OMNI

Magazine Overview

Title: OMNI
Issue Date: November 1989
Price: $3.50

This issue of OMNI magazine, dated November 1989, features a striking cover illustration depicting a futuristic landscape with a black panther, palm trees, and a building under a stylized sky. The cover headlines highlight topics related to dreams, including 'HOW TO HAVE THEM,' 'HOW TO READ THEM,' and 'HOW TO CONTROL THEM.' It also announces an article by Frederik Pohl on Pluto, a piece on 'TAKING A TRAIN TO SPACE,' and 'WORKING OUT IN YOUR SLEEP.'

Feature Articles and Content

Dreams: How to Have Them, Read Them, Control Them

The cover prominently features a multi-part section dedicated to dreams. While the full content of these articles is not detailed in the provided text, the headlines suggest a focus on the practical and psychological aspects of dreaming, aiming to empower readers to influence their dream experiences.

Frederik Pohl on Pluto

This issue includes a contribution from Frederik Pohl, focusing on the planet Pluto. The context suggests a speculative or scientific exploration of this distant celestial body, likely within the realm of science fiction or future space exploration.

Taking a Train to Space

Another intriguing headline points to an article exploring the concept of space travel via a 'train.' This likely refers to advanced or theoretical modes of transportation for reaching outer space, possibly involving concepts like space elevators or linear accelerators.

Working Out in Your Sleep

This article title suggests a discussion on the potential for physical or mental exercise to occur during sleep, perhaps related to dream states or subconscious activity.

Anti Matter: UFO Update - Soviet SETI Efforts

This section, titled 'ANTI MATTER,' focuses on the 'UFO UPDATE' and specifically details the Soviet Union's involvement in the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). The article, written by Paul McCarthy, questions whether the Soviets are actively searching for extraterrestrial signals, despite their known focus on space exploration.

Soviet SETI Initiatives:

• Historical Context: Soviet SETI has been an area of scientific inquiry since 1965.
• Integrated Approach: According to Dr. Nikolai Kardashev of the Space Research Institute in Moscow, Soviet astronomy projects are often optimized for SETI, allowing for the analysis of anomalous electromagnetic signals.
• Samarkand Telescope: A 70-meter radio telescope is being installed near Samarkand, Uzbekistan. While built for studying astronomical bodies, it is expected to detect unusual SETI signals from deep space and will be electronically linked with other radio telescopes globally.
• Amateur SETI: The Young Pioneers, the Soviet version of the Boy Scouts, will participate in an 'amateur SETI' program using a three-meter infrared radio telescope at Camp Orlyonok on the Black Sea coast. This telescope will monitor the equatorial sky for signals from extraterrestrial intelligence.
• Project OBZOR: Under the direction of V. S. Troitsky of the Radiophysics Research Institute in Gorky, this is the first dedicated Soviet SETI project. It will feature an array of 20 coordinated small-dish radio telescopes by next year, with plans for up to 100 by 1995. While less sensitive than some American instruments, it aims for complete sky coverage.
• Focus on Advanced Civilizations: The Soviets are particularly interested in discovering "super-duper civilizations" and have searched for evidence of Dyson spheres and other large-scale space engineering structures, contrasting with the Western preference for searching for signals from civilizations only moderately more advanced than our own.
• Challenges: Funding is identified as a major hurdle for Soviet SETI research, with Jill Tarter of NASA Ames Research Center noting that it needs more government funding to match Western research levels.

Despite challenges, the article concludes that Soviet SETI investigators have refined their technology and launched impressive programs.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of OMNI magazine appears to maintain its characteristic blend of science, science fiction, and speculative exploration. The focus on dreams suggests an interest in the human mind and consciousness, while the articles on space exploration and SETI underscore a forward-looking perspective on scientific discovery and the potential for life beyond Earth. The detailed coverage of Soviet SETI efforts indicates an editorial stance that acknowledges and reports on global scientific advancements, even those from behind the Iron Curtain during the Cold War era. The magazine seems to encourage readers to engage with complex scientific and imaginative concepts, from controlling dreams to searching for alien civilizations.