1987 07 00 OMNI - Bill Lawren

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue: July 1987
Volume: C 484
Date: July 1987
Price: $3.00
Publisher: OMNI
Country: USA
Language: English

New Frontiers: Space, Earth, Night, Spirit

The cover of the July 1987 OMNI magazine prominently features the title "NEW FRONTIERS: SPACE EARTH NIGHT SPIRIT," suggesting a broad exploration of these themes within the issue. Accompanying this are teasers for other significant articles: "THE LOST ART OF WERNHER VON BRAUN" and "THE WINNERS OF THE MOON BUGGY CONTEST."

UFO Update: The Billy Meier Case

The "UFO UPDATE" section focuses on the enduring controversy surrounding Eduard "Billy" Meier, a one-armed Swiss farmer who claimed in the 1970s to have met extraterrestrials from the star system Pleiades. Meier presented photographic evidence of Pleiadeian starships and beings, including a leader named Semjase, whom he described as being three hundred years old but appearing youthful. He also claimed to have taken flying-saucer rides and to have been introduced to Jesus Christ.

Initially, Meier's claims were widely debunked by experts who pointed to double exposures, models held by strings, and the use of cheap materials for his alleged alien instruments. However, the case has resurfaced with the publication of a book titled "Light Years" by journalist Gary Kinder. Kinder's investigation, led by retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Wendelle C. Stevens and private detectives Lee and Brit Elders, has spanned ten years and involved interviews with Meier and numerous witnesses who claim to have seen evidence of Pleiadeian spacecraft.

A key aspect of Kinder's investigation involved laboratory analyses of Meier's photos and mystery metals. Robert Post, head of the photography lab at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, stated that he "couldn't see anything that was fake about the Meier photos," finding them legitimate. Michael Malin, a professor of planetary sciences at Arizona State University, echoed this sentiment, suggesting the photos appeared to represent a real phenomenon. Special effects expert Wally Gentleman also found it incredible that a farmer with limited education could have faked such convincing images.

The most compelling evidence, according to Kinder, came from an analysis of Meier's metals by IBM chemist Marcel Vogel. Vogel concluded, "I cannot explain the metal sample. With any technology that I know of, we could not achieve this on this planet." Despite these findings, problems persist: the photographs were several generations removed from the originals, limiting conclusive analysis, and the mysterious metal sample inexplicably disappeared from Vogel's shirt pocket just as he was about to show it to another scientist.

Kinder acknowledges these issues, concluding that the Meier case is "either a fascinating reality or a fascinating hoax." However, experienced UFOlogists like Jerry Clark, director of the Center for UFO Studies, and Walt Andrus, head of the international Mutual UFO network, remain convinced it is a hoax, with Andrus criticizing the book's promotion as "hyped-up, unadulterated hogwash."

Other Features

The issue also includes content related to "THE LOST ART OF WERNHER VON BRAUN" and "THE WINNERS OF THE MOON BUGGY CONTEST," indicating a diverse range of topics beyond ufology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

OMNI magazine, as evidenced by this issue, appears to cover a wide spectrum of scientific, technological, and speculative topics, including ufology, space exploration, and the history of science and technology. The editorial stance, particularly concerning the Billy Meier case, seems to present both the controversial claims and the skeptical counterarguments, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions while highlighting the persistent mysteries and the scientific inquiries that keep the debate alive. The inclusion of Wernher von Braun and a moon buggy contest suggests an ongoing interest in space exploration and innovation.