UFO Information - 1978 No 04

Magazine Overview

This issue of UFO-Information, number 4 from 1978, is published by UFO-Sverige and features a cover illustration depicting a hypothetical array of listening antennas on the far side of the moon, intended to receive messages from other civilizations. The magazine focuses on UFO phenomena, ancient mysteries, and societal commentary.

Editorial and Content

The editorial section, penned by Carl-Axel Jonzon, titled 'Ur led är tiden - vrid den rätt igen!' (Time is out of joint - set it right!), critiques the current economic system for stifling innovation and neglecting valuable historical knowledge and resources. Jonzon argues that the pursuit of profit prevents the adoption of simpler, more environmentally friendly technologies and that societal values have degraded, leading to widespread apathy and neglect.

The magazine includes a detailed article by Carl-Anton Mattsson, 'Hjälmprydda gudar och flygande farkoster!' (Helmeted gods and flying craft!), which explores ancient high cultures in Sri Lanka (Ceylon). Mattsson describes the magnificent structures like the dagobas in Anuradapura and the engineering marvels of ancient water management systems, including the Parakrama Samudra dam. He draws parallels between Sri Lankan pyramids and those in Mexico and Guatemala, and notes the sophisticated stonework. A significant part of the article focuses on a painting in the Tivana Image House temple, depicting figures descending from the sky on a golden ladder, which Mattsson interprets as potential UFOs and 'visiting gods' from other worlds, likening them to the 'vimanas' mentioned in ancient Indian texts.

Another article, 'Femtio små gröna män' (Fifty small green men), details an observation by Dominique Menuge in France in 1976. Menuge reported seeing approximately fifty small, green, frog-like beings with large red eyes and webbed feet standing in a field at dusk. The investigation, conducted with the gendarmerie, found no physical traces.

'Makar såg vitt ljusklot vid två tillfällen' (Couple saw white light sphere on two occasions) recounts two separate sightings by Hanna and Hugo Öhlund in Byviken, Sweden. The first, in 1954, involved a bright white, disk-shaped object landing in a field. The second, in 1965, described a similar object following their car for a considerable distance before disappearing rapidly. The sightings are noted for their similarity and the lack of natural explanations.

'Conisbrough-fotot med invånare på andra planeter' (The Conisbrough photo with inhabitants from other planets) discusses a UFO photograph taken by Stephen C. Pratt in England in 1966. The photo, initially doubted, was later examined by experts who deemed it authentic. Pratt describes the sighting of three cup-shaped objects. The article also references other cases involving beings with webbed hands and feet, and the skepticism surrounding 'small green men' reports.

Other Content

The issue also includes a section on ordering T-shirts with the UFO-Sverige emblem, information on subscriptions, and a request for pen pals interested in parapsychology and UFOs. An article about moving addresses for the magazine is also present.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the investigation of UFO sightings, the examination of ancient civilizations for evidence of advanced technology or extraterrestrial contact, and a critical perspective on societal issues such as the suppression of innovation and the decline of moral values. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, coupled with a concern for the direction of modern society and a belief in the importance of historical wisdom and technological advancement.

This issue of BUFORA's commentary, dated July 1966, focuses on UFO phenomena and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. The cover headline boldly suggests a kinship with inhabitants of other planets, setting the tone for the articles within.

The Pratt Photo Case

The issue begins with a detailed account of a photograph taken by the Pratt family in Conisbrough, Yorkshire, on March 28, 1966. The photo captured three dome-shaped UFO silhouettes. BUFORA's Halifax department interviewed the witnesses and deemed the photo potentially authentic, noting the extraordinary nature of the sighting. The object was described as slow-moving, pulsating orange light, approximately five degrees in diameter. A humming sound was also reported. The article speculates on possible explanations, including camouflage by light adaptation or the use of filters that block certain spectrums of light. It emphasizes the difficulty of proving the photograph's authenticity, acknowledging that many previously accepted UFO photos have been explained away. A key point raised is that the object's silhouette was visible against a clear sky, suggesting it was not merely reflecting light from a distant source. The possibility of ultraviolet radiation, which is sensitive to film but not the human eye, is also considered. The photograph was sent to Dr. G.G. Doel, head of BUFORA, for further analysis, and was considered one of the most valuable received in years.

Extraterrestrial Life and the Origin of Life

Another article explores the theory that life on Earth may not have originated in Earth's oceans but could have been imported from space via dust clouds. This hypothesis, put forth by Frederick Hoyle and Chandra Wickrama Singhe in the British scientific journal Nature, suggests that biological activity might have begun in space before Earth's formation. This theory implies that Earth's inhabitants could be related to beings on other planets.

Stephen C. Pratt's Experience

A brief profile of Stephen C. Pratt, the photographer of the Conisbrough UFO, is included. He was 15 years old at the time of the sighting and is a member of BUFORA, though not actively involved in UFO research. He stays informed through publications like 'Flying Saucer Review'. His family, initially uninterested in UFOs, was impacted by the 1966 experience.

Are UFOs Extraterrestrial Machines?

This section critically examines the question of whether UFOs are extraterrestrial in origin. It argues that while many UFO sightings can be explained (e.g., as Venus or weather balloons), a purely statistical approach to debunking all cases is logically flawed. The article stresses that even a single unexplained case warrants serious investigation. It critiques the method of dismissing UFOs based on the impracticality of interstellar travel, citing William Markowitz's argument in 'Science' that the energy requirements for such journeys make them impossible with current understanding. The author finds Markowitz's reasoning naive and overly dismissive, particularly given the limited understanding of physics and space travel. The article also touches upon the difficulty of proving the impossibility of interstellar travel, comparing it to historical mathematical problems like squaring the circle. It highlights that UFOs themselves often exhibit behaviors that defy conventional physics, such as hovering without rotors and accelerating to high speeds instantaneously without apparent friction or sonic booms.

The Unknown Gravity

The article delves into the concept of unknown gravitational forces. It suggests that if a strong gravitational field could be artificially generated or manipulated, it might explain UFO propulsion. The idea of 'screening off' existing gravitational fields to achieve acceleration is proposed as a potentially more feasible approach than generating a field from scratch. The phenomenon of diamagnetism is also mentioned as a possible explanation for UFO drive mechanisms.

UFO Social Patterns and Contact

A common argument against the extraterrestrial hypothesis is the lack of formal contact with Earth's authorities. The article counters this by suggesting that the motives of extraterrestrial intelligences are unknowable. Possible reasons for non-contact include intentions of conquest, long-term observation for an ecological experiment, or a desire to study developing civilizations without interference. The author posits that the 'human-like' appearance of some alleged alien beings could support the idea of Earth being an experimental colony.

The Graz Sightings: A Detailed Account

This extensive section details a series of UFO observations in Graz, Austria, between 1972 and 1974, investigated by Ernst Berger and MUFON-C.E.S. The primary witness, Alois A., a former anti-aircraft pilot, and his wife Sabine, a nurse, reported numerous sightings. The observed objects varied in shape, including discs, cones, triangles, and elliptical forms, sometimes accompanied by smaller craft. Distinctive features included geometric color patterns and a 'zoom-effect' where objects appeared to move directly towards or away from the observer. The phenomena included objects disappearing by 'zooming out', being 'collected' by a larger craft, or vanishing suddenly. Specific incidents described include:

• May 17, 1972: A red star-like object observed by Sabine, later identified by Alois as a milky white oval with a red-orange ring, visible for three hours.
• June 1972: The 'drop' object reappeared, accompanied by a red disc emitting a conical beam. Dogs barked during sightings.
• Summer 1972: White light balls were seen jumping and moving erratically, described as a 'dance of the globes'.
• Late July 1972: A round yellow and green object rotated with a spiral effect, causing blinding light and a headache.
• July or August 1972: Four conical objects flew in formation, leaving a green phosphorescence.
• Late August/Early September 1972: 'Sector discs' appeared, characterized by red and green sections.
• March 1973: A 'tile plate disc' object, divided into nine sections, was observed.
• March 26, 1973: A 'blue hand' shaped object was seen near Alois as he cycled to work. It appeared to draw away from him and then ascended steeply.
• July 1973: The 'Scorpion case' involved a rectangular object with four pointed projections.
• August 1974: 'Traffic signs' (triangle and circle) were observed.

The report notes that the Alois family was self-critical and thorough in their reporting. The investigation of the sighting area revealed geological features like tectonic faults and a karst crater. The variety of shapes and the way objects often oriented themselves towards the observer were considered particularly puzzling.

Men in White

In late 1972, two young men dressed in white visited the Alois couple, claiming to be part of a Mormon mission and asking about American political figures. One claimed to be a Harvard student, the other an astronomy student. They spoke fluent German and mentioned being nephews of Captain Charles R. Reid, who disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle.

Can Humanity Save Itself from the Labyrinth?

This section shifts to a broader philosophical and environmental perspective. The author argues that humanity is on a path of self-destruction due to industrial pollution and the relentless pursuit of profit. The consequences include widespread environmental problems, diseases, and genetic damage. The author criticizes the scientific community's often-reactive approach and the tendency to dismiss serious issues. The article references Carl-Axel Jonzon's writings and highlights the work of researchers like Daniel W. Fry, who claimed telepathic contact with extraterrestrials. Fry's experiences suggest that humanity has chosen a technologically flawed path leading to potential annihilation. The article also introduces the concept of metaphysics as a potential science that could help humanity find a way out of its current predicament, questioning whether there is enough time left.

Mysterious Signals from Space

This article discusses the discovery of mysterious radio signals from space, initially dubbed 'LGM' (Little Green Men). It explains that while some signals originate from natural sources like neutron stars, pulsars, and quasars, others remain unexplained and could potentially be from extraterrestrial civilizations. The article details the natural sources of radio waves, including hydrogen clouds in galactic spiral arms, which emit at a wavelength of 21 cm. It also describes pulsars as the remnants of collapsed stars, incredibly dense objects that emit vast amounts of energy, including radio waves, due to their rapid rotation and strong magnetic fields. The regular, pulsed nature of these signals is attributed to the misalignment of the pulsar's magnetic poles with its rotation axis.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores the intersection of unexplained phenomena, scientific inquiry, and philosophical speculation. There is a clear leaning towards investigating UFO reports seriously, rather than dismissing them outright. The articles question conventional scientific paradigms and encourage an open mind towards possibilities, even those that seem extraordinary. The environmental and societal critiques suggest a concern for humanity's future, linking technological advancement with potential self-destruction, and hinting that perhaps extraterrestrial knowledge or intervention could offer a path forward. The overall stance is one of critical but open-minded investigation into the unknown.

Title: UFO-Information
Issue: 4
Year: 1978
Publisher: UFO-TRYCK SKÄNNINGE
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-Information delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena and related scientific concepts. It features reports of unusual sightings, discusses astronomical phenomena like pulsars and black holes, and touches upon the search for extraterrestrial intelligence.

Content Summary

Cover Story: Family Saw a UFO Land Near Lagoa Negra

The cover story details an extraordinary event reported in the newspaper "Diário de Belo Horizonte" on November 30, 1958. Professor Felipe Machado Carrion, a geography docent, described an incident from January of the same year involving five credible witnesses at the dark lake Lagoa Negra. They observed a nearly circular object, about 10 meters in diameter and 3 meters high, emitting an orange-red glow. The object descended and hovered motionless about 2 meters above the ground. Two tall individuals in white, one-piece suits and three smaller beings resembling children, emerged. The smaller beings wore brown overalls and had white skin and long black hair. They moved with remarkable speed, appearing to glide rather than walk. The beings showed no interest in the surroundings but approached a nearby house before returning to the object. The craft then departed at high speed. At the landing site, small shoe prints with smooth heels and soles marked with a star were found, along with impressions of bare feet with pronounced heels and long toes, unlike normal human footprints. Notably, the family's guard dogs remained calm throughout the event.

A diagram on page 3 shows a sketch of the area from 1949, related to a previous article titled "Vägsladden" (The Roadside). The sketch includes elements like a road, a milk bridge, a barn, fields, a stone slab, houses, fir trees, and a hill named Tildasberget.

Signals from Space: Pulsars and the Search for Extraterrestrial Life

Page 1 and 2 discuss the possibility of signals from extraterrestrial civilizations. An illustration depicts Earth sending two intense bands of signals, with 95% of the Milky Way's civilizations potentially receiving them. Two satellites are shown orbiting Earth, shielded from terrestrial sources. The article mentions that the English astronomy professor Anthony Hewish received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1974 for his work in detecting pulsars.

A pulsar in the Crab Nebula is described as a neutron star, the remnant of a star that exploded as a supernova in 1054. This pulsar emits 30 signals per second and releases energy 25,000 times greater than the Sun per second, generated by friction between the rapidly rotating neutron star and infalling matter. The article explains that as a pulsar shrinks under its own gravity, it can eventually become a black hole, from which not even light can escape. It is speculated that 90% of the universe might consist of black holes.

The search for extraterrestrial life is highlighted, with numerous radio telescopes worldwide scanning the skies. The article notes that only a small fraction of stars in the Milky Way (estimated at 250 billion) have been examined. It is suggested that there could be over a million highly developed civilizations in the Milky Way. The optimal wavelength for interstellar communication is identified as 21 cm (hydrogen), with 1.35 cm (water molecule) also being considered.

Project Ozma, initiated by Dr. Frank Drake in the 1960s, is mentioned as an early attempt to contact other beings. Modern equipment is significantly more powerful, capable of analyzing in five minutes what took Ozma four days.

Some astronomers believe intelligent civilizations exist but may be thousands of light-years away. The challenges of interstellar communication are discussed, including the immense time delays. The Arecibo Observatory's message to the M13 star cluster, which will take 24,000 years to reach its destination and another 48,000 years for a reply, exemplifies this difficulty.

Recent investigations by Russian scientists have detected sporadic signals from stars similar to our Sun, but it is too early to attribute them to higher civilizations. The article anticipates advancements with the US space shuttle, enabling sensitive satellite receivers and measurement equipment to be placed on the far side of the Moon, free from Earth's interference.

Early UFO Reports: Lights Circling a Steamer in 1910

Page 4 presents a report from "The West Australian" from 1910 about strange lights observed by Captain Nelsson, second engineer S. Arnold, and helmsman G. Redd of the coastal steamer Wookata. While sailing near Althorp Island, they witnessed bright lights, comparable to top lanterns but high in the air, circling the ship in an irritating manner. The helmsman reported seeing lights on both port and starboard sides. The lights were estimated to be 200-300 yards away and about 9-10 meters apart, one slightly higher than the other. Captain Nelsson, with 45 years of maritime experience, stated he had never seen anything so unusual, comparing the lights to "German airships flying around in the sky."

This section also includes other early UFO reports from New Zealand around 1909: a cigar-shaped object with three humanoid figures near Waipawawa; a boat-shaped object with two occupants near Waikaka Valley; an object firing projectiles over Marlborough Sounds; and a cigar-shaped object with wings near Wanganvu. The article suggests that more such historical accounts might exist in old newspapers and attics.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of unexplained aerial phenomena with scientific inquiry. It presents anecdotal evidence of UFO sightings alongside explanations of astronomical phenomena like pulsars and black holes. The editorial stance appears to be open to the possibility of extraterrestrial life and advanced civilizations, while also acknowledging the scientific challenges and the need for rigorous investigation. There is an emphasis on historical UFO reports, suggesting that such phenomena have been observed for a long time. The publication aims to inform readers about both the mysterious aspects of UFOs and the scientific understanding of the universe, encouraging a broader perspective on humanity's place within it.