OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: August 1989
Publisher: OMNI
Country: USA
Language: English
Cover Headline: BACK TO BIRTH

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated August 1989, features a prominent cover story titled "BACK TO BIRTH," accompanied by an illustration of a fetus within a glowing sac. The cover also lists several other articles, including "6 Ways to Return to the Womb," "How to Boost Prenatal IQ," "Machine Dreams: Private Thoughts of Robots," "Mind and Marijuana," and "Making Movies Underwater." The price is listed as $3.50.

Anti Matter: Elmwood UFO Update

The main article, "Anti Matter," focuses on the small village of Elmwood in northern Wisconsin, which has become a purported hot spot for UFO activity. According to Mayor Larry Feiler, the town's residents have reported approximately 300 sightings over 20 years. The article recounts several notable incidents:

• George Wheeler's Encounters: In 1974, police officer George Wheeler, initially a UFO skeptic, reported a brightly lit silent craft soaring towards his car, causing him to take evasive action. The following year, he encountered a saucer-shaped object that landed on a hillside, approaching it until a blue light flashed at him. His wife, Doris Wheeler, a resident, corroborated these events.
• Carol Forster's Sighting: In the same year, Elmwood housewife Carol Forster and her three children witnessed what they initially thought was a bright star that landed, appearing as an oval-shaped object covering the road.

These accounts have led to Elmwood's reputation as a UFO mecca. The town has held a three-day festival called "UFO Days" for the past ten years. Businessman and UFO investigator Tom Weber is actively seeking to raise $50 million to establish Elmwood's own UFO landing site, with the intention of having scientists on call for potential contact.

However, the article also presents contrasting viewpoints. Aviation journalist and UFO skeptic Phil Klass suggests that the town's focus on UFOs is a strategy to gain international fame. Donald Schmitt, codirector of the Center for UFO Studies, acknowledges Elmwood as a genuine hot spot but argues that building a UFO airport is not the most effective way to understand the phenomenon. Schmitt advocates for serious scientific research and expresses caution, questioning whether potential extraterrestrial visitors might be malevolent.

Other Articles and Themes

Beyond the UFO focus, the magazine touches upon several other intriguing topics:

• "Back to Birth" and Prenatal IQ: The cover story and related articles explore concepts of returning to the womb and methods to enhance prenatal intelligence.
• Robots and Consciousness: "Machine Dreams" delves into the private thoughts and potential consciousness of robots.
• Mind and Marijuana: This section likely examines the effects of marijuana on the mind.
• Underwater Filmmaking: The issue includes a piece on the techniques and challenges of making movies underwater.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The August 1989 issue of OMNI magazine continues its tradition of exploring cutting-edge science, technology, and the unexplained. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various perspectives on phenomena like UFOs, while also encouraging scientific investigation and critical thinking. The magazine balances sensational topics like UFO sightings with more grounded scientific and technological subjects, reflecting a broad interest in the future and the unknown.