REALL News - Vol 03 No 02 - 1995

Magazine Overview

The REALL News, Volume 3 Issue 2, published in February 1995, features a cover headline quoting James Randi: "It's a very dangerous thing to believe in nonsense." The issue includes a special "2nd Anniversary Issue" note and focuses on the topic of "Water E.B.E.s" (Extraterrestrial Biological Entities).

Water E.B.E.s by Martin Kottmeyer

This article, written by Martin Kottmeyer, explores the development of the "hybrid program" within alien abduction lore. Kottmeyer notes that by 1987, Budd Hopkins had identified a gap in understanding how women's ova, removed and fertilized, were brought to term outside the womb. The article posits that several abductees have since come forward to describe these circumstances.

The Dulce Papers and Early Accounts

The earliest source cited is The Dulce Papers, attributed to Paul Bennewitz, which describe an underground facility for E.B.E.s. These papers include drawings by an abductee, Myrna Hansen, from May 1980, depicting "baby creatures" in amber liquid within artificial wombs and tanks at various developmental stages. One drawing shows a gray being in a clear incubator, another a gray floating in amber fluid in a glass tube. The circulation of these papers is noted to have begun before general publication, with a 1984 interview transcript indicating their existence by then. The lore was often derided, and Hopkins may have ignored it.

Betty Andreasson Luca's Testimony

Betty Andreasson Luca's regression on November 19, 1987, is presented as a significant testimony. She described seeing aliens remove a fetus from another woman, a scene similar to descriptions in Hopkins' book 'Intruders'. She also saw a baby in a glass case, part of a room filled with glass cases containing plants and symbols, resembling a specimen room. A drawing shows a fetus suspended upright in fluid within a clear cylinder, held by wires. The absence of an umbilical cord and the covering of the mouth and nose raised questions. Raymond Fowler speculated it was a temporary unit for suspended animation. The article notes that The Dulce Papers suggested aliens could absorb nourishment like a sponge, potentially lending logic to this depiction.

Subsequent Testimonies and Media Portrayals

By 1992, the concept of hybrid ectogenesis was well-established, diagrammed in David Jacobs' "Common Abduction Scenario Matrix." Testimonies from abductees James Austino, Karen Morgan, and Anita Davis are cited, describing fetuses in incubators, some in dry or liquid conditions, with as many as 50 to 100 seen. Austino described tanks with blue liquid, while Davis mentioned viscous fluid and a cord providing food. The 1992 'Intruders' TV mini-series further popularized this imagery, showing fetuses in fish tanks.

John Mack's book 'Abduction' (1994) also includes accounts of incubatoriums, with abductees describing tiny, skinny babies in plastic cylinders or hundreds of rectangular incubators. One abductee's drawing depicts humanoids submerged in water within plastic cases. Mack expressed puzzlement over the apparent frailty of these beings, contrasting with descriptions of "beautiful young adult hybrids with porcelain skin" from another abductee.

Historical Context and Cultural Influences

Thomas Bullard's analysis of abduction cases up to 1985 revealed no mention of incubatoriums, suggesting the phenomenon is relatively recent. The article explores potential influences, including the 1972 TV episode "Ordeal" from 'U.F.O.', possibly inspired by Leland Clark's 1965 experiments with breathable fluids. The foreign film 'Humanoid Woman' (1981) is identified as a precursor, showing astronauts discovering embryos floating in glass cylinders within a cloning laboratory.

The concept of ectogenesis, or babies grown outside the womb, is traced through cultural history. Aldous Huxley's 'Brave New World' (1921) is highlighted for its depiction of a Central London Hatchery and Conditioning Centre, where embryos are developed in bottles and tanks. This symbolic representation of science mastering nature is discussed in relation to the UFO abduction phenomenon.

Susan Merrill Squier's book 'Babies in Bottles' (1994) is mentioned for its exploration of this image, tracing it back to Charles Kingsley's 'The Water Babies' (1863) and Julian Huxley's popularization of science. The 1920s debate among thinkers like J.B.S. Haldane and J.D. Bernal on ectogenesis is noted, alongside the rise of eugenics.

Ectogenesis and Western Paradigms

The article concludes by examining the irony of alien incubatoriums within the context of Western thought. While UFO abduction phenomena are seen as challenging the Western paradigm of mastery and a material view of reality, the concept of assembly-line embryos in ectogenesis can be seen as a celebration of materialism. The author suggests that the alien abduction vision, with its emphasis on ectogenesis, is less a threat to Western thought than a reflection of its dreams and nightmares.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue primarily focuses on the theme of alien-human hybrids and the concept of ectogenesis as depicted in UFO abduction lore. It critically examines the emergence and cultural influences of these narratives, contrasting them with scientific and fictional explorations of artificial gestation. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, exploring the origins and implications of these beliefs while acknowledging their cultural resonance. The inclusion of James Randi's quote on the cover suggests a skeptical yet open-minded approach to the subject matter.