NIVFO-Bulletin - 1986 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: NIVFO bulletin
Issue: 1
Volume: 6
Issue Date: 1986 (NR.1-86)
Publisher: NIVFO (Norsk Institutt for Vitenskapelig Forskning og Opplysning)
Country: Norway
Language: Norwegian
ISSN: 0800-0360
Price: KR. 95,-

This issue of NIVFO bulletin, a publication from the Norwegian Institute of Scientific Research and Enlightenment, focuses heavily on the topic of astrology, contrasting it with scientific methodology and exploring the rise of pseudoscience in contemporary society. The cover boldly states, "There is great professional breadth over the literature on astrology offered on the off-beat market...", setting the tone for the issue's critical examination of the subject.

MANIFEST

The editorial, titled "MANIFEST," addresses the need to present NIVFO's background more clearly to new readers. It emphasizes the importance of scientific observation and experimentation in establishing objective facts. The article distinguishes between genuine science and "pseudoscience," which it defines as false or pseudo-"science" that does not meet scientific criteria and therefore cannot be trusted. The editorial notes the alarming increase in pseudoscience, fueled by financial incentives and a growing public fascination with the irrational, citing examples like weekly magazines full of fortune-telling and a national radio series promoting pseudomedical products.

NIVFO positions itself as a representative of organizations fighting pseudoscience and irrationalism, such as the US-based CSICOP (The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal). NIVFO's stated mission is to investigate and expose pseudoscientific beliefs and claims, while also educating the public about scientific principles and methods, which are often poorly understood.

ASTROLOGI - Står det skrevet i stjernene ? (Astrology - Is it Written in the Stars?)

This lengthy article explores the resurgence of astrology, an ancient discipline that experienced a decline during the Enlightenment but has re-emerged in the 20th century. It notes the proliferation of astrology-related literature, from lighthearted "Love, sex, and astrology" guides to more comprehensive works like the six-volume "Astrologische Menschenkunde." The article highlights how astrologers advertise their services, offering horoscopes and future predictions, and how astrology is often integrated into the broader "alternative culture" movement, alongside naturism, meditation, and ecology.

The article contrasts the traditional Christian view, which is skeptical of astrology, with the scientific community's stance, which often dismisses it as a form of medieval superstition or "new nonsense." It references a 1975 statement signed by 186 scientists, including 18 Nobel laureates, titled "Objections to Astrology," which expressed concern over the uncritical spread of astrological predictions and their contribution to irrationalism.

The article further discusses the arguments from astrological proponents, who sometimes dismiss scientific "materialism" as a cause of ecological and societal problems. It quotes an astrological justification: "I cannot regard the language's or the solar system's existence as a coincidence. Each of them has its starting point in space-time factors. Man's conscious striving to find a pattern in life symbolized outside himself in the universe is a consequence of his unconscious 'time-space origin.'"

However, the article suggests that the popularity of astrology stems more from practical demands for prediction rather than complex intellectual arguments. Even in its more sophisticated forms, astrology is claimed to reveal tendencies and perspectives, though the article questions the scientific basis for such claims.

UFO-KLASSIKER * Eastern Airlines, 1948

This section briefly mentions a "UFO-classic" related to Eastern Airlines in 1948, suggesting it is a case study within the broader context of paranormal phenomena discussed in the magazine.

"ILDGANG" * Mystikk eller fysikk? ("Fire" - Mysticism or Physics?)

This title suggests an article that delves into the nature of "fire," exploring whether it is a phenomenon best understood through mystical interpretations or scientific, physical explanations.

EN OPPLEVELSE SOM ÅPNET ØYNENE (An Experience That Opened My Eyes)

This title indicates a personal account or testimonial, likely related to a paranormal or unusual experience that led to a shift in perspective.

History and Types of Astrology

The article traces the historical roots of astrology, noting its presence in ancient China (c. 2400 BCE) and Babylonia (c. 1800 BCE), as well as its practice among the Maya. It points out that the Bible contains astrological imagery and that the concept of destiny being divinely influenced by celestial bodies is a recurring theme. The Magi who visited the infant Jesus are described as Persian magicians who practiced astrology.

The evolution of astrology is linked to philosophical and religious developments. Early astrology was crude, but it evolved over time. A constant principle is the idea of "as above, so below." Persian astrology was fatalistic, while Greek astrology allowed for some freedom of choice. Roman astrology became entangled in political intrigue, and during the Middle Ages, it was largely subsumed within the Christian worldview, serving more as a symbolic framework.

During the Renaissance, astrology re-emerged as a predictive art, paralleling the development of early science. The article notes that the church's view on astrology shifted significantly, distinguishing between "true" astrology (allowing for God's omnipotence) and "false" astrology (fatalistic and star-worshipping).

The article also discusses "Middle Ages Counterculture," suggesting that astrology, along with alchemy and Tarot, formed part of a broader mystical and magical tradition that existed alongside mainstream religious and scientific thought. It posits that astrology, like other folk beliefs, became integrated into everyday life and superstition.

The Distinction Between "Folk" and "Refined" Astrology

The issue differentiates between "folk astrology" (often found in tabloids) and "refined astrology." Folk astrology is described as a "sensual, concrete astrology" that promises immediate results and appeals to a broader, less educated audience. Refined astrology, on the other hand, is often more psychological, focusing on personality structures and offering less direct predictions, making it more palatable to educated circles. The article quotes a Norwegian psychologist who views modern astrology as operating in the "border area of psychology," providing a "soul map" of individuals.

Urban Society's Mysticism

Research from the 1960s in France is cited to show that astrology is not confined to obscure niches but is a phenomenon that has grown with modernity. It is more prevalent in cities than in rural areas, more popular among the young than the old, and more common among the middle class and those in leadership positions. The article suggests that media plays a significant role in spreading astrology, particularly through urban channels.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the issue is the critical examination of astrology and its place in society. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific inquiry and rationalism, viewing astrology as a form of pseudoscience that preys on people's desire for certainty and prediction. The magazine aims to debunk pseudoscientific claims and promote a scientific understanding of the world. The inclusion of articles on UFOs and the mention of CSICOP further underscore the publication's commitment to skeptical investigation of paranormal and pseudoscientific phenomena.

This issue of UFO-KLASSIKER (Issue 11) focuses on two significant topics: the controversial psychic Gerard Croiset and the classic Eastern Airlines UFO sighting from 1948. The magazine delves into the methods and alleged deceptions surrounding Croiset's purported psychic abilities, as well as a detailed account of a UFO encounter by airline pilots.

Gerard Croiset - Parapsychology's Superstar The article by Piet Hein Hoebens critically examines the claims of Gerard Croiset, a Dutch psychic whose abilities were heavily promoted by Professor Wilhelm Tenhaeff. Hoebens argues that while Croiset's successes might be explained by parapsychological phenomena like ESP, there is substantial evidence of manipulation and misrepresentation. Tenhaeff, who held the first professorship in parapsychology at Utrecht University, is presented as the primary source of information on Croiset, and his books and articles are scrutinized for bias. The author highlights specific cases, such as the Arnhem rape case in 1950, where Croiset's 'visions' were linked to mundane objects, and a pyromaniac case in Woudrichem where Tenhaeff's report was allegedly fabricated.

Hoebens details Tenhaeff's methods, including his expertise in hypnosis, his ability to ask leading questions, and his skillful use of media propaganda. Tenhaeff allegedly portrayed himself as a victim of persecution by skeptics and linked his work to religion, while dismissing critics as needing psychiatric treatment. The article suggests that Croiset's 'success' was largely due to Tenhaeff's efforts in creating a favorable public image and securing his status as a 'superstar' through relentless promotion and the creation of a 'scientific' aura.

Skeptics like Th. van Roosmalen, George Zorab, Spigt, Filippus Brink, and Pelz are mentioned as having raised doubts about Croiset's abilities and Tenhaeff's integrity. The article also touches upon James Moseley, a UFO investigator who became increasingly skeptical over time.

UFO-Klassiker: Eastern Airlines, 1948 This section recounts the well-known 1948 incident involving an Eastern Airlines DC-3 flight. On July 24, 1948, Captain Clarence S. Chiles and co-pilot John Whitted reported a close encounter with a large, cigar-shaped object. The object, estimated to be 30 meters long, approached the aircraft at high speed, performed a sharp turn, and ascended rapidly into the clear night sky. Both pilots provided detailed descriptions and drawings of the object.

The incident was taken seriously by the U.S. Air Force, leading to an initial top-secret report titled "Estimate of the Situation," which concluded that UFOs were interplanetary spaceships. However, this report was suppressed, its classification was removed, and the document was burned. The U.S. Air Force subsequently changed its policy towards UFOs, initiating a cover-up strategy. Projects like Sign, Grudge, and eventually Project Blue Book were established to investigate UFO reports, with the stated aim of debunking them.

Astronomer Donald H. Menzel proposed a meteor hypothesis, suggesting Chiles and Whitted mistook a bright meteor for an object. However, this explanation was challenged by Professor James E. McDonald, who pointed out discrepancies in Menzel's calculations and the trajectory of the object relative to the Delta Aquarid meteor shower. The article notes that J. Allen Hynek, an astrophysicist later associated with Project Blue Book, initially suggested the object might have been a large meteor, but this was rejected by Captain Robert Sneider, who concluded the object was unidentified and not a meteor.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance The magazine adopts a critical and skeptical stance towards paranormal claims, particularly those involving psychics like Gerard Croiset. It highlights the role of media, propaganda, and biased reporting in creating and sustaining belief in such phenomena. The article on Croiset emphasizes the importance of scrutinizing evidence and questioning the motives of those promoting paranormal claims. The UFO section, while recounting a classic sighting, also frames it within the context of official investigations, cover-ups, and the scientific debate surrounding the nature of UFOs. The overall tone suggests a preference for rational explanations and a distrust of unsubstantiated extraordinary claims, particularly when they are promoted by individuals or institutions with vested interests.

Title: UFO-NYT
Issue: nr. 3/84
Date: Autumn 1985

This issue of UFO-NYT presents a critical and analytical perspective on UFO phenomena, skepticism, and purported paranormal abilities, with a strong emphasis on scientific explanations.

Key Articles and Discussions

The Eastern Airlines Encounter

The issue begins with a dramatic illustration depicting an encounter between an Eastern Airlines flight and a mysterious object. The text recounts the event, citing details from the book "The Coming of the Saucers," where pilot Chiles described the object descending, turning, and then sharply ascending with a flame. The article notes that such dramatic presentations often rely on the authors' own embellishments.

Commentary on UFO Classics and Skepticism

The "Kommentarer" (Commentaries) section critically examines how certain UFO cases are presented to the public, arguing that they are used to bolster the credibility of current UFO sightings. It highlights J. Allen Hynek's perspective, noting that thorough investigation often leads to skepticism rather than conviction. The article contrasts this with the approach of UFO proponents who argue that studying enough cases will lead to belief in UFO existence. It also touches upon James E. McDonald's fervent UFO engagement and suggests that with later developments, his views might have been challenged.

Project Sign and Early UFO Investigations

The article discusses early UFO investigations, such as Project Sign, noting that a lack of experience in the 1940s led to a high percentage of unexplained cases and the need for elaborate hypotheses. It mentions the Robertson Committee's review in 1953, which recommended an educational program to demystify UFO sightings by explaining natural phenomena.

The Mantel Case and Skyhook Balloons

A significant portion of the issue is dedicated to the "Mantel-saken" (The Mantel Case). Captain Thomas Mantell famously pursued an object he believed to be a UFO, ultimately crashing and dying. The article explores the prevailing explanation at the time: Venus. However, it delves deeper, presenting evidence and analysis that suggest Mantell was likely chasing a large, high-altitude Skyhook weather balloon. The descriptions of the object, including its shape and appearance, align with those of a Skyhook balloon. The article notes that the USAF maintains this explanation and that Mantell's pursuit at high altitude, without proper oxygen, led to his death.

"Ildgang" (Firewalking): Mysticism or Physics?

This section thoroughly investigates the phenomenon of firewalking. It contrasts the common association of firewalking with mystical or spiritual powers with a scientific explanation. The authors, Bernard J. Leikind and William J. McCarthy, detail their participation in a firewalking seminar in Los Angeles. They explain that the phenomenon is not due to mystical protection but rather to the principles of heat transfer and the Leidenfrost effect. The article explains how a thin layer of steam forms between the hot coals and the feet, acting as an insulator. It also discusses the psychological aspects and the business model of such self-improvement programs, noting that participants often pay significant amounts for these seminars.

The Leidenfrost Effect Explained

Further elaborating on the scientific explanation for firewalking, the article details the Leidenfrost effect. It describes how a layer of vapor forms between a hot surface and a liquid (or in this case, the feet and the coals), reducing heat transfer. This effect is compared to how water droplets behave on a hot pan. The article emphasizes that while the coals are hot, they contain less thermal energy than materials like aluminum, and the steam layer prevents rapid heat transfer to the feet. It also notes that the area around the firewalking pit is often wet, contributing to the steam formation.

CSICOP 1986 Conference

The issue briefly mentions the upcoming CSICOP (Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal) conference in Boulder, Colorado, celebrating its 10th anniversary. It notes that the conference will bring together international branches of CSICOP and that NIVFO (Norwegian UFO Information Center) will be represented.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a skeptical and evidence-based approach to UFO phenomena and other extraordinary claims. It prioritizes scientific explanations, such as atmospheric phenomena, misidentifications, and physical principles like the Leidenfrost effect, over mystical or extraterrestrial interpretations. The editorial stance is to debunk sensationalism and provide rational, well-researched analyses of reported events and claims. The publication aims to educate readers about the scientific underpinnings of phenomena often shrouded in mystery and to question unsubstantiated narratives.

This issue of UFO magazine, published in Autumn 1984 by The Skeptical Inquirer, focuses on a critical examination of a UFO sighting claim made by Nannette Morrison and the subsequent analysis by astronomy professor J. Allen Hynek. The magazine's title is implied to be 'UFO' based on the content, and the issue number is 9, volume 9.

Nannette Morrison's Claims

The article details Nannette Morrison's account of seeing UFOs. Initially, a newspaper article described her experience of seeing lights that appeared to be pacing her car, and later, a Piedmont Airlines official confirmed a 737 landed at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Airport around the time of her observation. Morrison later presented at a conference titled "Conference on the Psychic" in November 1983, expanding on her experiences and discussing other famous UFO cases like the "Andreasson affair" and Betty and Barney Hill. She also claimed that extraterrestrials are particularly interested in human reproductive organs and are known to insert a sharp needle into the navel. A significant part of her presentation involved referencing J. Allen Hynek, claiming he had spoken with her on the phone for over an hour, asking about her sightings and mental contact with "UFO-nauts," and stating that Hynek believed only certain individuals are chosen to see UFOs.

J. Allen Hynek's Response and Analysis

The author of the article, intrigued by Morrison's claims about Hynek, wrote to Hynek in late November 1983, enclosing copies of the newspaper article and Jimmy Smith's letter, and asking for his opinion on abduction claims and whether he believed only certain people could see UFOs. Hynek never responded directly to these questions.

However, in the November/December 1983 issue of Hynek's publication, "International UFO Reporter," a three-page article by Hynek titled "A Remarkable Double Encounter" discussed Morrison's observations. Hynek analyzed two incidents: one from November 1983, which he described as the closest he had come to a CE-1 (Close Encounter of the First Kind) event, lasting 15-20 minutes. The second incident, on April 1, 1982, lasted only two minutes, where Morrison saw a luminous, hovering UFO from her window. Hynek concluded that these events strongly contradicted natural explanations.

Skeptical Rebuttal and Criticism

The article then presents a strong critique of Hynek's analysis. It notes that in the March/April issue of "International UFO Reporter," a comment titled "Double Encounter Questioned" cited the author of this article and mentioned that the author had brought Jimmy Smith's letter to Hynek's attention. The article points out that while Hynek acknowledged Morrison's claims were "solid," he also stated he had never hidden logical counterarguments. He dismissed the idea that the case was solved simply because the timing of the plane landing matched the observation time. Morrison stated she lived about 25 miles southeast of the airport, but a U.S. Geological Survey map indicated her home was primarily south and slightly west of the airport, only 5.3 miles from the runway, which runs in the direction of her house. The drive to the airport was only 8 miles. This discrepancy is highlighted as critical, as it supports the possibility of the UFO being a low-flying aircraft.

The article further argues that Morrison's house is located directly under the flight path of the airport. A neighbor reportedly stated, "We see this UFO every night." The author suggests that Morrison's UFO observations, if not imagination, could be attributed to jet aircraft landing at a specific angle, and the inherent difficulty observers have in estimating the distance of aerial objects at night.

The author questions Hynek's judgment and critical thinking, especially given his background as a former astronomy professor. The article criticizes Hynek for relying solely on phone interviews without conducting on-site checks or investigating regular flight patterns. It suggests that Hynek's analysis overlooked readily available map data and the experiences of neighbors, instead favoring the extraordinary explanation of an extraterrestrial craft. The piece concludes by lamenting that Hynek, a scientist who presumably employed objective methods, has become entangled in the occult, abandoning the critical checking and double-checking of evidence expected of a competent scientist.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme of this article is the critical examination of UFO claims and the scientific rigor applied (or not applied) by researchers. The editorial stance is clearly skeptical, emphasizing the importance of objective evidence, logical analysis, and the avoidance of jumping to extraordinary conclusions. The article champions the role of critical thinking and thorough investigation in the study of unexplained phenomena, contrasting it with what it perceives as a susceptibility to sensationalism and the occult.