Tvarvetenskapliga fenomen - No 3

Magazine Overview

This issue of 'Tvärvetenskapliga Fenomen' (Cross-Scientific Phenomena), number 3, published by Hallstahammar's UFO Association, explores a range of unexplained phenomena. The cover lists subjects including astronomy, parapsychology, UFOs, archaeology, astrology, telepathy, spiritism, clairvoyance, hypnosis, acupuncture, fortune-telling, occultism, and forteana.

Levitation

The issue begins by defining levitation as the phenomenon of objects or people lifting off the ground and floating in the air, often associated with saints and ancient legends. It references the myth of Daedalus and Icarus, the Tibetan lama Milarepa, and the belief in witches' ability to fly. The article highlights the case of St. Josef of Copertino as a reliable account of levitation in Christian literature, describing how he would levitate during prayer, sometimes reaching heights of nearly five meters. It also mentions St. Teresa of Avila's accounts of levitation during spiritual ecstasy and a séance in Barr, Massachusetts, in 1852, where a person floated between the floor and ceiling. The phenomenon of D.D. Home's levitations is also discussed, including an account of him levitating out of a third-story window in London in 1868. Tibetan temples are noted for developing a method of levitation called Lung-gom or trans-walking, which combines spiritual concentration and breathing exercises.

Voice Phenomena (EVP)

Another significant section focuses on voice phenomena, or Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), which are unexplained human voices recorded on electronic devices. The phenomenon was brought to public attention in 1959 by Swedish film producer Friedrich Jürgensson, who discovered voices on tape recordings of bird songs. He theorized that these voices came from the deceased. Professor Hans Bender and Dr. F. Karger conducted tests, concluding that the voices were likely human but difficult to explain naturally. Dr. Konsantin Raudive collected approximately 100,000 examples of voice phenomena, believing they originated from the dead. Peter Bander led further experiments, identifying over 200 voices on a 20-minute recording, some of which were clear enough to be understood. Theories suggest these voices might be from the deceased, or possibly from extraterrestrial intelligences, though the former is considered more plausible.

Unexplained Artifacts

The magazine presents two mysterious artifacts: the Iron Pillars. One is located in New Delhi, India, a 7-meter high iron pillar that has remained free of rust for centuries, despite its age and the humid climate. The other is the 'Iron Man' pillar in Kottenfurst, Germany, which is also resistant to rust. The issue questions how such pure iron could have been produced in ancient times. It also details the mystery of Dr. Gurlt's cube, a peculiar object found in a Tertiary coal block, weighing 785 grams and made of a steel alloy. Discovered in 1885, its origin and the technology required to create it are unknown, especially considering its age.

The Faces of Bélmez

This section recounts the strange phenomenon of 'spirit faces' appearing on kitchen floor tiles in a house in Bélmez, Spain, starting in August 1971. The faces, described as sad and sorrowful, appeared on the red tiles and reappeared even after the tiles were replaced with concrete. Investigations revealed a medieval graveyard beneath the house. The phenomenon eventually ceased, but experts were unable to prove it was human-made. Hyper-sensitive microphones later recorded sounds not audible to the human ear, which were described as moans and cries corresponding to the faces' expressions.

The Mary Celeste and the Gloriana

While the Mary Celeste is a famous maritime mystery, the magazine highlights the lesser-known but equally baffling case of the ship Gloriana. In 1775, the Gloriana was found frozen in ice near Greenland. Its captain was found dead at his desk, frozen solid, with an unfinished log entry dated November 11, 1762. The entire crew was also found dead and frozen in normal positions, despite ample supplies of water and food. The sudden and inexplicable deaths of all on board, leaving tasks unfinished, remain a profound mystery.

Daniel Dunglas Home

The issue profiles Daniel Dunglas Home (1833-1886), a renowned Scottish medium known for phenomena such as clairvoyance, elongation, and levitation. His abilities were observed by leading scientists, though often not under strict control. He was documented to have caused tables to lose weight during controlled experiments and demonstrated levitation, appearing outside windows on the third floor. He also exhibited resistance to fire, with his face and hands remaining unharmed when placed in flames.

Ted Serios and Psychic Photography

Finally, the article discusses Ted Serios, an American born in 1918, who claimed to be able to produce images of distant or nearby objects on photographic film simply by staring at the camera. Despite a lack of formal education, Serios underwent extensive study with psychiatrist Jule Eisenbud, who concluded that Serios possessed a genuine psychic ability to influence photographic plates, ruling out fraud.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the exploration of unexplained phenomena that lie beyond conventional scientific understanding. These include physical manifestations like levitation and poltergeist activity, auditory phenomena like EVP, mysterious historical artifacts, and purported psychic abilities. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting various cases and theories without necessarily endorsing them as definitively proven, but rather as phenomena worthy of investigation within a 'cross-scientific' framework.

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt from 1977 delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena, ranging from psychic abilities and paranormal occurrences to technological concepts and mysterious natural events.

Serios: The Man Who Produced Images

The article "Serios" explores the case of an individual who, despite being subjected to various tests, could allegedly produce images of landscapes, buildings, vehicles, and people. According to Eisenbud's report, these images were expressions of Serios's subconscious, with the choice of subject reflecting his personality. For example, when asked to produce an image of the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, he created an image of a Triumph car, which he was more interested in. The mechanism by which these images appeared on film remained a mystery. Serios seemed unaffected by magnetic fields, even producing images within a 1200 gauss field. He could also produce images when a camera was placed behind lead-impregnated glass, typically used for X-ray protection. Professor Anton Neuhäusler proposed a theory of 'reversed vision,' where the image goes through the eye to the brain's visual center and is then sent back through the optic nerve as light pulses to the film. The article concludes that while the phenomenon appears genuine, more research is needed, contingent on similar cases emerging.

The Handprint: A 103-Year-Old Mystery

The "Handavtrycket" (The Handprint) section details a peculiar phenomenon at a Pennsylvania prison. A handprint on a cell wall, left by an inmate named Tom Fisher 103 years prior, reappears no matter how many times it is washed or painted over. Fisher, who was hanged on March 28, 1878, predicted that his print would remain as long as the prison stood, as proof of his innocence. Sheriff Luis Lisella of the Carbon County Jail in Thorpe, Pennsylvania, states that Fisher was accused of murdering a union leader. The night before his execution, Fisher swore he was innocent. A member of a secret society called "Molly Maguires" informed the sheriff that Fisher was innocent, but the governor ignored the telegram. Geologist Dr. Jeffrey T. Cline studied the handprint and found no trace of grease or any organic material that would explain its presence. The analysis only detected the substance used to paint over it. Prison officials, including Sheriff Ritchard Cochran, have been unable to remove the print, which reappears within days of being painted over.

Lost Aircraft: A WWII Enigma

The "Död Landade Flygplan... Eller ???" (Dead Landed Aircraft... Or ???) section recounts an incident from World War II. After an air battle, one of two British RE 8 fighter planes disappeared into a cloud. Hours later, the plane was sighted gliding perfectly onto the airfield with its engine stopped. However, no one emerged from the aircraft. The pilot and observer were found to be dead, having passed away hours earlier, yet the plane continued to fly until its fuel ran out. The article suggests possibilities such as the plane flying on its own momentum, a lucky landing, or a strange coincidence, but offers no definitive explanation.

Cyborgs: The Future of Organisms

The "Cyborgs" section defines a cyborg as a Cybernetic Organism, a technology that directly connects a living biological brain with a computer. This technology is reportedly being developed in secret by the American Navy and the Soviet Union. It is described as a new field of research opening possibilities for space technology. The article quotes German cybernetician Herbert U. Franke, who suggests that the brain of an unborn child would be best suited for this purpose due to its lack of consciousness and emotions, allowing it to store the necessary information for space travel without humanistic concerns. Such a cyborg would be a 'messenger for our planet.'

Returned Signals: Mysterious TV Broadcasts

"Tillbaka Sända Signaler ?" (Returned Signals?) discusses an event from the 1950s where TV signals from an American radio station that had been off the air for four years were received in England. The signals, from station KLEE in Houston, Texas, which had changed its call sign to KPRC, were test images. Dr. Frank D. Drake, a scientist investigating potential signals from stars, was sent to England to investigate. It was discovered that the BBC had photographed TV images not only from KLEE but also from other American stations, all hand-drawn and not resembling standard test images. This led to the conclusion that it was a practical joke. However, Ivan T. Sanderson noted that KLEE-TV's programs, particularly a detective series, were broadcast with remarkable clarity in northern USA and Canada. A woman in Wisconsin watched KLEE-TV nightly for two months, witnessing a repeating scenario of a man on a balcony in a French-style house in New Orleans, shouting "Save me, help me, they're taking me!" before jumping off. Sanderson theorized that this repetition might be an attempt by extraterrestrial intelligences to make contact.

The "Jägargubben" Apparition

The "Jägargubben" (The Hunter Man) section describes a personal encounter. The narrator was driving on a dark, clear night in August 1967 when he saw a man walking in the middle of the road. The man was dressed in old-fashioned, loose-fitting grey clothing, with baggy trousers tied at the knees, and wore soft leather shoes. He had a dark, round hat, a hunting bag on his right hip, and a flintlock rifle in his left hand. He had long hair and a beard. The man walked with a light, springy step and seemed oblivious to the approaching car. When the narrator got close, the man disappeared instantly, without any sound of footsteps or rustling in the woods. The narrator encountered the same apparition again later, under similar conditions, and again the man disappeared instantly. He later asked locals if they knew of anyone matching the description, but received evasive answers, with one elderly woman exclaiming, "Jösses, has he seen the old man!"

The Mystery of the Moving Stones

The "Hemligheten med de Mystiska Stenarna" (The Secret of the Mysterious Stones) article discusses the phenomenon of large stones moving on their own in Death Valley, California. Scientists, including geologist Dr. Robert P. Sharp, believe that powerful storms over a muddy, slippery surface cause the stones to move. Measurements have shown stones moving up to 300 meters, and in some cases, up to three kilometers. Dr. Sharp suggests that strong winds, like gales or hurricanes, are required for this movement. However, no one has ever witnessed the stones moving. Dr. Sharp's conclusions are based on experiments. Don Spalding, superintendent of Death Valley National Park, remains skeptical, stating that while experts study the stones, no one has witnessed the actual movement or found a definitive cause.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt consistently explores unexplained phenomena, presenting various cases and theories without necessarily endorsing any single one. The magazine appears to be open to investigating reports of paranormal events, UFO sightings, and other mysteries, encouraging further research and discussion. The editorial stance seems to be one of curiosity and a desire to document and analyze these unusual occurrences, acknowledging the limitations of current scientific understanding in explaining them.

This issue, identified as number 20 and likely from 1956, is titled 'BRIDEY MURPHY - ETT FALL AV REINKARNATION?' (Bridey Murphy - A Case of Reincarnation?). The magazine is in Swedish and appears to be from Sweden.

The Bridey Murphy Case

The lead article details the Bridey Murphy case, which began when a businessman in Colorado, with a hobby of hypnosis, put his neighbor, Ruth Simmons, into a trance. This led to revelations that appeared to be from a past life, almost a hundred years prior. Simmons, who was not her real name, claimed to be Bridey Murphy, recounting her childhood, marriage, death, and burial in 1800s Ireland, and her subsequent rebirth in the United States 59 years later. The hypnotist, Morey Bernstein, wrote a bestseller about the case in 1956 titled 'The Search for Bridey Murphy'. Bernstein used hypnotic regression to guide Simmons back to her childhood and then further, to a time before birth, where he was astonished to hear Bridey Murphy speak.

Bridey's narrative described her life in Cork, Ireland, as the daughter of an attorney named Duncan Murphy and his wife Kathleen. At seventeen, she married a lawyer, Sean Brian Mo Carthy, and moved to Belfast. She recounted a fatal fall and her own burial, describing the gravestone and the sensation of living after death. She described this feeling as neither pain nor pleasure. Bridey stated she was reborn in America but could not explain how. Ruth Simmons herself was born in the American Midwest in 1923, had never been to Ireland, and did not even have the slightest Irish accent.

Further investigation into the facts presented by Bridey Murphy occurred after Bernstein's book was published. Journalists sent to Ireland to trace the woman found inconsistencies. Bridey claimed to be born in Cork on December 20, 1798, and to have died in 1864, but neither event was registered in official archives. The house she described as 'The Meadows' could not be verified, and most Irish houses were built of brick or stone, not wood. Her husband's name, 'See-an' (or 'Shawn'), was a common pronunciation for Sean in Ireland, but 'Brian' was Ruth Simmons's other name.

Despite discrepancies, some details were accurate, such as her description of the coast near Antrim and a journey from Belfast to Cork. However, her mention of attending a church named S.Theresa, which was not built until 1911, was incorrect. She also mentioned shopping at a grocer named Farr, which did exist. The article notes that while there were gaps in Bridey's story, it was a remarkably detailed description of 1800s Ireland, containing information Ruth Simmons likely wouldn't have known.

Psychiatrists and psychologists who studied the case noted that people in deep hypnosis can be highly susceptible to suggestion. Bernstein himself admitted that he had spoken to Ruth Simmons about what he wanted while she was hypnotized, leading to her identification as Bridey Murphy. Experts concluded that the best way to find the truth was to investigate Simmons's own childhood and her relationship with her parents, rather than focusing on Ireland. The book suggests Simmons was raised by a Norwegian uncle and his wife, of mixed German-Scottish-Irish descent, but does not mention her biological parents. Scientists believe that nothing Bridey Murphy said cannot be explained as a memory from Simmons's forgotten childhood, and that the mystery could be solved if Simmons allowed her earliest childhood to be investigated under hypnosis.

Atlantis - Legend or Truth?

This section explores the legend of Atlantis, as described by the Greek philosopher Plato. Plato wrote of a rich, powerful island whose dominion extended to Europe and Africa. Its citizens, skilled in peace and war, broke moral laws and were punished by a flood. For centuries, Plato's account has inspired writers and poets, though historians and geologists have doubted its veracity. Plato named this lost paradise Atlantis and placed it beyond the 'Pillars of Hercules' (modern Gibraltar Strait). He described it as larger than Libya and Asia Minor, suggesting it could only have existed in the Atlantic Ocean.

Plato is considered a serious and credible figure, which is why his story has been studied. However, known facts suggest Atlantis could not have existed. Plato's narrative was based on hearsay from Solon, who in turn heard it from Egyptian priests. The catastrophe was said to have occurred 9,000 years before Solon's birth. Geologists, however, state that the Atlantic Ocean has existed in its current state for millions of years, with no trace of a previously inhabited island that sank beneath the surface.

The society described by Plato bears a strong resemblance to the Minoan civilization centered on Crete. This civilization was highly developed, with written laws, knowledge of metallurgy, advanced engineering like canals and tunnels, developed harbors, and even indoor climate control and water toilets. Towards the end of the 15th century BC, this civilization vanished as quickly and mysteriously as Plato's Atlantis. For centuries, researchers pondered how such a highly developed society could be wiped out so rapidly. Recent archaeological findings suggest the Minoan civilization was destroyed by a single, violent volcanic eruption.

The volcanic island of Thera in the Aegean Sea was almost completely destroyed around 1470 BC. The 1500-meter-high mountain erupted so powerfully that its central part sank into a hole 400 meters below sea level. The surrounding area, now the island of Santorini, was covered by a 35-meter-thick layer of volcanic ash, beneath which remains of the Minoan era have been found.

How does this relate to Atlantis? The simple answer might be that Plato, as often happens with translations or retellings of historical events, misinterpreted Solon's writings. If the catastrophe occurred 900 years, instead of 9,000 years, before Solon's birth, it would have happened around the same time as the Thera eruption. Two other factors support the theory that Plato made a mistake. The Greek words for 'larger than' and 'halfway' sound very similar. Perhaps Atlantis was halfway between Libya and Asia Minor and not larger than those areas. And was the Gibraltar Strait indeed the 'Pillars of Hercules'? There are two capes on the Greek coast near Crete that also bear that name. The evidence suggests that the mystery of Atlantis has been solved.

The Mystery of the 'Mary Celeste'

Archaeologists have unearthed a complete city beneath the volcanic ash of Santorini, and its similarity to the fabled Atlantis suggests Plato's paradise may not be mere legend.

The article then shifts to the mystery of the 'Mary Celeste'. The brigantine 'Dei Gratia', sailing from New York to Gibraltar, passed a peculiar two-masted schooner. The schooner's course was erratic, as if its crew were drunk. When the wind changed direction, the schooner also changed course aimlessly. The captain of the 'Dei Gratia' saw no one at the helm. He signaled, but received no answer. As the schooner drew nearer, a lifeboat was lowered, and the captain, second mate, and two sailors rowed over to the silent, peculiar ship. They clearly saw its name painted on the stern: 'Mary Celeste'.

The captain and mate boarded the vessel. It was 3 PM on December 5, 1872. What the two men found was a mystery that had puzzled people for over a hundred years. No sailors came to meet them. They searched the boat from bow to stern, but the vessel was abandoned. The 'Mary Celeste' was sailing by itself, alone, across the vast Atlantic.

The ship was in excellent condition. Its hull, masts, and sails were perfect. The cargo, consisting of barrels of spirits, was still securely stowed. There was plenty of food and water. In the forecastle, they found the crew's sea chests and clothes, dry and undisturbed. Razors found nearby were not rusty. Pots with remnants of a meal hung over the stove in the galley, where the fire had died out. The table in the captain's cabin was set for breakfast, but it seemed as if the meal had been interrupted.

Porridge was left on a plate, and someone had cut the top off a boiled egg. In another part of the cabin, a sewing machine lay with a child's nightgown. Nearby were bottles of oil, a stack of cotton fabric, and a thimble. Leaning against the wall was a collection of books and a small rosewood organ. Everything was undamaged and in its place. It seemed as if the entire crew had suddenly decided to throw themselves overboard all at once. Whatever had happened could not have been long ago, as the food would have rotted and the metal tarnished in the sea air.

The second mate's cabin was also in perfect order. On his table lay a paper with an unfinished calculation. It seemed as if he too had been interrupted. Gold medals, jewels, and money were still locked in the ship's safe. The only thing missing was the ship's chronometer.

The captain of the 'Dei Gratia' suspected mutiny. But if mutiny had occurred, how had the crew managed to get away? The 'Mary Celeste's' lifeboats were still hanging in their davits. In that case, the men must have been picked up by a passing ship or jumped overboard.

The men from the 'Dei Gratia' found some peculiar clues. In one cabin, they found an axe, stained with something resembling blood. This fact was later ridiculed during the official investigation. On the starboard railing, they found similar stains. Nearby, there was a hack, which seemed to have been made with an axe. On both sides of the bow, a two-meter-long and three-centimeter-wide groove had recently been cut into the exterior planking. There was no logical reason for this.

When the captain of the 'Dei Gratia' examined the ship's logbook, he found that the last entry was dated November 25. This was ten days prior. The entry was made when the 'Mary Celeste' passed the island of Santa Maria in the Azores, about 400 nautical miles from where it was found. If it was abandoned shortly after the entry was made, it must have drifted unmanned and without a helmsman for over half a week. This seemed impossible. The 'Mary Celeste' had its sails set to catch the wind from the starboard, meaning it was sailing on a starboard tack. The 'Dei Gratia' had followed a similar course, not far behind. However, for the entire stretch from the Azores, the 'Dei Gratia' had been forced to sail on a port tack. It seemed incredible that the 'Mary Celeste' could have reached the location where it was found with its sails and rigging set as they were. Someone must have navigated her for several days after the last logbook entry. Who? Or what?

Investigations by the British Admiralty's Gibraltar department did not help answer the questions. They found that the 'Mary Celeste' was registered in 1871 with the American Lloyd as a New York-based schooner-brig with a deadweight of 206 tons. Someone had tampered with one of the spirit barrels. In addition to the chronometer, the sextant and cargo manifests were also missing.

It turned out that ten people had been on board the 'Mary Celeste': Captain Briggs, seven crew members, and the captain's wife and young daughter. None of them have ever been seen again. Many explanations for the mystery of the 'Mary Celeste' have been proposed, but none have been satisfactory. And it is unlikely that one ever will be. The riddle of the ship that sailed itself will likely remain unsolved, as it has for over a hundred years.

Fisher's Revenge

This section recounts the murder of Frederick Fisher. On a dark winter evening, James Farley, a respected farmer in Campbelltown, New South Wales, was walking near the home of Frederick Fisher. He saw a figure sitting on a fence, pointing at a spot in Fisher's horse pasture. The figure was so terrifying that Farley fled, convinced he had seen a ghost.

Fisher was a former convict who had become a wealthy farmer. Shortly before being imprisoned for debt, he had transferred his assets to a friend, another ex-convict named George Worral, to prevent his creditors from seizing them. Six months after his release from prison, he returned unexpectedly.

On June 26, 1826, a few months before Farley saw the ghost, Fisher had been seen leaving a club in Campbelltown after drinking for a long time and was not seen again. Worral told a plausible story: that Fisher had returned to England on the ship 'Lady Vincent'. However, three months after Fisher's disappearance, the authorities became suspicious and placed a notice in the Sydney Gazette offering a reward of 20 pounds for anyone who found Fisher's body.

Worral was questioned by the police because he was seen wearing trousers known to have belonged to Fisher. He accused four other men of murdering his friend and claimed to have witnessed the murder. This unlikely story increased the authorities' suspicions, and Worral was arrested.

It was at this point that Farley saw the ghost. At Farley's persistent request, a constable named Newland went to the horse pasture with a tracker to help. They found bloodstains on a fence post, and at the spot the ghost had pointed to, they found Fisher's severely massacred body in a shallow grave.

Worral was convicted of the murder, and before his execution, he confessed to a priest that he had killed Fisher, but claimed the act was accidental.

Hanged Because of a Stranger's Dream

When Shaun Cott disappeared from Maitland, Australia, sometime in the last century, it was generally assumed he had gone to seek gold. This continued until a stranger in the area had a very vivid dream one night. The dream led the police to dig up a patch of ground on the farm where Cott had worked. They found his body, with his skull fractured. Cott's employer was hanged for the murder, which would never have been discovered if the stranger had not had his dream.

The Jasbir Case

In the spring of 1954, in the village of Rasulpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, a Jat family had a three-and-a-half-year-old son named Jasbir. He was gravely ill with smallpox, and one evening his father believed the boy had died. The father went to his brother to ask for help burying his son, but the brother suggested waiting until morning. A few hours later, faint signs of life appeared in the boy, and he slowly regained consciousness.

Several days passed before he could speak again, and several weeks before he could express himself clearly. However, he showed a remarkable change in his behavior. He claimed to be the son of Shankar in Vehedi and wanted to go there. He refused to eat his family's food because, as a Brahmin, he belonged to a higher caste. A Brahmin woman living nearby learned of Jasbir's refusal to eat and agreed to cook for him. The father provided her with ingredients, and she cooked for Jasbir in the Brahmin style for over a year. However, the family tricked him, sometimes giving him food not prepared by the Brahmin woman. He discovered the deception, and this, along with pressure from the family, eventually led him to eat normal food again. His way of speaking also changed. He began using more 'refined' words, common among the higher circles to which Brahmins belonged. He lost interest in his friends and became isolated.

The village of Vehedi is only 35 km from Rasulpur as the crow flies, but both villages are far from main roads, and communication between them is rare. Jasbir's family had never been there, only heard the name. For many years, in fact, no resident of Rasulpur had visited Vehedi. But Jasbir spoke more and more about 'his' life in Vehedi. He particularly described how, during a wedding procession, he had eaten poisoned sweets, fallen from a wagon, hit his head, and died a few hours later. He said his name was Sobha Ram. He perceived himself as an adult, claimed to be married, and to have children.

News of Jasbir's strange behavior spread through the village. A woman born in Rasulpur but married in Vehedi recognized Jasbir when she visited in 1957; her previous visit was no earlier than 1952.

The woman recounted the incident to her family in Vehedi. It turned out that Jasbir's details about 'his' death and other circumstances matched known facts about a Sobha Ram, son of Shankar Lil Tyagi in Vehedi. He had died at the age of 22 in May 1954, around the same time as Jasbir's illness. Sobha Ram's family visited Rasulpur, and Jasbir recognized them and correctly identified their kinship to Sobha Ram. Later, Jasbir was allowed to travel to Vehedi, where he was dropped off at the train station and shown the way to the Tyagi farm. He did this without difficulty and showed detailed knowledge of the Tyagi family and their relationships. He enjoyed his time in Vehedi and returned to Rasulpur very reluctantly.

He visited Vehedi several more times, strongly identifying with the Tyagi family and preferring to live there rather than with his parents. In Rasulpur, he was alone and isolated, almost an outcast among other children.

A researcher named Stevenson has investigated the case on several occasions, interviewing all relevant persons. He examined 39 details that Jasbir had previously provided about Sobha Ram's life. All the details were correct, except one: there was no proof, only suspicion, that Sobha Ram had been poisoned. Jasbir even named the alleged murderer.

The Cheops Pyramid

Few things have fascinated humanity as much as the Cheops Pyramid, this enormous structure located at Giza in Egypt. Many people have researched the pyramid to understand its origin and similar matters. One of these was John Taylor, who wrote the book 'The Great Pyramid: Why Was It Built? And Who Built It?'. One of his most important discoveries was that dividing its height by half the circumference at the base yielded an impressively accurate approximation of the number pi (3.1415). Taylor's theories would have been forgotten long ago if the professor of astronomy Charles Piazzi Smyth had not become interested in the subject. Smyth, author of the book 'Our Inheritance in the Great Pyramid' in 1864, became strongly interested in the subject after reading Taylor's ideas.

Initially, Smyth discovered that the monument's base area divided by the width of one of the stones covering the pyramid gave the exact number 365, the number of days in a year!

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of the magazine appears to focus on mysteries, unexplained phenomena, and historical enigmas. The prominent coverage of the Bridey Murphy reincarnation case, the legend of Atlantis, and the 'Mary Celeste' ghost ship suggests an editorial stance that is open to exploring the paranormal, the unexplained, and historical puzzles. The inclusion of other cases like the Fisher murder and the Jasbir reincarnation further reinforces this theme of delving into the strange and the unknown. The magazine seems to present these cases with a degree of journalistic investigation, attempting to verify facts while acknowledging the inherent mysteries.

Title: Fönstret
Issue: 3
Volume: 1
Date: 1979

This issue of Fönstret magazine features articles on ancient mysteries and paranormal phenomena, including a detailed exploration of the 'pyramidtum' and a chilling ghost story.

Pyramidtum and the Great Pyramid

The first article, titled "Pyramidtum," delves into the measurement systems allegedly used in the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza. It introduces the "pyramidtum" as a unit of measurement defined as one-25th of the pyramid's base width, which the author, referencing Smyth, claims is equivalent to an English inch. This unit, according to the article, was used to derive scientific facts about the Earth's average density, average temperature, and the speed of light, facts that were supposedly only confirmed much later.

The article presents several purported discoveries linked to the pyramid's dimensions and placement:

• The height of the pyramid, multiplied by one billion, equals the distance to the sun.
• The pyramid is precisely aligned with the North-South direction, deviating by only 1/12th of a degree.
• The height of one of the inclined sides is equal to half the base length multiplied by the golden ratio.

Detailed dimensions are provided: the pyramid's height is 147 meters, its base length is 232 meters, and it contains 2,600,000 cubic meters of stone. The number of blocks is estimated between 2.3 and 2.6 million, enough to build a meter-wide and meter-high wall from Strömstad to Ystad, and even up to Haparanda, with stone left over.

Each block is said to weigh between 2.5 to 5 tons and is polished to a surface fineness of 0.3 mm per side. The blocks are fitted so tightly that a knife cannot be inserted between them, with a thin film of cement applied. The ceiling of the 'King's Chamber' features a relieving structure of 43 granite beams, each 8 meters long and 1.5 x 2.1 meters in cross-section, weighing 75 tons.

Furthermore, the article makes extraordinary claims about the pyramid's effects: it is said to induce a "mumifieringsprocess" (mummification process) that prevents food items like eggs, milk, and meat from rotting. Additionally, razor blades placed inside the pyramid, aligned North-South, are claimed to sharpen after a few days.

The Girl Who Brought the Doctor

The second article, "Flickan som hämtale doktorn" (The Girl Who Brought the Doctor), recounts a chilling incident involving Dr. S. Weir Mitchell, a renowned nerve specialist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during the 1800s.

After a long day's work, Dr. Mitchell was awakened by his doorbell. A thin, shivering girl in a worn shawl stood at his door, pleading with him to come to her gravely ill mother. The doctor followed her through snowy streets to an old tenement building, where she led him up a flight of stairs.

Upon entering the room, he found a sick woman whom he recognized as having previously worked in his own household. He diagnosed her with pneumonia and sent for the necessary medicine. He commented on how fortunate she was to have such a caring daughter.

At these words, the old woman looked up and revealed a shocking truth: "My daughter died a month ago. Her shoes and shawl are in that little cupboard." The doctor looked and found the same shawl the girl had worn over her shoulders. It was heavy and dry, and could not possibly have been worn outdoors that evening. The girl who had led him there had completely vanished.

Bibliography of Interdisciplinary Literature

The third section of the magazine is a "Boklista över tvärvetenskaplig litteratur" (Booklist of interdisciplinary literature). This list contains numerous titles related to ufology, paranormal phenomena, ancient mysteries, and fringe science, along with their authors, publishers, and publication years. Notable authors include Erich von Däniken, Charles Fort, and authors associated with PSI and parapsychology. The list also includes contact information for "UFO Sverige Aktuellt" and details for ordering a comprehensive literature list for 5 Swedish Kronor via stamps.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to have a strong interest in unexplained phenomena, ancient mysteries, and the paranormal. The editorial stance seems to be one of exploring and presenting these topics, as evidenced by the detailed discussion of the pyramid's alleged properties and the inclusion of a ghost story and an extensive bibliography of related literature. The inclusion of specific measurements and purported scientific connections for the pyramid suggests an attempt to lend credibility to these unconventional theories, while the ghost story taps into supernatural and unexplained events. The bibliography indicates a commitment to providing resources for further research into these subjects.