Stockholms UFO-Nytt - 2000 No 3

Magazine Overview

Title: Stockholms UFO-nytt
Issue: 3/2000
Publisher: Stockholms UFO-förening, STUFO
Date: December 2000 (implied by cover greeting)

This issue of Stockholms UFO-nytt, the informational bulletin for the Stockholm UFO Association, is dated 3/2000 and features a festive cover wishing readers a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, illustrated with an alien and traditional holiday figures.

Contents

Editorial: HEJ!

The editorial, written by Inga-Lill, reflects on the end of the millennium year. Despite earlier predictions, no major UFO events occurred. She notes that while many expected alien visitations, the reality was less dramatic, with some reported sightings of 'Marteboljus' on Gotland turning out to be misidentified car headlights or flashlights. The editorial expresses hope for a more interesting year in 2001.

Table of Contents

• The issue includes articles on:
• Den svenska tomten (The Swedish Tomten/Gnome)
• Besök på Rymdbolaget (Visit to the Space Company)
• Clas Svahn håller föredrag (Clas Svahn gives a lecture)
• Nytt ljus över Martebo (New light on Martebo)
• Sangelsteinen på Gotland (Sangelstainen on Gotland)
• Stockholmsrapporter mars-september 2000 (Stockholm reports March-September 2000)
• Korsord (Crossword)
• Pressklipp (Press clippings)

Den svenska tomten (The Swedish Tomten)

This article explores the folklore surrounding the Swedish 'tomten' or gnome. It describes the tomten as typically male, small, and dressed in red caps and grey or brown clothing, responsible for the well-being of the household. The piece touches upon research into tomten folklore, mentioning folklorists like Jan-Ojvind Swahn and Carl Wilhelm von Sydow, who attempted rational explanations for sightings. It discusses various regional descriptions of tomtens, their dwelling places, and the offerings (fruit, porridge, tobacco) they expected in return for their services. The article also notes the shift from the traditional folklore tomten to the modern, commercialized Santa Claus figure, largely influenced by American depictions.

Besök på Rymdbolaget (Visit to the Space Company)

This report details a visit by the Stockholm UFO Association to Rymdbolaget (now SSC Space Center Esrange) in Solna on October 3, 2000. Guided by Håkan Hedberg, members learned about the company's operations, which focus on engineering and construction rather than state-funded research. They were shown satellites built and launched, and Hedberg discussed his interest in remote sensing and satellite photography. The visit lasted nearly three hours and included a coffee break and a presentation. Attendees received a magazine and a CD-ROM about Rymdbolaget.

Clas Svahn håller föredrag (Clas Svahn gives a lecture)

On October 11, Clas Svahn, chairman of UFO-Sverige, gave a lecture to the Stockholm local group. His talk, initially intended to focus on a specific UFO case, evolved into a historical overview of UFO phenomena from the 1970s to the 2000s. Svahn noted a shift in UFO reports from physically tangible sightings to more internal, subjective experiences. He discussed the ongoing debate about crop circles, comparing them to graffiti, and mentioned his books on the subject, including "UFO - möte med det okända" (UFO - encounter with the unknown).

Nytt ljus över Martebo (New light on Martebo)

This article reports on a lecture given by Inga-Lill Wallin about the Martebo light phenomenon on Gotland. Despite years of research and dedication by Wallin, attendance at the lecture was low. She presented her findings, suggesting that 95% of observed phenomena are misidentified car lights, but acknowledged that the remaining 5% warrant further investigation. Wallin shared a new theory about the Martebo light, suggesting it might be reproducible using a flashlight under specific conditions, a theory she planned to test on Gotland.

The article also promotes Wallin's book, "Marteboljuset - myt och verklighet" (Marteboljuset - myth and reality), which documents 80 years of observations of this mysterious light phenomenon on Gotland.

Sangelsteinen på Gotland (Sangelstainen on Gotland)

This piece describes a unique stone on Lajkarhajd, a heath on northern Gotland, known as Sangelstainen. The stone features several artificial cup-shaped depressions called 'älvkvarnar' or 'skålgropar'. When struck, the stone emits a resonant sound, similar to striking an anvil, hence its name. The stone is located near a Bronze Age and Iron Age burial ground. The article includes a definition of 'skålgropar' from the Nationalencyclopedia, noting their presence in ancient burial sites and their possible use in rituals or as symbols.

Stockholmsrapporter mars-september 2000 (Stockholm reports March-September 2000)

This section provides a chronological listing of UFO sightings reported in the Stockholm area and surrounding regions between March and September 2000. Reports include observations of orange lights, blinking points (possibly planets), saucer-shaped objects, bright lights in formations, yellow lights, football-sized light phenomena (likely meteors), oval black objects, cylindrical objects, cigar-shaped objects, bright dots, and star-like objects. Possible explanations such as balloons, planets, meteors, satellites, and airplanes are often suggested.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently focuses on UFO phenomena, both reported sightings and their potential explanations, often drawing connections to folklore and historical accounts. There's an emphasis on research and documentation, as seen in the articles on Marteboljuset and Clas Svahn's lecture. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, acknowledging the unexplained while also considering rational explanations and the role of misidentification. The inclusion of folklore articles like 'Den svenska tomten' suggests a broader interest in unexplained or mysterious phenomena beyond strictly UFOs.

This issue of "Stockholms UFO-nytt" (Stockholm UFO News), number 3 from the year 2000, features a crossword puzzle titled "STUFO-krysset" on its cover, along with a prominent headline about UFOs potentially having natural explanations. The magazine includes articles on scientific investigations into UFO sightings, the potential evolution of bacteria in space, and announcements from UFO organizations.

Articles

UFOs Given Natural Explanations

This article reports on the results of a comprehensive, scientific investigation into UFO sightings conducted in the Soviet Union. The investigation, a joint effort between the Soviet Academy of Sciences and the Ministry of Defense, ran for twelve years from 1978 to 1990. It was initiated following the "Petrozavodsk phenomenon" on September 20, 1977, which involved a mysterious, jellyfish-shaped light observed over the city of Petrozavodsk for approximately ten minutes. This phenomenon was eventually identified as the satellite Kosmos-955, launched from the Plesetsk base.

The investigation involved a large number of personnel, including conscripts across the Soviet Union, meteorological observation stations, and specialists in various scientific fields such as atmospheric and plasma physics, geophysics, geochemistry, and mathematics. Over the twelve years, more than 3,000 reports were received, with 300 "proper" phenomena registered. The article states that most observations eventually received natural explanations. These included rare natural phenomena, but more commonly, human technology such as rocket launches, satellites, and meteorological balloons. One notable incident involved a balloon causing panic in the Baltics in 1977. Observations were frequent during twilight when people were on the shaded side of the Earth and observed rocket exhaust gases illuminated by the sun, often from secret launches.

The investigators, Julij Platov and Boris Sokolov, concluded in their commentary that either the Soviet airspace was closed to extraterrestrial visitors during those twelve years, or the hypothesis of extraterrestrial UFOs is unsound.

Space Bacteria Could Become a Threat

This section discusses the potential for bacteria found on space stations to develop particularly dangerous characteristics. While sounding like science fiction, some researchers believe this risk is real. Natalia Novikova from the Institute of Biomedical Problems in Moscow has found that at least 250 different species of microorganisms exist on the Russian space station Mir and other spacecraft. These microorganisms, especially fungi, can pose significant problems in the isolated environment of a spacecraft. They are capable of surviving on almost anything, can render windows opaque, block conduits, and excrete waste products that can destroy metal.

Soon the Sky Will Have a New Star (UFO)

This brief item mentions that enormous solar collectors will soon be visible from the ground, appearing like a new star in the sky.

UFO-Sverige Website and Stockholm UFO Association Program

The magazine promotes the UFO-Sverige website, www.ufo.se, and includes a thought bubble with an alien asking, "Is it really that difficult to find life on other planets?". It also outlines the preliminary spring program for the Stockholm UFO Association. As of the time of writing, the program was not fully finalized but included: a general meeting in February, a lecture in March, a visit to the Arlanda Flygmuseum in April, and a UFO exhibition in Barkarby in May. The finalized program will be sent to all members.

Crossword Puzzle

The "STUFO-krysset" crossword puzzle is a prominent feature, with clues provided for both horizontal and vertical entries. The constructor, Conny Ljung, promises to return in a future issue with a larger crossword focusing more on "our own subject."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to adopt a critical and scientific approach to UFO phenomena, as evidenced by the article on natural explanations for sightings. While acknowledging the public interest in UFOs and promoting UFO-related organizations and events, the editorial stance leans towards rational explanations and scientific investigation rather than sensationalism. The inclusion of a crossword puzzle suggests an effort to engage readers in a more lighthearted manner while still maintaining a connection to the UFO theme.