UFO Navigator - No 102 - 2007

Magazine Overview

This issue of "UFO Navigator," the Russian ufological digest, dated January 2007 (Issue No. 1 (0102)), delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena. The cover prominently features a quote from Kurt Matteus, a professor at Michigan University, suggesting that advanced pilots of flying discs are attempting to communicate with humanity. Key topics highlighted include the first UFO sightings of 2007, the beginning of a new wave of sightings, mysterious falling objects, and a historical case from Japan in 1803.

News Section

The news section presents a collection of intriguing reports. A significant focus is placed on the "Mysterious death of birds worldwide." Specific incidents include the discovery of thousands of dead owls in Boise, Idaho, USA, on January 5, 2007, where experts suggested collisions with cars. On January 8, 2007, a neighborhood in Austin, Texas, USA, was cordoned off due to dozens of dead birds, with investigations ruling out poisoning and bird flu. In Azerbaijan, mass deaths of domestic and wild birds were reported in the Fizuli region. In Esperance, Australia, thousands of birds were seen falling from the sky, leading to the area being declared a disaster zone. The issue also notes a "fiery ball" falling in the Altai Krai region of Russia on January 10, 2007, with eyewitnesses reporting a loud explosion, suggesting a meteorite. Other news items include an expedition investigating a UFO crash in Argentina, early 2007 UFO sightings in various locations, and reports on the passing of a Spanish ufologist and a decrease in UFO reporting in Italian media.

Mysterious Death of Birds Worldwide

This article expands on the news reports, detailing the mass bird deaths. In Boise, Idaho, experts were baffled as to why owls, normally avoiding cars at night, were colliding with them. In Austin, Texas, dead birds led to a lockdown, but no toxic gas or bird flu was found. The situation in Azerbaijan also remained unexplained. The Esperance, Australia, incident saw thousands of birds fall, with scientific investigations unable to pinpoint a cause beyond ruling out bird flu. The article cites Dr. Fiona Sunderman, who suggested toxic poisoning as a possible cause. It also references similar past incidents in Greece and Poland.

Fiery Ball Falls in Altai Krai

On the evening of January 10, a fiery ball, described as the size of a volleyball, was observed over the Uglovsky district of Altai Krai, Russia. Eyewitnesses reported it moved at high speed, emitting rays, and was followed by a loud explosion. Officials confirmed no rocket launches from Baikonur. Experts, including Natalia Pavlova from the Barnaul planetarium, suggested it was likely a meteorite, noting that the rays indicated atmospheric disintegration. The article also mentions historical meteorite falls in the region and appeals for eyewitness information.

Expedition to the Scene of a UFO Crash in Argentina

An expedition was planned to investigate a reported UFO crash in the Sierra de Córdoba mountains in Argentina on August 17, 1995. The search was led by pilot Toni Galvanyo, who witnessed the event. He described a bright, metallic disc about 250 meters in diameter, pursued by two rocket-like objects, which then crashed. Galvanyo's own plane later crashed due to an unexplained malfunction. He described the crash site as a large crater with uprooted trees and a strange white powder, later analyzed as 98% pure potassium. The article also includes a fax from ufologist Scott Corrales, relaying information about the crash, including the involvement of unknown aircraft and the recovery of strange bodies.

UFO Pursues Car in Belarus (1991)

This section recounts an incident from January 4, 1991, where a driver and passenger in Belarus observed a red, egg-shaped object that pursued their car. The object moved erratically, changing altitude, and eventually hovered over the Ityut River before disappearing. The witnesses noted that the object's speed seemed to match their car's speed, and it did not interfere with the vehicle's electronics. Other witnesses, including a school director and his son, also reportedly saw the object.

Deadly "Colored Fog" (1999)

This brief report describes a phenomenon referred to as "red fog" or "colored fog." An optical engineer, Yuri Borisov, witnessed a woman losing her balance near a ravine filled with a glowing red fog. He experienced dizziness and a chilling sensation. The fog reportedly made everything it touched turn red. The article connects this to a past accident where a red pillar was seen before two vehicles crashed into a ravine. It also mentions a blue fog observed in Karelia.

Historical UFO Cases

"Rockets" over Zhytomyr (1964)

An account from Vladimir Kovtonyuk describes observing what appeared to be natural rockets rising from the horizon near Zhytomyr, Ukraine, in the winter of 1964. These objects moved horizontally at a low altitude, emitting flames and a hissing sound. He estimated their length and width and noted they moved in formation towards Kyiv.

Mid-air Encounter over Borisoglebsk (1980)

On January 23, 1980, a pilot-instructor reported an encounter with a bright, yellow-orange-red shimmering ball while flying at night. The object was estimated to be moving at speeds of 1500-2000 km/h and did not have the characteristics of an aircraft. It was observed to circle over the city before heading southwest.

Investigation: Was there contact on the Japanese coast in 1803?

This article by Katsuo Tanaka investigates a historical event described in two old Japanese books, "Toen Shousetsu" (1825) and "Ume no Chiri" (1844). The accounts describe a round boat-like object discovered on the coast in 1803, containing a woman with unusual features (red hair and eyebrows, pink face, long white hair). The object was described as being over three ken (5.45 m) in diameter, with glass windows sealed with resin and reinforced with iron plates. The woman held a square box and did not understand the local language. The contents of the boat included water, carpet pieces, and food. The article speculates on the woman's origin and the nature of the object, comparing it to modern UFO descriptions.

Viking Accidentally Destroyed Martian Microbes

This section presents a hypothesis by American geologist Dirk Schulze-Makuch suggesting that the Viking probes, which landed on Mars decades ago, may have mistakenly destroyed microbial life. He posits that Martian microbes might use a mixture of water and hydrogen peroxide as internal fluid, allowing them to survive in low temperatures. The Viking experiments, he argues, were not designed to detect this form of life and could have destroyed it through excessive moisture and heat.

Space News

Brief reports on space news include the Spitzer Space Telescope detecting infrared radiation interpreted as the "light" of the earliest material bodies in the universe. The STEREO mission transmitted its first images of the Sun, showing a coronal mass ejection and the solar atmosphere. Meteor activity is also noted, with a meteorite striking a house in New Jersey on January 2, 2007. The homeowner found a 370-gram iron meteorite and is considering selling it.

Following Up on Our Publications

This section addresses reader reports. One account from Olga in Kerch describes observing a bright, multi-disc object over the southern sky on September 12, between 20:00 and 20:30. The object emitted rings of light and was accompanied by a star-like object that then extinguished. The report notes that this occurred near a military training ground. Another report clarifies that similar "pseudo-UFO" sightings in Crimea were actually the result of military exercises involving target drones.

"Hare" over Novaya Zhizn

On January 12, 2007, a UFO resembling a "hare's head with drooping ears" was observed moving slowly over Novaya Zhizn, Lipetsk region, Russia. The eyewitness, Maria Markova, described it as having glowing eyes and moving like a boat before ascending and heading towards a reservoir.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena, including UFO sightings, crashes, and mysterious atmospheric events. The magazine consistently presents eyewitness accounts and attempts to investigate these occurrences, often contrasting them with official explanations or scientific skepticism. There is a clear interest in historical cases as well as contemporary events, suggesting a belief that UFO phenomena are not new but have persisted throughout history. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and theories without necessarily endorsing any single explanation, while also acknowledging the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement and the need for careful study and preparation for potential contact.

This issue of UFO Magazine, dated October 1971, delves into historical mysteries and potential extraterrestrial or anomalous phenomena. The cover prominently features the "Mystery of the Chicago Catastrophe," suggesting a deep dive into that event. The magazine also explores the "Utsuro-fune" legend, a Japanese folktale that has been interpreted by some as an early UFO encounter, and touches upon other historical anomalies and scientific theories.

The Utsuro-fune Legend

The issue begins by recounting the story of a mysterious woman found in a "hollow boat" (Utsuro-fune) that washed ashore in Japan in 1803. An old peasant's speculation suggests she might be a foreign princess who escaped a scandal, with the box she clutches possibly containing the head of her lover. The narrative highlights the woman's foreign appearance and the strange markings on the boat. The text then references a book, "Ume no Chiri," which details the incident on March 24, 1803, near Haratono-hama in Hitachi Province. The boat is described as hollow, resembling a rice cooker, with a raised rim, black upper section, four small sealed windows, and reinforced with steel bands. The woman inside is described as about 20 years old, 1.5 meters tall, with white skin, long hair, beautiful features, and strange clothing. She held a small box and did not allow anyone near it. The boat also contained carpet-like material, pastries, and a finely crafted cup.

Folklorist Yanagida Kunio (1875-1962) is discussed in relation to the Utsuro-fune legend. He analyzed the story in his 1925 article "Stories about Utsubo-fune," citing similar folklore from various regions of Japan and even globally, likening it to the story of Noah's Ark. Yanagida concluded that the Utsuro-fune story was likely fabricated, based on the widespread nature of similar folklore, the unidentifiable script found in the boat, the narrative's convenient ending that prevents later verification, and the woman's description resembling Western features, which would have been feared by Japanese people at the time.

The article attempts to pinpoint the location of Haratono-hama, suggesting it was on the eastern coast of Hitachi (modern Ibaraki Prefecture) facing the Pacific Ocean. However, investigations into the landowner, Ogasawara Izumi, or Ogasawara Etsu-no-kami, did not yield landholdings in that specific coastal area, leading to the conclusion that these place names might be fictional. The author suggests that a skilled writer may have combined elements of folklore with the image of a Western woman to create a plausible-sounding but ultimately fabricated story, using illustrations to enhance its credibility.

The Mystery of the Chicago Catastrophe

This section, authored by V. Kaznev, delves into the Great Chicago Fire of October 8, 1871. The official explanation, that a cow knocked over a kerosene lamp, is dismissed as improbable due to the fire's rapid spread across the city and the lack of wind. Eyewitness accounts describe the sky raining fire and stones, and houses igniting spontaneously. The scale of the disaster was immense, with around a thousand deaths, 125,000 homeless, and $150 million in damages. Unusual phenomena reported include a melted metal structure near the river, marble burning like coal, and fires erupting simultaneously in multiple states.

Kaznev then presents Chamberlain's hypothesis, which links the Chicago fire to celestial events. He discusses the Biela comet, which split into fragments, and a meteor shower observed in 1872 that shared a similar orbit. Chamberlain proposed that a fragment of the comet, or a related celestial body, might have impacted Earth on October 8, 1871, causing the fires. This theory suggests that hydrogen 'ice' from the comet vaporized, creating an explosive gas mixture with air, leading to detonations and widespread fires. The hypothesis also attempts to explain the unusual deaths by suggesting the release of toxic gases like carbon dioxide.

However, the article critiques Chamberlain's hypothesis, noting that modern cometary science indicates comet nuclei are primarily ice and dust, not large meteoritic bodies. It also points out that meteorites typically do not cause widespread fires and that their surface cools rapidly after atmospheric entry. The article concludes that while the comet theory offers an intriguing explanation, it has significant shortcomings based on current scientific understanding.

The Tunguska Event and Cometary Models

The magazine connects the Chicago catastrophe to the Tunguska event of June 30, 1908, in Central Siberia. This event, believed to be an airburst of a comet or asteroid, flattened over 2,000 square kilometers of forest and caused seismic activity and bright lights. The article discusses the thermal effects on the forest, with trees showing signs of scorching and breakage consistent with a blast wave and intense heat.

Soviet scientists M. N. Tsynbal and V. E. Shnitke proposed a chemical model for the Tunguska event, suggesting that flammable gases, such as hydrogen, accumulating around a cometary nucleus upon atmospheric entry could lead to a detonation. This model is presented as a potential explanation for the widespread destruction and the localized fires, including the fire on Khladny Ridge, which was not directly in the blast zone.

The article then revisits the Chicago fire, suggesting that the cometary model could also apply. It reiterates the idea of a comet fragment exploding, releasing gases that caused fires and potentially toxic carbon dioxide, leading to the deaths observed.

Other Sections

"Estimate of Situation"

This section discusses a legendary 1948 document from the US Air Force's "Sign" project, which concluded that UFOs were of extraterrestrial origin. The document, based on numerous reports from scientists and pilots, was reportedly ordered destroyed by General Hoyt Vandenberg due to its lack of concrete evidence.

Edward Paikin

A brief profile of Edward Paikin, a controversial figure who emerged in southern Russia in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He claimed to be a Messiah, a scientist, and an inventor, who would lead humanity into a new era. His pronouncements included predictions of ruling the world and establishing new 'messianic churches.'

Palenque Image

The article briefly mentions the Palenque relief, a Maya artifact that some interpret as a depiction of a person in a spacecraft, while acknowledging the mainstream archaeological interpretation of it as a symbolic representation of a ruler's journey.

Book Review: "Lost Continents" by L. Sprague de Camp

This review critiques L. Sprague de Camp's book "Lost Continents," which debunks popular myths about sunken continents like Atlantis and Lemuria. The reviewer praises de Camp's thorough research in dismantling these legends and exposing the 'lies' that have accumulated over time.

Commission Meeting on UFOs

A notice about a meeting of the Commission on UFOs on January 23, 2007, featuring a report by Orest Timinsky on "Technical aspects of the phenomenon of the presence of representatives of another civilization on Earth."

Paradoxes of "Cosmic Journalism"

This section highlights a scandal involving the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" newspaper, which published an article with 'comments' from Igor Gerasimov, an astronomer who had died two years prior. The article was found to be plagiarized, and the newspaper issued an apology.

Artificial Ball Lightning

A brief mention of Brazilian scientists successfully synthesizing ball lightning that lasted for a few seconds, noting that theories about its nature include ionized plasma balls and magnetic fields.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the intersection of historical events, folklore, and potential extraterrestrial or anomalous phenomena. There is a clear skepticism towards official explanations for unexplained events, favoring more speculative theories, particularly those involving comets, ancient astronauts, and UFOs. The editorial stance appears to be one of critical inquiry, presenting various hypotheses and historical accounts while acknowledging their speculative nature. The inclusion of sections on folklore, ancient civilizations, and controversial figures suggests a broad interest in the unexplained and the fringes of accepted knowledge. The magazine aims to challenge conventional narratives and encourage readers to consider alternative explanations for historical mysteries and unusual occurrences.

This issue of "UFO & Space" (Volume 1, Issue 1 (100)), dated January 17, 2007, features an article discussing theories and experiments related to ball lightning and luminous plasma formations. The content is primarily in Russian, with a focus on scientific research and potential explanations for anomalous phenomena.

Ball Lightning Theory and Experimentation

The article presents a theory that ball lightning might be a result of silicon vapor from soil, vaporized by a lightning strike, condensing into a luminous ball. This theory posits that the silicon enters a reaction with oxygen, causing it to glow.

To test this hypothesis, Brazilian researchers conducted an experiment using silicon plates approximately 350 micrometers thick. These plates were placed between electrodes and subjected to a current of 140 amperes. The experiment yielded significant results: not only did luminous fragments break off from the plates, but luminous balls also formed. These balls were observed to hover in the air for up to 8 seconds. The temperature of these formations was estimated to be around 2000 Kelvin. Their intensity was such that they could melt plastic, and one ball even burned a hole through the jeans of one of the researchers.

Previous Synthesis Methods and Current Research

The article notes that scientists have previously managed to synthesize similar formations using microwaves. However, these formations would disappear within milliseconds after the microwave generator was turned off. The current Brazilian research aims to identify the specific chemical reactions responsible for the formation of these luminous balls. Furthermore, the researchers are expanding their experiments to include other materials, such as pure metals, alloys, and sulfur mixtures.

Publication Details

The article is attributed to Mikhail Karpov and was published in "Compulenta" on January 15, 2007. The issue itself was completed on January 17, 2007, and compiled and prepared by Mikhail Gerstein from Saint Petersburg.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme of this excerpt is the scientific investigation into anomalous atmospheric phenomena, specifically ball lightning, and the exploration of plasma physics. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on scientific endeavors and presenting theories, encouraging further research into unexplained events. The focus is on empirical evidence and experimental results, as demonstrated by the detailed description of the Brazilian experiment.