Spacelink 1964 vol 1 no 4

Magazine Overview

Title: SPACELINK
Issue: Volume 1, Number 4
Date: July/Aug. 1964
Publisher: Isle of Wight Unidentified Flying Object Investigation Society (IWUFOIS)
Type: Journal

This issue of SPACELINK presents a diverse range of articles, reflecting the society's commitment to investigating UFO phenomena and exploring related scientific and speculative topics. The journal aims to provide an unbiassed investigation of UFOs, with the views expressed not necessarily those of the society or the editor.

Editorial

The editorial addresses the negative portrayal of UFO enthusiasts in the mass media, particularly referencing a recent newspaper article that linked the subject to a 'crank' named 'Dr' Randall. The editor laments the lack of serious consideration given to the topic and contrasts this with the significant efforts of organizations like the National Investigation Committee on Aerial Phenomena (N.I.C.A.P.) in the United States, which has submitted a comprehensive report to Congress demanding an investigation into UFO activity. The editorial also introduces 'UFOLOG,' a new system for circulating and recording UFO activity in the British Isles, operational from July 1st, which is hoped to provide more up-to-date sighting information. It concludes by quoting Aime Michel on the reality of flying saucers as products of advanced technology, questioning whether Michel himself was 'fooling himself.' The editor, F.W. Smith, also notes that Mr. Lloyd will respond to Mrs. Spanner's challenge in the next issue and encourages readers to submit their own comments and interesting material.

Articles

Communication with Other Worlds

By Willy Ley, this article explores the challenge of communicating with potential intelligent life on other planets, specifically Mars and Venus. It revisits Karl Friedrich Gauss's 19th-century idea of creating a giant mathematical figure, like the Pythagorean triangle, on Earth's surface as a signal. The article discusses how future interplanetary explorers might communicate, suggesting a 'prepared manuscript' using mathematics and pictures to convey basic concepts, including mathematical symbols, arithmetic operations, and representations of the solar system and Earth's place within it. The goal is to establish that Earthlings are visitors and to explain their origin.

Signals in Space

This short piece reports on American space scientists being baffled by galactic signals received by the British space satellite Ariel. A scientist from NASA stated that none of their satellites could pick up similar signals, regarding the Ariel recordings as possible evidence of extraterrestrial intelligence. However, one scientist suggested the signals could be an echo of Earth signals, though this seemed unlikely.

Earth's Magnetic Field Was Reversed in the Past

This article summarizes findings by American scientists (Dr. Allan Cox, Dr. Richard R. Doell, and Dr. Brent Dalrymple) from the U.S. Geological Survey. Their studies indicate that Earth's magnetic field has undergone 'reversed periods,' with the latest lasting from approximately 1,900,000 to 980,000 years ago. Before that, from 3,400,000 to 1,900,000 years ago, the field was as it is today, and it has remained in the 'normal' northerly direction since 980,000 years ago. Rocks formed by ancient lava faithfully record the direction of the lava flow, supporting these findings.

Life in a 'Mars' Laboratory

By Dr. S.M. Siegel, this article details experiments conducted in a laboratory simulating Martian conditions. Siegel, an experimental biologist, found that some Earth plants and animals can survive in this simulated environment. The research addresses the challenges of interplanetary flight and the need for ingenuity and funding. The article discusses the potential for life on Mars, considering factors like lack of oxygen, low temperatures, and atmospheric moisture. It references books on the Martian environment and describes experiments with plants and animals in a Mars simulator containing 97% nitrogen and 3% carbon dioxide, with temperatures dropping to -20°C at night. Results showed that plants like the common garden bean, when grown in low oxygen, were modified biochemically. Desert plants and succulents showed remarkable resilience, with some surviving for extended periods in simulated Martian atmospheres, while others died in 'Mars gas' but flourished when started in it. The article concludes with enthusiasm for the prospects of extraterrestrial life, emphasizing the adaptability of living matter and warning about potential contamination and the modification of familiar organisms.

The Keely Enigma

By K.J. Ball of IWUFOIS, this piece delves into the life and work of John Ernest Worrall Keely (1827-1898). Keely claimed to have discovered a new source of power, an 'etheric force,' which he harnessed through a motor utilizing harmonic vibrations. Despite lacking formal education, he gained the attention of scientists and investors. He founded the Keely Motor Company, attracting significant investment, but his machines, while demonstrating impressive power (e.g., tearing metal, driving balls through planks), ultimately failed to be commercially viable or fully explained. After years of demonstrations and persistent refusal to commercialize his machine, Keely was imprisoned. Following his release, he received further funding from a wealthy widow. After his death, an investigation of his laboratory revealed complex machinery and tubing, suggesting the 'etheric force' might have been related to compressed air. The article poses the question of whether Keely was a genius or a trickster, leaning towards the latter due to the vagueness of his explanations and the lack of commercial success.

Jupiter's Atmosphere

This brief note reports that two American scientists have calculated Jupiter's atmosphere to be 160 miles deep, ten times deeper than previously believed. They reached this conclusion by duplicating Jupiter's atmosphere in a large absorption tube at Pennsylvania State University.

Other Short Items

• Project Magnetos: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided in the scanned pages.
• Biochemical Space probe: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided.
• Pinhead Amplifier for distant light signals: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided.
• The mystery of the Mazurian Lakes: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided.
• Man in plane 'talks' with his mind: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided.
• Power tool for weightless Space Travellers: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided.
• Japanese Astronomers saw pink patch on Moon: Mentioned in the table of contents, but no details are provided.
• Books: A section in the table of contents, with page 28 indicated, but the content is not visible in the provided scans.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of SPACELINK include the serious investigation of UFO phenomena, the challenges and possibilities of space exploration, the search for extraterrestrial life, and the exploration of scientific mysteries and historical enigmas. The editorial stance is one of advocating for a more open-minded and rigorous approach to UFO research, distinguishing it from sensationalism and 'crank' theories. There is a clear emphasis on scientific inquiry, whether through simulated experiments on Mars or historical investigations into controversial scientific claims like Keely's. The society positions itself as a platform for serious discussion and the dissemination of information on these topics.

This issue of 'THE SOLAR SYSTEM. No.1. THE SUN' from April 7, 1964, published by IWUFOIS, focuses on astronomical and unexplained phenomena. The main article details the Sun's characteristics, while other sections cover mysterious disappearances, UFO sightings, and advancements in space technology and communication.

The Sun: Our Luminary

The lead article, 'THE SOLAR SYSTEM. No.1. THE SUN' by J.W. Feakins of IWUFOIS, describes the Sun as the most important feature of our solar system, essential for planetary orbits and life on Earth. Astronomically, it's an ordinary star seen up close, composed of 90% Hydrogen and over 8% Helium. Its immense mass is estimated at 2,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 tons. The Sun's surface temperature is 6,000°C, while the core reaches 13 million °C, where Hydrogen converts to Helium, releasing energy at a rate of 4 million tons per second. This process has been ongoing for at least 5,000 million years. The Sun's diameter is 864,000 miles, over a hundred times that of Earth. It rotates at varying speeds, with the equator completing a rotation in about 25 days, and higher latitudes taking up to 30 days. The Sun is also in motion within the galactic system, travelling towards the Solar apex at approximately 12 miles per second. Sunspots, associated with electrical storms and radio blackouts, have an 11.1-year cycle, and the current period is one of minimum activity. The Sun's average density is 1.4 times that of water, and Earth is 93 million miles away, with sunlight taking over 8 minutes to reach us.

Project Magnet and Mysterious Disappearances

An article titled 'PROJECT MAGNET' details the mysterious disappearance of five Avenger torpedo bombers and a Mariner flying-boat on December 5, 1945, off Fort Lauderdale, Florida. These aircraft, along with 27 men, vanished in an area known as 'The Deadly Triangle,' bounded by Florida, Puerto Rico, and Bermuda. This region has claimed 1,000 lives in the last 20 years. The American Navy is studying this area with 'Project Magnet' using Super Constellations equipped with sensitive equipment. The article also mentions a similar project allegedly conducted for the Canadian government in 1950 by Wilbert B. Smith, who worked on it independently without government support. The records and equipment from this Canadian project are not publicly known.

UFO Sightings in the Mazurian Lakes District

'THE MYSTERY OF THE MAZURIAN LAKES' by Antoni W. Szachnowski describes the 'Land of a Thousand Lakes' in Poland, a region rich in wildlife and folklore, which has also become a site for UFO sightings. In 1956/57, strange objects were reported over Lidzbark, Ketrzyn, and Gizycko, followed by a wave of 'flaming balls' in 1959/60. More recently, 'weird globular objects' hovered over lakes near Morag, Olsztyn, and Ruciane. A particularly striking incident involved Mr. Aleksy M. Jakimowicz on the night of October 25/26, 1959, near Gizycko. He reported seeing an unusual pulsating, yellow-orange, egg-shaped object, described as 'almost as big as the moon,' hovering over Lake Mamry. He experienced intense heat, a lack of air, and a taste of blood, falling to the ground. The object moved upwards and away, leaving him bruised and shaken. He also saw two small, round, yellowish lights speeding away in a North-westerly direction. The account was supplied by Dr. W.N., who conducted further investigations and found independent corroborative evidence that other people also saw a 'huge flaming ball' that night.

Space Communication and Technology

'BIOCHEMICAL SPACE PROBE' reports that NASA is considering an investigation into extraterrestrial life using a biochemical space probe called 'Gulliver,' designed to be launched towards Mars. A previous probe had detected water vapour in Mars' atmosphere. 'PINHEAD AMPLIFIER FOR DISTANT LIGHT SIGNALS' introduces a tiny device, the photoparametric diode, developed by David E. Sawyer of Sperry Rand Research Centre. This device can detect and amplify extremely faint light signals, potentially revolutionizing space communications.

Telepathy and Space Travel

An article by Chapman Pincher in the Daily Express details experiments in Britain to test the belief that telepathy occurs more readily under hypnosis. Over 25 people tried to receive messages transmitted while the sender was under hypnosis. The messages were of three types: cards with symbols, pictures, and imagined objects. The results were pending.

'POWER TOOL FOR WEIGHTLESS SPACE TRAVELLERS' describes a newly tested battery-powered tool designed for assembly and repair work in space. It eliminates 'reactive torque,' the twisting force that would cause an astronaut to spin when using ordinary tools.

Lunar Observations

'JAPANESE ASTRONOMERS SAW PINK PATCH ON MOON' reports on observations made by seven young Japanese astronomers at the Rakurakuen Planetarium. On December 28, 1963, they noted a large, distinct pink patch covering the southern part of the crater Aristarchus. This observation aligns with previous reports from American astronomers at Flagstaff Observatory.

Books

A section lists books of interest to UFO students and space enthusiasts available for free borrowing from the United States Information Service Library in London. Titles include 'HARNESSING SPACE,' edited by Willy Ley, and 'MARINER: MISSION TO VENUS' by the staff of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of 'SPACELINK' (implied publisher/affiliate of IWUFOIS) demonstrates a strong interest in UFO phenomena, unexplained disappearances, and space exploration. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation into these subjects, presenting accounts and scientific developments without overt skepticism. The inclusion of 'Project Magnet' and the detailed UFO sighting report from Poland suggests a focus on credible, albeit mysterious, events. The magazine also keeps its readers informed about advancements in space technology and astronomical discoveries, linking them to the broader context of space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life.