OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: February 1989
Cover Headline: MIND EXERCISES THAT BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

This issue of OMNI, dated February 1989, features a cover story on mind exercises to boost the immune system. However, the provided pages focus on a different, intriguing topic under the 'ANTI MATTER' and 'UFO UPDATE' sections.

UFO Update: Health Risks for UFO Field-Workers

The 'UFO UPDATE' section delves into a controversial theory proposed by Canadian neuropsychologist Michael Persinger. Persinger, an authority on the effects of magnetic fields, suggests that individuals who investigate UFOs may face significant health risks, including increased susceptibility to cancer, depression, and suicide.

Persinger's hypothesis posits that UFO phenomena are often linked to intense natural electromagnetic fields generated by energetic geophysical forces, such as the movement of the Earth's crust. He draws parallels to the known health risks faced by electrical engineers and technicians who are routinely exposed to similar low-frequency fields, which studies have shown can lead to higher rates of brain tumors, leukemia, depression, and suicide.

He specifically warns that UFO buffs who spend extensive time in the field are particularly at risk. Persinger does not advocate for people to stop investigating UFOs but urges researchers to take precautions, such as using detection equipment to minimize direct exposure to these fields.

Skepticism and Community Response

The article acknowledges that Persinger's evidence for a direct UFO-cancer link is considered slim by many critics. It notes that while some prominent UFOlogists, including J. Allen Hynek, have died of brain tumors, and others have committed suicide, researchers like John Keel, author of 'Disneyland of the Gods,' dismiss these as mere coincidences, suggesting that perhaps just as many UFOlogists have died of appendicitis.

Walt Andrus, director of the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), shared his apprehension about publishing Persinger's warning in The MUFON UFO Journal, fearing it might scare people away. However, he reported that the warning has not led to any investigators resigning from MUFON's approximately 1,000-strong national contingent.

Persinger counters that many researchers discuss UFOs but do not spend significant time in the field, which limits the population available to demonstrate his hypothesis. To further his research, Persinger is examining cancer records in areas that have experienced repeated UFO sightings. He predicts that if his theory is correct, these areas should exhibit a rise in cancer and depressive disorders within five years of a cluster of sightings.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme in the provided pages is the potential, albeit controversial, link between the study of UFOs and adverse health outcomes. The magazine presents Persinger's theory and the reactions to it, maintaining a tone that allows readers to consider the information and its implications. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on research and theories within the UFO community, even those that are speculative or met with skepticism.