1985 07 00 OMNI - Heppenheimer

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue: July 1985
Volume: 07
Date: 1985-07
Publisher: OMNI
Country: USA
Language: English
Price: $2.50
Cover Headline: THE SCIENCE OF POWER

This issue of OMNI Magazine, dated July 1985, explores the theme of "The Science of Power." The cover features striking artwork of a chameleon, symbolizing adaptation and transformation, with headlines hinting at diverse and forward-looking topics.

UFO Update: The Mystery of the Mushroom Cloud

The lead article, "UFO UPDATE," delves into a perplexing aerial phenomenon witnessed on the night of April 9, 1984. Captain Charles McDade of Japan Air Lines flight 036, while flying 250 miles northeast of Tokyo, observed a cloud rapidly expanding into a "mushroom" shape, reaching an estimated 60,000 feet in height and 200 miles in width. He and his crew took oxygen masks as a precaution, noting it was unlike anything he had seen outside of newsreels. McDade's report was corroborated by other pilots from Japan Air Lines, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, and Flying Tigers.

The Japanese Air Force investigated, sending an F-4 Phantom fighter-bomber to collect dust samples, but found no radioactivity. Initially, the Federal Aviation Authority dismissed the sighting as a lenticular cloud. However, Daniel A. Walker, a seismologist at the University of Hawaii and director of a network of hydrophones in the western Pacific, questioned this explanation. Walker's hydrophones are sensitive enough to detect explosions miles away, and he believed the mushroom cloud's rapid ascent suggested a more significant event than a simple lenticular cloud.

Walker's investigation led him to search for unusual seismic or acoustic data. He discovered a series of sharp, sudden pulses peaking on April 8 and 9, which he identified as the signature of an undersea volcano. He traced this activity to the eruption of Kaitoku Seamount, approximately 900 miles south of the cloud's location. Meteorologists initially suggested that the jet stream might have carried volcanic dust north at high speed, explaining the cloud's appearance. However, Walker's examination of satellite records revealed that wind speeds during that period were relatively weak and not moving north.

This discrepancy led Walker and his colleagues to consider other theories, including weather modification experiments or the explosion of a tanker carrying liquefied natural gas. The implications of this event are significant, as Walker points out the need to understand such phenomena. He stated, "The explanation is important. If these ideas don't work, we're back to some really scary possibilities. If the cloud was caused by a man-made atmospheric explosion, then who did it? And what kind of device have they employed?" He further emphasized the importance of knowing that natural phenomena, not just bombs, can create such clouds, posing the question, "What if it were to happen again, over Washington, DC?"

Exclusive Prophecy Quiz and Other Features

Beyond the UFO report, the magazine includes an "EXCLUSIVE PROPHECY QUIZ: READERS VS. ARTHUR C. CLARKE," inviting readers to test their foresight against the renowned science fiction author. Other articles promise to explore "ANIMAL VISION," the "SECRET LIFE OF SOMEDIANS" (likely referring to comedians), and the future implications of "CLONING 2000."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

OMNI Magazine consistently positions itself at the forefront of science and speculative thought. This issue, under the banner of "The Science of Power," suggests an exploration of how scientific advancements, both understood and mysterious, shape our world and future. The inclusion of UFO phenomena alongside topics like cloning and the insights of Arthur C. Clarke indicates a broad interest in the cutting edge of science, the unexplained, and the potential futures humanity might face. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations and to engage with complex scientific and speculative ideas.