1966 10 01 Saturday Review John Lear

Magazine Overview

Title: Saturday Review
Issue Date: October 1, 1966
Price: 35¢
Document Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Saturday Review, dated October 1, 1966, features a cover story on "The Elusive Code of Life: Is DNA Really the Master Key to Heredity?" by Barry Commoner, John Kendrew, and Lancelot Law Whyte. The cover also highlights "Books for Autumn Reading" and mentions Marianne Moore. A prominent article within the "SR/Research SCIENCE & HUMANITY" section, titled "A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION FOR THE UFOs?" by John Lear, explores the theories of Philip J. Klass regarding unidentified flying objects.

A SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATION FOR THE UFOs?

The article details how Philip J. Klass, a senior editor at Aviation Week & Space Technology, initially dismissed UFO reports but began investigating them after being invited to a symposium on the topic by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The IEEE symposium, initially planned to discuss UFOs, was shifted to focus on "identified flying objects" (IFOs) due to protests, and later canceled in favor of a discussion on electronics in the Vietnamese war.

Klass's research led him to analyze John G. Fuller's book, "Incident at Exeter," which documented numerous UFO sightings in Exeter, New Hampshire, in September 1965. Klass noted the frequent mention of electric power lines in proximity to the sightings. He also considered the possibility that radar blips associated with UFOs might not confirm physical objects but rather plasma tracks from rockets.

Klass's primary hypothesis, detailed in a manuscript published in Aviation Week & Space Technology, is that ball lightning is the natural model for most UFOs. He posits that electrical corona on power lines, triggered by dust or salt crystals, could form luminous plasma blobs that roll along wires, detach, and exhibit erratic movements before disappearing.

The article contrasts Klass's scientific approach with the more speculative conclusions of John Fuller, who suggested UFOs were extraterrestrial vehicles. It also references previous SR articles on UFO theories, including one by Donald Robey from 1959, which proposed that UFOs might be remnants of comets containing plasma blobs. The SR Science Editor notes that UFO enthusiasts showed little interest in these earlier scientific explanations.

The Exeter Incident and Ball Lightning

The article elaborates on the Exeter sightings, noting similarities between the reported UFO characteristics and those of ball lightning. These include color (predominantly red, but also bluish-white, green), shape (spherical, ellipsoidal, round, oval, dome-shaped), sound (sizzling, hissing, humming), and dynamics (hovering, rolling, bouncing, spinning, sudden bursts of speed). The lifetime of these phenomena is also noted to range from seconds to minutes.

Klass's theory suggests that electrical corona on power lines, particularly in areas like Exeter which is close to the ocean and experiences dry summers, could lead to the formation of these plasma blobs. The article includes illustrations of ball lightning created artificially at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Research Institute and a dramatic display of corona discharge on experimental power lines.

Letters to the Science Editor

This section includes a letter from Greg Stone of Westport, Massachusetts, who criticizes the SR articles on UFOs for their "sneering" tone towards John G. Fuller and for what he perceives as poor and biased treatment of the subject. Stone questions the science editor's research methods, particularly regarding the "clearest photograph of a UFO" (a straw hat-like image) and the reliance on NICAP information. He contrasts SR's approach with the Encyclopaedia Britannica's neutral reporting of the same photograph.

Stone praises Philip J. Klass's work on ball lightning as a commendable contribution that offers a new perspective, but argues that Fuller's book provided the detailed accounts necessary for such scientific analysis. Stone states he has been studying UFOs for two months and has published newspaper articles on the subject, drawing no conclusions.

An "EDITOR'S NOTE" responds to Stone's letter, clarifying that SR has previously published articles on UFO theories, including Donald Robey's plasma ball theory in 1959 and research on artificially created plasma blobs by Dr. Donald Ritchie in 1960. The note asserts that UFO enthusiasts showed no interest in these earlier scientific contributions. It also denies any "sneering" or critical comments about John Fuller's reporting, stating that the only disagreement was over Fuller's conclusions that UFOs are extraterrestrial vehicles and that the U.S. Air Force suppresses information. The note emphasizes that the science editor does not have the facilities to verify all UFO sightings and therefore initially accepted all claims.

Books Reviewed/Mentioned

"Intelligent Life in the Universe" by I. S. Shklovskii and Carl Sagan is presented as a significant book exploring the panorama of natural evolution, from the origins of the universe to the development of intelligence. It is described as a collaboration between a Russian astronomer and an American space scientist, offering new material not previously published in any form.

"The Thread of Life: An Introduction to Molecular Biology" by John C. Kendrew is also featured. This book, written for the layman, guides readers through the complexities of DNA and its potential for controlling hereditary disease, manipulating living creatures, and combating cancer. It is noted that Kendrew is a Nobel Prize winner and a pioneer in molecular biology.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the intersection of science and mystery, particularly concerning UFOs and the fundamental nature of life (DNA). The magazine showcases a scientific approach to unexplained phenomena, with Philip J. Klass's ball lightning theory representing a rational, albeit controversial, attempt to demystify UFO sightings. The editorial stance appears to favor empirical investigation and scientific explanation, as evidenced by the critique of more speculative UFO theories and the promotion of scientific research into DNA.

The magazine also highlights the role of science journalism in presenting complex topics to the public, as seen in the reviews of books by Kendrew and the discussion of Shklovskii and Sagan's work. The letters section reveals a tension between different approaches to UFO investigation – one prioritizing detailed anecdotal evidence (Fuller) and another seeking scientific explanations (Klass). SR positions itself as a platform for these discussions, while maintaining a commitment to scientific rigor and avoiding sensationalism, as indicated by the editor's note.