MUFON Minnesota Journal - No 113

Magazine Overview

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, dated May/June 2005 and identified as Issue #113, focuses on UFO phenomena, government secrecy, and space exploration. The cover story, "The Case of Robert Jacobs," details a significant UFO sighting from 1964.

The Case of Robert Jacobs

The lead article, by Dick Moss, MNMUFON State Dir., recounts the experience of First Lieutenant Robert Jacobs, who was in charge of photo optical instrumentation at Vandenberg Air Force Base in the 1960s. His team filmed an event on September 15, 1964, involving an object that maneuvered around a third-stage dummy warhead and shot a beam of 'light' at it four times. This caused the warhead, traveling at 11,000-14,000 miles per hour at an altitude of sixty miles, to tumble out of space. Jacobs described the object as small, but Major Florenz Mansmann, chief science officer, described it as looking like two saucers cupped together with a ping-pong-ball-like surface on top, from which the beams of light emanated.

Mansmann, after asking Jacobs what it was and receiving the reply, "It looks to me like we got a UFO," instructed Jacobs to never speak of it again, adding that if forced to talk about it years later, he should say the light beams were laser tracking strikes. This directive puzzled Jacobs, as lasers were rudimentary in laboratories in 1964 and their use for tracking was a future application.

Jacobs later learned that the two civilian-clothed men who took a portion of the film were not from the CIA and warned Mansmann about the severity of a security breach. Mansmann later told Jacobs that the object must have been extraterrestrial, and the beam was likely a plasma beam.

Jacobs was awarded the Air Force Guided Missile insignia for his work. Eighteen years later, he felt he could speak about the incident as it wasn't classified top secret, though Mansmann had told him not to speak of it. After several rejections, his story was published by the National Enquirer on October 12, 1982. The Air Force initially denied the incident, but the National Enquirer had verified Jacobs' service record. Jacobs experienced harassment, including his mailbox being blown up and persistent phone calls.

Jacobs believes the event was an early demonstration of military dabbling in what became known as SDI or Star Wars, and that higher powers knew the 'demonstration' was going to happen. The article cites "Disclosure" by Dr. Steven Greer, "UFO Intercepts Rocket" by T. Scott Crain, and "Deliberate Deception: The Big Sur UFO Filming" as sources.

Professional Security - Unearthly Encounters - UFOs and Security Guards

This article by James Foster Robinson discusses UFO sightings reported by security guards and officers. It highlights several cases:

• A security guard at Marconi's in Frimley, England, reportedly saw an 'alien' form and then disappeared.
• On February 2, 2002, a Maysville Police Department officer saw a 'chevron, shaped' object with multicolored lights patrolling near a power plant in Kentucky.
• In Brazil, a security guard reported a red object that landed on a mountain, made a buzzing noise, left circular marks, and then flew away.
• A security guard in Oldham, England, saw a saucer-shaped craft with a large window hover over a mill before disappearing, along with the factory cat.
• In Modesto, California, a security supervisor and guard observed a large UFO with steady white and blinking red lights.
• In July 1996, a security guard, pilot, and gamekeeper found a large crop circle formation near Stonehenge, England.
• On July 28, 2004, a security guard in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, saw a disc-shaped object with flashing lights that shook violently, later joined by seven similar craft.

The article also mentions a fabricated story from 1967 where a security guard claimed to have shot at a cigar-shaped UFO.

The CE4 Corner

Written by Craig R. Lang, this section explores the scale of the UFO phenomenon. It estimates that 0.1% to 1% of the population may have had unexplained events, suggesting that in a metropolitan area of two million people, there could be 2,000 to 20,000 experiencers. If one UFO flight performs 10 abductions, and assuming one percent of the world's population are abductees, this implies a need for 30,000 UFO flights per night globally. Lang calls this the "Air Traffic Control Problem," suggesting that if the phenomenon is purely physical, a massive infrastructure, including an air traffic control system, would be required. He proposes several possible resolutions: fewer experiences per abductee, a smaller percentage of abductees, advanced detection evasion technology, or that a large fraction of abductions are non-physical.

The Age of Missing Information

Steven Aftergood discusses the Bush administration's campaign against openness, noting a 75% increase in classification activity. He highlights examples of restricted information, including the Department of Defense Telephone Directory, the Los Alamos Technical Report Library, historical records at the National Archives, and orbital elements data for Earth satellites. The article criticizes the "purge" of government records and the reversal of previous administrations' "openness initiatives."

Waxman on Sensitive But Unclassified

This section, from SECRECY NEWS, Vol. 2005, Iss. 24, Mar. 17, 2005, reports on Rep. Henry Waxman's findings that controls on "sensitive" information are being improperly invoked to block the release of non-classified data, sometimes to cover up embarrassing facts.

Don't Breathe the Moondust

This article discusses the potential hazards of lunar and Martian dust for future space missions. Apollo astronaut Harrison Schmitt reported that lunar dust smelled like gunpowder. Pathologist Russell Kerschmann notes that lunar dust resembles silica dust, which causes silicosis. Martian dust, composed of iron oxide, may be a chemical irritant. NASA is funding "Project Dust" to research mitigation technologies.

Crop Circle Statistics for 2004

This report from the 'International Crop Circle Archive' (ICCA) states that 229 crop circles and formations were documented worldwide in 2004, a decrease from 250 in 2003. England led with 77 formations, followed by Germany (30) and the USA (21). Of these, 32 were definitively man-made.

A Theory to Explain Dark Matter

William I. McNeff proposes a theory that dark matter may be the matter which comes into existence briefly as virtual particles (pairs of electrons and positrons) before passing out of existence. During its brief existence, it would exert a gravitational force, explaining the observed effects of dark matter.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the persistent mystery of UFO phenomena, the challenges of government transparency versus national security, and the scientific exploration of space. The journal appears to support the investigation of UFOs and related phenomena, while also critically examining government actions regarding information access and highlighting scientific endeavors. The editorial stance seems to favor open inquiry and a critical view of official narratives, particularly concerning UFOs and government secrecy.

This issue of the Minnesota MUFON Journal, dated July 2005, covers a range of topics including advanced scientific concepts like invisibility technology, a detailed analysis of the controversial Roswell incident, and a significant development in neurotechnology. The journal also promotes upcoming MUFON events, particularly the 36th Annual International Symposium in Denver.

Invisibility Shield Technology

The article "Engineers devise invisibility shield" by Philip Ball, published in Nature on February 28, 2005, discusses a proposal by Andrea Alù and Nader Engheta from the University of Pennsylvania. Their concept involves a 'plasmonic cover' that could render objects nearly invisible by reducing light scattering. This is achieved by using a shell of plasmonic material that resonates with the illuminating light, effectively cancelling out the light scattered by the object. Plasmons are described as waves of electron density on the surface of a metallic material. For visible light, silver and gold could be used, while metamaterials are suggested for longer wavelengths like microwaves. John Pendry, a physicist at Imperial College, UK, notes that the concept could have applications in stealth technology and camouflage. However, a significant drawback is that the shield is tuned to a specific wavelength of light, meaning an object might be invisible in red light but not in multi-wavelength daylight. Furthermore, the effect only works when the wavelength of light is roughly the same size as the object, limiting its application for visible light invisibility of human-sized objects. Potential uses include antiglare materials and microscopy, where the probes could be made 'invisible' to avoid disturbing the imaging signal. The technology could also conceal large objects like spaceships from sensors using long-wavelength radiation.

The Roswell Wreckage – An Analysis

William I. McNeff presents an analysis of the Roswell wreckage based on accounts from Jesse Marcel Sr. The material from the alleged crash site was described as extremely light, thin as cigarette paper, and several feet across. When tested, a ten-pound sledgehammer bounced off it, leaving no visible dent. Based on experience, steel would need to be about an eighth of an inch thick to withstand similar force without deformation. The wreckage material, estimated at .010" to .020" thick, was thus calculated to be six to twelve times stronger than steel. Other descriptions mention the material having a 'memory,' returning to its original shape when bent or creased. Men involved in collecting the material tested it by hammering, creasing, and attempting to burn it, all without success. Mac Brazel's son, Bill Brazel, also confirmed he was unable to crease or dent small amounts of the material collected over two years. McNeff argues that such materials were not manufactured on Earth in 1947. He defends Marcel's account, noting his intelligence background and promotion after Roswell, suggesting his willingness to speak out later in life stemmed from a belief that the world had a right to know about alien craft, despite potential risks to his military pension. McNeff concludes that Marcel's opinion that the crashed object was not of this earth should be held in high respect.

Chip reads mind of paralysed man

Ian Sample reports on a breakthrough in neurotechnology, detailing how Matthew Nagle, a 25-year-old paralyzed man, became the first person to be fitted with a brain implant allowing him to control everyday objects by thought alone. Nagle, paralyzed from the neck down after a knife attack in 2001, underwent a three-hour operation at New England Sinai Hospital. Electrodes were placed on his brain's sensory motor cortex, and a metal socket was fitted to his head to connect to a computer. Scientists led by Professor John Donoghue from Brown University used software to decipher brain waves picked up by the implant. In early trials, Nagle learned to move a computer cursor by imagining arm movements. He has since been able to control his TV, change channels, and alter volume. Future aspirations include controlling lights, phones, and other devices. In recent tests, Nagle used the system to open and close an artificial prosthetic hand, move a robotic arm, and play the arcade game Pong. Prof. Donoghue hopes the 'BrainGate' implant will eventually allow paraplegics to regain limb control.

MUFON Events and Information

The journal includes details about upcoming MUFON events. Grant Cameron is scheduled to give a lecture on Thursday, May 19, at the New Brighton Family Service Center. The 36th Annual MUFON International Symposium is set for July 21-24, 2005, in Denver, Colorado, featuring speakers such as Richard Dolan, Stanton T. Friedman, Dr. Edgar Mitchell, and others discussing topics like UFOs, government lies, and extraterrestrial presence. Information is provided on registration costs and packages for the symposium. The Minnesota MUFON Journal (MMJ) is a free publication available online as a PDF, with instructions on how to subscribe via email. Contact information for Minnesota MUFON State Director Richard Moss and other officials is also provided.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of advanced science and unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into potentially groundbreaking scientific concepts (like invisibility) and serious investigation into anomalous events (like Roswell), while also highlighting technological advancements that could benefit humanity (like brain implants). The promotion of MUFON events suggests a strong commitment to fostering a community interested in these subjects.