North Texas Skeptic - Vol 24 No 12 - 2010

Magazine Overview

This issue of The North Texas Skeptic, Volume 24, Number 12, dated December 2010, features a cover story titled "STENDEC Solved" by John L. Scherer. The magazine also includes articles on nutrition myths, climate change skepticism, and scientific reports.

STENDEC Solved

The lead article by John L. Scherer investigates the 1947 disappearance of the "Stardust," a Lancastrian III passenger plane with eleven people on board, which vanished over the Andes. The plane was en route from Buenos Aires, Argentina, to Santiago, Chile. A cryptic Morse code message, "STENDEC," was received by a Chilean Air Force operator shortly before the plane disappeared. The message's meaning remained a mystery for over sixty years, leading to speculation that aliens had abducted the passengers, especially given the context of numerous UFO sightings in June 1947 and the Roswell incident.

The article details how the "Stardust" was one of several Lancastrian aircraft that crashed in the preceding years. The mystery began to unravel in 1998 when mountain climbers found the plane's Rolls-Royce engine in the Andes. In January 2000, an Argentine Army search party discovered parts of the plane, including human remains, at the base of Mount Tupungato, a volcano.

Glaciologist Juan Carlos Leiva explained that the glacier gradually engulfed the "Stardust," causing it to sink 150 feet into the ice. Over fifty years, the plane slid down the glacier, and in the late 1990s, bodies and aircraft parts began to emerge as the ice melted. The article suggests the remaining 90 percent of the plane and victims would eventually be disgorged.

The article examines the plane and its crew. The Lancastrian, a converted RAF bomber, was capable of high altitudes and speeds. The engines had been recently overhauled. The crew, led by Captain Reginald J. Cook, was experienced, though First Officer N. H. Cook was on his first trip over the Andes. The wireless operator, Dennis B. Harmer, had served in the RAF and BSAAC.

The weather forecast predicted snowstorms and turbulence, and aircraft were warned to avoid mountain passes. Visual contact with the ground would be lost after Mendoza. The board of inquiry noted that it was the pilot's first trans-Andean flight in command and that he should not have crossed the central route in such conditions. The plane was speculated to have iced up before the crash.

The core of the mystery, "STENDEC," is analyzed. The article dismisses several theories, including it being a foreign word or equipment. It explores the possibility of it being an anagram or a coded message. The author proposes that the message was likely a misinterpretation of Morse code. By altering the spacing, "STENDEC" can be reinterpreted. The article suggests that the first letters "ST" might have been intended as "V" (Morse code /.../), and the rest of the message, "AL P," forms "VALP," the call sign for the airport at Valparaiso, located about 110 kilometers north of Santiago.

The experienced crew of the "Stardust" may have realized they were off course in a northerly direction (the wreckage was found 80 kilometers off its flight path) or deliberately deviated from the charted route to avoid bad weather. They attempted to contact Valparaiso, the nearest airport, rather than Santiago. The crew was concerned about the lack of visibility and landmarks. The article suggests the final message was "ETA 17.45 VALP," indicating the plane may have been trying to reach Valparaiso, not Santiago.

Further information reveals the Lancastrian carried enough fuel for about six hours of flight. The flight from Buenos Aires to Santiago was planned for approximately three hours and forty-five minutes. The "Stardust" departed at 13.46 and was expected to arrive at 17.30 or 17.45. The article notes that the plane was calculated to be fourteen minutes late. After ascending above the clouds near Mendoza, the crew lost their bearings. The message at 17.33 did not include latitude and longitude. The "Stardust" had veered south from Mendoza, and the crew realized it was lost, possibly having exhausted its fuel fighting the jet stream. The article concludes that the crew, thinking the plane was near Valparaiso, did not lower the landing gear because they could not see the airport or the mountain.

Is high-fructose corn syrup the reason we're fat?

This article by John Brandt discusses the role of high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) in the U.S. obesity epidemic. The author notes that many people blame HFCS solely for the problem, while the food industry claims there is no difference between HFCS and cane sugar. Brandt argues that both sides are likely wrong.

He explains that HFCS is a mixture of glucose and fructose, similar to how the body digests cane sugar (sucrose). However, HFCS is absorbed more rapidly than cane sugar due to its direct form, leading to a higher glycemic index. While HFCS has a slightly higher glycemic index than cane sugar, it is not significantly higher than other common foods like white bread. The article points out that HFCS became prevalent in the early 1980s, coinciding with the rise in obesity, but cautions against the "post hoc ergo propter hoc" fallacy.

Brandt suggests that the cheapness of HFCS, due to corn subsidies, leads food manufacturers to use it extensively. He believes that if cane sugar were equally cheap, it would be used similarly. The author concludes that banning HFCS alone is a "quick fix" and unlikely to solve the obesity epidemic. He advocates for raising the price of sugars in general, possibly through reducing corn subsidies or taxing added sugars, to encourage healthier choices and reduce sugar in processed foods. He also mentions the importance of exercise and suggests public policy could support pedestrian-friendly environments.

What's new

This section features brief reports and commentary.

Faith: Life in a multicultural democracy

Robert Park comments on the views of Representative John Shimkus, who rejects the possibility of man-made climate disaster, believing the Earth will only end when God decrees it. Shimkus's stance is based on his belief in the infallibility of God's word.

Media: "Closing the newspaper with a sigh is not enough.”

This is a comment on an article by Simon L. Lewis in Nature, which discusses the "climate street fight." Lewis advises that when the media gets information wrong, it should be called out and the correction pursued.

Skeptic Ink

This is a comic strip by Prasad Golla and John Blanton. The first panel shows a psychic hotline operator claiming to reveal innermost secrets. The second panel depicts the operator absorbed in analysis. The third panel shows a person asking when the operator first suspected Mr. Hudson-Davis had passed away.

Diet pills: Sorry, were back to the "physics diet."

The article discusses the history of human diet and the problem of obesity. It mentions the FDA's withdrawal of the diet pill Meridia due to risks of heart attacks and strokes, and the rejection of another pill, Qnexa, due to concerns about birth defects and heart problems. The author recommends the "Physics Plan": "Burn more calories than you consume."

Memo to scruton: At least Hawking got the right answer.

This section references an op-ed by Roger Scruton titled "Memo to Hawking: There's Still Room for God." Scruton, an English philosopher, argues that while many believe there is no rational scientific theory for the universe's origin, physicists are working to create one. The author contrasts philosophy with physics, noting that physics is tightly bound to observation.

Cell phones: latest report from the president's cancer panel.

This report highlights the president's cancer panel's emphasis on environmental causes of cancer, particularly chemicals. It mentions a call for reduced exposure to electromagnetic radiation from medical X-rays. Regarding cell phones, the panel noted that while there is no current research linking them to cancer, the research on electromagnetic fields and disease is limited, urging further investigation. The author criticizes the panel's call for "more research is needed" as insufficient for the public.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The North Texas Skeptic consistently promotes a rational, evidence-based approach to paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. The magazine aims to debunk myths and provide scientific explanations for phenomena. Recurring themes include skepticism towards claims of UFOs, psychic abilities, and health fads, while advocating for critical thinking and scientific inquiry. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of scientific understanding and against unsubstantiated beliefs, as evidenced by the detailed analysis of the "Stardust" incident and the critique of simplistic explanations for the obesity epidemic.