Mysteria - Issue 24 - 1981 01

Magazine Overview

MYSTERIA, issue 1/81, is a German-language journal dedicated to UFO research and pre-astronautics. This issue, part of the 3rd year of publication, features a cover story titled 'Der Klon eines Menschen' (The Clone of a Human) and delves into theories about extraterrestrial involvement in human origins.

Table of Contents and Editorial Information

The issue's table of contents reveals a diverse range of articles. It begins with a cover illustration by Herbert Mohren. The editorial and imprint information is on page 2. The 'MYSTERIA-Privat' section on page 3, written by Herbert Mohren, discusses the magazine's publication details, including the choice of cover colors for each year and plans for illustrated pages. It also highlights the magazine's growing international readership and encourages readers to help promote it by distributing promotional flyers and recruiting new subscribers.

Articles and Features

The Cloned Humanity: The Greatest Adventure of Cosmic Visitors in Pre-historic Times - The Missing Link in Evolution

Authored by Axel Ertelt, this central article explores the theory that human evolution, particularly the jump from ape to human, was not a natural process but an engineered one. Ertelt posits that an advanced extraterrestrial race, capable of interstellar travel, conducted a 'medical' experiment on Earth, using apes as a base for creating humans through cloning and genetic manipulation. He references David M. Rorvik's book on cloning and suggests that the 'missing link' in the fossil record is absent because the transition was a single, planned mutation, not a gradual evolutionary step. The article connects these ancient visitors to the beings worshipped as 'Gods' in various religions, including Christianity, citing the creation story in Genesis as an example of humans being made in the image of these extraterrestrials.

Extraterrestrial Amphibious Vehicle with Laser Armament on an Island Base in the Red Sea

Written by Michael Appel, this piece recounts an ancient Egyptian legend about a shipwrecked merchant who encounters a strange, serpent-like entity. This entity is described as a large, gold-covered amphibious vehicle, possibly a 'swimming tank,' capable of moving on land. The text suggests this vehicle might be an extraterrestrial craft. The merchant is taken to an island base and told he will be returned home after four months. The article speculates that the ship's sinking was not accidental but orchestrated by this advanced technology, drawing parallels to the Bermuda Triangle phenomenon.

From Our Archive: I. History of UFOs

This section begins a series delving into the history of UFO cases, with a focus on earlier centuries. The introductory text suggests that 'flying chariots' and strange powers described in ancient religious texts point to extraterrestrial influences.

Unexplained Finsternisses in the 18th Century

Authored by Wilhelm Lechler, this article (details not fully visible in the provided scan) likely discusses historical accounts of unexplained astronomical phenomena.

News Headlines

A section on page 20 presents various headlines, including 'There is still time before the end of the world,' 'Oldest tomb of Chinese emperors discovered,' 'Origin of life not in interstellar dust,' 'Soviet astronomers...,' and 'Jewish treasures in the Vatican vaults?'

Scientific Developments in Cloning

Page 7 features two news reports related to cloning. One discusses a rumor about an identical clone of Elvis Presley being born. The other, more substantial report, details the success of Swiss researcher Prof. Illmensee and his colleague Dr. Peter Hoppe in cloning mice. They successfully implanted cell nuclei from one mouse into the eggs of another, resulting in three genetically identical offspring. This breakthrough is noted as a significant step beyond previous cloning successes in plants and small amphibians.

Pre-Astronautics and the Bible

Ertelt's article on page 6 argues that the beings revered as 'Gods' were actually extraterrestrial visitors who conducted genetic experiments on Earth. He interprets the Bible, particularly the creation account in Genesis, as a historical record of this process, where humans were created in the 'image of God' (the aliens). He suggests that as human spaceflight technology advances, humanity might one day replicate this process, becoming 'Gods' for other nascent races.

Upcoming Events and Reader Interaction

MYSTERIA announces a planned meeting in October 1981 and invites contributions for presentations, films, or lectures. They also inquire about readers interested in forming local MYSTERIA groups or becoming international correspondents.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of MYSTERIA strongly advocates for the pre-astronautics theory, positing that advanced extraterrestrial civilizations have influenced human history and origins. The concept of cloning is presented not just as a modern scientific possibility but as a method used by ancient alien visitors to create humanity. The magazine interprets religious texts, particularly the Bible, as historical accounts of these interactions. The editorial stance is one of promoting these theories and encouraging reader engagement and discussion, aiming to make MYSTERIA a well-known and recognized journal in the field.

This issue of 'Archiv' (Archive) focuses on the historical and theological interpretations of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), drawing connections between modern sightings and ancient beliefs, particularly those involving angels. The issue is primarily in German and appears to be a specialized publication for enthusiasts of unexplained phenomena.

Thematic Exploration: Angels and Space Dwellers

The lead article posits that the 'angels' described in religious scriptures can be reinterpreted as 'space dwellers' or beings from other worlds, aligning them with contemporary UFO phenomena. It suggests that biblical accounts, when viewed through a modern lens, reveal descriptions of beings that visited Earth and interacted with humans, sometimes bringing important messages or aid, and at other times, destruction. The text references biblical passages, such as the story of Lot in Sodom, to illustrate these encounters. The article argues for a theological validation of UFOs, suggesting they fit within a divine plan and that a deeper understanding of these phenomena requires integrating them into our thinking and sacred texts.

Historical Sightings and Phenomena

The issue presents a historical overview of alleged UFO sightings and unexplained aerial phenomena. It details a significant event on November 30, 1896, where thousands in California observed a "cigar-shaped flying object with stub wings." Other historical accounts include a bright light seen during an earthquake in Worcester, England, in December 1896, and luminous objects observed during an earthquake in Hertford in the same year. A postman in Trenton, Maryland, also reported being followed by a round light in 1896.

The Roswell Incident and Book Review

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to a review of the book "The UFOs and the CIA" by Charles Berlitz and William L. Moore. The review highlights the book's investigation into the 1947 Roswell incident in New Mexico, where a UFO allegedly crashed. The book reportedly presents scientific analyses, declassified reports, and testimonies that suggest the event was more than a mass delusion and had significant scientific, political, and legal repercussions. The review emphasizes that the book aims to make previously secret information about the Roswell crash accessible to the public.

Scientific Theories and Book Reviews

Beyond UFOs, the magazine touches upon broader scientific and historical topics through book reviews:

• "The Cloud of Life - How Earth Received Life from the Stars" by Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe is reviewed. This book presents a revolutionary theory suggesting that life originated not in an "ur-soup" on Earth, but in interstellar dust clouds and was brought to our planet by meteor-like bodies. It is described as a significant work that will likely spark much discussion.
• "The Kremlin: Its Treasures and Its History" by David Douglas Duncan is highlighted as a reissued classic, offering a visual and textual exploration of the Kremlin's history, architecture, and treasures, from Ivan the Great to Catherine the Great, and including the Revolution of 1917.
• "Photography: Light and Illumination" by Andreas Feininger is presented as a comprehensive guide for both amateur and professional photographers. It covers the technical aspects of light and its creative use in photography, offering practical advice and theoretical knowledge.

Unexplained Phenomena of the 18th Century

Two articles by Wilhelm Lechler detail "Unexplained Finsternisses" (Darknesses) in the 18th century:

• "The Dark Day of May 19, 1780, in North America": This section describes an extraordinary and inexplicable darkness that fell over the northeastern United States on May 19, 1780. Despite a clear sky, a profound darkness persisted from morning until sunset, causing work to cease, lights to be lit indoors, and animals to seek rest. Eyewitness accounts describe it as a supernatural event, with the sun appearing dim and lacking its usual brilliance. The event caused widespread fear and was considered by many to be the Day of Judgment.
• "The Darkness of May-August 1783 in Europe, Asia, and North Africa": This article describes a similar, though more widespread and longer-lasting, atmospheric darkening that occurred in 1783. It extended from Lapland to Africa and was observed across Europe, Asia, and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. The phenomenon was described as a dry fog that obscured the sun and moon, causing unease and speculation about its cause, with theories ranging from comet tails to atmospheric disturbances. The article notes that while some attributed it to volcanic activity or earthquakes, the sheer scale of the event made such explanations unlikely.

Future of the Universe

A brief note at the end discusses the eventual fate of the Earth and the Sun, citing astrophysical predictions that the Sun will expand into a red giant and engulf the Earth in approximately five billion years.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the historical investigation of unexplained aerial phenomena, the reinterpretation of ancient religious texts in light of modern discoveries, and the review of books that explore mysteries, history, and science. The editorial stance appears to be open to unconventional interpretations of historical events and religious narratives, particularly concerning UFOs and extraterrestrial contact, while also engaging with scientific and photographic topics. There is a clear effort to bridge the gap between historical accounts, theological interpretations, and contemporary scientific inquiry.

This issue of "Schlagzeilen" (Headlines), Volume 22, Issue 21, dated January 8, 1981, published by DIE WELT, features a collection of diverse short articles covering cosmology, astronomy, history, and ufology.

Cosmology and Astronomy

The Fate of Stars and the Universe

The issue discusses the lifespan of stars, noting that smaller, less massive stars than the sun will also eventually extinguish after 10^14 years. The death of all stars is predicted to occur 5000 times the current duration of the universe, estimated at 20 billion years. Contrary to the "heat death" theory, the article suggests that gravity will continue to drive spectacular cosmic events. It posits that during near-collisions, stars lose planets and galaxies, and matter collapses into "black holes" that then explode. In an unimaginably long future, 10^1500 years, the universe will consist only of spheres of pure iron, the most stable element. Even then, these iron spheres will decay into neutron stars, a process taking 10^76 years. The scale of this is illustrated by the fact that packing the iron spheres into a single sphere would require a diameter ten times that of the Milky Way. These calculations are dependent on the assumption that natural laws remain constant and all essential laws are known.

Origin of Life and Interstellar Dust

New astronomical research suggests that interstellar dust is primarily composed of silicates and water ice, rather than organic molecules. This challenges the theory, notably promoted by Fred Hoyle and Chandra Wickramasinghe, that life originated in interstellar space. While dry cellulose in dust clouds can create absorption lines in infrared spectra, the observed lines are more numerous than expected from cellulose alone. Furthermore, the composition of interstellar gas indicates a significant presence of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and magnesium. Calculations suggest that 40% of interstellar dust, formed from these elements, could be silicates, which would explain the observed spectral data. Other evidence also points to silicates as the main component of interstellar dust.

Soviet Space Program

The Soviet Union plans to launch a radio message into space within the next few months. The message will be directed at fifteen stars located ten to fifteen light-years away, with the hope of reaching "intelligent" life on planets orbiting these stars. The Soviets themselves consider the probability of receiving a response to be low, and any potential reply would not arrive on Earth for at least twenty years.

Historical and Archaeological Discoveries

Oldest Imperial Tomb in China

The oldest and best-preserved tomb from ancient China has been excavated in Shanxi Province. It consists of a series of monumental bronzes depicting warriors, chariots, and horses, found in the mausoleum of China's first emperor, Qin Shi Huang (221-206 BCE).

Jewish Treasures in the Vatican?

An American professor, David Korn, has claimed in an interview that precious relics from the Temple of Solomon and treasures of Hebrew culture are being kept locked away in the Vatican's vaults. Among these alleged treasures is the "Menora," the seven-branched candelabrum and national symbol of Israel. According to the historian Flavius Josephus, the Menora was taken to Rome by the victorious armies of Titus and was later placed in a "temple dedicated to peace." Korn's hypothesis suggests it remains in Rome today. This contradicts the Byzantine historian who reported that the Menora and other Jewish cult objects were moved to Constantinople in the sixth century by the Byzantine general Belisar.

Upcoming Features and Reader Engagement

"Aus Unserem Archiv" Series

Future issues will feature more installments of the "Aus Unserem Archiv" (From Our Archive) series, including topics like "Untertassen" (Saucers) and the Bible, and UFOs throughout history (related to the series "Geschichte der UFOs").

Other Articles

Upcoming articles will cover "Die 'Nommo-Arche': Ein Flugboot" by Michael Appel, an additional report on the Sirius mystery, and sensational articles by author Walter Closs, editor-in-chief Axel Ertelt, and fringe scientist Wilhelm Lechler.

"Best Contribution of 1980" Poll

The magazine urges readers to participate in their "Best Contribution of 1980" poll. Pre-printed postcards were included in issue 12/80 for this purpose. Readers are encouraged to vote to help the editors understand reader preferences and to have a chance to win prizes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue touches upon themes of cosmic evolution, the search for extraterrestrial life, historical mysteries, and archaeological findings. The editorial stance appears to be one of presenting diverse scientific and historical claims, encouraging reader participation, and maintaining an interest in fringe science and unexplained phenomena, as evidenced by the upcoming articles on UFOs and the Sirius mystery.