1988 12 00 OMNI - Patrick Huyghe

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: December 1988
Publisher: Bob Guccione
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: TRANSCENDING SCIENCE THE NEW MYSTICISM

Anti-Matter: UFO Update

This section of OMNI magazine addresses the United States government's approach to investigating Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs), focusing primarily on NASA's role and policies.

NASA's Stance on UFO Evidence

David Williamson, NASA's special assistant for policy integration, states that the agency is prepared to respond to any "bona fide physical evidence of UFOs presented by credible sources." However, he clarifies that NASA has not been actively engaged in investigating UFOs, and their involvement has been limited. Historically, NASA has analyzed only a few items submitted to them, all of which turned out to be ordinary. One notable instance involved an item that was simply the bottom of a cola bottle.

Williamson asserts that NASA "never found anything non-terrestrial" or extraordinary in their analyses. The agency's involvement in UFO matters began in 1977 when Frank Press, the science adviser to President Carter, requested that NASA take over the influx of UFO-related mail directed to the White House. Press also inquired whether NASA should investigate any new developments on the subject, given that the last official government investigation had concluded in 1969.

Internal NASA Deliberations

Richard Henry, now a professor of astronomy at Johns Hopkins University, provided an insider's perspective on how NASA handled this request. Henry, who worked in the Office of Space Science at the time, recalls that David Williamson was instrumental in drafting NASA's response to Frank Press. Williamson had considered NASA's options, noting that a refusal might lead to accusations of a cover-up, while a positive commitment might not satisfy skeptics or believers. Furthermore, such a task could demand significant NASA resources.

The final proposal adopted by NASA was to "not establish a research activity in this area" but to analyze any hard evidence of UFOs that was offered to the agency.

The "Cover-Up" Question

When asked if NASA's hesitant attitude was part of an organized cover-up, Williamson suggests otherwise. He believes that "officials at NASA had other, more important things to do." He explains NASA's decision-making process by stating that the agency focused on whether UFOs "could be studied at all," rather than whether they "should be studied." NASA concluded that they could not be studied in a formal research capacity. However, Williamson maintained that if credible physical evidence were presented, NASA had a responsibility to examine it, providing a trusted place for such analysis.

Williamson's Personal Sighting

Williamson's pragmatic and open-minded approach to the subject is explained by a personal experience. During the winter of 1952-53, while on night guard duty at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, he witnessed a white light cross his field of vision. The light stopped and then rapidly zipped away, an event he likens to something from a cartoon. He was subsequently questioned by "intelligence types" about this sighting. It was later revealed that radar had also detected the same object. To this day, Williamson states, the sighting is officially listed as "unidentified."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine OMNI, as evidenced by this issue, consistently explores the intersection of science, technology, and the unexplained, including topics like UFOs and mysticism. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting information and perspectives from various sources, including government agencies and personal accounts, while maintaining a critical and evidence-based approach. The article highlights the official, albeit limited, engagement of scientific institutions like NASA with phenomena that lie outside conventional understanding, suggesting a cautious but not entirely dismissive attitude towards the subject.