MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 088

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, dated March/April 2001, is titled "Issue #88" and features a "Directors Report" by Bill McNeff, State Director, MN MUFON. The main cover story is "ERA, Donald Menzel, Roswell and The Agency". The issue also includes information on Minnesota MUFON Meetings, and various articles on UFO phenomena, scientific research, and potential cover-ups.

Directors Report: ERA, Donald Menzel, Roswell and The Agency

The report details the founding of Engineering Research Associates (ERA) in January 1946 by former Navy men, including Dr. Howard Engstrom and William Norris, and also Walter J. "Wally" Moe, former Assistant State Director for Minnesota MUFON. ERA was housed in a former glider factory in St. Paul, Minnesota, and worked on classified projects, including developing early computers using electron tubes. Due to difficulties attracting investors because of the classified nature of their work, ERA was bought out by Remington Rand in 1956. Many long-time employees left due to dissatisfaction with the new management. Bill Norris later co-founded Control Data Corp.

The article posits that while history books state ERA developed the first computer for the census, they actually shipped the first computer years earlier to the newly formed NSA in September 1947, shortly after the June 1947 Roswell crash. While the NSA's stated purpose was to spy on enemies via wiretap and radio monitoring, researchers believe a secret purpose was to track potential ET threats. Dr. Howard Engstrom, who was Donald Menzel's WWII boss, attempted to hire Menzel at ERA in 1946 for $10,000 annually, but Menzel refused. Menzel's primary role was professor of astronomy at Harvard.

During the war, Menzel wrote a book on radio propagation that was declassified after the war. He made numerous trips to ERA and Collins Radio in Iowa. He began consulting for ERA in 1947, earning $18,000 in 1948, indicating his services were highly valued. The article suggests that Menzel's trips to New Mexico, starting in the summer of 1947, as documented in his travel expense journal, were likely related to examining ET craft wreckage at government facilities like Sandia and White Sands, under the auspices of MJ-12.

On February 21, 2001, five Minnesota MUFON members attended a meeting at Lockheed in Eagan to hear a presentation about ERA's early days. Former ERA employee Harry Wise spoke about the first computer, the 1101, shipped to the NSA. Despite hopes of learning more about Menzel's involvement with MJ-12, no new information was revealed by former ERA personnel present. Menzel had sent letters to Senator and later President John F. Kennedy in 1960 and 1961. Excerpts reveal his association since 1930 with an organization that grew into the NSA, and his possession of facts concerning actions by Eisenhower that had adverse effects in "supersensitive areas." He claimed to have written a Top Secret report that reached Eisenhower. Menzel also stated he had been a consultant to the NSA for 30 years. Additional letters expressed concern over the influence of Dr. Detlev Bronk and Hugh Dryden on the space effort. Bronk was listed as an MJ-12 member. Menzel wrote books debunking UFOs, but Dr. J. Allen Hynek showed how Menzel manipulated facts to fit his explanations. The article concludes that Menzel was likely heavily involved in ET craft analysis and information control.

Curious Phenomenon in Venezuela

This section, referencing "Science Frontiers, No. 132, Nov-Dec 2000", discusses a remarkable phenomenon from October 1886. A family of nine in a hut near Maracaibo, Venezuela, was awakened by a loud humming noise and a vivid light. They experienced violent vomiting and swellings, followed by large black blotches that turned into raw sores. The phenomenon was not accompanied by heat but had a smoky appearance and peculiar smell. The house remained undamaged, and no trace of lightning was observed. The trees around the house withered and developed sores simultaneously with the occupants. The report, signed by Warner Cowgill of the U.S. Consulate, Maracaibo, suggests a susceptibility to electrical effects. The article in "Infinite Energy" discusses ball lightning and its similarities to UFO reports, noting that the physiological effects resemble radiation sickness. The resurrection of this anecdote in "Scientific American" is highlighted, with the author suggesting that mainstream scientists apply a more lenient standard to ball lightning reports than to UFO reports. The editor's note questions whether ball lightning was the sole cause, suggesting the radiation burns are dissimilar and pointing to similarities with the Cash-Landrum case, potentially involving a UFO.

Why It's Likely 'We're Not Alone In Cosmos'

This article by Leslie Papp from The Toronto Star (Feb. 20, 2001) reports on findings by Toronto astronomer Norman Murray. Murray analyzed the iron content of stars and concluded that "Earth-like bodies" orbit most stars in the galaxy. His findings, presented at an American Association for the Advancement of Science meeting, suggest that the existence of planets around stars greatly increases the odds of finding other life-supporting "Earths." Murray's research indicates that a high iron content is common in sun-like stars known to have giant planets, deduced through gravitational pull. He suggests that a disruption of iron-rich asteroids by planetary gravity could explain the iron signature in stars. Based on this, he estimates there could be over a billion "Earths" in the galaxy.

NIDS Proposes Montana Cattle Mutilations Had 'National Security Implications'

This report by Daniel Major (Feb. 14, 2001) links the 1975-1977 period of frequent UFO sightings in the U.S. with peak reports of animal mutilations. The community of Great Falls, Montana, home to Malmstrom Air Force Base (MAFB), is highlighted. Captain Keith Wolverton of the Cascade County sheriff's department investigated UFOs and animal mutilations, ensuring reports were taken seriously. NIDS was granted access to Wolverton's files, which documented 192 UFO and unknown helicopter sightings and 67 animal mutilation reports, mostly within a 40-mile radius of MAFB. The timing of this activity coincided with similar incidents at other Air Force bases in the Northern Tier. NIDS proposes that this wave of activity constituted a national security issue and reports a statistically significant correlation between mutilations and UFO/helicopter activity.

Alien Microbe Reported Found in Earth's Atmosphere

This article by Robert Roy Britt (Nov. 27, 2000) reports on claims by scientists that an alien bacterium was collected 10 miles above Earth, along with signatures of other extraterrestrial microbes at higher altitudes. Chandra Wickramasinghe, leading the study, called the microbe a previously unknown strain likely from a comet, supporting the panspermia theory (life originates from space). Matthew Genge of the Natural History Museum expressed skepticism, stating the evidence was insufficient and that the bacteria could be unknown terrestrial strains. Wickramasinghe countered that procedures prevented contamination, though acknowledged the possibility of contamination at the collection point. Genge also noted that terrestrial bacteria are found at high altitudes, and human waste from aircraft could also be a source of contamination. NASA commented that living spores have been found at similar altitudes and that panspermia is worthy of investigation. Recent studies on a 1999 Leonid fireball, analyzed by Wickramasinghe's colleagues, suggested the presence of microbes from space, a claim refuted by Genge, who stated the infrared spectra were common to organic material.

UFO Shuts Down Russian Airport

This brief report (Agence France Presse, Jan. 27, 2001) states that an airport in southern Siberia was shut down for an hour and a half when an unidentified flying object (UFO) was detected hovering above its runway. The crew of an 11-76 cargo aircraft refused to take off, and another cargo plane diverted. The UFO took off and vanished after 90 minutes.

Something Rotten at the Core of Science?

This article by David F. Horrobin (Trends in Pharmacological Sciences, Vol. 22, No. 2, Feb. 2001) critiques the scientific peer-review system. Citing a U.S. Supreme Court decision and analysis of peer review, Horrobin argues that far from filtering out junk science, peer review may be blocking innovation and corrupting public support for science. He notes that the court acknowledged peer review might be flawed. Studies by Rothwell and Martyn are cited, indicating that for one neuroscience journal, reviewer correlations were no better than chance, and for another, only fractionally better. For meeting abstracts, only 10-20% of reviewer variance was due to the abstract's content, with other factors accounting for 80-90%. Horrobin suggests that the system for allotting prestige and funding is a "non-validated charade." He argues that the public's skepticism about science is justified if peer review lacks validated experimental bases and resists scrutiny. The article questions whether peer review processes in academia and industry have destroyed innovation, citing the lack of progress in treating depression and schizophrenia with modern drugs compared to 1950s compounds. Horrobin calls for a sounder, validated peer-review basis or its abandonment.

The X-File of Gricignano d'Aversa

This case study by Roberto Pinotti describes an incident on December 9, 1954, in Italy. Farmer Giovanni Aquilante disappeared for 48 hours and returned home silent and shocked. His sons and a friend later saw two mysterious humanoid figures with luminous eyes. Aquilante reported meeting two "dwarfs" in multi-colored suits who took him into the air for a "trip" to "unknown places." He was released but told he would be taken again. The case is compared to the Hickson-Parker abduction case in Pascagoula, USA (1973). An earlier, unsuccessful abduction case in Teheran, Iran, on October 8, 1954, involving Ghaseme Fili, is also mentioned, where Fili reported seeing a luminous object and a small man inside, and felt drawn towards it.

Field Investigator Update: February/March 2001

This update by Craig Lang, MN MUFON FI Coord., notes the usual spring upturn in UFO reports. He announces a February Field Investigator class in progress with four new investigators. Several people are interested in the next class, which will be held later in the spring. MUFON investigators have been active on old and new cases, often brought to attention via the Minnesota MUFON website or "through the grapevine." Examples of current investigations by Bill McNeff are provided:

• On January 25, 2001, a 32-year-old man reported seeing a horizontal white, thin straight line object moving west, which changed shape to a V-shape and a "string V." No other reports matched this description.
• On March 6, 2000, the same man reported seeing a glowing object described as a perfect sphere, the size of a beach ball, which slanted down rapidly and changed color from white to orange. The sighting lasted 2.5 to 3.0 seconds, with an estimated speed of 1500 mph. The field investigator notes it might have been a meteor.

The update also discusses Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind (CE4s), noting that many new experiencers report events suggesting extraordinary personal experiences, including missing time, puzzling events, repeated encounters with paranormal phenomena, and anomalous memories. The Roper Poll suggests up to one percent of humanity may qualify as possible experiencers. For further details, readers are directed to the MN MUFON website.

Upcoming events include Minnesota MUFON's presence at MarsCon science fiction convention (May 11-13, 2001), featuring panels on UFO Field investigation, CE4s, and First Contact scenarios.

How did matter come to dominate the universe?

This article by Tim Stephens (Feb. 16, 2001) discusses the mystery of why the universe is dominated by matter when the Big Bang theory suggests equal amounts of matter and antimatter were created. Antimatter particles interact with matter and vanish. Physicists believe subtle differences in the behavior of matter and antimatter led to a slight excess of matter in the early universe, with about one in a billion particles surviving annihilation. Michael Dine, a professor of physics, notes that laws of nature were thought to be symmetric until the 1960s. New accelerators at SLAC and in Japan are yielding results that could explain this asymmetry. The talk by Dine is part of a session on matter and antimatter at the AAAS meeting in San Francisco.

From: Royce J. Myers III - The Watchdog

Royce J. Myers III announces the beginning of UFOWATCHDOG.COM, providing a sample of topics covered, including "Reed Hoax Resurfaces," "Psi-Tech Sues Ed Dames," "NASA Responds to FOX TV's 'Moon Conspiracy'," and "Lowery Abduction Case." He also highlights the "UFO DIRTBAG OF THE MONTH FOR FEB. 2001" and "UFO HALL OF FRAUDS, DIRTBAGS, DUPES AND MORONS."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the historical analysis of UFO events and their potential connection to government agencies and secrecy, the scientific investigation of anomalous phenomena (such as extraterrestrial microbes and the composition of the universe), and a critical examination of the scientific establishment, particularly the peer-review process. The journal appears to adopt a stance that questions official narratives and encourages independent investigation into UFOs and related subjects, while also engaging with broader scientific and philosophical questions. There is a consistent effort to link seemingly disparate events and phenomena, suggesting underlying connections and potential cover-ups.

Title: Minnesota MUFON Journal
Issue: #86
Date: Nov./Dec.
Publisher: Minnesota MUFON
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal delves into complex topics in particle physics while also providing information relevant to UFO enthusiasts and MUFON members.

Physics of Matter-Antimatter Asymmetry

The lead article discusses the fundamental puzzle of why the universe is dominated by matter rather than antimatter. It references the work of Soviet physicist Andrei Sakharov, who laid out three conditions necessary for such an imbalance: violation of CP symmetry, violation of a conservation law (baryon number), and the early universe not being in thermal equilibrium. The Standard Model of particle physics accommodates the small CP violation observed in kaon decays but is insufficient to explain the vast amount of matter observed.

Physicist Dine suggests that modifications to the Standard Model are necessary, particularly at very high energies. One proposed modification is supersymmetry, which posits a new symmetry at extremely high energies. Supersymmetry could allow for stronger CP violation than the Standard Model and offers new mechanisms for CP violation to occur, potentially meeting Sakharov's conditions more effectively. While the Standard Model has one parameter for CP violation, supersymmetry predicts a whole new class of subatomic particles and ways for CP violation to manifest.

The article highlights ongoing experimental efforts to measure the symmetry-breaking parameter predicted by the Standard Model. Physicists are now focusing on B mesons, heavier cousins of kaons, at facilities like SLAC and the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Tsukuba, Japan. These 'B factories' are designed to produce large numbers of B mesons and anti-B mesons to study their decays and measure CP violation. Some versions of supersymmetry and other proposed Standard Model modifications make significant predictions for these experiments.

Dine is expected to present a theorist's perspective on the latest results from these experiments at an AAAS meeting. He expresses hope that the results will not fit neatly within the Standard Model, as its inability to fully explain the matter-antimatter asymmetry has been a source of frustration. If the experiments merely confirm the Standard Model, the puzzle will remain.

Corrections and MUFON Information

The issue includes a correction for a previous article from the Nov./Dec. issue (#86) titled "IS THERE A CONNECTION BETWEEN AIDS AND THE GRAYS?" by Richard Moss, MN MUFON ASD. Dr. Phillip Duke recommended corrections, which are too lengthy to reprint but available in full at http://www.mnmufon.org/aidset.htm.

Contact information for Minnesota MUFON is provided, including State Director Richard Moss, Assist. State Director Bill McNeff, Field Invest. Coord. Margaret DeHarpPorte, and Journal Editor Joel Henry. The address for Joel Henry is PO Box 240631, Apple Valley, MN 55124. The phone number for Joel Henry is (952) 431-2426, and his email is [email protected]. The Minnesota MUFON web page is http://www.mnmufon.org, maintained by Joel Henry.

Details for MUFONET are also listed: 7.237mhz on Saturdays at 7:00 am CST, with Bob Shultz as Net Control. A National MUFON Hotline is available for reporting UFO news and sightings at 1-800-836-2166.

Readers are directed to www.mnmufon.org/mmj.htm for back issues of the Minnesota MUFON Journal in PDF format. Contributions and inquiries are welcomed and should be directed to the Editor.

Copyright Notice

A copyright notice states that articles in this issue are the property of their originators and/or assignees. Articles are reprinted with permission or are believed to be in the public domain, and permission to use or reprint must be obtained from the original authors.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the fundamental questions in particle physics regarding the origin of matter and the limitations of current scientific models like the Standard Model. The journal also serves as a platform for MUFON activities, encouraging the reporting of UFO sightings and providing contact information for its members. The editorial stance appears to be one that encourages scientific inquiry into unexplained phenomena, both in physics and in the realm of UFOs, while also maintaining a commitment to accuracy through corrections and clear attribution of sources.