Topside - Issue 09 - 1962 Spring

Magazine Overview

Title: TOPSIDE
Publisher: Ottawa Flying Saucer Club
Issue: Number 9
Date: Spring 1962
Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

This issue of TOPSIDE, published by the Ottawa Flying Saucer Club, presents a collection of articles exploring the intersection of science, the unexplained, and potential future advancements. The publication emphasizes that the opinions expressed are those of the individual authors and not necessarily those of the club itself. Permission to copy is granted with due acknowledgment.

The New Era of the Scientist by Carol Halford-Watkins

This article posits that scientists are increasingly turning their attention to metaphysical subjects, such as extra-sensory perception and psychical research. It suggests that within a decade, startling discoveries may emerge, revealing that many so-called psychic phenomena are actually natural laws previously unexplored. The author believes that with scientific backing, psychic phenomena could gain respectability and be integrated into the natural sciences, potentially leading to the harnessing of the Fourth Dimension.

The article highlights the growing acceptance of metaphysical approaches within the medical profession. Hypnotism, once suspect, is now widely used for treatment. In Britain, over 500 hospitals reportedly admit spiritual healers. The author cites numerous well-authenticated cases of successful treatments by metaphysical healers for various ailments, including cancer, which can no longer be ignored by the medical establishment.

A significant case study presented is that of Dr. Michael Ash, a Harley Street specialist. Twenty-one years prior, he accidentally discovered his ability to heal through radiations emanating from his body. This occurred when his wife suffered a severe headache during a sea voyage. Upon touching her temples, her headache vanished, and his fingertips turned slightly blue. Further experiments revealed his ability to heal conditions like angina, anemia, ulcers, skin diseases, and even some forms of cancer, with his fingertips consistently turning blue.

Dr. Ash, not content with simply accepting this as a mysterious gift, sought a scientific explanation. He concluded that the healing power was a form of body radiation and attempted to identify and measure it. His research led him to discover that ultrasonic waves could interfere with this radiation. This discovery was further explored through an experiment involving a young girl scientist assisting him. When she activated a machine producing ultra-sonic frequencies at 82,000 cycles per second, a dog in the room howled and fled. The girl, testing her sensitivity, placed her tongue in the path of the waves and collapsed, experiencing temporary paralysis and shock. She lost her sense of smell and taste, though her tongue was not physically injured. Dr. Ash believed she was not suffering from electric shock.

While the girl's recovery was slow, the incident provided Dr. Ash with a crucial insight: each part of the human body broadcasts radiations at its own frequency. He theorized that the girl might have tuned into the frequency of her vagus nerve, leading to the catastrophic reaction. Despite this, the incident yielded beneficial results for his research.

Dr. Ash claims to have scientific evidence that his healing power is a natural function, comparable to sound waves produced by vocal chords. He believes everyone possesses such body vibrations, but natural healers have them in greater abundance. He posits that emanations from sick bodies are due to vital leakage, which can be healed by radiations from a healthy body. He has trained himself to detect these impulses as "tiny electric shocks" and can differentiate between sickness and health by the distance at which he feels them.

While many medical colleagues reject his theories, Dr. Ash has successfully healed numerous diseases and restored mobility to paralyzed individuals by "irradiating" affected areas. The article concludes that the efforts of scientists like Dr. Ash are a welcome step towards curing human disorders, potentially a greater achievement than space exploration. It questions humanity's readiness for cosmic exploration and suggests prioritizing the improvement of world conditions, such as ending wars, famine, and disease, before venturing into outer space.

The article suggests that the future of the world rests with scientists who broaden their scope to encompass the metaphysical, potentially finding answers to many problems and ushering in an era of health, harmony, and prosperity.

Reporting Flying Saucer Sightings by W. B. Smith

This section provides practical advice on how to report flying saucer sightings effectively. The author emphasizes that many valuable reports lose their worth due to inadequate preparation. A good report requires noting the exact time and place, followed by a detailed description of the object's duration and behavior. Observers should also record prevalent conditions like wind, clouds, and the position of the sun or moon, as these can help establish the observer's competence and be confirmed through weather records.

Precision in time and space, coordinated with parallel evidence from other observers, can lead to significant interpretation and data. The article advises describing the object's appearance, noting that perspective can alter perceived shape (e.g., a circle appearing as an ellipse or line). Size estimation is crucial, and the author suggests comparing the object's apparent size to familiar objects like the full moon or using a paper with holes held at arm's length.

Reporting the position of stationary or moving objects requires reference to landmarks or background elements. Knowledge of star constellations can be helpful, but identifying landmarks on a map, along with the observer's position, is a more practical method for amateurs. Estimating the angle above the horizon can be done using a string and paper method.

If two people at a distance report the same object simultaneously, several key pieces of information can be determined: the object's relation to a fixed ground location, its height, actual size, speed, and its relationship to other visible objects like airplanes or balloons.

The author stresses the importance of specific, factual data over opinions. It is often more effective to identify what an object *was not* rather than trying to definitively identify what it was. The identification of obscure objects is best left to experts, but amateurs can provide crucial facts for analysis.

More on Soviet Gravity Research by Dr. Albert Parry

This article discusses the growing importance of gravity research in the Soviet Union. It references a symposium in the Moscow magazine "Znaniye-Sila" (Knowledge is a Force) titled "Gravitational Waves-Do They Exist?" Four prominent Soviet physicist-theoreticians participated, including Professor Dmitry D. Ivanenko, who is noted for his work on the quantum theory of gravitation. Ivanenko believes mankind is "on the threshold of new discoveries" in the study of gravity.

Dr. Ivanenko praises recent Russian work in gravity research, particularly by V.B. Braghinsky and G. I. Rukman. They proposed locating gravitational waves using complex equipment with tens of thousands of cylindrical piezocrystals. Ivanenko acknowledges the difficulty of such experiments but deems them "most desirable to try out," noting that solutions to major problems often require immense effort. He advocates for governmental funding for these experiments.

Regarding practical results, it is too early to provide definitive answers. The discovery of gravitational waves is currently a task of pure science, but Ivanenko suggests it could lead to future technological applications, potentially enabling new methods of generating and utilizing gravitational waves for communication purposes.

However, Professor M.F. Shirokov questions the very existence of gravitational waves, arguing that even if discovered, they would likely have no technical application. H.E. Gertsenshtein, a younger physicist, holds a middle-ground position, convinced of their existence but noting the long road to discovery, reception, and generation. He criticizes current equipment proposals as too clumsy and expensive.

Gertsenshtein speculates on the possibility of building a powerful "gravictelescope" in the future, but calls it an "extraordinarily far-off thing." Professor A.S. Konpaneyets agrees on the reality of gravitational waves but estimates that an instrument to intercept and relay them would require miles of space to construct.

All participants agree that it is premature to discuss practical applications of gravitational waves. However, should discoveries reduce the quantitative requirements for such technology, the question of applications could be re-evaluated.

The editors of the Soviet symposium conclude that if not a reduction of weightlessness, then new communication inventions could result. They envision a future where a "graviotelescope, griovatelephone, and graviotelevision" become integral parts of engineering installations.

Something Unusual?

This brief section reports that pilots of the North American Aviation X-15 research airplane detected an unidentified object at extreme altitude during a recent record flight to 246,700 feet. The object was captured by an automatic camera during the flight piloted by Joseph A. Walker, chief pilot of the X-15 program.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of TOPSIDE revolve around the expanding frontiers of science, particularly concerning phenomena that challenge conventional understanding. There is a strong emphasis on the potential for scientific investigation to uncover new natural laws within areas previously considered fringe or pseudoscientific, such as psychic phenomena and healing. The magazine also highlights the importance of rigorous observation and data collection, as exemplified by the guidelines for reporting UFO sightings. Furthermore, it touches upon cutting-edge scientific research, such as Soviet gravity research, suggesting a future where current scientific limitations may be overcome. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, encouraging the scientific exploration of the unknown while maintaining a degree of caution and emphasizing the need for evidence-based reporting and practical application.