Potpourri News No 199

Magazine Overview

Title: POTPOURRI NEWS
Issue Date: August 28, 1979 (Cover Date: September 2, 1979)
Publisher: THE STAR
Volume: 21
Issue Number: 199

This issue of Potpourri News, published by The Star, focuses on the growing phenomenon of UFO sightings and beliefs, particularly in Russia, and a significant poll of American scientists.

'Saucer' Sightings Are Sparking UFO Fever in Russia

The lead story highlights that UFO fever has permeated the Iron Curtain, where believing in flying saucers is the norm, and disbelief is the exception. The article presents several anecdotal accounts from Russia:

• Alien Visitations: A widespread story suggests that alien beings visited two Soviet cosmonauts during their recent orbit of Earth.
• Apollo 11 Cover-up: Many Russians are convinced that the American Apollo 11 astronauts also encountered UFOs on the moon, but that this information was suppressed.
• Military and Pilot Sightings: A significant number of Russian UFO stories originate from military and airline pilots. One notable incident occurred on October 11, 1977, when the pilots of three new Soviet military aircraft, undergoing testing near Ryazan, reported seeing a bright, pulsating object that flew alongside their aircraft for 24 minutes.
• Aeroflot Encounters: Passengers and crew aboard an Aeroflot airliner claimed to have witnessed a similar phenomenon: a bright white disc that approached, hovered, and then flew away. Another account mentions a third brightly lit object that reportedly crashed into another Aeroflot plane.

Scientific Explanations from Russia

The article notes that even Soviet scientific publications are addressing the UFO phenomenon. Aviation and Cosmonautics, a scientific journal, suggests that what is being encountered are not UFOs but 'bands of chemiluminescence.' This theory posits that microscopic, active particles in the atmosphere, through chemical reactions, can emit an energy that transforms into photons. While these photon emissions are usually imperceptible, they become intense when particles condense.

However, not all Russians are convinced. Dr. M. Dimitriyev, writing in the Soviet scientific journal, expresses doubt about the UFO phenomenon.

Poll Finds: 61 Percent Of Scientists Now Believe In UFOs

A separate report details the results of a survey conducted by the Industrial Research/Development magazine, which targets scientists in government, industry, and universities.

• High Belief Rate: An astonishing 61 percent of top scientists polled now believe in UFOs.
• Demand for Investigation: More than half of these scientists want the government to fund investigations into UFOs.
• Personal Experiences: A striking 8 percent of the polled scientists are convinced they have personally seen UFOs.

Bob Jones, the editor of the magazine, commented on the findings, stating, "We tend to think of scientists as being skeptical, but I think this poll disproves that." He added, "Intelligent scientists are now accepting the probability that UFOs do exist."

• Survey Details:
• Participants: 1,200 scientists participated in the survey.
• Education Level: 92 percent had college degrees, and over half held master's degrees or higher.
• Comparison to 1971: This poll was compared to a similar one conducted in 1971 to track changes in attitudes toward UFOs.

• Belief Breakdown (Latest Survey):
• "Definitely believe": 27 percent
• "Probably believe": 34 percent
• "Undecided": 12 percent
• "Probably did not" exist: 19 percent
• "Definitely not" exist: (Implied to be a small percentage, similar to 1971)

• Comparison to 1971 Poll:
• In 1971, 54 percent of scientists thought UFOs probably existed.
• The latest survey shows a 7 percent jump in belief, primarily from those who now "definitely" believe.
• The percentage of scientists who "definitely not" believe remained the same as in 1971.

• Further Findings:
• 36 percent of respondents know someone who claims to have seen a UFO.

This section is attributed to David Wright.

Information, Data, Commentary and Speculation

This section is presented by John F. Schuessler, with a mailing address in Houston, Texas.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to lean towards presenting UFO phenomena as a serious subject worthy of investigation and belief, particularly highlighting the growing acceptance among scientists. The editorial stance seems to be one of open-mindedness, presenting both anecdotal accounts of sightings and scientific theories attempting to explain them, while also noting the increasing number of scientists who believe in the reality of UFOs. The contrast between Soviet and American perspectives on UFOs is also a recurring theme.