Sign - No 19 - 1992 05-06

Magazine Overview

This issue of SIGN, a bimonthly interdisciplinary journal for UFOs and other unexplained atmospheric and terrestrial phenomena, is dated May-June 1992 and is in its 4th year of publication, issue number 19. The editor and publisher is Luc Bürgin. The magazine is published in German and originates from Switzerland.

Articles and Features

Wenn es donnert am Himmel... Das Phänomen der rätselhaften Detonationen

This extensive article by Luc Bürgin investigates the phenomenon of unexplained detonations that have been reported globally. It begins by citing a United Press report from July 5, 1955, detailing a massive double detonation over London that caused widespread alarm and confusion, with authorities unable to provide an explanation. The article notes that such incidents, often described as similar to sonic booms, have become increasingly frequent and are sometimes linked to UFO sightings.

• Several cases are detailed:
• London, 1955: A double detonation caused thousands to take to the streets. The British Ministry of Aviation stated no aircraft were known to be airborne at the time.
• Long Beach, California, January 1961: Similar detonations shook houses and broke windows. Naval air stations denied any aircraft presence.
• S. Kensington, London, February 7, 1961: A mysterious explosion was reported, with witnesses seeing a bright red flash in the sky but finding no trace of impact.
• Leeds, Bradford, Otley, and Guiseley, April 24, 1961: The 'Daily Express' reported on another strange detonation that shook buildings.
• El Toro Marine Station, August 29, 1952: A strong detonation occurred with no aircraft in the air.
• Boroloola, Australia, October 6, 1953: Strong explosions were reported, again with no aircraft present.
• London, October 23, 1953: Another strong detonation occurred, baffling police and the Ministry of Aviation.
• Fiji Islands, June 6, 1964: A strange blue-white light accompanied by a 'fireworks' followed by a double detonation was observed.
• Nordhessen and Südniedersachsen, Germany, November 1-10, 1977: Almost daily strong detonations occurred, which the German Ministry of Defense initially refused to comment on, later stating they were not from Bundeswehr aircraft or from the Eastern Bloc.
• Various American regions, February 26, 1983: Seven detonations occurred within 30-45 minutes. An earthquake expert, Louis J. Eisele, recorded vibrations on seismographs, stating they originated from the air.
• Portland, Maine, December 4, 1981: Detonations were accompanied by a flash phenomenon, with experts unable to explain it. Coral Lorenzen of APRO noted that unusual sky sounds often precede UFO activity.

The article also references studies by Johannes Fiebag and reports from H.T. Wilkins, who link these sounds to UFO phenomena and strange lights. Dr. William Donn, head of the Atmospheric Research Program, stated that the sounds were not from nuclear explosions, Concorde, or meteors, calling them 'explosions of an unknown kind.' The article concludes by noting that similar events occurred in France in September 1988, preceded by UFO sightings, and poses the question of a direct link to the UFO phenomenon.

Geheimnisvolle Himmelserscheinung über Osnabrück

This exclusive report details a sighting on May 17, 1992, around 3:30 AM near Osnabrück, Germany. Witness G.R. and a friend observed a large, red-orange cloud in the night sky. Initially suspecting industrial emissions, they soon noticed rhythmic flashes of light emanating from the cloud. The flashes were described as very bright and lasting about half a second, shooting out in all directions from a single point within the cloud. After about a minute, the flashes stopped. Later, a third observer joined them, and they all witnessed further light emissions. The cloud gradually dissolved and disappeared within an hour. The witness insists on the truthfulness of his account, stating he has no rational explanation for the event. The article also notes a similar sighting in Australia on April 28, 1992, where a large, round flying object emitted strange flashes and disappeared in a 'flash vortex.'

Bob Lazar – Eine der interessantesten Quellen in der modernen UFO-Forschung

This article by Illobrand von Ludwiger, head of the scientist association MUFON-CES and an expert in UFO phenomena, discusses Bob Lazar. Ludwiger notes that Lazar, unlike many other UFO 'enthusiasts,' does not participate in conferences but gives his reports directly to television cameras in Las Vegas. Lazar's claims are presented as potentially revolutionary if true, suggesting that humanity is being kept from knowledge of incredibly advanced technology, possibly from the future. Ludwiger recounts his inability to meet Lazar during a trip to America but mentions that Dr. Jacques Vallée, a physicist colleague, found Lazar to be credible. Lazar's motivation for coming forward is seen as his dismay at the idea of back-engineering alien technology with mediocre teams rather than geniuses. Ludwiger finds it surprising that Lazar has not faced more severe repercussions, such as defamation or arrest. The article attempts to find contradictions in Lazar's claims, noting he reported seeing nine disc-shaped craft in a hangar and one in flight, and that he was to examine a propulsion mechanism. It also mentions that other researchers had already examined the drive system in an open state in May 1987.

Prä-Astronautik-Insider

• This section by Hans-Werner Sachmann provides brief updates on various topics related to Pre-Astronautics:
• 040: Reports suggest the Turin Shroud, showing the imprint of Jesus Christ, was painted by Leonardo da Vinci, a claim attributed to Italian art critic Vittorio Sgarbi, though some suspect it's a publicity stunt for a Venedig exhibition.
• 041: The release of the Fiebag brothers' Maya book has been postponed to the following year, and Johannes Fiebag is working on a UFO-themed book.
• 042: There are indications that authors, besides Däniken and Buttlar, are considering writing young adult books on the Pre-Astronautics theme, with agencies actively seeking publisher interest.
• 043: Journalist and author Walter Jörg Langbein is releasing a new book with Weltbild-Verlag and is working on another titled 'Wenn Steine sprechen könnten' (When Stones Could Speak), co-authored by Reinhard Habeck.
• 044: Peter Krassa is collaborating with Habeck on new projects concerning Egypt, UFOs, Yeti, and the Tunguska catastrophe.

An announcement follows regarding the sale of books, brochures, and journals on UFO research, monsters, Pre-Astronautics, archaeology, and the Bermuda Triangle due to the dissolution of an archive.

UFOs ueber Chile

This report details widespread public curiosity in Chile regarding UFO sightings. The phenomena were observed from Copiapo in the north to Coyhaique in the south, over 2000 km apart. Around 11:30 PM on January 23, 1992, a bright luminous cloud formed, from which a mushroom-shaped object, resembling a nuclear explosion, emerged. A reporter from 'El Mercurio' witnessed this over Chillan. Simultaneously, a transport agent in Ovalle saw a bell-shaped object with a shiny sphere moving slowly. The local press was alerted, and other witnesses also reported seeing the strange object. Aviation control could not explain the sightings. A particular incident in Coyhaique involved a bright light resembling a round, silver disc.

UFOs ueber Costa Rica

In April, unidentified flying objects were sighted across Costa Rica, coinciding with power outages in the capital, San José, and other regions. The Chief of City Police, Roberto Guevra, confirmed witnessing strange aerial phenomena near Pavas Airport. Officials from the local electricity company reported being inundated with calls from across the country, including from the presidential palace. No explanation for these events has been found. SIGN plans to provide further information on this case.

Beinahekollision zwischen Boeing und UFO !

On April 27, 1992, the British aviation authority reported that an unknown flying object startled the crew of a Boeing 737 during its approach to Gatwick Airport in the summer of the previous year. The co-pilot observed a diamond-shaped object pass the aircraft at approximately 100 meters distance over the right wing. Radar operators also detected unidentified targets nearby. The pilot dismissed the explanation that it might have been a weather balloon, stating such balloons do not reach that altitude.

Delgado: Neues Buch

Pat Delgado, a crop circle expert and co-author of 'Kreisrunde Zeichen', has released a new book titled 'Crop Circles - Conclusive Evidence?' published by Bloomsbury, London, in 1992. It is currently only available in English.

Adolf Schneider geehrt

In April, Adolf Schneider, owner of Jupiter-Verlag, received the Prize for Exopsychology from the Zurich-based Dr. A. Hedri-Stiftung. Schneider, who had previously published notable works on UFOs, has recently adopted a more reserved stance on the topic.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, with a strong focus on UFOs and related events like mysterious detonations and sightings. There is a clear interest in presenting eyewitness accounts and expert analyses, even when explanations are lacking. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations. The magazine also serves as a platform for promoting related books and research within the UFO and Pre-Astronautics communities.

The magazine "SIGN", issue number 11, published in 1978, is a German-language publication focusing on UFO phenomena, archaeoastronomy, and fringe sciences. The issue features an in-depth analysis of physicist Lazar's claims regarding advanced technology and extraterrestrial materials, alongside reader feedback and a report on a specific UFO sighting.

Analysis of Lazar's Research

The article discusses physicist Lazar's work, which began in December 1988. It posits that Lazar's team knew how to "release energy" and that simple measuring devices could detect protons hitting a mass, releasing what appeared to be gravitational waves. Lazar was tasked with examining an unknown material, which he reportedly took home and analyzed at Los Alamos. He identified it as a stable element with atomic number 115. Further experiments involving bombarding this material with various radiation types (beta, gamma, alpha, and proton) led to the detection of element 116 and other elements, which is unexpected as stable elements are typically found around atomic number 114.

The text notes that the origin of the gravitational waves was not understood by Lazar's team, nor by physicists like Teller. Lazar hypothesized that strong nuclear forces might be equivalent to a second type of gravitation, though he acknowledged the short range of nuclear forces and the difficulty in "bundling" them. The article references a 1978 MUFON-CES publication (Vol. 6, p. 338) that described how gravitational waves could be emitted from certain neutron configurations, suggesting this information was not known to Lazar.

Lazar's assertion that gravitational fields can warp spacetime, causing light to bend, is deemed correct in principle. However, the article questions whether such fields would be strong enough to make objects invisible, suggesting this might be a "thought experiment." Lazar's claim that a "gravitational drive" would only work within Earth's gravitational field, requiring a different propulsion system for space, is also discussed, referencing Lindemann's "UFOs and the Alien Presence" (1991).

The article touches upon Lazar's speculation that with a gravitational drive, near-light-speed interstellar travel could be possible, but notes that light speed itself is too slow for interstellar journeys. It mentions Lazar's "gravitational amplifiers" (generators) emitting pulsed radiation, which aligns with observations of UFOs and their surrounding air, as well as detected pulsed magnetic fields.

Regarding other projects Lazar was not involved in, the article speculates that their goals might differ from Lazar's understanding. Project Sidekick is mentioned as potentially dealing with the bundling of neutron beams via gravitational waves. Project Looking Glass, however, is contrasted with Kurt Lasswitz's 1896 concept of time travel, suggesting it likely explored theoretical possibilities for realizing past journeys through strong gravitational fields.

Reader Letters

The "Leser-Briefe" (Reader Letters) section includes positive feedback from readers. A. Lottenbach from Switzerland compliments the "interesting magazine" and its "successful work." F. Seeberger from Germany encourages the magazine to "keep up the good work" and states it is "getting better from one issue to the next." W.J. Langbein from Germany praises "SIGN" for its visually appealing, clear, and compact presentation of topics like UFOs, paleo-astronautics, and fringe sciences, deeming it essential for amateurs, hobbyists, and professionals interested in these subjects.

UFO over Medjugorje

This section reports on a photograph of an unidentified flying object taken over Medjugorje on September 19, 1991, published in the "International UFO Reporter" by American UFO expert Bruce Maccabee. The witness who provided the photo could not recall seeing the craft at the time it was taken. The report notes that Medjugorje had recently gained attention for reported Marian apparitions.

Analysis of Lazar's Credibility

The author questions whether Lazar read books from extraterrestrials or was deliberately fed disinformation. The mention of Zeta Reticuli is considered suspicious, as it is a binary star system where stable planetary orbits are rare, making the claim of four stable planets unlikely. The author concludes that Lazar has not contradicted himself and does not report physically impossible events based on his own observations. While his theories are not always correct, the author suggests that Lazar is not a theoretician and may not fully understand what he encounters. The stories derived from books are considered by the author to potentially be part of a "cover-up." Nevertheless, Lazar is deemed a significant source of information in modern UFO research.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of advanced physics related to UFOs, particularly the concept of gravitational waves and exotic elements like Element 115, and the critical evaluation of claims made by researchers like Lazar. The editorial stance appears to be one of cautious investigation, acknowledging the potential significance of Lazar's findings while also critically examining their theoretical underpinnings and potential sources. The magazine aims to provide a platform for discussion on UFO phenomena and related scientific and historical inquiries, as evidenced by the inclusion of reader letters and reports on specific sightings.