Tellus - 1961 Pasknummer

Magazine Overview

Title: Tellus
Issue: Påsknummer (Easter Issue)
Volume/Year: 1961
Date: March 1961 (estimated based on 'Påsknummer' and content)
Price: 50 öre
Publisher: Tellus
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of Tellus from 1961 presents a blend of the unusual, the unexplained, and the scientific, with a particular focus on UFO sightings and geological phenomena.

Cover Story: The Witch's Fall

The cover story, titled "Häxa störtade i Öresund på hemväg från Blakulla" (Witch crashed into Öresund on the way home from Blakulla), offers a humorous and speculative account of a witch's unfortunate aerial mishap. The narrative attributes the crash to the witch's broomstick, a "Annu Dazumel modell Björkris," icing over due to the lack of a defroster, causing the shaft to become slippery. The only witness cited is the "Guken i Månen" (Man in the Moon), whose testimony is deemed unreliable due to his inebriated state.

UFO Observations and Encounters

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to UFO observations. One report details an encounter on March 6th, 1961, involving a UFO and a "YA-boni" (likely referring to a Ouija board or similar spiritual tool). The report describes a group using a Ouija board to ask questions, receiving answers about future events. Following this, observers Ebbe Sven and Alve went to Barsebäck, Sweden, around 10 PM on March 6th. Using 16x50 binoculars, they observed a star-like object in the Oxen constellation that began to move. They describe it as pure white, moving with a steady speed, and unlike any aircraft due to its lack of navigation lights. The object moved between stars in Orion's belt and then proceeded towards Sirius in Canis Major before disappearing into the horizon haze.

Another observation report from March 10th describes a similar phenomenon witnessed by board member Jan Nilsson. He had six minutes to study the UFO. The report also mentions a Danish "Wo-gruppen" (Wo group) on Amager who observed the same phenomenon on March 6th, seeing two small light spots leave the ground and merge with the main object.

The magazine also includes personal accounts of observing aircraft, distinguishing them from UFOs. The author describes tracking DC-8 and Caravelle planes from Romeleklint, noting their visibility and navigation lights. A comparison is made between these known aircraft and the March 6th observation, concluding that the latter could not have been a conventional airplane.

Geological Insights: Earth's Structure and Dynamics

Beyond the sky, Tellus delves into the Earth's physical nature. The magazine explores the planet's rotation and its place in the solar system, noting its orbit around the Sun and the Sun's own movement through the galaxy. It details the Earth's diameter and circumference, and the vast distances involved in its cosmic journey.

The article then focuses on the Earth's structure, describing the solid crust, its composition (silicon, oxygen, calcium, etc.), and the types of rocks found within it, such as granite and gneiss. It explains that the crust is not static but is subject to movement, leading to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The internal structure is described as having a basalt sphere beneath the crust, followed by a core composed of iron, nickel, and other heavy metals, with temperatures reaching 6,000 degrees Celsius.

Earthquakes and Tectonic Activity

Further discussion centers on the causes of earthquakes. The text explains how mountains are formed through geological processes and how erosion by wind, rain, and frost breaks down these formations. The resulting sediment is carried by rivers to the oceans, creating large deposits. This uneven distribution of weight on the Earth's crust leads to pressure. When this pressure overcomes the resistance of the rock, it results in a sudden release of energy, causing the ground to shake. This phenomenon is termed an "Jordskalv" (earthquake). The article mentions the "Agadirkata-Strofen" (Agadir earthquake) as a typical example. It also touches upon the more powerful "Jordbävningar" (earthquakes) that arise from stresses within the basalt layer, capable of causing severe consequences.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of Tellus appears to maintain a stance that is open to unexplained phenomena, particularly UFOs, while also engaging with scientific explanations for natural events like earthquakes and geological formations. The blend of whimsical, anecdotal reporting (like the witch story) with detailed observational accounts and scientific explanations suggests an editorial approach that seeks to explore a wide spectrum of mysteries and natural wonders. The magazine encourages reader engagement with scientific concepts and unexplained events, inviting further discussion in future issues.