Notiziario UFO - 1973 02 No 50

Magazine Overview

This issue of "Notiziario UFO" (Issue 50, February 1973) is a monthly publication from Italy's International UFO News, published by the Centro Unico Nazionale (CUN). It focuses on the technical and scientific study of UFOs and related phenomena, including the possibility of extraterrestrial intelligence.

UFOLOGIA: UFO Activity in Relation to the Nights of the Week

This section, authored by Dr. Jacques Vallées, discusses the temporal patterns of UFO phenomena. It highlights that UFOs tend to occur in distinct waves, with local events lasting from a few days to a week. A key focus is the distribution of sightings by the day and night of the week. An analysis of 100 Iberian landings revealed a consistent pattern with a maximum between 9 PM and 10 PM, regardless of whether the data was from before 1962 or between 1963 and 1970. This temporal consistency was observed across different regions, including France, the Iberian Peninsula, and the United States.

However, attempts to find a consistent pattern related to the specific day of the week yielded varied results among researchers like Keel, Vallée, and Saunders. The article presents a table (Tavola 1) comparing the percentage of UFO cases by day of the week according to different researchers and catalogs (Keel, Vallée, Saunders, Ballester). Keel's findings suggested Wednesdays had the highest number of observations, typically between 8 PM and 11 PM, though the base data was limited to American observations from 1966.

Further analysis, particularly of Iberian landings, suggested that observation frequencies might be distributed randomly. However, the article emphasizes a crucial factor often overlooked: the majority of UFO sightings occur at night. This leads to the proposition that studies should focus on the distribution of sightings across the "nights of the week" rather than days. A graph (Figure 3) illustrates the distribution of landings by night, showing a lower proportion on Saturday nights and a higher proportion on Friday nights. This is partly attributed to the influence of newspaper publication schedules, where Saturday editions might miss recent news. The authors suggest that further analysis would benefit from more detailed statistics based on night intervals rather than diurnal ones.

PROGRAMMA CETI: Technical Situation of the Revelation of Extraterrestrial Intelligent Signals

This section reviews work presented at the 23rd Congress of the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) in Vienna. The article, based on a report by Bernard M. Oliver of Hewlett Packard Company, discusses the technical feasibility of detecting extraterrestrial intelligent signals (CETI).

Key conclusions from a comprehensive study (Project Cyclops, a NASA-ASEE Summer Faculty Fellowship Engineering System Design Program) conducted in 1971 are presented:

1. Microwave Window: Despite advances in lasers, the microwave window remains the most promising part of the electromagnetic spectrum for SETI research.
2. Interstellar Communication Band: A probable band for interstellar communication lies between the hydrogen line (1420 MHz) and the hydroxyl line (1662 MHz).
3. International Protection: Immediate international action is needed to protect this microwave band for CETI purposes.
4. Antenna Systems: Earth should be equipped with a phased-array antenna system with an equivalent aperture of 10 km or more, capable of operating up to 10 GHz with a noise temperature of 30° K or less.
5. Data Processing: Modern data processing techniques can handle 109 channels simultaneously, allowing for the detection of coherent signals 90 dB below the noise level within a 100 MHz bandwidth in 1000 seconds.

These findings suggest that it is technically possible to design and build a search system sensitive enough to detect signals of 10^30 watts/m² or less across the entire CETI band (1420-1662 MHz). Such a system could detect signals from 1000 MW sources at a range of 1000 light-years, and signals comparable to those emitted by Earth could be detected from a distance of 50 to 100 light-years.

The document aims to stimulate discussion on these technical reasons and propose arguments for expecting a powerful series of signals.

Fourth Conference on the Origin of Life

This section announces the fourth international symposium on the origin of life, scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain, from June 25-28. The event is organized under the auspices of the Spanish Research Council and marks the establishment of the International Society for the Study of the Origin of Life (ISSOL), headquartered in Washington. Prominent scientists like Oparin, Calvin, and Ponnamperuma are associated with ISSOL.

The conference will cover fundamental sessions on extraterrestrial organic chemistry, primitive Earth conditions, abiotic organic synthesis, and other aspects of life's origin. The formation of ISSOL is viewed by the CUN as a significant step in exobiological research and a valuable contribution to understanding UFO phenomena and the potential for extraterrestrial intelligence (CETI).

'46: Humanoids in Sweden?

This is the second part of a personal account by Carlsson, detailing his 1946 encounter with a UFO in Sweden. He describes finding a burnt quartz object, which he later carved into a beetle shape. The object was examined by the University of Stockholm's Institute of Mineralogy, which identified it as common quartz (SiO2), concluding it was not radioactive and showed no signs of fusion or refrigeration. The scientist noted that quartz is common and could originate from anywhere in the universe, thus diminishing its value as proof.

Carlsson also recounts finding two cups made of a soft, plastic-like material with spouts, similar to those used by astronauts, along with a liquid smelling of cinnamon. He notes the significant technological advancement this represented for 1946. He also mentions other items, including a lamp, which were later destroyed in a 1952 fire.

The most striking part of the account involves vivid dreams Carlsson experienced after the encounter. In these dreams, he saw the UFO's interior, interacted with the pilot, and witnessed the crew preparing to bury deceased members on an asteroid. He describes the advanced technology, including screens displaying unknown luminous writing and an automatic pilot system.

Carlsson also recalls noticing cut fir branches near the landing site, which he later revisited after his dreams. He observed that the branches were cut with a strong pinching tool, not an axe or saw, and that resin was profusely dripping from the stumps. He presents his experiences as a personal testimony, leaving the interpretation of their significance to the reader, acknowledging that the physical evidence is largely lost or inconclusive.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes a scientific and technical approach to UFO phenomena. It advocates for rigorous analysis of data, including statistical studies on sighting patterns and the temporal distribution of events. The magazine also shows a strong interest in the potential for extraterrestrial intelligence, as evidenced by the coverage of CETI research and the formation of ISSOL. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging discussion and further research into these complex subjects, while grounding the investigation in empirical data and scientific principles. The personal account from Carlsson, while anecdotal, is presented with detailed observations and attempts at scientific examination, reflecting the magazine's dual interest in both hard data and witness testimony.