Ouranos - Nouvelle Serie - no 06 - 1er trim 1973

Magazine Overview

Title: OURANOS
Issue: N° 6, Nouvelle série, Bimestrielle
Date: Mars-Avril 1973
Publisher: ÉDITÉE PAR L'UNION DES GROUPEMENTS ESPIOLOGIQUES DE FRANCE ET DES PAYS DE LANGUE FRANÇAISE
Country: France
Language: French
Price: 5 F (France/Suisse), 6 F (Autres pays)
Cover Headline: OBJETS VOLANTS NON IDENTIFIES ET PHENOMENES CONNEXES

This issue of "OURANOS", a French-language international review dedicated to Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) and related phenomena, presents a collection of articles exploring scientific, philosophical, and historical perspectives on the subject. The magazine, published by the Union of Ufological Groups of France and French-speaking countries, aims to serve the truth by providing positive explanations for the phenomena observed.

Key Articles and Content

"Aux portes d'un nouvel âge de l'intelligence" by Gérard Gabelou

Gérard Gabelou, a physicist and scientific advisor to OURANOS, explores the profound shifts in our understanding of the universe driven by advancements in astronomy and physics. He highlights the impact of Einstein's theory of relativity, particularly the equivalence of mass and energy (E=mc²) and the concept of spacetime. Gabelou discusses how modern astrophysics, with its powerful telescopes, has revealed the vastness of the universe, including millions of galaxies and extragalactic objects moving at incredible speeds. The article touches upon the formation of stars from cosmic dust and the life cycles of stars, including novae and supernovae. It also introduces the concept of antimatter and the possibility of parallel universes, suggesting that our current understanding of matter and energy is being challenged, leading to a potential "new age of intelligence."

"Les « soucoupes volantes » lumineuses le sont-elles toutes... réellement ?" by Gabriel

This article by Gabriel questions the nature of the luminosity attributed to UFOs. While many witnesses report seeing luminous objects, the author argues that this perception might not always reflect actual light emission. Gabriel examines various ways light can be produced (thermal, electrical, chemical, mechanical energy transformations) and discusses why these known methods seem insufficient to explain UFO luminosity. He introduces the concept of "para-luminous" radiation, a hypothetical form of energy that can affect vision and vegetation without necessarily being visible light. The article presents three case studies (Malataverne, Evillers, and La Feuillade) where witnesses reported luminous phenomena that did not behave like ordinary light, suggesting the presence of an unknown radiation.

"L'Ufologie a-t-elle un avenir ?" by Francis Consolin

In the fourth part of his series, Francis Consolin delves into the relationship between ufology, religion, and the evolution of humanity. He discusses Paul Misraki's theory that angels of Judeo-Christianity were UFO pilots, suggesting that this interpretation could restore credibility to Christianity in the face of scientific advancements. Consolin examines the scientific understanding of human evolution and the concept of immortality, contrasting it with religious doctrines. He questions the notion of original sin and redemption in light of scientific findings and explores how current cosmological and biological knowledge might inform our understanding of "angels." The article also touches upon the scientific study of UFOs, referencing Jacques Vallée's perspective that the scientific nature of a problem lies in its approach.

Other Sections

• Nouvelles internationales: A section providing updates on international UFO sightings and research.
• Ambiguïtés possibles à propos d'OVNI: Discusses potential ambiguities and misinterpretations in UFO reports.
• Chronique du paranormal: Covers paranormal phenomena beyond UFOs.
• Participation: An invitation for readers to contribute to the organization's activities as collaborators, translators, investigators, or administrative staff.
• Offre Spéciale: An advertisement for astronomical mirrors for telescopes.
• Document Photo: Features a photograph of a UFO taken in 1969, with details about its observation and photographic processing.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes a rational and scientific approach to the study of UFOs, while remaining open to unconventional explanations. The editorial stance emphasizes the importance of seeking truth and positive explanations for phenomena, rejecting pure skepticism. There is a recurring theme of bridging the gap between scientific understanding and potentially extraordinary events, suggesting that a new era of intelligence may require us to reconsider our fundamental assumptions about the universe and our place within it. The publication also highlights the role of international collaboration in ufological research and encourages reader participation.

This issue of OURANOS, dated March 1973, focuses on the intersection of human evolution, prehistory, and the enigmatic world of UFOs and parapsychological phenomena. The magazine presents a scientific yet open-minded approach to these subjects, encouraging readers to consider evidence and avoid dogmatic conclusions.

Human Evolution and Prehistory

The issue begins by detailing the reconstruction of human history through the study of lithic tools, spanning 2.1 million years. It highlights the Neanderthal period (approximately 75,000 to 40,000 years ago) as characterized by a relatively homogeneous group found across the Old World, particularly in Europe and the Near East. The text discusses the discovery of individuals with traits suggesting a connection to Homo sapiens, and the possibility of interbreeding between Neanderthals and early Homo sapiens in Palestine and Ethiopia.

Three postulates guide the reconstruction of human lineage: a specialized group cannot give rise to a less specialized one; evolution is driven by natural selection on random mutations (Neo-Darwinism), making identical lineages improbable; and all representatives of a species originate from a single couple. These postulates initially led to the exclusion of classic Neanderthals from human ancestry.

The article presents a genealogical tree (Figure 4A) based on the work of Professor Henri V. Vallois, who proposed two groups of precursors: pre-Neanderthals (Steinheim, Saccopastore, Ehringsdorf) and pre-Sapiens (Swanscombe, Fontechevade). However, not all prehistorians agreed with this schema, leading to the examination of lithic tool industries.

The study of tools, classified into groups based on resemblance, revealed that while techniques were similar, the stones themselves varied. Neanderthal industries are identified as Mousterian, while those from Palestine (Qafzeh, Skhul, Tabun) are also Mousterian. This led to the elimination of the interbreeding hypothesis, as no evidence of Homo sapiens tools or influence on Palestinian tools was found.

An alternative perspective is presented by American prehistorians Lewis and Sally Binford, who applied statistical analysis to prehistoric tools. Their work, in collaboration with Professor Bordes, led to the fragmentation of the Mousterian into five main currents, including the Mousterian of Acheulean tradition.

The second part of the issue delves into the concept of evolution as a continuous process, illustrated by graphs showing exponential growth. It suggests that the appearance of Homo sapiens, like other evolutionary steps, is not marked by any particular deviation in the evolutionary curve, indicating a continuous progression from animal to human.

Parapsychology and UFOs

The article "AMBIGUITES POSSIBLES A PROPOS D'OVNI" by S.-R. Lamarche, published with STENDEK, explores the ambiguous nature of UFOs and their potential connection to parapsychological phenomena. It begins by recounting the case of Mademoiselle Héléna Smith (pseudonym for Catherine Elise Muller), who claimed telepathic contact with Martians and produced extensive writings in a supposed Martian language. This case, and others like it, lead to the study of parapsychology, which investigates phenomena that psychology cannot explain, such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and spiritism.

The author notes the difficulty in distinguishing between parapsychological phenomena and UFO phenomena, as both are characterized by a lack of repeatability. The common factor is the human being, whose complexity is highlighted. The article traces the history of parapsychological research, from Mesmer's animal magnetism to the establishment of the Society for Psychical Research (S.P.R.) and the coining of the term 'metapsychic' by Charles Richet, later 'parapsychology' by J.B. Rhines.

The article lists and briefly defines several parapsychological phenomena: Telepathy (distance communication), Clairvoyance (distance vision), Levitation (suspension in air), Precognition (seeing the future), Xenology/Glossolalia (speaking unknown languages), and Telekinesis (moving objects at a distance).

It is suggested that many cases of supposed telepathic communication with extraterrestrials might be creations of the unconscious mind, similar to how spirits are believed to manifest in spiritism. The article distinguishes between purely telepathic contact and personal-telepathic contact, where the subject 'sees' the extraterrestrial. The phenomenon of apparitions, where entities are perceived, is linked to parapsychological manifestations, sometimes involving the materialization of forms from ectoplasm.

Several specific cases are mentioned: the KATI KING case, where a medium allegedly materialized objects and people; apparitions of humanoids with non-physical behavior; a case from Brazil where a humanoid's hands and face were transparent; and the case of Everett Clark, where a humanoid passed through walls. The article also touches upon the phenomenon of Poltergeist activity, noting that it sometimes precedes UFO activity in a region.

Other phenomena discussed include strange 'rains' of objects like stones, frogs, insects, and blood, and the concept of 'transports' where a body or object disappears from one place and reappears in another, citing historical examples.

The article then discusses the role of the unconscious mind in generating these phenomena, suggesting that the human psyche might be affected by extraordinary events like UFO appearances, triggering parapsychological effects. It also touches upon cases of 'healers' and stigmata, linking them to psychic means and the unconscious mind's ability to diagnose and cure diseases.

René Perot, in his section "CHRONIQUE DU PARANORMAL," advocates for an open-minded, 'expectative' approach to paranormal phenomena. He argues that the term 'supernatural' is outdated and that all phenomena exist within nature, with the unknown gradually diminishing. He criticizes the scientific community's resistance to accepting phenomena that are not easily repeatable, stating that even events like storms and auroras are real despite their lack of strict repeatability. Perot emphasizes the importance of studying unusual phenomena, even if they are not yet understood or repeatable, and advises experimenters to handle subjects with care and respect, avoiding imposing conditions that might inhibit the phenomenon.

UFO Sightings and Reports

The issue includes several reports of UFO sightings:

• Montreal, Canada (November 7, 1972): A luminous object was observed rotating above the clouds, emitting a pale, white beam of light that descended but did not touch the ground. The witness felt an internal 'push' or 'influence'. The phenomenon was observed by the entire Lévesque family and repeated on November 8 and 9.
• Saint-Charles, Canada (November 28-29, 1972): A citizen observed a crescent-shaped object from which 4 or 5 luminous discs, changing color, descended and ascended. The object was larger than the moon.
• Héléna Smith's Martian Contact (November 25, 1894): While not a direct UFO sighting, this case of alleged contact with Martians is presented as a precursor to parapsychological studies.
• Ithaca, USA (December 12, 1967): Mrs. Rita Malley reported seeing a disk-shaped object that landed, emitted a light beam, and voices that predicted her friend's accident, demonstrating precognition linked to a UFO observation.

Service de Documentation and Publications

The magazine also features a "SERVICE DE DOCUMENTATION" offering various books and materials related to UFOs and paranormal phenomena. These include works by Jacques Vallée, Henry Durrant, Charles Garreau, and Jimmy Guieu, as well as UFO posters and a chronological catalog of lunar anomalies from NASA. The service also offers a CFRU (Cercle Français de Recherches Ufologiques) self-adhesive sticker.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the scientific investigation of human origins and evolution, the exploration of parapsychological phenomena, and the reporting of UFO sightings. The editorial stance is one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging the scientific community to study unexplained phenomena without prejudice. The magazine promotes the idea that 'the unknown' is simply 'the not yet known' and advocates for a rigorous yet flexible approach to research, emphasizing the importance of evidence and the potential for the human psyche to be involved in these mysteries. The publication aims to bridge the gap between established science and the more speculative fields of parapsychology and ufology.