola von Reeken Verlag.

Critique of Relativity Theory

Gerald Mosbleck's article, 'DIE KRITIK AN DER RELATIVITÄTSTHEORIE' (Part VII, Section 5.3), examines the 'Uhrenexperiment' (clock experiment) conducted by Hafele and Keating in October 1971. The experiment involved flying atomic clocks eastward and westward around the Earth to test time dilation predicted by relativity. Mosbleck critically analyzes the experiment's methodology, suggesting that the complex calculations and assumptions made, including the postulation of a 'time-lapse' effect based on direction of travel, deviate from the original theory. He concludes that the experiment, with its intricate calculations and approximations, may represent a significant 'hoax'. The article also touches upon the concept of gravitational potentials affecting time.

UFO Over Neuenrade?

This section details a UFO sighting reported over Neuenrade, Germany, on New Year's Eve 1979. The report is based on a questionnaire filled out by witnesses and an accompanying evaluation form. Two witnesses, Irene W. and Kurt S., observed a single object described as large, reddish, blurred, and with steady flight, appearing around 9:10 PM. The object's contours were indistinct, and its light was constant. While the initial analysis considered various possibilities, the date of the sighting (New Year's Eve) and the characteristics led to the conclusion that it was likely a hot air balloon. The evaluation index for reliability was 67.5%.

Book Reviews (Rezensionen)

Several book reviews are featured:

• "Fliegende Untertassen - Ja oder Nein?" by Siegfried Schöpfer: This is a reprint of a 1955 brochure where Schöpfer concluded there was no evidence for an extraterrestrial origin of UFOs, suggesting natural causes instead. The author confirms his earlier stance in an updated preface.
• "The Etherean Invasion" by John de Herrera: A book describing the investigation of a specific case, the 'Garden Grove Case', by a field investigator from APRO. It covers various aspects of the investigation, including hypnotic interrogation and corroborating witnesses.
• "ETI Space Beings: Intercept Earthlings" by Allen Michael: This book is described as channeling communications from 'Space Beings' offering guidance to avert global catastrophe and usher in a 'Space Age Paradise'.
• "UFO Phenomena and the Behavioral Scientist" edited by Richard F. Haines: This compilation features scientific appraisals of UFO phenomena by psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, and other professionals, divided into sections on cultural factors, eyewitness factors, reporting, and research data.
• "The Crash/Retrieval Syndrome" by Leonard H. Stringfield: A monograph reporting on alleged crashed saucers and preserved humanoid bodies, based on eyewitness accounts and suggesting a government cover-up.

GEP-Aktuell

This section includes a brief note on donations received by GEP and an advertisement for meteorite and tektite sales, as well as a call for voluntary collaborators for English translation and information on acquiring magnetometers and other equipment.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, extraterrestrial life, and related scientific and pseudoscientific topics. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging reader participation through letters and contributions. While presenting various theories and case studies, there is also an emphasis on critical analysis, as seen in the critique of relativity theory and the balanced approach to the 'Neuenrade' sighting. The journal aims to provide practical tools and bibliographical resources for researchers in the field.